by Pastor Cecil | Nov 22, 2019 | Ruth
Ruth 2:8
“Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women.'”
It is hard to make a list of beloved hymns without encountering Fanny J. Crosby. This blind little lady composed well over 8,000 hymns and poems in her life. It is sad that many churches never sing these songs anymore. They are the losers!
As I think about the life of Fanny J. Crosby I am humbled. With her physical limitations she expressed her longing to be more and more like the Master she served. This hymn seems to highlight her aim to draw closer to Him.
In today’s Scripture, Boaz instructed Ruth to stay near the women who worked for him. He was her kinsman redeemer even though she did not know it. Christ is our Kinsman Redeemer and we know it because the Bible tells us so. Are we like Fanny J. Crosby having a desire to be closer to Him?
Close to Thee
Thou my everlasting portion,
More than friend or life to me,
All along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Refrain:
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
All along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with Thee.
Not for ease or worldly pleasure,
Nor for fame my prayer shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee.
Refrain:
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee.
Lead me through the vale of shadows,
Bear me o’er life’s fitful sea;
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter, Lord, with Thee.
Refrain:
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter, Lord, with Thee.
Enjoy this free inspirational video of, “Close to Thee” by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/closetothee/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 21, 2019 | Philippians
Philippians 4:6-7
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
At times it seems the chief goal of nations is to find a path to peace. That search continues until one nation becomes stronger than others and then adopts an attitude of dominance rather than seeking peace. To that nation, peace would come as other nations yield to its dominant position.
In all their efforts, neither nations nor individuals find peace in achieving rank or position. In fact, the search for peace more often than not leads to conflict and frustration. More never seems to be enough!
Looking at God’s pattern for attaining peace we find the solution in today’s scripture. It begins with ridding ourselves of anxiety. How do we do that? By bringing all of our requests to the Lord and allowing Him to answer our needs.
We find the path to peace when we thank the Lord for His provisions before we ever receive them. That is why we can honestly and sincerely pray that His will be done —not ours. He alone knows what we really need. He is our path to peace!
May God richly bless you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 20, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 6:8
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.’”
At times I reminisce about my parents. My dad was especially adept at doing just about anything that needed to be done—all the way from carpentry to electronics.
My mom on the other hand was more the director of operations—dad’s operations that is. When one of the family members needed something done, mom would say, “Oh, dad would be glad to do it!” Dad would just smile and moan.
Christians all too often are like my mom. When God has a task to be accomplished they start thinking about others who could do the job. While the words may not be spoken, the message is this: “Here am I—send him (or her)!”
We read in Matthew 9:37-38 that we are to pray for the Lord to send out workers for the harvest. The fact of the matter is that we need to ask the Lord what part we can play in bringing in the harvest.
Some workers till the soil, some plant, some water, and some tend the plants as they grow, and there are still those who reap. What part of the harvest of souls are you personally participating in? Ask the Lord to send you!
May God richly bless you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 19, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 31:24
“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.”
“I hope he chooses me! I hope he chooses me!” Those were the words that went through my mind as sides were being chosen for any team game we played when I was a young boy. Suffice it to say, I was usually one of the last to be called. More like a booby-prize than a cherished prize.
That concept of the meaning of the word “hope” seems to be all too common. It is thought of as wishing for something that could possibly happen, but we know the likelihood is very slim.
Let me correct that idea for us once and for all. The Hebrew word for hope as used in today’s scripture is the word yachal. It carries with it the meaning of expectation. Do you hear that? It is expectant waiting for something the Lord has prepared especially for us!
Please read that last sentence over one more time. It is expectant waiting for something the Lord has prepared especially for us! It is not what we desire for ourselves, but what God wants to do in and through us. I think the greatest joy in life is to be used of God.
May God richly bless you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 18, 2019 | 2 Kings
2 Kings 2:11
“Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
In college I had a godly professor of physics. On the first day of class he handed out all of the questions he would be giving on his tests. There was only one problem—the list consisted of 500 questions. We never knew which ones would be asked on each test! I think I studied more for that class than any other and enjoyed it more.
This brilliant scientist had worked on the Manhattan Project during WWII, yet had a humble Christian spirit that made him a true example of what a man of God should be. Here is a quote that was attributed to him: “I always imagined that I would go out in a ‘blaze of glory’, but I suppose I will have to settle for going out in an ordinary way.” His obituary stated that it was not his death, but his life that was a “blaze of glory.”
In today’s Scripture we read of the prophet Elijah being caught up to heaven in a chariot of fire. We might even say it was a “blaze of glory.” But the real blaze of glory was his life of unswerving faithfulness to the Lord. As Elijah left this earth he left his mantle to Elisha, who assumed his role as the faithful servant of the Lord. In a way, Elijah’s blaze of glory was his disciple Elisha. Their blaze of glory continued to burn for years to come. Who is your blaze of glory?
May God richly bless you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
