by Pastor Cecil | Nov 17, 2017 | Isaiah
Isaiah 51:1-2
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
Water, water everywhere…and not a drop to drink! Those words have probably been uttered many times by shipwreck victims stranded in the middle of the ocean. The salt-laden sea seems to mock them — there is so much water all around them, but it would be poison to their system to drink it.
Lucy Jane Rider Meyer wrote the words of today’s hymn. She was born on a Vermont farm in 1849. Lucy was a teacher and not only founded many high schools, but went on to teach chemistry at McKendree College, a school for freed blacks in North Carolina. She was one of the first female professors.
What a refreshing thought that a brilliant professor was able to use the Word of God to bring music to the thirsty human soul. Oh, that we had more brave educators who would be willing to put their reputations on the line for the things of God. I thirst for that!
Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty
Ho! Everyone that is thirsty in spirit,
Ho! Everyone that is weary and sad;
Come to the fountain, there’s fullness in Jesus,
All that you’re longing for; come and be glad!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?
Weary of earth’s joys, so false, so untrue?
Thirsting for God and His fullness of blessing?
List’ to the promise, a message for you!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!
Nothing but “fullness” thy longing can meet;
‘Tis the enduement for life and for service;
Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
To access Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty, this week’s inspirational video, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/hoeveryonewhoisthirsty/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 16, 2017 | Colossians
Colossians 2:7
“- – rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
As we continue in this passage from Colossians 2, we read the words rooted – established – abounding. It reminds me of watching crew members on the International Space Station eating red lettuce that they had grown in space. It was the first time they had been able to grow edible food in space. I guess they could honestly say that the taste was… OUT OF THIS WORLD! (OK, that was bad!)
In our walk as Believers we are called upon to be rooted. That means we are to base our growth on the Word of God. It is not the wisdom of God that will allow us to grow, but our willingness to be rooted in that wisdom. When we rely on human wisdom and reasoning we will lack the life-giving spiritual nourishment.
From being rooted in God’s Word we will become established in the faith and will abound in it with thanksgiving. That is a fantastic truth that is made evident in and through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the time to evaluate your personal life. After accepting Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, are you rooted deep in His will for your life? Are you being established in Him to the point of abounding with thanksgiving? If not, now is the time to begin this thrilling walk with the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 15, 2017 | Colossians
Colossians 2:6-7
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Yesterday I shared God’s plan for our salvation by quoting from Ephesians 2:8-9. It is by God’s grace and our faith in believing and receiving His provision of eternal salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
When we place our trust in the completed work of Jesus Christ we begin our walk as new believers. It is at this point that much confusion exists. All too often we are led to believe that we are kept by our works. We can no more be kept by our good works than we can be saved by our good works.
Notice in today’s Scripture that Paul writes that just as we received salvation by grace through faith, we are to walk with the Lord by grace and through faith. In order to be strong and productive believers we need to live in victory. We do that by constantly walking by faith as God’s own dear children.
As adoptive children of the God of the universe we have received a new name and a new identity. There is nothing we can do that will keep us saved any more than we could do anything to deserve it in the first place. We just live as believers!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 14, 2017 | Ephesians
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Do you think you can be good enough to make it into heaven? Do you think that your good deeds need to outnumber your bad deeds to make it into heaven? What does the Bible say about being made right with God?
I am glad to supply the answer. Actually, today’s Scripture supplies the answer. It is more important to read what the Bible says about the matter rather than rely on the supposition of our human reasoning.
Isn’t it great that God has done for us what we could never do for ourselves?! God did it by sending His precious Son, Jesus, to provide eternal life through His shed blood on the cross.
If you have lived your life under the false assumption that you merit heaven by being good enough — think again! I invite you to pray this prayer right now. “Lord Jesus, I come to you as a lost sinner. I can never be good enough to earn entry into Your heaven. I invite You to come into my heart and make me Your child. I want to live for You and serve You. I pray this in Jesus’s name. Amen!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 13, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 83:14-15
“As the fire burns the woods, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, so pursue them with Your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm.”
One of my favorite things in the fall and winter months is to sit in front of my woodstove and watch the flames consume log after log. I purchased my little woodstove several years ago after an ice storm left us without power and heat for almost a week.
When I chose the stove, I picked one that was small enough to comfortably fit into our living room, yet large enough to heat the entire house of just over 1400 square feet. I also wanted a flat top so it could be used to cook in an emergency.
As I watch the flames through the glass door, I am reminded that this is fire under control. It is useful and efficient. The wildfires that destroyed homes and businesses last summer and early fall were destructive because they were fire out of control.
The fire of God must always be under His control. That is why it is imperative that we stay close to Him and spend quality time in His Holy Word. It is not that we burn brightly for ourselves, but that we let the fire of God glow through us.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
