by Pastor Cecil | Oct 6, 2017 | Revelation
“They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4).
It was on January 13, 2015 that my precious wife left the trials and pain of this world to enter the place of perfect healing. It brought her wonderful peace, but I have been left to work my way through the remained of my life without the one who was part of my life since I was a fourteen.
I have a wonderful peace in knowing the Joyce is experiencing a paradise that is beyond my wildest imagination. In bringing that picture to mind I am given a peace that the world can never give and a peace it cannot take away!
If you are faced with the trial and tribulation of life I urge you to seek the peace of God that is offered to all who call upon His name. Rather than focusing your attention on the storms of life seek the precious haven that God gives that will assure you His wonderful peace.
Wonderful Peace
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain: Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
Refrain
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
Refrain
And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:
Refrain
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!
Refrain
To access Wonderful Peace, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/wonderfulpeace/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 5, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
I don’t know why the acronym GIGO suddenly popped into my mind. It has been years since I have thought of it. GIGO stands for GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT. I think you get the idea: What we think results in the actions we display.
Proverbs 23:7 states that “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” The questions we need to ask ourselves is what is on our mind and is it going to profit our walk with the Lord or blemish it?
It is so easy to be caught up in the trash we see on TV, hear on the radio, or read in various media. What we give our thoughts to results in how we respond to the life around us.
I have committed to try as much as possible to stay away from the media sources that glory in the gory. That often includes the political vitriol that seems to be warring continually. I choose to focus my mind on Philippians 4:8!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 4, 2017 | Revelation
Revelation 22:4
“They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.”
I love going to my doctor. Her name is Brandy Thomas and for someone like me, who is not a drinker, I think it is hilarious for me to have a doctor with a name like that. Today during my appointment, I happened to mention about the way my middle name was misspelled on my birth certificate.
Way back in 1934, when I was born, my entrance into the world happened at home and the Birth Certificate was scribbled out in long-hand. I was named Cecil Adrian Thompson. It was not until I was an adult that I discovered that whoever had created the Certificate had written my middle name as, Adrain instead of Adrian.
So what is in a name? Does it really matter how our names are spelled or misspelled? I think not. It is not the spelling or misspelling of our names that matter, but the decisions that we make that will last for eternity.
As a young boy I received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. That means I have a new name written down in glory. Today’s Scripture tells me that one day I will have the name of Jesus engraved on my forehead. Until then I have His name engraved in my heart. I want to live for Him now and forever!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 3, 2017 | Daily-E-Votionals
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
One Sunday, following our evening service, a man in the congregation asked if he might come to the parsonage and talk with me. I was delighted to meet with him. When he arrived for our appointment we shared a light lunch before going into my office. Suddenly, out of the clear blue, came these words: “I hate your guts!”
Wow! You could have knocked me over with a feather. Prior to this there did not seem to be any indication of a conflict between us, so his blunt statement was a blow. With my mind reeling, I prayed silently for God’s wisdom and strength. With as much sincerity as possible I answered, “I am so glad that you feel free to share your feelings with me.”
From that incident I would like to suggest a few ways to respond to and love the unlovable:
- Rely on God’s wisdom in dealing with the person.
- Realize that these unlovable people need love—perhaps more than others.
- Remember how unlovable our sins are in God’s sight.
- Rejoice that we are counted worthy to encounter persecution.
- Respond with love rather than retaliate with resentment.
What transpired on that Sunday evening so long ago? The two of us spent time together as he poured out his heart. As he was leaving he looked me directly in the eye and said, “Pastor, I love you so much!” Wow! What a dramatic change from the comments he had made earlier. God is so good!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 2, 2017 | Matthew
Matthew 10:29-31
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Many times we face uncertainty and loss. The things or people we counted upon for our support are not there when we need them. Even when we pray, we feel that the Lord is far from us and does not hear our supplications.
When looking back over the years of my life, I discover that in those times when I felt like I was abandoned and alone, God was the nearest to me. It was not so important that I felt Him, but that I just kept on doing what His Word said; eventually I found that these times of quietness were preparing me for increased service.
The more I search the pages of Scripture, the more I find that God’s people have not been immune to the dark days of disappointment. Joseph, for instance, was treated cruelly by his own brothers. Instead of sulking and feeling sorry for himself, he learned the Egyptian language and became the most valuable servant in Potiphar’s house and also later in the prison. Even as Prime Minister in Egypt he was cut off from his home and family.
When the opportunity finally came for him to bestow vengeance upon his brothers who had sold him into slavery, Joseph realized that his time of tribulation was all God’s plan. All he had to do was live one day at a time. That is easy to say, but hard to do. I want to always practice having Godly courage in my own life!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
