by Pastor Cecil | Sep 1, 2017 | 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: http://www.gloryscapes.com/closetothee/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 31, 2017 | John
John 14:25
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
The reality of homelessness has become a great issue in our modern world. In many cases people have been forced from the lives they once knew and been left to spend their time moving from shelter to shelter.
In light of the devastating flooding in Texas, many thousands of people are now experiencing homelessness. It may be temporary, but it is possible that some may never be able to return to their homes.
For the true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can visualize ourselves as being HOMELESS. That is certainly true when we pause to consider that our time in this world is temporary at best. How long we stay here is not so important as is the attitude we have toward our eternal home.
The promise that Jesus offers us here in today’s Scripture is that when we abide in Him, we are at home regardless of where that may be. I was at home when I was on a remote assignment in northern Newfoundland, Canada. I am also at home here in Tumwater, Washington. I just want to abide in Him until He calls me HOME!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 30, 2017 | John
John 14:25
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
There is a peace that is anything but peaceful. I am told that in the midst of major battles a cease fire is ordered in which both sides stop hostilities for a certain period of time. It may be temporarily quiet, but it is not TRUE PEACE.
Prior to the outbreak of WWII in 1938, Sir Neville Chamberlain returned from Germany with a peace compact that was signed by Adolph Hitler. He waved the document and proclaimed, “Peace in our time!” We now know how false that peace really was.
Jesus promises His followers peace that is far different from anything the world can offer. It is peace in the midst of the storms of life. It is the peace that God gave to Stephen when he was being stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60). Other martyrs died with that same peace that can only be described as REAL PEACE.
Perhaps you feel like you are being tossed to and fro in the storms of life. It is time to anchor your life to the rock of our salvation and allow the Lord to give you His TRUE PEACE that will satisfy your soul.
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 29, 2017 | Luke
Luke 19:1
“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, OCCUPY till I come.”
I love the way Jesus used parables to teach spiritual truths. A parable may be described as an illustration that is designed to teach a lesson. Jesus used them frequently and cited the common culture, norms, and situation of the time He was in so as to teach the listeners in terms they would understand.
In the Parable of the Ten Talents (or a certain sum of money) the master’s servants are told to OCCUPY until he returned. The word OCCUPY can also be defined as doing his business for him until he returns. Wow! That really hits home for me.
None of us know how long we will have to be engaged in our Master’s business. We may be one heart beat from eternity or we may have many more years. The amount of time is not relevant — it is the faithfulness to do His business in a way that profits Him.
In order to OCCUPY for the Master we need to know what His business is and how we can accomplish the best for Him. We will find what His business is in His Word as we dedicate our efforts in serving as the Holy Spirit brings to mind. Are you OCCUPYING until He calls you home?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 28, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 16:24
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”
Sometimes we hear disparaging remarks about someone who is described as a smooth talker. That may be the case if their smooth words are false, without depth of meaning and purpose.
A friend whose dad hated lemon meringue pie with a passion told me a story that reveals how so-called smooth talk can get you into trouble. The family had been invited to have Sunday dinner with a new family in their church. The host family raved about the special dessert that awaited them — the wife’s to-die-for lemon meringue pie.
Wanting to be a considerate guest, my friend’s dad decided to choke down a piece of the hated pie. It almost made him gag, but he finally got it down. Having survived the ordeal, he began his false smooth talk. He was so convincing that the host insisted he eat another piece of pie. He paid the price for his perversity
But there is true smooth talk that brings peace and resolution. It is imperative that we are Godly and righteous in the words we use and the way we use them. Let me close with Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your smooth words and godly actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
