by Pastor Cecil | Feb 24, 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 | Feb 23, 2017 | Luke
Luke 10:35
“On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’”
I am committed to debt-free living. Be that as it may, there have been times in my life when I needed a helping hand. I thought of this a few days ago when I was watching an episode of Texas Country Reporter hosted by Bob Phillips and his wife Kelli.
In this episode they were visiting the General Store in the small town of Burgheim, Texas. It was fascinating to see the wide range of items that seemed to be useful to the customers in this small Texas town.
Then they showed something that struck a nostalgic note in my heart. There was a box with charge books. I recalled the times when Joyce and I were in the Air Force and had no money to buy groceries before payday at the end of the month. A sweet couple who owned a small grocery store placed a charge book in the box of customers who could charge groceries until the end of the month.
God has assured us that He has opened an account with our name on it. We only have to choose the blessings He offers. What a sweet assurance we have in knowing that not only do we have a charge book, but that He has paid our account in full!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 22, 2017 | James
James 1:19-20
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
There is an expression I have often heard referring to someone who speaks without thinking: Open mouth and insert foot! Have you ever felt that you were in that position?
The book of James is a wonderful and practical guide to victorious Christian living. In today’s Scripture, James gives us three admonitions to follow that will lead us to find the righteousness of God.
The first admonition is to be swift to hear: That means we must take time to be alone with God and His Word in order to hear His voice. It will not happen if we are raging with anger. It means having a heart open to allow Him to speak to us.
The two negative admonitions are to be slow to speak and slow to wrath (anger): James goes on to stress that the wrath of man does not produce the righteous life God desires for His children.
As you honestly evaluate your life with the Lord, where do you find yourself? I want to be one that is always swift to hear His voice.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 21, 2017 | Isaiah
Isaiah 64:4
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.”
Eye witness reports are often very suspect. Perhaps the two most famous (or infamous) sightings are Bigfoot and UFO’s. It does little to confirm that they really exist simply on the basis of so-called personal observations.
A few years ago I was watching a documentary on human behavior as it relates to pre-conceived suggestions. A group of participants were gathered to observe potential aliens from outer space. The test was conducted near Roswell, New Mexico, where the first reports of strange appearances took place.
The participants were told to carefully record everything they personally observed and describe it in detail. The path was so designed that they would have no visual clues. While on the tour they were subjected to strange and eerie sounds. At the end of the test almost all of the participants described in detail what they had seen. Remember, they had actually seen nothing!
God has chosen to reveal His will and way to us through His Spirit. We can truthfully say we have “seen” Him because we walk and talk with Him!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 20, 2017 | 1 Kings
1 Kings 19:12
“And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”
It was over 70 years ago that an evangelist came to our church in Camas, Washington, to hold a revival. His name was Uncle Bud Robinson. There is only one story that he shared that has remained with me through the years.
Uncle Bud told of receiving a special gift of cash while holding services in another town. He was very pleased with the unexpected windfall and began to plan how he was going to use the money. At that moment, however, Uncle Bud felt the Lord impress upon him that it was not his to spend, but he was to carry it with him and give it to someone of God’s choosing.
Months later Uncle Bud was conducting services in another large city. Throughout the week he felt the Lord impressing upon him that this was the time to deliver the money to the person intended.
It was the final night of the revival and many had come forward to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. The service ended and everyone had left the building, but the Lord had still not revealed to Uncle Bud to whom he should give the money. Now only he and the Pastor remained to straighten up the hymnals and put the sanctuary back in order.
Suddenly the door to the sanctuary swung open and the church organist came in, explaining that she had forgotten her sweater. In that split second it was as though the Lord tapped Uncle Bud on the shoulder and whispered in his ear, “She’s the one!”
Uncle Bud greeted her and said he thought she needed more than her sweater. He handed her the money that had been in his safekeeping. The young woman began to sob. She related that she lived across town and that night only had enough money for a bus ticket to the service. She planned to walk back home, which was through a dangerous part of the city, especially at night.
God had provided for her over and abundantly months in advance. She only had to have the faith to travel knowing she had no provision to get back home. Uncle Bud only had to listen to the still, small voice of the Lord telling Him to deliver the money when directed.
I want to be that sensitive to the voice of the Lord so that I will be ready to do His will when He directs. It requires quietness and paying attention to His voice. I pledge to spend more quiet time listening and then responding when He leads.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
