by Pastor Cecil | Jan 12, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 94:22
“But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.”
It was 50 years ago when a violent wind storm struck the 921st ACW Radar Site near St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada. The site was located on a hill above the small village of St. Anthony. It was beautiful to look out over the Atlantic Ocean and view small inlets and bays below us. But the location made us vulnerable to winds.
The storm began to build in the early morning hours. I was roused from sleep by something striking the windows of my quarters. As I opened the blinds I discovered that it was roofing material being blown off.
Our buildings had been constructed over granite rock formations. The builders had drilled deep holes into the rocks and inserted steel rods. These were securely attached to the buildings and hallways to keep us from being blown away. They worked and I am alive to attest to the fact.
We need to have the Rock of our salvation as a secure anchor in the storms of life. The winds of adversity may shriek and howl around us, but when we have sunk our “spiritual rods” into Christ Jesus, we do not need to fear the storms. We must insure that we are anchored on the Rock!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 11, 2017 | Galatians
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
I’ve not heard it recently, but there’s an expression to indicate something that is greatly desired: “I’m just dying to ____!” Apparently the thing that is very much desired seems to be measured by life or death.
In a spiritual application, we are told to die to the things of the flesh in order that we can truly live for Christ. Paul goes so far as to view himself as being crucified with Christ. That means he was willing to experience suffering of the body in order to attain the life that is everlasting.
I recently heard David Jeremiah say, “We love God when we live for God.” That resonated with me and has caused me to stop and take account of the way I am living my life. Am I living for Christ or living to please myself?
If we are to live for Christ we need to consistently question the things that we do and determine if they are to please ourselves or to please God. It is vital that we begin to die to ourselves and live for God. It’s the life!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 10, 2017 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 3:15
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
From time to time I have shared the story of an embarrassing incident that my wife Joyce and I experienced. We were traveling to California to attend a Billy Graham School of Evangelism conference. It was a Sunday and we were on I-5 in southern Oregon. It was a little past eleven and we knew we would be late for a church service, but decided to try and find a church and get in for part of the service.
We made it into a service and were seated just after the offering; a young woman sang a special number, and we were anxiously waiting for the pastor to deliver his message. Presently he came to the pulpit and announced that he would turn the service over to the representative for the Gideon Bible Society. He stared directly at me and waited.
It was one of those “Oh, no” moments when you just knew he thought I was the man of the hour. It felt like every person in the congregation turned and stared at me. I just shrugged and shook my head. The poor pastor had not prepared a message, and it was painful to watch him try to get a few thoughts across to the congregation.
It taught me once again the validity of the instructions Paul gave to the church at Philippi: Always be ready. None of us know when we may be called upon to share the hope of Christ to someone who desperately needs it. Be ready!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 9, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 3:14
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
I have never been a farmer, but in my teens I did work on my uncle’s farm for a few weeks. My job was to drive a tractor pulling a disc plow that was about 20 feet wide.
To keep going in the right direction I kept my eye on the furrow left by my previous pass. It was not long before my uncle came thundering out to the field. He demanded to know why the furrows left by the plow were so crooked. I told him I tried to keep them straight by watching the last furrow and following its track.
I will never forget as he explained to me that you never keep your eye on the last furrow, but rather look for a spot in the distance and head for it. When I did that, my serpentine tracks immediately became straight.
As we focus our attention on what God says in His Word, we will find that our tracks will become straight and we will leave behind a legacy of following after the Lord. All we need to do is look beyond!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 6, 2017 | Revelation
Revelation 21:17
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
In 1893, James Black was a Methodist Sunday school teacher in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. As he was calling roll one day for a youth meeting, young Bessie, daughter of a drunkard, did not show up, and he was disappointed at her failure to appear. He commented to a friend, “Well, I trust when the roll is called up yonder, she’ll be there.” He tried to find an appropriate song for the situation but could not find one in his song book.
Here is how Mr. Black describes how he came to write the hymn: “This lack of a fitting song caused me both sorrow and disappointment. An inner voice seemed to say, ‘Why don’t you write one?’ I put away the thought. As I opened the gate on my way home, the same thought came again so strongly that tears filled my eyes. I entered the house and sat down at the piano. The words came to me effortlessly…The tune came the same way—I dared not change a single note or word.”
When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
(1) When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain: When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
(2) On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, And the glory of His resurrection share; When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain: When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
(3) Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care; Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain: When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video from Gloryscapes.com. To access When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/whentherolliscalledupyonder
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
