by Pastor Cecil | Oct 5, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 90:10
“The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”
The inevitable has happened. My brother-in-law Dale has passed away. Our wives were sisters and both had gone to be with the Lord. Over the past several years Dale and I have had more than a few phone conversations. It was common for him to speak about how the days seemed to drag by even while the years passed in a flash.
I recently read or heard an observation that seemed to highlight our conversations: The days crawled by at a snail’s pace while the years flew by. The older I get the more I come to realize this. It confirms the comment of a little lady in Shreveport, Louisiana: Life is so daily!
There is no question about how quickly time marches on. We look forward to seeing old friends with very young children only to discover that time passed far faster than we realized — those little ones are now in their teens.
Charles Studd who lived from 1860 to 1931 is credited with writing the poem that has lived in my heart for many years. He gave his life and fortune to the work of the Lord. Consider his words: Only one life, t’will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last. I want that to be my testimony. Please join me!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 4, 2016 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 9:24
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
There are many types of races: Car races, horse races, foot races, just to name a few. It is interesting that in many races one competitor may lead throughout the race and victory is almost assured … but then comes the finish line!
Years ago I used to take our kids to watch automobile races in Meridian, Idaho. It was not uncommon for one driver to lead almost every lap of the quarter mile track only to experience the heartbreak of a wreck on the final lap and lose the race. The one who leads for most of the race is not declared the winner, but the one who crosses the finish line first.
I have been thrilled to watch races where the competitors have Down syndrome. These precious jewels run with such joy and excitement. Many times they are just as excited about someone else winning as themselves.
When they cross the finish line each one is awarded a prize. I somehow think that is what Paul wants us to understand. Every person in the world is entered in the race, but only those who have Christ in their heart will receive the prize. At the end of our race, the Lord will meet us and reward us for running for Him.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 3, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Let’s be honest with ourselves — stepping out on faith is difficult. It means leaving our comfort zone and trusting only in the Lord. Too often we have been taught to rely on ourselves and our own strength rather than look to others for help. That may sound good and noble at the outset, but the fact is that we really do need each other.
Perhaps the reason we need each other is to teach us that we need to trust the Lord to provide what we need. More often than not, the way the Lord provides for our needs is through other people. He sometimes even uses unbelievers as His agents to provide what we need.
Trusting in the Lord is a matter of faith. It means that we trust so completely in the hand of God to provide that we thank Him before we experience His answer. It is like enjoying an ice cream cone while we are on the way to the ice cream shop. Two scoops, please!
How is your faith quotient? Do you doubt or trust? Are you waiting or walking in the confidence of God’s Word? Are you available to become the “two scoops” of blessing that someone is waiting for? What goes around comes around! We can wait to be served or we can become a server . . . while we are waiting.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 30, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 46:1-3
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
The Haven of Rest Quartet began singing in the year I was born, 1934. I can recall First Mate Bob introducing the program after a fog horn sounded. The quartet then would sing the words of this week’s hymn.
As we struggle through the storms of life it is a wonderful assurance that God provides a haven of rest where we can safely escape the wild waves of adversity. I thank God that many times in my life I have found God’s haven of rest for my own soul. In the book of Psalms, David refers to the storms of life. He was attacked on all sides by his enemies who desired to take his life. Do you feel that way sometimes?
His predecessor, King Saul, was a demented king who imagined that David was attempting to take the kingdom from him. (Actually it was the Lord who had rejected Saul because of his wickedness and failing to keep the Lord in control of his life.)
In many of his Psalms, David cried out to the Lord for help and immediately praised Him for giving him a safe place of refuge. That is the same with us today. We may be tossed and torn by the storms of life, but the Lord always gives us a haven of rest. That is the hymn for this week.
The Haven of Rest
My soul in sad exile was out on life(s) sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice, saying, (Make Me your choice)
And I entered the Haven of Rest!
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
In faith taking hold of the Word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
The Haven of Rest is my Lord.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest,
Of Jesus, who will save whosoever will have
A home in the Haven of Rest.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the beloved so blest,
On Jesus strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the Haven of Rest.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
O come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the Haven of Rest,
And say, ‘My Beloved is mine.’
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
To access The Haven of Rest, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/thehavenofrest/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 29, 2016 | Matthew
Matthew 6:8
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
My wife was an amazing person. She was always neat and organized. It seemed to be one of her greatest delights in our home to insure that everything was in its proper place … and then there was me! I was the one who was clutter prone.
Over the 62 years of our marriage, Joyce tried everything to control my clutter. The number of boxes, baskets, and cubbies she bought to help keep my clutter out of sight, or at least manageable, was astounding.
During the last years of Joyce’s life, she was not as concerned about clutter. Since her death in 2015, I have been on my own to control the household clutter and have become aware of a new reality about it. Oftentimes I think I’ll need a particular article later, so I “store” it beside my chair, on my desk, on the floor … you get the picture. Before long I have a mess that needs attention. It’s then I discover that most of my clutter was unnecessary to keep.
There are areas of our lives that may have eternal value, but are they covered up by the clutter we allow to accumulate. When we make the Lord the focus of our life, He alone can bring order out of chaos. He knows what we need and when we will need it!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
