by Pastor Cecil | Mar 11, 2016 | Romans
Romans 8:16-17a
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”
Earthly kings have a limited domain. They also have a limited time to serve. Our great and glorious King has limitless domain and an eternal reign. When we wrap our minds around that we realize the kingdoms of this world cannot compare.
It was in the late 1800’s when Harriet Buell had been attending church one Sunday morning, and on her way home she wrote the words of today’s hymn. She sent her poem to the Northern Christian Advocate and it was published February 1, 1877.
It has been sung by many well known gospel artists across the years. The words are a blessed assurance of what we have waiting for us in glory.
A CHILD OF THE KING
1. My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
2. My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
3. I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
4. A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 10, 2016 | Philippians
Philippians 2:14:15
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
If you are anything like me, you have a hard time with people who have an attitude problem. It is sad to see someone acting like they have a chip on their shoulder just daring you to knock it off. Others simply act as if they are too good to communicate with the people around them.
Unfortunately, there are some Christians who have an attitude problem. They may act superior or even treat others with indifference or scorn. They backbite and gossip with indifference to God’s warning against such behavior.
Paul writes to the church at Philippi and gives a fantastic pattern of how we are to behave. We are to do things cheerfully and without conflict. We are to treat others with respect and the way Jesus would treat them.
Here is the big question of the day: HOW IS YOUR ATTITUDE? Let us take it one step further: How would people around you answer that question? In order to please the Lord, WATCH YOUR ATTITUDE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 8, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 10:12-14
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
Do you remember those children’s stories that always ended with “And they lived happily ever after”? Then we got older and realized that those stories were merely fairy tales and that it is impossible to live happily ever after. Right? Wrong!
We serve a Lord and Savior who promises us the most spectacular “ever after” that could ever be imagined. Sometimes in Scripture we are given glimpses into that wonderful eternity that God has prepared for those who choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
In those children’s fables that we read here on earth there comes a place where all of the problems and trials are ended and everything in the future is going to be perfect. We know that is just not true. We live in the reality of a sin-wrecked world that is filled with suffering and strife.
Let me quickly offer the hope that we find in the Bible: This world is not our eternal home — we are here for such a brief time that it is hard to measure in Eternity Standard Time. There will be a HAPPILY EVER AFTER for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to live HAPPILY EVER AFTER!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 7, 2016 | Philippians
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
If we do not have a goal we will never know if we achieved it or not. It will be like going around and around in a circle, but never reaching a destination. I think of cyclists in a cage that have sufficient speed to remain glued to the screen wall. They travel parallel to the ground, but because of their momentum, they do not fall. The other reality is that they never get anywhere.
NASCAR drivers, on the other hand, drive around and around in a circle, but they achieve a reward for the order in which they finish the race. Jeff Gordon, who retired from racing last year, established a record of starting in 796 races. He only won 93 of those races but is considered a champion.
You see, it is not necessary for us to win every race to be considered a champion. We need to have a goal in mind and strive to reach that goal. Paul tells us that he does not worry about calling himself a champion — he keeps his eye on the prize of pleasing his Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. That is the goal I want to strive to achieve!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 4, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 18:2
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Ira Sankey was a singer and song writer who ministered alongside evangelist D. L. Moody. He had experienced and extended time of trial and tears in his own personal life. He cried out to the Lord to be able to receive a renewing of his own spirit so he could in turn minister to others. It was during this time of agonizing prayer that the song Hiding In Thee was born. I am so thankful that the Lord heard and answered his prayer.
About twenty years later, Sergei Rachmaninoff was experiencing many problems in his life. He had a mental block, could not write and felt useless. After several years of emptiness he broke out of his doldrums and composed his second piano concerto. It is a joy to feature a blending of both works this week. ENJOY!
Hiding in Thee
O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its power,
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
To access Hiding In Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
