by Pastor Cecil | Oct 14, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 119:9-11
“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”
As I was praying about the subject for this issue of BLESSINGS FROM THE HEART, my thoughts were drawn to “Your Word.” When I checked a concordance I discovered that Psalm 119 has so many references to these two words that it was difficult to count them. Not only that, but there were a vast number of synonyms for God’s Word.
I have heard that Jewish boys were required to memorize all of Psalm 119. That may not sound like much until you check and discover that there are a total of 176 verses in this chapter. (When was the last time you memorized one or two verses?)
Most of us have several Bibles in our possession. In many cases they look like they have never been opened. I always try to be careful when I purchase a new Bible, but it seems like before long it becomes so worn and marked up that I need to go shopping for a new one. It is sheer bliss to pick one of my old Bibles and thumb through it and read a few of the notes I had made.
The important thing is that our Bibles are God breathed. The words are His words! I want those words to burn deep into my heart and keep me focused on Him at all times.
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” – Charles H. Spurgeon
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 13, 2015 | Numbers
Numbers 35:22-23
“But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended…”
Accidents happen! Sometimes they are totally beyond our control, but at other times we take risks that lead to accidents. Recently during a major flooding event in South Carolina, drivers were warned about the dangers of driving through high water. I watched as television cameras recorded a pickup truck driving into deep water that was very clearly flowing from left to right. The truck was approximately halfway through the flooded area when suddenly it began to float and soon was swamped.
Rescuers in an inflatable boat had to come to the rescue of that driver. Was it an accident? Clearly the driver thought he was able to make it across the flooded roadway, but he took a risk that endangered his life and others. It was unintentional but could have been avoided.
There are times in life where we have the best intentions in the world, but for some reason or another, we fail to follow through. The results can be catastrophic or at least lead to difficult situations. Our actions may be unintentional but risky.
God calls us to walk circumspectly and obediently. We need to search the Word of God continually and pattern our life accordingly. Living a life of victory and meaning is the result of staying close to Jesus. Trust and obey — there is no other way!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 12, 2015 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 9:23-24
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord.”
When my wife Joyce was still alive I always knew what would bring her delight. It was not flowers or candy. It was for me to straighten up my area. You see, it seems that my desk and around my chair become cluttered with books, mail, and above all, small scraps of paper that I have scribbled notes on. Each item has (or had) some value to me, but to Joyce it was just a big mess.
Quite often we focus only upon our interests or the things that are important to us. When those around us lack the same interests that we do, we are prone to spend less and less time with and around them. We only seem to be interested in those who are interested in the things that we are. I think you can see that this is very narrow minded and will block meaningful relationships.
Turning the spotlight of our attention on spiritual things reveals the same problem. We seem to think that we are the ones that determine whether God will be interested in what we do. We fail to ask what it is that He wants. This passage in Jeremiah makes very clear the thing that delights the Lord. Essentially it is that we will understand and know Him and His workings. Let’s delight the Lord by knowing Him better and better.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 9, 2015 | Genesis
Genesis 9:16
“Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
Years ago my wife Joyce and I were once driving along the beautiful Columbia River gorge in Oregon. A rain shower had recently swept across the area, and now bright sunlight flooded the area. As we drove, a rainbow kept pace beside the car. I know it was just a refraction of the sunlight, but what an awe inspiring sight.
There are two requirements to produce a rainbow, rain and sun. Without rain there could be no rainbow. Without sun there would be no rainbow. In the rainy times of our life, God’s tender care for us brings His rainbow of blessing. God’s covenant of love did not say that we would be free of rain, but He is always with us in the storms of life.
Back in 1879 Rev. J. K. Alwood was equally moved as he observed a rainbow in the western sky late one evening as he was traveling home. When he arrived at his home, he immediately composed the hymn for this week; The Unclouded Day.
The Unclouded Day
O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,
O they tell me of that land far away;
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom
Sheds its fragrance thru the unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of the King in His beauty there,
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold,
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow,
In the city that is made of gold.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me that he smiles on His children there,
And his smile drives their sorrows all away;
And they tell me that no tears ever come again,
In that lovely land of unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video The Unclouded Day, fromGloryScapes™ Christian Hymns.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 8, 2015 | Isaiah
Isaiah 61:3
“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Have you ever known Christians who look like they have been baptized in vinegar? Let’s get a little more personal: Do YOU sometimes look or act like you are awash in a vat of vinegar? If Jesus is our joy (and He is!), we need to let our faces show it.
Please stop right now and read today’s Scripture once again. Do you notice anything interesting? Let me assist you: Beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. In the physical world this seems to be out of step with reality. In God’s economy these reactions should be the normal way of thinking and acting.
Immediately the question arises, how do I go about making a change in my way of thinking? How do I get the joy of Jesus as the hallmark of my life? To me the answer seems to be quite simple. It is taking our eyes off of our selves and keeping them on Jesus. Fall in love with Him all over again. Instead of asking what He can do for us, ask what we can do for Him?
Have you found that joy in Jesus? Start immediately! Take time to get alone with Him and thank Him for everything He has done for you. Let His love sweep you off your feet!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
