by Pastor Cecil | Jul 3, 2015 | John
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
We have a liberal college in our community and from time to time we see bumper stickers from this group that read, World Peace. Some jokesters have made a play on this sticker by coming up with one of their own; Whirled Peas. I suppose the second sticker is much more easily achieved.
From the day that Adam and Eve sinned and were evicted from the garden there has been strife, conflicts and wars. For all of the rhetoric about attaining peace we are no closer to world peace, nor will we ever be until Jesus comes again to establish His Wonderful Peace over all the earth. What a fantastic day it will be when there is eternal peace. The featured hymn this week from GloryScapes, isWonderful Peace.
Wonderful Peace
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain: Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
Refrain
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
Refrain
And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:
Refrain
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!
Refrain
To access Wonderful Peace, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/wonderfulpeace/ 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 | Jul 2, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 100:1-3
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Many years ago I was attending a pastor’s conference in Boise, Idaho. It was quite a large conference and most of the attendees were from out of the area. Before the first session there were about 100 or so pastors visiting in the vestibule. It was a very congenial and lighthearted atmosphere.
A young man and I were having a great time laughing over small talk. We had probably visited for five or 10 minutes when the organizer of the conference approached us and called my new friend by name. It was only then that I realized that he was a nationally prominent Bible authority who was the speaker for the conference.
I was stunned and began to recall some of the things I had said, hopeful that my mouth had not gotten me into trouble once again. I had been in the presence of the one we had all come to hear, and I did not even recognize him. During one of the subsequent breaks I was stunned when he sought me out to continue our conversation. It made my day!
How many times do we come into the presence of the Lord without realizing He is present. I fear we become indifferent and irreverent instead of acknowledging the Lordship of our Savior. I want to come into his presence with thanksgiving and rejoicing at all times, and above all with praise!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 1, 2015 | Joshua
Joshua 9:14-15
“Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.”
Heartbreak is too often the result of not seeking God’s counsel before taking a particular action. Over the years of my ministry I have counseled many people concerning their relationship with God and with individuals. Frequently, people have wanted their own way rather than taking the time to discover God’s way.
The two verses that I have quoted today reference a time when Israel was possessing the land which God had given them. For the most part, Joshua always took the time to seek and follow God’s will. Each and every time that Joshua and the leaders of Israel sought the face of God and then obeyed, there was victory. The times when they failed to seek His will, there was always failure and disaster.
The Gibeonites knew that Israel was an unstoppable force. God had so blessed them that wherever they went they were undefeatable. So the crafty Gibeonites devised a plan whereby it appeared they were a group from far away rather than residents near at hand. To enhance the deception, they wore worn clothing and carried moldy bread. From all outward appearances this was a ragtag group that sought a treaty with Israel. To their detriment, Joshua and the leaders relied upon what they saw rather than seeking what God knew. They were deceived!
In our own lives we can also be deceived by appearances. Rather than taking the time to seek God’s will for us, we think we know enough to make our own decisions. That is never the case! We always need God’s direction.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 30, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 43:5
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”
Almost every week I notice a long line at the local super market. The people in the line are not waiting to pay for groceries . . . oh no, they waiting to purchase lottery tickets for that week’s drawing. The chances of them holding a winning number is millions to one, but they still have HOPE!
Last week a man was struck by lightning in his front yard. The likelihood of this happening would be many millions to one. The irony is that this same man was struck by lightning once before. His name is Rod, so now his friends call him . . . “LIGHTNING ROD!”
Frequently I receive something in the mail informing me that I have a chance of being selected to receive a huge check from a large publishing firm. I know that there are winners, and I can hope that someone will show up at my door with balloons and a large check, but I am not losing any sleep waiting for it.
Those examples are far removed from the meaning of the word hope that we find in today’s Scripture. It comes from the Hebrew word yachal. It has the meaning of expectantly anticipating. God has given us His precious promises and they will all come to pass. There is a home in glory waiting for us and that is a certain HOPE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 29, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 73:22-24
“I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”
Having spent many years in police work, I am always fascinated by the law enforcement reality programs on television. My daughter Lori shares my fascination with these programs. Over and over we watch as the guilty proclaim their innocence . . . even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Many times we have heard the arrested suspects make statements like, “I swear on my mother’s grave that I did not do that!” It seems like each and every time an offender makes such a claim, they are ultimately proven guilty. When confronted with the evidence, many times they will confess.
It is so difficult to confess when we are wrong. We always want to be right even when we have done something that is wrong. I think of David and his terrible sin of infidelity with Bathsheba. He was guilty of adultery and compounded it with the premeditated murder of her husband by placing him near the enemy and then retreating, setting him up to be killed in battle.
It may be that David was recalling this horrible time in his life when he penned the words of the 73rd Psalm. Even though we do wrong, God always does what is right. His desire is for us to draw near to Him and confess our sin. It is only then that He is able to forgive us. Our part is confessing. His part is forgiving and cleansing. Thank the Lord that we are not saved by what we do, but by what He has done for us.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
