by Pastor Cecil | Apr 10, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I once read about a forest service worker who was walking through an area that had just been ravaged by a forest fire. He saw a strange mound and stopped to check it out. To his astonishment it was a mother bird that had been killed by the fire. As he knelt to examine the bird, he heard a peep from under the pile of ashes. When he turned the bird over he found several chicks.
Instead of flying to save herself, the mother had sacrificed herself in order to protect her brood from the fire that was sweeping toward them. That is what Jesus has done for us. He wants to shelter us under His wings from the firestorm of life.
In 1896, William Cushing wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn, Under His Wings. Enjoy this featured hymn from GloryScapes.
Under His Wings
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
To access Under His Wings, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/underhiswings/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 9, 2015 | 2 Timothy
2 TIMOTHY 2:2
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Throughout my lifetime I have received many medals and awards–some when I was serving in the Air Force and others as recognition for some accomplishment. The thing about such recognition is that it tends to lead to pride. “LOOK WHAT I DID!” That saddens me.
There is one award that brings tears to my eyes each time I look at it. It is a small statue of a guard dog. It is about six inches long and three inches tall and sits on a wooden base that bears the inscription, “OLD DOG SHEP.” It was a thoughtful birthday gift from a member of our congregation who knew the back story. It sits next to the temporary grave marker that was returned to us when the permanent marker was received.
For the past few years I had the joy of caring for my wife. Gradually, I assumed more and more of the responsibilities as she became weaker, and I found joy in serving her. The two of us would laugh, and I knew that Joyce was paying me the highest compliment a wife could give a husband. I accept the title with pleasure.
God is not interested in us trying to do great and mighty things to please Him. He is constantly calling us to become faithful servants who do not think that we are too good to do the grungy tasks of life. Every time I look at OLD DOG SHEP beside Joyce’s marker, a tear slips out of the corner of my eye. I was the luckiest man in the world to serve my precious wife. Oh, how I long to see her again!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 8, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
Years ago I heard a returned missionary speak about the ministry he had been involved in for many years. It seemed as if all of his efforts produced little or nothing. He was sharing his disappointment with another missionary as they sat watching their horses drink from a shallow pond.
The other missionary listened to his frustration. He asked how you could force a horse to drink if he was stubborn and obstinate. The first missionary agreed that it would be impossible to force him to drink. “Horses are too big and strong and if their will is set not to drink they won’t drink.” The fellow missionary told him he had a secret to make them drink — SALT THE OATS!
I have thought about that illustration every time I try to get my little dog, Izzy to eat. Salt won’t do it, but when I mix something I know she likes in with her regular food before long she eats everything.
As servants of the Jesus Christ we have been given the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. That begins right here at home. Are we making the things of God so appealing that it is like salting the oats or lacing the dog food? Are people bored to death when we talk about spiritual things? In order to attract people to Christ we need to get excited ourselves. PASS THE SALT PLEASE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 7, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Over the years I have experienced rejection . . . not very often, I am happy to say, but it has occurred. In the instances where the offended person identified what I had done to offend them I felt more or less able to deal with it.
The real problem arises when a friend or family member throws you a body blow of rejection and offers no explanation as to the reason. Sometimes they even refuse to speak with you, so you are left to struggle alone trying to understand what caused their resentment.
In these instances I have found that the answer is to be found in God’s Word. I go into the pages and strive to see what God says about how to deal with the believer who rejects you without giving a reason.
You know what I have found? It is in these times of unreasonable rejection that I am drawn closer to the Lord and find my comfort in Him. The one or ones who reject me are not the ones I am responsible to; but the Lord who controls my life is the One who sees all and desires that I rest in Him. As He works in me, He will also work on the one who has rejected me. GROWTH HURTS!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 6, 2015 | Philippians
Philippians 3:10-11
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
I have enjoyed the song that Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote and have performed many times, Because He Lives. The first words are so powerful that they leave me breathless. God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive. He lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Yesterday we celebrated Resurrection Day. It was and will always be a cause for rejoicing for every believer that we serve a Savior who is alive. He always was alive, He is alive right now making intercession for us, and He will always be alive as we spend eternity praising Him for giving us eternal life!
Since Jesus has provided us with resurrection life, how should we then live? Paul gives us the answer in Roman 12:18; “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
We are urged to overcome evil by doing good. We are not saved by doing good, but the fruit of resurrection life is seeing the good and doing it. Sometimes it means doing good to those who have hurt us in some way. Resurrection life is seeing life as Jesus sees it. Ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” Then do it!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
