by Pastor Cecil | Aug 12, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
I served as a police officer while attending college. From time to time I would discover an unlocked door at a business. You would never know whether it was just an over-sight, or a possible burglary in progress. The policy was to search the business carefully with your gun drawn in one hand and your flashlight in the other hand. One of the most frightening things was to turn a corner and see someone with a drawn gun and flashlight facing you! It was a moment of panic until you realized that you were facing a full length mirror and you were seeing your own refection.
The image in the mirror was just that—an image. But it was terrifying! In like manner, the fear of death is an image. In fact it is a magnified image. Shadows are always larger than the real thing.
As I have read the accounts of God’s people who have been tortured to death across the ages since Jesus was here, I find that they die well. Think of Stephen who was stoned to death. He had such joy in the Lord that he preached a mighty sermon to his executioners and fell asleep with the vision of heaven in his eyes.
The next time you are tempted to fear death, stop and remind yourself that you are just passing through a valley filled with the shadow of death. The reason we need not fear is that the Lord is right there with us. Praise the Lord!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 11, 2014 | Ezra
Ezra 9:13
What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this.
Many people go through life feeling as if they deserve to be treated in some special way. Are you one of those people? Do you feel as if you are not being given the proper respect or credit that you are entitled to?
Increasingly, we live in a world that seems to be driven by self-centeredness. People are more interested in what will benefit themselves than what they can do to benefit those around them.
As long as we live our lives as if we are entitled to more than we have, we will become more and more discontent. Discontentment will inevitably lead to despair and the lack of spiritual purpose.
The Lord knows our needs before we are even aware that we need them. It is not what we deserve, but what He determines that is important. When we truly are sold out to Jesus, our cry will not be to bless us because we deserve it, but rather the words He used in speaking to His Father: “Not My will, but Thy will be done!” May that be our prayer moment by moment.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 8, 2014 | John
John 14:27
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.
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, is Wonderful 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 from GloryScapes™ 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 | Aug 7, 2014 | James
James 4:7-8
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Last Sunday afternoon we had a visit from our granddaughter and her family who have just moved here from Texas. We were excited to see the family, but my heart was yearning to see the newest member of the family, great granddaughter Skye Elena, who is just two months old.
As I took her in my arms and cuddled her close to my chest, my mind was flooded with memories of days gone by. Our photo albums contain pictures of each of our three kids as babies, cuddled up on my chest. Now come the great grandbabies.
My grandfather on my mother’s side of the family was also a cuddler. He loved babies and babies felt it. They would cuddle up in a ball on his chest and feel the warmth of his love and security.
In the same manner as babies cuddle up in the arms of those who love them, God desires us to cuddle up to Him. At first it may sound sacrilegious, but as we read the Word of God we discover that He is ready and willing for us to draw near to His heart and rest in the shelter and comfort of His arms.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 6, 2014 | Isaiah
Isaiah 1:18
‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’
Yesterday I wrote about an incident that occurred many years ago when our oldest daughter lost her retainer, causing us to spend many hours in a dumpster sifting through piles of smelly kitchen waste trying to find it.
While our youngest daughter, Lori, was at our house yesterday, I asked her to look it over for corrections. She stared at me with a shocked expression and said, “Dad, that was not Brenda — it was me that lost the retainer, and we were both searching.” She went on to say that her teacher even wrote in her year book that year, “Have your dad stay out of the dumpsters!” Lori continued to explain that we never did find the retainer, but when the dentist heard the story he replaced it free of charge.
I had no idea when I wrote yesterday’s E-Votional that I was conveying erroneous information. I certainly could recall the hours I spent digging through piles of leftover food scraps, but I had the wrong daughter and the wrong resolution to the problem. Lori asked me to go ahead and send out the E-Votional as written . . . but today I need to write this follow-up to correct my error and to teach a lesson.
When we receive knowledge that what we have done is wrong, immediately we need to set the record straight. My intentions were honorable, but my recollection was off base. When we see our errors we need to correct them and allow the Lord to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
