by Pastor Cecil | Oct 14, 2013 | Esther
Esther 4:15-16
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’
Each time I read the book of Esther I am challenged by the courage of this beautiful woman who seemed to have it all. She had been made queen, surrounded by pomp and grandeur that would be the envy of all other women in the kingdom. But there was a huge problem. A death sentence had been decreed for all of her people. The evil Haman was so filled with hatred toward the Jews that he wanted them all slain on one day.
Mordecai had confronted Esther with the problem they faced. She was asked to put her life on the line and risk everything by going into the presence of the king without his calling for her. She might have reasoned that it would be possible that she alone might escape the decree, but she was more committed to the God of Israel than the earthly king she served. Fasting and prayer preceded her actions, and the evil Haman and all of his cohorts were the ones who died.
That brings me to consider my own commitment. What am I willing to risk for the sake of the Lord? Is my comfort and ease more important than being committed to Christ? Am I prepared to give my all for the Lord? That is my desire!
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 11, 2013 | Matthew
Matthew 24:10-13
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Jesus is coming soon! Read Matthew 24 from start to finish and you will see the signs of His coming all around us. One of the prophecies concerning His return concerns the rise of false prophets and even those who claim to be Messiah.
Since 1891, when the blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby wrote this week’s hymn, there have many false leaders who claimed to be the promised Messiah. Each of these charlatans lacked the required proof— the prints of the nails in his hands! Carefully read the words of this old hymn.
My Savior First of All
When my lifework is ended,
and I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see;
I shall know my Redeemer
when I reach the other side,
And His smile will be the first to welcome me.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Oh, the soul-thrilling rapture
when I view His blessed face,
And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;
How my full heart will praise Him
for the mercy, love and grace,
That prepare for me a mansion in the sky.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Oh, the dear ones in glory,
how they beckon me to come,
And our parting at the river I recall;
To the sweet vales of Eden
they will sing my welcome home;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Through the gates to the city
in a robe of spotless white,
He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;
In the glad song of ages
I shall mingle with delight;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
To access My Savior First of All, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/mysaviorfirstofall/ 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 | Oct 10, 2013 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 3:17-18
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
As a former city police officer and Air Force Combat Missile Commander, I know what it is to be on guard. I have spent many wakeful nights to insure others are safe in their beds. The threat of enemies is deterred by those who are constantly on guard.
It is an awesome responsibility to be placed in a position of trust. As a police officer I was able to break-up family disputes and save a business owner from losing a delivery truck that was about to be stolen. In the Air Force I stood ready to defend our nation in the event an enemy launched missiles toward our shores.
Spiritually I feel the need to defend the inerrant Word of God against the relentless attacks of liberal theologians that feel a committee is able to set aside the absolutes of Scripture. This is a responsibility each of us should assume.
The best way to be on guard at all times is to follow what this passage in Second Peter advises; “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The more we study God’s Word and commune with Him in prayer the more we will be able to stand guard.
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 9, 2013 | 1 John
1 John 3:18-19
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.
As part of my Master’s Degree in Sociology, I studied a book about the difference in the way we want others to see us versus the way we are when we think we are not being observed by the people we want to impress. One example that I recall was the way waiters in an upscale dining room acted while serving guests compared to their behavior in the kitchen area with other staff members.
I once officiated at a military committal service for a decorated Navy veteran at a National Cemetery a little over an hour from our home. I asked my dear wife to ride with me and keep me company. It was a lovely day, and when we arrived at the shelter where the ceremony was to take place, I was directed to park at just the right location for Joyce to observe the service from the car.
The military contingent marched forward carrying the folded flag. The rifle detail fired three salvos; the flag was unfurled and as the military members saluted, a bugler played out the somber notes of the taps. It was inspiring to have four military personnel standing at parade rest while I recited Scripture and made spiritual application about the reality of eternity. The military detail concluded its portion of the service by presenting the flag to the widow, and then marched out of sight behind a wall.
As Joyce and I drove away, she reflected on what she had seen from her vantage point. The military detail had been so polished and regimented during the ceremony, but after they disappeared behind the wall, a change took place. She watched as stiff formality dissolved into casual laughter and gestures of relief.
Before we say anything critical of these young, brave service personnel, let us stop and consider our spiritual behavior. How many times have we put on a false facade of piousness? If we face ourselves in God’s mirror of truth—the Bible—what will we see?
If ever there were a time for authentic Christianity, it is now! We need men and women who will stop putting on a spiritual show and start living as authentic believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are people looking at the way we live—not just when we are in church, but every single day of the week. There are no “time outs” when it comes to serving Jesus. We should be the same “behind the wall” as we are when we’re called upon to minister. On stage or off stage—we need to be real soldiers of the cross! AT ALL TIMES!
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 8, 2013 | Ephesians
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
There are gifts and then there are gifts! I am looking at a gift right now that is very precious to me. It is a counted cross stitch picture showing an eagle in flight and the words of Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
The value of this picture is not in the cost of materials, but in the love that went into producing it. It was a gift from our daughter, Brenda on my birthday in March 1991, before her death in July of that year. She had been working on it for months and wanted to live long enough to complete it. I WILL CHERISH THAT GIFT ALL MY LIFE! I cannot imagine being offered that gift and refusing it. It cost Brenda so much!
Jesus lived His life with the purpose of offering us the most precious gift of all time—eternal life. It is offered freely to us, but at the cost of His own life. As amazing as it may seem, most people reject this most precious of all gifts. If you have never received it yourself, I urge you to open your heart right now and invite Him in. If you need help . . . see PastorCecil.com.
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
