by Pastor Cecil | May 6, 2019 | 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.”
Back when I was in high school (in the dark ages), I read a poem that rattled my cage. I cut it out and carried it around for many years before losing it. I have wished many times that I still had it. I hope you enjoy what I recall. It went something like this:
When skies are blue and songbirds sing;
When flowers bloom, their fragrance bring;
When friends abound and funds abound;
When health and love are easily found;
It doesn’t take a lot of sand to shout and sing, to beat the band.
BUT – – –
When things go wrong—as they often do;
When skies suddenly lose their azure blue;
When well laid plans fall into a crumpled heap;
When weary eyes scream out for peaceful sleep;
THEN – – –
Is the time to take our stand, it’s the time to walk by faith and take God’s hand!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 3, 2019 | Luke
Luke 15:20
“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”
In the parable of the Prodigal Son the wayward son returned to the home of his father. He did not expect to be received as a son, but was in hopes that he could be employed as a servant.
We know the story of how the father was lovingly anticipating the return of his son. He loved the wayward youth and eagerly met him with love and extravagance. It was not because the boy deserved it, but because he needed. The father was eager to give it to this son who had returned.
Clara Fiske Scott lived from 1841 to 1897 and tragically died after being thrown from a buggy being pulled by a runaway horse. She was a prolific hymn writer, but only this week’s featured hymn is still in circulation. Think of her hymn as it relates to a wayward son who has come home.
Open My Eyes
Open my eyes, that I may see,
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key,
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
Open my ears, that I may hear,
voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
Open my mouth, and let me bear,
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare,
love with Thy children thus to share.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
May the words of this hymn become our constant prayer. In the moments when the cares of this world tend to blind us to the mighty power of God unto salvation may our eyes see the open arms of the Savior waiting to receive us home.
To access; Open My Eyes, this week’s inspirational video from please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/openmyeyes/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 2, 2019 | Acts
Acts 24:25
“Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’”
A number of years ago I was attending a Christian conference that was being held on a major university campus. At that time this university boasted the top-ranked football team in the nation.
After lunch a group of us were walking back to the arena when we recognized the head coach and members of his staff walking in the same direction. The coach asked one of his staff what was going on for so many men to be present. The staff member explained that it was a Christian seminar. The coach scoffed and pronounced, “I don’t have time for God today!”
It was heartbreaking to hear such a firm rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, there are many who reject the Lord, even if they do not make such a bold statement. Even believers may become so pre-occupied with the things of the world that they simply do not have time for God.
Our Scripture for today gives us the answer. We are to make the time for God and draw near to Him and resist the devil. As we do this, He draws near to us and gives us the power to live a victorious life. Do you have time for God?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 1, 2019 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
It seems as if we have been here before! The older I get the more things seem to repeat themselves. This is also true with particular verses of Scripture. We are all familiar with John 3:16, but it is interesting that many New Testament books have a significant 3:16.
Please read today’s Scripture and you will see what I am referring to. These two verses are extremely powerful. God’s Word is the final authority. It is “God breathed” and infallible. Also note that it is “all of God’s Word” that is spoken of here. From Genesis to Revelation, God presents our pattern for living for Him.
We may not be able to understand everything that we read the first time, or even the 100th time, but if we remain faithful in our daily reading, more and more of it will become clear.
So what is the usefulness of God’s Word? For the men and women of God to be thoroughly equipped for every good work. I would say that makes it well worth our commitment to read and study diligently.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 30, 2019 | Daniel
Daniel 6:13
“So they answered and said before the king, ‘That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.’”
I am not sure how many times I have read and studied the book of Daniel, but it is many times. Each time I read it I am struck dumb by this passage that I have chosen for today’s Scripture. There were over 100 administrators who were so jealous of Daniel that they poked and pried into every area of his life. They were trying to find some fault so the king would not appoint him to head the whole kingdom.
How do you imagine you and I would survive such an intense examination? It makes us squirm a little doesn’t it? I once read of a man in a position of spiritual leadership who spoke with great conviction from the pulpit, but with his family he was bitter and critical. The man’s hypocritical behavior was witnessed by his son’s friend who rejected the gospel because of it.
Daniel was a man who lived his faith at all times. He was willing to die rather than turn his back on his Heavenly Father. The night he spent at the Lion’s Inn was easier for him than it was for the king.
As we examine our own lives we need to see a constancy that is not wishy-washy, but true and faithful at all times. Our actions must always match our words!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
