by Pastor Cecil | Apr 22, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 31:24
“Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
“I hope he chooses me! I hope he chooses me!” Those were the words that would race through my mind as sides were being chosen for some game we played as kids. Suffice it to say, I was usually one of the last to be called — more like a booby-prize than a coveted reward.
That concept of the word “hope” seems to be all too common. It is thought of as wishing for something that possibly could happen, but probably will not happen. That is just the reality of life (at least it was in my early years).
Let me correct that idea for us once and for all. The Hebrew word for “hope” as used in today’s scripture is yachal. It carries with it the meaning of expectation. Do you hear that? It is waiting for something the Lord has prepared especially for us!
Please read that last sentence over one more time. It is waiting for something the Lord has prepared especially for us! It is not what we desire for ourselves, but what God wants to do in and through us. I think the greatest joy in life is to be used of God.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 19, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 18:2
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
We are told that the persecution of believers around the world is increasing. Many are tortured for their faith and some killed. It has been estimated that there are over 100,000 deaths each year at the hands of the enemies of the cross.
Ira Sankey was a singer and song writer who ministered alongside evangelist D. L. Moody. He had experienced an extended time of trial and tears in his own personal life. It was during this time of agonizing prayer that the song Hiding In Thee was born. I am so thankful that the Lord heard and answered his prayer. It has ministered to many people across the years.
About twenty years after Sankey wrote his beautiful piece, Sergei Rachmaninoff was experiencing many problems in his life. He had a mental block, could not write, and felt useless. After several years of emptiness he broke out of his doldrums and composed his Second Piano Concerto. It is a joy to feature a blending of both works this week. ENJOY!
Hiding in Thee
O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its power,
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
To access this week’s free inspirational video, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/hidinginthee/
God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 18, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 42:1
“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.”
On a blistering hot sunny day, a glass of cool clear water is a refreshing treat that often calls for more than one glass before our thirst is satisfied. I only wish we had that same thirst for God and His Word.
The Psalmist David had this kind of thirst for his God. It is well to remember how David is described in I Samuel 13:14 as “The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart.” How would the Lord describe you? How would He describe me?
If we hunger and thirst after the things of God we will find ourselves constantly wanting to spend time in His Word and speaking with Him in our private place of prayer.
To measure our thirst for God let’s evaluate the time we spend seeking to be alone with Him. Do we have a place and time set aside that we devote to seeking a closer walk with Him? Can we be found faithful in placing His will for our life ahead of our own self-centered will? (It’s getting a little quiet in here, isn’t it?)
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 17, 2019 | Matthew
Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Not long ago I was watching a program highlighting the significant sights of Paris. One of those stops was the Notre Dame Cathedral. It was awe inspiring to view the beauty of this majestic building that had stood for some 800 years. Even by television it was a magnificent sight; but yesterday it was destroyed by fire!
While it may be rebuilt there are certain details and artifacts that can never be replaced. It is a reminder to me that the things of this world will all pass away. It is a certainty! Jesus has given us His words that all of the things that we can see or touch will be destroyed, but His words will never pass away!
That is a reminder to me about what is important in life. What kind of structure am I placing my confidence in? Anything that human hands can create and construct will be destroyed at some time in the future, but His Words can never end.
This being true, what am I spending my time, treasure, and talents to achieve? I want to devote myself more and more to share the truth of God’s indestructible Word with as many people as possible before it is too late.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 16, 2019 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 2:9
“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’”
We live in a world that has come alive with many things that have been invisible until now. Giant telescopes are revealing the vastness of space far beyond the comprehension of our forefathers. Microscopes have opened our eyes to the world of microbiology that is a universe in itself.
The satisfying thing to me as a believer in God and His Word is that God has revealed much of this mystery long before the scientists claim to have made their discoveries. To me it is far more logical to believe the God who created all things than to trust scientists who often are more interested in having a paper published than in honestly supporting the claims of the Bible.
I do not want to discredit honest scientists, but it is more common for the scientific community to spend a majority of their efforts in disproving the Bible than in reporting with integrity what they discover.
Many scientists have become believers in the Lord Jesus Christ after finding that what was taught in the classroom was contrived and lacked the support of true scientific evidence. It was most often based upon what others claimed, not on the actual evidence!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
