by Pastor Cecil | Mar 6, 2019 | Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 9:12
“For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.”
My wife and I were once traveling home when we saw a friend of ours, Terry Pullen, frantically waving his hand from the driveway of a family we knew. I thought he was having car trouble and stopped to render assistance. When I stopped I immediately got out of my car. (It was not a wise thing to do!)
As I closed my door a huge dog roared around the front of the car with teeth bared and snarling. It was clear that he meant business! When the dog came after me, Terry jumped in the back seat on the passenger side. The coward! He even had the audacity to roll down the window and tell me to be careful because the dog was vicious. (I was so glad that he told me. I never would have known!)
I am not sure how I managed to get the door open and back inside the safety of the car without being eaten alive, but I finally made it!
That incident reminds me that we can easily fall into the trap of the enemy of our souls. Satan knows how to put various kinds of lures along our pathway to heaven. We may have the best of intentions, and one little detour shouldn’t hurt—but it does!
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 5, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 30:4
“Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.”
Years ago I heard an illustration about a little boy who had climbed on the roof of his house to retrieve his ball. It was one of the cedar shingle roofs that had been weathered for many years. As he reached for his ball, he suddenly began to slowly slide down the steep pitched roof. He knew that there was nothing to stop him, and without Divine intervention, he was in for a very bad fall.
He began to pray as loud as he could for the Lord to save him. Just before reaching the edge of the roof, a rusty old shingle nail was sticking up and snagged the seat of his pants. He looked toward heaven and shouted out, “Forget it Lord, this nail has saved me!”
Are you are able to visualize those times when God touched us in a special way, but we failed to give Him the thanks and praise He so rightly deserved? We need to start paying on what we owe in the way of exaltation and rejoicing.
In our hectic world we all too often are caught up with our own concerns that we fail to thank God for all He does for us. Without Him all we do and all we hope to do amounts to nothing. It is only what is done for Christ that matters!
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 4, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 40:29
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”
I never want to belittle the ordeals that people encounter. Perhaps the worst thing we can say to someone who is going through a “shadow of death” experience is; I know what you are going through. We don’t! It is impossible for us to know what is causing the pain within a person. But the Lord knows!
I vividly recall sitting at the bedside of our daughter as she was dying. Joyce had gone home and it was just Brenda and I in that quiet hospital room. That little girl in a frilly pink dress had now become a mother of three beautiful children, and was just moments from ascending to be with the Lord.
This was no time for me to focus on the loss, but on the joys that awaited her in glory. As I focused upon the glory which awaited her, I almost felt a pang of homesickness for heaven. One of the Scriptures I quoted for Brenda was Psalm 23. Verse 4 was especially precious: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” It was this promise that made her funeral a few days later a celebration of praise.
Some people experience sickness and incapacitation of one sort or another. In those times it is well to consider the way God’s people have suffered across the centuries of time. Some of the greatest songs or poems of praise were penned at times of suffering.
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 1, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 29:2
“Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
There have been times in my life when I have worked in dirt and grime. By the time I had finished my work it seemed that I had been coated with the filth. I could hardly wait to take a shower and clean myself up. In this sin sick world we often need to come near God’s cleansing shower and experience His holiness.
Reginald Heber was born at Malpas, Cheshire, England, April 21, 1783 to a heritage of wealth and culture. By the age of five, he had read the Bible so thoroughly that he could give chapter and verse for chance quotations.
He composed many hymns, but served his entire life without seeing them published. It was only after his death that as many as 57 of his hymns were recognized. It was to the Lord that he dedicated his works. Such is the case with this week’s hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy!
Holy, Holy, Holy!
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! tho’ the darkness hide Thee
Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Enjoy this free inspirational video from Gloryscapes.com. To access Holy, Holy, Holy! Please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/holyholyholy/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 28, 2019 | Job
Job 19:25
“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth”
Have you ever experienced separation from your home and family? Having spent a year’s tour of duty separated from my family, I know the pain of separation for an extended period. Special days such as birthdays or holidays were the hardest. There were many wonderful experiences during that year, but I always knew that I was there temporarily and it was not home. I was homesick for my family and home. I longed to return to my wife and three precious children.
I once went to a hospital in Bend, Oregon, to visit a member of our church who was a returned missionary. The medical reports indicated that she was in very serious condition and may not be long for this world. I intended to read a few passages of Scripture to her in order to cheer her up.
When I entered her hospital room, it was like an entryway into heaven. This precious saint was so excited about being with her Lord in a few short days that she could hardly contain herself. In the time I spent at her bedside she showered me with praise and hope. I had gone to lift her spirits, but I walked out of that hospital with such a feeling of joy that I almost wished it was me standing on the doorstep of eternity.
I want to encourage all of us to take time and think about being ushered into the presence of our loved ones who have gone on before us and hearing them tell about our new home that will last eternally. Our day is coming – – – soon!
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
