by Pastor Cecil | May 21, 2018 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
I once read a story about an older gentleman who was always calling his wife by such endearments as “Honey,” “Sweetie,” “Dearie,” and “Love.” When a friend complimented him on the sweet names he called his wife, the old gentleman replied, “I have to … I haven’t been able to remember her name for ten years.”
There was once an unbelieving reprobate who announced to one of his friends that he had come to believe in the hereafter. His friend was shocked beyond belief and asked him if he had gotten religion? The reprobate replied, “No, it’s my mind. Every time I go into another room, I stop and ask myself, ‘What am I here after?'”
That is a vibrant question and merits a thoughtful answer. Peggy Lee, a singer back in the 50’s, used to sing a song, “Is That All There Is?” It was a depressing song to me. It is accurate of many people who try to fill their existence with all of life’s comforts, only to come near the end and find that the things of this life will never satisfy.
Jesus often spoke of the “Kingdom of Heaven.” As we think of God’s wonderful Kingdom, there are two elements: The here and the hereafter. We have a future glory awaiting us. Are you prepared for the HEREAFTER?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 18, 2018 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I once read about a forest service worker who was walking through an area that had just been ravaged by a forest fire. He saw a strange mound and stopped to check it out. To his astonishment it was a mother bird that had been killed by the fire. As he knelt to examine the bird, he heard a peep from under the pile of ashes. When he turned the bird over he found several chicks.
Instead of flying to save herself, the mother had sacrificed herself in order to protect her brood from the fire that was sweeping toward them. That is what Jesus has done for us. He wants to shelter us under His wings from the firestorm of life.
In 1896, William Cushing wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn, Under His Wings. Enjoy this featured hymn from GloryScapes.
Under His Wings
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
To access Under His Wings, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/underhiswings/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 17, 2018 | Proverbs
Proverbs 18:24
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Being alone is a sad and dismal position. We really do need each other and a friend is one of the greatest possessions we can have. It is a sad and poor man who has no friends. Friends are different from companions. Companions may be close by, but are not sufficiently close that we can share our deepest feelings.
When I resigned as pastor in Burns, Oregon, a close friend, Chris Vosler, gave me a plaque and a card. The plaque reads: A friend is one who knows you as you are, understands where you’ve been, accepts who you’ve become, and still gently invites you to grow. The card reads: Cecil, Thanks for being that friend. Chris.
As close as our dearest friend or friends may be, we have a friend who is still closer. Of course I am speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who is with us at all times. When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is there beside us. When we receive devastating news, He is there to provide the comfort and solace to ease the pain. When we receive news that calls for rejoicing, He makes it even better for we have One who rejoices with us. At all times and in every circumstance, our dearest Friend makes our life worth living.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 16, 2018 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
I once read the recounting of a young girl’s thrilling act of faith. As she and her mother were getting ready to exit a store a rain downpour suddenly erupted. In the crowd that was waiting out the rain were some grumblers while others just stood in silence. Suddenly the young girl began to urge her mother to run through the rain to their car. But her mother wanted to wait for the rain to stop.
The mother patiently explained that they would get soaking wet if they ran through the rain. The girl protested that they wouldn’t and reminded her mother what she had said that very morning. “Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!'”
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. Finally the mother answered. “Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If God lets us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing.” Then off they ran to their car smiling and laughing.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. We need to realize that innocent trust can be nurtured in order for it to bloom into faith.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 15, 2018 | Exodus
Exodus 3:11
“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’”
That question Moses asks is of vital concern for each of us: WHO AM I? The answer is that we are the ones the Lord has chosen to do His work. It is not the workers who matter. It is the Lord who sends the workers! It is the Lord who is in us that matters! Do we really believe that? Do we say we believe it and then behave as if we do not believe it?
I know that many of you are facing challenges that seem impossible to deal with. Some are even facing life and death situations. Believers around the world have been and are being targeted for execution. Others of you have shared medical problems which are very serious. Many have problems with family members — husbands, wives, parents, children, etc., all of which bring about a sense of helplessness.
If we have not been confronted with extreme problems, we will be. We need to be used of God to be able to bring God’s solution to man’s problems. Do we have mustard seeds of faith to turn our problems into the opportunities for God to bring about His deliverance? Are we committed to trust in His strength and wisdom rather than trying to do things ourselves? By faith we can say … I AM READY. USE ME, LORD!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
