by Pastor Cecil | Mar 4, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Hebrews 13:21-22
“May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
This week we continue to examine stories surrounding the great hymns of the faith. Our failure to pause and consider the words and intent of many of these hymns is tragic. It makes you wonder what people in future generations will be able to say about the music of our day.
One Christmas Eve, Ira D. Sankey was traveling by steamboat up the Delaware River. Asked to sing, Mr. Sankey sang the “Shepherd Song.” After the song was ended, a man with a rough, weather-beaten face came up to Mr. Sankey and said: “Did you ever serve in the Union Army?” “Yes,” answered Mr. Sankey, “in the spring of 1860.”
“Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?” “Yes,” answered Mr. Sankey, very much surprised.
“So did I,” said the stranger, “but I was serving in the Confederate army. When I saw you standing at your post I said to myself: ‘That fellow will never get away from here alive.’ I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you.”
“At that instant,” continued the man, “just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to heaven and began to sing. Music, especially song, has always had a wonderful power over me, and I took my finger off the trigger. ‘Let him sing his song to the end,’ I said to myself. ‘I can shoot him afterwards. He’s my victim at all events, and my bullet cannot miss him.’ ”
The man continued: “The song you sang then was the song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: ‘We are Thine, do Thou befriend us, Be the guardian of our way.’ Those words stirred up many memories in my heart. I began to think of my childhood and my God-fearing mother. She had many, many times sung that song to me. But she died all too soon, otherwise much in my life would no doubt have been different.”
“When you had finished your song it was impossible for me to take aim at you again. I thought: ‘The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty’ and my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side.”
“Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” by Ira D. Sankey
Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us,
be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,
seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Thou hast promised to receive us,
poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us,
grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to Thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to Thee.
Early let us seek Thy favor,
early let us do Thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
with Thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 3, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
1 John 1:28-29
“And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.”
This first week in March, I have decided that I will focus on the stories and words contained in some of our favorite hymns. It is distressing that in the attempt to entertain, we have sacrificed an entire genre of sacred music. It is almost as if hymns are out and hip-hop is in. So here we go!
In the mid-eighteen hundreds, Henry F. Lyte, pastored a seashore church in Lower Brixham, Devonshire England, among the rough sailors and uncultured villagers. He had served faithfully for many years and was dearly loved by his parishioners. He in turn had a deep love for them.
He developed tuberculosis and became increasingly weak. He was sickly and unwell most of the time. As his health continued to decline his doctor advised him to spend time in sunny southern Europe in the hope that the change in weather might improve his condition. It was with a broken heart that he stood before his weeping people and delivered his final sermon as their pastor.
That evening he was watching as the sun began to set in the west. As the light of day began to fade, Mr. Lyte took note and related it to his own life that was slipping away. This beloved hymn of comfort and trust was written by a pastor who knew what it was to have confidence in what lay ahead for him.
The next day, he left for Italy to regain his health. He didn’t make it, though he died in Nice, France, three weeks after writing these words. Here is an excerpt from his farewell sermon: “O brethren, I stand here among you today, as alive from the dead, if I may hope to impress it upon you, and induce you to prepare for that solemn hour which must come to all, by a timely acquaintance with the death of Christ.”
“ABIDE WITH ME” by Henry F. Lyte
Abide with me, Fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.”
What more can I say in response to these wonderful words of hope and promise except to earnestly pray: “O Lord, abide with me!”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 29, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Hebrews 9:11-12
“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.”
Picture the northern peninsula of Newfoundland near the small community of Flower’s Cove. The Newfoundland Department of Transportation and Works has installed a camera looking north along Route #430. It refreshes every five or ten minutes.
Many times each day I go to this site and look out at the landscape that was my home for one year back in 1966-67. I think of the people I met and the way they made me feel a part of them while I was separated from my family. One of these individuals was Fred Budgell, who worked in the dining hall at the USAF radar site. He was a dear Christian and was never ashamed to speak freely of his faith.
I was able to track Fred down and he is now spending the winter in Toronto with his two daughters and their families. He is now a subscriber, so I must be careful what I say to make sure that it is correct.
I give all of that detail to come down to this observation—the nature of snow. Last week there was a heavy snow that completely covered the roadway on Route #430. The temperature was about -11 Celsius (12-13 Fahrenheit). The image on the screen was pure white.
A few days later it warmed up to a few degrees above freezing. The snow melted on the roadway and the slush and mess from passing vehicles caused the edges of the road to turn a dirty shade of brown. It was ugly! Within a day the temperature dropped again and you could almost feel how slick the roadway was as it turned to ice.
Even with the frigid temperatures, the ugly brown marked the edge of the road. But then came another snowstorm. What had been a blight on the landscape was now transformed. It was now covered with several inches of freshly fallen snow. My view from the road camera revealed only a white covering.
It reminds me of a wonderful old hymn, “Covered By the Blood.” Meditate on these words.
Once in sin’s darkest night I was wand’ring alone;
A stranger to mercy I stood. But the Savior came nigh
When he heard my faint cry, And He put my sins under the blood.
Refrain: They are covered by the blood;
They are covered by the blood; My sins are all covered by the blood.
Mine iniquities so vast, Have been blotted out at last,
My sins are all covered by the blood.
From the burden I carried now I am set free,
For Jesus has lifted my load.
O the love and the grace I received in its place
When he put my sins under the blood.
Refrain:
I can ne’er understand why He sought even me,
Why His lifeblood on Calvary flowed.
But sufficient for me,
Since He died on the tree,
He hath put my sins under the blood.
Refrain:
Now He comes to my heart and removes ev’ry care;
He bears all my cumbering load.
In a pathway replete
With His love are my feet,
Since He put my sins under the blood.
Refrain:
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 28, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
I Peter 2:24-3:1
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.”
What a strange world we live in. God is so good to allow beauty in place of ugliness and humor in place of sorrow. Last night I was on a long distance call to an adopted daughter who had lost both of her parents within the past year. Because of family friction she was not allowed to attend either funeral service.
We talked for quite some time as I tried to give her spiritual counsel. She is a believer, but neither of her adoptive parents were believers. I officiated at her father’s service last week. He had specified that he wanted virtually no one to know about the service. At his request only three people were at the graveside.
It was amazing that I felt closer to this daughter who was almost three thousand miles away than I had with the three who were seated in front of the coffin. After we had talked for awhile I had prayer with her and made arrangements for her and her children to be here in a few months and have prayer at the graveside.
Things became more light-hearted in our conversation and she told me a humorous story. It seems that a preacher had owned a mule for a number of years and had taught him to respond to voice commands. When the preacher said, “Hallalujah”, the mule would start to gallop. When he wanted the mule to stop he would shout, “Praise the Lord.”
The preacher was moving so he decided to sell the mule. A man from the city heard about it and came to look into buying the mule. The buyer was pretty conceited and only halfheartedly listened to the instructions the old preacher was giving.
He decided to try the mule out to see what it would be like to ride him. He got into the saddle and the old preacher said; “Hallelujah!” Immediately the mule took off at a fast gallop with the city slicker hanging on for dear life. They were getting close to a steep cliff and for the life of him he could not remember what he was supposed to say to get the mule to stop.
Just before they reached the edge of the precipice, he remembered. With joy he shouted out; “Praise the Lord!” The mule screeched to a stop at the very edge. He took out his hankerchief, wiped his brow and let out a loud “Hallelujah!” Emergency room personnel wondered why the badly injured man kept shouting; “No! No! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” through his bandages.
I guess we can relate to that silly story in a number of ways. To me the most obvious concept is that we often use words that transmit the wrong meaning. As the judge I used to work for used to say, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and look stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.”
If we are going to change our world and those around us, we must do so by our lives, not just our words. There is an old saying that goes something like this: “Your actions speak so loud that I cannot hear a word you are saying.” What message do people see in the way we live? Think about it! “Praise the Lord!”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 27, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Psalm 22:26-28
“The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise Him—may your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.”
Have you ever noticed how often the word “TOO” is used? On Monday I was talking to a bookkeeper. I asked her; “How was your weekend?” Her answer was; “It was too short!” She laughed and said, “You know, if you are miserable, it is too long, but if you are enjoying it, it is too short!”
I started thinking about the many times I have heard people use that word “too” in a negative sense. It’s too hot or too cold, too wet or too dry, too early or too late, too young or too old, too short or too long, too generous or too frugal—I think you get the point.
The children of Israel failed to enjoy the miracles God provided for them during the Exodus. They were too full of the life they had left to rejoice in what God was doing for them and what He had prepared for them. They were too thirsty and too hungry and yes, even too homesick for their former lives of slavery to appreciate what God was doing for them.
Let’s examine ourselves to consider if this attitude of dissatisfaction is present in our own life. It will be difficult since it is very subtle. Think of the areas of discontent that prevent you from thanking God for the things He has brought into your life:
- The sermon was TOO long! (Think of those who have no pastor and long to hear the preaching of the Word).
- I am TOO tired to read the Bible! (Think of those who have no Bible and hunger for the Word).
- I’m TOO timid to share the gospel! (Think of the eternity in hell waiting for those who are not born again).
- I have TOO many bills to tithe! (Do you rob God and spend the money on your own foolish pleasures?).
The list could go on and on. I think it is worth our time and effort to listen to our ourselves. Every time we hear the word “TOO” coming from our lips, let us stop and think about why we are saying it. Is it an excuse to get out of doing a difficult task? Is it a failure to utterly trust God?
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 26, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals
Hebrews 13:11-14
“The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.”
I heard a former car salesman share that he was always looking for opportunities to share the gospel, and hopefully lead someone to the Lord. As a salesman he would start out trying to sell a car, but when it was clear that the customer was not going to buy, he would ask about the customer’s soul.
The conversation would go something like this:
SALESMAN: “Are you ready to meet the Lord?”
CUSTOMER: “I think so.”
SALESMAN: “What makes you ready to meet the Lord?
CUSTOMER: “I’m a good person.”
SALESMAN: “How good do you think you have to be?”
CUSTOMER: “Pretty good!”
SALESMAN: “How good is pretty good?”
CUSTOMER: “Pretty, pretty good!”
SALESMAN: “Do you know how good the Bible says you have to be?”
CUSTOMER: “Nope.”
SALESMAN: “Perfect!”
CUSTOMER: “Who in the world is perfect?
SALESMAN: “Me!!!”
Before the customer would walk out in disgust, he would share that it was not because of his behavior or actions, but that we are made perfect through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is His perfection that makes us righteous and ready to meet the Lord.
The question often is asked: “How are we to be saved?” Jesus is the answer to man’s question concerning salvation. Let me share with you some of the offices Jesus filled to provide us with a complete salvation. All are found in the book of Hebrews:
Chapter 1: Christ is our Sin-Purger! Has He purged your sins?
Chapter 2: Christ is the Captain of our Salvation! Is He your Captain?
Chapter 3: Christ is The Son over His own house! Are you part of His household?
Chapter 5: Christ is our Great High Priest! Do you worship under His direction?
Chapter 6: Christ is our Forerunner! Are you His follower or are you trying to lead?
Chapter 8: Christ is our Mediator! Is He making intercession for you?
Chapter 12: Christ is our Prince and Perfecter of Faith! Have you trusted in Him fully?
Chapter 13: Christ is our Great Shepherd! Are you the sheep of His pasture?
Because Jesus fills all of the offices mentioned above, He meets every need of every believer. We need only to come to Him in faith believing, to find rest for our souls. The unrepentant must repent and be saved. The backslider must stop the downward spiral that leads to destruction, and return to fellowship and communion with God’s family.
The spiritually bankrupt will find a supply of grace and goodness that is all sufficient. It is essential that we come to Him as the lost souls that we are and allow His blood to cleanse us and make us new. We just have to come and accept Him. It is so easy, but we make it so hard. When we draw near to Him we can be assured that He will draw near to us.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
