by Pastor Cecil | Jun 25, 2009 | Hebrews
Hebrews 9:27-28
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
In pioneer days an outpost usually contained a small general store offering a limited variety of staple items like flour, salt, sugar, beans, cloth and the like. In the first half of the 1900s, grocery stores became separate from clothing stores and the variety of available items grew. In the early seventies a typical supermarket stocked about 9,000 items. Today that figure has grown to over 50,000 items! Wow! That is growth!
What is the reason for this phenomenal growth? Demand! It may better be defined as—desire. In its natural fallen state, the human heart is never satisfied. There is always the desire for more and more—bigger and better!
But then what? What will it take to reach the place of inner contentment? How much “stuff” is enough? Let me give you my answer—there will never be enough to satisfy! People are working day and night to produce items you didn’t even know existed and that you now cannot live without. Scary isn’t it.
Imagine that you just received a generous gift—but then what? You just discovered that a malignant growth had disappeared—but then what? You just retired to a life of ease—but then what?
The point I want to make is that everything—everything, is going to pass away and turn to dust. Each of us is destined to die and after that the judgment. Only those who have repented of their sins and received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will escape the terrible judgment of the unsaved.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 22, 2009 | Hebrews
Hebrews 12:2
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This week’s hymn was written 302 years ago by Isaac Watts. It would be impossible to fully know the number of lives it has touched since he wrote it. One of those lives was the blind hymn writer, Fanny J. Crosby. In the autumn of 1850 revival meetings were being held in the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church in New York City.
Fanny and some of her friends attended each night and she craved for spiritual joy, but could not find it. On the evening of November 20, 1850, it seemed to her that the light must indeed come then or never. After a prayer was offered, they began to sing this hymn. When they sang “Here Lord, I give myself away,” her soul was flooded with a celestial light. She realized what her problem had been. She realized that she had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.
“At The Cross“
Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head,
For sinners such as I?
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross
where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.
Refrain:
Was it for crimes that I had done,
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Refrain:
Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.
Refrain:
Thus might I hide my blushing face,
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.
Refrain:
But drops of grief can ne’er repay,
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
‘Tis all that I can do.
Refrain:
Are you like Fanny Crosby—looking for joy to fill your soul? Her answer is our answer—“Here, Lord, I give myself away, ‘Tis all that I can do.”
To access At The Cross, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/atthecross in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 15, 2009 | Hebrews
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
In the past few weeks the entire world seems to be consumed with fear over the outbreak of swine flu. Some have started using face masks, while others of us have taken more precautions to wash our hands and cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze. I can still remember as a boy when families were quarantined because someone in the house was diagnosed with a contagious disease.
Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri, in 1903 when two nieces died from diphtheria. In his hour of grief he wrote this hymn and had the college choir sing it outside the quarantined house.
“Near to the Heart of God“
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.
To access Near to the Heart of God, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 14, 2009 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:1-3
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Joyce and I once lived in a gated community that required using a remote control device to open the gate. It was designed in such a way to prevent unauthorized persons from entering. Only with the box that had been provided to us could we open the gate.
Faith may be defined as the gate that leads from our poverty to God’s power. In making that statement I do not wish to give rise to a name-it and claim-it theology. All too frequently people use God’s promises for their own selfish desires.
As we read chapter eleven in Hebrews, it is almost like walking through God’s hall of fame of the faithful men and women who trusted God with their all. These heroes of the faith saw something that was more important than life. They might have been shy and quivering cowards at one time in their lives, but they saw something that gave them courage and backbone worthy of merit.
These heroes of the faith stood tall and trusted God rather than circumstances. It was the faith of these heroes that brought joy to God’s heart. He is delighted by men and women who choose to place their faith in Him rather than compromising with the world.
Down through the ages of history—even to our present day—there are men and women who have placed their reliance on things which are seen only by faith in God. In many cases believers have endured pain, torture and death, knowing that eternal bliss waited just beyond their final breath.
Songwriter Oscar Eliason wrote, “Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?” He answered his own question as he continues; “God specializes in things thought impossible, and He can do what no other power can do.”
Every Christian faces obstacles along life’s pathway and walking in God’s will doesn’t guarantee that our way will be easy. In fact we are told that there will be tribulations in this life. But no matter how difficult the circumstances, we can trust God to open the gates in His time and for His purposes. When He does, we can go forward by faith.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 20, 2009 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:16
“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
The words to the hymn, “The Sweet By and By!” were written by Sanford Bennett and the music by Joseph Webster. Here is how it came to be written. Like many musicians, Joseph Webster was of an exceeding nervous and sensitive nature, and subject to periods of depression. Bennett found that he could usually raise his mood by giving him a new song on which to work.
One day he came into Bennett’s store in a depressed mood. He turned his back on Bennett without even speaking. Bennett was at his desk and turned toward Webster and said, “Webster, what is the matter now?”
“It’s no matter,” he replied, “it will be all right by and by.”
The idea came to Bennett like a flash of sunlight. He replied, “The Sweet By and By! Why would not that make a good hymn?”
“Maybe it would,” grumped Webster with an indifferent air.
Turning to his desk, Bennett penned the words as fast as he could write. He handed the words to Webster. As he read, his eyes kindled, and stepping to the desk, he began writing the notes.
Taking his violin, he played the melody and then jotted down the notes of the chorus. In less than thirty minutes from the time Bennett started to write the words, the two friends were singing the hymn.
“THE SWEET BY AND BY“
There’s a land that is fairer than day,
and by faith we can see it afar,
For the Father waits over the way
to prepare us a dwelling place there.
refrain:
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
We shall sing on that beautiful shore
the melodious songs of the blest;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more –
not a sigh for the blessing of rest.
To our bountiful Father above
we will offer our tribute of praise,
For the glorious gift of His love
and the blessings that hallow our days.
To access Sweet By and By, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/sweetbyandby in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 13, 2008 | Hebrews
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”
Back in November 1954, I had just completed Technical School as a jet mechanic. My first assignment was in Rapid City, South Dakota. Joyce and I were very happy and looking forward to a new and exciting adventure.
We rented a few months before purchasing our first “home.” It was a 24-foot Terry travel trailer. That meant that we were living in less than 200 square feet.
My precious wife had that little home on wheels looking like a castle.
I can recall the pastor of our church back in Idaho stopping by for a visit along with his wife and three daughters. It was a tight fit, but it became a meal we still remember after all of these years.
Today we watch HGTV and hear young families who live in 2000-square-foot homes wanting something bigger—“There is just not enough room, and we have a new baby on the way.” (Give me a break!)
I think most of us in the “Over-the-hill” gang can remember living in a house with only one bathroom (or out-house) and sharing a bedroom with brothers or sisters. The thought of moving into larger digs was never considered. We were just thankful that we had a place to call home.
As I write these words, I am aware that these human hearts of ours are hard to satisfy. Why were Joyce and I so satisfied and content back there in that little home on wheels? We had the Lord in our hearts and we had each other!
Over the years since the 1950’s, we have lived in many fine homes. We have seen our children mature and have children of their own. Our love for the Lord Jesus Christ has also grown.
The thought suddenly strikes me—the more our love for the Lord grows—the less importance we place on the “stuff” of life. All of this is going to pass away and we will find that only what we do for Christ will last.
I want to share this one last thing with you. I was digging through some of my records to see what dates we were in South Dakota. I happened to come across a letter that I received back in 1974. It was written by a young man that worked at a mission hospital in St. Anthony, Newfoundland, when I was stationed there.
That last few words of this letter from Roy Becker, hit me like a ton of bricks. I do not remember even reading them before: “A few months ago, I wrote out in detail, all of the events that led to ‘How God found me.’ I listed your friendship as a contributing factor toward motivating me to live a Christ-like life. So you hold a favored and unforgettable spot in my heart.”
That means more to me than the most elegant mansion on the face of the earth. I do not desire more room for a house…I desire a greater love for Jesus that will be seen by others and motivate them to live a Christ-like life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
