by Pastor Cecil | Nov 18, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This week’s hymn was written over 300 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
1. 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!
2. Was it for crimes that I had done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
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!
3. 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: 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!
4. 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: 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!
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.
Enjoy this free inspirational video of, “At the Cross” by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/atthecross/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 16, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 4:16
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
In a world where many have been lured into credit card debt, it is hard to get a good grasp on saving. At the same time there are some who become obsessed with saving for a future they are not sure they will ever see.
In Luke 12, Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool. This rich man had such bountiful crops that he decided to build new barns to store all of the abundance of his fields. God thundered out that that very night the man would die and all of his planning would be for nothing.
Jesus was not advocating that we are not to make provision for the future, but that we must be careful to make the things of God our primary aim. “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
God’s grace is always available for anyone who will draw from His storehouse of grace. We can never stockpile God’s grace, but His abundant supply is always waiting for us at the time we need it. If you are facing an obstacle that seems to be more than you can bear, call out to God — He will supply grace as needed!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 11, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 10:22
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Those of us who have said farewell to beloved family and friends experience the pangs of separation. The pain of separation is eased with the assurance that there is a bright tomorrow waiting for us when we will be united with those who have died in the Lord.
Fanny J. Crosby was visiting the home of a friend, Phoebe Knapp. Phoebe was playing a new melody she had just composed and mentioned to Fanny that she called it Assurance. Fanny responded, “Blessed Assurance.”
Fanny returned home and quickly penned the words to the hymn that has become such a favorite since it was published way back in 1873. It is just as much a blessed assurance today as it was back then.
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God.
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angles descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Enjoy this free inspirational video of, “Blessed Assurance” by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/blessedassurance/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 10, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 8:6
“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
There is a word in today’s Scripture that resonates with me. It is the word mediator, which is the Greek word mesitês. Here is the definition of that word: one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant.
When I was in graduate school, my final hurdle was to appear before a panel of my professors to defend my thesis and prove that I had the knowledge necessary for the degree.
I was very nervous since I had heard that previous students had been rejected several times before being recommended for the degree. My major Professor told me to relax and that he would mediate for me. In essence, he did all of the defending for the other professors and I only had to smile and try to look intelligent. Ha!
Jesus is our mediator before the Father. He knows us inside and out, and Jesus knows those who have been born again with their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I am so relieved that our Great Mediator will silence the accuser (Satan) when he tries to discredit us. Oh, what a relief it is!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 3, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Let’s be honest with ourselves — stepping out on faith is difficult. It means leaving our comfort zone and trusting only in the Lord. Too often we have been taught to rely on ourselves and our own strength rather than look to others for help. That may sound good and noble at the outset, but the fact is that we really do need each other.
Perhaps the reason we need each other is to teach us that we need to trust the Lord to provide what we need. More often than not, the way the Lord provides for our needs is through other people. He sometimes even uses unbelievers as His agents to provide what we need.
Trusting in the Lord is a matter of faith. It means that we trust so completely in the hand of God to provide that we thank Him before we experience His answer. It is like enjoying an ice cream cone while we are on the way to the ice cream shop. Two scoops, please!
How is your faith quotient? Do you doubt or trust? Are you waiting or walking in the confidence of God’s Word? Are you available to become the “two scoops” of blessing that someone is waiting for? What goes around comes around! We can wait to be served or we can become a server . . . while we are waiting.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 25, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 4:15
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
A few minutes ago I received a phone call from a dear friend who had his big toe amputated about a year ago. He now has a sore developing on the same foot near the area of the amputation.
A few days ago I spoke with another friend who just lost his wife of 66 years. I lost my Joyce after 62 years of marriage and could feel some of the pangs of separation Floyd is now experiencing.
Try as I might, I cannot truly know how these two brothers are feeling. Even if I have experienced the same significant losses in my life, I cannot begin to know what their hearts are feeling right now.
But I want to tell you that there is a Savior in heaven who knows what they are feeling. He experienced each and every pang, pain, or sense of loss that we will ever encounter. I am so glad that in the time of our need, we have the assurance that our Lord feels what we feel and more than that! He is able to comfort us with more than mere words — He can heal our hurting heart.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
