by Pastor Cecil | Apr 15, 2016 | 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.”
Our families mean a lot to us, don’t they? I am more aware of this with the birth of two new great-granddaughters in the past few months. That makes eight grand and eight great-grand children. (They are all GREAT!) One of the greatest pleasures I enjoy is holding each new baby in my arms and breathing a prayer for them. I yearn for each member of my family to be as close to the heart of God as they are to my heart.
In the early years of the 20th Century there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the US that claimed many lives. In 1903, Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. As the epidemic swept the area, two of his nieces died from the dread disease and the others in the house were quarantined. In his hour of grief he wrote the hymn, NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD, and had the college choir sing outside the house.
If you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death right now (I know that each of us do at some time in our life), let these words bring that quiet assurance we need.
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.
Enjoy this week’s hymn from GloryScapes.com. To access the Near To The Heart of God video, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 22, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:1-3
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”
At a Bible study many years ago I asked the group about the meaning of faith. Their response was to quote Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” When I pressed for further explanation, I was met with many blank stares.
If we analyze what is written here, we find that the first description of faith is: EVIDENCE. Now in my law enforcement background, evidence is concrete material to substantiate a case. But here in this verse, evidence is described as things hoped for but not yet seen.
I liken that to making a trip to buy an ice cream cone. On the way we begin to think about our favorite flavor. Our salivary glands begin to kick into operation and we start to enjoy the ice cream before we ever arrive at the store.
In like manner we can spiritualize this same concept. Faith is stepping out and trusting God’s promises before they ever come to pass. He says it — we believe it, and that is faith in action!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 8, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 10:12-14
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
Do you remember those children’s stories that always ended with “And they lived happily ever after”? Then we got older and realized that those stories were merely fairy tales and that it is impossible to live happily ever after. Right? Wrong!
We serve a Lord and Savior who promises us the most spectacular “ever after” that could ever be imagined. Sometimes in Scripture we are given glimpses into that wonderful eternity that God has prepared for those who choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
In those children’s fables that we read here on earth there comes a place where all of the problems and trials are ended and everything in the future is going to be perfect. We know that is just not true. We live in the reality of a sin-wrecked world that is filled with suffering and strife.
Let me quickly offer the hope that we find in the Bible: This world is not our eternal home — we are here for such a brief time that it is hard to measure in Eternity Standard Time. There will be a HAPPILY EVER AFTER for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to live HAPPILY EVER AFTER!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 12, 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.”
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 | Jan 20, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 5:12
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”
I just saw a picture of my youngest great granddaughter tasting her first solid food. It brought back many memories of when our three children tasted their first solid food. As I recall, it was always mashed potatoes and gravy and it was usually me that did the sneaky deed. Joyce or my mom would chastise me, but it was fun anyway!
It may be humorous to talk about our babies needing their solid food, but all too often many churches have huge congregations of believers who still exist on predigested spiritual food from the pulpit instead of sinking their teeth into something solid by studying their own Bible.
As you honestly evaluate your spiritual life, where do you see yourself? Are you able to dig into the solid meat of God’s Word or is it necessary for you to have someone else feed you? It is time for us to grow up!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 15, 2015 | Hebrews
Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
Several years ago I watched a program on public television called “Alone in the Wilderness.” It was the story of a man, Dick Proenneke, who left civilization to live in the wilderness of Alaska. I enjoyed it so much and watched it so often that I finally purchased my own copy of the DVD.
It was amazing that this man was able to build a 10 feet by 12 feet cabin in just a little over one month. He even constructed a stone fireplace on one end of the cabin to supplement his wood cook stove.
Dick had a friend who was a missionary aviator, Babe Alsworth. In addition to delivering supplies and mail, Babe and his wife prayed for and witnessed to Dick . It was very evident that Dick looked forward to their visits. I hope that at some time in his life he responded to their witness and accepted Jesus as his Savior.
As I watch the account of Dick Proenneke, I am aware that we are never alone. In today’s Scripture we read the promise that the Lord made that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We really do need each other, but far more than that, we really do need the Lord!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
