by Pastor Cecil | Nov 18, 2015 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:37-38
“They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”
Have you ever had people return from a trip and comment that God was with them and they had no trouble coming or going? Does that imply that if something had gone wrong that God was not with them? That’s something to think about, isn’t it?
I have had trips where I encountered unexpected difficulties. I didn’t relish those difficult times, but I could see the hand of God working. Pain and turmoil does not necessarily mean that God is not using us.
Job went through tremendous suffering and pain. The loss of all of his children, his wealth, and his health did not mean that God was not using him. Job has become the example for all of us that in the midst of the pain God is at work.
Joseph was another shining example of enduring pain for the sake of the Lord. Cast into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison was God’s way of placing him where he needed to be. When things go rough in our life we do not ever feel like God has forgotten us. Find His peace and live!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 11, 2015 | Hebrews
Hebrews 4:14-15
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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.”
Recently I read something by David Jeremiah about the distinction between sympathy and empathy, which I have been pondering on ever since. The difference is both startling and revealing at the same time.
Sympathy may be described as having pity or sorrow for the misfortunes of someone else. We have often felt sorry for people who are going through difficult times. We may even claim to know what a person is going through, but do we really? Feeling sorry for someone is not being able to identify with that person’s trial.
Empathy differs from sympathy because it can identify with that other person. In order to do so, they must have gone through or must now be going through that very circumstance in their own life. We need to be careful with our words of sympathy. They may sound hollow to the one who is traveling through a deep valley of trial.
Jesus knew that we would be going through times of trials and tribulation. Across the centuries of time, followers of Christ have suffered and died for the sake of the Gospel. Our Lord has empathy because He has been in that same position. He knows what it feels like to be tested and tried, to be tempted and tormented. When we go through the difficult times of life, there is a Rock we can turn to. That Rock is Jesus. He knows and cares.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 29, 2015 | 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.”
When the family gets together they often find our photograph albums. Many of them show me with one of our children or grandchildren lying on my chest sound asleep. In fact, many times both the child and myself are sound asleep. Perhaps I have the type of chest that is made for cuddling into.
I would much rather have the reputation of being a cuddler than a curmudgeon. (That’s a fancy word for an old cantankerous person). I think the warmth of my chest and the steady beat of my heart is comforting to babies.
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 dreaded 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 I am), 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.
To access Near to the Heart of God, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, 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 27, 2015 | Hebrews
Hebrews 2:3-4
“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”
1959 Yellowstone earthquake occurred on August 17 at 11:37 pm (MST) in southwestern Montana, United States. The earthquake measured 7.3 to 7.5 on the Richter magnitude scale, and caused a huge landslide that caused over 28 fatalities. I had just started my shift as dispatcher on the Nampa, Idaho, police department. As our building began to shake I could hear cries coming from the jail section; “Get us out of here!”
There was a brief moment of panic as I considered the consequences. If I opened the cells and released the prisoners, they might escape and I would be held accountable. On the other hand if I ignored their cries and the building began to crumble, I might escape, but they would have no way of escape.
Almost as soon as I considered the options I grabbed the jail key and while ignoring the calls coming in on the switchboard, ran back and opened each cell begging them to please gather outside on the lawn until the threat had ended. I then went back to my post and prayed that we may all survive the quake. There was no loss of life in our area, and yes, all of the prisoners thanked me as I led them back to their cells.
I think we can almost feel the earth shaking with the certainty of Christ’s soon return. I can almost hear their cry; “Get us out of here!” It should cause each of us to take more responsibility to rescue as many as possible. Let’s risk our own comfort and save them!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 25, 2015 | 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.”
It was in the early seventies and I had been studying the beautiful concept of faith. I was discussing the subject with a fellow believer and asked him how he would define faith. He smiled, recited Hebrews 11:1, and then sat back with a pleased grin on his face.
When I asked him to put that scripture into his own words, he struggled and just recited the scripture again. I suddenly realized that just mouthing the words of Scripture does not mean that we actually understand what God has for us in His Word.
Then I envisioned an ice cream cone on a hot summer day and suggested that my friend imagine we were on our way to the ice cream shop. I asked him what his favorite flavor was. He told me and as he did, I noticed he licked his lips. It was then I suggested that we enjoy the goodness of the ice cream before we were served.
In the same way, we have God’s promises in His Word that we can begin to enjoy here even before we get there. We can begin to enjoy the answers to prayer by trusting in the Lord and joyfully allowing Him to have control of our life. By faith we have victory here, and glory, too!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 26, 2015 | 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.”
Since the passing of my precious wife I have had many people mention that she is watching over me. Is she really? I think not. Stop and think about it for a few minutes. If our loved ones who have gone on to be with the Lord were able to see the things we do, wouldn’t it break their hearts? Since we are told there are no tears in heaven, that in itself would negate our being watched by them.
There are some who are quick to reference today’s Scripture about the vast crowd of witnesses keeping an eye on us. Does it really? Notice that the passage begins with “therefore.” When we see that word we need to find out what it relates to. In the previous chapter, verses 39-40, we read: “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”
Witnesses testify to what they have seen or experienced. It is not that our loved ones and saints are looking over the parapets of heaven to scrutinize us—it is their faithful and godly lifestyle that we are to remember.
As you read about the faithful men and women in the Bible or throughout all of history, take courage and never give up. God is in control. WITNESS THEM!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
