by Pastor Cecil | Aug 12, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 60:19
“The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory.”
There has been a flurry of activity leading up to the total solar eclipse that is scheduled to occur today across much of the United States. One of the areas of total darkness will pass over the small community of Burns, Oregon.
If you are to look at a globe you will no doubt be able to find Burns which is located in the center of Oregon. Much larger cities will not be shown, but Burns is there. The reason is that there are no other towns or cities near there.
I am told that the population of small towns like Burns, Oregon, have swollen to huge sizes because people want to experience the total darkness of the eclipse. In John 3:19 Jesus revealed a sad truth: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
There is nothing wrong about wanting to see a total solar eclipse, but there is something horribly wrong with a desire to seek spiritual darkness when God offers us the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. Let this event remind us of His eternal light.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 5, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Years ago I recall listening to a sermon tape by Donald Grey Barnhouse, a prominent pastor and teacher. He had just completed an evangelistic meeting several hundred miles from his home in Philadelphia, when he was given a telegram. It informed him that his son had been in a serious accident and was near death.
His only way back to Philadelphia was by rail. As Dr. Barnhouse entered his sleeper, his spirit was greatly disturbed. He knew that it would be hours before his train arrived back home and that there was nothing he could do but leave his son in God’s hands.
As he prayed, he recalled a phrase from Isaiah 65:25, “- – – but dust will be the serpent’s food.” Using that passage he asked the Lord to feed the serpent dust, but to please grant him a good night’s rest. He fell fast asleep and the next thing he knew the porter was touching his shoulder to tell him that they were nearing Philadelphia.
The Lord had answered his prayer. His son lived and during his time of recuperation he committed his life to full time Christian service. If you have been having trouble getting to sleep at night, ask the Lord to give you His blessed rest and feed the serpent dust.
To You Before the Close of Day
To you before the close of day,
Creator of the world we pray!
Your grace and peace to us allow,
And be our guard and keeper now.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From all the terrors of the night.
From all deluding thoughts that creep,
On heedless minds disarmed by sleep.
O Father, this we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Your only Son.
Who with the Holy Spirit and with You,
Shall live and reign all ages through. Amen.
To access this free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/toyoubeforethecloseofday/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 4, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
We once owned a hamster whose cage had a hamster wheel. The hamster would get on the wheel and run like crazy … but got nowhere. Many times I fear that we Christians are very much like a hamster spinning on a hamster wheel.
Things are making us uncomfortable so we panic and try to fix them in our own strength. We’ve gotta worry! We’ve gotta work! We’ve gotta do something!
The problem is that we are doing things our way rather than doing things God’s way. He never desires us to run ourselves ragged in order to please Him or to merit salvation. In today’s Scripture we see that what God wants us to do is to place our trust in Him.
The Lord calls us to have purpose in our service for Him. If we are not involved in serving Him, we are to relax and enjoy the blessing of just being with Him. When opens the door of service for Him we need to respond eagerly. Until He calls us to do His bidding we need to wait expectantly for Him—it is worth the wait!
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 24, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 51:1-2
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
Water, water everywhere…and not a drop to drink! Those words have probably been uttered many times by shipwreck victims stranded in the middle of the ocean. The salt-laden sea seems to mock them — there is so much water all around them, but it would be poison to their system to drink it.
Lucy Jane Rider Meyer wrote the words of today’s hymn. She was born on a Vermont farm in 1849. Lucy was a teacher and not only founded many high schools, but went on to teach chemistry at McKendree College, a school for freed blacks in North Carolina. She was one of the first female professors.
What a refreshing thought that a brilliant professor was able to use the Word of God to bring music to the thirsty human soul. Oh, that we had more brave educators who would be willing to put their reputations on the line for the things of God. I thirst for that!
Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty
Ho! Everyone that is thirsty in spirit,
Ho! Everyone that is weary and sad;
Come to the fountain, there’s fullness in Jesus,
All that you’re longing for; come and be glad!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?
Weary of earth’s joys, so false, so untrue?
Thirsting for God and His fullness of blessing?
List’ to the promise, a message for you!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!
Nothing but “fullness” thy longing can meet;
‘Tis the enduement for life and for service;
Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
To access Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty, this week’s inspirational video, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/hoeveryonewhoisthirsty/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 29, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Did you know that fear paralyzes? Perhaps most of us have heard the expression, “He froze like a deer in the headlights.” Think of the most frightful experiences of your life and you may be able to relate to that poor animal. Satan uses fear to keep believers from doing the things that the Lord has called us and empowered us to accomplish. Satan causes us to imagine that we will be laughed at or tormented if we obey the Lord, so we tend to stare into His headlights and do nothing.
In the midst of our fear we are given this powerful verse in Isaiah 41:10. It was one of the first verses I memorized over 60 years ago. There are two things that we are instructed to do: Don’t fear and don’t be dismayed.
The Lord promises what He will do for us if we do not fear or become depressed: He will strengthen us and help us anduphold us with His righteous right hand. The right hand is the symbol of ultimate divine power.
I challenge you to let the Lord fight your battles with the enemy. Trust Him completely and know that He never leaves you or forsakes you but will always be with you.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 23, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 6:8
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’”
From time to time I do a little reminiscing about my parents. My dad was especially adept at doing just about anything that needed to be done—all the way from carpentry to electronics.
My mom on the other hand was more the director of operations—Dad’s operations that is. When one of the family members needed something done, Mom would say, “Oh, Dad would be glad to do it!” Dad would just smile and moan.
Christians all too often are like my mom. When God has a task to be accomplished they start thinking about others who could do the job. While the words may not be spoken, the message is this: “Here am I—send him (or her)!”
Matthew 9:37-38 tells us that we are to pray for the Lord to send out laborers for the harvest. As a matter of fact we need to ask the Lord what part we can play in bringing in the harvest.
Some till the soil, some plant, some water and tend the tender plants as they grow, and there are some who reap. When you pray the Lord to send you, what part of the harvest of souls are you personally participating in? Don’t question your assigned part, just be glad in your participation.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
