by Pastor Cecil | Aug 11, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 4:4-6
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. “
William Walford did not allow the fact that he was blind limit his service for his Lord. He was frequently called upon to preach in a small country church. He composed the sermons in his head and also was able to quote large portions of Scripture from memory. Some people thought he had memorized the entire Bible. He also composed verses as the Lord laid the words upon his heart. Above all—he was a man of prayer.
In the mid 1800’s, Thomas Salmon was visiting in England and became acquainted with Pastor Walford. As they were visiting one day the blind pastor quoted a few pieces he had composed. Since he had no one to write them down he had kept them treasured in the storehouse of his mind.
One of the verses he related to Mr. Salmon was, Sweet Hour of Prayer. Mr. Salmon eagerly scribbled the words down on a scrap of paper. When he returned to New York he sent the verses to the Observer and asked if they thought them worth preserving. The Observer did think them worthy and published them on September 13, 1845. The music was added by William Bradbury in 1861.
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
‘Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!’
To access Sweet Hour of Prayer please go to:http://gloryscapes.com/sweethourofprayer in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 9, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 4:4-6
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
We have far too many church members who look like they have just lost their last friend. They not only have sour expressions on their faces, they have sour personalities to match.
Paul repeatedly urges his readers to rejoice. The word he uses for rejoice is the Greek word chaírō. It is pronounced khah’-ee-ro, and it means to be joyous and happy. That means looking like you are happy. If you have the joy of Jesus in your heart, you need to let your face know about it and show it!
For those who have never placed their trust in Jesus Christ as the Lord of their life, there is little or nothing to be happy about. The things of this earth grow dimmer and dimmer as life slips away.
As true believers who have passed from death to eternal life by confessing we are sinners and accepting the blood of Jesus to pay the price for our sin, we are able to rejoice. The things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 5, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 3:13
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
“I have returned!” Those were the words of General Douglas MacArthur as he stepped ashore on Luzon of the northern Philippines after two years. He had promised the people of the Philippines he would return. It was a time of special meaning.
MacArthur was gone for over two years. I’ve been away for only two weeks, but at times it has felt like two years. For quite some time I have wanted to visit the church where I gave my heart to Jesus over 70 years ago. I have driven by the church several times over the years, but this time I was determined to look inside.
The church is now occupied by a different denomination, but when I made contact with the current pastor, he was gracious to usher me back through the doors of my memories to another time and place. I was able to stand at the very spot where I had knelt so very long ago.
Do you know what happened? Nothing! It began to dawn on me that memories can control us, and we are much better to let them go and live in the power of the Lord for the present. I determined at that spot to live in the present and let the memories fade into the twilight. Today is a new day!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 15, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Our outward behavior is often far different from our inner thoughts. We can say one thing and be thinking an entirely different thing. There is so much ugliness in the world, and it is safe to say that the majority of these ugly acts were birthed in the thought processes of the individual who committed them.
My Scripture for this year is Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” It is amazing to see the similarity between this passage of Scripture and today’s Scripture from Philippians 4:8.
What manner of things should be going through our mind? Paul gives a list here in Philippians chapter 4. He says these types of things should fill our minds: true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report.
What occupies your mind? Do you meditate on the Word of God as frequently as possible? Do you make an effort to memorize Scripture so that you can discover the mind of God? I pray that your thoughts may be PURE THOUGHTS.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 2, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 4:12-13
“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
I have observed an interesting trait of human nature. When someone is the winner of an event they tend to be congenial, happy, and will even show signs of generosity. Those same people can change dramatically when they lose. They become angry, bitter, and accusatory.
There needs to be a different way of responding for the believer in Jesus Christ. Our life is not our own (at least it should not be); we are Christ’s and whether we soar or suffer, we should have our eyes focused on Him.
We know that we will have victories in our life, but we can be equally sure that there will be times when we will experience loss. It is very important that our conduct not be dependent on winning or losing. In Christ we are always winners.
The next time you experience victory OR defeat in your life, just trust in the Lord with all your heart. He will use winning or losing to bring glory to His name.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 27, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 3:10-11
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Back in 1913, Salvation Army Officer, George Bennard passed through a trying experience. This experience caused him to reflect seriously about the significance of the cross and, in particular, what the apostle Paul meant when he spoke of by entering into the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. While contemplating on these truths, Bennard was convinced that the cross was not just a religious symbol, but rather the very heart of the gospel. He penned the words of this beloved hymn.
Bennard spent the last years of his life a few miles north of Reed City, Michigan. At the age of 85, on October 9, 1968, he passed away. Near this home there still stands a twelve foot high cross with the words The Old Rugged Cross – Home of George Bennard, composer of this beloved hymn.
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
In that old rugged cross,
stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To access The Old Rugged Cross, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/theoldruggedcross/ in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
