by Pastor Cecil | Jun 1, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 46:1-3
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
The Haven of Rest Quartet began singing in the year I was born, 1934. I can recall First Mate Bob introducing the program after a fog horn sounded. The quartet then would sing the words of this week’s hymn.
As we struggle through the storms of life it is a wonderful assurance that God provides a haven of rest where we can safely escape the wild waves of adversity. I thank God that many times in my life I have found God’s haven of rest for my own soul. In the book of Psalms, David refers to the storms of life. He was attacked on all sides by his enemies who desired to take his life. Do you feel that way sometimes?
His predecessor, King Saul, was a demented king who imagined that David was attempting to take the kingdom from him. (Actually it was the Lord who had rejected Saul because of his wickedness and failing to keep the Lord in control of his life.)
In many of his Psalms, David cried out to the Lord for help and immediately praised Him for giving him a safe place of refuge. That is the same with us today. We may be tossed and torn by the storms of life, but the Lord always gives us a haven of rest. That is the hymn for this week.
The Haven of Rest
My soul in sad exile was out on life(s) sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice, saying, (Make Me your choice)
And I entered the Haven of Rest!
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
In faith taking hold of the Word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
The Haven of Rest is my Lord.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest,
Of Jesus, who will save whosoever will have
A home in the Haven of Rest.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the beloved so blest,
On Jesus strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the Haven of Rest.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
O come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the Haven of Rest,
And say, ‘My Beloved is mine.’
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
To access The Haven of Rest, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/thehavenofrest/ 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 29, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 115:5
“They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see.”
Recently I observed a driver making a right turn at an intersection. The traffic light was red for him and he was permitted to make a right turn, but only after coming to a complete stop and insuring that no on-coming traffic was approaching.
I was in an inside lane and watched as he narrowly missed the car having the right-of-way. It was then I noticed that he seemingly averted his eyes from the car he had cut in front of … as if by not looking at the other driver, his action was okay.
We once had a small dog named Perky. Perky loved to come to the table at meal time. He knew he was not supposed to, so he would turn his head away from the table as he drew near. Perky thought if he could not see us we could not see him.
Sometimes I think we treat God the same way. We fail to focus our attention on Him and thus feel that He cannot see us. That is totally false thinking. God knows us better than we will ever know ourselves, yet He still loves us enough to die on the cross for us. May God forgive us our blind eyes and allow us to see the reality of His love for us.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 24, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 139:17-18
“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;when I awake, I am still with You.”
If my daughter Brenda was still alive this would be her 62nd birthday. I know that makes me feel ancient, but there are many more reminders that I am in my golden-oldie years! At least I am still here and God has enriched me with a meaningful ministry.
Many of you will recall the story I have shared of the final days of my daughter’s life back in 1991 when she was just 35. In the hospital one afternoon she shared with me that she felt cheated out of half of her expected life span. Wow! I was taken aback by Brenda’s statement and on the way home prayed for discernment to bring her comfort.
As I was driving into the garage I noticed the tires had left fine sand on the floor … and inspiration struck me. Taking a white sheet of paper, I swept up some of the sand. Then I laboriously counted out 75 grains and put them in an empty perfume bottle. The next day I placed it on her bed and told her it represented the 75 years her grandpa had lived — one grain for each year. If eternity could be measured (it can’t), it shows that our years are nothing when we anticipate the glory of heaven waiting for us.
I have no idea how many more grains of sand the Lord will count out for me here on this earth, but I want to continue to be faithful and fruitful in serving him before I am given my eternal reward.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 23, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 84:5-6
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools.”
One of my childhood memories is trips we made from the Pacific Northwest to the Oklahoma panhandle to visit my mom’s family. It was a long and hot journey in a car with no air conditioning. We stayed at motor camps at night that were not much more than four walls, perhaps a sink, and hopefully located close to the public restrooms.
The “Valley of Baca,” means the valley of tears. The Psalmist wants to challenge us to leave springs in the hot and desolate valleys we pass through so that others may be refreshed as they pass along this same path.
We leave springs in the valley by living a life that is committed to God and available for His use. He takes that dedicated life and produces a flow of clean, pure spiritual water to nourish those who come behind us.
Please be encouraged as you struggle through the hot and desolate trials of life. Make it your aim to leave wells of blessing behind. Make sure that you invest good memories in the hearts of those who will follow you. Just love God and keep doing what His Word says, and leave the rest up to Him. I think I see a spring starting to flow right now!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 7, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!“
Do you have a quiet place — a place far away from the stress and turmoil of life? This quiet place should be more than a physical location, it should be a spiritual oasis. We can experience quietness and peace even in the midst of the battles of life. We know what our battlegrounds are; what we need is peace!
From time to time I observe groups frenziedly waving placards promoting peace. More often than not these are the very people who cause conflicts and dissention. As far as I know they never establish peace.
But what about our life right now? The Lord desires for us to enter into a blessed quietness with Him. It may require a commitment on our part to find the time and place where we can experience Him in serenity.
We can hear the Lord call to us from today’s passage of Scripture: “Be still, and know that I am God.” If we fail to take the time to be alone with God, we will never experience the knowledge of His Lordship in our life. Wait in silence to hear the quiet voice of the Lord whispering peace and blessing within your inner being. Ahhhhh! How sweet the quiet!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 12, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 63:1
“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.”
A friend once shared with me a conversation he had with his sweetheart who was many miles away. She confessed that she missed him, but did not miss the Lord so much. He asked her if she was spending time reading the Bible and talking with the Lord. She confessed that she wasn’t. He replied, “Well, there is your answer.” After sharing their conversation with me, my friend suggested that I should use this topic for a Daily-E-Votional.
Joyce and I were like hand in glove since we were fourteen. We had sixty-six wonderful years together before she slipped beyond the pain and agony of this life into that wonderful place the Lord has prepared for us. I miss her so bad it hurts.
It is always well for us to cry out in longing to the Lord when we experience the desert times of our life. It is important to realize that the Lord is more anxious to come near to us than we are to come near to Him. The parable that Jesus told of the prodigal son reveals that our heavenly Father is always waiting to welcome us when we make our way back home.
Do you miss Him? If there is a lack of thirst for the presence of the living God in your life, start spending time reading and meditating on His Word. Tell Him where you are and how much you miss Him. He is waiting to welcome you home!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
