by Pastor Cecil | Oct 26, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
During my service as a police officer I sometimes needed to search a subject to see if they had a concealed weapon or some type of contraband. When asked if they had such items it was common for the suspect to respond, “Search me!”
In our home, when an item was mysteriously broken Joyce or I would ask who was guilty of breaking it. All too often we heard, “Search me?” I am sure that none of you had that experience with your kids. Right!!
Today’s Scripture is a heart-felt plea from the Psalmist David for the Lord to dig deep into his heart and expose the thoughts and intents that were hidden deep. It was David’s desire to discover his inner motivations so he could live his life in such a way that would be pleasing to God.
What is your personal motivation? Are you willing for the Lord to show you what is hidden deep within? Are there desires and motivations that are not pleasing to the Lord and prevent you from living a life of victory? Just be open and ask the Lord to search and show you your deepest need.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 13, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 18:2
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
We are told that the persecution of believers around the world is increasing. Many are tortured for their faith and some killed. It has been estimated that there are over 100,000 deaths each year at the hands of the enemies of the cross.
Ira Sankey was a singer and song writer who ministered alongside evangelist D. L. Moody. He had experienced an extended time of trial and tears in his own personal life. It was during this time of agonizing prayer that the song Hiding In Thee was born. I am so thankful that the Lord heard and answered his prayer. It has ministered to many people across the years.
About twenty years after Sankey wrote his beautiful piece, Sergei Rachmaninoff was experiencing many problems in his life. He had a mental block, could not write, and felt useless. After several years of emptiness he broke out of his doldrums and composed his Second Piano Concerto. It is a joy to feature a blending of both works this week. ENJOY!
Hiding in Thee
O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its power,
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.
To access this week’s free inspirational video, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/hidinginthee/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 12, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 104:16-17
“The trees of the Lord are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted, where the birds make their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.”
It sounded like someone was knocking at the door, but there was no door located from where the sound originated. It was my introduction to the red-bellied Nuthatch using a rustic wooden birdhouse near my office window as a place to pound away at nuts from a nearby feeder.
For many years I have found much pleasure in feeding the wild birds in our area. It is a joy to watch as various varieties of birds flock to the feeders. There’s nectar for hummingbirds and black thistle seeds for finches, chickadees, and pine sickens. Then there are the nuts and seeds for wrens and hatches.
God has been pleased to bless us with a variety of creatures to show forth His provision as it is needed. I love caring for the birds that come to my feeders, and I know that God delights in caring for His precious children. He loves the birds of the sky and He cares for you and I.
As I watch “my” birds day by day I am always reminded that the Lord loves each of us supremely more than we care about the creatures we watch over. Stop right now and thank Him for His faithfulness to care for us.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 14, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 37:7
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”
From time to time we will encounter friends, family or acquaintances who like to boast that they do not believe in God. They seem to feel that the decision they have made concerning the existence of God determines whether or not He is real. How pompous!
Several years ago my wife Joyce and I had stopped at a super market and were just returning to our car. I heard someone scream my name and a young woman I had known for several years ran up and greeted me with sheer delight. It seems that she had heard that I had died and now here I was alive and well.
You see, just because she thought I was dead did not make me dead. She was sincere in believing what she had heard, and in fact she had shared the news of my death with others, but that had no bearing on my being alive.
When we encounter people who pride themselves in their atheistic disbelief it is well to remember that it is the Holy Spirit who will be able to reveal the truth to them. In the meantime we need to live the authentic life in Christ the will reveal the truth that God is not dead, He lives in and through us!
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 13, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 53:1
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.”
From time to time we will encounter friends, family, or acquaintances who like to boast that they do not believe in God. They seem to feel that the decision they have made concerning the existence of God determines whether or not He is real. How pompous!
Several years ago my wife Joyce and I had stopped at a super market and were just returning to our car. I heard someone scream my name and a young woman I had known for several years ran up and greeted me with sheer delight. It seems that she had heard that I had died and now here I was alive and well.
You see, just because she thought I was dead did not make me dead. She was sincere in believing what she had heard, and in fact she had shared the news of my death with others, but that had no bearing on my being alive.
When we encounter people who pride themselves in their atheistic disbelief, it is well to remember that it is the Holy Spirit who will be able to reveal the truth to them. In the meantime we need to live the authentic life in Christ that will reveal the truth that God is not dead. He lives in and through us!
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 7, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 123:4
“Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.”
It has always been easy for me to identify shapes of certain objects from far distances. For example, I can identify particular models of planes by their silhouettes. While hunting I have been able to identify ducks from geese and even varieties of each by their shapes or movements.
Today as I was driving along a country road I saw a shape in the distance that I could not identify. It was smaller than a person walking and seemed to be moving like a bicycle, but the shape was too low. As I drew closer I saw that it was a rider on a recumbent bike. What a strange silhouette!
Since then I have been thinking about how easy we often live our life for Christ. Rather than leaning forward like committed bicycle racers pressing toward their goal, we lean back, relaxed in recumbent comfort, and take the easiest way possible.
I want to do everything I possibly can to press forward with all of my energy to be counted worthy of the blood of Jesus Christ. Every amount of effort I can do in furthering the Kingdom’s business will be worth the effort.
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
