by Pastor Cecil | May 4, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
Years ago my wife Joyce worked as a Legislative Assistant for the Washington State House of Representatives. She did not drive so I made it a habit of dropping her off and picking her up from work.
One afternoon I was waiting for her when I noticed a car I had never seen before stop in the waiting area. For some reason I was suspicious of the driver as he seemed to be acting out of the ordinary.
About then I saw Heather, a receptionist that worked on the same floor as Joyce, exit the building and start walking to the parking area. The suspicious driver started his car and I noticed that he was following her. Immediately I started my car and followed him. As Heather reached her car I drove next to the stranger and gave him my most ominous stare. He quickly left the area. I called the police to report what I had observed and gave them his license number.
Even when we are not aware of it, God is our protector. The evil one may be lurking about, but we have a loving God who is always on guard to insure that we are safe from all harm. Rest in Him alone.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 1, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 31:1
“In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness.”
We never know when or how the Lord will choose to use us. We can be going about our regular business when out of the blue a situation will arise that places us in a position to be used by the Lord. It may be an action or a word, but somehow we will know it was a divine encounter.
I remember such a situation many years ago. I was shopping in a warehouse store and observed a woman with a son and daughter. I was grieved at the way the mother spoke harshly to her daughter. The girl was trying her best to help and all she received was belittling comments from her mother.
I felt the best thing I could do was smile at the little girl. Aisle after aisle we would pass one another and each time I would smile at her. At the checkout stand each customer had to bag their own groceries. The little girl was bagging for her family while her older brother just lounged around. Suddenly the girl came over to my area and began to bag my groceries. I began to brag on her and told her I could just imagine how proud her mother must be to have such a helpful daughter. I can still recall her waving to me as they left the store.
How will God use you today? As far as we know, Ananias was used only one time in his life. That one time was significant. Be alert and ready to touch a life today! All we need to do is trust and obey.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 25, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 75:5
“Do not lift up your horn on high; do not speak with a stiff neck.”
What an unusual phrase … “a stiff neck.” In the NIV it is rendered “an outstretched neck.” Regardless of the words used, it denotes an attitude of insolent pride. One place where insolent pride is often on display is at sporting events as we often observe the athletes with outstretched necks parading back and forth like proud peacocks.
But that is nothing compared to the picture of those arrogant boasters who, in their pride, stand opposed to God. These people may claim to be wise, but wisdom is in their own eyes and God will have the last word. Oh, how much better it would be if they would turn from their arrogance and honor God.
It is sad that some people display a pompous attitude toward God. They seem to feel that their rejection of God proves that there is no God. How ridiculous. It only proves that they do not believe in God!
Let me close for today with this passage in Proverbs 3:5-6, which is the best way to steer clear of having an outstretched neck: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 12, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 118:8
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.”
From time to time I have been asked by people how can we know the Bible is the true Word of God? There are hundreds of prophecies that were fulfilled to prove the truth. That being said, belief is a choice, it is a matter of faith. We can either choose to believe, or we can lean on the shallow thinking of unbelievers who say there is no God. One second after death there will be no unbelievers. But failure to accept Christ will cost them eternal suffering and loss. Sad will be their bitter wail!
Some time ago I received an e-mail that should cause doubters to reconsider the truth of the Bible. (This is just one of hundreds). It has to do with the middle of the Bible. The shortest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 117. The longest chapter is Psalm 119.
Now please guess the middle chapter in the Bible? Amazingly it is Psalm 118. That is just the beginning. There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters after Psalm 118 for a total of 1188 chapters in the Bible. Hold on to that number, 1188. The very middle verse in the Bible is Psalm 118:8!
In the storms of life and in the expectation of the eternity awaiting us, I find it a most comforting to place my trust in the Lord.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 7, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 145:9-12
“The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. All You have made will praise You, O LORD; Your saints will extol You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.”
The older I get (and I am getting up there), the more disturbed I am about senseless killing. This is true of attacks on other people, but also on killing animals just for the sport of it. In my hunting days I did shoot game, but it was for food not for sport. Now there are many that hunt for bragging rights, not for food. God meant for us to be keepers and protectors, not killers.
In 1225, when he was feeling ill and losing his sight, Francis of Assisi wrote about what was always on his heart: the praise of God. In All Creatures of Our God and King, Francis’ love for God and the world He made comes out very strongly.
Probably because he lived such a simple life, he “noticed” things that we, in our busy-ness, overlook. Francis believed that all earth’s creatures get their life from God and that we all depend on Him for our continual existence.
All Creatures of Our God and King
1. All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O, praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4. And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Enjoy this free inspirational video, from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/allcreaturesofourgodand king/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 29, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 16:11
“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
In the deep shadows of my memory I recall as a young boy laughing at a lady in our church that frequently spoke of the joy in serving Jesus. The problem was that she had the sourest disposition imaginable.
It is good to be sincere in our worship of the Lord, but He repeatedly calls us to find the joy of our salvation. The Hebrew word for joy is simchâh, which is defined as mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure, blithesomeness or glee. Do you have that in your walk with the Lord?
All too often we observe believers who mirror few, if any, of those qualities. That should not be. We should have a glow that radiates the love of Jesus in our hearts and lives. That comes by spending time with Him in happy fellowship.
The next time you find your spirits start to fade, read this passage of Scripture once again. Get happy in knowing that we have a home in glory that has our name engraved on the entrance. How about some blithesomeness?!
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
