by Pastor Cecil | Nov 22, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 1:1-2
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.”
In my book, “Life Is A Blast,” I recall a cow our family owned when I was a boy. Her name was Blossom and she was a gentle creature. I was too young to milk her, but I enjoyed spending time with her.
One of the things that I found fascinating about Blossom was the way she chewed the cud. She would chew and chew her hay then swallow it. After a short time there would be a rumble and she would burp up some of the partially digested hay. It is the way with cows to process their food in order to internalize it.
It is interesting that the word (meditate) in the original Hebrew is the word, hagah. It means to rumble or growl but also to muse or think deeply. In my mind as we read these two verses that begin the Book of Psalms, we are called to bring the words up over and over again until they become part of our being.
Here is the vital question—are we spending the time God wants us to spend in allowing His Word to dwell in us completely? Do we appropriate the deep meaning of the word to make our life complete? Let us chew the cud of God’s Word!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
P.S. – You can also find previous Daily-E-Votionals to help you in your walk with the Lord at: www.Daily-E-Votional.com. Please invite your friends and family to subscribe.
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 24, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 84:10
“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Back in the 1960’s while serving in the Air Force, I was stationed in Shreveport, Louisiana. It was during this time that our family was introduced to the Bible Memory Association. All five of us memorized faithfully and recited each week.
As a culmination of memorizing for an entire year, the young people were rewarded with a week at camp held in Ringgold, Louisiana. One of the unique features of the camp was the Order of Whitefoot. This honor was only given to BMA campers who had memorized for at least two years and had attended camp.
Additionally, only those who had received the Order of Whitefoot were given the special privilege of serving. Only the Whitefeet were allowed to scrub floors and empty trash. Only they were permitted to do the menial tasks that are usually dreaded.
The story is told of the world famous evangelist D.L. Moody who had invited a large number of ministers for a conference. He noticed that many had placed their shoes outside their doors to have them shined. Not wanting to embarrass them, Moody shined the shoes himself. The guests were abashed when they discovered their presumption.
I want to be more like Moody and the Order of Whitefoot and serve others.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 20, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 119:18
“Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”
One of the things that I dislike the most about having my eyes examined is when the optometrist adjusts the machine until it’s out of focus and then wants me to say when it comes back into focus. It seems to me that the examiner should be able to tell me what is in focus rather than me being required to do it. Oh, well, life is hard!
Spiritually we are called to keep our focus on the Lord. It is far too easy for us to allow our vision to be distorted by the things of the world to the extent that we are not able to properly see things that God wants us to see.
In a world that is increasingly perverted, it becomes more and more likely that people get out of focus. What God’s Word says is wrong is now deemed to be right and what is right according to the Word is seen as out of step, if not biased.
God’s children have often times been required to pay with their lives because they were committed to keeping the right spiritual focus. I pray that we never have to suffer for Christ, but if we do I pray we will be strong and never distort the Gospel.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 7, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 29:2
“Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
There have been times in my life when I have worked in dirt and grime. By the time I had finished my work it seemed that I had been coated with the filth. I could hardly wait to take a shower and clean myself up. In this sin sick world we often need to come near God’s cleansing shower and experience His holiness.
Reginald Heber was born at Malpas, Cheshire, England, April 21, 1783 to a heritage of wealth and culture. By the age of five, he had read the Bible so thoroughly that he could give chapter and verse for chance quotations.
He composed many hymns, but served his entire life without seeing them published. It was only after his death that as many as 57 of his hymns were recognized. It was to the Lord that he dedicated his works. Such is the case with this week’s hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy!
Holy, Holy, Holy!
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! tho’ the darkness hide Thee
Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
To access Holy, Holy, Holy, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/holyholyholy/ 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 | Oct 5, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 90:10
“The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”
The inevitable has happened. My brother-in-law Dale has passed away. Our wives were sisters and both had gone to be with the Lord. Over the past several years Dale and I have had more than a few phone conversations. It was common for him to speak about how the days seemed to drag by even while the years passed in a flash.
I recently read or heard an observation that seemed to highlight our conversations: The days crawled by at a snail’s pace while the years flew by. The older I get the more I come to realize this. It confirms the comment of a little lady in Shreveport, Louisiana: Life is so daily!
There is no question about how quickly time marches on. We look forward to seeing old friends with very young children only to discover that time passed far faster than we realized — those little ones are now in their teens.
Charles Studd who lived from 1860 to 1931 is credited with writing the poem that has lived in my heart for many years. He gave his life and fortune to the work of the Lord. Consider his words: Only one life, t’will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last. I want that to be my testimony. Please join me!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 30, 2016 | 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 fromGloryScapes.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
