by Pastor Cecil | Jun 10, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 139:1-3
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.”
I have enjoyed flying for as long as I can remember. I think the first time I ever flew in a small plane was when a second cousin who is a pilot took me for a flight when we were visiting in Oklahoma. From that time on every opportunity I had I would volunteer to go along with someone who was flying.
A new experience came along when I had my first helicopter ride. I was in the United States Air Force stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. I was a Minuteman Missile Crew Commander. Some of our launch facilities were miles away from home base and the crew would be flown out by helicopter. What a blast! (Oops! Perhaps that was the wrong adjective to use when speaking of strategic missiles!)
I have mentioned before that while traveling in a helicopter you are close enough to the ground to observe traffic from above. Not only that, you are able to see what was ahead. The driver in that car could not see ahead, but we could see ahead. If somehow we could communicate, we could tell the driver when it was safe to pass, even when approaching a hill. What could be suicide for a driver without direction, would become very safe.
Aren’t you glad we have a God in heaven who knows our tomorrows before we get there. He knows the difficulties, the joys, the challenges, the impossibilities, as a matter of fact he knows each and every situation that we will face. If only we could see what he sees! But he calls us to trust and obey. There’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 2, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 107:29-3
“He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”
Well, guess what? The storms of life are upon us! June 1st marked the opening of the Atlantic hurricane season. Hurrah! Sorry to be so facetious, but it seems like every day, or at least every other day, there are storms that are beyond description.
The weather prognosticators (those who guess at the weather) predict that this year’s hurricane season will be somewhat calmer than usual. They say that there will be fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic, and those that do develop should be smaller than normal. Those who know me know that I am a weather nut. I feel like I am a charter member of the Weather Channel. These devoted meteorologists have all the latest scientific input to track and forecast weather systems. But even they are confounded many times by the severity and unpredictable nature of weather.
There are many types of storms. Hurricanes can certainly be huge and violent, but there are also typhoons, tornadoes, violent winds, flash flooding, dust fronts, and on and on it goes. In the last few weeks there has been violent flooding in the South. Over and over officials warn people not to drive into standing water. They say, “Turn around! Don’t drown!” In spite of this warning, people still perish.
There are also spiritual storms in life. The enemy of our souls will do anything and everything to cause conflict and chaos across the world. His aim is to deceive and destroy! It is Jesus who came to seek and to save. He is our lifeline in the time of storm. If you are going through a storm in your own life at this moment, cry out to Jesus. He hears! He cares! He will lift us up! PRAISE THE LORD FOR DELIVERANCE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 1, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 49:13
“Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.”
Some of the funniest things . . . I should say in the most embarrassing things, have occurred when I was conducting either weddings or funerals. It was a cold blustery winter day and I was officiating at a graveside service. The wind was blowing so hard that the sides of the canopy had been lowered. Things were progressing without incident. Most of the family was seated on the front row, except the son-in-law was standing about 5 feet from me on the left.
I was quoting the 23rd Psalm. I think I had just uttered the words; “He maketh me lie down in green pastures.” I heard the intake of breath and as I glanced to the left I noticed that the son-in-law’s trousers had slipped down and were now around his ankles. Rather than being angry the family dissolved in laughter. When I finished the service the son-in-law sheepishly approached me and said, “I think you’ve never seen that happen before?” I agreed with him that it was the very first time that I had ever encountered that.
I was conducting a wedding in a resort setting. There were perhaps 250 to 300 people in attendance. The wedding party had come into pre-recorded music and we were waiting for the bride’s March to be played which would announce the entrance of the bride. There was only silence. Both mothers stood and the audience stood, still no music. I looked over at the sound technician who had not been present at the rehearsal. He shrugged his shoulders and acted lost. I asked people to be seated and walked over to him and ask what the problem was? He wanted to know what he was to play and I told him the bride’s March. He did not know what it was! I don’t think the bride was too happy with the sound man!
There humorous situations that we will encounter in our life. If we have no music these situations can become intolerable. I am so glad that Jesus brings music into the heart of those of us who cannot even carry a tune. It’s His music! That’s the music I desire!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 15, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
“Even 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.”
Someone has observed that shadows are often larger than the real object. When I was a police officer there were a few times when I was scared out of my wits by a huge shadow…only to discover it was a small cat walking in front of the headlights of my patrol car.
Death often casts a huge shadow, but it should hold no fear for the child of God. In 2 Corinthians 5:8 the Apostle Paul reminds us that “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” Death is our doorway into eternity. How fantastic!
The words in the song Just A Closer Walk With Thee should be our prayer request to walk closer to the Lord than ever before. It should be our fervent desire to walk closer to Him with each passing day.
Just a Closer Walk With Thee
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long, as I walk,
let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
When my feeble life is o’er,
time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er,
to Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
grant it Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
To access Just a Closer Walk With Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/justacloserwalkwiththee/ 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 8, 2015 | 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.”
This week I have tried to focus on the plight of saints around the world who are experiencing persecution and even death. In some cases we are able to take action in coming to the aid of these precious saints. In other instances we are called to pray that their strength may be the witness to lead others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Ira Sankey was a singer and song writer who ministered alongside evangelist D. L. Moody. He had experienced and 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 Hiding In Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please 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 | Apr 24, 2015 | 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.”
As you read the book of Psalms, David mentions repeatedly 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
