by Pastor Cecil | Jan 3, 2014 | 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!
To access All Creatures of Our God and King, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/allcreaturesofourgodandking/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 | Jan 2, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.
I pity those who come from other language groups that try to walk through the minefield that the English language presents. For instance, the word “commit” is an example of how confusing our language can be.
As we check a dictionary for the meaning of the word, we first of all discover that it may be defined: to entrust, especially for safekeeping; commend: to commit one’s soul to God. But then we immediately see a second definition. “Commit” can also be defined: to place in a mental institution or hospital by or as if by legal authority.
As I compare these two meanings, it strikes me that there is a choice involved here. We can either choose to commit ourselves to the Lord in the certain expectation of His leading and guiding our steps, or we will face an unpleasant commitment.
I have known many who made what appeared to be a solid commitment, only to watch them make an about face later on. When I officiate at weddings, I challenge the couple to covenant before God and the witnesses to hold fast to the vows they make, for better or worse. Sadly, when the “worse” arises, some abandon their commitment. I pray that we will hold fast to be committed to God.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 27, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 42:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Have you ever had the blue funks, the down days, the blahs? Remember that old lament? “Nobody loves me everybody hates me, I’m going to eat some worms. Down goes a fat one, down goes a skinny one, Oh, how they wiggle when they squirm.” Boy! That is one from way back in my boyhood days! Aren’t you glad that I share such spiritually profound gems with you?
The member of the Sons of Korah, who wrote this particular Psalm, seems to have been depressed when he wrote it. It is interesting that there is a conversation here with his soul. It is a picture of a person who is talking to himself. Have you ever been able to identify with him? I heard a bit of advice long ago that it is permissible to talk to yourself. I was told that you can talk to yourself all you want. The problem arises when you answer yourself and the conversation turns into an argument! If and when this happens — you’re in trouble!
Here is an important principle that I learned long ago. When someone is depressed, the last thing you want to tell them is: “Cheer up!” That is a good way for you to find yourself on the receiving end of a tirade!
There has to be an answer, and there is. As we read today’s Scripture, we find that the Psalmist is not simply moaning and whining about his emotional state. He proceeds to give a plan of action. In his conversation with his soul, the Psalmist gives several absolutely brilliant steps to escape from the grip of depression: “PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD.“
The Psalmist directs his mind from the “poor me feelings,” to focus on the One who is the Blessed Controller of All Things–the Lord Jesus Christ. That should be the first step for everyone who feels depressed. It is not in feeling better about yourself, but what God has done for us which will start us on the road to recovery.
“I WILL YET PRAISE HIM.” Here is another essential step. It is critical that when we go to the Lord in prayer, it should start with a time of praise and adoration. Sometimes we spend all of our prayer time with a shopping list of things we want Him to send our way. We need to become swallowed up in adoration and love for God.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 18, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 119:33-37
Teach me, O LORD, to follow Your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep Your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward Your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your word.
“I do it myself!” Those are the words of one of our children in their early formative years. If you have children of your own, you probably heard the same declaration of independence. The problem is that actual learning seldom takes place in the presence of this “I want to do it myself” attitude.
I once heard the story of a snooty woman of some wealth who had a small son. She wanted only the best for him and always demanded the finest of everything. She hired a nanny for the boy and insisted that he learn to have everything his heart desired. The woman told the nanny that her son was going to go through life as a wealthy man, so he needed to be accustomed to getting what he wanted.
One day the nanny was outside with her young charge when he began to scream at the top of his lungs. His mother flew out into the yard in a rage. “Didn’t I tell you to give my son anything he wanted?” demanded the mother! “Yes madam,” replied the nanny. “I remembered well what you told me. He wanted to play with a bumblebee, so I let him.”
As I read today’s Scripture, I see an important truth. It is the secret to learning the truth from God’s Word. What is this amazing secret? It is being teachable. We cannot be taught until we are willing to be taught. This passage is not asking God to MAKE us do something; rather it shows our submissive attitude toward the process of learning. It is the picture of an eager student who begs the teacher to instruct them. NOT MY WILL, LORD, BUT YOURS BE DONE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 13, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 98:4&8
Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the LORD.
It has been told that Isaac Watts, who wrote the words of this beautiful Christmas hymn, had not intended it to be used only at Christmas. He wrote the words to paraphrase the words of today’s Scripture from Psalm 98.
To me it is a reminder that God will take our most feeble efforts and allow them to be used to accomplish His divine purpose. Once again Proverbs 3:5-6 is proven true: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Please enjoy this hymn of praise.
Joy to the World
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart Prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing;
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and angels sing
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods; rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy;
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, Repeat, the sounding joy
No more will sins and sorrows grow;
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow;
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace;
And makes the nations prove,
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love;
And wonders of His love;
And wonders, wonders of His love.
To access Joy to the World, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/joytotheworld/ 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 | Dec 11, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 123:1-2
I lift up my eyes to You, to You who sit enthroned in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us His mercy.
Have you ever noticed individuals employed to do a certain job, but who failed to be observant of the undone tasks around them? I recall a man who had the position of custodian for a large organization. He was to insure that everything was kept neat and tidy. He failed miserably!
It was not uncommon for this custodian to walk past wads of paper that someone had carelessly dropped to the floor. He was too busy trying to listen in on some conversation that he had no authorization to be involved with.
On the other extreme, I have seen people who went out of their way to be sensitive to the needs of those they served. In fact, they saw to the needs of others who were not their superiors. They became a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and responded to needs around them, regardless of who should have been doing the work.
A true servant of the Lord should always be keeping an eye open to see those who might have needs that the Master wants us to respond to. If we purpose to look, we will see things we have never seen before and will be doing the Master’s will. What are you seeing?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
