by Pastor Cecil | Jan 22, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 25:4-5
“Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.”
Much has changed in schools since I was a boy; and no, it was not before the flood when I attended school! Back in the olden days we used to have “show and tell.” Kids would bring some “treasure” and explain why it was a treasure and not simply junk.
The Psalmist is praying to the Lord in today’s Scripture and asking for at least three things. In the passage I have underlined these three words: Show, teach, and lead. Let’s look at them.
To show implies vision. It is seeing with our eyes or our senses. I enjoy being around blind people. They do not have optical vision, so they see with their sense of touch, hearing, or smell. Can they see? You better believe they do; often with greater acuity than sighted persons.
As we read God’s Word we should ask Him to show us those things that He desires for us to see. This prayer is a willingness to receive the things that are shown. It may be described as an eagerness to receive what the Lord shows.
The second word, teach, goes beyond merely being shown. We need to be taught whatever will be for our good and God’s glory. Many years ago I recall being in a Sunday School class that was taught by a gifted teacher. One of the members of that class was a small man who always wore a smile. One day, commenting to me in broken English, he said: “It like she open the top of my head and pour the learning inside!”
We need to consider ourselves as students being taught by the Lord. Sitting in a class can be very tedious and hard. The results are what count — not simply to receive a passing grade, but that it has meaning and purpose from that day forward.
There is another element that is important — the material. The Psalmist asks that he be taught the Lord’s paths. It is a request for direction, a map. I know that comes as a shock to you ladies who think that men never stop and ask for directions. In the spiritual realm we need to have instruction on the path of the Lord. Without knowing His paths we will certainly become lost.
The last word, but of vital importance, is the word guide. It means that there is One who knows the way and will go before us to be our Guide. We might pray for insight to see our need, we might have head knowledge about God’s paths, but when we actually hit the trail, we need a guide to be there in the lead.
All this seems so simple you may think I have reverted to those grade school days. If so, just humor me. This one was for me. I always need to be a child at heart and totally dependent upon my Lord. My prayer is that I, like David, want to be led by the Lord.
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 7, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 18:2
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
As a boy I was raised on the banks of the mighty Columbia river in Washington State. Not far from my home was a huge rock almost 600 feet high. Now that is a mighty rock!
There is something about a solid rock that gives us a sense of security. In Matthew 7 Jesus used the solid rock in a parable about the two men who built houses. One built on sand and the other on the solid rock. The storms beat on each of the two houses. The one on the sandy soil fell, while the one on solid rock stood firm.
Jesus was illustrating that the shifting sands of this world are just not fit to build our life upon. The fickle pleasures of sin may appeal and tempt us to construct in a manner that will satisfy the flesh, but we can be sure that the storms of adversity are bound to come. What will happen then? I can assure you, after years of working to restructure the ruined lives of people who built on the sand, you do not want to build there!
As we read today’s passage of Scripture we discover that not only is the Lord our solid ROCK, He is our fortress and deliverer. Anytime you feel insecure as the storms of life howl around you, call upon Him. He will be your mighty Fortress! Build your life on Him and His Word.
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 28, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 90:1-2
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
This week’s hymn by Isaac Watts is a paraphrase of Psalm 90. It originally consisted of nine stanzas. In present day usage, however, the hymn is usually limited to stanzas; one, two, three, five, and nine.
The hymn was originally part of; The Psalms of David Imitated in the language of the New Testament, published by Watts in 1719.
It has often been sung for special occasions in England. For instance it was sung in 1941, at a religious service on board HMS Prince of Wales, attended by Sir Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt as part of the conference creating the Atlantic Charter. It was also sung at the Funeral service for Winston Churchill in 1965.
O God, Our Help In Ages Past
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
To enjoy this free inspirational video: O God, Our Help in Ages Past, go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/ogodourhelpinagespast/
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 27, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
How clean are you? Do you possess a steadfast spirit? Are you open to the Lord doing the work that only He can do to mold you into the person He desires for you to be in serving Him?
How many unintentional spiritual failures have you experienced just because you became too busy with worldly pursuits? Let me ask yet another penetrating question. Have you ever made a commitment to someone, then after days, weeks, or even months, realize that you have failed to follow through? (It’s getting a little uncomfortable isn’t it!)
It is easy to see the faults of others while at the same time ignoring our own short comings. I think that the more easily we find fault in others, the easier it is to overlook the lack of trust in our own lives. There have been many times that people have disappointed me by saying one thing and then doing another. I want to strive to never allow that to be true of me.
I always want to take my hurts to the foot of the cross and leave them there with the One who is rejected by so many. My desire is to live more like Him every day. With the help of the Lord we can be more like Him by committing ourselves to learn more about Him from His Word.
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 20, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 103:1-2
“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
I seem to remember a commercial from many years ago for Maxwell House coffee: “Good to the last drop—it satisfies!” Does that ring a bell for some of you? Many products or programs claim to bring lasting satisfaction. Usually the satisfaction they claim can only be achieved by investing in what they are selling. Big happy smiles emblazoned on labels, billboards, fliers, or on television must prove that this or that will satisfy — right?
Perhaps there are things that will bring immediate satisfaction, but will it last? When your throat is parched after working for hours in the sun, a drink of cool water will satisfy you, but for how long? How long will it be before you are headed for the water faucet once more?
I love Psalm 103:1-5. These verses are very introspective and direct our soul to praise the Lord. There are many more things to praise the Lord for, but these verses get us started.
I live on Bald Eagle Lane. It is appropriate that in today’s Scripture we are encouraged by the fact that our youth will be renewed like the eagles. To me that means He gives us strength for doing what He calls us to do.
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 14, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 98:4
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.”
Throughout scripture we are called upon to make a joyful noise before the Lord. In Psalm 98, all of creation is called upon to make a joyful noise before God. All around us we see the hand of a loving God who cared enough about us to send His own dear Son into the world to provide us with salvation.
This beautiful hymn was written by Isaac Watts. As we read and listen to the words of this moving Christmas hymn, we need to stop and ask ourselves if we are making a joyful noise before the Lord or just noise.
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.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “Joy To the World” from GloryScapes.com by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/joytotheworld/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
