by Pastor Cecil | Jan 8, 2009 | Psalm
Psalm 139:14-16
“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”
Have you ever heard that grandparents tend to dote on their grandchildren? It’s true and Joyce and I are no exceptions. When our oldest grandson was just a little guy, Joyce used to say to him, “Honey, you are so special!” or “Honey, you are so precious.” Those two words were repeated over and over again. I think it brought as much–or even more joy to Grandma Joyce as it did to Grandson Zane.
One day Joyce and I were driving along a country road with Zane in the car with us. Out of the clear blue we heard him say: “Gran, I specious!” He had combined the two words into one.
When you get the time I would like for you to go to a mirror and read these three verses to yourself. This is not an act of pride, but rather an acknowledgment that God has a plan for each of us. We truly are the work of His hands!
One of our great failings is to presume to think that we know more about ourselves than God does. Rubbish! If you would take the time to read Psalm 139 in its entirety you would discover that God knows exactly what we are going to do even before we do it. He even knows what we are going to say before we utter a word.
You may argue and claim that the only thing you can do is pound nails. Great! Pound them straight for the glory of God and with joy. You may wait on tables and listen to complaining customers all day. Great! Slide those platters with praise and a smile that is the praise of God’s glory.
Years ago we had a developmentally disabled man in our church. He had a limited ability, but we knew he loved Jesus. He was not able to work, but he was able to bowl. Each Sunday he would make a dash to me after the service to show me his latest scores. He was not able to speak more than a few words, but his smile and joy always filled my heart. If for no one else, he ministered to me, even with his limited resources.
You, my dear friend are “SPECIOUS!” God has created you to be a blessing to those around you. Regardless of the work you do, at home or away, do it with such joy and enthusiasm that you will light those around you.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 19, 2008 | Psalm
Psalm 103:1-2, 5
“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. – -‘Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’”
I seem to remember a commercial from many years ago (with my memory I can’t be sure of too many things) about satisfaction. I think it was a commercial for Folger’s 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. Smiles on labels, billboards, fliers or on television prove that this or that will satisfy.
Perhaps there are things that will bring temporary 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?
Our daughter, Brenda, went to be with the Lord in 1991. For at least two years before her death her doctors treated her for water retention. The bottom line was that she had a parched throat almost continually. She frequently said to her mother and me, “When I get to heaven I want to drink all the water I want without being scolded by my doctors.”
You know something? I think Brenda was right. She was looking forward to her heavenly home when she would experience satisfaction such as she had never experienced before. That is what the Psalmist was trying to describe in today’s Scripture.
For most of this week we have been considering Psalm 103:1-5. These verses are very introspective and direct our soul to praise the Lord. There are more things to praise the Lord for, but these verses get us started.
I love birds and especially enjoy watching hawks and eagles. The fact that we live on Bald Eagle Lane is very appropriate. In today’s Scripture we are encouraged by the fact that the Lord satisfies our needs.
Not selfish needs to be squandered on ourselves, but spiritual needs to make us effective in the works of the Lord regardless of our age. He says 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. Are you soaring yet? It starts by praising Him for everything!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 18, 2008 | Psalm
Psalm 103:1-2, 4
“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. – – who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.”
It seems like a lifetime ago—as a matter of fact it almost was. It was back in 1952 that I went to a jewelry store and selected an engagement and wedding ring for the woman of my dreams. It was a small set with hearts on either side of a small diamond. The hearts were a symbol of our love for each other.
Back then (as now) I did not have much money. After I had selected the rings I put them on lay-a-way. For those of you who are rich and have never heard of the term lay-a-way, it is reserving the item and paying on it a little at a time until you have met the price. You may then REDEEM your item.
The Hebrew word for redeem as used in Psalm 103:4, is the word, ga’al. In addition to redeem something, it also means to ransom someone. Many of you may have read about modern day pirates taking over large vessels and holding the ship and personnel until their ransom demands have been met.
Any time hostages are held against their will they have no control of their life. From moment to moment they never know when they may be killed. The joy of being set free must be exhilarating.
Each and every one of us born into this world is held hostage to sin. We do not have to learn how to sin—it comes natural. It is the common characteristic of each and every human.
The blessed thing is that we have been redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus. He paid the price in order that those who are born again may be set free—REDEEMED! Are you happy about it? Do you take the time to praise the Lord for setting you free? That is one of the greatest things to praise the Lord for.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 17, 2008 | Psalm
Psalm 103:1-2, 4b
“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. “Crowns you with love and compassion.”
Back in the day—way back in the day—when Joyce and I were high school seniors, Joyce was crowned Homecoming Queen. I can still picture her sitting in the gymnasium on a makeshift throne along with her court. The crown on her head signified that she had been voted Queen.
The position carried no monetary rewards and on the following Monday the other students did not bow to her. She was just the same Joyce Harper as she had been before the celebration.
There is a beautiful reminder in today’s Scripture of what we are to praise Him for. The Lord: “Crowns you with love and compassion.”
We are in short supply of love and mercy (compassion) in our present day world. It seems more and more that we live in a dog-eat-dog world. Even Christians seem to be caught up in the struggle to get ahead regardless of the needs of others.
My sweet “Homecoming Queen” might have surrendered her crown after that night so long ago, but she has received a far greater crown from the Lord. She has the qualities of love and mercy as a gift from God.
Across more than fifty-six years as my wife I have basked in her love and mercy, I can encourage people and help those who come to me for help, but this “Queen” of mine far surpasses me in sensing hurting people and responding in a quiet manner to bring compassionate love.
In Matthew 5:7, Jesus gave this beautiful Beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” That is such a comfort to each of us. We may feel that we do not have the gifts and talents of others, but each of us can love and show loving concern for others.
As I sit here trying to comprehend the words God would have me write, my mind is thrust into the love chapter of the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul defines love this way: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” Does that describe you?
Praise God that He is the One who crowns us with love and mercy!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 16, 2008 | Daily-E-Votionals, Psalm
Psalm 103:1-2
“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
Sunday morning as our church fellowship gathered, I asked a question that has been running through my mind for several days. Rather than being in the form of a direct question, it is posing a situation that demands a little imagination.
Suppose someone gifted you with a cash gift of $10,000. Try to think of what your reaction would be. What would be your attitude toward the one who gave you the money? Would you have a feeling of elation?
Now—while keeping that thought in mind—imagine what you reaction would be if you learned that the same person who had given you this wonderful gift had just given your neighbor $20,000. What would you feel toward the neighbor? What would you feel toward the one who had been so generous? Interesting isn’t it?
For the remainder of this week I would like to explore Psalm 103. We are instructed to exercise ultimate praise toward God. The Psalmist then mentions at least four things that we are to praise God for. Today I would like for us to consider the matter of forgiveness and healing. In verse 3 He reminds us that the Lord forgives all our sins and heals all of our diseases.
Anytime I consider the concept of God’s forgiveness I immediately think of 1 John 1:8-9: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
That is a fantastic promise, but it also has a dire warning. Anytime we deny that we have sinned we are deceiving ourselves and deny the truth of God’s Word. Without an acknowledgement of our sins and confessing them before the Lord there can be no forgiveness. When we bow before the Lord and confess each and every transgression, He has promised to forgive and heal.
I wonder how many people are experiencing health problems because we have failed to forgive those who have offended us in some manner. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul suggests that failing to confess sins has even led to death.
Years ago I read a fascinating book by Dr. S. I. McMilan called, None of These Diseases. As I recall he mentioned almost 100 diseases that can directly be related to an unforgiving spirit.
We need to forgive others and praise the Lord in the process. If we desire God to heal us from the inside out there is no other way other than doing what His Word commands. Are you praising the Lord for His forgiveness and for giving you the grace to forgive others?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 5, 2008 | Psalm
Psalm 42:1-4
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.”
I think almost everyone has experienced times of great thirst. On a blistering hot day nothing tastes better than a glass of cool water. I do not intend to focus on our physical thirst, but on our spiritually parched throats.
Hunger is a need that may be suppressed for many days without harm. Fasting in fact has been shown to have positive aspects and is thought to be beneficial to the body. Thirst, on the other hand is something which cannot be ignored. The dehydration of the body can quickly lead to death, as we have seen the tragic reality of in recent years with the deaths of athletes who exerted themselves in hot temperatures.
What about the spiritual dehydration of believers? Let’s try to imagine what that looks like, and to see if you may be suffering from the ailment. David speaks in today’s Scripture about the days when he led the procession into the house of God. Now, while we may have fellowship with the Lord wherever we are, the assembly with the people of God is special. Notice that David refers to the “multitude” who went to worship.
The idea of a multitude may range from a group of twelve or of twelve thousand. The importance is not in the number, but in the desire of the multitude to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
One of the symptoms of spiritual dehydration is prolonged absence from assembling in the house of the Lord. It leads to isolation and vulnerability to the temptations of the flesh.
Another symptom of spiritual dehydration is not spending time with God in personal communion. That means praying with the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit and reading His Word to hear Him speak to us. Is that a choking sound I hear? How long has it been since you and God met for a visit?
We are all cut from the same cloth. We are like the deer that is pursued by the predator and finds that we are ready to collapse. It is time for a drink from the springs of living water.
David wrote in Psalm 23 that the Shepherd of our soul leads us beside quiet waters. It is by the quiet waters that it is safe to drink. By rushing rapids or swirling pools, there are dangers. But when we are led by Him, we need not fear, and our thirst will be satisfied.
I feel better already! This is the answer to a spiritually parched throat! Time spent with God and time with God’s people!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
— Pastor Cecil
