by Pastor Cecil | Nov 1, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Things can change unexpectedly and dramatically. It has been less than two full days since my daughter Lori suffered a fractured skull and slight brain bleed. She has been in pain and sedated to the extent that conversation has been limited.
Last evening I received a call from her Intensive Care room asking if I could read our daily Bible Reading that takes us through the Bible in one year. About ten years ago we started this tradition of reading through the Bible each year. It was a wonderful and comforting daily bonding with Joyce before she went to be with the Lord and has continued to be so with Lori.
As I read the words and prayed with my daughter last night I felt a warm glow that assured me that the Lord is the Blessed Controller of all things. He brought such peace that I slept like a baby after my time spent on the phone with my daughter ended.
I have experienced the separation through death of many precious family members and the heartbreak of others who have experienced pain and suffering. The thing that always brings the peace that passes understanding is God’s Word. On that precious Word I will stand!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 31, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 23:4
“Yea, 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.”
Things happen so fast and without warning. Suddenly we are confronted with an accident and we stand helpless in the flesh, but confident in the hand of the Lord to lead and guide us.
Sunday morning my daughter Lori and I had locked the doors where we hold our services and were about to leave for our cars. At the last second Lori decided to double check that the doors were locked while I waited holding the box of supplies we had brought for the service.
Suddenly Lori’s hand slipped off the door and she fell backward and her head struck the hard concrete. As I stared down on her momentary unconscious form I prayed for the Lord to protect her. In a few seconds she regained consciousness and I called 911. She was rushed to the emergency room and I began calling our faithful congregation to pray for God’s protection and guidance.
It is now less than 18 hours since Lori’s fall. A Cat-Scan has revealed a fractured skull and slight bleeding in the brain. She is in the Intensive Care unit awaiting further tests.
Once again the Lord is calling me to find His strength. I feel so helpless, but I am reminded that I can take confidence in Him and continue to minister as He leads and directs in my life. Pray that I may keep the course with assurance in HIM!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 30, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
When I was in high school I worked with my dad and brother in building a house. Sometimes I made glaring mistakes. I remember one such incident when my dad quipped, “Honestly, Son, sometimes I wonder why you were ever born!” I just grinned and sassily replied, “Well Dad, accidents happen!” He was quick to chastise my remark and assure me that I had certainly been no accident. I deeply regretted my sassy retort and never asked him to explain!
As a matter of fact, none of us are here by accident! I am firmly convinced that God has a plan and purpose for each one of us. We may not have the same talents, gifts, or opportunities, but we have a unique purpose that God has designed for us.
I am struck by the reality that God is never surprised about where we are and what is happening around us. He is in complete control and has us there for a purpose. HIS PURPOSE!
I love the idea that each and every one of us has a course that is set out before us. We have not been this way before and the way may seem unfamiliar to us, but thank God, He goes before us and has set the course. All we have to do is keep our eyes on Him and follow. “For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Suchknowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:4-6
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 26, 2018 | 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!
Enjoy this free inspirational video, from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/allcreaturesofourgodand king/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 16, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 51:10-11
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”
Have you ever wondered who you can count on to do what they have promised to do? Let me ask another, more-penetrating question. Have you ever made a commitment to pray for someone and after days, weeks, or even months, later realize that you have failed to follow through? You have betrayed your trust, my friend!
It is a serious thing to violate your promise to those around you, but what about the promises you have made to the Lord―promises that you made to Him but that you have failed to keep? I must confess that there have been times I have had to hang my head in shame and ask the Lord to forgive my failure.
It is easy to see the faults of others while at the same time ignoring my own shortcomings. I think that the more easily we find fault in others the easier it is to ignore our own failures.
There have been many times that people have disappointed me by saying one thing and then doing another. It hurt and made me feel betrayed. The answer is to take my hurt to the foot of the cross and leave it there.
May God richly bless you as you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 5, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 36:1-3
“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”
Robert Robinson who lived from 1735 to 1790, was saved while attending a service conducted by the famous evangelist George Whitefield. Following his conversion he entered the Christian ministry, but like so many, he would lose his fervor for God.
The words of the hymn “Come Thou Fount” were written to express his own need for a closer walk with the Lord. His prayer is that his heart may be re-tuned to be in perfect harmony with the will of God.
In stanza two he speaks of his conversion. The word “Ebenezer” refers to a time and place when he actually received the Lord into his life as personal Savior and Lord. He goes on to remind himself and others that it is necessary to daily remind ourselves what a debt we owe to the Lord for our salvation at His expense.
Come Thou Fount
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount-I’m fixed upon it-mount of Thy redeeming love.
Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wand’ring from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wand’ring heart to Thee;
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it; seal it for Thy courts above.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “Come Thou Fount” from GloryScapes.com by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/comethoufount/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
