by Pastor Cecil | Aug 23, 2017 | Revelation
Revelation 3:2
“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”
Back in 1953-1956 I served in the Air Force as a jet aircraft mechanic. I rode to work each morning with my crew chief, Anthony Urban. If I slept in a little too late, Joyce would hurry me up by shouting, “Cec, Urban is here!” It came to be like an electric shock to stir me to action.
After an exhausting day at work I would often lie down for a nap after dinner. Joyce had been alone all day and was eagerly waiting to spend some quality time together. One evening as I was enjoying my sweet catnap I heard those feared words, “Cec! Wake up! Urban is here!” In a panic I pulled on my work uniform and was heading for the door when I saw her rolling with laughter! That was my last nap for a little while.
The prophets of old, Jesus in His earthly ministry, and the apostles after Him have called for all true believers to wake up while there is still time. Will you hear and heed the call?
We need to set our spiritual alarm clocks and wake up to the need of a lost and dying world around us. Many of our modern churches seem more concerned with show than the substance of life. I think it is past time to spend quality time in prayer and Bible study. WAKE UP!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 28, 2017 | Revelation
Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
This beautiful hymn was composed by Will Thompson who lived from 1847 to 1909. The words seem to capture the heart of the listener and draw us to come to Jesus. You can almost picture Jesus Himself standing patiently urging us to come to Him.
He not only pleads for us to come, but he offers complete pardon to anyone and everyone who will come to Him. He offers He has paid the price and He has the authority to extend pardon to any who will come to Him.
The words of this hymn stress the urgent need of those who are lost. Some may feel like they have time before making that decision, but sadly for many they wait too long. Now is the hour of decision to receive Christ’s mercy and pardon!
Softly and Tenderly
Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading;
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies;
mercies for you and for me?
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and for me.
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
O, for the wonderful love He has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
To access this free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/softlyandtenderly/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 6, 2017 | Revelation
Revelation 21:17
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
In 1893, James Black was a Methodist Sunday school teacher in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. As he was calling roll one day for a youth meeting, young Bessie, daughter of a drunkard, did not show up, and he was disappointed at her failure to appear. He commented to a friend, “Well, I trust when the roll is called up yonder, she’ll be there.” He tried to find an appropriate song for the situation but could not find one in his song book.
Here is how Mr. Black describes how he came to write the hymn: “This lack of a fitting song caused me both sorrow and disappointment. An inner voice seemed to say, ‘Why don’t you write one?’ I put away the thought. As I opened the gate on my way home, the same thought came again so strongly that tears filled my eyes. I entered the house and sat down at the piano. The words came to me effortlessly…The tune came the same way—I dared not change a single note or word.”
When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
(1) When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain: When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
(2) On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise, And the glory of His resurrection share; When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain: When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
(3) Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care; Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain: When the roll, is called up yon-der, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll, is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video from Gloryscapes.com. To access When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/whentherolliscalledupyonder
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 13, 2016 | Revelation
Revelation 3:2
“ Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”
Several years ago my wife Joyce and I were traveling down a busy street when we saw the young man who delivered our newspaper enter an intersection. He saw us and waved just as he was entering the intersection. Joyce and I both immediately shouted, “Watch Out!”
Naturally he could not hear us, but what we saw that he did not see because he was watching us was another vehicle just ahead of him. There was a crunch of metal as the two cars collided. Neither vehicle was traveling at a fast rate of speed so there were no injuries.
That particular mishap has always reminded me that it is vital to keep our attention on what is going on around us. In today’s Scripture we have the warning from the Lord to be watchful and to strengthen the spiritual things that will count for eternity.
As we read the letters the Lord gives to each of the seven churches (Revelation 2 & 3), it is interesting that He says He knows their works. That is just as true for us today as it was for the churches in that day. Here is our question: Are our works perfect before the Lord?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 1, 2016 | Revelation
Revelation 21:4
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
At this time of the year I experience the pangs of separation from my precious wife even more than ever. I recall special holidays where we laughed and gave thanks that we shared a love that many others could not imagine.
There was one Christmas where we were separated. It was the Christmas of 1966. I was on an unaccompanied assignment with the U.S. Air Force at St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada. During that time there was a Christmas song that is still a favorite — “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” One line especially echoed my sentiments: I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams. I was blessed to spend the next 48 Christmas celebrations with my dear Joyce.
As I contemplate another Christmas without her, I recall how excited I was to be reunited with Joyce and our three children after that remote military assignment. I know that I will see my precious wife, our daughter Brenda, and all of our loved ones once again, and when I see them, there will never again be the pain of separation. Until then … “I CAN HARDLY WAIT!”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 7, 2016 | Revelation
Revelation 22:12-13
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
I once heard the story of a Bible teacher who had spent weeks teaching a class on the Book of Revelation. He had tried to cover every nuance of interpretation for the group to consider. In the last session he asked if any of the students could summarize the meaning of the Book of Revelation.
After several minutes of uncomfortable silence, one man in the class raised his hand to speak. The teacher had hoped for a more enthusiastic response, but when he saw there was none coming he asked the man for his comments. The man simply responded, “Jesus wins!”
Wow! What simple yet profound insight! I fear that in the trials and troubles of life we forget the final outcome. We focus so much on the skirmishes that we fail to look beyond and see the final outcome.
What struggles are you dealing with right now? I just spoke with a widow who has lost her husband and two sons in less than three years. It was a joy to help her to recognize that they are with the Lord and that Jesus wins! They have been made complete.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
