by Pastor Cecil | Mar 24, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
It is impossible to demonstrate faith if we are always operating in the panic mode. I dimly recall the children’s story of “Chicken Little.” He felt something hit him on the head and ran around to everyone screaming that the sky was falling. Are we like that?
We certainly must use wisdom and caution through this pandemic episode, but at the same time we should (No. We must) demonstrate confidence in the power of God to be with us and give us the wisdom and courage to make God more and more real in the midst of trials of this sort.
God’s people have always been the ones to demonstrate courage and hope even in the face of potentially harmful situations. Men, women, and even children have been and even now are giving their lives rather than deny their faith. That calls me to do more than ever before to live my life for the Lord with courage and love for the lost. We have a great opportunity to shine bright for Jesus as the darkness of this crisis closes in around us. JESUS IS THE LIGHT.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 23, 2020 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
The people of God have the answer! The question is; WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? The answer is found in today’s Scripture. Our problem is that we all too often react to the conditions around us rather than allowing the conditions to change because we place our trust in the Lord.
Today’s Scripture is specifically targeted to those of us who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He calls upon us to first of all humble ourselves. That means giving Him complete control of what happens.
Then we are to pray and seek His face. That means we are to be focus our attention on the Lord rather than the circumstances around us. Immediately we are to turn from our wicked ways. You mean God’s people have wicked ways? That is what He is saying. If there are wicked ways in your life STOP IT!!
If and when we meet these conditions we will see God begin to step in and forgive our sin and heal our land. We certainly need a healing of our land right now!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 23, 2020 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
The people of God have the answer! The question is; WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? The answer is found in today’s Scripture. Our problem is that we all too often react to the conditions around us rather than allowing the conditions to change because we place our trust in the Lord.
Today’s Scripture is specifically targeted to those of us who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He calls upon us to first of all humble ourselves. That means giving Him complete control of what happens.
Then we are to pray and seek His face. That means we are to be focus our attention on the Lord rather than the circumstances around us. Immediately we are to turn from our wicked ways. You mean God’s people have wicked ways? That is what He is saying. If there are wicked ways in your life STOP IT!!
If and when we meet these conditions we will see God begin to step in and forgive our sin and heal our land. We certainly need a healing of our land right now!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 20, 2020 | Matthew
Matthew 6:27
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
True Christian character is certainly seen in our biblical heroes, but it may often be seen in those of more recent times. Hope is a character quality that looks beyond our immediate circumstances and shows what we as believers have waiting for us.
In the Sweet By and By is one of the most enduring songs written after the Civil War. It was composed by Sanford Bennett who was the owner of a drugstore in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. He had just returned from the war. A friend, Joseph Webster, a gifted musician trained formally in composition, came to the store each day to talk and play chess. Often Webster would be depressed and down.
When asked what was wrong, Webster would often reply; “It will be alright by and by.” That idea hit Bennett like a flash of sunlight! As Bennett later described the incident, he took out a pen and it was all over in thirty minutes. A new hymn was born. In short order he was singing the words along with Webster and two other friends. That hymn was perfect for the post-Civil War era because it conveyed pathos with a mixture of comforting warmth. It came to typify the virtues of spiritual hope.
Sweet By and By
- There is a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way,
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
Chorus: In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by;
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
- We shall sing on that beautiful shore,
The melodious songs of the blest;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.
Chorus: In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
- To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise,
For the glorious gift of His love,
And the blessings that hallow our days.
Chorus: In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
Enjoy this free inspirational video from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://gloryscapes.com/sweetbyandby/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 19, 2020 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 4:2
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
Sometimes God uses dire circumstances as a means of ministry. A missionary was rushed to a hospital with a ruptured appendix. While recuperating in a two-bed room, he was able to share a witness with his roommate in the other bed and lead him to the Lord.
During the cold war years there were many Christians who were imprisoned due to their belief in Jesus Christ. Rather than collapsing in a heap and feeling sorry for themselves, many used prison as an opportunity to preach the gospel.
In my own life I have endured occasional tests and trials. As I surrendered each situation to the Lord, He opened doors of ministry that could never have opened in any other way. It is not necessary for us to be perfect before He can use us—just forgiven. It is not necessary for us to complete a course of study to be used—just available. It is not necessary for us to be of a certain age to be used—just willing.
You may be enduring trials and tests right now. Please do not allow what you are experiencing to paralyze you from being used. Step forward and volunteer to serve in God’s army. Neither age nor physical limitations will disqualify. “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
