by Pastor Cecil | Mar 18, 2020 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 1:27
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”
I recall once leaving a food court with a trash bag in one hand and a sack of baked goods in the other. When I arrived at my car I realized that I had thrown the wrong bag in the trash. My beautiful croissant was lost forever! Recalling that incident reminds me that we are prone to make the same blunder when it comes to our spiritual values. We hold onto the “trash” and throw the valuable spiritual truth away.
Remember the story of Job? God boasted to Satan that Job was the most righteous man in all the earth. But Job, a God-fearing man, had no idea that there was a battle in heaven over his integrity. He only knew that calamity after calamity crashed over him destroying all that he held dear.
God knows that we are not perfect. He knows our every thought and the motive behind each and every action we take. That is why we need to make sure we do not mistakenly throw out the precious things of God only to find ourselves holding onto the worthless trash of this world. What are you holding in your hands?
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 17, 2020 | John
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
One of my most vivid memories growing up was of time spent at Payette Lakes in Idaho. Days may have temperatures in the 80’s, but you needed a cozy blanket or sleeping bag to keep warm at night. I am an early riser and even then I enjoyed waking early and walking down to the lake side and looking across to the opposite shore. Many times the water was so serene and calm that it clearly mirrored the scene from the far shore—a double blessing.
During the day there were waves of hectic activities—loud boats, water skiers, swimmers, and even a sudden storm that churned the waters and turned the calm lake into choppy waves. Life is very much like that. There are times of frantic activity that are fun and enjoyable, but nonetheless chaotic. There are also times when gales blow in and create stormy waters.
We long for peace! Is that possible in the midst of the storm? In today’s Scripture, Jesus promises peace for all of us. His peace is not the kind of peace the world knows. It is a peace that gives us serenity even when the world is howling like a hurricane around us.
He promises that when we come to Him, our hearts will not be troubled and we need not be afraid. That is sweet peace!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 16, 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.”
The world is currently in panic mode. In this day of 24-hour mass media coverage, word of problems such as the Corona virus flashes around the globe in seconds. People rush to their local markets and hoard supplies they most likely will never use.
I think these are times when God’s children can let their light so shine that people will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Read Matthew 5:16 to see the exact words Jesus used on His Sermon on the Mount.
If we Christians run around wringing our hands and behaving like the rest of society, we will have little witness. If, on the other hand, we place our trust in the Lord and lend a helping hand to those in need, we will be a shining light in this dark world that needs the light right now.
The time of need is now! Are you going to be the person of God that responds righteously to that need or are you going to live in a spirit of fear and trembling? I want to let my light shine!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 13, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 51:1-2
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
Water, water everywhere…and not a drop to drink! Those words have probably been uttered many times by shipwreck victims stranded in the middle of the ocean. The salt-laden sea seems to mock them — there is so much water all around them, but it would be poison to their system to drink it.
Lucy Jane Rider Meyer wrote the words of today’s hymn. She was born on a Vermont farm in 1849. Lucy was a teacher and not only founded many high schools, but went on to teach chemistry at McKendree College, a school for freed blacks in North Carolina. She was one of the first female professors.
What a refreshing thought that a brilliant professor was able to use the Word of God to bring music to the thirsty human soul. Oh, that we had more brave educators who would be willing to put their reputations on the line for the things of God. I thirst for that!
Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty
Ho! Everyone that is thirsty in spirit,
Ho! Everyone that is weary and sad;
Come to the fountain, there’s fullness in Jesus,
All that you’re longing for; come and be glad!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?
Weary of earth’s joys, so false, so untrue?
Thirsting for God and His fullness of blessing?
List’ to the promise, a message for you!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!
Nothing but “fullness” thy longing can meet;
‘Tis the enduement for life and for service;
Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
To access Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty, this week’s inspirational video, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/hoeveryonewhoisthirsty/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 12, 2020 | Psalm
Psalm 37:5-6
“Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”
My years spent in counseling couples with troubled marriages revealed a very interesting detail. Commitment was not the issue. It was what a person was committed to that was the issue. Too often it was the lack of commitment to the Lord and to their mate that was the problem needing correction.
It seems that we are observing more and more an attitude of indifference and non-involvement. Many become committed only if it in some way benefits them; but even then there is a lack of being totally committed.
The Psalmist calls us to not only commit our way to the Lord, but also to trust in Him. There is an old hymn we used to sing on a regular basis. Some of the words went like this: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”
If we are committed to the Lord it will mean that we will trust Him to have complete control of our life. Have you committed all that you are to all that the Lord calls you to commit? If not, do it now!
Draw near to God today, commit your way to Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
