by Pastor Cecil | Jun 9, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
We once owned a hamster whose cage had a hamster wheel. The hamster would get on the wheel and run like crazy … but got nowhere. Many times I fear that we Christians are very much like a hamster spinning on a hamster wheel.
Things are making us uncomfortable so we panic and try to fix them in our own strength. We’ve gotta worry! We’ve gotta work! We’ve gotta do something!
The problem is that we are doing things our way rather than doing things God’s way. He never desires us to run ourselves ragged in order to please Him or to merit salvation. In today’s Scripture we see that what God wants us to do is to place our trust in Him.
The Lord calls us to have purpose in our service for Him. If we are not involved in serving Him, we are to relax and enjoy the blessing of just being with Him. When opens the door of service for Him we need to respond eagerly. Until He calls us to do His bidding we need to wait expectantly for Him—it is worth the wait!
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 8, 2020 | Luke
Luke 10:2
“Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”
It is human nature to desire to stay in our warm and snug comfort zone. Many times Satan abuses this desire to remain comfortable in order to keep us from doing God’s will and working in God’s harvest fields.
It is a fact that God wants us to move out of our comfort zone. Inside our zone of comfort we focus most, if not all, of our energy on ourselves. In so doing we often neglect the needs of those around us.
The harvest fields that Jesus speaks about in this passage are the lost and dying all around us. You know, there are different types of harvest fields. When wheat or barley is harvested, all of the grain is gathered at one time.
In a field of strawberries, only those berries that are ripe are picked. It requires many subsequent trips to complete the harvest. It is the same way with the souls of men and women. Some may be gathered all at once in a mass crusade, while others must be picked one at a time.
As we move out to the harvest field we must stop and consider when the crop is ready. It is not our comfort zone that is important, but the harvest. Are you ready?
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 5, 2020 | 1 Peter
I Peter 5:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
There have been times in my life when I felt isolated and alone. When I experienced these times of spiritual drought I was prone to wonder if Jesus really cared. Even though I am usually happy and optimistic, I have felt the enemy of my soul attack. It is during these times that I rush to God’s Word for comfort.
Frank E. Graeff was known as the “sunshine minister.” He had a cheery disposition, a winsome personality, spiritual optimist, and was a great friend of children. He was known to have a child-like faith. That being said, he did pass through times of deep trials. It was then that he turned to the Scriptures as his guide in the darkness.
As I read the words of this hymn that he wrote, I can see the change from gloom and despair to hope and victory. That is what I want in my life.
DOES JESUS CARE?
- Does Jesus care when my heart is pained; Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long?
Refrain: Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
- Does Jesus care when my way is dark; with a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades, does He care enough to be near?
Refrain: Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
- Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed, to resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief, though my tears flow all the night long?
Refrain: Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
- Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye” to the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—is it aught to Him? Does He see?
Refrain: Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
To access Does Jesus Care? this week’s free inspirational video, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/doesjesuscare/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 4, 2020 | Matthew
Matthew 5:44
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
I once noticed a car with a prominent bumper sticker that simply stated: OTHERS. As I sat there waiting for the light to change, I reflected on just what that word means to people. I have heard sermons preached and lessons given on reaching out to others, but the words often did not match the lives of the hearers or even of those propounding the message of concern for others.
There is no secret about the fact that we live in a self-absorbed world. People are so focused on what is best for themselves that they tend to be blind to the plight of others around them.
In the 25th chapter of Matthew, Jesus speaks about the final judgment. To the righteous He gives commendation for feeding, clothing, and ministering to Him. To the unrighteous He condemns them for failing to do those same things for Him. In both instances the people had no idea their actions were considered as unto the Lord. It was then that He stunned both groups by proclaiming that when they took care of (or ignored) people’s needs, they were doing it for and to Him. That, my friend, is being OTHERS minded! Are you?
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 3, 2020 | Psalm
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Are you happy in the Lord? Do you anticipate the great and mighty things God has prepared for you to accomplish today? If you say you are happy in your heart, has your heart told your face about it?
There is something about a new day which gives us a hope of a bright new future. The Psalmist in today’s passage looked forward to a day when Messiah, Jesus our Lord, would come and establish a bright new day. He was so much committed to the coming of the Messiah that he chose to rejoice just in the anticipation of what the Lord was going to do.
The word “day” appears 1,732 times in the Bible and it is interesting to read some of the passages. Let me just give you the first and last. Genesis 1:5 is the first: God called the light DAY. The last use of the word is in Revelation 21:25: On no day will its (the New Jerusalem) gates ever be shut, for there shall be no night there.
That is our reason for rejoicing! There is a day in which there will be no night! There is a day when all our tears and sorrows will be a thing of the past. It will be such a day that we will not even be able to recall any of our pain and longing! It will be a day that will be unlike any day before — a day which will never end!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
