by Pastor Cecil | Dec 8, 2020 | Ephesians
Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.”
What determines a life of success? For some, it may be achieving great prominence or a lofty promotion. I once experienced a little taste of that kind of success when I was elected Student Body President in high school. (Okay, it was a very small high school.)
As a youngster I was blessed to receive words of praise from both my grandfather and my father; they always let me know that they were proud of me. I have also received words of love and devotion from each of my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The words that struck closest to my heart were some of the final words my precious wife of 62 years spoke before going to be with the Lord. With tears in her eyes, she reached out her frail hand to softly touch mine and said, “Honey, you are love personified!”
Husbands, fathers, all of you men who read this, I beg you to stop trying to be a rock in the garden of life and become fertilizer. Die to yourself in order that your life can become the source of growth in others. Give until it hurts and then gives even more. Become love personified!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 10, 2020 | Ephesians
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Do you think you can be good enough to make it into heaven? Do you think that your good deeds need to outnumber your bad deeds to make it into heaven? What does the Bible say about being made right with God?
I am glad to supply the answer. Actually, today’s Scripture supplies the answer. It is more important to read what the Bible says about the matter rather than rely on the supposition of our human reasoning.
Isn’t it great that God has done for us what we could never do for ourselves?! God did it by sending His precious Son, Jesus, to provide eternal life through His shed blood on the cross.
If you have lived your life under the false assumption that you merit heaven by being good enough — think again! I invite you to pray this prayer right now. “Lord Jesus, I come to you as a lost sinner. I can never be good enough to earn entry into Your heaven. I invite You to come into my heart and make me Your child. I want to live for You and serve You. I pray this in Jesus’s name. Amen!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 6, 2020 | Ephesians
Ephesians 4:17-18
“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”
It is sobering to observe the way our entire society has become desensitized to depraved and vile behavior. Things that only a short time ago would have shocked and astounded our society are now accepted as the norm. Often when investigators are confronted with murder scenes of abject violence and mayhem the offender often justifies his action by saying, “He did not show me respect so he deserved to die.”
Music that glorifies premarital sex is common and few will even raise an eyebrow. I am told that certain songs even encourage rape and violence. We have winked at perversions until those who engage in such relationships flaunt their sin with impunity and demand to have rights previously reserved for a husband and wife.
Unborn babies have been slaughtered because they would be an inconvenience to the mother. My prayer is that we will be increasingly sensitive to the sinful things around us. May we continually be asking ourselves: “What would Jesus do in this situation?” I pray that we will have the courage to live by God’s righteous standards.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 6, 2020 | Ephesians
Ephesians 6:13
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
I often recall this old saying: If you are not standing on the promises, you will find yourself sitting on the premises. Standing is an active process of involvement; sitting is a passive pastime of taking up space but contributing very little. The gripers, moaners, and fault finders of the world are generally composed of those who are just sitting on God’s premises.
A long time ago I read about a man who was traveling across the Atlantic on a ship. He could just barely scrape up the money for his ticket and a few provisions to eat on during the trip. A few days after he ran out of food he knew he had to do something. He summoned up all of his courage and went to a steward and asked if he might be able to do some work so he could be able to eat a meal or two. The steward, startled by the destitute passenger’s request, explained to him that the ticket he had purchased included all the food he could eat during the voyage. It was his all along, but he was literally starving because of the lack of knowledge of what he possessed.
Many of us have that traveler’s problem. He didn’t read his ticket and we don’t read our Bible! It is just as simple as that. God has given us His very great and precious promises. They are given to us so that we might stand tall for the Lord.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 28, 2020 | Ephesians
Ephesians 6:13
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
I often recall this old saying: If you are not standing on the promises, you will find yourself sitting on the premises. Standing is an active process of involvement; sitting is a passive pastime of taking up space but contributing very little. The gripers, moaners, and fault finders of the world are generally composed of those who are just sitting on God’s premises.
A long time ago I read about a man who was traveling across the Atlantic on a ship. He could just barely scrape up the money for his ticket and a few provisions to eat on during the trip. A few days after he ran out of food he knew he had to do something. He summoned up all of his courage and went to a steward and asked if he might be able to do some work so he could be able to eat a meal or two. The steward, startled by the destitute passenger’s request, explained to him that the ticket he had purchased included all the food he could eat during the voyage. It was his all along, but he was literally starving because of the lack of knowledge of what he possessed.
Many of us have that traveler’s problem. He didn’t read his ticket and we don’t read our Bible! It is just as simple as that. God has given us His very great and precious promises. They are given to us so that we might stand tall for the Lord.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 21, 2020 | Ephesians
Ephesians 6:13
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
I often recall this old saying: If you are not standing on the promises, you will find yourself sitting on the premises. Standing is an active process of involvement; sitting is a passive pastime of taking up space but contributing very little. The gripers, moaners, and fault finders of the world are generally composed of those who are just sitting on God’s premises.
A long time ago I read about a man who was traveling across the Atlantic on a ship. He could just barely scrape up the money for his ticket and a few provisions to eat on during the trip. A few days after he ran out of food he knew he had to do something. He summoned up all of his courage and went to a steward and asked if he might be able to do some work so he could be able to eat a meal or two. The steward, startled by the destitute passenger’s request, explained to him that the ticket he had purchased included all the food he could eat during the voyage. It was his all along, but he was literally starving because of the lack of knowledge of what he possessed.
Many of us have that traveler’s problem. He didn’t read his ticket and we don’t read our Bible! It is just as simple as that. God has given us His very great and precious promises. They are given to us so that we might stand tall for the Lord.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
