by Pastor Cecil | Oct 1, 2020 | Matthew
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
I think it would be safe to say that most of us are whiners rather than winners. We cry like babies when someone steps on our spiritual toes. The words Jesus speaks in the Beatitudes stand as a sharp contrast to that way of thinking.
To be honest, none of us enjoy painful experiences. We do everything we can to negate the pangs of pain, but let’s face it — there are times when pain is unavoidable and we have to deal with it. That is when spiritual living becomes real.
Jesus says that we are to consider times of reviling, persecution, and false accusations for standing strong for His sake as blessings. Wow! What a revolutionary thought! It is a clarion call to true discipleship. Amazingly, Jesus tells us to REJOICE!
The spiritual justification Jesus gives for this revolutionary reaction is that our reward is not necessarily on this earth, but awaits us in heaven. Secondly, it helps us to identify with the prophets of old who endured with courage and determination. It says to me that we are to EMBRACE PERSECUTION when it comes our way!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 8, 2020 | Matthew
Matthew 6:20
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Over the years I have seen many people experience an unexpected financial collapse. Retirement accounts that seem to be adequate for the golden years can suddenly melt like a snowman in 90-degree weather! Those who possess the least, however, seem to be the least concerned.
Over the years I have heard excuses from people who fail to honor God with their giving. They say that they want to wait until the house sells … get a raise … receive their inheritance … or income tax refund … and on it goes. They reason that when one (or all) of these events takes place they will then have more to give to the work of the Lord.
Do you recall the incident when Jesus was in the temple courts? He saw rich people putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a widow put in a very small amount. Jesus commented that the woman had given more than all of the others because they gave out of their surplus, but she gave out of what little she had to live on. Read about it in Luke 21:1-4. It is a tragedy that many people (even some churches) place more confidence in the treasures of this world that will pass away than in heavenly treasures that will last forever and forever.
It is time for a heart examination: What treasures mean the most to you? Where are your treasures being stored? One second into eternity, which treasures will have the most value?
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 7, 2020 | Matthew
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
I enjoy building a fire. I guess it started when I was a Boy Scout in my teens. One summer during a week-long camp, our scoutmaster taught us the fundamentals of building and maintaining a good fire. It was a thrill for us to use our shoe laces, a bow, a drill, and in a few minutes have a flame erupt from our dry shavings. He taught us to always have dry wood near at hand so we would be able to keep the fire burning.
In the cold winter months I build fires in my small wood stove. When I first ignite the fire I use plenty of paper and kindling to ignite the flames; and then I have to keep the fire growing by placing larger and larger pieces of wood in the flames.
If you place too large a piece of wood, however, it could be too much too soon — the fire will simply smolder and begin to die out. Then it is necessary to place smaller kindling back in the flames to allow the larger pieces to burn again.
In the spiritual realm we sometimes fail to learn the lessons from the fire box. We must insure that we light the fire in new believers. Then we need to provide just the right amount of kindling to get their flame burning bright. As we prayerfully add more and more solid wood, we need to watch for the moment when they are burning on their own and producing fire in those around them. GET BURNING!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 2, 2020 | Matthew
Matthew 7:13
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
There is so much garbage in today’s media that it is often hard to breathe. That is when it is good to rely upon the infallible Word of God to give us a reality check. The most important reality check is that everyone is on the way to an eternal destination. The vital difference is where we are headed.
First and foremost we need to understand that there is heaven to gain and hell to avoid! There are many people who discount the harsh reality of hell. The fact of the matter is that Jesus spoke clearly about the reality of that place of eternal pain and suffering. It is very easy to get there. All that is required is to do nothing.
Jesus came into the world to offer a glorious alternative to the eternal flames of hell. He suffered and died for us to give us an eternal home that is beyond our wildest imagination. The requirement is to be born again and have our name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We do not gain access to heaven by trying to be good, but by being covered by the blood of Jesus. He came to shed his blood to cover our sinful nature. I beg you not to take the broad and easy way that leads to eternal damnation, but choose God’s way that leads to life beyond imagination.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 24, 2020 | Matthew
Matthew 5:11
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.”
I once had a man from my congregation make an appointment to talk with me. He came to our home and we enjoyed a light lunch before going into my office. Out of the clear blue I heard these words: “I hate your guts!” Wow! You could have knocked me over with a feather. Prior to this there did not seem to be any sort of conflict between us, so his statement was an unexpected blow.
With my mind reeling, I prayed silently for God’s wisdom and strength. With as much sincerity as possible I said, “I am so glad that you feel free to share your feelings with me.” From that incident I would like to suggest a few ways to respond to and love the unlovable:
(1) Rely on God’s wisdom in dealing with the person.
(2) Realize that these unlovable people need love—perhaps more than others.
(3) Remember how unlovable our sins are in God’s sight.
(4) Rejoice that we are counted worthy to encounter persecution.
(5) Respond with love rather than retaliate with resentment.
What happened on that Sunday evening so long ago? We spent time together as he poured out his heart. As he was leaving he looked me directly in the eye and said, “Pastor, I love you so much!” Double Wow! That was certainly a dramatic change from the statement he had declared earlier. God is so good!
May God richly bless you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 7, 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: https://gloryscapes.com/sweetbyandby/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
