by Pastor Cecil | Feb 13, 2009 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
When you come to the end of yourself—it is the time to come to Jesus. It often occurs when we lose someone or something that is precious to us. In the dark night of our soul, Jesus is the light!
We must demonstrate such a trust and dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ, that we will feel Him holding us in His loving arms when we pass through the valley of the shadow of death.
In 1879, Louisa M.R. Stead was happily married and the mother of a four year old daughter. The small family was enjoying a pleasant picnic along the sea shore when a call for help was heard. They spotted a boy drowning in the sea.
Mr. Stead charged into the water in an attempt to save the lad. In his panic the boy pulled his rescuer below the waves where they both perished in clear view of Louisa and her daughter. In her time of grief, Louisa penned the words of the familiar hymn, ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.
(1) ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word, Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’ ”
CHORUS: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more.
(2) How I love to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood, Just in simple faith to plunge me, ‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood! CHORUS:
(3) Yes, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, And from sin and self to cease. Now from Jesus simply taking, life and rest and joy and peace. CHORUS:
(4) I’m so glad I learned to trust Him, precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that He is with me, He’ll be with me to the end. CHORUS:
To access ‘Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/tissosweettotrustinjesus in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 12, 2009 | Job
Job 19:25-27
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
Have you ever experienced separation from your home and family? Having spent a year’s tour of duty separated from my family, I know the pain of separation for an extended period. Special days such as birthdays or holidays were the hardest.
There were many wonderful experiences during that year, but I always knew that I was there temporarily and it was not home. I was homesick for my family and home. I longed to return to my wife and three precious children.
When I pastored a church in Oregon I went to a hospital in Bend, Oregon, to visit a member of our church who was a returned missionary. The reports that we had received indicated that she was in very serious condition. I intended to read a few passages of Scripture to her in order to cheer her up.
When I entered her hospital room, it was like an entryway into heaven. This precious saint was so excited about being with her Lord in a few short days that she could hardly contain herself. In the time I spent at her bedside she showered me with praise and hope. I had gone to lift her spirits, but I walked out of that hospital with such a feeling of joy that I almost wished it was me standing on the doorstep of eternity.
I want to encourage all of us to take time and think about being ushered into the presence of our loved ones who have gone on before us and hearing them tell about our new home that will last eternally. I am homesick for heaven!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 11, 2009 | Matthew
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Have you ever encountered a situation where you were pronounced guilty before a “trial” or without being able to even explain yourself? Let me share with you two incidents that Joyce and I have encountered across the years.
The first happened to me when I pastored a church in Oregon. When I came to the church I learned that a young woman cleaned the church each week. She did not attend the church, but that was agreeable with the church board.
After I had been there about a year I heard that this young lady had accepted a position at the local lumber mill. I called her to determine what her plans were as far as continuing the job at the church. As I spoke with her on the phone I heard her brother in the background say I had called to fire her! The family became incensed that I had “fired’ her by phone instead of meeting her face to face.
Even though I repeatedly explained that we did not want her to quit, but just were interested in her plans—in their minds I was the dirty guy who fired her!
The second incident involved Joyce. She worked for several years as the Legislative Assistant to a State Representative. Unfortunately, he passed away while in office and the political party named the temporary replacement. The family of the man who had passed away seemed to blame Joyce for the fact that the political party had not chosen the son of the deceased Representative.
Perhaps most people have encountered similar situations. The thing that hurts the most is that nothing can be said that will convince our accusers that we are not at fault for what has happened.
That brings us to the implication of today’s Scripture. HOW ARE WE TO REACT WHEN PEOPLE FALSELY ACCUSE US? First and foremost we need to examine our actions to determine if we have done anything to cause the problem.
In this portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He says that we are to rejoice! What?! How can we rejoice when we are innocent and are being falsely accused? The answer is simple—because Jesus says that is what we are to do!
The world is anxious to see believers who act differently in the face of adverse situations. To give sincere praise in the face of adversity and unprovoked attack is the most powerful witness we can give.
In Acts, chapters six and seven, we read about a faithful servant of the Lord named Stephen. Not only did he wait on tables to distribute food, but he was full of the Lord’s grace and power to perform mighty works.
In spite of his faithful service he was arrested and accused of blasphemy. Even in the face of severe consequences he proclaimed the pure Word of truth. He was stoned to death, but he never reacted with resentment toward those who were killing him.
What were the last recorded words of Stephen as he was being pounded to death by those wicked stones? “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” That, dear heart, is the kind of testimony this old sin-sick world is waiting to observe!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 10, 2009 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Back in the 1970’s I seemed to have it made. I was Deputy Director of the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission. The position paid well and I was offered a similar position with a Federal agency. But God had other plans for me.
I felt God’s call and took a part-time position with my home church. The pay was less and the hours longer, but it was God’s call and I could only obey. Since that time I have felt weak and inadequate, but it is in those times that I have most felt the power of God. It was not what I did, but what God did through me.
There was a time in my life when I felt that retirement was something to look forward to. I passed retirement age many years ago and now my ministry is more fruitful than when I was young and strong.
Why is that? I think the answer is that it is not my strength or ability, but God flowing through me. The less I am able to do, the more He is able to do through me. “Do you follow me?”
If you feel too weak or too inadequate to do work for the Lord—start praising the Lord. That is when His power and glory can be displayed. It is when we are weak that His strength is revealed! Thank God for the difficulties and watch Him work!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 9, 2009 | Matthew
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The entire world seems to be in a state of financial collapse. Retirement accounts that seemed to be adequate for the golden years melt like a snowman in 80 degree weather! Those of us who possess the least seem to be the least concerned. Why is that? According to today’s Scripture, it has to do with where our heart is.
Over the years I have heard comments from people who fail to honor God with their giving. They say that they want to wait until; the house sells, they get a raise, they receive their inheritance, they receive their income tax refund and so on it goes. They say that then they will 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 put in more than all of the others. 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 individuals—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, what treasures will have the most value?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
