by Pastor Cecil | Aug 31, 2009 | Proverbs
Proverbs 15:1-2
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.”
During World War II there was a slogan that was heard on the radio and read on billboards and newspapers. “LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS!” What did that mean? It meant that there may be spies close by and if you revealed information about the war effort, it may result in peril to our fighting forces.
As a young boy living in a small town fairly close to the Pacific coast, I felt the concern of the adults around me. Many families had sons or daughters serving in the military and others worked in the defense industry. They knew that silence was not only the best policy, it was the only policy.
How do we relate that slogan to a spiritual concept? The mouth is often used as a weapon of mass destruction. Cruel and harsh things are spoken which wound and maim those within earshot. HOW WOULD JESUS SAY IT?
All too often I hear Christians saying things that would be better left unsaid, or to be said in a gentler quieter way. God is not pleased with Christians who scream out in rage. He wants us to speak words of encouragement and hope.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 28, 2009 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 1:18
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
What is so important about the cross? The answer is that without the cross there would not be the atonement for our sins. Just as the blood was required to be applied on the doorposts of the Israelites in Egypt to escape death, so the blood of Jesus must be applied to the heart of every truly repentant sinner for our salvation.
In 1913, Rev. George Bennard, an evangelist in the Methodist/Episcopal church was praying for a full understanding of the cross and its plan in Christianity. Over a period of time he studied more and more about the cross. He prayed and meditated on the cross of Christ, until one day he was able to say, “I saw the Christ of the Cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form and act out the meaning of redemption.”
Through this experience and others in his life he penned the words and wrote the tune to our hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross.”
“The Old Rugged Cross“
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:
To access The Old Rugged Cross, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/theoldruggedcross 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 | Aug 27, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Years ago I read a book by Corrie ten Boom, “Tramp For the Lord.” Now for those who do not know about Corrie, she and her family lived in Holland at the outset of WWII. They aided the Jews who were being rounded up by the Nazis.
As a result of their ministry of protecting the Jews, their entire family was arrested and placed in a series of concentration camps in Holland and Germany. All of her family, except Corrie, were killed by the Nazis.
Corrie tried to forgive those who had caused her so much pain, but soon she would once again be filled with the same bitterness. She related that she found peace when she visualized a great sea of forgiveness. She imagined herself taking the bitterness and dropping it into the deepest part of the sea and then placing a sign that read: NO FISHING ALLOWED!
I love that!
Are you carrying a heavy burden of bitterness and resentment? Few, if any of us, have ever encountered torture and murder such as Corrie encountered. Even though our situation may be different, we may also have an issue of bitterness.
As today’s Scripture teaches, we are to leave the bitterness and resentment of the past and focus on the goal of pleasing the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep in mind that there is no fishing allowed!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 26, 2009 | 1 Peter
1 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.”
Last weekend I heard the song, “Give It All To Jesus”. As I listened to the words of the song, I thought of the numerous times that I, as well as others, have counseled people to give their problems and concerns to Jesus. Sometimes they did that, but later they had taken their problem back.
I also think of the times when I make a commitment to the Lord, and then some later time realize that I have taken the situation back into my own hands. It is always disappointing to find that I have reassumed control of my problem.
When I realize that I have taken control of my problem once again, I give it back to God…but then take it back again. This gets to be a depressing scenario and often leads to a feeling of frustration.
Today’s Scripture is very plain as to the problem. IT IS PRIDE! Did I just say that? Yes I did! In essence, when we take things back into our own hands we are saying to the Lord, “Lord, this is too big for You to handle; I will handle it myself!”
Do you know how to stop the yo-yo effect of commitment? The next time you are tempted to take back control of your situation, repeat out loud what I just wrote in the last paragraph: “Lord, this is too big for You to handle; I will handle it myself!” I can guarantee that it will stop you in your tracks and cause you yield control back to the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 25, 2009 | 1 John
1 John 4:10-11
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
I really enjoy working until I feel very fatigued. It is at this time that I am able to give myself in sacrificial love to my wife and family. There have been times when I have felt totally exhausted and forced myself to do something for Joyce that really challenged me.
As I reflect on these times, I realized that sacrificial love has produced the most joyful times in our marriage. It has given me a feeling of truly demonstrating my love that is far more than mere words. At the same time, it has made Joyce feel that she is cherished and adored.
Sacrificial love is not an option, especially for husbands. In Ephesians 5:25, husbands are commanded: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”
This sacrificial love is not restricted to husbands. To live a Christ-like life means that each of us must give freely of ourselves with no thought of return. It is giving unselfishly in the same manner that Christ has given Himself for us.
How would you rate your level of sacrificial love?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
