by Pastor Cecil | Sep 23, 2009 | James
James 4:7-8
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
A number of years ago I was attending an Advanced Basic Life Seminar. It was being held on a major university campus, which at that time boasted the top-ranked football team in the nation.
A group of us were walking back to the arena following the lunch break when we recognized the head coach and members of his staff walking in the same direction. The coach asked one of his staff what was going on for so many men to be present. The staff member explained that it was a Christian seminar. The coach scoffed and said, “I don’t have time for God today!”
From time to time across the years, I have thought about this famous football coach and his cynical comment. It was heartbreaking to hear such a firm rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately there are many who reject the Lord, even if they do not make such a bold statement. Even believers may become so pre-occupied with the things of the world that they simply do not have time for God.
Our Scripture for today gives us the answer. We are to make the time for God and draw near to Him and resist the devil. As we do this, He draws near to us and gives us the power to live a victorious life. Do you have time for God?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 22, 2009 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Fall has fallen with a change in the season. The Fall equinox means that for a few brief days there will be approximately 12 hours of daylight. The days will grow shorter here in the northern hemisphere and longer in the southern hemisphere.
It seems as if we have been here before! The older I get the more things seem to repeat themselves. This is the case with particular verses of Scripture. We are all familiar with John 3:16, but it is interesting that many New Testament books have a significant 3:16.
Please read today’s Scripture and you will see what I am referring to. These two verses are extremely powerful. God’s Word is the final authority. It is “God breathed” and infallible. Also note that it is “all of God’s Word” that is spoken of here. From Genesis to Revelation, God presents our pattern for living for Him.
We may not be able to understand everything that we read the first time, or even the 100th time, but if we remain faithful in our daily reading, more and more of it will become clear.
So what is the usefulness of God’s Word? “It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” I would say that makes it well worth our commitment to read and study diligently.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 21, 2009 | Daniel
Daniel 6:4b-5
“They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, ‘We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.’ ”
I am not sure how many times I have read and studied the book of Daniel, but it is many times. Each time I read it I am struck dumb by this passage that I have chosen for today’s Scripture. There were over 100 administrators who were so jealous of Daniel that they poked and pried into every area of his life. They were trying to find some fault so the king would not appoint him to head the whole kingdom.
How do you imagine you and I would survive such an intense examination? It makes us squirm a little doesn’t it? Recently I heard of a man in s position of spiritual leadership who spoke with great spiritual conviction from the pulpit. Later with his family he was bitter and critical.
The unfortunate thing is that a young man who had been suspicious of believers had been persuaded to attend church. He was seated in front of this man and his family. The leader’s actions so grieved him that he now wants nothing to do with hearing about God.
Daniel was a man who lived his faith at all times. He was willing to die rather than turn his back on his Heavenly Father. The night he spent at the Lion’s Inn was easier for him than it was for the King. The King knew the evil intent of Daniel’s accusers and they, along with their families met an untimely death.
As we examine our own life we need to see a constancy that is not wishy-washy, but true and faithful at all times. Our actions must always match our words!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 18, 2009 | Psalm
Psalm 145:9-12
“The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. All You have made will praise You, O LORD; Your saints will extol You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.”
In 1225, when he was feeling ill and losing his sight, Francis of Assisi
wrote about what was always on his heart: the praise of God. In “All
Creatures of Our God and King,” Francis’ love for God and the world He made comes out very strongly.
Probably because he lived such a simple life, he “noticed” things that we, in our busy-ness, overlook. Francis believed that all earth’s creatures get their life from God and that we all depend on Him for our continual existence.
“All Creatures of Our God and King“
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O, praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O, praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O, praise Him, O, praise Him,
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O, praise Him, O, praise Him,
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
To access All Creatures of Our God and King, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/allcreaturesofourgodandking 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 | Sep 17, 2009 | Matthew
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Across the years I have been blessed to counsel many people. One of the most common complaints I have heard is, “I’m so tired.” In a way it has been humorous since they complain that they are so tired they need a vacation, and when they return from vacation they are exhausted from the vacation.
It rather reminds me of counseling people who are having marital problems. There will be boxes of tissues to dry the tears of those who wish they had never gotten married. Later another person will cry their eyes out because they are not married and wish they were.
But we are talking about the complaint of weariness so, I will restrict my comments to that subject. There is no doubt that many people feel weary. That is a given! But the real question is why do they feel so tired?
The human body is capable of performing amazing feats of stamina. The way long- distance athletes are able to accomplish their acts of endurance is by training. Little by little they grow stronger and stronger until they can perform without the fatigue that once plagued them.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus gives us the spiritual prescription for our weariness:
- Come to Him
- Take His yoke upon us
- Learn from Him
Notice the rewards for following His direction—His deep and abiding rest.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
