by Pastor Cecil | Jan 31, 2012 | Philippians
Philippians 4:12-13
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives strength.
Several years ago I received the following humorous story. I hasten to add that it could just as easily apply to men as well as women:
Recently a “Husband Shopping Center”opened in Oklahoma City, where women could go to choose a husband from among many men. It was laid out in five floors, with the men increasing in positive attributes as you ascended up the floors. The only rule was, once you opened the door to any floor, you must choose a man from that floor, and if you went up a floor, you couldn’t go back down except to leave the place never to return. A couple of girlfriends go to the Center to find husbands.
First floor: The door had a sign saying, “These men have jobs and love kids.” The women read the sign and say, “Well, that’s better than not having jobs, or not loving kids, but I wonder what’s further up?” So up they go.
Second floor: “These men have high paying jobs, love kids, and are extremely good looking.” Hmmm, say the girls. But, I wonder what’s further up?
Third floor: “These men have high paying jobs, are extremely good looking, love kids and help with the housework.” Wow! say the women. Very tempting, BUT, there’s more further up! And up they go.
Fourth floor: “These men have high paying jobs, love kids, are extremely good looking, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.” Oh, mercy me. But just think! What must be awaiting us further on! So up to the fifth floor they go.
Fifth floor: The sign on that door said, “This floor is empty and exists only to prove that women are impossible to please. Good-bye.”
“If only I had a husband, or a wife, or a new car, or a new house or such and such—then I would be content!” How many times have we heard that, or even uttered words such as those. By nature we seem to be a people that lack a feeling of contentment. There is always something not quite to our liking.
That lack of contentment, my dear friends, comes as a result of being controlled by our carnal, human nature. Trust me on this . . . we are in a battle between our human nature and our spiritual nature. Sadly it is often our human nature that wins out over the spiritual resolves we make.
I am so glad that Paul gives us a radiant testimony of his victory over discontent. He freely states that there were times in his life when he was prosperous. But there were also times when he had nothing. He wants us to understand that it is not the good things of life or distasteful things that matter—it is Christ who makes the difference.
Paul sums up his comments on the plenty and the lack in a unique manner: “It is not the good times or the bad times that give us contentment in this life—it is the power of Christ, not our power that matters . . . I can do everything through Him who gives strength.”
Here is another verse which should be a constant reminder for each of us who strive to find lasting contentment. 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.”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing in the time we have.
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 30, 2012 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
I receive news feeds from MSNBC on my Windows Live Mail. This morning there was an article about the latest sunspot that has produced amazing northern lights. There was one sentence that really grabbed my attention. It said that the flares from this sun spot were traveling at 5.6 million miles per hour. I think that figures out to 93,333 miles per minute or 1,555 miles per second.
Look at today’s Scripture once again. See the words; “. . . in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.” It is easy to think of a flash or the twinkling on an eye in a more understandable rate. In the above illustration, one second would find a plane flying from Seattle, Washington to Kansas City, Missouri in one second. Zoom! That would sure blow up a police radar detector!
Time is something that God controls. At the moment He says it’s time, believe me, it’s time! That time might be the rapture of the church or it might be the death of a dear saint of God. Either way, instantaneously we pass from this world to the next.
I sincerely believe in the rapture of the church. I have been thinking about the rapture recently as we are studying the book of Revelation in our church. It struck me that a rapturing (catching up in the air to meet the Lord) would occur in that flash of time. But what about a born again believer who dies? In that same instant of time the person is caught up into the presence of the Lord. Either way we have a blood bought ticket into a glorious eternity with the Lord. I hope to see you there!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today and be a blessing in the time we have.
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 27, 2012 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
My mother said that when I was a baby the only thing that would stop my fussing was to listen to soft music. It wasn’t the discordant noise that often is defined as music, any more than paint thrown haphazardly on a canvas could be called art. Not just music but other areas of our life. God is a God of peace rather than discord or disorder.
I guess you may say that the fat is in the fire as I write this Daily-E-Votional for Friday. We usually have a hymn courtesy of GloryScapes.com, but I would like to have us think about music for a few moments. The joy I find in GloryScapes is the harmonious nature of the music.
I miss the good old days of television when programs had meaning without chaotic perversion that has become a pattern of sinfulness. One of my favorites was the Andy Griffith Show with Andy serving as Sheriff of Mayberry. You may recall Don Knotts playing the part of the bumbling Deputy Barney Fife. One episode had a scene of a church choir rehearsing. Everyone was singing on key except Barney. The director was beside himself trying to deal with the discord. Finally Barney stepped up to the director and volunteered to move throughout the choir while they were singing to discover who was singing off key.
I love to listen to classical music. For the most part the harmony is soothing and creative, but some pieces are discordant and strident. At this moment I am listening to a hymn that has order and harmony. Sad to say, some Christian music is more noise and clamor than peace and harmony. Lord, may my life be harmonious!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Fill your life with harmonious peace and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 26, 2012 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:8-9
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
Over the years I have officiated at numerous funeral services. The age of the deceased has ranged from over 100 years of age to a premature infant. There have been politicians, ministers, policemen, firemen, military members, students and teachers. The one common element is that they have left this world and are now in eternity.
There is a poem by C.T. Studd that has eight or nine verses. The end of each verse is the same but has such truth that many believe it is a quote from the Bible: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” If that is true, and it is, the purpose of our life should be to follow close to our Lord.
Just about a year ago I was having digestive problems. Medical tests all indicated that there was no problem with my heart. But a treadmill test showed that there was something amiss. The long and short of it was that I had a three way heart by-pass. The cardiologist said that it was luck that I did not have a heart attack and die. I do not believe it was luck, but the Lord showing me that there is still work to do.
Paul was eager to be with the Lord, but that did not matter. His prime objective was to please the Jesus he met on the road to Damascus. Those of us who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior have a wonderful eternity waiting for us. But there are many who face a sinner’s hell if they are not given the opportunity to make their decision. I pledge to do everything I can to please the Lord I met as a young boy some 70 years ago. I want to live life with a purpose!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Live with a purpose and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 25, 2012 | Luke, Psalm
Luke 22:31-32
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Experiencing the crippling effect of our recent snow and ice storm has been very revealing. Some have ranted and raved at the hard working electrical crews who have been laboring 24 hours a day to restore power. At the same time I have heard from others who have used this time to draw closer to the Lord and to each other.
A few people have asked me if I thought God was punishing us for the terrible sins that are so prevalent. Only God knows the answer to that question, and it is clear in scripture that there have been natural disasters to chastise people for their godless lifestyle. That being said, many other periods of sin and rebellion have not been dealt with in this manner.
What can we learn when bad things happen to good people? I feel that we have a glimpse in today’s Scripture. Peter was a fervent disciple of Jesus and felt that he would face death rather than deny his Lord. Jesus tenderly shared with Peter that Satan had asked permission to sift him. Why? Jesus said it was so his faith would be increased in order to strengthen his brothers. He did go through the time of testing and victoriously became the leader of that band of believers who saw 3,000 accept Jesus in a single day.
Are you experiencing the pressures of life? These ordeals may bring you to a greater level of service than you can imagine. Rather than question why you are being sifted, draw closer to the Lord and allow Him to deal with Satan.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, even in times of sifting, and allow Him to make you a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
