by Pastor Cecil | Mar 23, 2012 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 4:10-11
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Samuel John Stone was affectionately known as the poor man’s pastor. His time was spent in ministering to the poor and underprivileged people in the dark places of sin in the East End of London. Much like the world of our day, it was a time when God’s Word was under attack.
Samuel Stone held true to the faith and refused to compromise the fundamentals of the faith. He composed the words of this week’s hymn. Samuel Wesley composed the music for the hymn. He was the grandson of the great hymn writer, Charles Wesley.
It is a sad commentary that the liberal thinking of our time has invaded the church of Jesus Christ. The fundamental of the faith have been replaced with man-made philosophies that stray from the truth. There is only one foundation of God’s church and that is Jesus Christ our Lord.
“THE CHURCH’S ONE FOUNDATION”
The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.
She is His new creation by water and the Word:
From heav’n He came and sought her to be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.
She is from ev’ry nation, yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation one Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses, partakes one holy food.
And to one hope she presses, with ev’ry grace endued.
‘Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation of peace for evermore;
Till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,
And the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we,
Like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.
There, past the border mountains, where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains forever shall abide!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 22, 2012 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 4:2
“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
The answer to the title of today’s Daily-E-Votional—CAN GOD USE ME?—is a resounding YES! Not only can He use you, He wants to use you. The only thing standing in the way is—are you ready?—YOU!
As I allow my mind to wander across the years, I am struck by those who have been able to minister under dire circumstances. A missionary I knew was rushed to a hospital with a ruptured appendix. While recuperating in a two-bed hospital room, he was able to share his testimony with the patient in the other bed and lead him to the Lord.
During the cold war years there were many Christians who were imprisoned due to their belief in Jesus Christ. Rather than collapsing in a heap and feeling sorry for themselves, many used prison as an opportunity to preach the gospel.
In our own life we have endured occasional tests and trials. As we surrendered our situation to the Lord, He opened doors of ministry that we could never have entered in any other way.
It is not necessary for us to be perfect before He can use us—just forgiven. It is not necessary for us to complete a course of study to be used—just available. It is not necessary for us to be of a certain age to be used—just willing.
Many of you are enduring trials and tests right now. Please do not allow what you are experiencing to paralyze you from being used. Step forward and volunteer to serve in God’s army. Neither age nor physical limitations will disqualify. “God doesn’t just call the qualified; He qualifies the called.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 21, 2012 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
It was a foggy day in Rapid City, South Dakota. I was assigned duty as a mechanic at a hangar near the end of the runway. We had four fighter aircraft prepared to scramble at a moment’s notice. There was a small room on the front of the hangar that projected out from the building. It was surrounded by windows which gave a fantastic view of any aircraft that were landing or taking off.
This day was different. The fog was so thick that it seemed impossible for a plane to land or take off. I was reading my Bible when I heard the dull roar of an approaching B-36 bomber. Their sound was so unique that I could identify the type of aircraft just by its sound.
My eyes strained to get the first glimpse of the plane as it approached. I was not prepared for the sight of the aircraft heading directly for our hangar. Suddenly the pilot veered toward the runway, but he was too low and I watched helplessly as one of his jet pods was ripped from a wingtip. He did not crash, but it was an ugly landing. I was thanking the Lord that the pilot had not taken out our hangar.
Many times we find ourselves wandering in the dense fog of life. There is no way for us to find our own way through the fog. It is in these moments that we need the Lord the most. Today’s Scripture seems tailor made for the fog of life. When we trust Him with all our heart rather than relying on our own mental ability, then He is free to give us the direction that will bring Him glory and a blessing for us.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 20, 2012 | Joshua
Joshua 1:8
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Recently I happened to see a commercial with a picture of a sweet faced cow. She was a Guernsey breed with tan and white color. It took me back to my childhood days when we had a cow named Blossom.
We didn’t live on a farm and in fact I have no idea how our family managed to care for her on the small bit of property where we lived. I think we shared her with our neighbors and each family did the milking and whatever feeding and watering that was required.
Since I was young enough that the care of Blossom was not my responsibility, all I had to do was enjoy her. She loved company and would “mooo” her approval when I would go into the field to spend time with her. One of the things that fascinated me about Blossom was watching her chew the cud. For the citified readers, that is when the cow regurgitates a portion of the stomach contents into the mouth and chews it again.
I find this same thought in the word “meditate.” When I recall a portion of God’s Holy Word and spend time to “chew” on it again and again, I begin to take into my heart where the Lord can use it to strengthen and mature me in my spiritual life. If I fail to take time to meditate, my growth is stunted. I don’t want to be a stunted child of God.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 19, 2012 | 1 Chronicles
1 Chronicles 4:10
“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.”
Are you content to creep toward retirement, when you could be catapulted into creative ministry? Have you ever poured out your heart to the Lord that He would enlarge your territories?
There was a time in my life that I was considered part of the young crowd. There were the old people that were on the periphery, but WE were young and active and full of life. Those older folks seemed to be content in just biding their time until the Lord called them home in heaven.
When the light finally dawned upon me that I was getting older, I wanted to be used by the Lord more than ever before. I began to pray this prayer of Jabez found in today’s Scripture. I cannot begin to explain how the Lord has answered this prayer, but He certainly has heard and answered. Not only has He given me a worldwide ministry, He keeps opening new doors of ministry. I Pastor a dynamic congregation, send out this Daily-E-Votional that is worldwide, have written my first book, lead a weekly Bible study, counsel individuals and families and several other things.
I challenge you to join in praying this prayer of Jabez. Let the Lord give you a unique ministry that will be designed by God just for you. I can assure you right now, you will never want to retire!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
