by Pastor Cecil | Oct 24, 2012 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 2:14-15
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
Imagine walking down the street on a warm spring day. The birds are singing and the sun shining through the trees leaves creates dimpled blotches on the sidewalk. Your mind is preoccupied with the joy of the day, when suddenly everything changes. An irresistible aroma wafts across the street and entices you to a small shop with a familiar sign over the door—FRESH BAKED BREAD!
You laugh to yourself, “As if anyone would have to tell you it is fresh bread!” That fragrant aroma had provided enough of an announcement by itself. Peeking through the window of the shop you can see row after row of freshly baked bread on the counter. Having great will power you turn and walk away. RIGHT? WRONG!! You walk in and purchase two loaves. You can hardly wait to get home and cut into one of those warm loaves. With butter melting into the warm bread you enjoy the precious treat. It is so delicious that you and your family eat one loaf that evening.
The next day, in great anticipation, you take out the remaining loaf . . . but something has happened. That wonderful aroma has faded. Yes, there’s still a hint, but it’s just not the same as the day before. By the third day, what is left of the loaf is stale and the aroma is gone. Now it’s nothing but stale bread. You can still remember what it had once been, but it just does not have the fresh-baked aroma that was so appealing only three days ago.
As we read today’s Scripture, we are told that we are to be the aroma of Christ to those around us. In other words, we are to draw people to Christ. What fragrant aroma of Christ do people sense when they are around you?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 23, 2012 | Galatians
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
A visiting minister had just preached a dynamic message on being totally committed to God and empty of self. Following the message, as people came by to speak with him, a woman approached and said, “Reverend _____, please pray that God will make me nothing.” Being a courageous and faithful servant, he looked her straight in the eye and replied, “Madam, take it by faith, you are nothing!” Her reaction revealed that she did not take well to his suggestion!
I can understand what he was saying. It was not to put her down, but rather to show that without Christ we are indeed nothing. Does that end the matter? Absolutely not! As a matter of fact it is just the start. When our pride and self-sufficiency get out of the way, Christ is able to do His work in and through us.
I once heard Major Ian Thomas relate his own experience in this area. He was a young man who had received Jesus as his personal Savior. He wanted to please the Lord, so he worked and worked, doing everything he could for the Lord.
One Sunday evening he had finished assisting in a week-long series of meetings. Following the last service, he had packed up books, Bibles and other materials until late into the night.
When Thomas returned to his hotel room he was exhausted. He threw himself across the bed and almost wept. He cried out, “Lord, I am through! I can’t keep this up any longer. I am tired to my very core. I will still love and honor you, but from now on someone else will have to carry the load.”
Major Thomas expected the Lord to be disappointed in him for quitting—but just the opposite happened. It was as though the Lord had breathed into his ear, “Finally! You have been doing things for Me that I never asked you to do. Now I can work through you to do My work.”
Major Thomas went on to be a worthy servant of the Lord Jesus Christ around the world. He never again felt that heavy load he had turned over to the Lord when he was a young man. He simply listened to the Lord and obeyed. He has gone to be with the Lord now and I can imagine the welcome he received, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Are you wearing yourself out trying to please the Lord? I implore you to give up trying to earn your salvation. Listen to Him—then do what He asks you to do. God’s work—done God’s way—will have God’s power!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 22, 2012 | Ephesians
Ephesians 6:4
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
The other night I was watching a television program about a village that lived a subsistence type of lifestyle. Each member of the family was called upon to help provide food to insure survival. It was the time of the king salmon run and plans were being made to set up the devices to capture as many as possible to provide food during the coming winter months.
The daughter of this family determined to help provide. She took three friends with her and went out to hunt caribou. It was not a common thing for women to go out hunting without men being along. After some time the trio spotted a small herd and the daughter shot the first caribou of her life. With joy she took the precious meat back home.
As her father approached you could see her joy and delight to be able to share with him how she had taken this great step in providing for the family. Instead of showering her with praise he berated her for not shooting more and for shooting such a small animal. It was like a slap in her face and she slumped in despair.
I fear that many fathers react the same way to the actions of their children. Instead of bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord they quickly find fault and demonstrate a bitter attitude. It may be the reason why so many young people turn their back on God when they are able to make their own choices.
Each of us should commit ourselves to be blessers and encouragers to not only our own children but those who come from homes where they lack praise.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 19, 2012 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 32:10-12
In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. The LORD alone led him; no foreign god was with him.
From time to time I have found web-cam sites that show nesting eagles. I am a lover of eagles and we even live on Bald Eagle Lane. As I watch the eagle-cams, I marvel at the way God has created these feathered parents to nurture their young. They take turns tending the nest all through the incubation period. When one leaves to search for food the other stays to keep the eggs warm.
After the chicks are hatched, the eaglets find warmth and safety under the strong wings of the parent bird that is on duty. There are times when they venture out to have bits of fish or small animal placed in their beaks, but before long they are safely hidden under those strong arms once more.
In 1896, following the death of his beloved wife, William Cushing devoted himself to write hymns of encouragement and hope to those in the storms of life. He wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn, Under His Wings, this week’s featured hymn from GloryScapes.
Under His Wings
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I?m safe evermore.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
To access Under His Wings, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/underhiswings/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 18, 2012 | Joshua
Joshua 24:15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Time is a very precious commodity. As far as I know, each of us has been blessed with the exact same number of hours each day. If any of you have received more than 24, please let me know so I can try to discover your secret. It is not the number of hours we have that matters, but what we do with the ones we have been given.
I recall hearing the heartbreaking story of a father and his son. For weeks the father had made plans with his son to go on a fishing trip. The boy had carefully gathered all of his fishing gear and could hardly sleep the night before the big day of the fishing adventure.
At long last morning came and the boy and his father were preparing to leave when the phone rang. The young man heard his father say, “No, I have nothing important planned. I will be there right away.” With hardly another word the father left his son in utter dismay. From that very morning the son became estranged from his father.
There are countless people who have made promises to God and then never follow through. They say they will spend time making the Lord a central part of their lives, but everything else takes first place. They make work, entertainment, relationships, or any number of things, more vital than time sharing the rich things in God’s Word. It is time to evaluate our life. When we stand before the Lord will our excuses sound reasonable?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
