by Pastor Cecil | Jan 10, 2013 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:25-26
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
The pleasures of sin (if we might call them that) come with a huge price tag. Over the years I have counseled many people who yielded to the siren call of temptation and paid the price that was far more than they expected.
Satan has a deceitful way of making things seem so enticing and appealing that it leads the unwise to indulge. It started in the Garden of Eden when he tempted Adam and Eve to violate the command of God not to eat of the forbidden fruit.
We have no idea what kind of fruit it was, and it really makes no difference. The issue was not the type of fruit, but that God had said that they were not to taste of the fruit. In like manner, the Holy Spirit gives conviction about yielding to certain temptations. When we hear His voice and know it is wrong we need to run, not walk away from tempting fruit.
What is the temptation you are encountering? Get away from it as fast as your feet can carry you. If you have already yielded to the temptation, go to the Lord and confess your sin. Turn away from the thing that consumes you and fill your heart and mind with the living Word of God. God does not want to punish, He wants to forgive the sincere repentant.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 9, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
No, that is not a mistake in today’s E-Votional title. I fully intended to spell it W-E-A-K-END. Sometimes when we come to the end of the week, we collapse for a couple of days before returning to work on Monday morning. The activities on our days of rest are intended to refresh, restore, and prepare us for another week in the rat-race. Do we really experience rest?
Every day is a wonderful time to consider the weak-end. It sounds crazy, but God delights in operating opposite to human reasoning. God does things His way and in His timing. We may never understand how or why, but simply trust Him to do what we are never capable of doing ourselves.
Jesus taught the principle of allowing Him to be our strength. It is not our own power or ability that makes the difference, but our willingness to give ourselves fully to Him. Faith demands that I choose to believe without understanding.
When we read what Paul has to say about human weakness it seems to be a paradox for us. How is it possible for us to become strong when we are weak? The less energy, stamina, health, muscle tone, endurance, power, drive–whatever–the more God’s power comes into play. Do we understand it? No! Do we need to understand it? No! We only need to yield to Him and allow Him to be our power.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 8, 2013 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
During church service on Sunday, one of our members was reflecting about how we have had experiences where God has stepped in and revealed Himself in a way that resolved our problems. Then a very short time later we try to handle problems in our own strength instead of allowing Him to meet our need.
It seems that many people have an erroneous view of the Lord. They see Him as a God that is vindictive and anxious to find a fault in our lives for which to punish us. They fail to see the love of God and the provision of God. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they hide from God rather than running to Him for salvation and comfort.
The Lord knows what lies ahead for us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. In the most disastrous times of our life He is there beside us giving us a future and a hope, regardless of how hopeless the situation may seem.
What is the greatest ordeal in your future? Are you trying to deal with it in your own strength? God promises us that He is the One who gives us strength for each and every day. He loves us and has a wonderful plan for our life. Are you actively seeking to discover that plan and purpose that He has designed just for you?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 7, 2013 | Nehemiah
Nehemiah 4:6
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
As we read these words it is important to understand that Ezra had returned at an earlier time and rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem. Only a remnant returned with Ezra, but even so his group had rebuilt the temple. They faced oppression and conflict with the people living in that area, many of whom were transplants and not the original settlers. They were squatters in a land that did not belong to them. (Much like the Palestinians in modern day Israel).
Word came to Nehemiah that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the people were disheartened. He prayed to the Lord and appealed to the king for permission to return and build the walls for stability and protection from the enemies of Israel. God heard his prayer and the king allowed Nehemiah to return and build the walls.
There was considerable opposition from their enemies, but God was in control and gave the people strength to restore the walls. It was not just building that was required, but the people had to be armed and ready to defend themselves from the enemy that threatened them.
Question time! What walls need rebuilding in your life? Walls that give stability and meaning to your life. Who are the enemies who oppose you? What are your weapons against these foes? Nehemiah encouraged the people by reminding them of who their God was and how great and mighty is His name. We need to keep that in our mind as well. We serve a God who is above all of our adversaries! We need to begin living as more than conquerors!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 4, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
As a part of our discipline of reading through the Bible in a year we read through the book of Psalms twice. It is absolutely astounding that David was beset by so many storms. He was attacked on all sides by his enemies who desired to take his life. Do you feel that way sometimes?
King Saul was a demented king who imagined that David was attempting to take the kingdom from him. (Actually it was the Lord who had rejected Saul because of his wickedness and failing to keep the Lord in control of his life.)
In many of his Psalms, David cried out to the Lord for help and immediately praised the Him for giving him a safe place of refuge. That is the same with us today. We may be tossed and torn by the storms of life, but the Lord always gives us a haven of rest. That is the hymn for this week.
The Haven of Rest
My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice, saying,
“Make Me your choice”;
And I entered the “Haven of Rest”!
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
In faith taking hold of the Word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
The “Haven of Rest” is my Lord.
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest,
Of Jesus, who’ll save whosoever will have
A home in the “Haven of Rest.”
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the beloved so blest,
On Jesus’ strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the “Haven of Rest.”
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
O come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the “Haven of Rest,”
And say, “My Beloved is mine.”
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest;
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
To access The Haven of Rest, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/thehavenofrest/ 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
Be sure to check out PastorCecil.com
