by Pastor Cecil | Oct 24, 2013 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 1:9-10
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
During my lifetime I have had opportunity to spend some time in fruit orchards . . . and cannot recall ever hearing groans from the trees as they produced luscious fruit. I have also walked down the long rows of onions while slicing off the seed pods for a seed company . . . and never once heard the onion plants groaning as they matured. The trees and the onions did the thing they were designed for—they grew and produced after their own kind.
Sometimes it seems that we try our best to be something other than what God designed us to be. In writing this second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul clears the deck and lays it out for all of us to see. We are all called to a holy life.
Paul is quick to add that there is nothing that Timothy can do to merit this holy life, and that point carries down to us as well. The holy life is not achieved by what we accomplish, but by what Jesus has done for us from the very beginning of time.
God’s great and magnificent grace! Not what we deserve, but what we need. The Lord knows our inability to be holy and He has provided Himself as our strength. As we turn our life over to Him, our roots sink down into the rich soil of His love and He becomes our holiness. Allow Him to be your all in all.
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 23, 2013 | 1 Timothy
1 Timothy 6:6-9
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
It’s sad to say, but have you noticed that there are a lot of miserable Christians out there? What I mean is that they act as if they were missing out on the “good life” by being a Christian. And that is simply a lie from the devil.
There is an important element of Christian discipleship that is often lacking . . . it is the spirit of contentment. We might call it the “AHHH” factor. That state of satisfaction should be a vital part of each believer.
As we consider Paul’s words to Timothy, we discover that he is teaching his son in the faith that he needs to have contentment in living the life of faith. It is almost like he is raising the eyes of Timothy to catch a glimpse of the glory that is waiting in heaven for him, as well as all of us who are born again. We came into the world with nothing of the world’s goods, and we will depart the same way. It is only our spiritual wealth that matters.
We need to evaluate our own walk of faith. Do we have a contentment that transcends the “stuff” of the world? Do we live for the present or for eternity?
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 22, 2013 | Job
Job 10:8
Your hands shaped me and made me. Will You now turn and destroy me? Remember that You molded me like clay. Will You now turn me to dust again?
Several years ago I was called upon to officiate at the funeral service of a young man in his late teens. The funeral chapel was full and people were standing. Many of those in attendance were teenagers.
As I watched one after the other arrive it was like I was watching a school of guppies. They all seemed to look alike. They wore the same style of clothing, the same hair styles and had the same expression on their faces.
Before we become too critical, dig out an old photo album and look at some of your old pictures. Other than the fact you have aged, notice the old fashioned way you wore your hair and the style of your dress. Would you like to appear that way today?
Isn’t that strange—if not tragic—we are more concerned about what others think about us than what God thinks? Remember that God made us just the way we are—warts and all. We are not an accident! We have been shaped and molded by God to fulfill His plan and purpose.
You may possibly remember a wonderful old prayer chorus called Spirit of the Living God. It goes something like this: “Spirit of the Living God, fall a-fresh on me. Spirit if the Living God, fall a-fresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall a-fresh on me.” May that ever be our prayer!
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 21, 2013 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Several years ago I was Pastor of a church that was ideal for weddings. It became a ministry to meet, counsel, and perform the ceremony for many couples. But there was a little problem that frustrated me for several years. Before the ceremony, when the groom and I were waiting in my office, it was impossible to see when we were to make our entrance without opening the door a crack.
One day I was pondering the problem as I looked at the door from the sanctuary side. There was a carved piece on the door that precluded installing a traditional peek hole. I wondered what would happen if I simply drilled a small hole through the carving on the door in such a way that it would not disturb the carving. I drilled a ¼ inch hole through and bingo! I could see most of the sanctuary–not all of it, but part of it.
There is no way we can completely know what heaven will look like. We are given a few glimpses, such as the first five verses of Revelation 5, but that is such a brief view that it just whets our appetite to see even more.
While our view of our heavenly home is limited, it gives us a goal to reach for. All we need to know is that we have our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, waiting to welcome us to our new home forever and forever! Wow! It makes me homesick!
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 18, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 42:1-2
“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”
Hunger is a need that may be suppressed for many days without harm. Fasting in fact has been shown to have positive aspects and is thought to be beneficial to the body. Thirst, on the other hand is something which cannot be ignored. The dehydration of the body can quickly lead to death, as we have seen the tragic reality of in recent years with the deaths of athletes who exerted themselves in hot temperatures.
David confesses that he longs for a closer fellowship with the Lord. He likens his desire to being in a desert and almost dying for spiritual water. How did he get this way? Let’s try to imagine what that looks like, and to see if you may be suffering from the ailment. Here in Psalm 42.
One of the symptoms of spiritual dehydration is prolonged absence from assembling in the house of the Lord. Another symptom of spiritual dehydration is not spending time with God in personal communion. It leads to isolation and vulnerability to the temptations of the flesh. What about the spiritual dehydration of believers? Is that a choking sound I hear? How long has it been since you and God met for a visit? Reflect as you enjoy our hymn for the week.
Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty
Ho! Everyone that is thirsty in spirit,
Ho! Everyone that is weary and sad;
Come to the fountain, there’s fullness in Jesus,
All that you’re longing for; come and be glad!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?
Weary of earth’s joys, so false, so untrue?
Thirsting for God and His fullness of blessing?
List’ to the promise, a message for you!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!
Nothing but “fullness” thy longing can meet;
‘Tis the enduement for life and for service;
Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
To access Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/hoeveryonewhoisthirsty/ 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
