by Pastor Cecil | Dec 31, 2013 | James
James 4:13-14
Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Fewer and fewer of us are still alive who recall those terrifying days of World War II. Evening radio reports heralded the tides of the battle. Some were encouraging and others heart breaking. In November 1942, as the battle raged, Winston Churchill gave a speech that was filled with both encouragement and caution: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
The end of the beginning! As we stand on the threshold of 2014, there have been battles won and lost over the past years. We may have reached the point where we feel that there is nothing left for us to live for. WRONG!
The battle still rages around us and no matter how weak or frail we may feel, there is still work for us to do. God calls us to be fruitful. I spoke with a dear friend in the past few days, and we talked about what “fruit bearing” really means. While it does include soul winning, there is a more basic aspect of bearing fruit.
Galatians 5:22-23a, gives us a list of spiritual fruit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Here is the question: Are you bearing this kind of fruit?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 30, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
A story is told of a very poor man who lived in ancient times. It was a time when powerful kings dominated all who lived in their kingdoms, and who also wielded the power of life and death. It was a time when many sons and many horses were a sign of wealth and prosperity.
This poor man had only one horse and one son. As he grew older, his son used the horse to plow the fields, to haul the produce to market, and to ride from place to place on various errands. People pitied the poor man and often made disparaging remarks about his poverty.
Things went from bad to worse one day when his son was returning from the villageand was thrown off the horse to the ground, breaking the boy’s leg. The people clucked their tongues and wondered what evil thing this poor man had done to have such bad fortune to befall him. He would just smile and reply, “The Lord knows what I need. I will trust Him to give me what He wants me to have.”
Not long after the son’s accident, the king sent messengers to each village and demanded that every able-bodied young man report for battle immediately. The only one in this age group who was not conscripted was the poor man’s injured son. In a short time the sad news was relayed to the village that the battle had gone very wrong and all of the young men had died in the fray. Now the man who had once been pitied was considered to be the one who was blessed.
When we trust in God, it makes no difference what people think or say, Romans 8:28 is true in any and every circumstance: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 27, 2013 | Psalm
Psalm 42:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Have you ever had the blue funks, the down days, the blahs? Remember that old lament? “Nobody loves me everybody hates me, I’m going to eat some worms. Down goes a fat one, down goes a skinny one, Oh, how they wiggle when they squirm.” Boy! That is one from way back in my boyhood days! Aren’t you glad that I share such spiritually profound gems with you?
The member of the Sons of Korah, who wrote this particular Psalm, seems to have been depressed when he wrote it. It is interesting that there is a conversation here with his soul. It is a picture of a person who is talking to himself. Have you ever been able to identify with him? I heard a bit of advice long ago that it is permissible to talk to yourself. I was told that you can talk to yourself all you want. The problem arises when you answer yourself and the conversation turns into an argument! If and when this happens — you’re in trouble!
Here is an important principle that I learned long ago. When someone is depressed, the last thing you want to tell them is: “Cheer up!” That is a good way for you to find yourself on the receiving end of a tirade!
There has to be an answer, and there is. As we read today’s Scripture, we find that the Psalmist is not simply moaning and whining about his emotional state. He proceeds to give a plan of action. In his conversation with his soul, the Psalmist gives several absolutely brilliant steps to escape from the grip of depression: “PUT YOUR HOPE IN GOD.“
The Psalmist directs his mind from the “poor me feelings,” to focus on the One who is the Blessed Controller of All Things–the Lord Jesus Christ. That should be the first step for everyone who feels depressed. It is not in feeling better about yourself, but what God has done for us which will start us on the road to recovery.
“I WILL YET PRAISE HIM.” Here is another essential step. It is critical that when we go to the Lord in prayer, it should start with a time of praise and adoration. Sometimes we spend all of our prayer time with a shopping list of things we want Him to send our way. We need to become swallowed up in adoration and love for God.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 26, 2013 | Isaiah
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
When Isaiah penned the words of this prophecy concerning the coming of our Lord, there was certainly very little hope for the people of Israel. God had chosen them, but they had rejected Him, or at least they had neglected Him. Sounds pretty much the way of our present day world doesn’t it?
People may sing Christmas carols and even be so spiritual as to read the nativity story, but what is in their heart? To know “about” someone is not the same as actually knowing them. We may be introduced to a celebrity but that certainly does not mean we “know” them.
Several years ago Joyce and I were on a vacation in Hawaii. As we were seated for lunch one day, we happened to be seated at a table next to a famous comedian and his family. I have never seen such an old grouch in my life. He not only looked miserable, he acted miserable. He never acted like he was aware of anyone in the room, including the members of his own family. We didn’t know him and what is more we did not care to know him.
That is the negative side. I have been introduced to people that appeared to be warm and wonderful and I would have enjoyed spending time getting to know them, but, here we are again, I did not know them at all.
Just to read a story about the life of Jesus does not mean that we “know” Him. To really know Him requires a new birth. In John 3:16, He told Nicodemus that in order to know Him into eternity, we must experience a new birth. That requires a confession of our sins and asking Him to come into our heart and make us a new creation. Do you know Him?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 25, 2013 | Luke
Luke 2:9-10
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Christmas Day 2013! While we are not certain exactly when Jesus was born, it is certain that He came into the world exactly as Scriptures reveal. The date is not the thing that is important. The amazing thing is that His birth proclaims GOOD NEWS to a world that was and is dying for salvation.
The message that the angel of the Lord delivered to the shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem is still as meaningful to us over 2,000 years later. Since that first sin in the Garden of Eden, God has provided mankind with good news.
In Genesis 3:15, God gave the good news in the form of a curse on Satan. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” The birth of Jesus was the beginning of the end for Satan. The Good Shepherd of the sheep would provide a sacrifice for the sins of any who come to Him for salvation. That was the good news of great joy on that quiet night outside Bethlehem and it is the good news for us today.
“GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
