by Pastor Cecil | Mar 17, 2014 | Hebrews
Hebrews 17:20-21
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
I am not sure what the driving regulations are in your area, but here in the State of Washington, a right turn is permitted when the light is red, but only under certain conditions: (1) After coming to a complete stop, and (2) No approaching traffic.
That is the law, but we frequently see flagrant violations. I just observed a pickup coming to an intersection at a speed that was too fast for the conditions. I knew he had a red light, but he made a right turn without even trying to slow down. It is at these times that I wish I was still on the police force.
Human nature is opposed to laws of any kind. We like to do things our way and in our own time. We can read what God says in His Holy Word, but when we approach the intersections of our life we tend to ignore what we know to be right.
Now comes the time for honest soul searching. This is just between you and the Lord. How many times have you violated His laws for your life? What is the Holy Spirit convicting you about at this very moment that you need to deal with? How will you conduct yourself in the days ahead?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 14, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 107:29-30
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven.
It seems that each of us is called upon to face storms in our life. It may be physical infirmity, financial reversals or the loss of a loved one. It is not the storm that matters, but how we react to the storm.
Back in 1873, Horatio Spafford and his family were scheduled to sail on the French steamer ‘Ville de Havre’ from New York to England where he was to assist the great evangelist, D.L. Moody. Because of a last minute business crisis Mr. Spafford sent his family on ahead and he would follow on a later ship.
Unfortunately the ship his family was on collided with another ship and sank. There was a terrible loss of life. Spafford and his wife lost their four daughters. Nine days later Horatio Spafford received a cable from his wife that simply said, “Saved alone.” What poignant words.
Later, as he was sailing to meet his wife, he asked the captain to let him know when they were near where the accident had occurred. It was there that he penned the words of this week’s hymn, It Is Well with My Soul.
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
To access It Is Well With My Soul, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/itiswellwithmysoul/ 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
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 13, 2014 | Acts
Acts 5:1-2
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Every time I read this account of Ananias and Sapphira, I always have to consider what had preceded it. In the previous chapter we are told that Barnabas had sold a field he owned and brought the money from the field and laid it at the apostle’s feet.
I can only conjecture that Ananias and Sapphira saw what Barnabas had done and wanted to copy his actions . . . only without giving their all. It may have been noble to give a gift to the work of the early church, but they were guilty of deception.
Peter told Ananias that he had not lied to man, but to God and the Holy Ghost. Their actions resulted in their deaths. It is not safe to try to deceive the Holy Spirit. Not only does He know our actions, He knows our heart as well.
As you examine your walk with the Lord, are you being totally honest? This is not restricted to financial giving, but can also include our time and our talents. Do we give more to ourselves or the world than we offer to God? May God reveal our motives that drive our actions!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 12, 2014 | Luke
Luke 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
I fear we may often fail to recognize just how valuable a human life is to God. We can be very nonchalant about what our life and witness could mean to those who have not yet made a decision for Christ. But too often it seems we just shrug our shoulders, unconcerned whether they do or they don’t—what’s the big deal about one more decision?
Stop for a few moments and try to visualize the terrors of hell. If you need a little help, let me share this passage from Luke 16:23-24: “In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’”
Can you imagine the torment that was so great that just a touch of water on his parched tongue would bring some relief? Now get your mind around the concept that this torment would last for eternity!
We are not just playing a game here. We are dealing with eternal values. Our actions must match our words so that we will create a desire in the hearts of the lost to make that eternal choice that will mean heaven!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 11, 2014 | Matthew
Matthew 14:6-8
On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.’
Well! Well! Well! So much for a happy birthday present. The thing that bothers me most about birthdays is that I am reminded that I am getting older. On March 14th I will celebrate my 80th birthday.
Some wit has suggested that pre-teens add one half to their age (“I’m twelve and a half!”) while teens say they are almost the next age (“I’ll be sixteen!”). Twenty year olds boast about their age; at thirty and beyond, it is easier to say nothing about how old they are. At age 80 it is well to gasp out that we have made it to 80. Beyond this, we are just happy to make it to Tuesday!
There are only two birthday celebrations mentioned in the Bible. Pharaoh’s in Genesis 40 and Herod’s in the New Testament. Someone lost their head at both of these celebrations — the baker at Pharaoh’s birthday party and John the Baptist at Herod’s birthday bash.
I feel that age has nothing to do with fruitful service. Many teens are more effective workers for Christ than others much older. I have come to echo the sentiments of Paul in 1 Philippians 1:21-22: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!” I will keep my head!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
