by Pastor Cecil | Jul 31, 2014 | Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?
The material things of this world have always been a temptation. From the Garden of Eden to our own flower garden, mankind has hungered for the things of this world thinking we could find contentment.
There is that word — CONTENTMENT. What does it take to make us feel the warm glow of contentment and satisfaction? If we had more money would we find satisfaction? No! Some of the most dissatisfied people in the world are the richest. Would better health bring satisfaction? Again we find that this is not the case. Health and wealth do not automatically insure satisfaction.
Most of us know people who are constantly striving to find satisfaction. It seems that these folks continue to be the most miserable ones we know. They are never satisfied with anything in their lives and make others miserable in their effort.
Here is the time to look into the mirror of God’s Word. As you read once again the words of Ecclesiastes 5:10-11, remember that the man who wrote these words was Solomon. He was the richest and wisest man in the world but, even with all he possessed, Solomon still was not content. Contrast that with what Paul writes in Philippians 4:12: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” How about you?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 30, 2014 | Isaiah
Isaiah 6:6-8
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’
I recall hearing a musical group singing a song that had a line about hearing the call from the Lord . . . but wanting someone else to respond to it. Isn’t it amazing how keenly we can hear the call of the Lord for someone else? We even wonder why they are so slow to respond to His call. We hear it so clearly. Right!
But what about when the call is directed to us? We have all kinds of excuses for not responding: We are too busy, we are not qualified, or perhaps the call is not really from the Lord . . . and on and on our excuses pile up.
In Acts 9 a man named Ananias lived in dread and fear of persecution. Then the worst possible news began to spread around Damascus where he lived that the man they had heard was a violent persecutor of the believers in Jerusalem was now on his way to their city. Then the unthinkable happened — Ananias was called by the Lord to go and pray for this feared man that his sight might be restored! That was his calling in life, but what a difference it made!
As you are reading the Bible or praying, you may feel a tug on your heart strings and know that the Holy Spirit is calling you for a special task. Please do not argue with God and expect someone else to do it. Be willing to act in obedience.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 29, 2014 | Habakkuk
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Why in the world would I choose a title like the one I have chosen for today? Isn’t it natural that everyone would choose joy? Nope! You see, we usually associate joy with the favorable things that we encounter. I think it is appropriate to recall a poem I composed some time ago:
When all the world is bright and gay,
When skies are blue, instead of gray,
When health and wealth are close at hand,
It does not take a lot of sand
To sing and shout to beat the band.
BUT- – –
When all around you turns to gray,
When family and friends seem to slip away,
This is now the time to take your stand!
In faith reach out to God and take His hand!
Even in the midst of the unfavorable things we encounter, we need to choose to find our joy in the Lord. Things of this world will constantly change between good and bad, but when we choose joy in every circumstance, it opens the door to bless us as well as those around us. Choose Joy!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 28, 2014 | Judges
Judges 16:19-20
Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him. Then she called, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the LORD had left him.
As I sit here typing this message the frogs are singing a loud serenade at the end of our street. I am told that a group of researchers were experimenting on the reactions of frogs when exposed to hot water. They sat a shallow dish over heat and brought the temperature up to just under boiling. A frog placed in this hot water would immediately leap out of the dish onto the table.
They placed the same frog in cool water and observed as it swam around with no concern. As they gradually raised the temperature of the water the frog showed no concern and in fact remained in the water until it died in boiling water.
Here is where the lesson comes in. In today’s Scripture. God had given Samson a gift of power and might. There was a condition: He had to live as a Nazarite and never cut his hair. He must have known that Delilah was deceitful and was trying to discover the secret of his strength in order to tell her Philistine buddies, but he seemed to have lost touch with reality until it was too late.
We can sit in judgment over Samson and his foolishness, but before we do we need to stop and consider our own actions. In what way are we violating the things that God’s Word once convicted us about? How many times have we compromised God’s standards for our own desires? Something to think about isn’t it?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 25, 2014 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit.
In recent years piracy on the high seas has increased dramatically. Huge oil tankers or cargo carriers have been boarded and the ship and crew have been held hostage until the price for their release has been met. THEY HAVE TO BE REDEEMED IN ORDER TO BE SET FREE!
The fact that Fanny J. Crosby wrote thousands of poems, many of which became favorite hymns is amazing. The fact that she was totally blind is even more remarkable. Our hymn this week is Redeemed.
Notice verse four. It strikes me that Fanny Crosby was eagerly looking forward to that day when her Redeemer would appear and her blinded eyes would be opened and she would behold the most beautiful sight she could ever imagine—Jesus!
Redeemed
(1) Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
(2) Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence,
With me doth continually dwell.
REFRAIN:
(3) I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
REFRAIN:
(4) I know I shall see in His beauty,
The King in whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
REFRAIN:
(5) I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.
REFRAIN:
To access Redeemed, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/redeemed/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
