by Pastor Cecil | Jul 10, 2014 | Matthew
Matthew 19:4-6
‘Haven’t you read,’ He replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’
It was 62 years ago, July 10, 1952 to be exact, that Joyce and I became one flesh. It was a blazing hot day in Nampa, Idaho, and there was no such thing as air conditioning in the church. As a matter of fact there was not even a fan.
Joyce and I were both eighteen. We had first met when we were fourteen and had been sweethearts all through high school. People had a tendency to smirk and say we were too young. In fact there was a song back in the 50’s, They Tried to Tell Us We’re Too Young. People thought they knew best, but they did not know how level of devotion to each other.
While we were indeed quite young, we were totally committed to Jesus first and then to each other. Without apology we were both virgins and our decision to wait made our wedding day special.
When we recited our vows in the presence of our family and friends, we were uniting our very being. We could actually feel that we had become one flesh. Across these 62 years we have grown old together. Becoming one flesh is a blessing we would pray for each married husband and wife.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 9, 2014 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:17-19
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
I enjoy listening to people talk about what they do. I recall a job I had in my teens mixing concrete. Back then we had sand, gravel, and bags of powdered cement delivered to the job site. My job was to shovel a set quantity of sand, gravel, and cement into a large mixer along with the right amount of water. It was one of the hardest jobs I ever had.
After everything had been properly mixed, it was poured into wheelbarrows and transported to the prepared forms. Ah, yes, the forms. Without the forms the cement would just flow out on the ground and be of no use. The forms had been prepared ahead of time so that they would hold the concrete and, when it hardened, would be like a rock.
There is a startling similarity between the life of a Christian and the process of preparing concrete. Without the proper ingredients added in the proper ratio at the proper time, it will result in an unstable and formless foundation.
Spending time with God in prayer and reading His Word will prepare our foundational “forms” for building that heavenly home that will never pass away. Which home are you spending your time and effort to build?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 8, 2014 | Revelation
Revelation 3:2-3
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
In 1963, as a new Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force, my first assignment was at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. I was officer in charge of the basic training records of the new Air Force recruits that were processed at Lackland. Basic training is always an extremely stressful ordeal and you never seem to get enough sleep.
Each day we had basic training recruits assigned to do the janitorial work in our building. On a particular day one of the men assigned to our building was given the task of wiping down the baseboards of the main office.
The Senior Master Sergeant in our division directed my attention to this recruit. His arm had been going back and forth along the baseboard, but had stopped as he had fallen sound asleep with his head leaning against the wall.
For some humor we decided to have a little fun at his expense. We stood over him and had someone shout as loud as possible, “ATTENTION!” His eyes opened and he saw the two of us, an officer and an NCO, standing over him. It was a shock he would not soon forget. We assured him that we would not report this.
In like manner, we often fall asleep instead of remaining faithful to the task the Lord has assigned to us. I pray that the Holy Spirit will wake us to the task at hand as we open the Word and hear “ATTENTION!”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 7, 2014 | 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 held 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. One day his son was using the horse to plow the fields when an accident occurred and his leg was badly broken. He was no longer able plow or to haul the produce to market and ride from place to place on various errands. People pitied the poor man and often ridiculed him for his poverty and misfortune.
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 all of the men from that village had died in battle. 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 | Jul 4, 2014 | Hebrews
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
From time to time there are health scares that cause people to fear for their lives. They rush to receive inoculations or use face masks. There are precautions taken in washing our hands and covering our mouths when we cough or sneeze. As a boy I can still remember when families were quarantined because someone in the house was diagnosed with a contagious disease.
In the early years of the 20th Century there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the US that claimed many lives. In 1903 Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. As the epidemic swept the area, two of his nieces died from the dread disease and the others in the house were quarantined. In his hour of grief he wrote the hymn NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD and had the college choir sing outside the house.
If you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death right now (I know that I am), let these words bring that quiet assurance we need.
Near to the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
To access Near to the Heart of God, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod 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
