by Pastor Cecil | Sep 15, 2014 | 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.
Why am I here? What is the purpose of my existence? Has God given me a reason for being? Do I have an impact on the life of those around me? Have I seen God at work in the lives of those around me because I was used by the Lord?
These are just a few of the questions we may ask ourselves to determine if and what God’s purpose is for each of us. I have even counseled people who felt that they had no spiritual purpose in life. Others had gifts and talents, but they had nothing to give and so they left the work of the Lord to others.
I once passed a church and saw a man I knew mowing the lawn. When I asked him if the church hired him to mow the lawn, he informed me that they had no idea he was doing it. He saw a need and performed it. I discovered that there were a number of elderly people that he helped out. It was his purpose for those in need.
It may not be a ministry such as preaching or teaching that is your purpose in serving the Lord. When the Spirit opens your eyes to some need, no matter how insignificant it may seem, go for it! Your purpose might seem unimportant to you, but obeying the Lord is vital to being a faithful servant.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 12, 2014 | Daily-E-Votionals
Titus 3:4-5
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
One night, 1886, in group of Christians were singing in a down-and-out part of a large city. A distraught young woman questioned if it would be possible for a sinner like her to be saved. Listening to her heart-cry for salvation, she was taken back to the mission and left with the ladies in charge. The young, wayward woman was brought to Christ that night.
A situation was secured for her in a minister’s family. Sometime later she became ill and had to be taken to a hospital. She rapidly failed and it became evident that she would not be long on earth. One of the gentlemen, whom she had met on that night on the street, was visiting her in the ward. After quoting a few suitable verses of Scripture, he repeated her favorite hymn, “All to Christ I owe.” Two hours afterward she passed away.
Of course the greatest payment in our behalf is the gift of eternal life. It cost the horrible death of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He paid what we could not pay. He went to the cross voluntarily because He knew we would never be able to pay the cost.
Jesus Paid It All
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I,
whereby Thy grace to claim
I will wash my garments white,
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
And when before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
To access Jesus Paid It All, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesuspaiditall/ 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 | Sep 11, 2014 | Isaiah
Isaiah 61:3
And provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
I would like to share an important secret with you: JOY IS A CHOICE! But some people seem to think that one is joyful by nature. In other words, we are born with either a ray of sunlight over our head or a thundercloud.
It is also thought that the circumstances of life determine joy or sorrow. As we read the words of today’s Scripture, we quickly notice that it is directed to those who grieve in Zion.
Think of that! For those who are experiencing grief, the Lord promises the oil of joy. Not only that, He provides a garment of praise in place of a spirit of despair. I think that James might have been thinking of this when he wrote: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2).
What are you experiencing in your life at this moment? It really does not matter what the circumstances are, but it does matter whether you are appropriating the joy of the Lord in order to display His splendor.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 10, 2014 | Acts
Acts 8:34-35
The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
I am 80 and therefore enjoy a lifetime of memories—many of which I share with you in the Daily-E-Votionals. I still remember the good old days of radio when our imaginations provided the scenes depicted by sounds. The world had just passed through the great depression and many families were still experiencing hard times.
As a boy we lived near the Pacific Coast and were always on alert for a possible enemy invasion. There were blackouts, rationing and stars in windows to signify that a son or daughter was in the service or had died in the war. It was a time when we sometimes felt a dark cloud over our heads.
In this dismal hour of uncertainty it was a comfort to tune in to the broadcast of Gabriel Heatter, and hear him bring hope to our nation; “There’s good news tonight!” That was the opening statement of this radio broadcaster back in the dark days of WWII. In the time of darkness and doubt, he gave hope and encouragement.
In today’s Scripture, a eunuch from Ethiopia was discouraged by his inability to understand a passage of Scripture from Isaiah 53. It was into this scene that Philip arrived and told him the good news about Jesus.
With every dismal and depressing circumstance in our life, we need to hear words of hope from God’s Word; “Ahhhhhh, my friends! There’s good news tonight!” Jesus is the good news, and we need to be the ones who hear that good news and also to bring the good news to others.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 9, 2014 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Are you ready for the love test? Do you consider yourself a lover of God and a lover of the members of the family of God? Do you love the lost and dying enough to give yourself fully to the work of the Lord? It is time for the love test!
Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 once more, but with a difference. Replace the word love with the name Jesus: Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind, Jesus does not envy, Jesus does not boast, Jesus is not proud, Jesus does not dishonor others, Jesus is not self seeking, Jesus is not easily angered, Jesus does not delight in evil but He rejoices with the truth. Jesus always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. JESUS NEVER FAILS!
Now read it once again and replace the word love with your own name. This is your personal love test. It is rather embarrassing isn’t it? There may be a few attributes that we come close to achieving, but for the most part we receive a low grade.
It is amazing how perfectly Jesus fits into this passage. Jesus was the Father’s expression of love to a lost and dying world. Where we fail, He succeeds. He reaches down and draws us close to Him. We are not saved by passing the test, we are saved because Jesus loved us enough to die for us. If you have never opened your heart and received Jesus as your Savior, do so before it is too late!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
