by Pastor Cecil | Dec 10, 2014 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 1:5-6
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
One of the most memorable experiences of my early teen years was a camping trip with our Boy Scout troop. Our scout master, Bob Manley, was a very kind and patient man. He taught us solid Christian values as well practical outdoor skills.
One of the skills Bob taught us was how to start a fire in the wilderness without a match. The first step was to gather dry grass or shredded bark that would catch the spark. The next step was to have dry kindling ready to keep the fire burning as we added larger and larger pieces of wood.
Using a flint and steel was fairly easy. It was when we used a spindle and bow on a dry base with a notch that we worked up a sweat. As we stayed at it the friction would cause the base to begin to glow. We tapped a spark onto shredded bark. In both systems it was essential to carefully fan the spark until flame appeared. Wow!
I wonder if our spiritual life is like that spark or just smoldering. In today’s Scripture we are reminded that the gift of God is like a flame in our life. It may just be an ember or a flicker, but we are called to fan it into flame. In the woods we blow on the ember to allow it to burst into flames. Paul urges us to allow the Lord to fan into the spark of our spiritual life. Open your heart and mind to the prompting of the Lord. Burn brightly for Him!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 9, 2014 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 9:7
“Remember this and never forget how you aroused the anger of the Lord your God in the wilderness. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the Lord.”
Years ago I read a book by Major Ian Thomas called The Saving Life of Christ. I had almost forgotten it until a phrase crossed my mind from that book. A Day to Be Remembered, In a Land to Be Possessed. As I reflect on this phrase it reminds me of how very much we are like the children of Israel in the exodus.
The Israelites had been in bondage for over four hundred years. They were treated harshly and cried out to the Lord to deliver them. You recall the story of how Moses was sent as the one to challenge Pharaoh and proclaim curse after curse without being set free.
It was not the arguments of Moses that led to their release, but the tenth and final one in which the first born unless the blood of an innocent lamb was applied to the door posts where each family ate in haste.
It may be easy to remember the time we gave our heart to the Lord and were set free from sin and death. The important thing is that there is a land to be possessed. There is not only a day to be remembered, but there is a land to be possessed. The Lord wants us to live in victory. Are you wandering or possessing?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 8, 2014 | Ephesians
Ephesians 5:31-33
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
Joyce and I met as high school freshmen and immediately knew that we belonged together. Of course, it is not reasonable for fifteen-year olds to get married (or even sixteen or seventeen year olds). When we were eighteen and had just graduated from high school, we were married. That was July 10, 1952.
That same year, hundreds of miles away, there was another couple who had only known each other for two weeks when they were married. In both instances our marriages have been blessed by the Lord.
Still other couples were living in societies where their life mates were chosen for them. They were arranged marriages. I have come to realize that it is not the length of courtship that determines a healthy marriage — it is following the mandate of Scripture and becoming one flesh.
Earlier in Ephesians five, the husband is told to love his wife in the same way that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. That means loving sacrificially. Here at the close of the chapter, Paul tells husbands to love their wives as they love themselves. Husbands, we are the ones to initiate pure love in the marriage. We say we love our wife and we are the one to die for her. That is something for the wife to respect! That is what being one flesh is all about. How do you measure up?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 5, 2014 | Luke
Luke 2:15
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'”
The beloved Carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was originally written in Latin (Adeste Fideles). The words were written by an Englishman, John Wade who had intended it as a hymn. The music to “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was composed by fellow Englishman John Reading in the early 1700s. In 1841, Rev. Frederick Oakley revised the lyrics of “Adeste Fideles.”
While it would be an appropriate hymn at any time of the year, it has become a cherished Christmas Carol. Let us all come and adore, Christ the Lord.
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
Oh come ye, Oh come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Oh Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God’s holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
All Hail Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Oh Jesus for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
To access O Come, All Ye Faithful, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/ocomeallyefaithful/ 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 | Dec 4, 2014 | James
James 5:7-8
“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
Have you noticed how impatient people are these days? Drivers become speed demons trying to get in front of other drivers. They accelerate at traffic lights to get through the amber light that has strangely turned red . . . “I’m sorry, Officer, it was green when I started into the intersection” . . . you get the point.
We are living in an instant-everything age. We have instant cash machines, instant check-out counters in grocery stores, instant income tax refunds, even instant foods and coffee. So many things in our modern world are designed to give instant results and yet we still do not have time for God.
The answer lies in the Word of God. Many Bible heroes such as Job, Joseph, David, just to mention a few, did not have instant answers. In many cases it was years before God’s plan was revealed.
We need to learn the discipline of patience. With our hectic, fast-paced schedule we are so busy making things happen that we leave no room for that all important “quiet time” of waiting to see what God wants to teach us or how He wants to use us. Patience is relaxing in the Lord and letting Him direct our paths! It is time to get rid of instant spirituality and operate on God’s timing. Try it!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
