by Pastor Cecil | Jan 8, 2015 | 1 Peter
1 Corinthians 3:1-2
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
1 Peter 2:2-3
“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants (babes) in Christ. I gave you milk not solid food, for you were not ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.”
I love babies and it absolutely crushes me to think of all the millions and millions of infants killed by abortion. It has been a long time, but I can still remember when our children were babies — they always seemed to find a place to sleep on my chest. They loved it and I loved it! I cannot even begin to count the other babies who at one time or another seemed to find comfort on my well-padded chest.
Now, let us move from the physical realm to the spiritual realm.
Today’s Scriptures indicate that both Peter and Paul were concerned about the lack of spiritual growth in some believers. They had been Christians long enough that they should be digging into the “meat” of the Word. Instead, they had to have someone to teach them, feed them “milk” — but they still did not grow.
Many people attend church weekly (some much less than that) and seem to feel that they are getting all of the spiritual nourishment they need. LISTEN! There is no way that I, or any other minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, can give you enough in one or two sermons to get you through the week. I have seen the saying many times: A week without church attendance makes one weak.”
What spiritual food are you taking into your life? Are you growing or still in spiritual diapers?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 7, 2015 | Isaiah
Isaiah 40:31
“But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
As I write this it is a Sunday evening and a storm front has arrived with torrents of rain. (Hey, it’s Washington, what else is new?) This heavy rain takes me back to a time over 70 years ago.
We were returning home from church and my dad noticed a car stopped ahead of us. The driver was gesturing out his window so he would not have to get out and be drenched with the rain.
Dad eased up to his bumper and began to push him so his engine would start. (Back when we had stick shift drives you could do that. Almost immediately the man began to wave more frantically. He got out into the rain and came up to explain that he was out of gas and was trying to roll back into town so he could get to a filling station. Ooops! Dad had good intentions, but wrong assistance.
Isaiah 40:31 is one of the first verses I ever memorized. It has always been a reminder to me that it is necessary to wait on the Lord. I often like to run ahead of the Lord and that leads to frustration and exhaustion. When the Lord calls me He also gives me the strength for the task.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 6, 2015 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
There was once a father and son who had taken a hike that took them far from camp. The son was excited about this new world he had heard about and was now experiencing. Repeatedly his father cautioned him about getting too far away.
Night was rapidly approaching and the son suddenly realized that he was in danger. He had crossed over a narrow path that was carved into a very steep and deep cliff. He had been so engrossed in the beauty and delight of the moment that he failed to notice that night and danger was approaching until it was too late.
At long last the son swallowed his pride and called out for his father for help. To his surprise, his father was very near. He had been watching his son and waiting for the moment when he knew he could not go further on his own. He told his son to follow in his exact steps. The path that seemed so threatening to the son had in fact been blazed by the father many years earlier. By following the boy was saved.
Now read Proverbs 3:5-6 once again. Can you see how very much like the son in the story we are? Anytime we feel our feet slipping or the darkness closing in on us, all we need to do is cry out to the Lord. He built the path to provide for our salvation! It requires trusting Him with all our heart and to acknowledge Him in all our ways. The promise He gives is that He will direct our paths. Praise the Lord!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 5, 2015 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 2:24-26
“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”
We live in a day where pride and arrogance seem to be acceptable behavior. In some venues it takes the form of “trash talking” in which opponents belittle those on the other side while bragging about what they are going to do. I just happen to think that actions speak louder than words.
Many years ago I was meeting with the two daughters of a 92-year-old man whose funeral service I would be conducting. As they reminisced about their dad, one of them commented that he was a gentleman. The other daughter immediately agreed and then added that he was not only a gentleman, he was a gentle man.
Wow! To me that is powerful stuff. As I have reflected on the difference, I can see that a person can be a gentleman (or gentlewoman) without being gentle. One has the idea of position, while the other indicates behavior.
Paul was writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, and encouraging him to behave in a gentle manner regardless of what others did or said. There are many qualities that a servant of the Most High God may demonstrate, but the one I strive to achieve is to be gentle. I may not always achieve my goal, but I am aiming for it.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 2, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 145:9-12
“The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. All You have made will praise You, O LORD; Your saints will extol You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.”
The older I get (and I am getting up there), the more disturbed I am about senseless killing. This is true of attacks on other people, but also on killing animals just for the sport of it. In my hunting days I did shoot game, but it was for food not for sport. Now there are many that hunt for bragging rights, not for food. God meant for us to be keepers and protectors, not killers.
In 1225, when he was feeling ill and losing his sight, Francis of Assisi wrote about what was always on his heart: the praise of God. In All Creatures of Our God and King, Francis’ love for God and the world He made comes out very strongly.
Probably because he lived such a simple life, he “noticed” things that we, in our busy-ness, overlook. Francis believed that all earth’s creatures get their life from God and that we all depend on Him for our continual existence.
All Creatures of Our God and King
1. All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O, praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4. And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
To access All Creatures of Our God and King, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/allcreaturesofourgodandking/ in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
