by Pastor Cecil | Mar 3, 2015 | Philippians
Philippians 3:7-9
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
I guess we all have the tendency to accumulate more and more stuff. Back in 1953 I had been transferred to Rapid City, South Dakota. Joyce and I stuffed our belongings into a 1948 sedan and began the trip from Idaho. Everything we called our own was packed into that old black car. Can you relate to that?
It did not take long before we began to collect this, that, and the other — three years later we needed a trailer and our vehicle to move everything. We loved the Lord and always served Him with all our heart, but what was I willing to give up for Him?
Paul puts everything on the line in today’s Scripture. He is saying that everything he had gained he now counted as loss for the purpose of serving the Lord. He not only considered them as a loss, he considered them as garbage. Wow!
It challenges me to re-evaluate the things in my life. Having just lost my precious wife of 62 years, I am in a new position of considering what is really important. Without question, I have come to realize that being a servant of the Lord Jesus is all I want and all I need. As long as He gives me breath I will give Him my all!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 3, 2015 | John
John 4:13-14
“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”
The author of this week’s hymn is William Cowper. He was born in England in the year 1731. He suffered many personal losses during his early years that caused him much mental anguish. Loss after loss of those that were close brought him to the brink of despair.
Through all of his ordeals the Lord kept drawing him. He finally received Jesus as his personal Savior and began writing hymns and poetry. It is fascinating that he lived in a small house just behind the home of his pastor, John Newton, who wrote the wonderful hymn,Amazing Grace.
As we draw near to the Passion Week of our Lord, it is well and good for us to pause and be thankful for the fountain of redeeming blood that cleanses us from all of our sin.
There Is A Fountain
There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Immanuel’s veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away
Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are saved, to sin no more
For since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
and shall be till I die
When this poor lisping,
stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing thy power to save
To access There is a Fountain, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/thereisafountain/ 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
