by Pastor Cecil | Apr 30, 2015 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 3:17-18
“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”
Have you ever noticed that when family or friends gather after being apart for some time, someone will inevitably remark about how much the youngsters have grown? “Johnny, you are getting so big!” How would we feel when someone at the same reunion tells us, “Wow! You have really put on the pounds!” Okay, I will get off this uncomfortable comparison.
The fact of the matter is that we are urged to grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord. Grace can be defined as God’s unmerited favor at Christ’s expense. God gives us His favor, yet we often ignore the manifold blessings He has given us.
Picture a person that you love very much. You prepare the most expensive gift imaginable and lovingly wrap it in the most beautiful gift wrap you can find. You can hardly wait to see the look on your loved one’s face when they open that precious package. The problem, however, is that they leave your house with the gift unopened. Days, weeks, months, even years later you visit that person and there on the table is your beautiful, expensive gift package . . . still unwrapped.
We are to open the package of God’s gracious gift to us. That means we spend time reading the promises of His Word and appropriating them into our life. Rather than remaining spiritual babes, we are to become strong and mighty for the Lord! It is time for us to grow up spiritually!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 29, 2015 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
The story is told (I hope it is only fiction) of a couple who had come to a marriage counselor about problems they were having. The wife was distraught and felt her husband did not love her. She longed for a sign that he loved her but he never uttered the words she longed to hear.
The counselor listened to the complaints of the wife and after she had tearfully told her sad story of feeling unloved he turned to the husband for an explanation. The husband crossed his arms across his chest and said; “I have been married to that woman for 37 years. I told her the day we were married that I loved her. I have not taken that back and it is still in effect!”
It is tragic that we fail to share our love with the others. The early church was known for the love they had for each other. In our self-centered world we focus so much on what we want and need that we fail to give of ourselves for others.
Jesus came into this world to demonstrate His great love for us. As His arms were outstretched on that cruel cross He demonstrated that love is truly demonstrated as we die to ourselves and live for Him. There is a world out there that needs to know the meaning of true love. Are we demonstrating love to them?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 28, 2015 | 2 Corinthians, Isaiah
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
“We then, as workers together with Him, also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (Isaiah 49:8) .
As a boy I remember the frustrated voice of my mother telling me to do something this instant! I am sure there had been previous requests, demands, and threats before the words, this instant!
Those were the days before instant mashed potatoes (Ugh!), instant pudding and instant credit. We did not hear of instant anything except responding quickly. Isn’t it interesting that with all of the instant time saving things we have in our modern day we feel the time crunch more than ever? We now do not have the time to visit family and friends because we are too busy operating our instant time saving devices.
There is one thing that is always instantaneous. That is obedience to God’s Word. There is no way we can afford to be slow in responding to the infallible call of the Lord for our immediate obedience.
When God calls we are to respond immediately. One thing I learned in my military training was to obey orders immediately without question. There may be a time when immediate response will save our life. To stop and ask why may be fatal. It is the same way we must respond to the Spirit’s leadership. Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey! John H. Sammis (1846-1919)
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 27, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
“Though now at his Savior’s side, he is sorely missed for his rock-solid faith and thankfulness for God’s grace, his big heart, his quick smile, and for always being there with a word of encouragement.” These words were just a part of an obituary for a man I had never met and who lived and died hundreds of miles away from me.
What wonderful memories he has left behind for friends and family who knew him and will always remember him. The life that he lived became the very precious memories that would linger in their hearts.
Have you ever written an obituary? Perhaps it’s a father, mother, or a sibling? It is a daunting task and no doubt you will end up with tears as you reflect on those times in the past that will always be remembered.
An even more daunting task is to type your own obituary. In what way do you want to be remembered? Has your light burned so bright that it provided light to those who walk in darkness? Do you live so consistently for the Lord that people will remember you as one who walked close to God? Now is the time to take stock of the things that really matter in life and will count for eternity. REMEMBER!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 24, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 46:1-3
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
As you read the book of Psalms, David mentions repeatedly the storms of life. He was attacked on all sides by his enemies who desired to take his life. Do you feel that way sometimes?
His predecessor, King Saul, was a demented king who imagined that David was attempting to take the kingdom from him. (Actually it was the Lord who had rejected Saul because of his wickedness and failing to keep the Lord in control of his life.)
In many of his Psalms, David cried out to the Lord for help and immediately praised Him for giving him a safe place of refuge. That is the same with us today. We may be tossed and torn by the storms of life, but the Lord always gives us a haven of rest. That is the hymn for this week.
The Haven of Rest
My soul in sad exile was out on life(s) sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice, saying, (Make Me your choice)
And I entered the Haven of Rest!
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
In faith taking hold of the Word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
The Haven of Rest is my Lord.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest,
Of Jesus, who will save whosoever will have
A home in the Haven of Rest.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the beloved so blest,
On Jesus strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the Haven of Rest.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
O come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the Haven of Rest,
And say, ‘My Beloved is mine.’
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
To access The Haven of Rest, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/thehavenofrest/ 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
