by Pastor Cecil | Apr 9, 2015 | 2 Timothy
2 TIMOTHY 2:2
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Throughout my lifetime I have received many medals and awards–some when I was serving in the Air Force and others as recognition for some accomplishment. The thing about such recognition is that it tends to lead to pride. “LOOK WHAT I DID!” That saddens me.
There is one award that brings tears to my eyes each time I look at it. It is a small statue of a guard dog. It is about six inches long and three inches tall and sits on a wooden base that bears the inscription, “OLD DOG SHEP.” It was a thoughtful birthday gift from a member of our congregation who knew the back story. It sits next to the temporary grave marker that was returned to us when the permanent marker was received.
For the past few years I had the joy of caring for my wife. Gradually, I assumed more and more of the responsibilities as she became weaker, and I found joy in serving her. The two of us would laugh, and I knew that Joyce was paying me the highest compliment a wife could give a husband. I accept the title with pleasure.
God is not interested in us trying to do great and mighty things to please Him. He is constantly calling us to become faithful servants who do not think that we are too good to do the grungy tasks of life. Every time I look at OLD DOG SHEP beside Joyce’s marker, a tear slips out of the corner of my eye. I was the luckiest man in the world to serve my precious wife. Oh, how I long to see her again!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 8, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
Years ago I heard a returned missionary speak about the ministry he had been involved in for many years. It seemed as if all of his efforts produced little or nothing. He was sharing his disappointment with another missionary as they sat watching their horses drink from a shallow pond.
The other missionary listened to his frustration. He asked how you could force a horse to drink if he was stubborn and obstinate. The first missionary agreed that it would be impossible to force him to drink. “Horses are too big and strong and if their will is set not to drink they won’t drink.” The fellow missionary told him he had a secret to make them drink — SALT THE OATS!
I have thought about that illustration every time I try to get my little dog, Izzy to eat. Salt won’t do it, but when I mix something I know she likes in with her regular food before long she eats everything.
As servants of the Jesus Christ we have been given the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. That begins right here at home. Are we making the things of God so appealing that it is like salting the oats or lacing the dog food? Are people bored to death when we talk about spiritual things? In order to attract people to Christ we need to get excited ourselves. PASS THE SALT PLEASE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 7, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Over the years I have experienced rejection . . . not very often, I am happy to say, but it has occurred. In the instances where the offended person identified what I had done to offend them I felt more or less able to deal with it.
The real problem arises when a friend or family member throws you a body blow of rejection and offers no explanation as to the reason. Sometimes they even refuse to speak with you, so you are left to struggle alone trying to understand what caused their resentment.
In these instances I have found that the answer is to be found in God’s Word. I go into the pages and strive to see what God says about how to deal with the believer who rejects you without giving a reason.
You know what I have found? It is in these times of unreasonable rejection that I am drawn closer to the Lord and find my comfort in Him. The one or ones who reject me are not the ones I am responsible to; but the Lord who controls my life is the One who sees all and desires that I rest in Him. As He works in me, He will also work on the one who has rejected me. GROWTH HURTS!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 6, 2015 | Philippians
Philippians 3:10-11
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
I have enjoyed the song that Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote and have performed many times, Because He Lives. The first words are so powerful that they leave me breathless. God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive. He lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Yesterday we celebrated Resurrection Day. It was and will always be a cause for rejoicing for every believer that we serve a Savior who is alive. He always was alive, He is alive right now making intercession for us, and He will always be alive as we spend eternity praising Him for giving us eternal life!
Since Jesus has provided us with resurrection life, how should we then live? Paul gives us the answer in Roman 12:18; “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
We are urged to overcome evil by doing good. We are not saved by doing good, but the fruit of resurrection life is seeing the good and doing it. Sometimes it means doing good to those who have hurt us in some way. Resurrection life is seeing life as Jesus sees it. Ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” Then do it!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 3, 2015 | Luke
Luke 24:2-6
“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!”
Alfred Ackley was a Baptist pastor who had two dramatic incidents in his life that led him to write our hymn for this week. He had been conducting an evangelistic service back in 1932 when a young Jewish man threw this question at him; “Why should I worship a dead Jew?”
Then early on Resurrection Sunday morning as he was preparing for the day he listened to the radio. A famous liberal preacher made this statement; “Good morning—it’s Easter! You know folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned, His body could be dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main truth is, His truth goes marching on!”
Alfred screamed out at the radio, “It’s a lie!” His wife was startled and wanted to know why he was so upset. Following the service that morning his wife prompted him to write a hymn and express his thoughts. He wrote this wonderful hymn.
HE LIVES!
I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thro’ all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
Aren’t you glad we serve a risen Savior? Our God is not dead, HE LIVES!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
