by Pastor Cecil | Jul 24, 2015 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 5:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.“
There have been times in my life when I felt isolated and alone. It seemed that I was alone and could not sense the nearness of God in my life. When I experienced these times of spiritual drought, I was prone to wonder if Jesus really cared, even though I am usually happy and optimistic. It has been in these times that I have felt the enemy of my soul attack. I rush to God’s Word for comfort.
Frank E. Graeff was known as the “sunshine minister.” He had a cheery disposition, a winsome personality, spiritual optimist, and was a great friend of children. He was known to have a child-like faith. That being said, he did pass through times of deep trials. It was then that he turned to the Scriptures as his guide in the darkness.
As I read the words of this hymn that he wrote, I can see the change from gloom and despair to hope and victory. That is what I want in my life.
Does Jesus Care?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
To view the GloryScapes inspirational music video Does Jesus Care? please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/doesjesuscare/ 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 | Jul 23, 2015 | Genesis
Genesis 42:25
“Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them.”
It is a miracle that I am alive today. As a matter of fact, it is a miracle that any of my family survived a trip home from a visit with my grandparents in Oklahoma. My grandma Shubert was a fantastic cook even though her kitchen looked more like a closet and a working kitchen.
When we were ready to leave for home grandma would prepare the most delicious fried chicken you could wrap your lips around. She would also make a wonderful potato salad to go along with it. That sounds good doesn’t it! We had no refrigeration and didn’t see the need of it. The lunch was placed in a nice paper bag and at noon we would stop and enjoy a fantastic meal. Today you wouldn’t think of doing such a thing because of food poisoning or whatever. Believe me, we survived!
As we traveled we had a vision of what waited for us and our noon meal. We had a vision and grandma and provided the provision. God gives us visions of what he has for us to do for Him. With every vision he provides his supernatural Provision.
As you kneel down to pray this day ask God to give you a vision. Keep your heart and your eyes open for what he has for you to do. It may seem as simple as taking a meal to a neighbor. But if God gives a vision he will provide the provision to make a difference in someone’s life.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 22, 2015 | 1 John
1 John 2:5-6
“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
On a lonely stretch of road on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada, there is the small community of Flowers Cove. The Newfoundland Department of Transportation has installed a traffic camera facing north. All you can see is a long stretch of deserted road. For a number of years at mid-morning there would be an image of a man walking north.
Having been stationed with the Air Force not too far from that location I could picture the topography. I tried to wonder where this man was walking at the same time each morning. I guess I will never know. I do know that when I was stationed in Newfoundland it was very common to see people walking instead of using a car.
Spiritual walking should be the common mode of transportation for a true believer. We do this by keeping God’s Word and showing our love for God by the way we love others.
We are told to walk just as Jesus walked. How did Jesus walk? He walked in constant communion with His Father. We walk in communion with the Lord by reading His Word and talking with him in prayer. Have you walked with God today?!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 21, 2015 | Acts
Acts 10:15-17
“And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.”
Sometimes we get so preoccupied with our own plans and purposes that we forget to ask God what His plan and purpose is for our lives. Perhaps I may be the only one who has that difficulty. If so, please forgive me.
There was a time when I felt that I would be spending at least twenty years in the military and then retire. That was my vision — but it was not what God had planned for my life. It was difficult to accept that my plans had to be altered and I had to surrender my own will to God’s will. My vision had died!
Peter was convinced that God’s plan and purpose was only for the people of Israel. That is what he had been taught and he had practiced it all of his life. To eat anything that was unclean was unthinkable. To associate with the Gentile was unthinkable. And then came God’s vision for Peter, and his preconceived vision of God’s plan and purposes died. He could either obey God, open his heart to the ones that God chose, or walk against the will of God. He chose God’s way! Let us do the same!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 20, 2015 | Philippians
Philippians 3:7-11
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
In a split second of time a life can change dramatically. Nothing ever remains the same and we all deal with loss of some type. Death may take a loved one, an accident may cause amputation or loss of capability, or abandonment and divorce may devastate. It is safe to say that loss is inevitable for each of us. I don’t think that is being fatalistic but realistic.
My wounds are still extremely sore from the loss of my wife just over six months ago. From time to time I will pick up something and it will bring back vivid memories. We had sixty-two years of making memories together. Seeing a note that was written, handkerchief that was folded, or just recalling something that we shared together wrenches my heart.
I know that those who have lost limbs, sight, or other faculties experience that same moment of recall when things were normal and good. But what do we do with these heart rendering moments?
I think we have two choices. In fact I know we have two choices. We can either allow them to dominate our life, crush our spirit, and make us emotional invalids, or we can choose to keep our eyes on the prize that awaits us.
Paul knew what it was to experience loss after loss. He seemed to have it all together and was on his way to become one of the Jewish leaders. But when Jesus met him as he was on his road to Damascus, he lost his sight and his vocation. He was given a new assignment directly from the Savior.
Across the years that Paul ministered, he experienced loss after loss. Rather than feeling sorry for himself and curling up in a ball he recognized that he could use the losses to strengthen his ministry.
I would encourage each and every one of us to look beyond the loss that we experience and see the opportunity that each loss can provide.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
