by Pastor Cecil | Aug 13, 2015 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 4:6
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
A dear friend wrote me about a project she and her husband had been working on. It involved dismantling an old building and saving the wood for special projects. Her husband was talking to a contractor about lighting a shed that had never had light in it before. The man mentioned that it might not be a good idea, which seemed strange. He went on to explain that once there was light in the shed it would reveal things that needed attention.
What a spiritual revelation this is! When the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shines in the heart and soul of an individual, there are things revealed that need to be corrected. This is one of the important reasons for spending time in God’s Word and prayer.
I was just watching a spacewalk on the International Space Station traveling some 250 miles above the earth. The two spacewalkers had several very important projects to be completed in their six hour spacewalk. It was interesting to note that the lights on their helmets illuminated only a small area. One of them remarked that they would have to wait until the space station came into daylight in order for them to be able to see clearly.
Let’s face it. We live in a dark world! Day by day sin becomes more and more prevalent and darkness surrounds us. The longer we ignore our need of spiritual light, the more difficult it is to see things clearly. As we open up the dark recesses of our life and spend time with the Lord in order to light our darkness, we will see things we have never seen before — things that need to be removed and cleansed! TURN ON GOD’S LIGHT!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 12, 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.”
Over the years I have come to understand that just because someone says you can trust them, it does not mean that you can trust them! You may have experienced that very same thing in your life. There is a sour feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize that the people you felt you could rely upon were not to be relied upon.
It is at this point that we can choose to be bitter or better. There have been so many who have become so bitter that their lives were turned inside out. They project the bitterness that has come from one situation into the way they conduct themselves about every situation.
I think of Joseph who was so viciously betrayed by his own brothers and sold into slavery. It would have been so easy for him to become bitter and resentful, but the result would have been a dead-end street as a slave in a foreign land. Joseph did not choose that route. He chose to rely upon his God and recognized that God was in control regardless of where he was. He chose to become better. Whether a servant or a falsely accused prisoner, his trust was in the Lord — not on the circumstances. You know the rest of the story. Joseph found that God was directing his paths!
Where are you right now? In face of the circumstances of life, are you bitter or are you trusting God and allowing Him to make you better? Remember, the choice is ours to make. We can allow the circumstances to crush or create a new opportunity for us. Trusting in the Lord is the answer. I urge you to trust Him and be better!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 11, 2015 | Ezra
Ezra 7:6
“This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.”
From time to time I speak with people who only read New Testament passages. It shocks me, but at the same time saddens me. There are so many times in the Old Testament where we see the hand of God at work in the lives of those who place their trust in Him. I truly believe that we cannot understand the New Testament without a foundational knowledge of the Old Testament.
The Ezra in today’s scripture was a scribe who had been in captivity in Babylon. He was faithful to the Lord regardless of where he was, but Ezra’s heart was always in Jerusalem. It was not because of his outstanding abilities that the king’s heart was swayed, but it was because “the hand of the Lord his God upon him.”
The people of God through all ages who have placed their trust in the Lord God have felt His hand upon their lives. That does not mean that their life is easy and without difficulty. As a matter of fact, sometimes the people of God are called upon to suffer more than others. So what is the benefit of placing our trust in God? The benefit is being used by Him.
If you really want your life to count for eternity, trust God with and for everything! Do not try to consider some things small and some things large. In God’s sight everything we do for Him is huge. The things of this world will pass away. Our efforts may seem insignificant, but if we act in obedience, it will please God and bring eternal value to us.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 10, 2015 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 3:10, 12-13
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”
Have you ever prayed that God would bless the work of your hands? Your desire is to please God, but you’re not sure if you are being effective in the work. As much is you labor you fail to see the result of that work.
Many years ago I was pastoring a church in central Oregon and received a tape of a sermon from a former pastor in Boise, Idaho. The title of his sermon was the “Footprints of a Godly Man.” He described going about his activities and having the same man mentioned over and over for something he had done. After a few times it was like he was finding the footprints of this godly man.
I was enjoying his sermon and all the while wondering why he was sending it to me. After describing his experience he mentioned my name. I was astonished to say the least. The footprints that he had described were my footprints. I was humbled!
At the time that I had been going about my activities I felt so often that I was accomplishing next to nothing. Others seem to be far more fruitful in their ministry and I had been. While they impacted larger groups I was only working with a few. I had no idea that my few were rising two positions of spiritual leadership. I came to realize we all leave footprints in a different fashion. When we walk with the Lord’s and keep our eyes focused upon Him He will test the results of our labor. Keep walking for Him!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 7, 2015 | Isaiah
Isaiah 55:6-7
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
It was the final service of our annual Camp Meeting. The old tabernacle was crowded on a warm summer evening. The evangelist had been delivered a message outlining clearly the plan of salvation and the penalty that faced anyone who failed to accept the Lord Jesus as personal Savior.
I was sitting with my cousin and across the aisle from us was his dad. We knew that Uncle Harold had rejected the Lord, but were hopeful that this would be the time he would open his heart. The congregation was led in the old invitation hymn, Softly and Tenderly.
Wayne and I could see his dad weeping with conviction. We went over to him and pleaded with him to go forward and invite Jesus into his heart. Even though tears were flowing, he shook his head and refused to be moved. As far as we know he never made that choice. How sad that God’s free gift of eternal life was rejected. How about you? Have you honestly and sincerely invited Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life? He is calling, O sinner, come home. All you have to do is open your heart and invite Him to come in.
Softly and Tenderly
Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading;
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies;
mercies for you and for me?
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and for me.
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
O, for the wonderful love He has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me.
Refrain: Come home, come home.
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home.
To access Softly and Tenderly, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/softlyandtenderly/ 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
