by Pastor Cecil | Nov 23, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 119:139-140
“My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words. Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.”
It is that time of year when the temperature drops below 32 degrees F. and it is the time to start using my wood stove. There is something about the heat emanating from that small stove that seems to wrap the entire house in comfort.
Over the years I have often been struck with the way wood is consumed by the fire. In lighting the stove it is necessary to use small kindling and progressively add larger and larger pieces of wood. I will place a heavy log on the coals and marvel at the way it is eaten up . . . Consumed!
Each time this occurs I am reminded that we have that same choice in our spiritual life. We can either be consumed in serving the Lord or remain in our original state. I like to think of it as either burning up or burning out.
I would rather live my life in such a way that I am consumed in serving God so that I leave nothing but a bit of ashes. The alternative is to burn out and remain a charred and ugly block of wood. We have enough ugly blocks already. What we need to see are more ashes left by people who have burned brightly for the Lord and slipped into eternity having been consumed with the zeal for the Lord.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 20, 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
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 19, 2015 | James
James 4:3
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
Back in 1970 I was stationed at Whiteman AFB in Missouri. The Ice Capades show was touring across the country and they were going to be in Kansas City. Tickets were made available to military families at a huge discount. We bought the tickets and were anticipating a family adventure. Then came news of riots in the inner city and we did not go.
A few years later the Ice Capades again came to Kansas City. Joyce said she was going to write and ask for tickets since we were afraid to go the last time they were there. I tried to talk her out of it since they were not at fault, but she sent the letter. Shortly we received five tickets! That’s my wife! Our previous tickets were for seats far from the ice rink, so we were looking for our seats and could not find them. We asked an usher and were told that the seats were down front. When I say down front, they were right next to the ice. Our youngest daughter, Lori, was even chosen to ride in one of the featured rides.
If Joyce had not asked we would never have enjoyed that wonderful experience in our life. It was not what we expected, but far more. When we ask of the Lord we are told to never ask selfishly. Ask for His will and watch for His answers!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 18, 2015 | James
James 4:3
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
Back in 1970 I was stationed at Whiteman AFB in Missouri. The Ice Capades show was touring across the country and they were going to be in Kansas City. Tickets were made available to military families at a huge discount. We bought the tickets and were anticipating a family adventure. Then came news of riots in the inner city and we did not go.
A few years later the Ice Capades again came to Kansas City. Joyce said she was going to write and ask for tickets since we were afraid to go the last time they were there. I tried to talk her out of it since they were not at fault, but she sent the letter. Shortly we received five tickets! That’s my wife! Our previous tickets were for seats far from the ice rink, so we were looking for our seats and could not find them. We asked an usher and were told that the seats were down front. When I say down front, they were right next to the ice. Our youngest daughter, Lori, was even chosen to ride in one of the featured rides.
If Joyce had not asked we would never have enjoyed that wonderful experience in our life. It was not what we expected, but far more. When we ask of the Lord we are told to never ask selfishly. Ask for His will and watch for His answers!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 18, 2015 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:37-38
“They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”
Have you ever had people return from a trip and comment that God was with them and they had no trouble coming or going? Does that imply that if something had gone wrong that God was not with them? That’s something to think about, isn’t it?
I have had trips where I encountered unexpected difficulties. I didn’t relish those difficult times, but I could see the hand of God working. Pain and turmoil does not necessarily mean that God is not using us.
Job went through tremendous suffering and pain. The loss of all of his children, his wealth, and his health did not mean that God was not using him. Job has become the example for all of us that in the midst of the pain God is at work.
Joseph was another shining example of enduring pain for the sake of the Lord. Cast into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison was God’s way of placing him where he needed to be. When things go rough in our life we do not ever feel like God has forgotten us. Find His peace and live!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
