by Pastor Cecil | Dec 17, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
This is the time of year when many invitations are given. Some of them are restricted to employees or family members. In order to respond to the invitation you must in some way be related to the one giving the invitation. Some invitations come with an RSVP that requires a response of your intention to accept or decline.
There are other invitations that may be described as open invitations. Congregations often have Christmas programs that are announced as “Every One Is Welcome!”
Today’s Scripture from Matthew 11 is an invitation from Jesus. In a way it is restrictive, and yet it is an open invitation. I think each of us would qualify as going through times of labor and being heavy laden. We are invited to join Him by taking His yoke. It may seem like we are adding more load, but it is Jesus who will be bearing the burden that we are now carrying alone.
The promise is that we will find rest for our souls. In the midst of the pressures of life, we vitally need rest for our souls. We will find it in accepting His open invitation.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 16, 2015 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 29:11-12
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’”
Back in the 1970’s I was employed by the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission. I served as Corrections Specialist and Deputy Director. Our task was to fund programs that would upgrade all areas of the criminal justice system in the State of Idaho. WE WERE PLANNERS!
Sometimes as individuals we fail to plan ahead. It reminds me of a sign that I once read along the highway; “WE MAY BE LOST, BUT WE’RE SURE MAKING GOOD TIME!” That is all too true in many areas of our life. Without plans we may be traveling at high speed without having direction in our life.
Lacking direction in our spiritual life is even more threatening. We seem to have the attitude if we go at full speed we will please the Lord. The problem is it is our direction rather than His direction. It is our plans rather than His plan for us!
Our Scripture for today indicates that God has a specific plan for us. His plans are always far better than our plans. He wants to give us a future and a hope. The end result is that we will call on Him, draw near to Him, and pray to Him. It is then that we will find His plan for us and know that He listens to us. His plans are always the best plans!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 15, 2015 | Hebrews
Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
Several years ago I watched a program on public television called “Alone in the Wilderness.” It was the story of a man, Dick Proenneke, who left civilization to live in the wilderness of Alaska. I enjoyed it so much and watched it so often that I finally purchased my own copy of the DVD.
It was amazing that this man was able to build a 10 feet by 12 feet cabin in just a little over one month. He even constructed a stone fireplace on one end of the cabin to supplement his wood cook stove.
Dick had a friend who was a missionary aviator, Babe Alsworth. In addition to delivering supplies and mail, Babe and his wife prayed for and witnessed to Dick . It was very evident that Dick looked forward to their visits. I hope that at some time in his life he responded to their witness and accepted Jesus as his Savior.
As I watch the account of Dick Proenneke, I am aware that we are never alone. In today’s Scripture we read the promise that the Lord made that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We really do need each other, but far more than that, we really do need the Lord!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 14, 2015 | Luke
Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
It is the time of year for gift giving. There are other times, such as birthdays or anniversaries, when gifts are given, but at Christmas it seems hearts are open to give more than at any other time during the year.
Today’s Scripture highlights the truth that the gift giver receives as much or more blessing than the one who receives the gift. Think back to the times when you have given a special gift to a loved one. You almost tingled with excitement and anticipation for the expression of joy you would see on their face when they opened the gift. In essence, your gift is getting to watch others receive your gift!
This will be my first Christmas without my precious wife. Joyce had been the greater part of my life for over 66 years. We gave and received gifts from each other so many times, and much of our delight came from seeing the joy that shone as our gifts were opened.
My heartache is lessened when I realize the gift that Joyce is receiving right now. She is rejoicing in such excitement that words cannot explain it. Reunions with those loved ones that have gone on before far surpass the gifts received here on earth. But the greatest reunion of all is seeing her Savior — our Jesus. What a gift!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 11, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 98:4-6
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King”
It has been told that Isaac Watt, who wrote the words of this beautiful Christmas hymn, had not intended it to be used only at Christmas. He wrote the words to paraphrase the words we find in today’s Scripture in Psalm 98.
To me it is a reminder that God will take our most feeble efforts and allow them to be used to accomplish His divine purpose. Once again Proverbs 3:5-6 is proven true: “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.” Please enjoy this hymn of praise.
Joy to the World
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart Prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing;
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and angels sing
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods; rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy;
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, Repeat, the sounding joy
No more will sins and sorrows grow;
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow;
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace;
And makes the nations prove,
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love;
And wonders of His love;
And wonders, wonders of His love.
To access Joy to the World, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/joytotheworld/ 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
