by Pastor Cecil | Dec 10, 2015 | Revelation
Revelation 3:15-17
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”
I just received an advertisement for a heated travel mug. For those frosty mornings (or evenings) when you are forced to spend time behind the wheel of your car, you can just plug the cup into your cigarette lighter and keep your coffee, tea, or soup nice and hot.
Keeping things this hot has long been a problem. This is true for beverages, but it is also true in other areas of humanity. My heart breaks when I am contacted by couples who have let the fervent flame of love flicker low.
Love is always a choice. Not only is it a choice, it is a commitment. It entails the giving of ourselves and receiving pleasure from the object of our affection. The first sign of danger is when we demand gratification rather than finding ways of giving selflessly. Examine your spiritual temperature. Have you become tepid? Fan the flame once again. Plug into the outlet of God’s grace and sizzle for Jesus!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 8, 2015 | Revelation
Revelation 3:15-17
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”
I just received an advertisement for a heated travel mug. For those frosty mornings (or evenings) when you are forced to spend time behind the wheel of your car, you can just plug the cup into your cigarette lighter and keep your coffee, tea, or soup nice and hot.
Keeping things this hot has long been a problem. This is true for beverages, but it is also true in other areas of humanity. My heart breaks when I am contacted by couples who have let the fervent flame of love flicker low.
Love is always a choice. Not only is it a choice, it is a commitment. It entails the giving of ourselves and receiving pleasure from the object of our affection. The first sign of danger is when we demand gratification rather than finding ways of giving selflessly. Examine your spiritual temperature. Have you become tepid? Fan the flame once again. Plug into the outlet of God’s grace and sizzle for Jesus!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 8, 2015 | John
John 16:12-13
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
I recently enjoyed lunch with a pastor and his wife that I have known for many years. We both served as pastors in Burns, Oregon. We were from different denominations, but we shared the same Savior and Lord.
As we reminisced about the way the Lord had worked in our lives, there seemed to be a common thread of awareness — our encounters with people who delight in playing the Holy Spirit for others.
This is a sensitive area because God directs us to live and teach according to His Word. When people become aware of those who are living contrary to the Word, they feel compelled to act on their own to correct and direct.
Listen! The Holy Spirit is far more able to convict and convince others of their sins than you or I. He may lead us to speak words of correction, but we should only do so after much prayer and fasting in order to insure that it is of the Holy Spirit and not simply our personal running ahead of God.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 7, 2015 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15:56-58
“The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
People like to be on the winning side. I have yet to hear people cheer when their team is losing. For those applying for a position it is a cause for celebration when they win over other applicants.
In this old sin-sick world it may seem that believers are on the losing side. The forces of evil seem to become stronger and more violent with each passing day. It may even seem that God is not concerned when we encounter suffering and loss.
When we read the Scripture for today we discover that we are on the winning side. It is not because of what we do, but what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. It may be compared with relaxing in the stands while your team struggles on the field. When your team wins you stand and cheer; WE WON! You may have done nothing more than eating a bag of popcorn, but you share in the victory.
As believers we have been assured of victory. It is not because of anything we have done to merit the victory other than trusting in Jesus for salvation. Victory!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 3, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 139:1-4
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.”
Back in the early 1970’s we had a most delightful little dog named Perky, a small white mixed breed between a cocker spaniel and miniature poodle . . . a cockapoo! One of our rules was that Perky could not be near the table while we were eating. We understood that, but Perky had a hard time getting it through his head.
Time after time, during our meals Perky would try his best to get near the table. We could see him walking very slowly toward us. He would turn his head away from the table as he approached. It seemed that he had the idea that if he couldn’t see us, we couldn’t see him!
I have thought many times that this is a picture of how many of us live. We turn our attention away from God and try to convince ourselves that He cannot see what is going on. That is not the case and I’m glad it is not the case.
We need to have a God who is so mighty that He knows our actions before, during, and after. With a God like that we must not turn our head away from Him and try to get close to the things that He has told us to stay away from. I want to learn from Perky!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
