by Pastor Cecil | Mar 16, 2016 | James
James 1:2-4
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Do you ever feel as if the world is dragging along at a snail’s pace all around you? Do you feel like every time you get in the shortest check-out line, there is a some sort of hang up and you wait and wait? All of the longer lanes you passed up have checked out and you are still waiting. PATIENCE!
The book of James is one of the most practical books in Scripture as it deals with true Christian living. Not only does James tell us what we should do, but he gives steps to follow and profits to expect.
One of the profits he explains is in the critical area of patience. It starts by how we deal with trials. The natural inclination is to be angry or frustrated when we face trials. James tells us to count it pure joy. WHY? Because it starts a sequence by allowing the Lord to show us that faith in Him allows Him to do the work through us and make us complete.
How do you react to the trials that you encounter on a daily basis? Do you fret and stew or do you look up to the Lord and thank Him for entrusting you with this new opportunity to grow in His grace? Trust Him!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 15, 2016 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 33:3
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
From time to time we hear of people who have not called their loved ones for years. You may even have some in your own family who are like that. It hurts when they do not call, but they are the ones who are hurt the most. By cutting themselves off they become isolated.
Isolating ourselves from God is even more devastating. He is the One who loves us most and the One who has given freely of the fountain of living water. His invitation to come and freely receive eternal life from Him is always open.
An open invitation means that we are free to receive it at any time. Other invitations may come with limitations such as cost or an expiration date. God’s invitation is always there waiting for us to respond.
Jeremiah shows us the true nature of God’s invitation. Any time we call to Him, He promises to answer. Not only that, He has promised us great and mighty things we cannot even imagine. MAKE THE CALL!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 14, 2016 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 1:22-23
“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.”
I can recall a time (almost) when I could hardly wait for my birthday. Back then I would add “and a half” to indicate that I was going to be one year older. It did not take long before that habit stopped. As I passed middle age, I wanted to put on the brakes and not age so fast. It really did not matter . . . age passes quickly!
On this date way back in 1934, I was born. In case you are mathematically challenged, that makes me 82 today. The truth of the matter is that it is not the chronological age that’s important, but rather whether we have been born again.
It is tragic that many people feel they have been born again because they were baptized as an infant. That is so unbiblical that it defies imagination. In the same way, there are some who feel they just grew into being a believer. Being born again is much more than infant baptism or a gradual growth.
This is the time for candid self evaluation. If there was never a time when you confessed your sinful condition and invited Jesus to come into your heart, then pray that prayer right now. Make this your spiritual birthday.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 11, 2016 | Romans
Romans 8:16-17a
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”
Earthly kings have a limited domain. They also have a limited time to serve. Our great and glorious King has limitless domain and an eternal reign. When we wrap our minds around that we realize the kingdoms of this world cannot compare.
It was in the late 1800’s when Harriet Buell had been attending church one Sunday morning, and on her way home she wrote the words of today’s hymn. She sent her poem to the Northern Christian Advocate and it was published February 1, 1877.
It has been sung by many well known gospel artists across the years. The words are a blessed assurance of what we have waiting for us in glory.
A CHILD OF THE KING
1. My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
2. My Father’s own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His when He comes by and by.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
3. I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
4. A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They’re building a palace for me over there;
Though exiled from home, yet still may I sing:
All glory to God, I’m a child of the King.
Refrain: I’m a child of the King, A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 10, 2016 | Philippians
Philippians 2:14:15
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
If you are anything like me, you have a hard time with people who have an attitude problem. It is sad to see someone acting like they have a chip on their shoulder just daring you to knock it off. Others simply act as if they are too good to communicate with the people around them.
Unfortunately, there are some Christians who have an attitude problem. They may act superior or even treat others with indifference or scorn. They backbite and gossip with indifference to God’s warning against such behavior.
Paul writes to the church at Philippi and gives a fantastic pattern of how we are to behave. We are to do things cheerfully and without conflict. We are to treat others with respect and the way Jesus would treat them.
Here is the big question of the day: HOW IS YOUR ATTITUDE? Let us take it one step further: How would people around you answer that question? In order to please the Lord, WATCH YOUR ATTITUDE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
