by Pastor Cecil | May 17, 2016 | 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 15:22
“So Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.’”
During our 62 years of marriage, I found great joy in doing things that would delight my sweet wife. Joyce enjoyed the typical gifts such as flowers or candy, but that was not what brought her true delight. What brought her the greatest delight was when I would straighten up around my area.
Yep! You guessed it … I have a tendency to create messes! It seems like I always have the notion that I may need something someday, so I just add it to the ever-growing pile of things on my desk or near my chair. Later, as I gaze at a particular item, I wonder why in the world I ever saved it. Joyce was right!
In those times when I bit the bullet and cleaned up my work area, it delighted her. I only wish she were still here so I could try to delight her once again!
In today’s Scripture we read about what delights the Lord. It is not in what we try to give Him of our worldly possessions, but His delight is in our obedience to His word. When God says it we need to believe it and continue obeying. I want to please Him!
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 16, 2016 | 1 Samuel
1 Samuel 17:45
“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.’”
Years ago, the Wendy’s hamburger chain ran a popular television commercial that featured a tiny elderly lady (I think her name was Clara) who stood at the counter of a competitor’s hamburger stand and shouted the question: “WHERE’S THE BEEF!?”
In our modern church world I almost feel like shouting: “WHERE’S THE POWER!?” It seems that today’s church is weak and anemic to the point of being almost ineffective. We may talk a big talk, but where is the Power?
In today’s Scripture, David gives us the answer. He was faced with a literal giant of a man who was armed with mighty weapons that would kill David instantaneously. David did not have similar man-made weapons — he had a weapon of far greater power than any that Goliath possessed. David had the Name of the Lord of hosts in his arsenal. That power killed the giant.
Who or what is the Goliath in your life? Whatever you do, do not try to fight with the weapons of this world. Call upon the Name of our Lord to provide you with all you need to slay that giant that is facing you. That is the real power!
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 13, 2016 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit. “
In 1969 the U.S. Embassy in Iran was overpowered and the Americans inside were held hostage for 444 days. One of those was the son of the former pastor of our church in Nampa, Idaho. I can recall our fervent prayer for Gary Lee as well as all of the other hostages.
They were finally redeemed and allowed to go free. That incident has returned to my mind just recently as I read that these hostages have battled to receive compensation for the time that they were held hostage. It is difficult to know what would be fair compensation, but in this case they have been asking for something like $3 million each.
Forgetting that particular incident and thinking of our redemption from sin, what is the worth of the human soul? The Lord Jesus paid the price for our redemption, and I am so grateful that we have been set free from the penalty of sin!
The writer of this hymn, Fanny Crosby, was eagerly looking forward to that day when her Redeemer would appear and her blinded eyes would be opened and she would behold the most beautiful sight she could ever imagine—Jesus!
Redeemed
(1) Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
(2) Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence,
With me doth continually dwell.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
(3) I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
(4) I know I shall see in His beauty,
The King in whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
(5) I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
Enjoy this free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com. To access Redeemed, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/redeemed/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 12, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 107:8-9
“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”
Even God’s faithful servants can lack an attitude of gratitude. Joyce and I once felt led to assist a returned missionary family by paying for some necessary classes so the wife could work as a nurse. It was a sacrifice on our part, but we did it joyfully. I am sad to say that there was never an expression of gratitude shown by that family.
We felt let down, but at the same time it taught us a lesson about how we are to appreciate what the Lord does for us. How many times do we receive blessing after blessing from the Lord without expressing our…ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE?
After writing the last paragraph I spoke with a man I knew back in college over 50 years ago. He reminded me of something that I had done back then that hurt his reputation. I honestly could not recall what I had done, which makes it even worse. He said he forgave me, but I am struggling with the way I so completely blanked it out of my mind.
The thing that strikes me is that I had been writing about the lack of gratitude when I was guilty of forgetting something that has lived in the mind of this friend for these many years. More than ever I want to trust in the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 11, 2016 | John
John 12:26
“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
I recall driving with our family into an unfamiliar city years ago. The people we were visiting tried to give directions, but finally instructed me to just stay where I was and they would come and guide us to their home. Have you ever tried to keep up with someone who knows where they are going and seems to forget you are trying to follow them? Thankfully we finally made it to our destination (with only a few frayed nerves).
Sometimes in our spiritual journey we may be encouraged to follow certain religious leaders. Unfortunately, some of those leaders take their eyes off of the Lord, leaving their followers in confusion and disenchantment.
Today’s Scripture comes from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the One we are to follow. In order to follow Him we must discover where He is. That, my dear friend, is within the pages of our Bible.
Searching the pages of God’s Word will reveal where Jesus is and what He is telling us to do. When we discover where Jesus is at work, we need to stay close enough to Him so that we will discover the steps and stops of our Lord.
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
