by Pastor Cecil | May 10, 2016 | Philippians
Philippians 1:25-26
“And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.”
May 10th is one of those dates that hits me between the eyes. It was the birthday of my precious wife, Joyce, back in 1934. If she were still alive she would have been 82 today. Instead of being one year older she lives forever without aches, pains or aging. She has been perfected!
Can I share a secret with you? I would rather be with her in Paradise than stuck back here on earth. In that way I am like Paul. He preferred to be with the Lord, but was resigned to serving to the best of his ability to strengthen the body of Christ.
Since my Joyce passed away on January 13, 2015, I have devoted myself to doing more for the Lord than ever before. God gives us His strength and direction at just the time we need it. I find myself confronted with two choices: I can shrink into grief, which is not a benefit to me or others, or I can spend myself serving Him. I SHALL REMAIN to serve Him for as long as He gives me the strength.
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 9, 2016 | Philippians
Philippians 2:1-2
“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
Is there any consolation in Christ? YES! Is there any comfort in love? YES! Is there any fellowship in the Spirit? YES! Is there any affection and mercy? YES! These are four qualities that Paul presents as certainties. It leads us to a foregone conclusion – to be of one mind.
Some smart comedian has remarked that to be of one mind requires having a mind to start with. In response, I argue that it does not take a great deal of intellect to be of one mind. Instead, it entails a conscious decision to seek harmony.
There are some Christians who have more sharp quills than a porcupine. They have no intent of pursuing harmony in the body of Christ. They travel from one church body to another and leave chaos in their wake. This is the opposite of what Paul calls true believers to do. Here’s the question: Are you a spiritual porcupine? If so, then make a change and seek to be of one mind with other believers.
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 6, 2016 | Daily-E-Votionals
Proverbs 3:5-6
“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.”
When we graduated from high school in 1952 our class voted this hymn to be our class hymn to take with us. My dear wife Joyce always would brighten up when she heard the hymn and remind me it was our class hymn.
I confess I did not know the story behind the hymn until I did a little investigation for this week’s hymn. The words were composed by Civilia Martin and the music by her husband W. Stillman Martin. One Sunday afternoon Civilia was ill and her husband was on a preaching assignment. She composed the words and when her husband returned he immediately sat at his organ and wrote the music.
This song is credited for transforming the life of James Cash Penney, founder of the American department store chain J. C. Penney. He heard it one morning in the chapel of the Kellogg Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he had been hospitalized with a severe case of shingles, as well as exhaustion and depression.
“GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!”
- Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
Refrain: God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
- Through days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.
Refrain: God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
- All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.
Refrain: God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
- No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.
Refrain: God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
There is no video for this week. For other videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 5, 2016 | Acts
Acts 17:11
“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
My birds are at it again. They are down on the bottom of their cage gleaning over seeds they had tossed out of the feed cup. It seems that they want to make sure that they get every morsel of food that is available.
In today’s Scripture, Paul introduces us to the people of Berea. He commends them for three reasons: 1) they were fair-minded; 2) they received the word with all readiness; 3) they searched the Scriptures daily. Wow!
There is no letter that Paul penned to the people of Berea like he sent to Thessalonica, but he commends them highly. It was because they were faithful to the WORD! We are not told how many Berean believers there were, but they were a blessing to Paul.
Like my birds scratch away at the bottom of their cage to get every last bit of seed, I want to scratch away at the life-giving Word of God and apply it to my life. I ask you to make a new commitment to join with me in discovering the truth that the Lord has for us.
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 4, 2016 | 1 Chronicles
1 Corinthians 13:12
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
As a pastor I have been called upon to officiate at hundreds of funerals. In most cases I was not acquainted with the deceased individual prior to their death. In order to make the service meaningful and personal, I always meet with their families before the service to “get acquainted” with the deceased through the family’s memories.
Interestingly, after the service people have asked me how long I had known the deceased person since it sounded like we were friends. They said they knew very little of the information I shared about the person.
At times I’ve read the obituary of someone I have known for years, but had no idea the things they had experienced. I have often wished I had known that information while they were alive so we could have discussed it.
Thinking about this makes me long for a time in heaven when we will be able to know every individual who has ever lived and rejoice about the steps that brought them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. What a day that will be!
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
