by Pastor Cecil | Jun 23, 2016 | John
John 12:24
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.“
I have a jar of barley grain in my storage cupboard. If I remove one grain from the jar it hardly makes a difference. Now multiply the amount of grain in my jar several times over and look inside the hopper of a grain harvester — that one grain now seems even less significant. Look into the hold of a cargo ship with millions of bushels of grains. How much is only one?
I fear that we often discount the value of our one life and witness. We feel that we, like that single grain, will not make a difference. Not only that, we hold onto our life with such a tight fist like we are better able to do something with it.
What does God want us to do with that grain which is our life? Are you ready? He wants us to plant it into the rich soil of His Word and die. It is only as we die to self that He is able to create new life.
You may feel that you only have one grain to offer to the Lord. That, dear friend, is enough. It is God’s power that creates new life, not ours. One grain can grow and multiply until there is a rich harvest. Give your grain to Him!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 22, 2016 | Acts
Acts 26:28
“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’“
Last Saturday I was on my way to conduct a graveside service in a small community in our area. My daughter Lori was riding along to keep me company and as part of honoring me for Father’s Day.
We were less than a mile from the cemetery when an oncoming car swerved across into my lane. I immediately jogged to the shoulder of the road and he missed me by a fraction. I told Lori that the graveside service might easily have been for us.
We laughed about it and Lori profoundly commented that it would not have been all that bad to enter Paradise together. She later said it would be even better to be in a church service when the Rapture occurs and we could all go up together.
There are many “almosts” in life. The most heart rendering one is for a person to be under deep spiritual conviction from the Holy Spirit and fail to accept the free gift of eternal salvation. I have a deep desire to try to insure that I have done all I can to remove the “almost” from a person’s destiny.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 21, 2016 | Philippians
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.“
Certain Bible characters stand out in my mind as brilliant examples of God’s amazing grace. One of these characters is a woman named Rahab who lived on the other side of the Jordan in the city of Jericho. It was the first city that Israel would besiege when they began to possess the Promised Land. Not only that, she was a harlot in Jericho.
Rahab’s redeeming qualities were that she believed that the God of Israel was the true God. She put her faith in God by hiding the two spies that were sent out by Joshua before crossing over the Jordan.
She hid the spies and they promised to save Rahab and her family providing they were inside her house when Jericho was attacked. The scarlet ribbon from her window identified her place of security.
God’s wonderful grace not only saved Rahab and her family, but she became the wife of Salmon. The family line continued down to David and eventually Jesus. Now that, my dear readers, is God’s amazing story of grace.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 20, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 51:12
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
As a boy, I recall a woman in our church who loved to testify. It seemed that every time she gave her testimony she looked and sounded like she had just been baptized in lemon juice!
It became a joke for the kids in the church. We kids who were eight or nine years of age would make faces and imitate this lady. I am sure her heart was pure and her devotion to the Lord was pure, but her face lacked the appearance of joy.
At times we Christians seem to have a short circuit when it comes to having the joy of our salvation. We talk of the joys of heaven and walking the streets of gold, but in the meantime we are certainly not a walking testimony of the joy of the Lord.
It is time to take stock of our own behavior concerning the joy of our salvation. Do people see the joy of the Lord in us? If we truly believe that we are born into the family of God, do we act happy about it? Do people want what we have? Think about it and make the changes necessary to enjoy your salvation.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 17, 2016 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 5:6-7
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.“
There have been times in my life when I felt isolated and alone. It seemed that I was alone and could not sense the nearness of God in my life. When I experienced these times of spiritual drought, I was prone to wonder if Jesus really cared, even though I am usually happy and optimistic. It has been in these times that I have felt the enemy of my soul attack. I rush to God’s Word for comfort.
Frank E. Graeff was known as the “sunshine minister.” He had a cheery disposition, a winsome personality, spiritual optimist, and was a great friend of children. He was known to have a child-like faith. That being said, he did pass through times of deep trials. It was then that he turned to the Scriptures as his guide in the darkness.
As I read the words of this hymn that he wrote, I can see the change from gloom and despair to hope and victory. That is what I want in my life.
Does Jesus Care?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
To access Does Jesus Care? this week’s free inspirational video, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/doesjesuscare/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
