by Pastor Cecil | Aug 31, 2016 | Philippians
Philippians 1:21
“ For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
A proud father, and city employee, was introducing his four-year-old daughter to his boss, the Mayor of the city. The young girl was known to be precocious, but her father thought she would be awed to be personally introduced to such a high city official.
As the Mayor bowed down and politely extended his hand to the young girl, he said, “Hi, I am the Mayor.” The young girl looked straight into his eyes and asked, “Why?” The Mayor was stunned by the question and quickly moved on to the next group of constituents.
Back in his office the Mayor mulled over the girl’s innocent question. He was a Christian and was left to ponder the wisdom that this young child had confronted him with. Why was he doing the things he did? He always tried to be the best person and the best Mayor he could be, but was that enough?
As he bowed and began to pray, today’s Scripture crossed his mind. That was the answer! He had to live for Christ in everything he spoke and in the things he did. In that quiet time in his office, the Mayor determined that he would have an answer to why he did what he did . . . it would be to honor and glorify Jesus. Why do you do the things you do?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 30, 2016 | Galatians
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law”
It is that special time of year when the fruit ripens on the trees … sweet, delicious, and ready to eat. It makes my mouth water just thinking of a perfectly ripe and juicy peach! I know, however, that in just a few short weeks the weather will turn bitterly cold and throughout the months of winter, this tree that now produces such tasty fruit will stand stark and bare, naked of its delicious produce.
God promises us a fruit of the Spirit that never passes away! The fruit that we read about in today’s Scripture is a fruit that meets the deepest needs of the human soul. It is fruit that produces life.
Years ago I was teaching a Sociology class at Boise State. With about 120 indifferent students staring at me, I gave them their first assignment — to write the three things they desired most in their life. To be sure, there were a few ridiculous answers, but a wide majority listed the first three fruits of the Spirit: LOVE, JOY, PEACE.
People seek these attributes in many different ways, and quite a few of those ways are detrimental to themselves and others. The fruit that God promises, however, will always produce a spirit that brings comfort and healing to ourselves as well as others. Get God’s fresh fruit!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 29, 2016 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 31:25
“For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”
In my 82 years of life I have experienced a lot of physical weariness, especially through the labors of mixing and hauling concrete, digging ditches with a shovel, and pounding hardwood floors until I felt my arm would drop off. I have also labored mentally in college and graduate school while working full time. Do you feel sorry for me yet? HA!
There have been times of deep emotional sorrow in the loss of family members and dear friends. The loss of father, mother, brother, daughter, and dear wife, was more draining than any day of physical labor I ever experienced.
We all go through a mind-numbing weariness at some point in our lives. That is part of the human experience we were born into. Some may try to tell us that we can use mind-numbing drugs to cope, but that never works, does it?
There is an answer. It is drawing close to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jeremiah provides us with a glimpse into the promises of God. Here we have the comfort that God brings rest and peace to our weary souls. If you feel you are at the point where you are ready to drop, call on the Lord. He will replenish you through His inexhaustible supply.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 26, 2016 | Ephesians
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
I suppose many of us have heard humorous stories about someone approaching the gates of heaven and being required to prove that their actions on earth merited entry into God’s heavenly kingdom. Beep! Wrong answer!
A person may do amazingly good works here on earth and still miss heaven. It is not what we do for God that determines where we will spend eternity—it is what He has done for us. When we repent of our sins and accept Him as Savior and Lord then—and only then—is our name is written down in glory.
The writer of this week’s hymn, Charlotte Elliot, was offended when someone asked her if she was a Christian. She told him to mind his own business. Later as she was contemplating his question, she began to wonder what it took to become a Christian. She called him and he explained to her the plan of salvation which she accepted. It was then that she wrote this hymn, “Just As I Am.”
Just As I Am
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Enjoy this week’s free inspiration video, “Just As I Am” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://gloryscapes.com/justasiam/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 25, 2016 | Psalm
Psalm 37:34
“Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.”
When I was in the military there were times when I was assigned to “alert duty.” What that meant was that those of us who were on duty could not sleep, but were in a constant state of readiness. We would be the ones who would alert the other members of the unit who would spring into action.
In today’s Scripture, the psalmist is calling us to take on the assignment of being on alert. We are to be the watchmen (watchwomen) who keep our eyes open to the threats of the enemy.
Not only are we called to be alert to spiritual danger, but we are also to be aware of the leading of the Lord. When He is working in our midst, we need to rush to His side in order to respond to His call.
Are you on Alert Duty for the Lord? Are you spiritually aware of what God is doing in your midst in order to join with Him in bringing about His purposes? Now is the time to shake off the spiritual slumber and be alert.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
