by Pastor Cecil | Apr 21, 2017 | 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. 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, I have felt the enemy of my soul attack. It is during these times that 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
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 20, 2017 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Have you ever heard that popular expression? Do you think that is true? What about when you are not tough and confess your weakness? That is when you let go and let God be God through you!
Sometimes people fail to act because they feel they are unqualified. The fact of the matter is that many great people are not that different from anyone else. The only difference is that they remained steadfast at their task.
Thomas Edison experimented with over 10,000 substances before discovering the answer in tungsten. After 9,999 attempts, the story goes that a reporter asked him if he was going to go on after so many failures. Edison’s response was that he had not had any failures. He had only discovered 9,999 substances that would not do the job.
Being steadfast for the Lord does not look at failure in the results we may see. It is in being the faithful servant that keeps on doing the work God has called each of us to do and leaving the results up to Him. Are you steadfast?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 19, 2017 | James
James 4:7
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
I served in the military and was also a police officer. In both of those professions I had training experience on the firing range. I can still hear the words ringing out loud and clear: “Ready on the right? Ready on the left? Commence firing!” After a specified period of time the command was shouted: “Cease fire!”
During periods of war, combatants listened for the command to filter down that they were to “cease fire.” That meant they would no longer face the threat of enemy fire and would be heading home to family and friends. I still remember as a young boy seeing special editions of the newspapers with huge headlines that proclaimed “CEASE FIRE!” A sense of joy swept the streets as people shouted out the news!
We are in a battle with the enemy of our souls. There will be times when we feel as if we cannot continue, but that is not an option for us. To paraphrase the words of Tennyson, “Ours is not to reason why. Ours is just to do or die.”
There will come a time when we have made our last stand, and the Commander of the Lord’s Army will issue the order for us to cease fire. Until that time we need to stay at our post and do as He commands!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 18, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 31:30
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”
My daughters would sometimes groan when I spoke of their mother as a Proverbs 31 woman. They would say, “Not the Proverbs 31 woman again!” But they would eventually confide that our precious Joyce fit the description.
We are constantly exposed to glossy depictions of very attractive men and women modeling to promote one product or another. The implication is that if you use that particular product, you too will look like the model. Beep! Ain’t gonna happen!
Many celebrities undergo multiple plastic surgeries to prolong the impression of youth, but in many cases they end up looking like they have just bit into a sour lemon. The beauty they seek is at best skin deep, and at worse an ugly scar.
True beauty is from within. When a person has true peace with God they will have the beautiful glow that no earthly cosmetic can duplicate. The next time you look into the mirror and observe more wrinkles or sags, slip into an easy chair and open God’s Word. Spend quality time with Him and allow Him to shape you into His glorious image that will never fade.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 17, 2017 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 2:2
“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby.”
Last week I was traveling along Interstate I-5 when I noticed a logging truck ahead of me. In the northwest it is not an uncommon sight to see trucks carrying loads of logs, but this was exceptional. The logs were huge and I marveled at their size as I passed the truck. I knew they were old growth timber.
It is a shock to see bare hillsides where timber has been cut. Owners of the land soon plant seedlings and in a short time there are young trees. Many of the logs we see harvested in this part of the country come from third and forth growth trees that have been planted after previous logs have been harvested.
Day by day we observe the passing of the saints of God. They have been our mentors and guides, but as the years slip by they pass the torch on to the next generation of believers. At first it seems the spiritual hillside looks bare and lifeless, but hopefully spiritual growth will occur.
It is time for each believer to recognize that responsibility for growth in the Lord is a fact of life. We need to strive to become “OLD GROWTH” saints of God who will stand shoulder to shoulder creating a mighty forest for the Lord.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
