by Pastor Cecil | Jul 31, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 16:9
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
I have had the wonderful experience of building houses a few times in my life. I also have been involved in the construction of church buildings. The one thing that I was always cognizant of in construction were the detailed floor plans. They showed where the critical components were to be located. If the plans were not followed, chaos and confusion would destroy our construction efforts.
Just as we are mandated to follow specific building plans, so are we called to follow God’s plan for our life. God never calls us to live our life in a haphazard manner. That does not mean that we are to live in rigid conformity.
I have counseled a few people who have forgotten who was in control of their life. They have made grandiose plans for their future only to discover that accident or disease had radically changed what that future would look like.
Not all plan changes are bad. God’s plans for our life always are for our good and His glory. We need to give our best effort to prepare for what is ahead for us, but at the same time be alert to God’s Superior Planning.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 28, 2017 | Luke
Luke 24:2-6
“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!”
Alfred Ackley was a Baptist pastor who had two dramatic incidents in his life that led him to write our hymn for this week. He had been conducting an evangelistic service back in 1932 when a young Jewish man threw this question at him; “Why should I worship a dead Jew?”
Then early on Resurrection Sunday morning as he was preparing for the day he listened to the radio. A famous liberal preacher made this statement; “Good morning—it’s Easter! You know folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned, His body could be dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main truth is His truth goes marching on!”
Alfred screamed out at the radio, “It’s a lie!” His wife was startled and wanted to know why he was so upset. Following the service that morning his wife prompted him to write a hymn and express his thoughts. He wrote this wonderful hymn.
HE LIVES!
I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thro’ all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
Aren’t you glad we serve a risen Savior? Our God is not dead, HE LIVES!
Use this link to view video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6aBDS3drA&ab_channel=SESamonte
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 27, 2017 | James
James 5:8
“You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
We are living in such an “instant” age that the mere mention of patience flies in the face of our way of life. We have instant cash machines, instant check-out counters, instant income tax refunds, instant coffee … tea … pudding … mashed potatoes … (I was going to continue, but the mere mention of instant mashed potatoes made me sick to my stomach).
In the face of all the short-cuts to achieve our end result, we find that we have even less time for the important things in life than ever before. Not only that, the labor-saving devices we use find us so tired and exhausted at the end of the day that we walk and talk like robots. Our “time-saving” gadgets and gizmos have us running at a break-neck pace to get from appointment to appointment. What has happened?
The answer lies in the Word of God. In all of our efforts we have totally failed to develop the proper discipline of patience. We do not want to wait or slow down for anything. In the midst of our hectic, fast-paced schedules we are so busy making things happen that we leave no room for that all important “quiet time” of waiting to see what God is going to bring into being. Slow down and wait for God!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions and your patience!!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 26, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 51:12
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
Wrecking yards are wonderful places. Vehicles that have been in accidents or experienced mechanical failures are brought to the yard just waiting to be parted out. When you need a spare part for your car and do not have the funds to buy a new part, a wrecking yard can be a blessing. God also has a wrecking yard.
A friend from my year of service at St. Anthony, Newfoundland, Canada, sent me a message that Rev. Bob Harrington had died. Bob Harrington was once known as the Chaplain of Bourbon Street. Back in Newfoundland we spent many hours listening to his messages on reel-to-reel tapes (the latest and greatest in modern technology 50 years ago).
It was heartbreaking to hear the news many years ago that Bob Harrington turned his back on the Lord and went the way of the world. I am sure that Satan danced with glee that this servant of the Lord had fallen from grace. That is until God sent another one of His servants to restore His lost child.
One day a call came from a pastor friend of Bob’s urging him to return to the fold of God. Bob answered that call and was used of God — once again he became effective in winning souls for Christ. Perhaps not as good as new, but try telling that to a soul saved by grace!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 25, 2017 | John
John 21:9
“Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.”
Have you ever experienced a meal so delectable that years later the memory still makes your mouth water? There was once a restaurant in north Idaho that was mine and Joyce’s favorite. Their specialty was baked potatoes. It was heartbreaking to drive by our favorite eatery on a trip north only to discover the building had been destroyed by fire. No more of those wonderful baked potatoes for us.
Today’s scripture has often made me wonder what that seashore breakfast must have tasted like to the disciples who had been invited to come and dine. Think about it! The Master who had created the universe had Himself prepared fish and bread. I am sure that they had never wrapped their lips around anything so delicious.
The Master invites each and every one of us to gather around His table and partake of the food He prepares for us. His food nourishes and sustains us to do His will for our lives.
If you are trying to survive on the scraps of this world, I want to invite you to move up to the Lord’s table and enjoy the meal He has prepared for His disciples. It will do more than sustain you — it will equip you for His service.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
