by Pastor Cecil | Oct 10, 2017 | Matthew
Matthew 20:34
“So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.”
When I was stationed in Louisiana with the U.S. Air Force we had a near tragic accident involving our daughter Lori. She was playing with several neighbor kids when one of the boys shot a homemade arrow that struck Lori’s eye. A trip to the emergency room confirmed that it was an injury that could cause her to lose sight in that eye.
Following what treatment they could give her in the emergency room, she was sent home and we were told to make sure she remained quiet with a cool cloth over her eye. After a few days we were to return to see just how much permanent damage had been done.
We made a bed on the living room couch for Lori and had soothing Christian music playing (not today’s bing-bang-bong stuff). I am not sure if it was hours or possibly a day later that Lori asked, “Mom, did you touch me?” When Joyce told Lori that she was sitting on the other side of the room reading, Lori said, “But Mom, someone just touched my eye.” A return visit to the doctor revealed that the damaged eye was restored.
What are the hurts in your life that need the touch of the Master’s hand? It may or may not be a physical thing. It may be something that you have not revealed to another person. God’s special touch may be the touch that enables you to endure the thorn in your flesh to affirm that God’s grace is sufficient. Touch me, Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 9, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 1:12
“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”
In early February 2011 I was lying in a hospital bed attached to tubes and gadgets that emitted strange beeping sounds all around; I had just undergone triple by-pass heart surgery. Lying there helpless, I recall thinking I needed to be about the work of the Lord … there was a funeral service as well as other commitments on my very busy schedule. Why am I here? Does God know what He is doing?
In answer to that question — Yes! God did know what He was doing, and the lessons I learned during that medical emergency remain with me today. I have come more and more to realize that God places us in difficult situations to give us the opportunity to shine brightly with His love and grace.
The apostle Paul was one of the greatest champions of the faith the world has ever known. We might be tempted to feel that God would make the way easier for such a faithful servant. Instead, Paul endured beating, stoning, lashing, shipwreck, and imprisonment in prison after prison. In fact, he wrote the letter to the Philippians from a prison cell.
Rather than asking ourselves why God allows us to endure suffering, we need to rejoice that we have been counted worthy to suffer for Christ. We need to look around us and use our circumstances to be a good witness for Jesus. Do others see Jesus in you when you suffer?!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 6, 2017 | Revelation
“They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4).
It was on January 13, 2015 that my precious wife left the trials and pain of this world to enter the place of perfect healing. It brought her wonderful peace, but I have been left to work my way through the remained of my life without the one who was part of my life since I was a fourteen.
I have a wonderful peace in knowing the Joyce is experiencing a paradise that is beyond my wildest imagination. In bringing that picture to mind I am given a peace that the world can never give and a peace it cannot take away!
If you are faced with the trial and tribulation of life I urge you to seek the peace of God that is offered to all who call upon His name. Rather than focusing your attention on the storms of life seek the precious haven that God gives that will assure you His wonderful peace.
Wonderful Peace
Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain: Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
Refrain
I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
Refrain
And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:
Refrain
Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!
Refrain
To access Wonderful Peace, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/wonderfulpeace/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 5, 2017 | Philippians
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
I don’t know why the acronym GIGO suddenly popped into my mind. It has been years since I have thought of it. GIGO stands for GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT. I think you get the idea: What we think results in the actions we display.
Proverbs 23:7 states that “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” The questions we need to ask ourselves is what is on our mind and is it going to profit our walk with the Lord or blemish it?
It is so easy to be caught up in the trash we see on TV, hear on the radio, or read in various media. What we give our thoughts to results in how we respond to the life around us.
I have committed to try as much as possible to stay away from the media sources that glory in the gory. That often includes the political vitriol that seems to be warring continually. I choose to focus my mind on Philippians 4:8!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 4, 2017 | Revelation
Revelation 22:4
“They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.”
I love going to my doctor. Her name is Brandy Thomas and for someone like me, who is not a drinker, I think it is hilarious for me to have a doctor with a name like that. Today during my appointment, I happened to mention about the way my middle name was misspelled on my birth certificate.
Way back in 1934, when I was born, my entrance into the world happened at home and the Birth Certificate was scribbled out in long-hand. I was named Cecil Adrian Thompson. It was not until I was an adult that I discovered that whoever had created the Certificate had written my middle name as, Adrain instead of Adrian.
So what is in a name? Does it really matter how our names are spelled or misspelled? I think not. It is not the spelling or misspelling of our names that matter, but the decisions that we make that will last for eternity.
As a young boy I received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. That means I have a new name written down in glory. Today’s Scripture tells me that one day I will have the name of Jesus engraved on my forehead. Until then I have His name engraved in my heart. I want to live for Him now and forever!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
