by Pastor Cecil | Nov 23, 2017 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Being thankful is not, or at least it should not be, a once-a-year thing. As members of God’s family we are to be thankful at all times. It is not our prerogative to choose when and what we will be thankful for.
In today’s Scripture, Paul admonishes the church at Thessalonica (as well as all of us) that we are to Be joyful always. Do you frequently look as though you have been baptized in vinegar? That, my dear friend, is not being continually joyful.
Paul’s second admonition is that we are to Pray continually. Here is another embarrassing question: How is your prayer life? Are you continually speaking to the Lord in prayer? It is a discipline that we need to pursue.
The last admonition is in line with today’s topic. Here is what the Lord expects of us: Give thanks in all circumstances. Chew on that while you are munching on your sumptuous dinner. What if you had little or nothing to eat? Would you still give thanks? That is exactly the Lord’s will in any and every circumstance.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 22, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 95:2
“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”
I once pastored a small congregation of loving and caring believers where the members’ average incomes were minimal at best. The local mill that employed several of our families had to downsize and many jobs had been lost.
Even in these meager circumstances, our church was asked to adopt the pastor and his wife of an even smaller congregation than ours. Undaunted by our lack of funds, however, some of our people contacted friends in the community where this pastor served to find out what the couple needed, which turned out to be major appliances. We knew we could not afford to purchase new ones … but we could buy used items and restore them.
The project took time and effort, but we undertook it with love and a sense of excitement. Our good deed, however, was not received in the same spirit. There was no sense of joy or thankfulness from the recipients, but one of resentment that they were given USED items rather than NEW. We had worked hard to give the best we could, but their lack of thankfulness was very apparent.
The attitude of gratitude was certainly missing in that situation―a gift offered sincerely out of love and compassion resulted in a slap in the face. As we approach the season of giving it is vital that we take the time to show our thankfulness … not for what gifts we receive, but for the people who are part of our lives.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 21, 2017 | Luke
Luke 10:3
“Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.”
Is it just human nature to want to stay in our warm and snug comfort zone, or is it the method Satan uses to keep us from doing God’s will and working in His harvest fields?
Regardless of how we answer that question, the fact is that God wants us to move out of our comfort zone. Inside our zone of comfort we focus most, if not all, of our energy on ourselves and neglect the needs of those around us. The harvest fields that Jesus speaks about in this passage refer to the lost and dying all around us.
You know, there are different types of harvest fields. When wheat or barley is harvested, all of the grain is gathered at one time. In a field of strawberries, however, only those berries that are ripe are picked. It requires many subsequent trips to complete the strawberry harvest.
It is the same way with the souls of men and women. Some may be gathered all at once in a mass crusade, while others must be picked one at a time. As we move out to the harvest field we must stop and consider when the crop is ready. It is not our comfort zone that is important, but the harvest’s ripeness. Are you ready?
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 20, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”
As a boy I used to cherish the times I got to spend alone with my dad. He once worked as a driver for the Washington Motor Coach Company and I got to ride along on his route a few times. The bus may have carried twenty or thirty passengers, but only my dad was the driver. Our lives were in his hands. You might say (and rightly so), we were just along for the ride!
Sometimes, when we would make a scheduled stop, my dad would ask me to perform a small task for him. I did so joyfully. But it was only when he asked that my tasks accomplished the purpose of serving him.
Our problem is that we are doing things our way rather than doing things God’s way. He never desires us to run ourselves ragged in order to please Him or to merit salvation. In today’s Scripture we see that what God wants us to do is to place our trust in Him.
I hope you get the spiritual implication. The Lord calls us to ride along with Him and enjoy the scenery until He calls us to do His bidding. Wait expectantly for Him — it is worth the wait!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 17, 2017 | Isaiah
Isaiah 51:1-2
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
Water, water everywhere…and not a drop to drink! Those words have probably been uttered many times by shipwreck victims stranded in the middle of the ocean. The salt-laden sea seems to mock them — there is so much water all around them, but it would be poison to their system to drink it.
Lucy Jane Rider Meyer wrote the words of today’s hymn. She was born on a Vermont farm in 1849. Lucy was a teacher and not only founded many high schools, but went on to teach chemistry at McKendree College, a school for freed blacks in North Carolina. She was one of the first female professors.
What a refreshing thought that a brilliant professor was able to use the Word of God to bring music to the thirsty human soul. Oh, that we had more brave educators who would be willing to put their reputations on the line for the things of God. I thirst for that!
Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty
Ho! Everyone that is thirsty in spirit,
Ho! Everyone that is weary and sad;
Come to the fountain, there’s fullness in Jesus,
All that you’re longing for; come and be glad!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?
Weary of earth’s joys, so false, so untrue?
Thirsting for God and His fullness of blessing?
List’ to the promise, a message for you!
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit!
Nothing but “fullness” thy longing can meet;
‘Tis the enduement for life and for service;
Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.
Refrain: I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing;
While you are seeking Me, I will be found.
To access Ho! Everyone Who Is Thirsty, this week’s inspirational video, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/hoeveryonewhoisthirsty/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
— Pastor Cecil
