by Pastor Cecil | Apr 30, 2018 | Philippians
Philippians 4:9
“The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.“
Picture with me a serene lake setting. On the far side of the lake is a high peak with patches of snow from the preceding winter. The water is so smooth that there is barely a ripple. As you gaze at the water you see a perfect reflection of the mountain scene—a mirror image. The more the water is disturbed, however, the less of the mountain you see.
God wants us to have a relationship with Him that reflects His glory. It is not about us … but about Him. The more we are preoccupied with ourselves the less of His image is reflected in us. The more we allow the things of this world to trouble the “waters of our soul,” the less of Jesus others will see.
In today’s Scripture we have the promise of God’s peace. What a wonderful assurance to read the last part of the verse: “And the God of peace will be with you.“ The way to finding that peace is in the control of our thought life! A computer term fits well here: GIGO (garbage in garbage out). We need to change that to: glory in glory out!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 27, 2018 | John
John 4:13-14
“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”
Not only is Olympia, Washington, the State Capitol, but there is also another significant claim to fame. In the 400 block of 4th Avenue is an artesian well. People are able to fill containers of this pure cool water. It is a fountain flowing freely.
The composer of this week’s hymn is William Cowper. He was born in England in the year 1731. He suffered many personal losses during his early years that caused him much mental anguish. Loss after loss of those that were close brought him to the brink of despair.
Through all of his ordeals the Lord kept drawing him. He finally received Jesus as his personal Savior and began writing hymns and poetry. It is fascinating that he lived in a small house just behind the home of his pastor, John Newton, who wrote the wonderful hymn,Amazing Grace. Thank the Lord for the fountain of redeeming blood that cleanses us from all of our sin.
There Is A Fountain
There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Immanuel’s veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away
Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are saved, to sin no more
For since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
and shall be till I die
When this poor lisping,
stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing thy power to save
Enjoy this week’s free inspiration video, “There Is A Fountain” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://gloryscapes.com/thereisafountain/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 26, 2018 | 1 John
1 John 4:10
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
I once heard about a couple who made an appointment with a marriage counselor. The wife started out by saying that she didn’t think her husband loved her. He just never said he loved her. When the counselor asked the husband if this were true, he readily agreed. He said, “I told forty years ago I loved her and I have not withdrawn that statement—it’s still in effect!” (I think the counselor wanted to bang his head on the desk!)
Here is my candid observation—love is an emotion and begs for some type of positive response. We are prone to love only as long as the person loves us in return. Take that response away and we quickly lose the desire to continue loving.
According to God’s precious Word we are to love with a love that is like the love Jesus has for us. That means we are to love even when the other person is not loveable.
When you stop to think about it, that is the way God loves us—when we are the most unlovable. It is while we were unlovable sinners that Christ loved us, and it is the unlovable people around us who need us to love them—with Christ’s transforming love.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 25, 2018 | James
James 1:2-3
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
You are either in the midst of a painful trial, getting over one or there is one in your future. Every person on the face of this earth has to face the reality of ordeal. I do not want to sound morbid, but if we do not realize the fact that we will pass through times of trial, we may be stunned when they come. Troubles may be the loss of a loved one, financial reversal, a disturbing medical diagnosis or any number of other issues.
How is the believer to respond to the adversities of life? James says that we are to consider it pure joy. That is impossible to do in our own strength. Only with the help of the Lord are we able to look beyond the trials and see our eternal reward.
You may have heard the expression; “That person is so heavenly minded that they are no earthly use.” While I do not agree with the idea that we are no earthly use, I agree that we should be heavenly minded.
We know that the things of this world will all pass away. The trials and tribulations of our present life will pale and fade when we slip the bonds of this earth and are with the Lord. What a day that will be!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 24, 2018 | 2 Timothy
2 Timothy 4:2
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
Not only can He use you, He wants to use you. The only thing standing in the way is … (are you ready?) … YOU!
As I allow my mind to wander across the years, I am struck by those who have been able to minister under dire circumstances. A missionary I knew was rushed to a hospital with a ruptured appendix. While recuperating in a two-bed hospital room, he was able to share his testimony with the patient in the other bed and lead him to the Lord.
During the cold war years there were many Christians who were imprisoned due to their belief in Jesus Christ. Rather than collapsing in a heap and feeling sorry for themselves, many used prison as an opportunity to preach the gospel.
In our own life we have endured occasional tests and trials. As we surrendered each situation to the Lord, He opened doors of ministry that we could never have entered in any other way.
Many of you are enduring trials and tests right now. Please do not allow what you are experiencing to paralyze you from being used. Step forward and volunteer to serve in God’s army. Neither age nor physical limitations will disqualify. “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
