by Pastor Cecil | Jun 21, 2018 | John
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
One Sunday morning a young girl stunned me with a very astute question: “Why do we have to give our heart to the Lord?” It was an electric moment and the Holy Spirit seemed to impress me to forget everything and everyone in the room and speak directly to her.
I explained that the Lord tells us that it is the only way we will be born again and be with Him in heaven. One after another questions streamed from her. I blocked out everything else and gave her my undivided attention.
I cannot recall all of the questions she asked, but I do know that I was praying that the Lord would give me wisdom to answer them in such a way that this small girl would know that there is a God in heaven who cares about her.
This exchange seemed to draw us all close together and closer to Jesus who loves the little children. In Luke 18:16 we read of how Jesus felt concern for children: “But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.’” I always want to be prepared to answer the sincere questions of either an adult or a little child!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 20, 2018 | James
James 4:14
“ – – whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”
As you walk out the front door of the chapel where we conduct our Sunday services you see a WalMart store just across the street. For the past thirteen years we have met at this same location and thought nothing of it.
That all changed at about 5 pm Sunday. A man began shooting in the parking lot and attempted to hijack a motorist. An armed citizen used deadly force and the offender was killed. All of this happened just yards from where we had worshipped only six hours earlier. We never know what will happen do we?
As I have thought about this I have concluded that it does not matter what I know or don’t know will happen in this life — it is what I KNOW is going to happen when I leave this life that matters. Praise God I know where I am going!
I have no idea when I will be leaving this world or even by what means I will be making my departure, but I certainly know my ultimate destination! My desire is to insure that as many as possible will hear the good news that we can know where we will spend eternity. If we have been born again we will go to be with the Lord. If we refuse God’s offer of salvation, a devil’s hell awaits us. Our DESTINATION IS KNOWN!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 19, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 24:1
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.”
If this is God’s world, and it is, He is in control over everything in it. Why should we ever question who it belongs to? Well, let me give you another Scripture. It is found in 2 Corinthians 4:4: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
God made this world and placed the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden. The choice to believe Satan in the Garden led to the fall of all men into a sin nature. This means that all are born in sin and must be redeemed in order to have eternal life.
The important thing we need to keep uppermost in our mind is that Satan functions with lies and deceptions. He is the one who brings negative thoughts of hopelessness and despair. He is the one who leads the world into conflicts of all types, fights between individuals, families and even nations.
That is why it is so important to have a proper understanding of God. Not only did God create all things, He also provided a way by which sinful man may be redeemed from the nature of sin. It cost Him His very own Son, but it proved that God is in control and those who seek Him will find victory and assurance.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 18, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 91:1-2
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’”
I cannot even count the times I have read Psalm 91 … but as I read it once again, two words have captured my interest: “dwell” and “rest.”
For the past few years there have been television programs that follow an individual after he is dropped into a remote area of the globe to survive on his own resourcefulness for one week. The survivalist has no food or water and must make his way on what he can glean from the land in which he has been thrust.
Water is the first essential to be obtained, followed by starting a fire, and then preparing a place to protect him from the elements. It is surprising how ingenious these men are in erecting a shelter from the rain, cold, and even the sun in some desert areas. While these make-shift covers may be a place to pause, they are not a place to dwell and rest.
It is tragic that many people go through this life erecting “shelters” that they hope will satisfy. Some of them may even cost millions of dollars. But like every other thing in this world, they are destined to pass away.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 15, 2018 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 3:10-11
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Back during my high school days, I worked weekends and summers for a concrete contractor. Believe me when I tell you that things were different back then. There was very little pre-mixed concrete that was delivered by large rotating carriers. We were the mixers! We had a pile of sand, another of gravel and sacks of concrete that we had to combine shovel by shovel and bag by bag, water was then added.
In order to get the sloppy concrete into the foundation, we had to deliver it by manual labor. We had large wheelbarrows that we filled then pushed to the point of delivery. In the building process a solid foundation was essential. A weakened foundation could lead to the building falling.
As we travel through this life we often see people that have not laid a foundation that will withstand the storms of life. Sadly when storms strike, their foundations fail. It is during the storms that we need the solid foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep us safe. John Rippon published this hymn in 1787.
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
Enjoy this free inspirational video of, “How Firm A Foundation” by going to: http://gloryscapes.com/howfirmafoundation/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
