by Pastor Cecil | Jul 24, 2018 | Daniel
Daniel 1:8
“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.”
You can view photographs of crowds from past eras and notice that everyone appears to be dressed pretty much the same. They conform themselves to the styles of those they spend time with. No big deal — right?!
While conforming to the clothing styles of the time (within the limits of propriety) may be acceptable, conforming to the sinful practices is not. There comes a time of personal decision making where our walk with the Lord and conforming to His righteousness overrules being like everyone else.
This does not mean we will be popular with those around us. In fact we may be forced to spend time alone. I have experienced this many times in my own life. The thing I have discovered is that it is during these forced alone times that the Lord has seemed the closest to me.
I think it is past time for the people of God to draw a line in the sands of popular opinion and do the right thing. Stop conforming to the world and be transformed into the spiritual servant God wants you to become (Romans 12:2).
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 23, 2018 | Matthew
Matthew 16:27
“For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done.”
Occasionally we hear statements from well-meaning but biblically uninformed people that we become angels after we die. That is more Hollywood theology than biblical truth. In fact we read in 1 Corinthians 6:3 that in eternity we will judge angels.
The Scriptures wonderfully assure us that the Lord is going to reward those who have had their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. That means we have been born again by God’s grace and our faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ.
Please understand that we do not sprout “angel’s wings” because of acts of righteousness. In fact, we are told that all have sinned and fall short of the gospel of Christ. The only thing that qualifies us for heaven is what Jesus has done, not what we have done or not done!
Here is the critical question: Are you bringing false comfort in presenting eternal life? Are you faithful in explaining the one and only way to heaven? The next time someone mentions becoming an angel, just ask them to show you where it says that in the Bible. It will get very quiet!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 20, 2018 | 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 remainder 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/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 19, 2018 | Luke
Luke 11:1
“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.’”
Over 150 years ago, in the mid 1800’s, George Mueller operated orphanages supported totally by prayer and God’s supernatural provision. He was a man of great faith who lived in Bristol, England, and was traveling to Quebec, Canada, for a speaking engagement.
On a Wednesday afternoon, a sea captain was carefully inching his steamer through thick fog off the banks of Newfoundland. The going was slow or at a complete stop. The captain felt someone tap him on the shoulder. As he turned, George Mueller spoke with great conviction, “Captain, I must be in Quebec by Saturday!”
The captain explained that there was simply no way this could be done. He said, “Mr. Mueller, do you realize the density of this fog? There is no way we can make it.” George Mueller replied, “My eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of my life.” He explained that he had not missed a speaking engagement in 57 years and that by some means the Lord would make a way.
He asked the Captain to go with him to the chartroom to pray. In the chartroom, George Mueller dropped to his knees and prayed a simple but powerful prayer: “O Lord, if it is consistent with Thy will, please remove this fog in five minutes. You know the engagement You made for me in Quebec on Saturday. I believe it is your will.”
As the captain returned to the bridge, he saw a sight which stunned him and he had never witnessed in his many years on the sea. The fog which would ordinarily linger for days or weeks had disappeared.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 18, 2018 | Hebrews
Hebrews 9:27-28a
“ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”
The reality of death is something which many people like to suppress, but it remains a reality and an inevitable one at that. It is a time of celebration when the person who has died knows the Lord. On the other hand, it is a sad and bitter thing when survivors do not know about their loved one’s relationship with the Lord.
Those that know the Lord can have peace about the home going of God’s saints, but what about children? The question arises about how to tell young children that a loved one has died. I guess the answer would depend upon each child.
A four-year-old boy sat with his parents as the family dog, who suffered from cancer, was put to sleep. The adults were pleased that the boy was not overly distressed by the death of their beloved pet.
The boy just smiled and said: “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
