by Pastor Cecil | Jan 3, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
For several years, Public Television has chronicled the story of Dick Proenneke, who lived alone in the wilderness for over thirty years. I have to confess that I have watched this program many times. I especially enjoy observing the creative manner in which he used the resources around him to survive.
In addition to being impressed by Dick’s resourcefulness, I also became aware of something else—he was not totally isolated. There was a bush pilot who made trips into Dick’s remote cabin to bring supplies and mail. I can only imagine the joy he must have felt in receiving mail from his family in California.
We do not have to be isolated in a wilderness like Dick Proenneke to feel alone. We can feel alone even when we are surrounded by a multitude of people. Just look at a picture of people walking down the street of a large city. One person in that huge crowd may feel more alone than actually being alone in the wilderness.
Regardless of where we might be or who might be around us, according to our Scripture for today, we are never alone. Not only is the Lord with us at all times, but He has promised to give us strength and to uphold us with His righteous right hand. Our part is to trust in Him with all our heart. Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 2, 2019 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
I am greatly disturbed by what I observe in our modern world. Fundamentals are being sacrificed for the sake of fads. The gospel is being replaced by gadgets. Spirituality is being traded for superficiality. Discipleship is being bartered for dependency.
This new wave of immorality appears to have little impact on some main line churches. They seem to have little concern just so long as their supporters keep sending money to their ministries. Entire groups of churches have the notion that their decisions hold priority over the infallible Word of God.
I am here to say that if the Bible says something is a sin—it’s a sin. No amount of ecclesiastical mumbo jumbo can replace what God has spoken. Now we are being subjected to efforts to form a one-world church. The book of Revelation will open your eyes to the pitfall such an organization presents.
So what are we to do—individually—as well as collectively? PRAY! Not in pride but in humility. We need to pray and come to the Lord in humility as we confess our individual and collective sins. Let’s obey God and follow Him!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 1, 2019 | Malachi
Malachai 3:3
“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.”
I have often heard the expression; If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen! The same is even more applicable to a refiner of silver. The refiner of silver sits in front of the refining fire to watch the intense heat burn away the impurities.
It is essential in the refining process for the silversmith to stay in front of the fire at all times without taking his eyes off the silver. If the silver were to be left in the intense heat for a moment too long the silver would be destroyed. The only way for the silversmith to know when the silver was fully refined was when he can see his own image reflected in it.
All too often we try to escape the fire of God’s refining oven rather than to allow Him to have control to determine when He is able to see His image reflected back. It is not easy for us to endure the heat of God’s refining fire, but the result is that we will become like Him.
As we begin 2019, may we be yielded to God’s refining fire. Not our will Lord, but Thy will be done in us!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
