by Pastor Cecil | Jul 23, 2019 | Ephesians
Ephesians 6:13
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
I often recall this old saying: If you are not standing on the promises, you will find yourself sitting on the premises. Standing is an active process of involvement; sitting is a passive pastime of taking up space but contributing very little. The gripers, moaners, and fault finders of the world are generally composed of those who are just sitting on God’s premises.
A long time ago I read about a man who was traveling across the Atlantic on a ship. He could just barely scrape up the money for his ticket and a few provisions to eat on during the trip. A few days after he ran out of food he knew he had to do something. He summoned up all of his courage and went to a steward and asked if he might be able to do some work so he could be able to eat a meal or two. The steward, startled by the destitute passenger’s request, explained to him that the ticket he had purchased included all the food he could eat during the voyage. It was his all along, but he was literally starving because of the lack of knowledge of what he possessed.
Many of us have that traveler’s problem. He didn’t read his ticket and we don’t read our Bible! It is just as simple as that. God has given us His very great and precious promises. They are given to us so that we might stand tall for the Lord.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 22, 2019 | Matthew
Matthew 14:29-30
“So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’”
Many people have been critical of the Apostle Peter because he started to sink as he was walking on the water toward Jesus. Let me ask you a few questions: How many other disciples got out of the boat to take a single step? How many people since that day have walked on water (not counting ice)?
What invitation or invitations has the Lord extended to you and me that require getting out of our “boat of comfort” in order to walk along beside Him? When we do respond to the Lord’s call, how often do we take our eyes off of Him?
The Lord calls us to come to Him, and as long as we obey and keep our eyes on Him as we walk, all will be well. The moment we take our eyes off of the Lord and focus on the threatening waves around us we will start to sink.
God calls us to simply come to Him and abide with Him one step at a time. The important thing is not the size of the waves around us, but the power of our Savior and Lord who is the Master of all of our storms of life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 19, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 145:10-11
“All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power.”
The older I get (and I am getting up there), the more disturbed I am about senseless killing. This is not only true of attacks on other people, but also on the killing animals just for the sport of it. In my hunting days I did shoot game, but it was for food not for sport. Now, however, there are many that hunt only for bragging rights, not for food. God meant for us to be keepers and protectors, not killers.
In 1225, when he was feeling ill and losing his sight, Francis of Assisi wrote about what was always on his heart: the praise of God. In All Creatures of Our God and King, his love for God and the world He made comes out very strongly.
Probably because he lived such a simple life, he noticed things that we, in our busy lives, tend to overlook. Francis believed that all earth’s creatures get their life from God and that we all depend on Him for our continual existence.
All Creatures of Our God and King
1. All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O, praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4. And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Enjoy this free inspirational video, from Gloryscapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/allcreaturesofourgodand king/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 18, 2019 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 4:7
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”
Not long ago there was a strong man competition to determine the strongest man in the world. I only watched it for a few minutes, but several of the contestants seemed to experience a snap in their back and they dropped like a rock.
As I think back on this competition I am reminded that we are all engaged in a mighty battle to show strength. I want to be the first to admit that my strength is limited, but I serve a God that is stronger than any opponent I will ever face!
One of the chief persecutors of the early church was a man named Saul. He seemed to take delight in the arrest, and even death, of believers. I can imagine that many of the believers prayed that God would strike him dead. God had a better plan — He confronted Saul on the road to Damascus and raised up a champion of the faith.
If God could transform a vengeful Saul into the mighty apostle Paul, He is more than able to take our feeble efforts and magnify them for His use. Do not let Satan defeat you by making you feel that he is winning. Remember he is a defeated foe and his fate has been determined. GOD IS OUR STRENGTH!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 17, 2019 | Hebrews
Hebrews 12:1
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
The writer of Hebrews defines the size of the witnesses as a great cloud. All too often we have been led to believe that these witnesses are somehow peeking over the parapets of heaven to keep an eye on our actions. BEEP! I don’t think so.
The purpose of a witness is to faithfully testify as to what he or she actually saw or experienced. It is not what they think or feel, but what they saw with their own eyes or heard with their own ears.
We are urged to gain a new sense of determination to do more for the Lord because of the example they have left for us. They gave so much to further the cause of Christ; that should challenge us to do more and more each passing day.
The great cloud of witnesses which stands before us gives a new sense of motivation to live all out for the Lord. God’s sending His own Son for our salvation and redemption demands that we live our life for His calling and purposes. God never calls us to a life of ease and comfort, but a life of service. He calls each of us to join that great CLOUD OF WITNESSES!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
