LIFE IS SO DAILY!

by | Sep 19, 2019 | Hebrews

Hebrews 3:13

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

There was a little lady who had a sweet spirit in spite of her many ailments. When anyone would ask Minnie how she was feeling she always replied, “Good, but life is so daily!” I am sure that all of us have felt that way from time to time. We might take a step or two forward, but like the old saying, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get!”

Sometimes as I sit down at the computer to prepare my Daily-E-Votionals, I wonder how many people take the time to read them and if it is a waste of time. It is at these times that I am prone to use that expression of Minnie’s —”Life is so daily!” Then I pray and realize that I am not responsible for other people’s responses, only my actions. The Lord will cause those who have a need to receive what is given.  I hope that in itself may be an encouragement for you.

We live in a world that is so preoccupied with numbers that we overlook the one or two whose lives have been changed. By our caring, some may find Jesus as their personal Savior. Life may be “so daily,” but it can also be “so fruitful!”

Our Scripture for today instructs us to encourage each other daily. It will lift our spirits to the heavens and put a song in our heart. It will cause us to rise each morning with a song of praise: “LIFE IS SO DAILY – AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GET AT IT!”

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

CHOKED OUT!

by | Sep 18, 2019 | Luke

Luke 8:14

“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

I have read Jesus’s parable of the sower so many times I imagine it would now be in the hundreds. This portion speaks of the seed that fell among thorns. It was choked by three things that the Lord mentions: worries, riches and pleasures. I notice that the plants are not destroyed, but they certainly fail to mature.

Repeatedly the Word of God charges us to not worry. To worry is the opposite of to trust. We seem to have the idea that there are certain things in our life that are too big for God to handle, so we have to worry about them ourselves. Here is a revealing question for you: How has your worry helped any situation in your life?

Riches and pleasures can easily be considered together. We are prone to feel that if we have riches, then the pleasures of life will follow. Sorry to break your bubble, but that is just not the way it works.

Neither the riches nor pleasures of this world will ever satisfy. Only Jesus can fill that void in our hearts. Jesus says that the seeds sowed on good ground are those with, “A noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Which ground are you?

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

THE EYE OF FATH!

by | Sep 17, 2019 | Hebrews

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Years ago I was on the staff of a large church that was in the planning stages of a huge expansion project. One of the pastoral staff members came up with the idea of enhancing the “I” in the word faith with a picture of an eye. It was a huge success and generated new enthusiasm to see how God would bless the project.

I have in my notes the difference between a believer and an unbeliever. For the believer — believing is seeing. On the other hand, for the unbeliever — seeing is believing.  

Many times we find ourselves perched on the spiritual sidelines waiting for something to happen before we become involved in the work of ministry. This wait and see attitude can become contagious and lead to the death of spiritual vision. We think we have to see it before we believe it!

God calls us to place our trust in Him on the basis of His precious Word and the promises we find there. Rather than trusting in what we can observe, we must look through the eye of faith and trust God to do what He alone can do and allow Him to use us as He sees fit. LOOK THROUGH THE EYE OF FAITH TODAY!

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

BE A BLESSER!

by | Sep 16, 2019 | Psalm

Psalm 103:1-2

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”

All too often we become focused upon our wants and forget to praise and thank the Lord for all that He has blessed us with. I am here to tell you that we can never be able to adequately praise Him for all of His blessings!

The Psalmist continues to mention that God forgives all of our sins (when we ask Him), heals all of our diseases (but we may not understand how until we meet Him in glory), He redeems our life from destruction, crowns us with His glorious loving kindness and tender mercies, satisfies our mouth with good things, and renews our youth like the eagles! All I can say is – – WOW!

I recall a comic strip that had a small boy with a cloud of dust constantly around him. Everywhere that boy went his cloud of grime followed him. I wonder if there is not a similar aura around us. We either exude gladness or gloom.

I may not be a lot of things; in fact my attributes may be overshadowed by my failures, but the thing I strive for is to be one who brings blessings into the lives of the people around me. I want to encourage each of us to strive to become the people of God who bring joy with us wherever we go. BE A BLESSER!

Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!

– – – Pastor Cecil

O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST!

by | Sep 13, 2019 | Psalm

Psalm 90:1-2

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

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This week’s hymn by Isaac Watts is a paraphrase of Psalm 90. It originally consisted of nine stanzas. In present day usage, however, the hymn is usually limited to stanzas; one, two, three, five, and nine.

The hymn was originally part of; The Psalms of David Imitated in the language of the New Testament, published by Watts in 1719.

It has often been sung for special occasions in England. For instance it was sung in 1941, at a religious service on board HMS Prince of Wales, attended by Sir Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt as part of the conference creating the Atlantic Charter. It was also sung at the Funeral service for Winston Churchill in 1965.

O God, Our Help In Ages Past

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

To enjoy this free inspirational video:  O God, Our Help in Ages Past, go to: https://gloryscapes.com/ogodourhelpinagespast/

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Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!

—Pastor Cecil