by Pastor Cecil | Sep 5, 2019 | Proverbs
Proverbs 18:24
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
As we grow older it seems that we lose more and more friends. Hardly a week goes by without receiving word that another friend has gone to be with the Lord. It was only a few months ago that I received word of the passing of Chris Vosler.
Years ago Chris gave me a gift of a plaque that reads, “A friend is one who knows you as you are, understands where you’ve been, accepts who you’ve become, and still gently invites you to grow.”
As close as our dearest friend or friends may be, we have a friend who is still closer. I am speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who is with us at all times. We are never really alone when others have departed, for He stays with us through the dark hours of the night.
When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is there beside us. When we receive devastating news, He is there to provide the comfort and solace to ease the pain. When we receive news that calls for rejoicing, He makes it even better for we have One who rejoices with us. At all times, and in every circumstance, our Dearest Friend makes our life worth living.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 4, 2019 | Romans
Romans 5:12
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”
As a new 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force I was stationed in San Antonio, Texas. I became very good friends with Sergeant Reuben Luna. He received orders transferring him to Saigon and was nervous. There had been numerous terrorist bombings and Reuben expressed concern about his assignment.
Only a few weeks after he left, I was notified that he was back in the states in a hospital.
I called him and asked what had happened? He told me about being there for less than a week and being in a movie theater one afternoon. Someone screamed that there was a bomb! Suddenly there was a dull explosion and many were killed and many more were wounded, including Reuben. As he spoke to me he started crying. He said, “Lieutenant, I was saved by a Marine Captain.” He said the young Captain was near to the bomb that had been thrown into the theater, and without a second thought, had thrown his body over the object of death, and thus had saved many lives. It was his gift of life.
Jesus threw His body on the cross of Calvary, and by so doing, saved all who come to God through Him. He is the only way to life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 3, 2019 | Acts
Acts 7:59
“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’”
Frequently I relate the final words of my grandfather as he was ushered into his eternal reward: “Well, there’s Jesus now!” What a way to go! Those words that were related to me by my father have been a constant reminder that each of us is just a heartbeat away from eternity.
Stephen was a righteous man who was faithful to the proclamation of Jesus as the promised Messiah. When confronted with false accusations and an angry mob, he stayed the course and used it as an opportunity to share the wonderful gospel of salvation by grace through saving faith, even unto his death.
We may or may not be called upon to sacrifice our life for the sake of the gospel, but it is very likely that we will be presented with the opportunity to share our testimony in front of those who may be mocking, insulting, or even hostile.
If the time ever comes that we are called upon to sacrifice our life for our faith, I hope we will be like Stephen or Grandpa Thompson. Wouldn’t it be great to have our last view on this earth be the face of our Savior? That would truly be THE WAY TO GO!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 2, 2019 | Matthew
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Today is celebrated as Labor Day here in the U.S. and Labour Day in Canada. (They hold fast to the British spelling by adding u’s in the oddest places. When I am around my Canadian friends we like to tease each other — EH?)
As we plow through this life we often become weary and worn. This is just as true in spiritual labor as it is in secular work, if not more. We often find ourselves feeling like we are carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders.
In the midst of our weariness we turn to today’s Scripture and at the outset we feel encouraged. Jesus tells us to come to Him and He will give us rest. Then we read the next verse and are told to take His yoke upon us … Wait! That sounds like more work!
The reality is that when we willingly take His yoke upon us to learn from Him, we find that He becomes our burden bearer and our constant helper. It is when we refuse His yoke that we are left to bear our burden alone. That, dear friend, is LABOR!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
