by Pastor Cecil | Feb 5, 2018 | Micah
Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Some of life’s truths come very naturally to us, but others are harder to learn. Years ago when I was a police officer, there was a sergeant who was extremely cynical. He would stride into the police department with his pipe clenched tightly between his teeth, shaking his head and declaring, “The more I see of people, the more I think sheep are smart animals!” I think sometimes he was right.
It grieves me that we have entire churches filled with believers who have not grown one bit spiritually since they experienced New Birth. They may come, sing, pray, smile, appear contented, but then go out to live pretty much the same way they did before their new birth. God has given us His Word to guide us and prepare us for not only this life, but for the life to come.
Micah 6:8 gives us three of God’s requirements for believers. Do justly: Do what is right and just, even when others are out for their own thing. Love mercy: Love the world (others) with the mercy that Christ has shown to you. Walk humbly: God hates pride and self-sufficiency — in all your ways acknowledge Him.
How would you rate yourself in response to what God requires of His disciples? Where are we falling short and what steps of action should we take?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 2, 2018 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Years ago I recall listening to a sermon tape by Donald Grey Barnhouse, a prominent pastor and teacher. He had just completed an evangelistic meeting several hundred miles from his home in Philadelphia, when he was given a telegram. It informed him that his son had been in a serious accident and was near death.
His only way back to Philadelphia was by rail. As Dr. Barnhouse entered his sleeper, his spirit was greatly disturbed. He knew that it would be hours before his train arrived back home and that there was nothing he could do but leave his son in God’s hands.
As he prayed, he recalled a phrase from Isaiah 65:25, “- – – but dust will be the serpent’s food.” Using that passage he asked the Lord to feed the serpent dust, but to please grant him a good night’s rest. He fell fast asleep and the next thing he knew the porter was touching his shoulder to tell him that they were nearing Philadelphia.
The Lord had answered his prayer. His son lived and during his time of recuperation he committed his life to full time Christian service. If you have been having trouble getting to sleep at night, ask the Lord to give you His blessed rest and feed the serpent dust.
To You Before the Close of Day
To you before the close of day,
Creator of the world we pray!
Your grace and peace to us allow,
And be our guard and keeper now.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From all the terrors of the night.
From all deluding thoughts that creep,
On heedless minds disarmed by sleep.
O Father, this we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Your only Son.
Who with the Holy Spirit and with You,
Shall live and reign all ages through. Amen.
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Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 1, 2018 | Ephesians
Ephesians 4:3
“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
I am scared to death about some of the things I see happening in our society. It scares me because it demonstrates how rapidly our world is being molded into a global community and a one-world religion that accepts anything and everything except the inerrant, infallible, and indisputable Word of God.
Some people have equated the challenge to keep the unity as a green light to accept any belief system. God is very clear that it is His way and not our way that is the only basis for true unity.
When we were kids we would take three separate scripture texts and create a new one. You might call it the “Devised Version.” Here is one that we “devised”: Judas went out and hung himself. Go thou and do likewise. And what thou doest, do quickly! Silly actions of teenagers, but all too often the same practice is still used by supposedly wise people to achieve their own selfish goals.
God is not so much interested in our unity as He is in our obedience to His Word. Seek unity and peace, but make sure it is the unity and peace that comes from the throne of God. He will go before you and prepare the path that you will be walking. THEN, be sure to share with others in similar need what you have experienced in God’s love and nearness.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 31, 2018 | Matthew
Matthew 14:25
“Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.”
The fourth watch of the night is the darkest, but it is also the watch that observes the appearance of dawn. For those of us who have worked the “graveyard shift,” it is the most boring, but also the most delightful. It is when you see the first streaks of dawn, the rim of gold on the eastern horizon, and the burst of light when the sun rises to begin its journey for the day.
The disciples of Jesus knew what stormy weather on the water was like. They had perhaps even feared for their lives in previous storms. Now they experienced total shock — Jesus was walking on the water toward their boat!
Peter had fished those very waters and no doubt had been in storms like this before. But never had he experienced someone walking on the water. It was his Lord, and he no longer felt afraid. In fact, he wanted to go to Jesus on the water. Peter was the only man besides Jesus who walked on water. Taking his eyes off the Lord and fearing the water caused him to begin to sink, but when he took the Master’s hand he once again walked on the water to the boat.
When you are laboring in the darkest watch of your personal night, you may feel stark terror. Remember, you are not alone. Jesus is there in the darkness, ready to keep you from sinking. Our only problem is looking at the water instead of the Master who is walking on the water. When we focus our attention on Him, He will keep us from sinking!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 30, 2018 | Matthew
Matthew 6:14
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Forgiveness is something that is much easier to talk about than to put into practice. We are not perfect and much of the time we did something that created the situation that caused the other person to hurt us … or take advantage of us … or not meet our needs … well, you get the idea.
Many years ago I heard the story about a man that had been unfaithful to his wife. She caught him in his indiscretion and tore into him like a wild wolverine. The betrayed wife took her unfaithful husband back, but made his life miserable from that point on. She did many mean and nasty things to him, always reminded him that it was payback time and dug her spurs in ever harder.
After many years the wife developed a serious medical problem. Her husband stayed close beside her and nursed her back to health. After she had recovered, she called her husband to her side and told him that he had paid his price and that she would now forgive him. To her shock and dismay, he said, “No, you have not forgiven me, I have earned it. You failed to give it when I needed it the most.”
How sad that we fail to understand forgiveness. GODLY FORGIVENESS NEEDS TO BE GIVEN WHEN THE PERSON BEING FORGIVEN DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE FORGIVEN!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
