by Pastor Cecil | Oct 16, 2019 | Mark
Mark 6:51
“Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.”
It is easy to slip into the habit of thinking that the disciples of Jesus were spiritually mature and always believed without ever having doubts or questions. His disciples had just witnessed Jesus feed 5,000 men (not counting the women and children) with just 5 loaves and 2 fish. Just a cursory calculation will reveal that it would have taken about 10,000 pounds of bread and fish to feed the multitude. Not only that, they had far more food (twelve baskets) when they collected the left-over broken pieces. We are told that they failed to believe because of their hardened hearts.
Jesus saw them straining at the oars during the fourth watch (3-6 a.m.) and He came to them walking on the water. When Jesus got into the boat the wind stopped and they were frightened and astonished…because they lacked faith and still had hard hearts.
They were very much like we are in our day and age—always asking for more and more, but not having a heart that is humble and broken before our Creator and eager to acknowledge Him as the Lord of our lives. The enemy of our soul delights in sowing the seeds of doubt which cause us to try to explain things as being coincidental or to be able to reason them out scientifically.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 15, 2019 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Do you know that God thinks about each of us? His thoughts are always good and full of hope. Our thoughts are sometimes disjointed and confusing, but His thoughts are always with a purpose.
We are told in 1 Corinthians 2:16 that we have the mind of Christ. That certainly does not imply that our mental faculties equate to being on a level with the Lord, but rather it does give us the assurance that we have spiritual discernment to better understand the ways of the Lord.
God never intends for His children to lack an understanding of His ways and His purposes. He has given us His precious directions for godliness in this old sin-sick world that we live in. Those directions are to be found in His precious Word.
We need to evaluate how faithful we are in seeking God’s thoughts that are so richly supplied in our Bibles. Make it a habit to begin and end each day by reading a meaningful portion from your Bible. Take notes and ask yourself three questions: What does it say? What does it mean? How do I apply it to my life?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 14, 2019 | Hebrews
Hebrews 12:9
“We have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?”
I think it was the comedian Rodney Dangerfield who continually complained that he received no respect. This complaint has not been limited to Dangerfield, but is shared by many people. Many assaults and even murders have been committed because someone thought they were not given the proper respect.
In my experience with the criminal justice system, as well in private counseling, I have discovered a one-way street: Those people who are so adamant about receiving respect are most often the ones who show little respect to others.
The word respect as used here in Hebrews 12, is the Greek word entrepȏ. It may also be interpreted as reverence. Wow! That is a quality that is rarely seen in our modern world!
We may think of it as the lack of reverence and/or respect to those in authority around us such as parents, employers, or elected officials – but that is nothing in comparison with the reverence and respect that is due to our Lord Jesus Christ. When was the last time you honored Him with the respect He deserves? Now is the time to act!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 11, 2019 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 4:12-13
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
Fanny J. Crosby was a remarkable woman. There are so many accomplishments in her life that it is hard to comprehend them all. She lost her eyesight because of the treatment of a careless doctor. In spite of her loss she memorized huge portions of Scripture just by listening to her grandmother read them to her. She is credited with writing over 10,000 hymns during her life.
Fanny began writing poetry at an early age, but another amazing fact is that she did not accept Jesus as her personal Savior until she was 31. She was attending a service on November 20, 1850. The congregation was singing a hymn by Isaac Watts; At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light. She knew she needed the Lord and that very night He became her Savior and Lord. Her desire was to always stay close to Jesus who had paid the ultimate price for her salvation. Her desire was to remain near her Lord. She immediately wrote the words to the hymn for this week.
Near the Cross
Jesus, keep me near the cross;
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
love and mercy found me;
there the bright and morning star
sheds its beams around me.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o’er me.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
hoping, trusting ever,
till I reach the golden strand
just beyond the river.
Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
To access Near the Cross, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/nearthecross/ in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 10, 2019 | Luke
Luke 12:6-7
“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Whenever I read today’s Scripture, I have to ask if the hairs of our head are numbered before or after we lose most of them? That is meant to be humorous, but I know that the words are intended to show just how intimately the Lord knows us.
I love birds and enjoy a varied collection of birds that visit the feeders I have for them outside my window. Some of these precious creatures have become accustomed to me and stay close when I fill their feeding stations.
It always bothers me when I hear Christians speak as if the Lord was not aware of the details of their lives. Perhaps our problem is that we lack a proper understanding of God’s Word. From Genesis to Revelation we read of God’s intimate knowledge of us and our surroundings. In Psalm 139 we read: “You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD.”
The next time you are tempted to feel alone and abandoned by the Lord, start looking around for the nearest sparrow (or any other bird). The Lord knows that bird by name and cares for it. If He does that, be assured that He will also take care of you.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
