by Pastor Cecil | Jun 22, 2017 | Luke
Luke 6:28
“Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”
Have you ever had a doctor examine you and use a small rubber mallet which is struck just below your knee? The response is a knee jerk. The doctor is pleased if your leg jerks. It proves that you have the proper reactions.
In the spiritual realm we sometimes fail the test of demonstrating the proper responses. We all too often react as those who do not have the Lord in their life. We hold grudges against those who treat us in the wrong manner. We may even stoop to retaliate when we have been offended.
What should be our immediate reaction when we are treated with disdain or outright hatred? Today’s Scripture gives us two reactions; BLESSING AND PRAYER.
It will require God’s help to react in this manner, but it will produce dramatic results. When our enemies receive a godly response they will have nothing to fight against. It will allow the power of God to do the work we can never do in our own strength. It is time for believers to show RIGHT REACTIONS!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 21, 2017 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 13:7
“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
Many times when people ask; “How are you doing?” The response is; “Pretty good under the circumstances!” Someone offered an addendum by asking; “What are you doing under there?”
Each and every one of us will encounter circumstances in our life. These may be financial, physical, relational, or some other difficulty. The reality of life is that God never promises to take us away from the circumstances, but that He will be with us as we encounter the circumstances.
I once was talking to a Pastor of Adult Ministries. He advised me never to ask folks in a retirement facility how they were doing. He said they would spend the next hour telling you how they were doing. When my mom was in such a facility I came to understand that we need to take time to listen, not just speak the words.
There are people all around us who are being crushed by their circumstances. May God give us the ministry to reach out and touch them with the love of Jesus. We may well be the bright hope they need in their dark night of despair.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 20, 2017 | Luke
Luke 16:13
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
I recall seeing signs at the entrance to a business that restricted service. NO SHIRT – NO SHOES – NO SERVICE! Being a servant entails waiting upon another person in order to insure that the needs are met.
I am sure we have all experienced disappointment by the lack of service we have received in certain establishments. In our modern age of social media it is common for customers to post complaints or compliments concerning the service they have received.
In Joshua 24:15 the people are challenged to serve the Lord. Joshua calls the nation to join him in serving the Lord. He could not force them to serve, but he could give an example by uttering his commitment; “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
Each of us should make a new commitment in our heart that regardless of what others choose to do, we choose to serve the Lord. It is time to make our stand regardless of the condition of the sin sick world in which we live!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 19, 2017 | 1 Kings
1 Kings 17:16
“The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.”
Depending on the Lord often requires stepping out in faith. Many times I feel so inadequate to perform the multitude of tasks that stretch out before me. It is during these times that I come to realize that it is not my ability that matters, but rather my availability.
Elijah was just a man, but he was God’s man! He lived by faith that when God said something it was so. God provided for him for months by sending ravens with food morning and evening. There was even a small brook to provide water. But things would not last. God gave Elijah his marching orders.
God sent Elijah to the small town of Zarephath in Sidon. He was to go to the home of a poor widow to whom God had spoken. There were two people who had to believe God rather than the circumstances; the widow who was on the verge of starvation and Elijah who demanded to be served first.
Both Elijah and the widow believed God and acted in obedience. The result was that all during the drought they had flour and oil to provide their food. It came only as they totally depended on the faithful God. We also must live in total dependence.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 16, 2017 | Titus
Titus 3:4-5
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
One night, 1886, in group of Christians were singing in a down-and-out part of a large city. A distraught young woman questioned if it would be possible for a sinner like her to be saved. Listening to her heart-cry for salvation, she was taken back to the mission and left with the ladies in charge. The young, wayward woman was brought to Christ that night.
A situation was secured for her in a minister’s family. Sometime later she became ill and had to be taken to a hospital. She rapidly failed and it became evident that she would not be long on earth. One of the gentlemen, whom she had met on that night on the street, was visiting her in the ward. After quoting a few suitable verses of Scripture, he repeated her favorite hymn, “All to Christ I Owe.” Two hours afterward she passed away.
Of course the greatest payment in our behalf is the gift of eternal life. It cost the horrible death of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He paid what we could not pay. He went to the cross voluntarily because He knew we would never be able to pay the cost.
Jesus Paid It All
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
For nothing good have I,
whereby Thy grace to claim
I will wash my garments white,
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
And when before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.
To access Jesus Paid It All, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesuspaiditall/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
