by Pastor Cecil | Mar 13, 2017 | Matthew
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Bumper stickers may or may not provide an accurate description. For instance, a car suddenly swerves in front of you, narrowly avoiding an accident. You slam on your brakes, which causes a chain reaction of fender benders behind you. In that split second you catch a glimpse of the reckless driver’s bumper sticker as he speeds by you: ALWAYS DRIVE WITH CARE!
I once heard of a bumper sticker that was on the back of a truck from a casket manufacturing company. The message was humorous but at the same time presented a serious truth: DRIVE CAREFULLY – YOUR CASKET MAY BE ON BOARD!
In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke a truth that has existed across the ages: The only way we can let our light shine is by the way we live. When we live the way He tells us to live, we will be a shining light. As men see our good works it will draw them to glorify our Father in heaven.
If there was a bumper sticker for your life what would it say? Would people be inclined to feel that you are a living example of what it means to be a faithful and true Believer? I pray that we may live in such a way that our life’s bumper sticker would be worthy of our Heavenly Father.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 10, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
When we graduated from high school in 1952, our class voted this hymn to be our class hymn to take with us. My dear wife Joyce always would brighten up when she heard the hymn and remind me it was our class hymn.
I confess I did not know the story behind the hymn until I did a little investigation for this week’s hymn. The words were composed by Civilia Martin and the music by her husband W. Stillman Martin. One Sunday afternoon Civilia was ill and her husband was on a preaching assignment. She composed the words and when her husband returned he immediately sat at his organ and wrote the music.
This song is credited for transforming the life of James Cash Penney, founder of the American department store chain J. C. Penney. He heard it one morning in the chapel of the Kellogg Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he had been hospitalized with a severe case of shingles, as well as exhaustion and depression.
“GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!”
- Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you;
beneath his wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you, God will take care of you.
- Through days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.
Refrain: God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you, God will take care of you.
- All you may need he will provide, God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you, God will take care of you.
- No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon his breast, God will take care of you.
Refrain: God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you, God will take care of you.
There is no video for this week. For other videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 9, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 14:5
“A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness will utter lies.”
I think it was Prof. Howard Hendricks that I once heard give an illustration about always telling the truth. He told the story of a father who was teaching his sons from the book of Proverbs. The father would recite the first half of a verse to see if the sons could complete it. He had just recited the first part of today’s Scripture, “A faithful witness does not lie, when the doorbell rang.
It was a salesman at the door and the boys overheard their father stretch the truth in speaking to the man. When he returned to continue the Bible work he once again recited the first part of that verse, “A faithful witness does not lie, and asked his son Johnny to complete it. Johnny had a fantastic mind and a quick wit. He drew upon the second part of Psalm 46:1 in reply. It reads: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
It is sad but true that our actions all too often are not in step with what God’s Word dictates. We use human reasoning even to the point of stretching the truth beyond the breaking point. As a result, we fool ourselves into thinking that we are truthful individuals … but those around us may see a different picture.
Modern crimes are solved in many cases by video surveillance cameras. The criminal may think he is getting away with the crime, but the surveillance camera has recorded the truth of what has taken place. We need to remember that the Lord not only sees our actions but also the thoughts and intents of our heart. “WE ARE BEING WATCHED!”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 8, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.”
If there is one word to describe the condition of our world it might be the word strife. There is strife between husband and wife, children and parents, sects, denominations, families, nations … the list could go on and on.
Mankind has spoken of peace on earth for thousands of years. The reality, however, is that since the sin of Adam in the garden, strife has existed and will exist until the Prince of Peace appears to bring ultimate resolution to the strife.
It is very easy to become discouraged with the continuing chaos that is the result of strife. Peace treaties and roundtables have always failed to bring about the cessation of strife. There is only one answer and that answer is love.
The only type of love that will bring lasting peace is the love of God. It is not how much we love, but how much He has loved us. In the ugliness of strife and turmoil, a loving heavenly Father demonstrated love to the ultimate degree. As the manifestation of that love, He sent His own Son as our Savior, Jesus the Christ.
If you desire an end to strife within your heart, believe on Jesus — He is the love of God which takes away the sins of the world. His love covers all our sin!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 7, 2017 | Romans
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
As a father of three I heard these words all too often: “But everyone is doing it!” I heard the same words when I was a probation officer, a Christian counselor, and even as a pastor. Those words always seem to be a justification for unacceptable or inappropriate behavior.
Perhaps one of the greatest problems that humans face, especially Believers, is being conformed to the behavior patterns of this world. A brief study of human history will reveal that it has never been wise or prudent to do what the rest of the world is doing. Remember in the pre-flood world that the vast majority of the millions of people on the earth were doing what everyone else was doing … except Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives.
God’s Word is very clear on what we are to do as well as what we are not to do. We are not to conform ourselves to this world, but we need to be transformed. I think we all remember the popular Transformer toys that could be changed from harmless trucks or cars to threatening robots. God wants us to be transformed/changed into His image in order to discover the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Have you discovered that in your own life? If not, I urge you to bow before the Lord and allow Him to show you the way.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
