by Pastor Cecil | Sep 9, 2019 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 3:14
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
Peter has been speaking of the day of the Lord when the heaven and earth would be destroyed with fervent heat and a new heaven and a new earth would appear. In light of this prophecy of the destruction of things as we know them, he asks this question in verse 11; “What kind of people ought you to be?”
That is a good question and one we need to ask in our world of conflict, pain and destruction. The future looks increasingly bleak. In light of this, what kind of people should we be?
As I think about this question the word harmony comes to mind. As I consider the word harmony the word peace comes to mind. In a world where there is bickering, arguing, conflict, fights and war, we need peace and harmony. It is vital that in the midst of the stormy seas of life we can know peace and live in harmony with those around us. Even those people who sow turmoil and strife! They need to see the peace that passes all understanding of Jesus living in us.
God has never promised us that He was going to change our world and give us pleasant, darling people to live with. Don’t expect that to happen! We are stuck with the ones we have.
Jesus prayed to His Father before His crucifixion. He prayed about you and me. His prayer was very significant. He prayed that we not be taken out of the world, but that the Lord would be with us in the world. Listen to His words in John 17:15-17; “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.”
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 6, 2019 | 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: https://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
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
