by Pastor Cecil | Dec 24, 2019 | Isaiah
Isaiah 9:6
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
When Isaiah penned the words of this prophecy concerning the coming of our Lord, there was certainly very little hope for the people of Israel. God had chosen them, but they had rejected Him, or at least they had neglected Him. Sounds pretty much the way of our present-day world, doesn’t it?
People may sing Christmas carols and even be so spiritual as to read the nativity story, but what is in their heart? To know “about” someone is not the same as actually knowing them. We may be introduced to a celebrity, but that certainly does not mean we “know” them.
I have been introduced to people that appeared to be warm and wonderful, and I would have enjoyed spending time getting to know them —but (here we are again) I did not know them at all.
Just to read a story about the life of Jesus does not mean that we “know” Him. To really know Him requires a new birth. In John 3:16, He told Nicodemus that in order to know Him into eternity, we must experience a new birth. That requires a confession of our sins and asking Him to come into our heart and make us a new creation. RECEIVE HIM!
May God richly bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 23, 2019 | Luke
Luke 1:17
“He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
In today’s Scripture, four hundred years of silence was broken and now an obscure priest from the hill country of Judea was the recipient of a Divine revelation. It was made by none other than the archangel Gabriel.
He announced that this old couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth, were going to have a son and his name was to be John. Gabriel bridged that gap from the Old Testament book of Malachi and told Zacharias that this special son would be given the spirit of Elijah. He would lead a dramatic revival of spirituality, but even a greater purpose would be to announce the arrival of the promised Messiah,.
As a boy I never imagined that God could use me. I was always out of step with the others. I believed them when they said I was a remedial student. To me that meant that I was a dummy and fit for only a menial occupation. In high school I was confronted with the reality that I could use this brain of mine.
I am convinced that the Lord has a purpose for each of us. You may feel that you lack the requirements to be used of God, but that is none of your business. It is God’s business and all you and I have to do is find God’s purpose for each and every day and then walk in expectancy. Go for it!!
May God richly bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 20, 2019 | Luke
Luke 2:8-10
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.’”
Several years ago our church had finished a wonderful Christmas Eve service. Earlier there had been candles placed inside white lunch bags that lined the driveway leading to the church.
My wife Joyce and I had volunteered to extinguish the candles after everyone had left. It had snowed a few days earlier and there were still a few inches on the ground. The temperature was below freezing when we crunched through the snow to the far end of the driveway. It was so quiet and beautiful that we were moved in our spirit with the beauty of God’s creation and the carol Silent Night.
The words of this well loved carol were written in 1818 by Josef Mohr after he had seen a play about the birth of Jesus. He was in a reflective mood and walked to a hill overlooking his village in the Austrian Alps. The view of the snow covered village reminded him of a poem he had written a few years earlier. The poem was about the night the angel announced the birth of Jesus.
The next day he took the words of his poem to Franz Gruber, who had just composed a melody. He re-worked the melody to match the words to the poem Mohr written. Our beloved carol, “Silent Night” was born.
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Savior is born
Christ, the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “Silent Night” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/silentnight/
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 19, 2019 | Matthew
Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Not long ago I was watching a program highlighting the significant sights of Paris. One of those stops was the Notre Dame Cathedral. It was awe-inspiring to view the beauty of this majestic building that had stood for some 800 years. Even by television, it was a magnificent sight; but yesterday it was destroyed by fire!
While it may be rebuilt there are certain details and artifacts that can never be replaced. It is a reminder to me that the things of this world will all pass away. It is a certainty! Jesus has given us His words that all of the things that we can see or touch will be destroyed, but His words will never pass away!
That is a reminder to me about what is important in life. What kind of structure am I placing my confidence in? Anything that human hands can create and construct will be destroyed at some time in the future, but His Words can never end.
This being true, what am I spending my time, treasure, and talents to achieve? I want to devote myself more and more to share the truth of God’s indestructible Word with as many people as possible before it is too late.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 18, 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.”
Many people have an erroneous view of the Lord. They see Him as a God that is vindictive and anxious to find a fault in our lives for which to punish us. They fail to see the love of God and the provision of God. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they hide from God rather than running to Him for salvation and comfort.
It is important to pause and reflect on the many times when God has stepped in and revealed Himself in a way that resolved our problems. Sadly we frequently within a very short time try to handle problems in our own strength instead of allowing Him to meet our need.
Only the Lord knows what lies ahead for us. Not only that, He will never leave us nor forsake us. In the most disastrous times of our life He is always there beside us to give us a future and a hope, regardless of how hopeless the situation may seem.
What is the greatest ordeal you are facing? Are you trying to deal with it in your own strength? God promises us that He is the One who gives us strength for each and every day. He loves us and has a wonderful plan for our life. Are you actively seeking to discover that plan and purpose that He has designed just for you?
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
