by Pastor Cecil | Oct 29, 2014 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Have you ever made a mistake? I have no idea why, but I recently remembered a blunder I made over 50 years ago. I considered going to work for a bakery that would entail delivery of baked products. I was riding along with the manager and he had me hold a special-order pie so it would not be damaged in transit. It was the last delivery before we were to deliver the pie. I opened the door and as I sat down, I felt the horrifying squish of the specially prepared pie. No delivery and no job!
I have realized many times that it is not my strength that counts, but only my willingness to be used. Several years ago I was having trouble with my Internet connection. When I called my Internet provider about the problem, the first technician did not have the answer and referred me to his manager. After explaining what I was doing, the manager asked me to send him one of my Daily-E-Votionals. After he read it and realized what I was doing, he helped correct the problem and then asked to be included on my list of subscribers.
Does God work? Yes! I have no idea who that man was or what he was going through. I do know, however, that he received a copy of that message. The Lord is the One who does the real work in individual hearts.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 28, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
I heard an illustration years ago about a young boy that really reminded me of me. My problem as a little boy was that I could not stop talking. My mom said I sometimes drove her crazy. (I find that hard to believe since I am so quiet now. RIGHT!!) Anyway, back to the illustration.
This young boy was running around and creating such havoc that his mother grabbed him to make him sit on a footstool for five minutes. He immediately got up and she pushed him down again. This routine was repeated until she threatened to paddle him if he got up one more time. He finally got the message and sat down with his arms folded. He looked up at her and said, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside!”
It is easy for us to be so active that we fail to take the time to listen to the Lord. It is far better to wait for Him than to run headlong with our own agenda. It is amazing the things you hear when you are quiet.
If you find yourself running through your days and weeks like a small tornado, I urge you to sit on God’s footstool and listen to His voice. It will most often come through a prayerful reading of His Word. JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 27, 2014 | John
John 9:4-5
As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Friday morning just before 11:00, a tragedy took place in Marysville, Washington. It was in a high school cafeteria when most students were relaxed and enjoying their lunch period.
Suddenly one of the students stood, drew a handgun, and fired at two of his cousins as well as several others before taking his own life. The world was dramatically changed not only for the families of the victims, but for the other students as well.
It was heartbreaking to watch the students as they ran away from the school to gather at a nearby church before being reunited with their families. Fear etched the faces of parents who wondered if their child might be one of the victims. When parents and children were finally united, the love began to flow. Parents and their kids embraced each other without embarrassment.
If only we would take the time to embrace those we love while we have the time. None of us know when our time on this earth will end. It is a reminder to insure that we have received Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. It is also a reminder to share our love with one another with words and also with actions. Hugs are important.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 24, 2014 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
There have been times in my life when I felt isolated and alone. It seemed that I was alone and could not sense the nearness of God in my life. When I experienced these times of spiritual drought, I was prone to wonder if Jesus really cared, even though I am usually happy and optimistic. It has been in these times that I have felt the enemy of my soul attack. I rush to God’s Word for comfort.
Frank E. Graeff was known as the “sunshine minister.” He had a cheery disposition, a winsome personality, spiritual optimist, and was a great friend of children. He was known to have a child-like faith. That being said, he did pass through times of deep trials. It was then that he turned to the Scriptures as his guide in the darkness.
As I read the words of this hymn that he wrote, I can see the change from gloom and despair to hope and victory. That is what I want in my life.
Does Jesus Care?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
Refrain: Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.
To view the GloryScapes inspirational video Does Jesus Care? please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/doesjesuscare/ 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 | Oct 23, 2014 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:2-4
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
It has been a long time, but I can remember some of the games the kids in our neighborhood played. Hide and Seek, Kick the Can, Stick Ball, and many others, until we heard the call from our moms to come in the house. I can never remember our choosing up sides and playing a rousing game of—Perseverance.
I especially like the way Thayer’s Lexicon interprets the word Perseverance: “The characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and suffering.”
That is powerful! It is far too easy to seek an escape from trial and testing instead of inquiring of the Lord as to His purpose in what we are going through. Some seem to feel that Christians should not go through the trials of life. Oh, really?!
Read what the apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27: Five times he received 39 lashes, three times he was beaten with rods, once he was stoned, three times he was shipwrecked, and spent a day and a night in the ocean. He describes his life as being filled with suffering and pain. That is true perseverance that leads to godliness. So what is godliness? Reverence, respect and piety toward God. It is saying: Not my will, but Your will be done! I want that kind of life!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
