by Pastor Cecil | Oct 7, 2014 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘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.
A story is told of a very poor man who lived in ancient times that had only one horse and one son. As the son grew older, he used the horse to plow the fields, to haul the produce to market, and ride from place to place on various errands. People showed no pity and often made disparaging remarks about his poverty.
Things went from bad to worse for the poor man when his son was thrown off the horse to the ground and broke his leg. The people clucked their tongues and wondered what evil thing this poor man had done to have such bad fortune to befall him. But he would just smile and reply, “The Lord knows what I need. I will still trust Him.”
Soon after the son’s accident, the king sent messengers to each village and demanded that every able-bodied young man report for battle immediately. The only one in this age group who was not conscripted was the poor man’s injured son. Later on, the sad news reached the village of a terrible defeat for the king’s army. Now the man who had once been pitied was considered to be the one who was blessed.
Romans 8:28 is true in any and every circumstance: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
As a child of God He may delay the answer to our prayer, or He may deny it as He did with Paul. Whatever the Lord determines for our lives, His grace is sufficient.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 7, 2014 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘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.
A story is told of a very poor man who had only one horse and one son. lived in ancient times. As he grew older, his son used the horse to plow the fields, to haul the produce to market and ride from place to place on various errands. People showed no pity and often made disparaging remarks about his poverty.
Things went from bad to worse when his son was thrown to the ground and his leg broken. The people clucked their tongues and wondered what evil thing this poor man had done to have such bad fortune to befall him. He would just smile and reply, “The Lord knows what I need. I will still trust Him.”
Soon after the son’s accident, the king sent messengers to each village and demanded that every able-bodied young man report for battle immediately. The only one in this age group who was not conscripted was the poor man’s son. Later the sad news reached the village of a terrible defeat. Now the man who had once been pitied was considered to be the one who was blessed.
Romans 8:28 is true in any and every circumstance: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.””
As a child of God He may delay the answer to our prayer, or He may deny it as He did with Paul. Whatever the Lord determines for our lives, His grace is sufficient.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 6, 2014 | Philippians
Philippians 1:21-24
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Someone has made a very profound observation: “The percentage of death is 100%.” That may be profound, but it is not at all original. It reminds me of an old song called “Little Jimmy Brown.” It spoke of the birth, marriage, and death of a man just known as Jimmy Brown.
As we make our way through this life we need to be aware that we are all destined to die (unless the Lord calls us home in the Rapture). So — how many years will we live? None of us has the answer that question. Having turned 80 this year, I am well that I am in the zone. But then I stop and remember that I had grandparents and one parent who lived into their 90’s. Only God knows how long I will remain.
You know what? That does not distress me. The Lord has given me a meaningful ministry and be it a few days or many years I am content in trusting myself into the arms of my Savior. I can honestly say EITHER WAY!
When I use the term either way, I do not want to imply a flippant attitude, but that is truly the way I feel. The Lord has blessed me in so many ways that I could never count them all. As Paul says in today’s Scripture; “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” EITHER WAY!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 3, 2014 | 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 will make your paths straight.
I once read about a forest service worker who was walking through an area that had just been ravaged by a forest fire. He saw a strange mound and stopped to check it out. To his astonishment it was a mother bird that had been killed by the fire. As he knelt to examine the bird, he heard a peep from under the pile of ashes. When he turned the bird over he found several chicks.
Instead of flying to save herself, the mother had sacrificed herself in order to protect her brood from the fire that was sweeping toward them. That is what Jesus has done for us. He wants to shelter us under His wings from the firestorm of life.
In 1896, William Cushing wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn, Under His Wings. Enjoy this featured hymn from GloryScapes.
Under His Wings
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
To access Under His Wings, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/underhiswings/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 2, 2014 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:5-7
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.
Pride takes many forms. One of these is self-confidence. We often believe we know what is right without spending time with God seeking His will and purpose for our actions. Since the Garden of Eden we humans have listened to Satan’s whispers telling us we are able to make our own decisions without listening to God. The human mind is remarkable, but when it comes to knowing the right choices, we are at a loss.
We agree that salvation is obtained by grace through faith. We then follow that step by trying to live a virtuous life. Peter, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says following that we are to seek knowledge. That is what Solomon asked for when he became king of Israel upon the death of his father, David.
All through his reign, as well as the reigns of the other leaders before and after, when they asked God for wisdom, God answered. When they acted upon their own instincts, they failed.
The great question confronting each of us is whether we will accept God’s knowledge as revealed in the Bible, or rely on our own abilities. I choose to trust in the Lord and find godly knowledge.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
