by Pastor Cecil | Aug 19, 2014 | 2 Timothy, Daily-E-Votionals
2 Timothy 2:1-2
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
When I first started using the computer, I did not discipline myself to consistently save the material I was working on — one of the most distressing things to encounter is to lose material you have worked on for days, weeks, months, or even years. I want to tell you from personal experience, it wrenches your insides. All that work and suddenly it was gone!
People with much more computer experience had cautioned me about the importance of using the save feature. Losing valuable work was the best teacher, but by then I had suffered loss. I have since taken steps to insure that my material is backed up off site so that I can rest assured of recovery.
Spiritually we face a much greater threat. Believers try to teach the necessity of being saved, but all too often our pleas go unheeded. In many cases I fear it is too late to be saved. Death is certain, but it is often sudden and without warning.
In order to spend eternity in heaven with God, we must be saved. It is more than knowing the Bible — it is surrendering our self-centered will to allow Jesus Christ to come into our heart and save us. If you have never personally applied the save feature that the blood of Jesus provides, I urge you to be saved today while there is still time.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 18, 2014 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
The Lord never calls us to be like the world. In fact we are repeatedly urged to live differently than those who are not believers. It may even be said that we are to be so different from those in the world that we will appear to be odd balls. (I mean that in the most positive way).
As I read the list of attributes that Peter lists as descriptive of a real Christian, I am staggered. LIKE-MINED, SYMPATHETIC, HAVING LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, COMPASSIONATE, and HUMBLE. As we read over that list it is not a matter of choosing one or more, but we are to demonstrate all of them.
We are further instructed to behave in a manner that is far removed from normal reactions to situations. We are to refrain from getting even with others who wrong us. Instead we are to repay evil with blessing. Wow!
Slowly and deliberately read 1 Peter 3:8-9 again. Can you honestly say that you are acting this way? If and when we do, we will no doubt be considered out of our mind and weird. At best we will be considered DIFFERENT. Are you willing to be DIFFERENT for God rather than follow your own emotions?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 15, 2014 | Psalm
Psalm 145:9-12
“The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. All You have made will praise You, O LORD; Your saints will extol You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.”
The older I get (and I am getting up there), the more disturbed I am about senseless killing. This is true of attacks on other people, but also on killing animals just for the sport of it. In my hunting days I did shoot game, but it was for food not for sport. Now there are many that hunt for bragging rights, not for food. God meant for us to be keepers and protectors, not killers.
In 1225, when he was feeling ill and losing his sight, Francis of Assisi wrote about what was always on his heart: the praise of God. In All Creatures of Our God and King, Francis’ love for God and the world He made comes out very strongly.
Probably because he lived such a simple life, he “noticed” things that we, in our busy-ness, overlook. Francis believed that all earth’s creatures get their life from God and that we all depend on Him for our continual existence.
All Creatures of Our God and King
1. All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O, praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4. And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O, praise Him! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
To access All Creatures of Our God and King, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Inspirational Music Videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/allcreaturesofourgodandking/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 | Aug 14, 2014 | 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 1:3
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
How will people remember you when you are gone? I have officiated at hundreds of funeral services. These services are times of recalling the things that made that individual unique and worthy of remembrance.
There are many sad situations when I meet with a family prior to the service and they can recall very few positive traits about the deceased. “They lived, they died, and caused few ripples in the pond of life.” An obituary photo may show them with a fish, golf club, tennis racket, or some other interest, but was it really them?
Three of the funeral services that I conducted were especially significant to me: our daughter, my mother, and my brother. I knew much better what a legacy they each had left behind and was eager to share it with all who gathered.
As I write this I am struck with an immense realization. It is not so much what people will remember about us, but what the Lord remembers about us. He will always remember our prayer for salvation and our prayers for spiritual discernment. He knows and loves each of His dear children with an everlasting love. When all others may ignore or forget me, the Lord will always remember me!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 13, 2014 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Back when I was a young man, I was a Boy Scout. Before each meeting we would recite the Scout oath. “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
Wow! Wouldn’t it be good if every politician elected to public office would be required to recite an oath of that nature, and then would be required to adhere to the words they had sworn to uphold?
Let us take it a step further. I would like to see every pastor or church staff member make this same pledge of honor. To take it another step, I would like to see every elder, deacon, board member, teacher, or any such individual pledge themselves to live a life above reproach.
There is one last step in the roll of honor. That is you! You may not have any office in the church and your only task is to make it to church on time; but will you make the pledge of honor? It will bring a change in our homes, churches, communities and even our country. On my honor I will!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
