by Pastor Cecil | Aug 5, 2014 | Luke
Luke 7:3-6
Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
When our oldest daughter, who has since gone to be with the Lord, was in high school she had problems with her teeth. To correct the problem the dentist had fitted her with a retainer. It was an expense that really stretched our limited budget.
Our hearts sank when she came home one day to announce that she had lost her retainer. The shock was followed by an examination of where she could have lost it. The only place she could remember taking it out was in the lunch room. We were filled with hope and dread. Hope of finding it and dread at having to dig through a messy dumpster that held all of the kitchen waste.
Looking for a needle in a haystack may have been harder, but it certainly would have smelled sweeter. Hour after hour we searched and even after dark we used lights, but found nothing. It was the next day that our daughter found the retainer in her purse. That was over 50 years ago and I still recall the joy at finding the lost.
Sometimes we have friends and family that are lost. We watch and pray for some way to reach them. What joy we feel when a lost soul is found. It is worth all of our effort to seek the lost. Only eternity will reveal the significance.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 4, 2014 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14
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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
The humorous story is told of two children, Johnny and his younger sister Judy. The two had been outside playing when Judy rushed into the house crying. Judy told her mother that Johnny had hit her. Their mother asked Johnny why he had hit his sister. His reply: “I didn’t hit her—she just ran into my fist!”
It is always easier to blame someone else for our sins and transgressions than to confess them ourselves. This is especially true as we look at our sin-sick world. We cluck our tongues and pray for God to change our rotten society.
I certainly do not mean to imply that we are to accept what is going on in our world, but how does God expect us to respond? I think the answer is that we need to look into the mirror of God’s Word.
In today’s Scripture, God is speaking to His people. That means those of us who are born-again believers. So what does this passage say to us? Humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways.
Before we can ever hope to change our world, we have to examine ourselves and discover areas of sin and compromise that lurk deep within. We can never hope to see our world change until we are willing to experience a change in our own lives. Are you willing to change?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 1, 2014 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Years ago I recall listening to a sermon tape by Donald Grey Barnhouse, a prominent pastor and teacher. He had just completed an evangelistic meeting several hundred miles from his home in Philadelphia, when he was given a telegram. It informed him that his son had been in a serious accident and was near death.
His only way back to Philadelphia was by rail. As Dr. Barnhouse entered his sleeper, his spirit was greatly disturbed. He knew that it would be hours before his train arrived back home and that there was nothing he could do but leave his son in God’s hands.
As he prayed, he recalled a phrase from Isaiah 65:25, “- – – but dust will be the serpent’s food.” Using that passage he asked the Lord to feed the serpent dust, but to please grant him a good night’s rest. He fell fast asleep and the next thing he knew the porter was touching his shoulder to tell him that they were nearing Philadelphia.
The Lord had answered his prayer. His son lived and during his time of recuperation he committed his life to full time Christian service. If you have been having trouble getting to sleep at night, ask the Lord to give you His blessed rest and feed the serpent dust.
TO YOU BEFORE THE CLOSE OF DAY
To you before the close of day,
Creator of the world we pray!
Your grace and peace to us allow,
And be our guard and keeper now.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From all the terrors of the night.
From all deluding thoughts that creep,
On heedless minds disarmed by sleep.
O Father, this we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Your only Son.
Who with the Holy Spirit and with You,
Shall live and reign all ages through. Amen
To access this free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/toyoubeforethecloseofday/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 31, 2014 | Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?
The material things of this world have always been a temptation. From the Garden of Eden to our own flower garden, mankind has hungered for the things of this world thinking we could find contentment.
There is that word — CONTENTMENT. What does it take to make us feel the warm glow of contentment and satisfaction? If we had more money would we find satisfaction? No! Some of the most dissatisfied people in the world are the richest. Would better health bring satisfaction? Again we find that this is not the case. Health and wealth do not automatically insure satisfaction.
Most of us know people who are constantly striving to find satisfaction. It seems that these folks continue to be the most miserable ones we know. They are never satisfied with anything in their lives and make others miserable in their effort.
Here is the time to look into the mirror of God’s Word. As you read once again the words of Ecclesiastes 5:10-11, remember that the man who wrote these words was Solomon. He was the richest and wisest man in the world but, even with all he possessed, Solomon still was not content. Contrast that with what Paul writes in Philippians 4:12: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” How about you?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 30, 2014 | Isaiah
Isaiah 6:6-8
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’
I recall hearing a musical group singing a song that had a line about hearing the call from the Lord . . . but wanting someone else to respond to it. Isn’t it amazing how keenly we can hear the call of the Lord for someone else? We even wonder why they are so slow to respond to His call. We hear it so clearly. Right!
But what about when the call is directed to us? We have all kinds of excuses for not responding: We are too busy, we are not qualified, or perhaps the call is not really from the Lord . . . and on and on our excuses pile up.
In Acts 9 a man named Ananias lived in dread and fear of persecution. Then the worst possible news began to spread around Damascus where he lived that the man they had heard was a violent persecutor of the believers in Jerusalem was now on his way to their city. Then the unthinkable happened — Ananias was called by the Lord to go and pray for this feared man that his sight might be restored! That was his calling in life, but what a difference it made!
As you are reading the Bible or praying, you may feel a tug on your heart strings and know that the Holy Spirit is calling you for a special task. Please do not argue with God and expect someone else to do it. Be willing to act in obedience.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
