by Pastor Cecil | Aug 7, 2018 | Philippians
Philippians 1:3-4
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.”
I think it would be safe to say that there are selfish prayers as well as thankful prayers. The selfish prayers are motivated by how much it will benefit us or those we are praying for. The thankful prayers recognize the faithfulness of God.
THANKS. Paul says that every time he thinks of them, he thanks God for them. Not only does he thank God for them, he does so every time he thinks of them. That is the first key. Make a covenant with God that every time you think of those He lays upon your heart, you will pray for them. Give thanks that He reminded you about them. Give thanks for the way they have been a blessing to you and in your walk with the Lord.
PERSEVERANCE. Chuck Swindoll wrote a book he titled Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back. For most of us that is an accurate description. Give thanks for the way God has promised never to leave nor forsake those who call upon His name. Every time we make a slip or slide, an indiscretion or doubt, God is ever faithful and true to His Word.
PROMPTNESS. It is helpful to pray for/with the person when the request is made. This is not always possible, but usually it is. That way they know we have been listening and are bringing their need to our Blessed Burden Bearer!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 6, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 84:5-6
“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (weeping), they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools.”
Today’s Scripture just seems to sum up so much of the real meaning in life. We are all traveling along life’s pathway and none of us will remain. I can recall traveling across the country in an old car with running boards. (For you young people, those are things you could stand on while talking to people inside the car, or ride on when there was no more room inside the car, and you were just going two blocks anyway).
We stayed at motor camps along the way to our destination. These were places that were not much more than four walls and hopefully close to the public restrooms. It was in no way considered home, even though travelers might stay there for several days or even a couple of weeks while they earned enough money to move on to the next stopping place.
With this picture in mind, I ask this question: Would it be wise to make a lot of effort to fix up the dilapidated shack they were staying in for a few days? The answer is decidedly No! It was just a place of shelter as they were passing through. They were making provision for their new home. This was just a shanty along the roadway to their destination. Why do we spend so much time, energy, and effort to fix up something that is going to pass away?
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 3, 2018 | Philippians
Philippians 3:10-11
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Back in 1913, Salvation Army Officer, George Bennard passed through a trying experience. This experience caused him to reflect seriously about the significance of the cross and, in particular, what the apostle Paul meant when he spoke of by entering into the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. While contemplating on these truths, Bennard was convinced that the cross was not just a religious symbol, but rather the very heart of the gospel. He penned the words of this beloved hymn.
Bennard spent the last years of his life a few miles north of Reed City, Michigan. At the age of 85, on October 9, 1968, he passed away. Near this home there still stands a twelve foot high cross with the words The Old Rugged Cross – Home of George Bennard, composer of this beloved hymn.
The Old Rugged Cross
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
In that old rugged cross,
stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To access The Old Rugged Cross, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/theoldruggedcross/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 2, 2018 | Philippians
Philippians 4:4
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4 should be read and re-read over and over again because we are so prone to moan and complain instead of rejoicing. Remember, the world is watching the way we live more than listening to what we say. This is not an option for us, but rather an imperative. We are to be a people who rejoice! That means to get a smile on our face. You might have the joy of Jesus down in your heart, but you had better let your face know about it. That is what others will see.
If I say I have complete trust in Jesus Christ to see me through every struggle, and then tremble in fear under my covers, which is dominant in my life? What will the unbelievers that I have been witnessing to say about my walk? Will they respond to my words or read my actions?
It is also this joyful attitude that leads us to the place of prayer. We come with rejoicing in our hearts to share our needs with our precious Savior — not with sad countenance as if we are at the end of our ropes, but with praise and rejoicing, in great expectation of God meeting us at our point of greatest need.
Many saints of God across the ages have had the joy and rejoicing in their hearts, even during times of deep distress. They rejoiced even as the flames consumed them. “It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, and the half has never yet been told!”
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 1, 2018 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:10
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Don’t ever come to the place where you feel a right to have God heal you of some infirmity. A spiritual saint like Paul endured a thorn in his flesh that God chose not to heal. It was to teach Paul how be victorious over pain and suffering.
In our humanity we are eager to rush to the aid of people who are experiencing some type of pain in their life. The problem is that we sometimes fail to pray and seek God’s purpose in the matter. God may be allowing individuals to endure hardship in order to bring about His glory in the midst of their pain. I know that flies in the face of some of those who want every discomfort and pain removed immediately.
Once Paul learned the secret of the thorn, he could see that the Lord’s strength and power was made perfect in weakness. We may strive to be perfect and have it all put together, but remember the secret of the thorn. It is in our weakness that the Lord’s strength is demonstrated. We need to present our body to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him. This is our normal act of worship.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
