by Pastor Cecil | Nov 6, 2019 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 10:31
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
I am not sure if you are familiar with the expression; HIGH BALL IT! It has been used time after time to have the driver go faster and faster. All too often the driver has driven beyond his or her ability and accidents have resulted.
I have attributed the expression to the game of baseball, but if that were the case, the high ball would result in the pitcher missing the strike zone. So I had to eliminate that derivative of the phrase.
I have finally had the answer from old time railroad signals. When a train was approaching an area that required caution, the engineer would watch for a pole with two signal balls. If they were low on the pole he had to proceed slowly, but if the balls were high on the pole he could go full throttle!
I like to think that the way we live our life for Christ could use more, high balling rather than, low balling. We need to get rid of those things that prevent us from going all out for Christ and make a difference for Him. HIGH BALL IT!
May God richly bless you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 5, 2019 | 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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
I once knew a lady who spent a great deal of effort trying to get unbelievers to act like believers. The result of her efforts was exhaustion for her and created such animosity among the unsaved that they rejected the gospel.
In reading today’s Scripture, I immediately notice something in the first few words: “If My people, who are called by My name…” That identifies the people who are being addressed. It is His people.
Why is this important? It is because the saved are the ones who need to be re-vived. The unsaved need to be vived. I know there is no such word, but I hope you understand my meaning. They first need to experience salvation and a new life.
When we pray for the Lord to heal our land, there must be a revival of the people of God. We believers need to fall in humility on our face and cry out to the Lord to forgive us for losing our first love—the love of Christ. We need to confess that we have strayed from God’s way and have gone our own willful way by loose living and indifference to the things of God. May God hear our prayers and bring life through faith in Jesus Christ to those who are spiritually dead.
May God richly bless you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 4, 2019 | 1 Kings
1 Kings 15:11
“Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did his father David.”
Al was restoring a vintage automobile with skill and devotion right down to the smallest detail. He enjoyed each and every moment that was spent in bringing the dilapidated old relic back to life.
After months of loving labor, the old car began to gleam with the beauty that had been hidden by dents, rust, and decay. Al was pleased with his project … and so was a certain collector of restored cars. When he began hinting that he was interested in purchasing the car, even throwing out an unbelievable price, Al swallowed, was tempted, but rejected the offer.
It was several weeks later when a visiting missionary spoke of the great need for help to supply bibles and study materials for schools in the area he served. As he spoke, Al felt an urge from the Lord to do something, but he knew that his bank account was barely able to meet his needs, much less give extra.
After the service he drove into his driveway and the lights of his car illuminated his prized vintage car. It was as if the Lord was showing him that he had something precious that he could give to reach the lost. In a few hours he had contacted the collector who had made the generous offer for the car. The sale was made and Al knew he had done the right thing. What we give for the Lord is nothing compared to what He has given to us!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 1, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
The Haven of Rest Quartet began singing in the year I was born, 1934. I can recall First Mate Bob introducing the program after a fog horn sounded. The quartet then would sing the words of this week’s hymn.
As we struggle through the storms of life it is a wonderful assurance that God provides a haven of rest where we can safely escape the wild waves of adversity. I thank God that many times in my life I have found God’s haven of rest for my own soul. In the book of Psalms, David refers to the storms of life. He was attacked on all sides by his enemies who desired to take his life. Do you feel that way sometimes?
His predecessor, King Saul, was a demented king who imagined that David was attempting to take the kingdom from him. (Actually it was the Lord who had rejected Saul because of his wickedness and failing to keep the Lord in control of his life.)
In many of his Psalms, David cried out to the Lord for help and immediately praised Him for giving him a safe place of refuge. That is the same with us today. We may be tossed and torn by the storms of life, but the Lord always gives us a haven of rest. That is the hymn for this week.
The Haven of Rest
My soul in sad exile was out on life(s) sea,
So burdened with sin and distressed,
Till I heard a sweet voice, saying, (Make Me your choice)
And I entered the Haven of Rest!
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
I yielded myself to His tender embrace,
In faith taking hold of the Word,
My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul;
The Haven of Rest is my Lord.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blest,
Of Jesus, who will save whosoever will have
A home in the Haven of Rest.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
How precious the thought that we all may recline,
Like John, the beloved so blest,
On Jesus strong arm, where no tempest can harm,
Secure in the Haven of Rest.
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
O come to the Savior, He patiently waits
To save by His power divine;
Come, anchor your soul in the Haven of Rest,
And say, ‘My Beloved is mine.’
Refrain: I have anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest; I will sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep over wild, stormy, deep, In Jesus I am safe evermore.
To access The Haven of Rest, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/thehavenofrest/ in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 31, 2019 | James
James 5:7-8
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
We are living in such an instant age that the mere mention of patience flies in the face of our way of life. We have instant cash machines and instant check-out counters. So many things in our modern world are designed to save time, effort and energy, but they have failed!
Even with all of the short-cuts and labor saving devices at our disposal, we seem to have less time for the important things in life than ever before. Not only that, but these time and labor saving devices leave us more tired and exhausted. By the end of the day we often walk and talk like robots. The time-saving gadgets and gizmo’s leave us running at a break-neck pace to get from appointment to appointment. What has happened?
The answer lies in the Word of God. In all of our efforts we have totally failed to develop the proper discipline of patience. We do not desire to wait or slow down for anything. In all of our hectic, fast-paced schedules, we are so busy making things happen that we leave no room for that all important “quiet time” of waiting to see what God is going to bring into being.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
