by Pastor Cecil | Oct 14, 2016 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 3:10-11
“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Back during my high school days, I worked weekends and summers for a concrete contractor. Believe me when I tell you that things were different back then. There was very little pre-mixed concrete that was delivered by large rotating carriers. We were the mixers! We had a pile of sand, another of gravel and sacks of concrete that we had to combine shovel by shovel and bag by bag, water was then added.
In order to get the sloppy concrete into the foundation, we had to deliver it by manual labor. We had large wheelbarrows that we filled then pushed to the point of delivery. In the building process a solid foundation was essential. A weakened foundation could lead to the building falling.
As we travel through this life we often see people that have not laid a foundation that will withstand the storms of life. Sadly when storms strike, their foundations fail. It is during the storms that we need the solid foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep us safe. John Rippon published this hymn in 1787.
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
To access How Firm a Foundation, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes Hymn Music Videos, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/howfirmafoundation/ 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 | Oct 13, 2016 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 13:13
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
I had a good cry this afternoon. My daughter gave me a page from my wife’s diary that she had written back in January 2012. That was three years before she went to be with the Lord. I had given Lori some of Joyce’s diaries and she found this page dated January 28, 2012. I want to share it with you.
My precious husband, how I love you! You captured my heart when I was just a teenager, and it has lasted for over 60 years. How good God has been to us, to be with the dearest love of your life that long. Please know how deeply you are loved — now and forever.
As I read these poignant words I realized that words never end when a person dies. I only wish that more couples could experience the deep love that Joyce and I shared.
If you have not done so before now, I urge you to take the time to write your own love letter to that special person in your life. You may be gone when they read it, but like this message from Joyce to me, it will be like a gentle kiss from one who is waiting in that land where we will never be parted again.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 4, 2016 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 9:24
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
There are many types of races: Car races, horse races, foot races, just to name a few. It is interesting that in many races one competitor may lead throughout the race and victory is almost assured … but then comes the finish line!
Years ago I used to take our kids to watch automobile races in Meridian, Idaho. It was not uncommon for one driver to lead almost every lap of the quarter mile track only to experience the heartbreak of a wreck on the final lap and lose the race. The one who leads for most of the race is not declared the winner, but the one who crosses the finish line first.
I have been thrilled to watch races where the competitors have Down syndrome. These precious jewels run with such joy and excitement. Many times they are just as excited about someone else winning as themselves.
When they cross the finish line each one is awarded a prize. I somehow think that is what Paul wants us to understand. Every person in the world is entered in the race, but only those who have Christ in their heart will receive the prize. At the end of our race, the Lord will meet us and reward us for running for Him.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 13, 2016 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit. “
In 1969 the U.S. Embassy in Iran was overpowered and the Americans inside were held hostage for 444 days. One of those was the son of the former pastor of our church in Nampa, Idaho. I can recall our fervent prayer for Gary Lee as well as all of the other hostages.
They were finally redeemed and allowed to go free. That incident has returned to my mind just recently as I read that these hostages have battled to receive compensation for the time that they were held hostage. It is difficult to know what would be fair compensation, but in this case they have been asking for something like $3 million each.
Forgetting that particular incident and thinking of our redemption from sin, what is the worth of the human soul? The Lord Jesus paid the price for our redemption, and I am so grateful that we have been set free from the penalty of sin!
The writer of this hymn, Fanny Crosby, was eagerly looking forward to that day when her Redeemer would appear and her blinded eyes would be opened and she would behold the most beautiful sight she could ever imagine—Jesus!
Redeemed
(1) Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
(2) Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence,
With me doth continually dwell.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
(3) I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
(4) I know I shall see in His beauty,
The King in whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
(5) I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.
REFRAIN: Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
Enjoy this free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com. To access Redeemed, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/redeemed/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 12, 2016 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
You may have heard that lemmings are prone to mass suicide. That myth was perpetuated a number of years ago by a documentary film that pictured lemmings leaping over a cliff to their death. In actuality, the lemmings had been flown in from hundreds of miles away and film crews then herded them over the cliff. (Isn’t the film industry wonderful?!) NOT!!
As kids we often played a game called follow-the-leader. The object was to perfectly imitate the actions of the leader. Some of us carried that same type of conduct into our adult life. We see others doing it so we think we have to do it, too. That is a sad commentary on our behavior patterns.
There are times in this life when we are called by God to stand alone. It is not always comfortable to stand alone, but it is required if we are truly obedient to God and His word.
My appeal to each of us is to not be a spiritual lemming. We must not allow ourselves to be herded into doing what God is not pleased with. Remember Proverbs 3:6: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 30, 2016 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 2:2
“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
In the 1984 Olympiad there was one scene that still lives vividly in my memory. It was not the victorious finish of a winner, but the conclusion of a determined Swiss marathon runner, Gabriela Andersen, who finished 37th.
I can still see her in my mind’s eye, staggering from the darkened tunnel into the bright sunlight of the Los Angeles Coliseum. There was only one lap to complete and the race would be over. She was so far behind it seemed foolish to complete that last lap, but finish she did. The ovation for her far exceeded that for the winner.
It is safe to say that each and every one of us is in a race. Sometimes it seems that we lack the strength to continue on … but we must. There is a prize to win at the end of the race. That prize is to hear the words from our Master — WELL DONE!
Determination always comes with a price. It means sacrificing the easy way in order to finish well. It means to keep on keeping on even when our get up and go, got up and went. We need more believers who are filled with determination.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
