by Pastor Cecil | Dec 4, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I do not know of anyone who stands in line to accept pain or discomfort. Even so, we can rest assured that it will be delivered to us sooner or later. Pain is just as inevitable as the sun that rises each morning.
The question is not whether we will receive pain or not, but how we will respond to it when it strikes. I have known many people who live on the threshold of excruciating pain and yet have a glorious smile and glowing testimony. Others get a sliver and act like they are going to die. Not that slivers do not cause pain, but compared to catastrophic injuries or illnesses there is no comparison.
The Apostle Paul was no stranger to pain. According to 2 Corinthians eleven; five times he received 39 stripes, three times he was beaten with rods, and once he was stoned. He knew hunger, thirst and rejection. In the face of his pain he could confidently state in Philippians 4:13; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
How do we deal with our own pain? Do we curl up and feel sorry for ourselves or do we rise above our threshold of pain and confidently march out to do battle with the enemy of our souls. I want to join God’s army!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 18, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:1-3
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
I think it is safe to say that most of us have had close calls with death. Even those who are the most cautious about taking risks can remember a near miss. My past experience in law enforcement and the military at times brought me close to eternity. I have listened to stories of deep sea fishermen and pilots that made me wonder how they escaped death.
The apostle Paul was a tent-maker by trade. I can almost visualize his calloused fingers and hands. In today’s Scripture, Paul uses his profession as a tent-maker to illustrate a spiritual truth: This human body of ours is not going to survive. There are those who try to reverse the aging process in various ways, but nothing is going to keep us from coming to the end of our life and entering eternity.
It is sad that most of us spend too much time and effort on things, that will pass away. By spending so much time on earthly things we neglect the things that really count—those things that have eternal value. Receiving Christ as our personal Savior is vital to prepare for eternity. Spending time with God in prayer and reading His Word will prepare us for that heavenly home that will never pass away. Which home are you spending your time and effort to build?
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 12, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Television has never been known for presenting the sterling qualities of morality or honesty. As a matter of fact, it has been a source of moral degradation. In the past few years there has been an increase in reality shows. In addition to the numerous times the censors have had to bleep the language of those being filmed, there is also a lack of authenticity.
As amazing as it may seem, I possess a Master of Arts Degree in Sociology. When I was in graduate school I studied a book called the Presentation of Self In Everyday Life, by Erving Goffman. It was interesting to learn that people do not respond in a natural way when they are being watched by an audience.
Hello!! If people have a television camera stuck in their face, are they bound to act naturally? I do not think so! They will either put on a show (which most do) or close down and fail to behave normally. It is my humble conclusion that most of the reality shows are…rigged! There, I said it and I am glad.
The tragedy is that many Christians live a rigged reality life. They behave in a manner that seems right on the outside, but inside they are completely different. It should come as no surprise that the Lord knows our thoughts and feelings. The real ones! My appeal to each and every one of us is to be honest and do not live a life that is characterized as RIGGED REALITY!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 27, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
I have noticed a recent increase in the number of so-called brilliant people who are led to believe in ghosts and supernatural things. These are often the same people who laugh and scorn the truth of the gospel message.
It is frustrating that so many are blinded by the devil and fail to respond to the pure message of hope and salvation. These souls have been so deceived that they believe the lies told by others who have also been deceived.
Way back in 1940 there was a movie called Pal Joey. A song from that movie was written by Rodgers and Hart. It was called; Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. I heard the tune a few days ago and it made me think of the way many people are led down the wide path that leads to destruction.
There is hope my dear friend. While it is true that the god of this world does blind the eyes of those who choose to walk away from God . . . there is deliverance. The only hope for a lost and dying world that has been bewitched by Satan, is the powerful and life giving message of salvation. Tell the world that there is hope and try as best you can to break their bondage of sin.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 6, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Sometimes we struggle over the trials and tribulations of our life, trying to make sense of why things happen the way they do. If God is great and mighty, and He is, why do we have to endure such tests to our faith? The answer is to be found in our restricted vision.
I recall traveling by helicopter to a missile site in central Missouri. I had traveled the route many times by car and knew that there were places that were steep and winding that required slow travel, especially when being stuck behind a slow moving truck. They were clearly marked with no passing signs.
On this day I observed a truck being followed by a passenger car. I knew that it would be miles before the car could safely pass the slower vehicle, but he was stuck! I thought of what it would be like if I could have communication with the driver in the car and tell him when it was safe to pass or to watch out for an on-coming vehicle. I could not do so, so the driver had to wait until he could see the road for himself.
Paul expresses the concept of waiting patiently in the Lord in 1 Corinthians 13:12. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. Until that day, we, along with Paul must trust in the Lord with all our heart, rather than depending on our limited understanding.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 28, 2013 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:1-3
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
I have always enjoyed hearing people talk about what they do. I recall listening to fighter pilots talk about the thrill of combat and how close they came to death. I have been enthralled by the stories of the deep sea fishermen in Newfoundland. I have heard police officers share interesting, sometimes dangerous, incidents.
The apostle Paul was a tent-maker by trade. He must have had calloused fingers and hands. They would almost certainly have carried the marks from years of stretching and stitching the fabric to create or repair tents.
In the Scripture for today, Paul uses his profession as a tent-maker to illustrate a spiritual truth: This human body of ours is not going to survive. There are those who try to reverse the aging process in various ways, but nothing is going to keep us from coming to the end of our life and entering eternity.
It is sad that most of us spend far too much time and effort on things that will pass away. By spending so much time on earthly things we neglect the things that really count — those things that have eternal value. Spending time with God in prayer and reading His Word will prepare us for that heavenly home that will never pass away. Which tent are you spending your time and effort to build?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
