by Pastor Cecil | Nov 6, 2018 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 30:19
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
Today in the United States it is Election Day. What a relief it will be to be free from the name calling and character abuse leading up to the election. It seems that much more emphasis is placed on smearing the opponent than stressing the positive qualities of the supported candidate.
In today’s Scripture Moses is coming to the conclusion of his “Upper Desert Discourse,” better known as the book of Deuteronomy. He throws down the gauntlet to the stiff-necked people he has led out of bondage to the border of the Promised Land. They can either choose life or death, blessing or cursing.
The choice would appear to be a no-brainer. But as humans we have never been known for making wise choices. We often choose to go our own way that will ultimately lead to death instead of choosing God’s way that leads to life eternal.
I want to cast my vote right now. My vote is to go God’s way and so I choose life! I urge all who read or listen to this message to cast your vote along side of me. In so doing we will be spending eternal life together!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 10, 2018 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 30:19
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
Moses was in the midst of his “upper desert discourse”—the book of Deuteronomy. He was recounting to the people of all that the Lord had done for them in the days of aimless wandering for the past 40 years.
Think of all of the miracles that the people witnessed in their deliverance from Egypt. You wonder how they could ever turn their back on God. One of the great miracles that we often overlook is the condition of their attire. After forty years walking in the desert sand, neither their sandals nor their clothing had worn out. How long does the life stay in your clothing and shoes?!
Moses challenges the people to accept the life and blessings that the Lord offers. It was a choice that they needed to make—God’s way or the way of death. It seems impossible that they would choose the way that leads to death, but they did.
We are offered the same option. In Christ we have life and blessings. But there are so many who refuse to go God’s way and instead continue along the path that leads to death. I urge you, therefore—choose life!!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 30, 2018 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 34:1a
“Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land.”
Flying at night on a commuter airline is especially revealing. Washington is a fairly large state, but when climbing to a relatively low altitude, the lights of Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Portland, Tri-cities, Walla Walla, Yakima, Moses Lake, and Spokane are all clearly visible. What a view!
What about those who are blind? I am always in awe of the things that blind people can “see” without the aid of eyesight. Their perceptions are so keen that touch and sound enables them to “see” what sighted people may never see. What a view!
Isaiah was given keen spiritual sight when he wrote in Isaiah 64:4 — “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.”
Now that is the view God wants us to see! In the times of frustration and disappointment in this life, we need to recognize that the greatest views in this life are nothing. God has given us a new life that is in Him. We are new creations! We have been born again when we invite the Lord into our heart. WHAT A VIEW!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 17, 2018 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 10:12
“And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
In our own generation we have seen horrifying images of catastrophic events that boggle our senses. Suffering and death can be seen all around us. Often it is generated by those trying to please their false gods. How can we understand this?
The answer lies in our understanding of the true nature of God as opposed to man’s self-made gods. How is our worship of the one true God different from those gods? Our God, the maker of heaven and earth, is the God who loved us so much that He died for us! What a contrast!
Our God has come in human flesh, suffered, bled, and died in order that through Him we may have eternal life. Rather than demanding that we die for Him, He died for us. Our God has always desired the love and devotion of His people, not their suffering, pain, and death.
If God so loved us and sent His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sins, should we not love Him in return and spend our efforts in praising and worshiping Him? What makes us different from other religions? The answer is that we serve the One True God. Our God gives Himself for us by His great love. What a mighty God we serve!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 20, 2018 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 30:19
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
I think that sometimes people forget the reality that to make no choice is in fact making a choice. Somehow they deceive themselves into thinking that if they do not personally reject God, they can have a clear conscience. WRONG!
I repeat: Not making a choice is making a choice. We all know that when we exceed the speed limit we are guilty of speeding and may receive a traffic ticket. If we travel too slow or park our vehicle in traffic we may be guilty of impeding traffic and receive a citation.
God calls upon us to actively take the initiative to choose to follow His call for our life. In today’s Scripture we read that God sets before us choices: life – death – blessing – cursing. While it seems hard to believe that people would choose death and cursing over life and blessing … they do!
What have you chosen in your own life? Have you determined to go with God and experience the peace that passes all understanding? If you have not made that choice, I urge you to open your heart and invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 14, 2017 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 6:7
“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
We live in a day and age where young people show little respect for their parents, or anyone else for that matter. Teen violence has reached such epidemic proportions that it is not uncommon for murders to occur simply because someone frowned.
As adults it seems that we are reaping what we have sown. We have removed the Bible from our classrooms and replaced it with atheistic theories that lack all sound reasoning. Our children are being taught false ideas of science that have been disproven. We have allowed a godless modern media to take the place of positive biblical truth.
In today’s Scripture, parents are mandated to not only teach spiritual truths to their children but to do so diligently. How can we do that when we barely spend over ten minutes a day even speaking to our kids?
When did you last actively search the Bible to discover exciting ways to draw your children closer to God? When did you last take the time to speak to your children about what the Bible says? Get busy, parents. You have work to do!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
