by Pastor Cecil | Mar 1, 2016 | Genesis
Genesis 1:3-4
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.“
The vast majority of crimes and sinful activities are committed in the dark. Man has deceived himself into thinking that if others cannot see what he is doing, God cannot see what he is doing. Not only is that false, it is foolish!
God loves light! From the opening moments of creation God established light. The light God created has existed down through the ages. That light will continue until God establishes a new heaven and a new earth. We are told in the book of Revelation that in heaven there will be no need for the sun or the moon because God will be the light.
Since God is the light of the world, he desires for his children to be a light in a dark world. As a boy I can recall singing a song; “This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” I wonder how many kids who sang that song are letting their light shine today.
In what way are you a light in a dark world? Do you bring hope and light to those who are groping about in darkness? If you have a question about this I urge you to pray and go into God’s Word and find that light so you can light the way for others.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 5, 2016 | Genesis
Genesis 9:14-15
“It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.”
My wife Joyce always loved rainbows. She would almost squeal with delight when one would appear. It always reminded us of the covenant God made with His creation that He would never again destroy all flesh.
When I officiated at weddings I always made a practice of mentioning God’s covenant that He sealed with the rainbow. I use it just before the exchange of rings and try to make a lasting impression on the couple.
As they look down at the rings on their fingers, they see only an arc. It is the same way with the rainbow in the sky. From our ground-view perspective, we see only an arc of varied colors. But when we view from an aircraft looking down on a cloud formation, we are able to see the full unbroken circle of colors. That is God’s view! It is His Covenant with us.
The next time you see a rainbow in the sky, remember that God has entered into a covenant relationship with each and every person who has accepted Him as Savior and Lord. Jesus never fails!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 22, 2015 | Genesis
Genesis 5:22-24
“After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”
My emotions are still very raw after losing my wife of 62 years, nine and a half months ago. I’m constantly reminded of things that were precious to us. One of the things that always return to my mind was the walks we took when we were first going together. Through our years of living and loving . . . we walked as one.
Walking hand-in-hand it seemed we were able to communicate at a level that shut out the rest of the world. Many times our walks would be interrupted by the beauty around us and we would stop and allow God’s creation to sweep over us. Not only did it bring us closer together but it brought us closer to God.
Every time I read today’s Scripture I tried to imagine what it must of been like for Enoch to walk with God. The sweet communion they must have shared would have been very precious to Enoch. As near as I can recall from Scripture Enoch and Elijah were the only two men who never saw death because God took them.
It is my desire to walk close to God. I feel I do this by spending time in His Word and talking with Him in prayer. I invite you to join with me in walking with God for the rest of our lives.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 9, 2015 | Genesis
Genesis 9:16
“Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
Years ago my wife Joyce and I were once driving along the beautiful Columbia River gorge in Oregon. A rain shower had recently swept across the area, and now bright sunlight flooded the area. As we drove, a rainbow kept pace beside the car. I know it was just a refraction of the sunlight, but what an awe inspiring sight.
There are two requirements to produce a rainbow, rain and sun. Without rain there could be no rainbow. Without sun there would be no rainbow. In the rainy times of our life, God’s tender care for us brings His rainbow of blessing. God’s covenant of love did not say that we would be free of rain, but He is always with us in the storms of life.
Back in 1879 Rev. J. K. Alwood was equally moved as he observed a rainbow in the western sky late one evening as he was traveling home. When he arrived at his home, he immediately composed the hymn for this week; The Unclouded Day.
The Unclouded Day
O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies,
O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone,
O they tell me of that land far away;
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom
Sheds its fragrance thru the unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me of the King in His beauty there,
And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold,
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow,
In the city that is made of gold.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
O they tell me that he smiles on His children there,
And his smile drives their sorrows all away;
And they tell me that no tears ever come again,
In that lovely land of unclouded day.
Chorus: O the land of cloudless day,
O the land of an unclouded sky;
O they tell me of a home, Where no storm clouds rise,
O they tell me of an unclouded day.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video The Unclouded Day, fromGloryScapes™ Christian Hymns.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 23, 2015 | Genesis
Genesis 42:25
“Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them.”
It is a miracle that I am alive today. As a matter of fact, it is a miracle that any of my family survived a trip home from a visit with my grandparents in Oklahoma. My grandma Shubert was a fantastic cook even though her kitchen looked more like a closet and a working kitchen.
When we were ready to leave for home grandma would prepare the most delicious fried chicken you could wrap your lips around. She would also make a wonderful potato salad to go along with it. That sounds good doesn’t it! We had no refrigeration and didn’t see the need of it. The lunch was placed in a nice paper bag and at noon we would stop and enjoy a fantastic meal. Today you wouldn’t think of doing such a thing because of food poisoning or whatever. Believe me, we survived!
As we traveled we had a vision of what waited for us and our noon meal. We had a vision and grandma and provided the provision. God gives us visions of what he has for us to do for Him. With every vision he provides his supernatural Provision.
As you kneel down to pray this day ask God to give you a vision. Keep your heart and your eyes open for what he has for you to do. It may seem as simple as taking a meal to a neighbor. But if God gives a vision he will provide the provision to make a difference in someone’s life.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 11, 2015 | Genesis
Genesis 3:12-13
“The man said, ‘The woman You put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’”
Many years ago there was a comedian by the name of Flip Wilson. In one of his popular comedy sketches he continually excused his misbehavior by saying, “The devil made me do it!” That may be all too true, but the excuse fails the scrutiny of the Lord.
Excuse-making started way back in the Garden of Eden. Both Adam and Eve went against the command of God not to eat of that tree. Instead of confessing their sin, they pointed the finger at someone else. Adam excused himself by blaming the woman and the God who made her. (How is that for soft-headed logic?!) The woman blamed the serpent instead of admitting that she had sinned.
I guess you know what is coming next. If making excuses for our sinful actions started in the Garden, have we perfected it? In our modern world sin has become so prevalent that those who live a righteous life are considered abnormal (I wonder where that lie came from.)
John gives us a clear pattern for dealing with sin without making an excuse. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Stop making excuses and confess!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
