by Pastor Cecil | Mar 24, 2016 | Isaiah
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
One of the first bible verses I ever memorized was Isaiah 41:10. That scripture has held me firm and steady through the most frightening situations. I am not ashamed to admit that there have been times when I have been physically afraid, while at other times I have been emotionally and perhaps even spiritually afraid.
There have been a few incidents in my life when I was confronted with a life and death situation. I recall looking down the gun barrel of a deranged man who had already fired two shots at four of us police officers. We finally were able to disarm him without anyone being injured, but there was momentary fear.
I felt the fear of losing a loved one when I sat at the bedside of our oldest daughter, Brenda Joy, and again last year at the passing of my precious wife. There was such a helpless feeling of impending separation.
But then the reality of God’s provision enters. In the terror of the soul the Holy Spirit brings peace and certainty. It is a joy that the world can never know apart from the assurance God gives. This world is not our home – we are just passing through. Our treasures (loved ones) are waiting for us. NO MORE FEAR!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 3, 2016 | Isaiah
Isaiah 28:10
“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
I once heard the story of a young pastor who came to his first assignment. Shortly after his arrival he moved the piano from one side of the church to the other. His action caused such an uproar he was forced to resign.
Some years later he returned to visit that same church and, much to his surprise, he saw the piano located where he had wanted to move it. He asked the new pastor how he had managed to have it relocated. The answer shocked him: “An inch a week!”
Many of us have heard the expression, “It’s a cinch by the inch, but it’s hard by the yard.” I am not sure how those of you using the metric system may be able to have a similar rhyme, but the idea is there regardless.
A gradual approach can be used in a positive context as well as a negative one. We can gradually make compromises that will lead us farther away from God’s pattern of righteousness, or we can gradually grow in grace and in the knowledge of God’s plan and purpose for our life. The answer is being disciplined to study God’s word and keep our prayer life active.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 25, 2016 | Isaiah
Isaiah 40:31
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
It just happened again! I encountered two drivers that were in such a hurry that they ignored traffic laws, as well as the laws of common sense. (There are such things you know!)
A car ran a red light and almost hit my car. At the last minute he stopped and avoided a collision. In a separate incident a car was behind me at a stop light and began honking his horn. The problem was that the light was red and it was impossible to proceed. As soon as it turned green I proceeded and the impatient driver tore past me in a rage. Go figure!
I recall Pastor John Hagee tell about being stopped behind a car at an intersection. When the light turned green the car remained stopped. After two sequences of green, he honked his horn and rolled his window down and shouted out; “Either move it or milk it!” As he turned to his left he saw a car with several members of his congregation. They just smiled and asked if he was having a bad day.
It is so easy to get our schedule to the top of our priority list that we impose upon those we come in contact with. Our Scripture for today tells us to wait upon the Lord. That means that we allow the Lord to control our life.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 12, 2015 | Isaiah
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.”
Back in 1954 I was stationed in Rapid City, S.D. My wife Joyce and I would often travel around the area to see sights that boggled the mind. One of those sights was Devils Tower in the neighboring State of Wyoming. It is almost 1300 feet high, but the perspective is hard to grasp. It was only when you saw tiny specks on the vertical stone that you realized they were climbers. Perspective now revealed just how huge it really was.
I have tried to wrap my mind around the massive height of Mount Everest. As I fly on a commercial airliner I am stunned to realize that often our cruising altitude is near the elevation of Everest, over 29,000 feet. I lacked the perspective to grasp just how high it is.
In the spiritual realm I am even more baffled. How can even begin to comprehend the heaven that awaits those who have received Jesus Christ as personal Savior and who have had their names written in the Lamb’s Book of life. Heavens glorious delights are much greater than my mind can grasp. There is one thing I am certain of; God is preparing a place for us that will be far beyond our imagination or human perspective. I can hardly wait to get there!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 8, 2015 | Isaiah
Isaiah 61:3
“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Have you ever known Christians who look like they have been baptized in vinegar? Let’s get a little more personal: Do YOU sometimes look or act like you are awash in a vat of vinegar? If Jesus is our joy (and He is!), we need to let our faces show it.
Please stop right now and read today’s Scripture once again. Do you notice anything interesting? Let me assist you: Beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. In the physical world this seems to be out of step with reality. In God’s economy these reactions should be the normal way of thinking and acting.
Immediately the question arises, how do I go about making a change in my way of thinking? How do I get the joy of Jesus as the hallmark of my life? To me the answer seems to be quite simple. It is taking our eyes off of our selves and keeping them on Jesus. Fall in love with Him all over again. Instead of asking what He can do for us, ask what we can do for Him?
Have you found that joy in Jesus? Start immediately! Take time to get alone with Him and thank Him for everything He has done for you. Let His love sweep you off your feet!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 3, 2015 | Isaiah
Isaiah 40:31
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
You know the longer I live the more I realize I know so very little. But then it’s really not essential that I know everything. I feel like the old pastor who slowly walked to the pulpit. The congregation eagerly awaited the words that this precious saint of God would deliver. You may recall the story that he simply said; “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
My sojourn in the hospital gave me an opportunity to read more than I have been able to for some time. I’m so appreciative of having a Kindle device so I can read book after book without carrying an entire armload. I spent a great deal of time reading a book by Jerry Bridges called; Trusting God; Even When Life Hurts.
It gave me a new appreciation of the sovereignty of God. It really is not what makes me comfortable or painless. In fact it is not about me at all. It is so easy to focus all of our attention upon making ourselves better or at ease, but what God wants to do with us and through us. If it is pain so be it! If it is suffering so be it! If it is complete healing so be it!
During my stay God was able to use me to bring a little bit of healing to the nurses and staff who treated me. That was my ministry for this particular situation and I thank God for it. I rejoice being home, but I want to be available for God to be sovereign in my life.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
