by Pastor Cecil | Apr 19, 2017 | James
James 4:7
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
I served in the military and was also a police officer. In both of those professions I had training experience on the firing range. I can still hear the words ringing out loud and clear: “Ready on the right? Ready on the left? Commence firing!” After a specified period of time the command was shouted: “Cease fire!”
During periods of war, combatants listened for the command to filter down that they were to “cease fire.” That meant they would no longer face the threat of enemy fire and would be heading home to family and friends. I still remember as a young boy seeing special editions of the newspapers with huge headlines that proclaimed “CEASE FIRE!” A sense of joy swept the streets as people shouted out the news!
We are in a battle with the enemy of our souls. There will be times when we feel as if we cannot continue, but that is not an option for us. To paraphrase the words of Tennyson, “Ours is not to reason why. Ours is just to do or die.”
There will come a time when we have made our last stand, and the Commander of the Lord’s Army will issue the order for us to cease fire. Until that time we need to stay at our post and do as He commands!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 6, 2017 | James
James 4:3
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
Many of us have been standing in the check-out line at some store when a small child decides to throw a temper tantrum. They want something and their parent says “no” — and the battle begins. It is an embarrassment to the parent and uncomfortable for other people in the store.
We seem to have quite a few “spiritual children” who throw “spiritual tantrums” when God fails to respond in the manner they feel they deserve. Their behavior is just as embarrassing for other Christians as it is for the parent of the child having a temper tantrum in a store.
James makes it very clear in today’s scripture as he explains the reasons we fail to have some of our prayers answered. It is because we want things that will bring us earthly pleasures. There are times when it is far more beneficial for God to say “no” than to say “yes.”
None of us has any idea what tomorrow will bring — but God knows. Not only does God know what lies ahead for us, He also knows how we can fit into His divine plan of action to bring us good and bring glory to His name. The next time you experience a “NO!” from God, examine your motives.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 22, 2017 | James
James 1:19-20
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
There is an expression I have often heard referring to someone who speaks without thinking: Open mouth and insert foot! Have you ever felt that you were in that position?
The book of James is a wonderful and practical guide to victorious Christian living. In today’s Scripture, James gives us three admonitions to follow that will lead us to find the righteousness of God.
The first admonition is to be swift to hear: That means we must take time to be alone with God and His Word in order to hear His voice. It will not happen if we are raging with anger. It means having a heart open to allow Him to speak to us.
The two negative admonitions are to be slow to speak and slow to wrath (anger): James goes on to stress that the wrath of man does not produce the righteous life God desires for His children.
As you honestly evaluate your life with the Lord, where do you find yourself? I want to be one that is always swift to hear His voice.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 17, 2017 | James
James 4:8
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
As I write the words of this Daily-E-Votional it is the 35th anniversary of my dad’s death. He was a true man of God and there was an authenticity about his walk with the Lord. He loved his family, but even more so he loved his God.
I cherished every moment I spent with my dad. He was an encourager and was always there to insure that I was striving to be the man God wanted me to be. He stressed that after he was gone I would hold fast to the gospel and point people in the direction of the cross. I yearn for the day when I will see my dad once again, but even more so I yearn for the day I will meet my Savior face to face.
In the early years of the 20th Century there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the U.S. that claimed many lives. In 1903 Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. As the epidemic swept the area, two of his nieces died from the dread disease and the others in the house were quarantined. In Cleland’s hour of grief he wrote the hymn NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD and had the college choir sing outside the house.
If you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death right now (I know that each of us do at some time in our life), let these words bring that quiet assurance we need.
Near to the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
To access Near to the Heart of God, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 5, 2017 | James
James 5:7
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”
When we experience the death of a loved one, our hearts will surely feel the crush of separation. We may even find ourselves starting to speak to that precious one that has always been beside us . . . only to suddenly remember they are no longer here.
It has been almost two years since my precious wife Joyce went to be with the Lord. I have had the opportunity of dealing with the loss and applying God’s design for these times of loss. Back in 1991 when we lost our oldest daughter Brenda, we had each other. Now, even though I have my son and daughter living nearby, I face the times of loss alone.
I would like to share with you an illustration that has been an encouragement to me. When I was serving in the U.S. Air Force I was stationed on a remote assignment in Newfoundland and had to leave my family for one year. Our military troops still face that type of separation. As I bid a tearful farewell to my family, I was sustained by the reality that I would return and be with them again.
In like manner, I know I will see my wife, daughter, and all of my loved ones who have gone to be with the Lord. Through the tears of loss I am lifted by the hope that when I see them again there will be no more parting. Our separation is just for a little while!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 9, 2016 | James
James 4:8
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
One summer I was working with my dad, brother, and cousin putting new tar on a flat roof of an educational building. It was hot and sticky and the tar seemed to cover us as much as it did the surface of the roof.
If you have ever tried to clean up after working with tar, you know what a hopeless task it is. We used turpentine and solvents that only started the cleaning process; we then used detergents to help finish the job. Our clothes and shoes were a lost cause and had to be discarded. We had to spend the next week getting rid of the final remnants of the sticky stuff.
Sin is like that, isn’t it? It sticks to us like tar and is difficult to remove. Like clothes and shoes on the roof job, there is no way to get the sin out without getting rid of the garments of filth.
I think of the words of the old hymn written by Robert Lowry back in 1876, “Nothing But the Blood.” The first verse asks a question and gives the answer to cleansing from sin: “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” CLEAN UP!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
