by Pastor Cecil | Apr 14, 2016 | James
James 1:2-4
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
This passage of Scripture seems like an old friend to me. Many years ago I memorized the entire book of James. (Please do not ask me to recite it now. At age 82 it is much harder to memorize or recall.)
Many people seem to devote most of their energy seeking after that elusive quality of joy. The problem is that most seek it in all of the wrong places. They think that things, positions, or other people will bring them joy. They often become bitter and disappointed when they fail to find the joy they have been seeking.
When it comes right down to it, joy is a choice! That’s right. We either choose to be joyful or we hang our head and mope. The trials of life are not intended to drive us to despair, but to show to the world that our joy is in Jesus.
It is time to take stock of our personal lives. Are we living a life of joy in spite of the roadblocks of life? Do people see a difference in how we respond to the trials that arise? How are we different from the rest of the world? It is how we choose to find joy in circumstances that others see as defeat.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 16, 2016 | James
James 1:2-4
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Do you ever feel as if the world is dragging along at a snail’s pace all around you? Do you feel like every time you get in the shortest check-out line, there is a some sort of hang up and you wait and wait? All of the longer lanes you passed up have checked out and you are still waiting. PATIENCE!
The book of James is one of the most practical books in Scripture as it deals with true Christian living. Not only does James tell us what we should do, but he gives steps to follow and profits to expect.
One of the profits he explains is in the critical area of patience. It starts by how we deal with trials. The natural inclination is to be angry or frustrated when we face trials. James tells us to count it pure joy. WHY? Because it starts a sequence by allowing the Lord to show us that faith in Him allows Him to do the work through us and make us complete.
How do you react to the trials that you encounter on a daily basis? Do you fret and stew or do you look up to the Lord and thank Him for entrusting you with this new opportunity to grow in His grace? Trust Him!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 18, 2016 | James
James 3:10-12
“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”
“Is that milk fresh?” How many times have we heard that question asked (and usually followed by someone taking a sip of the milk in question). The response provides the answer: “Yuck!” means it is sour and not fresh.
I often wonder about the “freshness” of our lives. When people spend time around us are they prone to utter that same expression? Yuck! I hope there’s a smile on their face such as follows a satisfying swig of sweet fresh milk!
We are told that when we are born again we become new creatures. The problem all too often is that people do not live like new creatures. They continue with habits and associations of the past. Like James says in today’s Scripture: “… these things ought not to be so.”
It is time to evaluate our spiritual life and determine whether it is fresh or sour.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 30, 2015 | James
James 4:14
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
You might notice that I am using the same Scripture reference that I used yesterday. This is the Eve of New Years Eve. The day before a special holiday is often as packed with meaning as the day itself.
The eve of an event holds the anticipation that something special is going to happen. In many cases it even precedes the big day by many days . . . even a week ahead of the actual day. Getting prepared is part of celebration.
I don’t know about you, but I am on tip toes with anticipation, waiting for that grand and glorious day of the Lord’s return. Just to be able to see Jesus face to face will be the greatest glory I can imagine. Then to have that great reunion with all of my loved ones who have gone on before.
I never want to become indifferent concern the Lord’s return. Many things will be missing: There will be no more pain. There will be no more sorrow. There will be no more separation. Well, you get the point. All the negatives will be missing and just the positives multiplied thousands of times! THE EVE OF THE EVE OF ETERNITY!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 29, 2015 | James
James 4:14
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
I survived Christmas Day with only a few pangs. I kept thinking of how much my dear wife would have loved being with our family on this very special day. Christmas was always a special celebration for us. In sixty-six years we spent every Christmas together except one in 1966 when I was on a remote assignment in St. Anthony, Newfoundland.
While there I was broken up by one song lyric that went “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.” This year was my first Christmas without Joyce, but her first Christmas with Jesus. SHE HAD A BETTER TIME THAN I DID!
It was a year ago that Joyce was in a hospital bed in our living room. She had just been placed on Hospice Care. With her dementia I was not sure if she understood about her condition. I sat by her bed and held her hand and asked if she understood that Hospice was END OF LIFE CARE? She nodded. Little did we know that she would only live three more weeks.
But I was wrong! It was not end of life . . . it was her entry into everlasting life. No more confusion or pain for my sweetheart. She received the reward of eternal life — not end of life! IT IS LIFE BEYOND OUR IMAGINATION. I can hardly wait!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 19, 2015 | James
James 4:3
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
Back in 1970 I was stationed at Whiteman AFB in Missouri. The Ice Capades show was touring across the country and they were going to be in Kansas City. Tickets were made available to military families at a huge discount. We bought the tickets and were anticipating a family adventure. Then came news of riots in the inner city and we did not go.
A few years later the Ice Capades again came to Kansas City. Joyce said she was going to write and ask for tickets since we were afraid to go the last time they were there. I tried to talk her out of it since they were not at fault, but she sent the letter. Shortly we received five tickets! That’s my wife! Our previous tickets were for seats far from the ice rink, so we were looking for our seats and could not find them. We asked an usher and were told that the seats were down front. When I say down front, they were right next to the ice. Our youngest daughter, Lori, was even chosen to ride in one of the featured rides.
If Joyce had not asked we would never have enjoyed that wonderful experience in our life. It was not what we expected, but far more. When we ask of the Lord we are told to never ask selfishly. Ask for His will and watch for His answers!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
