by Pastor Cecil | Nov 13, 2019 | John
John 1:29
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”
Years ago I heard of a missionary who was ministering in Eskimo villages along the Bering Sea. On one occasion he was sharing the Gospel using the Scripture I have chosen for today. The response from the people was blank and empty. He knew something was missing, so he decided to pray more earnestly about it.
The next day he spoke with one of the elders and asked him why the people acted so confused about this scripture passage. The elder scratched his head and replied, “We do not understand what the word ‘Lamb’ means. Please explain to us.”
The next time the people gathered to hear the Word of God, the missionary read John 1:29, but with a difference: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Baby Seal of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” He knew he had found his answer. He explained to the group that Jesus was as innocent as a baby seal. Jesus never used His divine power, but allowed Himself to die so men, women, boys and girls could have their sins taken away and be prepared for heaven.
That missionary’s creative application of God’s Word reached into a culture of ice and snow to reveal that Jesus died for them. Many of the people repented of their sins and accepted Jesus into their hearts as their Savior. Praise the Lord for His tender mercy!
May God richly bless you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 11, 2019 | John
John 16:33
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
World War I, sometimes called the “Great War,” was a huge waste of human life. It has been calculated that some fifteen million people lost their life in this terrible conflict that ended on this date, November 11, 1918. It was thought back then that peace would prevail and no more such wars would be fought — but it was barely 20 years before the even more devastating World War II broke out.
As we honor this day of peace it is important to get a picture of what peace means. It is the Hebrew word, “Shalowm” (shalom) and means completeness, soundness, welfare and tranquility. The word peace is found 429 times in Scripture and is a concept that is important to understand. [The Hebraic concept of shalom is ‘nothing missing-nothing broken’ but figuratively it points to completeness.]
Over the centuries there have been many attempts to secure peace between individuals, families, communities or nations. These human attempts have always failed because it is only the Lord who gives peace.
The wonderful thing is that the Lord gives us peace in the midst of the storms of life. His peace comes from the inside out rather than from the outside in. His peace passes all human understanding. May He grant you His “shalom”!
May God richly bless you by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 4, 2019 | John
John 4:13-14
“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”
Not only is Olympia, Washington, the State Capitol, but there is also another significant claim to fame. In the 400 block of 4th Avenue is an artesian well. People are able to fill containers of this pure cool water. It is a fountain flowing freely.
The composer of this week’s hymn is William Cowper. He was born in England in the year 1731. He suffered many personal losses during his early years that caused him much mental anguish. Loss after loss of those that were close brought him to the brink of despair.
Through all of his ordeals the Lord kept drawing him. He finally received Jesus as his personal Savior and began writing hymns and poetry. It is fascinating that he lived in a small house just behind the home of his pastor, John Newton, who wrote the wonderful hymn, Amazing Grace. Thank the Lord for the fountain of redeeming blood that cleanses us from all of our sin.
There Is A Fountain
There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Immanuel’s veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away
Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are saved, to sin no more
For since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply
Redeeming love has been my theme
and shall be till I die
When this poor lisping,
stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing thy power to save
Enjoy this week’s free inspiration video, “There Is A Fountain” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://gloryscapes.com/thereisafountain/
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 3, 2019 | John
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
One of my most vivid memories growing up was of time spent at Payette Lakes in Idaho. Days may have temperatures in the 80’s, but you needed a cozy blanket or sleeping bag to keep warm at night. I am an early riser and even then I enjoyed waking early and walking down to the lake side and looking across to the opposite shore. Many times the water was so serene and calm that it clearly mirrored the scene from the far shore—a double blessing.
During the day there were waves of hectic activities—loud boats, water skiers, swimmers, and even a sudden storm that churned the waters and turned the calm lake into choppy waves. Life is very much like that. There are times of frantic activity that are fun and enjoyable, but nonetheless chaotic. There are also times when gales blow in and create stormy waters.
We long for peace! Is that possible in the midst of the storm? In today’s Scripture, Jesus promises peace for all of us. His peace is not the kind of peace the world knows. It is a peace that gives us serenity even when the world is howling like a hurricane around us.
He promises that when we come to Him, our hearts will not be troubled and we need not be afraid. That is sweet peace!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 17, 2019 | John
John 14:25
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
The reality of homelessness has become a great issue in our modern world. In many cases, people have been forced from the lives they once knew and been left to spend their time moving from shelter to shelter.
In light of the devastating flooding in Texas, many thousands of people are now experiencing homelessness. It may be temporary, but it is possible that some may never be able to return to their homes.
For the true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can visualize ourselves as being HOMELESS. That is certainly true when we pause to consider that our time in this world is temporary at best. How long we stay here is not so important as is the attitude we have toward our eternal home.
The promise that Jesus offers us here in today’s Scripture is that when we abide in Him, we are at home regardless of where that may be. I was at home when I was on a remote assignment in northern Newfoundland, Canada. I am also at home here in Tumwater, Washington. I just want to abide in Him until He calls me HOME!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 15, 2019 | John
John 14:25
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
There is a peace that is anything but peaceful. I am told that in the midst of major battles a cease fire is ordered in which both sides stop hostilities for a certain period of time. It may be temporarily quiet, but it is not TRUE PEACE.
Prior to the outbreak of WWII in 1938, Sir Neville Chamberlain returned from Germany with a peace compact that was signed by Adolph Hitler. He waved the document and proclaimed, “Peace in our time!” We now know how false that peace really was.
Jesus promises His followers peace that is far different from anything the world can offer. It is peace in the midst of the storms of life. It is the peace that God gave to Stephen when he was being stoned to death (Acts 7:54-60). Other martyrs died with that same peace that can only be described as REAL PEACE.
Perhaps you feel like you are being tossed to and fro in the storms of life. It is time to anchor your life to the rock of our salvation and allow the Lord to give you His TRUE PEACE that will satisfy your soul.
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
