by Pastor Cecil | Jul 19, 2012 | John
John 21:17
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
We have a cute little Chihuahua dog living next door. Her name is Felicity, but her nickname is Fleecy. Kitty, her owner, started calling her Fleecy shortly after purchasing her. You see, Fleecy has a problem with a back leg and Kitty was misled about the condition. Kitty felt that she had been fleeced, thus the name.
Fleecy was very nervous and suspicious for many months. One day when I was making my rounds in the Dollar Tree, I happened to notice a box of doggie treats. For one dollar I couldn’t go wrong. As a matter of fact I went right! Fleecy loved each small bone shaped treat. Other dogs in the neighborhood did as well. Even those who had snooty appetites loved to receive a treat.
Fleecy is different. Our houses are located in such a way that our kitchen window faces Kitty’s front door. When her front door is open, Fleecy keeps a sharp eye and ear out for any activity on our side. If I open the garage door, she moans and whimpers for Kitty to let her out. I cannot believe how fast that little girl can run, bad leg and all. I have her sit before giving her the treat and away she goes. I feel greatly loved by that little character and delight in making her happy.
The Lord also delights in giving gifts to His children. We can run to Him with the limps from our wounded life and He is standing there eager to give us the spiritual food that will satisfy our soul. Not only that, the Lord calls us to feed His flock. I love to feed Fleecy, but I am ecstatic about feeding the people of God.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 31, 2012 | John
John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Several years ago I read a brief biographical sketch about the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. He was the President at the close of the Civil War and a very interesting man. Let me give you just a few glimpses into what he was like. Grant graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point. His roommate at the Academy, Fred Dent, said that in all the time they roomed together, Ulysses never used vulgarity or profanity. Wow!
Fred spoke highly of Ulysses to his sister, Julia, and finally introduced them in 1844. Ulysses fell in love with Julia and began to court her. It is told that his proposal was somewhat unusual. They were crossing a stream and he told Julia to cling to him and he would see that they made it safely across.
When they reached the other side, Ulysses told Julia if she would cling to him the rest of their life, he would like for her to become his wife. SHE CLUNG! We are told that they were one of the most loving couples ever to occupy the White House. They insisted on being together on every occasion. They held hands and always enjoyed their times together. Their children reported that there was never any animosity between them.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people see us as walking so close to God that it is as though we are holding hands? I do not desire for that to sound sacrilegious or flippant, but as an example of our love for the One who died in order that we might be as little children walking hand in hand with our Lord, in confidence, trust, and total dependence.
Blessings dear hearts. Cling to God, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 30, 2012 | John
John 12:24
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
When I was stationed at a remote radar site on the northern tip of Newfoundland, Canada, I listened to sermon tapes of some of the great men of God. One of my favorite ministers was Major Ian Thomas, and one of his messages was based on today’s Scripture which dealt with our calling to die to self in order to live for the Lord.
One particular statement by Major Thomas has remained with me for over 40 years, and I have not been the only one impacted by the illustration he gave concerning our Lord and our response to Him: The life that He lived qualified Him for the death that He died—and the death that He died qualifies us for the life that we live.
It was a sinless life that Jesus lived in order to be the perfect and blameless Lamb of God that was slain in order to pay the price for our salvation. We may think of salvation as being a free gift of God, but the cost to the Son of God was His life. He died that we might live for Him.
This is where we need to open our minds to understand that we must die to our self-serving nature. Only as we die to our own self-centered agenda will we be able to experience what His will is for our life. Like the Apostle Paul we need to grasp the reality that we live for Christ and our death is not something to be dreaded, but the reward for all who have experienced the new birth. Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 29, 2012 | John
John 14:5-6
Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Joyce and I recently attended a 60th anniversary celebration for a local business. When many businesses are having serious problems and some are even closing their doors, it is fantastic to honor one such as this that not only has survived, but is honoring God in their business practices.
We were notified a few days later that we had won a door prize. It was a GPS system that you place on your automobile dashboard and it gives you directions to your destination. All you have to do is enter the location where you are headed and it tells you how to get there. Even if you do not enter a destination, it provides a map showing where you presently are, what streets you are near and the direction you are heading.
Stop and think about that for just a few minutes . . . In today’s Scripture, Jesus had just given His disciples an encouraging word about Him going to prepare a place for them and then coming again to be with Him. Thomas gives an honest response in what all of the disciples were thinking. They had no idea where He was going, so it just did not seem possible to know the way.
That is when Jesus told them that He was the Way. Guess that another way of expressing it is that, He is our spiritual GPS. His Word gives us a description of our destination as well as the route for us to take in order to reach it.
The problem is that when we fail to consult our spiritual GPS we take wrong turns and find ourselves in places we never wanted to be. Just remember at all times that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. We can trust Him!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 7, 2012 | John
John 6:32-33
Jesus said to them, Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
I have always wanted to be a chuck wagon cook. It was Texas rancher, Charles Goodnight who first introduced the concept of the chuck wagon in the 1860’s. It was used to tend to the needs of the cowboys who drove the cattle from the home ranch to market. The wagon contained food, water and assorted supplies needed for the long journey.
The cook or cookie, as he was called, was second in authority to the trail boss. He served as cook, seamstress, doctor, dentist and navigator for the herd. He was the navigator in that he would always point the tongue of the wagon toward the North Star each night. The trail boss would then be able to head out in the right direction the next morning.
The chuck wagon cook was second in authority of the cattle drive, but he was the one who served the needs of the riders. He prepared meals with limited supplies, sewed torn clothing, and tended to wounds of various sorts. I am told he was the first to rise in the morning and the last to retire at night. In addition he had to move his wagon each day to keep pace with the herd.
As a pastor I like to think of myself as “cookie” of God’s spiritual chuck wagon. I try to rustle up spiritual food and prepare it in a way that is appetizing as well as nutritious. Each day I try to insure that the tongue of the wagon is headed toward the Lord so we will head in the right direction. I pray that will do a good job.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 23, 2012 | John
John 16:7
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
I was reading my Bible one day during the lunch hour. As I read it was as if the words were lifting off the page. I saw new insights that I had never seen before. It was at this moment that I knew that the Holy Spirit was illuminating the word to my heart. I laughed quietly as I was relishing this intimate moment with the Lord.
Only a few minutes passed before there was a knock at my door. It was a fellow believer who wanted to spend time with me in order to better understand the Bible. I have to confess that I felt a momentary resentment. He was interrupting my intimate time with God. It was then that I felt checked in my spirit. This was an opportunity to invite this brother to experience a personal contact with God. We began to meet each day at noon and the Lord was always there to show us truths from His Word. We were convinced that the Lord was eager to meet us each day.
Since that day back in the 1970’s, I have looked forward to spending time with the Lord. It is such a rich encounter with my Savior and Lord that words cannot begin to describe it. The times in my life that I have experienced the most challenges are the times when I have felt the Lord nearest to me.
I would like to encourage you to seek the same encounter with the Lord who loves you so much. Ask Him to show you special truths as you read the Bible. It may seem trivial to some people, but to you it will confirm that He has met with you and the two of you have enjoyed sweet fellowship.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
