by Pastor Cecil | Jul 1, 2015 | Joshua
Joshua 9:14-15
“Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.”
Heartbreak is too often the result of not seeking God’s counsel before taking a particular action. Over the years of my ministry I have counseled many people concerning their relationship with God and with individuals. Frequently, people have wanted their own way rather than taking the time to discover God’s way.
The two verses that I have quoted today reference a time when Israel was possessing the land which God had given them. For the most part, Joshua always took the time to seek and follow God’s will. Each and every time that Joshua and the leaders of Israel sought the face of God and then obeyed, there was victory. The times when they failed to seek His will, there was always failure and disaster.
The Gibeonites knew that Israel was an unstoppable force. God had so blessed them that wherever they went they were undefeatable. So the crafty Gibeonites devised a plan whereby it appeared they were a group from far away rather than residents near at hand. To enhance the deception, they wore worn clothing and carried moldy bread. From all outward appearances this was a ragtag group that sought a treaty with Israel. To their detriment, Joshua and the leaders relied upon what they saw rather than seeking what God knew. They were deceived!
In our own lives we can also be deceived by appearances. Rather than taking the time to seek God’s will for us, we think we know enough to make our own decisions. That is never the case! We always need God’s direction.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 23, 2015 | Joshua
Joshua 14:15
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Last week I took a trip down memory lane with my son Dan, his wife Donna, and my daughter Lori. We travelled to my birthplace (Camas, Washington) to attend the funeral of my cousin, Gene.
I also wanted to share with my kids the house where I lived as a boy, the building that housed the restaurant my parents owned and operated, the church where I gave my heart to the Lord, and the grave of my grandparents, Earnest and Lola Thompson. It was grandpa Thompson who left this world by breathing, “Well, there’s Jesus now!”
Things have changed dramatically in the 65 plus years since I lived in Camas. The house had been remodeled and tripled in size, the restaurant building now housed an insurance agency, the church was a different denomination . . . only the graves remained the same.
As I reflect back on that poignant day of showing my kids where I had lived, I have been struck by the fact that I do not live there anymore. After all these years and everything I have experienced, my temporary home is in Tumwater, Washington, and my eternal home is in heaven. Oh, how I long to be there!
I fear that many people spend too much time living in the past–places they have lived, positions they have held, titles they have received, relationships they have enjoyed, and various other things. Look beyond, dear friend, we do not live there anymore!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 12, 2015 | Joshua
Joshua 1:8
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Several years ago I had triple heart by-pass surgery. I really did not feel too bad before the operation and was back in front of our congregation in eight days. (Instead of standing, however, I did use a stool for the first few weeks).
Part of my prescription following surgery was to enroll in a cardiac rehabilitation program at the hospital. I was making progress on the various exercise machines and walking, but there came a day when I walked out. That was the day an instructor entered our room and began to teach us how to clear our minds of all thoughts and meditate.
Isn’t it strange that the world (or the god of this world – Satan) tries to duplicate the positive methods that God has given us? The “new age” crowd is nothing more than the “old age.” Clearing the mind opens the portals for the enemy to enter and occupy.
The instruction for true spiritual meditation is to be found in today’s Scripture. It begins and ends with Scripture. We need to live in God’s Word and meditate on how it applies to us. Long ago I was given wise advice on how to approach a study of the Bible: Take a portion and ask yourself three questions: 1.What does it say? 2. What does it mean? 3. How does it apply to me? Then meditate on that!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 4, 2013 | Joshua
Joshua 24:15
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
It seems like a lifetime ago that I was first called to make a stand for the Lord. As a matter of fact, it just about was a lifetime ago. My decision to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior was made when I was very young.
As a teenager, there came a time when I had to make a choice whether to stand firm for the Lord or go along with the crowd. There were activities that I knew to be against what the Bible says. My decision meant standing alone and facing ridicule from some of my friends, but I am so glad I chose to stand for the Lord.
On November 7, Billy Graham will be celebrating his 95th birthday. To honor this man of God, the Billy Graham Association is calling people to turn to the Lord . . . for Christians to stand firm for their faith and share the Gospel message with friends and family.
This should not just be an organized program, but it should become a wakeup call for all of us to choose to stand up for the Lord. It may result in ridicule and, in some cases, rejection. It may also be the door of salvation for someone you know!
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 18, 2012 | Joshua
Joshua 24:15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Time is a very precious commodity. As far as I know, each of us has been blessed with the exact same number of hours each day. If any of you have received more than 24, please let me know so I can try to discover your secret. It is not the number of hours we have that matters, but what we do with the ones we have been given.
I recall hearing the heartbreaking story of a father and his son. For weeks the father had made plans with his son to go on a fishing trip. The boy had carefully gathered all of his fishing gear and could hardly sleep the night before the big day of the fishing adventure.
At long last morning came and the boy and his father were preparing to leave when the phone rang. The young man heard his father say, “No, I have nothing important planned. I will be there right away.” With hardly another word the father left his son in utter dismay. From that very morning the son became estranged from his father.
There are countless people who have made promises to God and then never follow through. They say they will spend time making the Lord a central part of their lives, but everything else takes first place. They make work, entertainment, relationships, or any number of things, more vital than time sharing the rich things in God’s Word. It is time to evaluate our life. When we stand before the Lord will our excuses sound reasonable?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing to others!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 12, 2012 | Joshua
Joshua 1:8
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Having the responsibility to lead a congregation of believers is an awesome task. You cannot believe the number of times I reach up to the Lord in prayer for His guidance. Early on I was aware that it was not what I said or how I said it that would make a difference for my people. It was what God said and how I made it acceptable to them.
I am sure that there have been times when more of Cecil came through than God’s Word. I hang my head in shame when I come to that realization. It makes me want to redouble my effort to get back to the basics of God’s Word as the most vital element in the life of the believer.
Many years ago I made a covenant with the Lord that I would spend at least five minutes each day reading God’s Word. It is one thing to preach to people about the necessity of spending quality time in the Bible, but I had to practice it personally. It was not very much, but it established a discipline that resulted in my spending hours reading it. I also learned to write passages on 3X5 cards and carry them with me. Even for those who are not able to memorize, this practice will put the Word into their heart.
Today’s Scripture gives a fantastic promise. When we place a priority of reading, thinking and memorizing, God says we will be prosperous and successful. If we want true spiritual meaning in our life, this is the answer. I challenge you, read The Word!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
