by Pastor Cecil | Jan 30, 2017 | Luke
Luke 15:11-12
“Then He said: ‘A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.’”
My own father had two sons. I could write about what a good son I was and how much better than my brother since both have gone to be with the Lord. That would not be realistic or honest with you or myself. Let’s just focus on the two sons in this parable Jesus shared.
This week I would like to focus our attention on this parable. The first thing we are introduced to is the contrast between the two sons. The older son seems to be the perfect example of what a good son should be, but later on we will see more of his true character.
The younger son was much like the typical young man of all ages. He was more interested in good times than in taking responsibility. He asked for his share of the family inheritance ahead of time. I suppose he felt he needed it when he was young and could enjoy the pleasures of sin with lots of money.
Surprisingly his father granted his request. At the same time I am sure that the father’s heart was heavy. This son that he loved was leaving the family and he may never see him again. And so the parable of two sons begins.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 23, 2016 | Luke
Luke 2:10-11
“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’”
I want to send out special Christmas greetings to all of you, my dear friends and faithful subscribers. God has been very near this year, and I thank Him for health and the ability to minister to thousands around the world.
This is the second Christmas since my precious wife Joyce departed this old sin-sick world and entered that place of eternal bliss. Words cannot express the loss I feel, but knowing what she is experiencing right now only makes me long to be with her even more.
This past summer I was blessed to have my two children, Dan (wife Donna) and Lori with me. Also my grandchildren, Zane (wife Anya), Seth (wife Anna), Jenna (husband Brandon), Jeremiah (wife Madi), Jeffrey (wife Elizabeth), Janelle (husband Adam), and Melinda (fiancé Tyson). Added to that list were eight great-grandchildren.
Many of you have never met me personally, but have adopted me as your on-line pastor and friend. God has given me the strength to continue serving into my 83rd year of life. I have no idea how long the Lord will enable me to continue ministering to you in this format, but I count it among my richest blessings.
Since September 2000 I have sent out over 4,000 editions of the Daily-E-Votional. What started out with only a few subscribers has grown to many thousands around the world.
God has also granted me the blessing of offering a daily Bible reading that covers the entire Bible in one year along with audio for people to listen as I read both the Daily-E-Votional and the One Year Bible Reading. In the past few months I am also recording a short message each week.
The Tumwater Chapel of Grace is a small family congregation where I serve as pastor. It is designed to minister to folks who do not feel comfortable in more traditional church settings. We meet at the Mills and Mills Funeral Home — I like to say that people are dying to come to our services. (Even with my special sense of humor, I have to admit that’s bad)!
I want to encourage each of you to take time during these last few days before Christmas to rejoice that God sent His own dear Son as the promised Messiah. He came as a tiny babe in a manger, but freely gave His life on a cruel cross to provide salvation through His shed blood.
Blessings dear hearts! Draw near to God this Christmas season, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 7, 2016 | Luke
Luke 2:36-38
“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
I have come to realize that faithfulness does not depend upon signs in the sky or voices in the night. We have the Word of God and that should be enough to draw us to faithful expectation.
Anna was a fantastic pattern of what faithful service should look like. Yes, she was eagerly waiting for the promised Messiah, but look what she did in the meantime: She “did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
She believed the prophecies of a coming Messiah and devoted her life to serve until He was revealed. When Joseph and Mary had presented the infant Jesus at the Temple to fulfill the customs of the Law, Anna entered where they were and immediately knew that this was the One she had faithfully waited for. Her faithfulness had been rewarded. She saw HIM!
How would you measure your faithful expectation of the soon return of our Lord?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 25, 2016 | Luke
Luke 2:15
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'”
The beloved Carol “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was originally written in Latin (Adeste Fideles). The words were written by an Englishman, John Wade who had intended it as a hymn. The music to “O Come, All Ye Faithful” was composed by fellow Englishman John Reading in the early 1700s. In 1841, Rev. Frederick Oakley revised the lyrics of “Adeste Fideles.”
While it would be an appropriate hymn at any time of the year, it has become a cherished Christmas Carol. Let us all come and adore, Christ the Lord.
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
Oh come ye, Oh come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Oh Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God’s holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
All Hail Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Oh Jesus for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Oh come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” from Gloryscapes.com by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/ocomeallyefaithful/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 9, 2016 | Luke
Luke 24:2-6
“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!”
Alfred Ackley was a Baptist pastor who had two dramatic incidents in his life that led him to write our hymn for this week. He had been conducting an evangelistic service back in 1932 when a young Jewish man threw this question at him; “Why should I worship a dead Jew?”
Then early on Resurrection Sunday morning as he was preparing for the day he listened to the radio. A famous liberal preacher made this statement; “Good morning—it’s Easter! You know folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned, His body could be dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main truth is His truth goes marching on!”
Alfred screamed out at the radio, “It’s a lie!” His wife was startled and wanted to know why he was so upset. Following the service that morning his wife prompted him to write a hymn and express his thoughts. He wrote this wonderful hymn.
HE LIVES!
I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me I see His loving care, and tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading thro’ all the stormy blast, The day of His appearing will come at last.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing, Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King! The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find, none other is so loving, so good and kind.
Refrain: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
Aren’t you glad we serve a risen Savior? Our God is not dead, HE LIVES!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 27, 2016 | Luke
Luke 21:28
“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
It seems that every day we hear of tragedies of every kind. There are natural disasters, but also there are violent attacks that leave scores dead and badly injured. Just when it seems that things could not get worse, they seem to do just that.
What should be our reaction to the violence and chaos around us? I think we have at least two choices: We can look around us and become increasingly depressed, or we can look up and see that God is the Blessed Controller of all things.
In today’s Scripture, Jesus is listing the things that will precede His return and the end of the age. He does not want us to be burdened with the evil that He foretells, but to see the glory that waits for the redeemed of the Lord.
In other words, Jesus is instructing us to focus our attention on what is waiting for us. That means we are to LOOK UP! I frequently have to remind myself to focus my attention in the right direction. I do what I can to fulfill the command of the Lord, and then I LOOK UP and worship the One whom I serve. Where are you looking?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
