by Pastor Cecil | Jul 1, 2014 | Luke
Luke 10:38-40a
As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
For years I have read this passage of Scripture and tried to picture the scene. It appears that the home belonged to Martha. Her brother, Lazarus, and sister lived with her. At some point, Jesus came to the home and Mary sat eagerly at His feet taking in the words He shared with those who gathered.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (actually in the kitchen), Martha was slaving away at the preparations for the meal that would be served. She stewed in the stew that Mary had left her alone in the necessary work of serving. Martha complained to Jesus about the situation and wanted Him to send Mary to the kitchen to help her.
From a practical point of view it would seem reasonable that Mary should have been in the kitchen helping. But she had a higher calling; she wanted to drink in every word that proceeded out of the Master’s mouth.
Here is where I impose myself in this scene. Rather than take the side of either Martha or Mary, I would like to be like both. I desire to have a servant spirit that cares about others, but I also want to take the time to drink in the life-giving words that come from the Word of God. I will, therefore, serve and soak up the Word!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 23, 2014 | Luke
Luke 18:35-38
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’
One of our favorite movies is Return To Me. We do not like some of the language, but we are fascinated by the new life that donors provide. Transplant patients often wait for long periods of time hoping and praying that they will be chosen to receive a vital organ.
Our oldest daughter, Brenda, was gravely ill and her best hope for living was both a heart and lung transplant. She did not receive her required transplants, but she received something even better—a peace that passes all understanding as she enterered the Paradise God had prepared for her. Our youngest daughter, Lori, received both a kidney and pancreas transplant. Ironically the donor for the kidney transplant was Brenda’s daughter, Jenna!
Like it or not, these bodies of ours are destined to the grave. The spirit of man within us will live forever, either in heaven with the Lord or in hell with Satan. That it is why is so important to cry out for the Lord to not pass us by. Enjoy that old hymn, Pass Me Not.
Pass Me Not
Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?
Refrain:
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, Do not pass me by.
To access Pass Me Not, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/passmenot/ in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 21, 2014 | Luke
Luke 16:22-23
The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
Jesus was and is a wonderful Lord and Savior, but He was a marvelous story teller as well. His stories had a spiritual meaning and were known as parables. When asked why He taught in parables, Jesus explained that it was for the believers to understand, but that unbelievers would simply perceive it to be just a story.
Many of us will recall the parable of the rich man and a beggar covered with sores that relied on the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table to sustain himself. We read that the rich man seemed to have everything and the beggar had nothing. There was another huge difference between the two of them: The beggar was a believer but the rich man was not.
They both died, as all mankind is destined to do. I am awestruck as I read what happens at the moment of their deaths. The beggar who was a believer was carried by angels into Paradise. Stop and think of what a sensation of ecstasy that would be. No more begging, suffering or pain. An eternity of bliss awaited him.
The rich man also died AND WAS BURIED. How empty and final that sounds. What a contrast with the beggar who ate the scraps from his table. He must have been aware of the man during his life since, when he is in torment, he asks for Lazarus to come and touch his tongue with a drop of water to ease the agony that would last for eternity. We must have our name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life to insure the angels will transport us to be with the Lord. Be prepared!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 8, 2014 | Luke
Luke 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
If you have been keeping track, the sparrow is the third of God’s creatures that I have taken the time to highlight this week. We considered the frog, then the eagle, and now we will look at the sparrow.
There are a vast number of sparrows in the world, flitting among the bushes or hopping along the ground. It is almost impossible for us humans to distinguish one bird from another. We may be able to identify a species, but not individuals. God knows not only those who are alive at this moment of time, but also those that have ever lived.
There is just a little additional information we are given in today’s Scripture. It has to do with the hairs on our head. God has them all numbered. My number used to be much greater than it is now! Regardless of the number of hairs on our head, God knows us so intimately that we are able to place our trust in Him.
The tiny sparrow can teach us a valuable lesson. GOD KNOWS US INSIDE AND OUT! WE ARE HIS DESIGN AND HE FEEDS US BY HIS WORD! Always remember Proverbs 3:5-6; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 17, 2014 | Luke
Luke 24:9-11
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
According to modern day dramas or musicals, the disciples were ecstatic over the news the women brought back from the empty tomb. They even reported that they had seen angels and one had even seen Jesus Himself.
The reaction to these reports was doubt. How utterly sad that after all Jesus had told them about what He was going to endure and conquer, they still doubted. Oh, yes, Peter and John left to go to the tomb, but that fact that the others failed to go shows their doubt.
Jesus repeatedly appeared to the disciples and as many as 500 at one time following His resurrection. The apostle Thomas was not the only one who expressed doubts. There were other doubters in the crowd. It reminds me that it is easier to doubt than to rest in the arms of faith.
Why did the disciples doubt? I think the basic reason was they did not listen to their Lord as He spoke in person. Why are we prone to doubt in today? I think it is the same reason. We fail to listen to what He says in His Word, the Bible!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 12, 2014 | Luke
Luke 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
I fear we may often fail to recognize just how valuable a human life is to God. We can be very nonchalant about what our life and witness could mean to those who have not yet made a decision for Christ. But too often it seems we just shrug our shoulders, unconcerned whether they do or they don’t—what’s the big deal about one more decision?
Stop for a few moments and try to visualize the terrors of hell. If you need a little help, let me share this passage from Luke 16:23-24: “In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’”
Can you imagine the torment that was so great that just a touch of water on his parched tongue would bring some relief? Now get your mind around the concept that this torment would last for eternity!
We are not just playing a game here. We are dealing with eternal values. Our actions must match our words so that we will create a desire in the hearts of the lost to make that eternal choice that will mean heaven!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
