by Pastor Cecil | Dec 23, 2013 | Matthew
Matthew 6:33-34
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
My wife, Joyce, once worked as a legislative assistant. One of the Legislators she was assigned to had very little experience in how to conduct business and almost drove Joyce up the wall with her misplaced priorities. Each project assignment was marked “Highest Priority!” Before long, Joyce’s desk was piled high with “Highest Priority” projects that begged the question . . . which one to deal with first?
I often think of our Christian walk being somewhat like that. We have many things that demand our attention—many of them are very important and, in fact, we probably label them priority items. But just like Joyce’s dilemma, the inevitable question arises as to which task outranks the others in importance. Sad to say, it can often lead to spiritual depression.
Jesus knows each and every heart. We might say that He is supreme in our life, but where do we place our priorities? Do we devote ourselves to the pursuit of things that will fade and pass away, or to the things of everlasting value?
In today’s Scripture we are clearly directed to “. . . seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness.” That’s right—we are to make seeking His kingdom and His righteousness the ultimate priority in our life. What is your ultimate priority?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 17, 2013 | Matthew
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Way back in the early 1920’s, Harry Dixon Loes composed a children’s gospel song that kids across the subsequent decades have sung joyfully, accompanied with various motions that are appropriate to the song’s lyrics. I still recall the joy of singing this song when I was young: This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine! There were other verses that said: Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine! And: Don’t let Satan blow it out/ Let it shine/Let it shine/Let it shine!
In this dark, black, sin-sick world, it is easy to feel that evil is so prevalent that there is no possibility of allowing our light to shine. What a false view of reality! In truth, the darker the night, the brighter our light shines.
A few years ago we lost power during a vicious ice storm. In addition to the frigid cold, we also had to deal with the loss of lights. The dark and cold seemed to seep throughout our very beings.
One of Satan’s darkest lies is that our little light will never make a difference. What a lie! Our little light will not only illuminate the area around us, but it will also encourage others to let their lights shine.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 30, 2013 | Matthew
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
It was a cold and snowy night in the Black Hills of South Dakota in early winter of 1953. Joyce and I were on our way to my first duty assignment at Rapid City. Soon after dark our car slid off the icy road and into a ditch. We were stuck!
We were a few miles from Keystone, S.D., and had noticed a house about halfway to the small town. We had a pet parakeet in a cage, so we covered him as best we could and started walking back in search of some sort of civilization. Thankfully the lights were on in the house, and we were hopeful they were congenial and would invite us to COME ON IN!
It was a blessing to be welcomed into their home, and they agreed to keep our pet for us while we went for a tow truck to pull us out. The tow driver said the road was too slick for him as well and that we would have to wait until morning. We spent a comfortable night in a hotel and the next day we collected our bird, left a bundle of money for the tow truck and went our merry way.
Without Jesus in our hearts we are like stranded motorists who find themselves in unfamiliar territory stuck in the deep ditches of life. Our choices are to remain stuck in our predicament or to come to the Lord for His welcoming embrace. What comfort to know that regardless of how dark our night or deep our ditch, He is always there to welcome us into His fold. COME ON IN!
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 11, 2013 | Matthew
Matthew 24:10-13
“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Jesus is coming soon! Read Matthew 24 from start to finish and you will see the signs of His coming all around us. One of the prophecies concerning His return concerns the rise of false prophets and even those who claim to be Messiah.
Since 1891, when the blind hymn writer, Fanny Crosby wrote this week’s hymn, there have many false leaders who claimed to be the promised Messiah. Each of these charlatans lacked the required proof— the prints of the nails in his hands! Carefully read the words of this old hymn.
My Savior First of All
When my lifework is ended,
and I cross the swelling tide,
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see;
I shall know my Redeemer
when I reach the other side,
And His smile will be the first to welcome me.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Oh, the soul-thrilling rapture
when I view His blessed face,
And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;
How my full heart will praise Him
for the mercy, love and grace,
That prepare for me a mansion in the sky.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Oh, the dear ones in glory,
how they beckon me to come,
And our parting at the river I recall;
To the sweet vales of Eden
they will sing my welcome home;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
Through the gates to the city
in a robe of spotless white,
He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;
In the glad song of ages
I shall mingle with delight;
But I long to meet my Savior first of all.
Refrain: I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
And redeemed by His side I shall stand,
I shall know Him, I shall know Him,
By the print of the nails in His hand.
To access My Savior First of All, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/mysaviorfirstofall/ 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 | Sep 12, 2013 | Matthew
Matthew 13:31-32
He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.
It has always amazed me how some people are able to prepare soil and plant seeds that seem to explode out of the ground and bear a crop of amazing proportions. A former neighbor of ours used to raise huge Hubbard squash plants. From a few round planters we could watch as the seeds grew into sprouts and soon filled the planters with green leaves. By harvest time he reaped several hundred pounds of squash. My experience with growing things has not produced the same results.
As I meditate on the subject of sowing seeds, I am aware that in order to grow, there must be a death. Seeds by themselves will never reproduce and bear a crop. They will remain just a single seed. I once read that archaeologists discovered seeds of wheat that had been placed in jars and left in tombs deep inside pyramids. The seeds of wheat remained just as they had several thousand years earlier when placed there.
For believers, there are two aspects of sowing seed. First, we need to be busy sowing seeds. That means sharing the gospel. One of the ministries we support is a Juvenile Correctional Center. The faithful servant who devotes his time to sowing seeds in that field called me today. He shared that several young men have accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts and have been baptized. Praise the Lord!
A second aspect in sowing seed is to recognize that we are seeds. That being the case, we need to die to self in order to produce the harvest that Christ desires—as we give ourselves totally to Him instead of demanding our own way. Increasingly we need to pray, “Not my will, Lord, but Thy will be done!”
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 2, 2013 | Matthew
Matthew 6:31-33
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
When I read of saints who have laid everything they possess on the line for Christ, I hunger for such commitment. It seems like I have given so little compared to those who have given their all.
There is something about total dependency on the Lord that inspires faith. Not knowing where the next meal is coming from, or how we will be able to clothe ourselves, draws us closer to God.
It is easy to be critical of modern religious figures that live in luxurious mansions, drive magnificent automobiles, and many other excesses. I certainly can never condone such extravagant living, but that is not the end of it.
It is not necessary for us to live in the lap of luxury to be greedy for the things of this world. Anything, and I mean any-thing that becomes more important than our walk with the Lord is wrong. We can rid ourselves of greedy living by recognizing that everything we own belongs to Him and constantly seek His leadership on how to invest the things He has entrusted to our care. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
