by Pastor Cecil | Oct 7, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 1:20
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
What is your attitude concerning our eternal home? I fear that all too many people live in a world of make-believe when it comes to making sure where they will spend eternity. It seems strange that people greedily accept the idea of aliens from outer space, but scoff at the necessity of being born-again.
What a wonderful consolation it is for those of us who have repented and been born-again believers to know what is waiting for us. Heaven is a place and hell is also a place.
In order to arrive at the gates of hell it is not necessary to do anything. We are born in sin and that is our condemned condition unless we confess the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and invite Him into our heart.
When we stand beside the bedside of a loved one who is a believer, we can rest in the knowledge that there will be a great reunion when we all get to heaven. “Until then” it is just, “We will see you in heaven!” What wonderful comfort!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 29, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 1:20
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
I can remember back in the good old days (come to think about it, I was neither good nor old) when stores would begin to set up their Christmas displays the day after Thanksgiving. As I say, that was in the good old days.
It was just before Labor Day, which this year was September 7th, when I walked into a well known wholesale store. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
You are right! Here was the Christmas display complete with all of the worldly paraphernalia commonly associated with the holiday. It aggravates me to no end when I see such commercialization.
Thinking about this rush to celebrate, I wonder just how eager we are to anticipate the great time we will have in glory. Think about being released from pain and distress! Think about all of our tears and sorrows being erased! Think about the best experience you have ever had and then multiply it maybe a gazillion times…maybe even a number we don’t know…yet!
As someone has said, “If that don’t light your fire, your wood is wet!” As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and the promise of heaven that He has given to us, we should be living in a state of eager anticipation. Are you? If not you should ask the Lord to part the windows of heaven just a little and give you a preview.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 27, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 3:13-14
“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Years ago I read a book by Corrie ten Boom, “Tramp For the Lord.” Now for those who do not know about Corrie, she and her family lived in Holland at the outset of WWII. They aided the Jews who were being rounded up by the Nazis.
As a result of their ministry of protecting the Jews, their entire family was arrested and placed in a series of concentration camps in Holland and Germany. All of her family, except Corrie, were killed by the Nazis.
Corrie tried to forgive those who had caused her so much pain, but soon she would once again be filled with the same bitterness. She related that she found peace when she visualized a great sea of forgiveness. She imagined herself taking the bitterness and dropping it into the deepest part of the sea and then placing a sign that read: NO FISHING ALLOWED!
I love that!
Are you carrying a heavy burden of bitterness and resentment? Few, if any of us, have ever encountered torture and murder such as Corrie encountered. Even though our situation may be different, we may also have an issue of bitterness.
As today’s Scripture teaches, we are to leave the bitterness and resentment of the past and focus on the goal of pleasing the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep in mind that there is no fishing allowed!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 20, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 2:5-7
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
I just read an article today in which an editor confessed a glaring error he made as a young reporter. He was writing about a meal an Amish family had enjoyed—he typed, “fried children” instead of “fried chicken.” He thinks many people stopped reading his column after that glaring mistake.
I am not so sure that today’s title is all that wrong. “Attitude” and “altitude” have something in common. Our attitude can be either up or down. In fact some people even make the comment that they are having a “down” day. That should not be true of victorious Christians.
So how can we maintain an “attitude” that has “altitude”? I am so glad you asked. We have the answer right here in Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. He says that we should have the same attitude as Christ Jesus.
Wow! That is an amazing bit of instruction—at least it is until we read the rest of the passage. Jesus made Himself nothing, even lowering Himself to the position of a servant. Not many of us are willing to be submissive to others. In fact we most often want to have the highest position.
Pride is an enemy that is always crouching at the door of our life, just waiting to be let loose. We may try to act humble, but given the opportunity, we love to hear words of praise about some little thing we have done.
It is well for us to pattern our life after Christ Jesus. He was always giving of Himself to others. Listen to the last verse of a poem whose author is unknown: “Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, ‘Thy will be done’; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ‘twas worth it all’; Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 14, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 1:21
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
During a time that history calls the “Dark Ages” the church was in confusion. Christianity had become degenerate and corrupt. Moral standards of the people were a disgrace and shame. But God always has for Himself a remnant of true believers. One of those was Bernard of Clairvaux of the Cistercian monastic order.
He was still guilty of many of the errors of his day, having played a prominent role in the Second Crusade. But even Luther said of him, “Bernard is superior to all the doctors in his sermons even to Augustine himself, because he preaches Christ most excellently.”
It was this man that God used to pen the words to some devotional poems that have become some of our finest hymns, “O Sacred Head Now Wounded;” “Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hears;” and today’s hymn “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.”
“Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee“
Jesus! the very thought of Thee
with sweetness fills my breast:
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
and in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
nor can the mem’ry find
A sweeter sound than Jesus name,
the Savior of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who ask, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find?
Ah! this nor tongue nor pen can show,
The love of Jesus, what it is,
none but His loved ones know.
Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
as Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now,
and through eternity.
O Jesus, light of all below,
thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know,
and all we can desire.
Jesus, may all confess Thy name,
Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame
to seek Thee more and more.
Abide with us, and let Thy light shine,
Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night;
and joy to all impart.
To access Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesustheverythoughtofthee 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 | Feb 19, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 1:10-11
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
What is appropriate behavior for believers? Should our standards be higher than those of the world? Should the way a Christian woman dresses be modest and not sensually suggestive? Should the music we listen to be edifying to the Lord rather than the drum beat of the world? Should Christians condone the perverse sexual practices around us?
I hope these questions, or the answers to them, are enough of a bombshell to jar us out of our spiritual lethargy. It is almost an embarrassment to realize how low our standards have slipped below God’s pattern for Christian living.
Are you ready for another shock? Think about the number of times when you heard Christian people snicker about the sinful actions of others. They may try to act holy themselves, but act amused when it comes to other’s sins.
I have mentioned in previous Daily-E-Votionals that I have repeatedly confronted young couples who live together before marriage. When I ask them if they know that it is contrary to God’s Word and not pleasing in His sight, they answer that they do. When I challenge them to stop immediately, they agree. They have often thanked me and mentioned that I was the first person to tell them to stop.
Young couples who purpose to remain pure before marriage are often the brunt of jokes and crude remarks. It is time to put a stop to this snickering and making fun of those who desire to live appropriately. Not only should the snickering stop, but encouragement should be given.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
