by Pastor Cecil | Apr 11, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:7
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.”
Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a situation that seemed to have no solution? I am tempted to describe one or two, but if I do it may prevent you from relating to your own particular no-win situation. So, how do we cope?
In today’s Scripture we are told to avoid relying on our own wisdom, to fear God, and to shun evil. This concept is very hard for us to grasp since we want to control everything around us.
When we encounter evil or injustice, our natural inclination is to rise up with righteous indignation and attempt to correct the situation. James 1:19-20 makes it clear that our fervent anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
If we are to avoid operating in our own strength and abilities, is there anything we can do when faced with the problems that confront us? The answer is very clear. It begins with trusting in the Lord with all of our heart. That means letting go and letting God have control.
Secondly, we must acknowledge God in all of our ways. The Hebrew word for acknowledge is the word yada’. It means in part to learn more and more about God and His ways. We do that as we rest in Him and study His Word to search out and discover more and more of His wonderful attributes.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 22, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 18:8
“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”
It was many years ago when I was a pastor of a church with an active prayer chain that I received a call from a woman I did not know. She asked to see me and we arranged a time to meet at a local café where I often met with people for counsel.
Since I had never met this woman I was in the dark about what she wanted to discuss. She began our conversation by stating that she was “the other woman.” I was still at a loss. Then she asked if our prayer chain had not identified her as the woman who was having an affair with a certain man in our congregation. She had heard rumors that we named her as the guilty party that needed prayer. I assured her that she was not on our prayer chain and that we would never allow such requests.
That encounter reminded me that it is possible to indulge in sanctified gossip. It disguises itself as legitimate concern, while having an underlying prurient interest. Anytime we hear a prayer request that is met with “Really?!” get rid of it and pray for the Lord to cleanse our hearts of SANCTIFIED GOSSIP.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 10, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
When we graduated from high school in 1952, our class voted this hymn to be our class hymn to take with us. My dear wife Joyce always would brighten up when she heard the hymn and remind me it was our class hymn.
I confess I did not know the story behind the hymn until I did a little investigation for this week’s hymn. The words were composed by Civilia Martin and the music by her husband W. Stillman Martin. One Sunday afternoon Civilia was ill and her husband was on a preaching assignment. She composed the words and when her husband returned he immediately sat at his organ and wrote the music.
This song is credited for transforming the life of James Cash Penney, founder of the American department store chain J. C. Penney. He heard it one morning in the chapel of the Kellogg Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he had been hospitalized with a severe case of shingles, as well as exhaustion and depression.
“GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!”
- Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you;
beneath his wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you, God will take care of you.
- Through days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.
Refrain: God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you, God will take care of you.
- All you may need he will provide, God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you, God will take care of you.
- No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon his breast, God will take care of you.
Refrain: God will take care of you, through every day, o’er all the way;
he will take care of you, God will take care of you.
There is no video for this week. For other videos, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 9, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 14:5
“A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness will utter lies.”
I think it was Prof. Howard Hendricks that I once heard give an illustration about always telling the truth. He told the story of a father who was teaching his sons from the book of Proverbs. The father would recite the first half of a verse to see if the sons could complete it. He had just recited the first part of today’s Scripture, “A faithful witness does not lie, when the doorbell rang.
It was a salesman at the door and the boys overheard their father stretch the truth in speaking to the man. When he returned to continue the Bible work he once again recited the first part of that verse, “A faithful witness does not lie, and asked his son Johnny to complete it. Johnny had a fantastic mind and a quick wit. He drew upon the second part of Psalm 46:1 in reply. It reads: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
It is sad but true that our actions all too often are not in step with what God’s Word dictates. We use human reasoning even to the point of stretching the truth beyond the breaking point. As a result, we fool ourselves into thinking that we are truthful individuals … but those around us may see a different picture.
Modern crimes are solved in many cases by video surveillance cameras. The criminal may think he is getting away with the crime, but the surveillance camera has recorded the truth of what has taken place. We need to remember that the Lord not only sees our actions but also the thoughts and intents of our heart. “WE ARE BEING WATCHED!”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 8, 2017 | Proverbs
Proverbs 10:12
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.”
If there is one word to describe the condition of our world it might be the word strife. There is strife between husband and wife, children and parents, sects, denominations, families, nations … the list could go on and on.
Mankind has spoken of peace on earth for thousands of years. The reality, however, is that since the sin of Adam in the garden, strife has existed and will exist until the Prince of Peace appears to bring ultimate resolution to the strife.
It is very easy to become discouraged with the continuing chaos that is the result of strife. Peace treaties and roundtables have always failed to bring about the cessation of strife. There is only one answer and that answer is love.
The only type of love that will bring lasting peace is the love of God. It is not how much we love, but how much He has loved us. In the ugliness of strife and turmoil, a loving heavenly Father demonstrated love to the ultimate degree. As the manifestation of that love, He sent His own Son as our Savior, Jesus the Christ.
If you desire an end to strife within your heart, believe on Jesus — He is the love of God which takes away the sins of the world. His love covers all our sin!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 23, 2016 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”
Over the years my precious wife, Joyce, became more and more terrified at driving a car. The worse fear she had was driving on the freeway. To her that was a one way path to destruction.
One day she took the car to get groceries. For some reason she chose to go to a store where she had not shopped before. After returning to the car with the groceries, she became turned around and suddenly she saw signs indicating that the freeway was just ahead.
I received her panic call for help; “Cec! I don’t know what to do. I am heading for the freeway!” After she told me her location I was able to give her direction of how to get back on the street leading to home.
Sometimes we find ourselves heading for the freeway of life and we know that it will be disaster if we continue on in the direction we are heading. What to do about it?
Three steps:
(1) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”
(2) “Lean not on your own understanding.”
(3) “In all your ways acknowledge Him.” Follow those steps and He will get us home.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
