Friday, September 29, 2017

Friday, September 29, 2017

SABRINA
 You know we often forget that God is in what we often overlook. God is evident in our tears; in the twinkle of a stranger’s eye; in the warmth of a hug from a friend; in the missing front teeth of a six-year old. He is in the lines of handwritten letters and in the silliness of teenage girls. He is in the rays of sun coming through the clouds and in the pink skies of the sunset. God surrounds us with reminders of His presence. He is there in promises kept and random acts of kindness and mercies shown. God is in every whisper, sigh and exclamation. Wherever today finds you, Hear the words of Psalm 145:5 “God, I will meditate about your glory, splendor, majesty and miracles.” It is SO easy to feel alone in this world, forgetting we can never go to a place so deep, so dark that He is not there. We are each loved beyond measure. If you do not have a church home, I invite you to come worship at Central this Sunday. 8:30. 9:45 or 10:55. Come, surround yourself with others, seeking, peace, love, acceptance and community as we remember, God IS, indeed in each and every detail of life!

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Thursday, September 28, 2017

JOHN
Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. I read a story of a wealth woman who was traveling overseas and saw a bracelet she wanted to buy. The price was 75,000 dollars. She sent her husband a telegram and asked if she could buy it. Her husband promptly wired back this response: “NO, PRICE TOO HIGH.” The cable operator however, omitted the comma, so the woman received the message: NO PRICE TOO HIGH.” So, the lady bought the bracelet. What a difference a comma made. Indeed, it is the little things in life that can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes, neglecting to pay attention to the little things in life can be very costly. Costly, not so much in terms of dollars spent, but costly in terms of lost opportunities to encourage and lift people up. A smile, a simple “thank you,” a personal note, a phone call or even an email can make a big difference in someone’s day. Never underestimate the power of the little things we can do to make life better.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Wednesday, September 27. 2017

BOB
Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community here in Meridian. The other day I pulled up behind an old green car of indiscriminate origin covered with bumper stickers. The one that really caught my eye said: "Answer my prayers, steal my car." That got me to thinking about prayers and how God answers prayer. So often our prayers become a wish list of things we think might make our lives better, easier, or more comfortable. We approach prayer like it is our magic genie list of things we want God to do for us. We lose sight of the relationship with our Abba Father that is such a blessing in prayer. We lose sight that prayer is in itself a great gift of grace because the Spirit intercedes for us when we pray. Maybe worst of all, we lose sight of the power of prayer to help us rejoice in the blessings we've already received from God. So, when we pray, let's remember to always give thanks. It can be the always and every time blessing when we pray!

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Monday, September 26, 2017

DENNIS Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever felt like God is against you? I mean everything in your life had gone wrong and you just couldn’t catch a break? Well, I bet a lot of people feel that way. Because of tragedy and heartache, they have convinced themselves that they must be God’s enemy. Would you believe me if I told you that God is absolutely for you and not against you? But, don’t take my word for it. Here is what the Bible tells us, “This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” It is because God loves us so much that we find ourselves forgiven from our sins. Everything that we have ever done can be forgiven. See, just by being a good person can’t change what goes on inside our hearts and minds. Laws, rules, and morality do not have the power in themselves to save. Only because of God’s love and grace are we saved. That’s wonderful news for today’s mean world. So, let me encourage you to speak words of love and grace today. It just may make an eternal difference in someone’s life.

Monday, September 25, 2017

Monday, September 25, 2017

GLENDA
Good Morning! September makes me think of my Mom. Her birthday was in September. In remembering, I focus on all the positive things I learned from her. She was very religious. She made sure we were in the church every time the doors opened. It used to drive me crazy!! Guess what!? That was one of the first things I did when our first child was born. George and I didn't always get up and go to church. But when that first child came along, things changed. We got up on Sunday mornings and began to raise our children in the church. My Mom loved two things more than anything else: God and her family. That was something else I got from her. There are many other things I inherited from my Godly Mom, but nothing is more important than the Love of God and the Love of Family. That doesn't mean I never had problems, but it does mean that with God as the Center of my family, life surely is a lot easier. Is God the Center of your family? I hope so. Have a wonderful day!

Friday, September 22, 2017

Thursday, September 22, 2017

DENNIS Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. What do you know about grace? It’s a word that shows up in the Bible a lot. In it, there are statements such as, “you have been saved by grace through faith,” and “from his fullness we have received grace upon grace.” There must be something very special about grace. It is important for us to realize that grace is how we know God loves us. In fact, he loves us so much that he came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ in order to save us. Jesus revealed himself as being God’s Son. The Bible described God’s Son as being full of grace and truth. Through faith, Jesus gives us this wonderful gift that is said to be “grace upon grace.” In other words, it is a gift we simply can’t wrap our minds around, because it is something sufficient enough to sustain us when we fall. See, failure doesn’t nullify grace. Instead, it is free flowing from the love of God. It’s so powerful that one could say that our salvation depends on it. If you want to learn why grace is so important, then let me invite you to Central, as we seek to grow in the knowledge and experience of God’s amazing grace.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Thursday, September 21, 2017

SABRINA
 One day a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. After handing out the tests face down, he asked everyone to turn it over. To the student's surprise, there was simply a black dot in the middle of the paper. The professor then asked them to write about what they saw. Each of them, with no exception, described the black dot, its position, size, etc... At the end of the allotted time, the professor took the papers up and read them to the class. What followed is food for thought. Not one student wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot. The same happens in our lives each and every day. Our life is a gift given by God - it’s the white paper, but we always focus on the dark spots. Nature renews itself every day, our friends, our families, the job that provides our livelihood, the miracles that we see every day if only we look. Yet, we insist on focusing on the dark spots - what is wrong in our lives? Yet, the dark spots tend to be so very small compared to everything that God has given us. So for this morning, find a sheet of paper, make a dark spot in the center, and focus on all of the white page surrounding the spot, and let's lift a prayer of thankfulness for our many blessings!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

BENJI
 Do you remember your birthdays growing up? The anticipation in the days leading up to it, the sheer elation you felt when you woke up that day! Whether your birthday festivities involved a bouncy castle or just some cake and quality time with friends and family, there was a joy around that special day in your life. Now as we get older that may not remain true, but no matter what day of the year or what our age is, we can still experience that joy. We can do so by celebrating others! When we genuinely seek to edify others, we are building a better world one kind word at a time. By offering sincere encouragement to those we meet, we sow seeds of joy that have the power to change someone’s day. You will soon find that kindness is one of the few things in life that only grows bigger the more it’s given away. So, if today is your birthday, I pray it is a joyous one, and may God’s peace be with you all.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

JOHN

Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church.

The other day, my youngest child, Jasper, who is six years old, and I were reading one of his assignments for school. He stopped in the midst of his reading and said Dad, we learned today about wise William. I said who was that? He said he was a man in our story at school that built a house, and he built it on the rock.

I realized quickly that he was talking to me about Matthew 7. So, I begin to ask him questions, and he said there was another guy who built his house on sand, and it washed away. I asked him what was the name of that guy? He thought for a while and he looked at me and said I don’t remember and it doesn’t matter his house was washed away.

I laughed and thought how true that for our name to be remembered for eternity we have to build our house on the rock of Jesus. If we don’t, then when the storms come, our house will wash away and so will our spiritual legacy. Build right and leave a legacy.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Monday, September 18, 2017

BOB
Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community here in Meridian. Bob Kilpatrick wrote the song 'Lord, Be Glorified' - "In my life Lord be glorified, be glorified. In my life Lord be glorified today." How much do you want to see God glorified in your life? If it is only just a little, then play it safe, and only do those things you are sure you can. But if you want to see God glorified a lot, then follow Him to places where you will need Him to be your indispensable necessity. Each time you step out in faith, you will move closer to the next challenge and the next until you live in a way that depends on God every moment. Such a life brings God much glory! So, how much are you willing to need God? And how much do you believe He can do? He loves to use the weak things to shame the strong and the lowly things to overcome the great. Follow His call as you pray for Him to be glorified in your life today and every day.

Friday, September 15, 2017

Friday, September 15, 2017

JOHN

Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Can you come up with a definition for love (that accurately describes what love is) in two or three sentences? It’s not an easy task.

No matter how we define love, our definition always seems to be lacking. Trying to define love can be like describing chocolate to a tribesman in sub-Saharan Africa who has never heard of nor tasted chocolate before. We may have trouble defining it, explaining it, and even finding it, but we know deep down inside that we need it.

In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul wrote one of the most famous descriptions of love. Notice that he does not give a dictionary definition but instead a description of love displayed. The love Paul describes values: Giving over getting, commitment over feelings, the long haul over the short term. The scripture is clear. You can see this love displayed in patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, integrity, and ongoing perseverance. This kind of love survives and stands the tests of time and tribulations.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Thursday, September 14, 2017

BOB



Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central a United Methodist Community here in Meridian. Faith can be a struggle whether the struggle is intellectual or based on hard life experiences or withering losses. Struggling with faith is a challenge that nearly every believer goes through at some point in life.

That struggle can also leave each of us unwilling to continue our search for faith during the dry times in our heart and in our dark nights of the soul. Life, however, drags us in and out of experiences whether we are ready to face them or not.

Our Father in heaven, however, can use these experiences to draw us towards faith. He can use the beauty of creation to call to our hearts. He can use the arts and stir our hearts through music, dance, sculpture, and painting. He can beckon us closer through the timely presence of friends who bring us comfort, help us process our intellectual doubts, and survive our most painful experiences.

Ask yourself today; Am I looking for God, and seeking to grow my complete trust in his faithful goodness?

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

DENNIS

Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. When Hercules wrestled with Antaeus, he found that every time he threw him to the ground, Antaeus would arise much stronger than before. Hercules finally discovered that his enemy was born from the earth and every time he would fall, he would actually be falling into his mother’s embrace and arose with renewed strength. So, Hercules changed his tactics by hoisting his enemy high in the air and away from the source of his strength.

Children of God are not children of earth and whenever troubles cast us back upon the Father, we rise with renewed strength. However, we can allow trivial things in our lives to hoist and pull us away from God. This world will do all it can to drag us away without giving us an opportunity to be renewed. But you and I have a power that is stronger than all enemies, faith in Jesus Christ.

All of our troubles can become a source of good fortune. God can take the most horrific event in our lives and make it become the best thing that could possibly come to us. By His mercy, we can grow in power and strength. God bless. 

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

TIM

Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central.

I want to challenge you with the idea of serving. All throughout the Bible, there are stories of service to God and service to evil.

Joshua Chapter 24 verse 15 says, “Choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

You may be familiar with the song Gotta Serve Somebody by Bob Dylan. A snippet from that song says:
You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride. You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side. You may be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair. You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir. But you're gonna have to serve somebody - it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve SOMEBODY.

So…go with this thought: We’ve gotta serve somebody, but who and how is up to us. God calls to us: Choose this day whom you will serve.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Monday, September 11, 2017

GLENDA

Good Morning: On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group Al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in our country. Over 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., including more than 400 police officers and firefighters. It was a very sad day for us all as we watched the events unfold on TV.

Today is the anniversary of that dreadful day. Let's all take the time to remember those who were lost and pray that peace becomes a reality and nothing like that will happen again.

As hard as it is, the Bible teaches us to pray for our enemies. Pray that those involved in any kind of extremism will turn from their wicked ways and learn of the one true God. Our God...Our God who is love everlasting.

Friday, September 8, 2017

Friday, September 8, 2017

DENNIS

Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. The word omnipotent is used to describe the character of God. Ultimately, it means that God is fully and eternally himself. Having that kind of responsibility, God does not contradict himself. He is free to determine the manner of his own working; and in fact, as we know from Revelation, he has chosen to work in such a way that we can interfere in a very drastic way with his creation.

God made people in such a way that they could rebel against him and set up their own world to oppose Him. However, God knows that we can never really be satisfied with any world of our own devising, so that it will always be vulnerable to his influence in one way or another. And so, God exploits our vulnerability by always waiting patiently on us. He never turns his back or seals us off in such a way that we can no longer find Him. God will always respect the freedom and independence He has given us, but He will never abandon us neither.

Are you burdened by a rebellious past? Well, God promises that you haven’t done anything that will ever make him leave you. Call out for he is listening.

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Thursday, September 7, 2017

SABRINA

If you have been on this planet since 2013, my guess is that the theme song from the Disney Film Frozen, Let It Go, rings familiar. If you have children or grandchildren, I imagine there has been at least one day you thought if you heard this song one.more.time, you would scream.

There is something about that song though. I can hear God saying that to us. Think about it -
Let it go.


Let go of the past that you cannot undo. Let go of the hurts that you hold too tightly.  Let go of the mistakes you once made, the anger that's consuming your thoughts.

Letting go is giving up what is beyond our control to embrace what we can change. In Isaiah 43, God spoke to His people through the prophet Isaiah saying: Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will make all things new. God speaks the same to us today. We can't control the past, but we can focus on today.

Letting go isn't easy in the beginning, because holding on is our natural response. It doesn't just change us - it frees us to live in the present and not the past!  So, for today, Be blessed, and as for the past... let it go!

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

GLENDA

Good Morning: At the Children's Center, we have a Bible verse for each month. The Bible verse for September is: “A happy face means a glad heart.” Proverbs 15:13. When your face is happy, you make others happy around you.

Consider this poem:
Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too. I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin. When he smiled I realized I'd passed it on to him. I thought about that smile, then I realized its worth. A single smile, just like mine could travel round the earth. So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected. Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected!

Everyone smile today and make Meridian a happy place.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

BENJI The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus and told them that he had heard about their faith in Jesus and their love toward others, and every time he thinks of them, he can’t help giving thanks to God for them and lifting them up in prayer. What a commendation and what a thing to be known for! What sort of things are we known for? Where does our reputation stem from? Is it our outward appearance and what possessions we have assembled for ourselves? Is it how busy we are, or what professional abilities we have? How incredible would it be to be known for more lasting and far-reaching ideas, like our generosity and selflessness. Our zeal to help others and to see kindness overtake hatred. It’s a lofty goal, but one that is worth striving for! If our names and reputations are to be known, may we be known for integrity, patience, and love, so that we may be the sort of people that others thank God for. May God’s peace be with you today.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

TIM

Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central.

I recently attended a music and worship conference at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. One evening while preparing for bed, the power went out in the lodge in which I was staying. It was late at night and we were in the mountains of North Carolina, so you can imagine there was no light anywhere. I began wandering my way back to my room, but had no light to use because my phone had just died. It was quite difficult navigating a residence in pitch black that I had not stayed in prior to my first and second night there.

When I realized I needed to charge my phone, I wandered in the pitch black to my vehicle outside to plug it in. I instantly realized the power was out for the entire block. I drove around for about 20 minutes (enough to get a 10% charge on my phone) and went back to the lodge. As I was walking in the front door, the power came back on.
I was doing exactly what a lot of people in this world try to do-navigate in the darkness.

Jesus tells us He’s the Light of the world. Without Him, we’re in the dark spiritually. We keep stumbling, falling, and feeling frustrated about it all. Just remember that Jesus is the light. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.

Monday, September 4, 2017

Monday, September 4, 2017

JOHN

Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. When we think of God having a plan and purpose for our lives, we can easily think that somehow His plan for us fits nice and neatly in the American Dream. Maybe God’s plan for you does include a three bedroom/two bath house in the suburbs, two cars, a nice income, and a couple of kids. BUT maybe it doesn’t. What if following Jesus meant you had to let go of your dreams and your plans or the comfort and the security you’ve worked so hard to attain?

What if following Jesus and living out His mission meant you wouldn’t have a home or even a bed to call your own? Would you still say “yes” to following Him? Jesus told a story about a rich young ruler who wanted to follow Jesus as long as he didn’t have to sacrifice his way of life. When Jesus told him that he had to give everything up and follow him, he simply walked away sorrowfully.

Following Jesus is not following the American dream. Maybe, God has a different dream for you.

Friday, September 1, 2017

Friday, September 1, 2017

GLENDA

Good Morning: Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep. A shepherd has 100 sheep. He makes it home with 99 of them, but one is lost. The shepherd makes sure his 99 are safe and he goes back and searches for that one lost sheep until he can bring him safely home.

What is the message here? That all of us are important to God and he is there to rescue lost souls. Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. No one can pluck them from my hand.”
I love the imagery of that last statement. He owns us. He is going to protect us. He will find us if we are lost. Are you one of His sheep? If not, you can be. All you have to do is reach out to Him. He is there for you. Have a wonderful day!