Friday, November 29, 2019

TIM Good morning and Happy Friday to everyone! I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister, and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. I am sure that you are feeling a sense of relief as this week closes. If your week was anything like mine, it was full of travels, family gatherings, and lots of people! For those of you that may need an extra boost of confidence, I want to share part of Psalm 40 with you: “I put all my hope in the Lord. He leaned down to me; he listened to my cry for help. He lifted me out of the pit…and set my feet on solid ground. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise for our God. Those who put their trust in the Lord are truly happy!” True happiness in your life isn’t found in work or pleasure or shopping or even holiday traditions. It isn’t found in material possessions or even people. It isn’t found in money or food or clothes. True happiness comes when you put your trust in God. At Central, we want to help you learn how to trust in Him, so, won’t you come join us? We can trust God together and we can be truly happy, and then we can know what it truly means to be thankful.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Roger Babson, a famous statistician, was having lunch with the President of Argentina, Mr. Babson. The President said, "I have been wondering why it is that South America, with all its natural advantages, mines of iron, copper, coal and silver, rivers and great waterfalls is so far behind North America?" Babson replied, "Well, Mr. President, what do you think is the reason?" He answered, " South America was founded by the Spanish who came in search of gold. North America was founded by the Pilgrims who went there in search of God." If we live a life of seeking gold—the blessings of God but not God Himself—we end up losing both. The Pilgrims, who gave us the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving, came in search of God. It is because of this that America has reaped blessing upon blessing. We need to examine ourselves and be careful that we are seeking God in all things, putting Him first, and giving thanks to Him always. Seek first the kingdom of God and He will surely provide from His riches in glory.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

MATT Good Morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Meridian. Many times, we can be overwhelmed by life. Situations and circumstances come along that can leave us feeling alone and ruined. Philippians 4:6 and 7 say: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. When we turn our worries over to God and allow His peace to guard us, we began to have a change in perspective. Suddenly our situation seems less dire when we understand that Christ is on our side. If you are struggling with the worries of life, turn to Christ and let his peace cover you.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

GLENDA Good Morning: Did you know that if you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world? If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy? If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than many who will not survive this day. If you have never experienced fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, agony of torture, or pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 700 million people in this world. If you can attend a church or synagogue without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are envied by and more blessed than three billion people in the world. You didn't know you were so blessed, did you? Before you walk out your door, stop, count your blessings, and say “Thank you, God.” Have a wonderful day!

Monday, November 25, 2019

SABRINA There is an old Bill Gaither song – God of the Mountain. The chorus states, “for the God on the mountain, is the God in the valley – the God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day is still God in the night. This song reminds us, not only of God’s sovereignty but of our own approach to life and the emotions that go with it. Sure, it may be easier, less complicated, but really, how dull and colorless would life be without the mountains and valleys? Emotions are a gift from God. Gaining self-discipline over our emotions does not mean ignoring them – it simply means that when we can identify them through both difficult and happy times, we can truly appreciate those mountaintop days, because we know what it felt like in the valley of life. It reminds us that God, is indeed, with us in the valleys, and also stands with us on the mountains. As the holiday season is upon us, if today you find yourself walking in the valley of life, may I remind you that God is with you today, was with you yesterday, and will be with you tomorrow. His presence surrounds our days, nights, mountains, and valleys. Go today, in His peace.

Friday, November 22, 2019

TIM Good morning, this is Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. As we are nearing the week of Thanksgiving, I want to invite you to reflect on the great blessings God has given each of us. As you reflect on all that God has done for you, find a way to offer him thanks and praise. One opportunity we have for you at Central is this coming Sunday evening at 6 p.m. We are having a Service of Thanksgiving where we will offer thanks to God and give back something as an offering of gratitude. We will have music and worship, an opportunity for missional giving, and plenty of time for prayer. Part of the missional giving will be a collection of kid-friendly non-perishable food items that will be used to help support our Backpack Buddy Program here at Central. We provide backpacks to school-aged children who have been identified as kids in need of food in their homes. These items will be collected and prayed over at a special time during this service. We hope you can make it on Sunday, November 24th for our Service of Thanksgiving.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

BOB Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community here in downtown Meridian. A recent survey of Americans who consider themselves to be Christian uncovered that most consider the fundamentals of Christianity to be: God wants people to be nice and fair to one another. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself. God doesn't need to be involved in your life unless something is going wrong and you need it resolved. Good people go to heaven when they die. If this is your understanding of Christianity, I would encourage you to read the Good news of Jesus Christ contained in the Gospels. You will uncover there the true beliefs Jesus calls us to Jesus was God and man, born of a virgin, died on a cross, resurrected, commands you to love your neighbor as yourself - even if they are very different and live far away, instructs you to die to self, and expects that you will create other followers. But don't take my word for it. Read the gospels for yourself. See what God has there for you.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

SABRINA During this month of Thanksgiving, we are called to remember the many blessings in our lives, but what about the hard, difficult, ugly times we have been or perhaps are going through? We only have to turn to Luke Chapter 15, to the parable of the prodigal son, to fully understand and embrace the answer. It shows us how in the context of being lost, being found is more wonderous, being persecuted, finding acceptance is more precious, in being sick, being healed is more miraculous. If we forget or turn our back on our mistakes, we have failed to be reminded of God’s grace and presence in our lives. All of us have faced a time when the road was difficult. Perhaps, we made less than stellar choices and found ourselves suffering repercussions from choices we had no control over; but when we reflect and acknowledge the difficult times, we come more fully into understanding God’s love and grace for us. It is there that our roots of thanksgiving and gratitude can grow more deeply in the somber soil of remembering our human hopelessness but for God’s grace. And for that – we are thankful!

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

MATT Good Morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Meridian. Several weeks ago, I was in a local grocery store. The woman in front of me was struggling to unload the heavier items in her buggy. Noticing the difficulty, she was having, I leaned over and said, “Let me help you with those.” Her response was one of relief and gratitude. She thanked me profusely for the help while explaining that she suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome. I could have chosen not to assist this woman, but my choice to help make an impact on her that day. While we may not always succeed, our desire should be to live a life where the love of Jesus can be seen through our actions. In doing so, others can experience just a portion of the love that Christ has shown us.

Monday, November 18, 2019

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. During his reign, King Frederick William III of Prussia found himself in a bind. Wars had been costly, and in trying to build the nation, he was seriously short of finances. After careful reflection, he decided to ask the women of Prussia if they would bring their jewelry of gold and silver to be melted down for their country. Each piece of jewelry he received, he would exchange for a decoration of bronze or iron as a symbol of his gratitude. These decorations would be inscribed, 'I gave gold for iron, 18l3'. The response was overwhelming. But more importantly, the women prized these gifts from the king even more highly than their former jewelry! The reason, of course, is clear. They were proof that they had sacrificed for their king. When we come to know our King, we, too should want to exchange the flourishes of our former life for Him. The amazing thing about our King is that He not only takes our jewels, but He takes our rags too and uses them for the good of His Kingdom! Perhaps there are some things we need to sacrifice to him today. There are great things awaiting those who give.