JIM CAIN
Good Morning!
“Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:10
A friend of mine, Donnis Martin, had been a park ranger in Mississippi for over 25 years.
Upon retirement he went to visit a friend in New York City. While they were having lunch downtown Donnis paused and said,” I hear a cricket.” His friend said, “You're crazy! It's noon, people are jammed on the sidewalks, cars are speeding by, the city is full of noise and you think you can hear a cricket?
I'm sure I did,” said the park ranger listening even more intently, walked to the corner, spotted a shrub in a cement planter, dug into the leaves, and pulled out a cricket. He said, “My friend, my ears are different than yours. It all depends what your ears have been tuned to hear.”
Are you hearing what the Lord is saying to you today? If not, maybe it's time to tune Him in!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
SABRINA
Good Morning!
The word character comes from a Greek term describing an engraving tool. Our character, like that of an engraving tool is etched as a set of distinctive marks, drawing a picture of who we really are. Everyone has character...whether good, bad, sturdy or shady. Have you ever seen river rocks, shaped by water an wind? No single wave, or burst of wind shaped the rock. It was a repeated force. So it is with us. Everything we do, every thought, choice - good or bad, is a wave with ripple effects. It is never easy to see the immediate effect. It is in the consequence that follows. It forms the core of our character. With every decision a groove is cut. Our reaction in every crisis, cruelty temptation, cuts a pattern in our character. It is in those moments of decision your destiny is shaped. How is your character? If it needs some carving out, help is only a prayer away. God can change what we never could on our own. We only have to ask.
Good Morning!
The word character comes from a Greek term describing an engraving tool. Our character, like that of an engraving tool is etched as a set of distinctive marks, drawing a picture of who we really are. Everyone has character...whether good, bad, sturdy or shady. Have you ever seen river rocks, shaped by water an wind? No single wave, or burst of wind shaped the rock. It was a repeated force. So it is with us. Everything we do, every thought, choice - good or bad, is a wave with ripple effects. It is never easy to see the immediate effect. It is in the consequence that follows. It forms the core of our character. With every decision a groove is cut. Our reaction in every crisis, cruelty temptation, cuts a pattern in our character. It is in those moments of decision your destiny is shaped. How is your character? If it needs some carving out, help is only a prayer away. God can change what we never could on our own. We only have to ask.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Hi! I'm Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.
As a pastor, I have the privilege of performing weddings for couples when they marry. Several weeks ago, much of the world paused for the “royal wedding” between England's Prince William and Kate Middleton - in fact, almost one in every 3 people on Earth watched this magical event.
Why such fascination? Because royal weddings are like fairy tales - everything is often “just right”.
But in reality, there are FEW things in life that are “just right”. Most of our lives are filled with events and relationships that are complicated if not downright confusing.
But the good news is that God is in the midst of life with us. Through the Holy Spirit, God lives within everyone who trusts him. And because of that, we can have a great day!
As a pastor, I have the privilege of performing weddings for couples when they marry. Several weeks ago, much of the world paused for the “royal wedding” between England's Prince William and Kate Middleton - in fact, almost one in every 3 people on Earth watched this magical event.
Why such fascination? Because royal weddings are like fairy tales - everything is often “just right”.
But in reality, there are FEW things in life that are “just right”. Most of our lives are filled with events and relationships that are complicated if not downright confusing.
But the good news is that God is in the midst of life with us. Through the Holy Spirit, God lives within everyone who trusts him. And because of that, we can have a great day!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
AMY
Good Morning!
About 600 years before the time of Jesus, the Israelite people were entering a place of uncertainty.
Because the people had continually been unfaithful and had worshipped other gods, God allowed the Babylonians to come into Judah, the southern part of the promised land, and conquer them, force them out of their homes and take them away into exile, into captivity in the foreign land of Babylon.
The prophet Jeremiah was sent to speak God's message to the people. Part of the message was that God had a hopeful future planned for the people, and one day they would return home again.
The power of the gospel that we proclaim is that now, not just heaven in the future, but now, we can have a new life.
Every day is a chance to start over. Whatever you have done that's in the past, leave it there and move on. If God can restore those who continually turned away and ended up in exile, then surely, God can and will restore us too and give us hope.
Good Morning!
About 600 years before the time of Jesus, the Israelite people were entering a place of uncertainty.
Because the people had continually been unfaithful and had worshipped other gods, God allowed the Babylonians to come into Judah, the southern part of the promised land, and conquer them, force them out of their homes and take them away into exile, into captivity in the foreign land of Babylon.
The prophet Jeremiah was sent to speak God's message to the people. Part of the message was that God had a hopeful future planned for the people, and one day they would return home again.
The power of the gospel that we proclaim is that now, not just heaven in the future, but now, we can have a new life.
Every day is a chance to start over. Whatever you have done that's in the past, leave it there and move on. If God can restore those who continually turned away and ended up in exile, then surely, God can and will restore us too and give us hope.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
AMY
Good Morning! This is the season for graduations. If you are graduating and entering a new phase of your life, congratulations! I remember graduating from high school and all the conflicting emotions I felt:
I was exited to be moving away from home. I was proud of my high school accomplishments yet happy that high school was over. I was sad to leave my friends and nervous about entering the uncertainty of a new place.
I was afraid “what if I pick the wrong school or the wrong major.” In hindsight, I don't believe that God has every little step of our lives predetermined. God has a very good general plan for our lives, and God gives us the freedom to make choices:
choices about our education, our jobs, who we will date and possibly marry. If you are uncertain about the future, be encouraged: You will make mistakes along the way, but if you are faithful and you seek God's will, you will be fine.
Go today into your hopeful future, letting God be your guide.
Good Morning! This is the season for graduations. If you are graduating and entering a new phase of your life, congratulations! I remember graduating from high school and all the conflicting emotions I felt:
I was exited to be moving away from home. I was proud of my high school accomplishments yet happy that high school was over. I was sad to leave my friends and nervous about entering the uncertainty of a new place.
I was afraid “what if I pick the wrong school or the wrong major.” In hindsight, I don't believe that God has every little step of our lives predetermined. God has a very good general plan for our lives, and God gives us the freedom to make choices:
choices about our education, our jobs, who we will date and possibly marry. If you are uncertain about the future, be encouraged: You will make mistakes along the way, but if you are faithful and you seek God's will, you will be fine.
Go today into your hopeful future, letting God be your guide.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
JIM CAIN
GOOD MORNING!
“Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air.” 1 Corinthians 9:26
In a boxing match several years ago, boxer Tyson Fury was growing more and more frustrated because his opponent, Lee Swaby, was dodging and running from his every move. So Tyson set himself to throw a knockout punch but when he delivered the awesome right uppercut he had swung with such force that the momentum brought the punch back around causing Fury to punch himself in the face. The blow staggered Fury, knocking him down. The referee administered the count, and pronounced Swaby the winner of the fight.
Do you ever feel like you are your own worse enemy? Do you keep yourself from succeeding? Maybe it's because you are trying to do it all yourself. The good news is God wants to help if only we will let Him, turn the fight over to Him today and feel the difference it will make!
GOOD MORNING!
“Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air.” 1 Corinthians 9:26
In a boxing match several years ago, boxer Tyson Fury was growing more and more frustrated because his opponent, Lee Swaby, was dodging and running from his every move. So Tyson set himself to throw a knockout punch but when he delivered the awesome right uppercut he had swung with such force that the momentum brought the punch back around causing Fury to punch himself in the face. The blow staggered Fury, knocking him down. The referee administered the count, and pronounced Swaby the winner of the fight.
Do you ever feel like you are your own worse enemy? Do you keep yourself from succeeding? Maybe it's because you are trying to do it all yourself. The good news is God wants to help if only we will let Him, turn the fight over to Him today and feel the difference it will make!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
BOB PEDEN
This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church in downtown Meridian. I read a news article the other day that said this is to be the century of disasters. This certainly seems to be the case.
Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean and now Japan. Huge earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand and Japan. The spill of millions of gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. One disaster after another. He listed a number of reasons why this will probably continue. Better reporting throughout the world, more people living in more densely populated areas, more reliance on technology that will potentially fail. But when you hear of another disaster, remember that God loves you and that he loves those who are victims of these disasters. He does not send these disasters, but He is able to use them to show his love and His grace, often through the acts of His people.
This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church in downtown Meridian. I read a news article the other day that said this is to be the century of disasters. This certainly seems to be the case.
Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean and now Japan. Huge earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand and Japan. The spill of millions of gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico. One disaster after another. He listed a number of reasons why this will probably continue. Better reporting throughout the world, more people living in more densely populated areas, more reliance on technology that will potentially fail. But when you hear of another disaster, remember that God loves you and that he loves those who are victims of these disasters. He does not send these disasters, but He is able to use them to show his love and His grace, often through the acts of His people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)