KRISTINA
Good Morning! I am Kristina Crabtree, Pastor of Missions and Evangelism at
Central United Methodist Church. As we begin our day, let us meditate on
the word “come.” What meaning is brought to mind when I say the word
“come?” Maybe you thought about moving towards, inviting, or just maybe
an action.
When I think about this word from the Christian perspective, I think of Jesus
inviting those who do not know him to come and know him. Revelation 22:17
gives us a more in-depth meaning to the word “come.” It says, “The spirit
and the bride say, ‘come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one
who desires take the water of life without price.”
This gives us a community meaning when it comes to the action of “coming”
to Jesus. This invitation from Jesus is to everyone, Christian or non-
Christian, Christian for a short time or Christian for a long time. The action
of coming to Jesus never stops for us. Jesus is always calling us to come to
him. I invite you to go and intently spend time with the one who is inviting
you to come. Be encouraged today!
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Monday, November 9, 2015
Monday, November 9, 2015
DENNIS
Good Morning. I’m Dennis Gossett for Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever wondered what God is up to in the world? I know I have. When we suffer it can be especially hard to believe that God is there. Sometimes, things can get so bad that we can feel so alone. These are the times we wish God would move in a very big way; moving mountains so that everybody would take notice.
In the bible, the prophet Elijah reached a point in his life where he felt so alone and he wanted God to show up in some mighty big ways. He journeyed for a long time wanting God to prove that he was present. On top of a mountain, Elijah learned that God was present, but not in the loud earth moving ways. He was there in the silence.
Likewise, distractions want to pull us away from being still with God. We must be intentional about getting alone with Him. Henri Nouwen once said, “The discipline of solitude allows us gradually to come in touch with this hopeful peace of God in our lives, and allows us also to taste even now the beginning of the joy and peace which belong to the new heaven and new earth.”
I invite you to slow down this week and schedule a much needed appointment with God. Then come worship with us at Central.
Good Morning. I’m Dennis Gossett for Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever wondered what God is up to in the world? I know I have. When we suffer it can be especially hard to believe that God is there. Sometimes, things can get so bad that we can feel so alone. These are the times we wish God would move in a very big way; moving mountains so that everybody would take notice.
In the bible, the prophet Elijah reached a point in his life where he felt so alone and he wanted God to show up in some mighty big ways. He journeyed for a long time wanting God to prove that he was present. On top of a mountain, Elijah learned that God was present, but not in the loud earth moving ways. He was there in the silence.
Likewise, distractions want to pull us away from being still with God. We must be intentional about getting alone with Him. Henri Nouwen once said, “The discipline of solitude allows us gradually to come in touch with this hopeful peace of God in our lives, and allows us also to taste even now the beginning of the joy and peace which belong to the new heaven and new earth.”
I invite you to slow down this week and schedule a much needed appointment with God. Then come worship with us at Central.
Friday, November 6, 2015
Friday, November 6, 2015
KRISTINA
Good Morning! My name is Kristina Crabtree Pastor of Missions and
Evangelism at Central United Methodist Church. Today is World Community
Day. On this day, we recognize the need for justice and peace in our world.
We know that we serve a God who does not create evil but brings light into
the evil in our world. We see it all over the news and quite possible with our
very eyes every day.
But, be encouraged today that this world we live in is covered in the
protection and love of God. In Ps. 46, the psalmist declares, “God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear
though the earth gives way…” and it continues with “God is in the midst of
her.”
This great declaration is our hope in this world today. We have a God who is
not only almighty and powerful, but He is a God who is ever present among
us through the good and the bad, bringing justice and peace.
I encourage you to recognize the peace God has and is giving to us in our
world today. Let us be encourage by the hope of God in this world and not
the bad.
Good Morning! My name is Kristina Crabtree Pastor of Missions and
Evangelism at Central United Methodist Church. Today is World Community
Day. On this day, we recognize the need for justice and peace in our world.
We know that we serve a God who does not create evil but brings light into
the evil in our world. We see it all over the news and quite possible with our
very eyes every day.
But, be encouraged today that this world we live in is covered in the
protection and love of God. In Ps. 46, the psalmist declares, “God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear
though the earth gives way…” and it continues with “God is in the midst of
her.”
This great declaration is our hope in this world today. We have a God who is
not only almighty and powerful, but He is a God who is ever present among
us through the good and the bad, bringing justice and peace.
I encourage you to recognize the peace God has and is giving to us in our
world today. Let us be encourage by the hope of God in this world and not
the bad.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Thursday, November 5, 2015
SUZANNE
“Peace! Be Still!’
Have you ever needed those words to calm a storm in your life? Matthew and
Mark both recount in their gospels of a time in the boat with Jesus when a
storm came upon them. The disciples woke Jesus, afraid they were going to
drown. Jesus’ response to them was “Ye of little faith.”
I sometimes wonder if that is the whisper that comes across our hearts when
the storms of life come our way. “Oh, ye of little faith!”
The difficulties that arise send us searching for answers, forgetting that the
Master of the Storm has but to utter “peace be still,” and calm will come our
way. It may not mean that the storm is removed, for that is the test of life,
but the Peace of God that transcends all understanding can come our way if
we will rest in the amazement of our Savior. “For even the winds and waves
obey Him.”
For Central, A United Methodist Community, may the peace of Christ calm
your storms this day!
“Peace! Be Still!’
Have you ever needed those words to calm a storm in your life? Matthew and
Mark both recount in their gospels of a time in the boat with Jesus when a
storm came upon them. The disciples woke Jesus, afraid they were going to
drown. Jesus’ response to them was “Ye of little faith.”
I sometimes wonder if that is the whisper that comes across our hearts when
the storms of life come our way. “Oh, ye of little faith!”
The difficulties that arise send us searching for answers, forgetting that the
Master of the Storm has but to utter “peace be still,” and calm will come our
way. It may not mean that the storm is removed, for that is the test of life,
but the Peace of God that transcends all understanding can come our way if
we will rest in the amazement of our Savior. “For even the winds and waves
obey Him.”
For Central, A United Methodist Community, may the peace of Christ calm
your storms this day!
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
RAY
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,
and slow to wrath. James 1:19
The Huffington Post carried an article on the five skills of good listeners:
"They give special attention to the one speaking, they listen without being
judgmental or reacting too soon, they discern where the speaker is coming
from, they interrupt sparingly, and they respond with understanding."
Apply those principles to listening to God's Word. Picking up our Bibles, we
should give God our full attention, withhold our opinion until we
understand what He is saying, listen without interrupting, and respond with
understanding and obedience.
When James said, "Be quick to hear," he wasn't just talking about listening to
each other. The verses that follow speak of being quick to listen to the Lord:
"Let every man be swift to hear ... and receive with meekness the implanted
word ... Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Let's be quick to listen,
swift to believe, and eager to obey!
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,
and slow to wrath. James 1:19
The Huffington Post carried an article on the five skills of good listeners:
"They give special attention to the one speaking, they listen without being
judgmental or reacting too soon, they discern where the speaker is coming
from, they interrupt sparingly, and they respond with understanding."
Apply those principles to listening to God's Word. Picking up our Bibles, we
should give God our full attention, withhold our opinion until we
understand what He is saying, listen without interrupting, and respond with
understanding and obedience.
When James said, "Be quick to hear," he wasn't just talking about listening to
each other. The verses that follow speak of being quick to listen to the Lord:
"Let every man be swift to hear ... and receive with meekness the implanted
word ... Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Let's be quick to listen,
swift to believe, and eager to obey!
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
DENNIS
Good Morning. I am Dennis Gossett, for Central United Methodist Church. There are a lot of people in the world who believe that money and material wealth will provide them with happiness. So often, we strive and strategize in order to get into a certain position in life. Then we soon realize that it was not what we thought it would be. The nice clothes, cars, homes and careers cannot truly satisfy that which is deep down. No amount of money in the world can bring peace to a soul. True happiness does not come from what we have.
However, there is a way to gain it. God has a plan that each one of us can follow in order to obtain peace, joy and security. Catherine of Genoa said this about God’s strategy, “The selfishness that is within us, however, is contrary to God that God cannot induce us to do his will except by clever strategy: promising us greater things than the world can give.”
Jesus once compared the life of two people; a poor man and rich man. The poor man who believed inherited a kingdom, which the unbelieving rich man inherited a place of torment.
Friends, true peace can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ, which money cannot buy. I invite you to Central to be a part of our community as we strive for those things that only can come through faith.
Good Morning. I am Dennis Gossett, for Central United Methodist Church. There are a lot of people in the world who believe that money and material wealth will provide them with happiness. So often, we strive and strategize in order to get into a certain position in life. Then we soon realize that it was not what we thought it would be. The nice clothes, cars, homes and careers cannot truly satisfy that which is deep down. No amount of money in the world can bring peace to a soul. True happiness does not come from what we have.
However, there is a way to gain it. God has a plan that each one of us can follow in order to obtain peace, joy and security. Catherine of Genoa said this about God’s strategy, “The selfishness that is within us, however, is contrary to God that God cannot induce us to do his will except by clever strategy: promising us greater things than the world can give.”
Jesus once compared the life of two people; a poor man and rich man. The poor man who believed inherited a kingdom, which the unbelieving rich man inherited a place of torment.
Friends, true peace can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ, which money cannot buy. I invite you to Central to be a part of our community as we strive for those things that only can come through faith.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Monday, November 2, 2015
SABRINA
It is November and we have now officially entered the holiday season! For
many, we find ourselves in our favorite time of year. For others, the events of
this year finds a holiday season that seems cold and dark.
If you find yourself in darkness thinking of the weeks to come, what can you
do? In the dark you can -
1.Turn on the light of of Faith, believing in what you can’t see, which is that
God holds you safely and lovingly in His care no matter where you are. You
cannot travel outside of His presence.
2.Turn on the light of His Word -The scriptures hold words of comfort in
times of hurt, despair and anguish. Read the Psalms, they are a great source
of peace and comfort.
3.Turn on the light of friendship. Let others know your heartache, fear,
loneliness. Allow them to stand with you. They can offer comfort, strength
and solace. We were not meant to go this life alone.
May the God of peace and love abide with you today, tomorrow, and
throughout this holiday season!
It is November and we have now officially entered the holiday season! For
many, we find ourselves in our favorite time of year. For others, the events of
this year finds a holiday season that seems cold and dark.
If you find yourself in darkness thinking of the weeks to come, what can you
do? In the dark you can -
1.Turn on the light of of Faith, believing in what you can’t see, which is that
God holds you safely and lovingly in His care no matter where you are. You
cannot travel outside of His presence.
2.Turn on the light of His Word -The scriptures hold words of comfort in
times of hurt, despair and anguish. Read the Psalms, they are a great source
of peace and comfort.
3.Turn on the light of friendship. Let others know your heartache, fear,
loneliness. Allow them to stand with you. They can offer comfort, strength
and solace. We were not meant to go this life alone.
May the God of peace and love abide with you today, tomorrow, and
throughout this holiday season!
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