BOB
Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central a United Methodist Community. Do you ever feel forgotten? Forgotten by your acquaintances, your friends, your family. I can assure you that you have not been forgotten by God.
How can I be so sure that God has not forgotten you? God says in the 47th chapter of the book of Isaiah, See, I have engraved your name on the palms of my hands. With your name engraved in God's palms, he cannot possibly forget.
God cares for you. God loves you. God wants only what is best for you. There is nothing you can do that will erase your name from God's palm. It was engraved in his palms with the nails of the cross. He desires to save you from yourself.
Your name is engraved in the palms of God's hands. He will never leave you. He will never forget you. That is God's good news for you today.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
SABRINA
I'm Sabrina Williams, Director of Children and Family Ministry at Central United Methodist Church. We have all had those times when we felt God was silent when we desperately needed answers, comfort, or direction. In Psalm 13, David cried out to God asking how long would He look the other way and ignore his anguish. Does today find you, like David, feeling God has turned His back? Are you in the valley of your life?
1 Peter 1:6 offers assurance in telling us there is wonderful joy ahead, even though you endure trials for a little while.
Romans 5:3 reminds us that it is during these trials we develop endurance, which builds character, and strengthens us.
Isaiah 55:8&9 reminds us that perhaps it's simply a sign that God's ways and wisdom are far beyond our understanding and many times what we call silence isn't really silence at all?
I also invite you to join us on Sunday mornings for worship, finding peace within our community of faith. Among us, you will find living, breathing proof that God does truly bring us from the valleys, renewing our faith in God and each other!
I'm Sabrina Williams, Director of Children and Family Ministry at Central United Methodist Church. We have all had those times when we felt God was silent when we desperately needed answers, comfort, or direction. In Psalm 13, David cried out to God asking how long would He look the other way and ignore his anguish. Does today find you, like David, feeling God has turned His back? Are you in the valley of your life?
1 Peter 1:6 offers assurance in telling us there is wonderful joy ahead, even though you endure trials for a little while.
Romans 5:3 reminds us that it is during these trials we develop endurance, which builds character, and strengthens us.
Isaiah 55:8&9 reminds us that perhaps it's simply a sign that God's ways and wisdom are far beyond our understanding and many times what we call silence isn't really silence at all?
I also invite you to join us on Sunday mornings for worship, finding peace within our community of faith. Among us, you will find living, breathing proof that God does truly bring us from the valleys, renewing our faith in God and each other!
Monday, July 17, 2017
Monday, July 17, 2017
SABRINA
Recently our grandson, Brett, was playing with his cousin Miley, who was making jewelry. He suddenly called to me, telling me he told Miley all earrings did not have to match. At this point I realized he was making his mother a pair of earrings. I told him they could be however he wanted them to be.
I texted his mother to tell her she would be getting a mismatched pair of earrings. To MY surprise, they were for me. If you see me sporting a pair of mismatched earrings, you know the story.
It DID, however, make me start thinking of how my earrings are a lot like Christians. We want to think as Christians we should be matching sets, we are different. We come from different backgrounds, have different personalities and ways of dealing with things, yet we DO indeed make a set, a unique set, a set that completely fills God's purpose in His world.
While the Apostle Paul may have described us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 as needed but different parts of the human body, my earrings from a sweet little boy will serve as my reminder of our unique, yet different parts of God's set, a set called to reach out to others telling of God's great love for everyone, no matter their differences.
Recently our grandson, Brett, was playing with his cousin Miley, who was making jewelry. He suddenly called to me, telling me he told Miley all earrings did not have to match. At this point I realized he was making his mother a pair of earrings. I told him they could be however he wanted them to be.
I texted his mother to tell her she would be getting a mismatched pair of earrings. To MY surprise, they were for me. If you see me sporting a pair of mismatched earrings, you know the story.
It DID, however, make me start thinking of how my earrings are a lot like Christians. We want to think as Christians we should be matching sets, we are different. We come from different backgrounds, have different personalities and ways of dealing with things, yet we DO indeed make a set, a unique set, a set that completely fills God's purpose in His world.
While the Apostle Paul may have described us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 as needed but different parts of the human body, my earrings from a sweet little boy will serve as my reminder of our unique, yet different parts of God's set, a set called to reach out to others telling of God's great love for everyone, no matter their differences.
Monday, July 17, 2017
JOHN
Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever had a friend go through a hard time and you didn’t know how to comfort them? Sometimes we even quote a text from the Bible, thinking that it will make them feel better. We can’t stomach not having the words to say to someone who is hurting or confused. Our desire might be to explain why their situation is happening or give them words of comfort. We might even call them daily to see if their situation is improving.
The Old Testament tells of a man named Job whose friends were the same way. The majority of the book of Job consists of his friends explaining to him why his children have died, why his livestock is all gone, and why he has sores all over his body. Their words of comfort were really words of discomfort.
Sometimes God will use us to give a Biblical answer to the suffering a person is enduring, but there will still be instances when we have no idea what to say. Instead of spouting off religiously oriented phrases in these situations, we should listen, listen, and listen some more.
Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever had a friend go through a hard time and you didn’t know how to comfort them? Sometimes we even quote a text from the Bible, thinking that it will make them feel better. We can’t stomach not having the words to say to someone who is hurting or confused. Our desire might be to explain why their situation is happening or give them words of comfort. We might even call them daily to see if their situation is improving.
The Old Testament tells of a man named Job whose friends were the same way. The majority of the book of Job consists of his friends explaining to him why his children have died, why his livestock is all gone, and why he has sores all over his body. Their words of comfort were really words of discomfort.
Sometimes God will use us to give a Biblical answer to the suffering a person is enduring, but there will still be instances when we have no idea what to say. Instead of spouting off religiously oriented phrases in these situations, we should listen, listen, and listen some more.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Friday, July 14, 2017
TIM
Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central.
Snakes are considered sly animals. We even use the phrase “snake in the grass” to refer to someone who is always being sneaky and conniving.
In Chapter 3 of Genesis, we see the account in the Garden of Eden with the snake and the woman. The snake assures the woman that what God had told her was false and convinces her to eat the forbidden fruit. When she did, her eyes were opened to see both good and evil.
When we look at this story, we see two things: the first opportunity to give into temptation and the fall of mankind, often times known as the original sin.
I urge you to be cautious of those people you surround yourself with because they could be leading you on a path away from God’s will. Even those closest to you, while although might mean well, can lead you astray unknowingly.
And last, and most importantly, don’t listen to talking snakes!
Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central.
Snakes are considered sly animals. We even use the phrase “snake in the grass” to refer to someone who is always being sneaky and conniving.
In Chapter 3 of Genesis, we see the account in the Garden of Eden with the snake and the woman. The snake assures the woman that what God had told her was false and convinces her to eat the forbidden fruit. When she did, her eyes were opened to see both good and evil.
When we look at this story, we see two things: the first opportunity to give into temptation and the fall of mankind, often times known as the original sin.
I urge you to be cautious of those people you surround yourself with because they could be leading you on a path away from God’s will. Even those closest to you, while although might mean well, can lead you astray unknowingly.
And last, and most importantly, don’t listen to talking snakes!
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Thursday, July 13, 2017
JOHN
Good Morning! I’m John Branning, the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church.
Our core theme at Central has been around the Ironmakers. This comes from Proverbs 27:17, which says that as iron sharpens iron so one man/woman sharpens another.
Today, you may be experiencing a troubling situation that you don’t think you can handle. I want to tell you that you have this. You are stronger than you think you are and there is no obstacle that can’t be overcome with an active faith that presses you to follow Jesus and a few Ironmakers in your life.
Followers of Jesus are never weak and they never give up. God is completely in love with you and believes in you. This is a message that we all need to be reminded of today. I invite you to Central this week and to take up the Ironmakers’ challenge for yourself. If you will take the challenge, I promise you that you will find you’re stronger than you thought. You are always welcome at Central.
Good Morning! I’m John Branning, the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church.
Our core theme at Central has been around the Ironmakers. This comes from Proverbs 27:17, which says that as iron sharpens iron so one man/woman sharpens another.
Today, you may be experiencing a troubling situation that you don’t think you can handle. I want to tell you that you have this. You are stronger than you think you are and there is no obstacle that can’t be overcome with an active faith that presses you to follow Jesus and a few Ironmakers in your life.
Followers of Jesus are never weak and they never give up. God is completely in love with you and believes in you. This is a message that we all need to be reminded of today. I invite you to Central this week and to take up the Ironmakers’ challenge for yourself. If you will take the challenge, I promise you that you will find you’re stronger than you thought. You are always welcome at Central.
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
DENNIS
Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church.
If you have ever made a camp fire, then you also have put one out. Most of the time sand is used to get the job done. You see, sand and fire do not mix. Just like sand to fire, there are things in our life that quench the fire inside of us.
This morning you may find yourself in that condition. The zest for life and the dream you once had has died. Wrong turns, bad choices, and unforeseen events all have a way of quenching our fire. However, God wants to rekindle that flame in you with the light of His Spirit. The spirit of grace manifests itself in the Christian life through various means, especially through repentance and faith.
The fire of God gives us our zest for life. He inspires us to works of charity, being devoted to Christian community, and spreading the Gospel.
The Book of Acts speaks of a man named Apollos. Apollos was said to be on fire for the Gospel. He had a burning in his spirit that propelled him to speak and teach about the Lord.
So, have you lost your fire and your passion for life? If so, seek the Father and ask him to show you how to remove the sand from the wood pile.
Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church.
If you have ever made a camp fire, then you also have put one out. Most of the time sand is used to get the job done. You see, sand and fire do not mix. Just like sand to fire, there are things in our life that quench the fire inside of us.
This morning you may find yourself in that condition. The zest for life and the dream you once had has died. Wrong turns, bad choices, and unforeseen events all have a way of quenching our fire. However, God wants to rekindle that flame in you with the light of His Spirit. The spirit of grace manifests itself in the Christian life through various means, especially through repentance and faith.
The fire of God gives us our zest for life. He inspires us to works of charity, being devoted to Christian community, and spreading the Gospel.
The Book of Acts speaks of a man named Apollos. Apollos was said to be on fire for the Gospel. He had a burning in his spirit that propelled him to speak and teach about the Lord.
So, have you lost your fire and your passion for life? If so, seek the Father and ask him to show you how to remove the sand from the wood pile.
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