Friday, November 9, 2018

MATT FARMER Good Morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Meridian. When I first got married, I called my dad on a regular basis for advice. At some point in the conversation, I would say “I’ve got a question for you.” Eventually, it became a running joke between us and he would sometimes answer the phone and say, “What’s your question?” One day I a replied, “No question, just wanted to talk.” Have you ever just called a friend or loved one just to talk or hear their voice? There is something about hearing the voice of those you care about. It’s an important part of building up our relationship with that person. But what about in our prayer life? Do we call on God just when we need something, or do we talk with Him regularly just in hopes of hearing from him? Prayer is essential if we want to deepen our relationship with God. It aligns our heart with His and our will to his will for our lives. I encourage you to pray - not only when you are in need or when you have a question but just in hopes of hearing his voice.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Jesus is preaching to the crowds on the mountains of Galilee when Jesus tells those gathered around that we are called to be the salt of the earth. Salt has three major uses: preservation, flavor, and medicine. Salt prevents rot and decay. So, when we are the salt of the earth, we are called to live lives free from sin and corruption, and therefore, we can help preserve those around us. We add salt to food when it is bland don’t we? Food that tastes good makes the consumption more experiential and meaningful. As salt is to food, so are Christians to be to life. We are called to add flavor and good taste to the world around us. Salt can also be used in medicine. It helps kill bacteria and cleanse disease. It's also an old trick to gargle salt water to help a sore throat. Salt helps cleanse and nurse back to life that which is not well. And we are called to cleanse those around us and help them heal. Finally, also note that salt creates thirst. Salt by itself can leave your mouth dry and in need of water. The world around us is spiritually dehydrated and needs nourishing. So, we are called to be salt so people thirst for something more! We can make them thirst for it by the way we live our lives. It will invoke the thirst and God will do the hydrating. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” May those around you sense your “saltiness” so they may receive God.

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

BOB Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community in downtown Meridian. Every day we wake up to new possibilities, new opportunities, and new challenges. Do we dare to dream of what could be? Are we willing to run the risk of being disappointed? Are we ready for what will happen if the dreams don't come true? Is it worth the risk? Perhaps the more important questions are: Can we afford not to dream? Is that worth the risk of never seeing dreams come true? Is the safety of not dreaming better than the thrill of experiencing a dream come true? Would we really want to live a life without dreams? At Central we are a church that dreams, both as individuals and as a community. We seek to dream the dreams that God gives to us, knowing that with God all things are possible and so expecting to see those dreams fulfilled. Come and dream along with us at Central a United Methodist Community.

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

BENJI Good morning! I’m Benji Riddle – Director of Youth Ministry at Central United Methodist. Throughout history, the people of God, that’s you and me, have had a seriously hard time remembering to remember God. We’re following him, growing closer to him, and living our lives with him as our orbital center—and then we aren’t. We forget all about who he really is and what he really does. We witnessed God coming through for us yesterday, but we are acting like he’s our enemy today. You could say remembering to remember God is the primary spiritual discipline of our lives, because we’re so typically bad at remembering to remember. In my favorite hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, a line is stated that says, “Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I’ve come.” An Ebenezer was basically a monument built by God’s people to remind them always of how good God is; how God helped them in some way so that generations down the line would know. Today, find a way to remind yourself of the goodness of God and the peace that He brings.

Monday, November 5, 2018

SABRINA Life experiences, we all have them. Many are embarrassing, sad, shameful— some seem pretty insignificant, yet, they are all props on the stage of our lives. We can change the props, paint them, re-upholster them, change their position, but they remain on our stage. Each of these moments have the potential to be used by God in the people whose paths cross ours. We don’t have to share our story with the WORLD, just be open to let God use our stories when the circumstances arise. I feel this is what God has called us to do as followers of the One who has seen us through some of life’s darkest moments – to walk alongside, encourage, love, show compassion. What if the boy who came to a Galilean hillside with his meager lunch had refused to relinquish it to the disciples? We wouldn’t have the marvelous story of Jesus feeding the multitude. Be willing to share YOUR past for God to use in feeding a soul. It could make an eternal difference in someone’s life!

Friday, November 2, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. This Sunday, many churches around the world will celebrate All Saints Sunday. On this particular Sunday, we remember all those who have followed Christ to the end and now rest from their labors. This is a very special day for all of us who have been blessed to run beside and at times follow the steps of those great men and women of God who have shown us how to run this race and to endure to the end. I want you to know that if you are a follower of Jesus, you are blessed to have spiritual influence over a certain number of people. You call them husband, wife, daughter, son or just friend, but you have great influence on the person that they are. On this Sunday, let us remember to use that influence to cheer each other along in following Jesus. Let them see you run with a smile on your face and your eyes fixed upon the prize that is ahead. Let us listen as we can hear Jesus saying well done to each who cross the line before us; and let us keep running until we hear it for ourselves. I have known many saints in my life, and because of Jesus, I know that one day I will see them again.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

GLENDA Good Morning: November is a month when we focus on Thanksgiving. I don’t mean just the family get-togethers to eat Turkey. I’m talking about real Thanksgiving—being thankful for our blessings. Do you know what the greatest hindrance to being thankful is? NOT THINKING! In the old Anglo-Saxon language, “thankfulness” means “thinkfulness.” The more we think, the more thankful we will be. There was man who wanted to sell his house. The agent wrote an ad describing the house and called the man back to read it to him. The man interrupted the agent half-way through the ad and said, “All my life I’ve wanted a house like this. I just didn’t realize it until I thought about it.” If we really think about our lives and all the blessings God has given us, we may discover just how lucky and fortunate we really are. Think about your blessings and Thanksgiving will fill your heart. Have a great day!