DENNIS
Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever wondered why we are encouraged to pray? I believe God desires us to pray to him more than we desire to pray to God. God is passionately pursuing each one of us, because he wants to have a good relationship with us. That is why he invented it for us. It was his initiative, not ours.
God is always knocking at our door asking us to open up. However, we feel so rushed that we simply reserve only five minutes or less to speak with him. We can become so rushed that we cannot hear His knocking any more. That is why our hearts, minds, and conscience becomes seared and we convince ourselves that God is absent from our lives. But the truth is we are more absent than he is.
God wants to be heard. He wants to show us where to go and what path to follow. God wants each one of us to experience His divine love and presence. So, I challenge you to take more time out of each day to say, “Here I am God. Speak to my heart.” I also invite you to Central to learn how to hear the word of God speaking to you. God bless.
Friday, July 29, 2016
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Thursday, July 28, 2016
JONATHAN
Hello, I’m Jonathan Crabtree, Pastor of Student Ministries at Central – a United Methodist Community in downtown Meridian. When I say “sacrifice,” what comes to mind? An ancient worship practice? A song? What? Well a sacrifice is saying “no” to one thing and saying “yes” to another. It’s an action. It’s denying something in order to receive something greater. We make sacrifices every day. We say “no” to one thing in order to say “yes” to another. We listen to this radio station instead of another one. We don’t eat at one place in order to eat at another place.
Sounds a lot like making a decision, doesn’t it? Well that’s because sacrificing something is our choice. We choose to say “no” and “yes” every day. God does the same thing for us. God loved us so much, He did something, and God loves us so much He is doing something right now. God made a sacrifice; Himself, in order for something greater...US! We were worth making a sacrifice, so may we say “no” to the things that hold us back from knowing God’s love for us.
Hello, I’m Jonathan Crabtree, Pastor of Student Ministries at Central – a United Methodist Community in downtown Meridian. When I say “sacrifice,” what comes to mind? An ancient worship practice? A song? What? Well a sacrifice is saying “no” to one thing and saying “yes” to another. It’s an action. It’s denying something in order to receive something greater. We make sacrifices every day. We say “no” to one thing in order to say “yes” to another. We listen to this radio station instead of another one. We don’t eat at one place in order to eat at another place.
Sounds a lot like making a decision, doesn’t it? Well that’s because sacrificing something is our choice. We choose to say “no” and “yes” every day. God does the same thing for us. God loved us so much, He did something, and God loves us so much He is doing something right now. God made a sacrifice; Himself, in order for something greater...US! We were worth making a sacrifice, so may we say “no” to the things that hold us back from knowing God’s love for us.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
BOB
Good morning, this is Bob Peden of Central a United Methodist Community here in Meridian.
In the 10th chapter of the gospel of Matthew, we are told that Jesus calls 12 disciples by name, and then he sends them out with the power to cast out demons, heal every disease, and proclaim the kingdom of God.
From this we learn three things. First, God calls us by name. Each of us has been called by God to fulfill his purposes for our lives. And then once we hear and respond to that call, God sends us back into the world. God doesn’t call us out of this world, rather he calls us and sends us into the world. Thirdly, whatever God sends us to do, He gives us the strength and ability to fulfill the task and proclaim the Kingdom of God while doing so.
God calls us, God sends us, and God equips us. Are you willing to hear, to go, and to receive God’s power? My prayer for you is that you will always be at work to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth.
Good morning, this is Bob Peden of Central a United Methodist Community here in Meridian.
In the 10th chapter of the gospel of Matthew, we are told that Jesus calls 12 disciples by name, and then he sends them out with the power to cast out demons, heal every disease, and proclaim the kingdom of God.
From this we learn three things. First, God calls us by name. Each of us has been called by God to fulfill his purposes for our lives. And then once we hear and respond to that call, God sends us back into the world. God doesn’t call us out of this world, rather he calls us and sends us into the world. Thirdly, whatever God sends us to do, He gives us the strength and ability to fulfill the task and proclaim the Kingdom of God while doing so.
God calls us, God sends us, and God equips us. Are you willing to hear, to go, and to receive God’s power? My prayer for you is that you will always be at work to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
SABRINA
“Remember that the Lord is God. It is He who hath made us. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” These verses come from one of my favorite Psalms - 100. In this day and time of political chaos and uncertainty, of terrorism and warfare, we cannot imagine even one thing that everyone on earth could agree upon.
We are, however, told that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. One day we will join hearts and hands with brothers and sisters across the world with one purpose: to praise the One who both created and saved us. What economics, politics, and diplomacy could never achieve, will happen naturally because of God’s extraordinary love for us.
So in these days of political and global turmoil, let us step back and remember the big picture and that the day will indeed come when we will all be united - in thanksgiving and praise - to the one, who indeed, has the whole world in His hands!
“Remember that the Lord is God. It is He who hath made us. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” These verses come from one of my favorite Psalms - 100. In this day and time of political chaos and uncertainty, of terrorism and warfare, we cannot imagine even one thing that everyone on earth could agree upon.
We are, however, told that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. One day we will join hearts and hands with brothers and sisters across the world with one purpose: to praise the One who both created and saved us. What economics, politics, and diplomacy could never achieve, will happen naturally because of God’s extraordinary love for us.
So in these days of political and global turmoil, let us step back and remember the big picture and that the day will indeed come when we will all be united - in thanksgiving and praise - to the one, who indeed, has the whole world in His hands!
Monday, July 25, 2016
Monday, July 25, 2016
JOHN
Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever wondered about the legacy that you are leaving behind? Most people have a desire to be remembered after they are gone, and so they store up possessions to leave to those they love in the hopes that the next generation will remember them through the gift.
What I have found through the years visiting many estate sales is that the items that you treasure so much may not be treasured so dearly by those you leave them to. Jesus said don’t layup treasures for yourself here on earth where they can be destroyed and stolen or even sold at a discount. Instead, layup for yourself treasures in heaven where they are remembered for all eternity.
I hope all of our storehouses are full in heaven. I invite you to join us at Central United Methodist Church and begin storing up heavenly treasures.
Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever wondered about the legacy that you are leaving behind? Most people have a desire to be remembered after they are gone, and so they store up possessions to leave to those they love in the hopes that the next generation will remember them through the gift.
What I have found through the years visiting many estate sales is that the items that you treasure so much may not be treasured so dearly by those you leave them to. Jesus said don’t layup treasures for yourself here on earth where they can be destroyed and stolen or even sold at a discount. Instead, layup for yourself treasures in heaven where they are remembered for all eternity.
I hope all of our storehouses are full in heaven. I invite you to join us at Central United Methodist Church and begin storing up heavenly treasures.
Friday, July 22, 2016
Friday, July 22, 2016
BOB
Good morning this is Bob Peden of Central a United Methodist Community here in Meridian.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, certainly understood the connection between the physical and the spiritual. He believed that we can find God in all things. Does God really speak to us through a blue sky, through the sound of laughter, through the taste of dinner? Absolutely, St. Ignatius would say.
You don’t turn your back on the created world to find meaning and purpose; rather, God reveals himself to us through the very concrete stuff of our lives, through our bodies, through the things we experience with our senses. Faith is about living life, in all its messy splendor, and doing so with the awareness that God is present throughout it all. It’s about recognizing that God speaks to us through our senses and that we can live a richer, more joyful faith if we train ourselves to listen. Are you open to what you may experience from God today?
Good morning this is Bob Peden of Central a United Methodist Community here in Meridian.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, certainly understood the connection between the physical and the spiritual. He believed that we can find God in all things. Does God really speak to us through a blue sky, through the sound of laughter, through the taste of dinner? Absolutely, St. Ignatius would say.
You don’t turn your back on the created world to find meaning and purpose; rather, God reveals himself to us through the very concrete stuff of our lives, through our bodies, through the things we experience with our senses. Faith is about living life, in all its messy splendor, and doing so with the awareness that God is present throughout it all. It’s about recognizing that God speaks to us through our senses and that we can live a richer, more joyful faith if we train ourselves to listen. Are you open to what you may experience from God today?
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Thursday, July 21, 2016
TIM
Hello, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. This morning, I’m here to tell you that we are ALL equal in the eyes of God.
In the book of James, we are told to not show partiality as we hold faith in Christ.
Chapter 2 says, “For if a man wearing fine clothing comes into your assembly and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, but you pay attention to the one wearing fine clothing…[then] have you not made distinctions among yourselves?...For God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith.”
By our faith, we are made equal to each other in His eyes.
We forget that we are all sinners together...and we are all loved by God...and have been offered the same prevenient grace as those “other people”.
They will know we are Christians by our LOVE.
Perhaps, we can use this message from James to affect the way we interact with all those around us.
Hello, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. This morning, I’m here to tell you that we are ALL equal in the eyes of God.
In the book of James, we are told to not show partiality as we hold faith in Christ.
Chapter 2 says, “For if a man wearing fine clothing comes into your assembly and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, but you pay attention to the one wearing fine clothing…[then] have you not made distinctions among yourselves?...For God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith.”
By our faith, we are made equal to each other in His eyes.
We forget that we are all sinners together...and we are all loved by God...and have been offered the same prevenient grace as those “other people”.
They will know we are Christians by our LOVE.
Perhaps, we can use this message from James to affect the way we interact with all those around us.
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