Thursday, May 31, 2018

BENJI Good morning! I’m Benji Riddle – Youth Director at Central United Methodist. The saying goes: Stand for something, or else we will fall for anything. Now this doesn’t mean you go through life growling through gritted teeth and with closed fists, but going about with a boldness, inside and out, that sees a need and fills it. External confidence doesn’t always indicate internal boldness. Some of the strongest people I know have the meekest demeanor. The key is realizing that our strength is greatest when it is rooted in Christ. Ephesians Chapter 3 tells us that it is in Christ Jesus our Lord that we find true boldness and have access to great confidence through our faith in Him. We find our strength in Christ, and when you do summon the courage to stand up to the obstacles in your life, you will surely see that many were not half as strong as you thought they were. Be bold, be strong, for the Lord your God is with you. The Lord is a Strong Tower, the righteous run into it and are saved.

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

DENNIS Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. When a person begins their journey towards God, they soon realize how holy He truly is. And when we begin to recognize this fact, we also recognize our own sinful nature. This can be a difficult journey for us, at first. Hard travel can wear a person out to a point it is almost impossible to take another step. When we come to the knowledge of God, we also come to the knowledge of all of our errors and sinful rebellions. Just when we begin to internalize that there is no hope for us, we then encounter Jesus who is like the Good Samaritan from the Bible story. He is the one who gets down from his horse and approaches us as we lie in the ditch of despair. Without us having to ask, Jesus pours wine and oil on our open wounds and begins to bandage them. Then he unexpectedly places us on his own horse and leads us to the great inn so we can rest and heal. Is your life leaving you beaten up and battered? Are you constantly troubled by past mistakes and errors? If so, I want to invite you to Central where together we will seek out the healer of our souls. God Bless.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

GLENDA Good Morning: One of my jobs as Director of Central’s Children’s Center is to teach music to our three and four-year-old children. One of the songs we sing is “Come and See What God Has Done.” That song really comes to life at this time of year. Spring time…what a wonderful season! Driving down any street in Meridian, you have to marvel at all the beauty that God has given us. It reminds us that God is alive and is in control. He is right here among us. The proof is in the flowers and the blooming trees, the blue skies, the lakes he has given us for swimming and skiing, even the rainy afternoons and the shiny hot sun. Have you noticed? If not, take time to look and see what God has done. God is awesome in every deed. Have a wonderful spring day!!

Monday, May 28, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who have fallen in our nation’s wars. For most, this day will pass and most of us will be so caught up in picnics, family gatherings, or outdoor projects that we won’t even give much thought to the real meaning of the day. That’s too bad, because remembering does many things it brings us back to the reality of what actually happened. It also encourages us to see the dedication of those who fought and died. Remembering stirs within us a sense of gratitude and appreciation, and it strengthens our resolve to do our part in serving God, our country, and others. Throughout the Bible, God’s people are instructed to stop and recall what He did for them. Psalm 105 is a song of remembrance of God’s goodness to His beloved ones. It traces His direction, provision, and protection through their history and the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. As followers of Jesus, we should always use the power of our memories to remember the goodness of God.

Friday, May 25, 2018

DENNIS Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Temptations come in all shapes and sizes. They also come at the worst times in our lives, especially when we are at our weakest. Everyone, regardless of who they are will be tempted from time to time. It does not matter if you are a Christian or not, a pastor or a lay-person, temptations will always be a part of life. John Wesley, the Father of the Methodist movement, once recalled a time in his life when temptations were really getting the best of him. He said when they came, he would cry out to God for help and soon they would go away, but they would always return. Instead of giving up, he would continuously ask God for help. Wesley noted that every time he called out, God gave him an inward grace to fight them off. As long as we are alive, Jesus said temptations will come, but if we seek him, then we will be able to fight each battle. Yes, it is true, we may lose a few in the beginning, but we will be able to get up time and time again to fight back. And as John Wesley believed, we will no longer be conquered, but will always be the conqueror. God bless.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

BOB Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central a United Methodist Community in downtown Meridian. I was singing in an Easter choir once, and a man asked me why the song said Jesus died on a tree. I was so eager to impress, I gave him a long, seminary-type answer about crucifixion methods in first-century Palestine. He listened to me go on, then said, "Oh, I just thought maybe they used the word ‘tree' because it rhymed." A lot of folks think closeness to God means knowing all the right answers. But I don't agree. I think closeness to God begins the night we toss and turn in bed, realizing we don't know it all. Look at the Bible. Some of its finest saints were long on questions: Job on his ash heap, the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray, Nicodemus grilling Jesus late into the night, even Jesus on the cross. Having spent much of my life showing off my smarts, I nearly choke on the words "I don't know." Still, I suspect those words might be the kingdom keys. What it boils down to is that God doesn't care so much whether or not we have all the right answers – Just right hearts.

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

BENJI Good morning! I’m Benji Riddle – Youth Director at Central United Methodist. It would be safe to say that most of us want to experience belonging. Even the most introverted and socially awkward among us (including myself) want to know that we are accepted and known. That explains the wild popularity of the show Cheers, where everyone knew your name. It lasted for well over a decade, and it takes to show that so many wanted to know what it was like to be known and to belong. God knows us too, far beyond our name. God knew you when you were in your mother’s womb. God accepts, forgives, and loves you because you are His child. And when we seek forgiveness and pursue a life pleasing to God, we show the world to whom we belong. To be accepted by God surely is greater than being accepted by others. And when we know that God accepts us, we can certainly endure the rejection of others. God’s opinion is the only one that truly matters.