Thanksgiving

1. Hayden 11-14-18

  As we approach another Thanksgiving Day celebration, we are given the opportunity to reflect once again on this time-treasured holiday. How appropriate it is that we are reminded of our need for giving thanks to God for our many blessings, especially during the season that leads up to Christmas Day; a day we celebrate the greatest given to all of us. It is in our giving of thanks that we are able to discover what praising God really means. In fact, it is as we give thanks that we are able to enter into praise and worship as God intended, in Spirit and in truth. Psalm 100:4 says this, “I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.” The giving of thanks and praise of God go hand in hand. They cannot be separated for it is in remembering all that God has done for us that leads us to a heart of appreciation of His goodness, causing praise to spill forth. In Psalm 34:1-3 (GNT) we read, “I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him. I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad! Proclaim with me the Lord’s greatness; let us praise his name together!” I heard a preacher give this example one time. He reminded of the time we used to get the Sears catalogue in the mail. When I was a kid, I would look at that catalogue and begin to circle all the things we want to get for Christmas. Today we do the same thing with those weekly circulars that are inserted into the newspaper. We pull those ads out and begin to circle everything we want to get for Christmas. This year, maybe we should skip the circular ad shopping and instead, take pictures of all of the wonderful things that we have been blessed with. Gather pictures of things given by others and all the treasures (family and friends as well as things) that God has blessed us with by giving us the ability to acquire them. After you have the pictures, begin circling each one and see how truly blessed we are, remembering the scripture telling us that all good and perfect gifts come from God above (James 1:17). There is just something about remembering what God and others have done for us that leads us into thanksgiving and praise and keeps us away from complaining and bickering.   Be blessed this holiday season,   Pastor Chris

Florida Sunshine!

1. Hayden 9-25-18

  Well, it was a wonderful time to enjoy the sunshine of Florida and the beauty of the ocean amidst lines of Palm trees. This past week, my family and I, including my ever-energetic grandson went out of state on a site seeing vacation that has not happened in several years. It was a great time of rest and peace as we visited Sea World, several coastal cities, the Sunshine Bridge and Disney Springs to list just a few of our adventures. Oh, and we were able to hold and feed a few of those intriguing gators that welcomed us to the area! I want to thank everyone for pitching in to keep the ministry of Central Christian going during our absence. Thank you to Rob, Kellie, Elders and Deacons for bringing forth the Word on Sunday and maintaining visitation and ministry. Thank you to Ann, Dylan and the rest of the worship team for maintaining a quality worship time. Thank you to Terry, Mariah and all our youth leaders for their continued efforts to minister to CCC’s young people. To Tina, Adam and the office staff for maintaining the church administrative work. And thank you to the many unnamed volunteers and helpers for their continued work in the ministry of CCC. Thank you to all. It was a blessing to view God’s creation from a context that is not often available to you. It was a blessing to be able to sit at Honeymoon Beach and watch the sun set over an awesome open ocean. The Bible says in Psalm 19 that, “the heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” This was no less true than as we watched the ocean waves crash along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. It reminded me of another passage of scripture from Job 12 verses 7-10. It reads, “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; 8 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. 9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” This was all confirmed as we enjoyed the beauty of Florida and its animal life! God is so very good and His creation declares His glory! Oh, and the alligators were pretty cool and the seafood was absolutely delicious!!   Be blessed even more and have a wonderful week and thank you for all you do for God’s Kingdom!!   Pastor Chris

Chosen to Bear Fruit

1. Hayden 8-26-18

  God has chosen us, and He chooses us that we might all bear fruit. The Scriptures tell us in Galatians 6:7-10, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” If we will embrace the calling that God places on our lives, if we will take said calling serious by following after Him, the Word tells us that we will reap a harvest of good fruit that leads to everlasting life. John 15:16 Jesus says “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” What an honor! To be hand-picked by the Lord of all that there is, is an honor that most of us could never imagine much less believe in. But that is exactly what God says about us. We not only belong to Him, we are called to bear much fruit for Him. That tells me two things. One is that God believes in us and does so with the understanding that He fully expects us to be successful in the task He calls us to. And secondly, He thought so much of us that He wants us to be a part of the building of His Kingdom through a close relationship with Him. You were hand-picked by Jesus, picked for the specific purpose and confident expectation of bearing lasting and much fruit. Every believer no matter what age or how long they have been in a relationship with Christ, have been appointed to this honor. It is a shame that so many decide that bearing spiritual fruit for Christ is not worthy of their time or their attention. John 15:5 says this, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Today I just want to encourage you to be mindful of our chosen calling. Also know that our God desires a relationship with us that will always lead us to bearing lasting and much fruit. Be blessed even more!!