Day 25

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:4-6

It’s like Paul is saying this to the Philippians: “I was with you when the church started, and I saw the good work God began in your lives.  Because of that good work, we have grown to become partners in God’s mission. And what God started, He will finish.”  A good partnership is a great thing.

Over this past summer, I had the opportunity to chaperone a group of six youth to a conference in Chicago.  I had no idea of what to expect, but my co-leader was a great encouragement for me. While I was initially hesitant to spend an entire week at a youth conference, God used our partnership to change the lives of our group, as well as many lives in Chicago.  I know that it was God’s direction to put us together on this trip, because I had no idea of how it would turn out!  Funny how God works that way….

God started a Good Work in all our lives this summer.  I thank God for people who have the gift of encouragement and who are willing to lead others into situations where they must lean completely on God for direction.  Jesus sent his followers into the world in pairs because he knew that they could need encouragement from each other in an otherwise hostile world.  We can have confidence that if we trust God to Grow the Good in our lives, that He will carry it to completion, giving us joy and thanksgiving along the way!

Father God,

Thank You for calling us to do Your good works.  You don’t need our help, but You simply WANT our obedience as we grow to trust You more.  Thank You for good partners who encourage us when we are scared.  Let us remember that it is YOU (and not us) who accomplishes the good works.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

-Gary Mills

Day 24

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.” Phil. 1:3-11

Paul wrote this letter to the church he started in Philippi, but I also see God sending this letter to our church at Cedar Hills.  We are in partnership as disciples of Christ to spread the good news of Christ around our communities and the corridor and He encourages us to continue this good work until the day He calls us home.  It doesn’t make a difference if we are experiencing joy or tribulation – God can work through us in all situations.

Sometimes His ways are not always clear to us, but His word helps us to discern what is best for each of us and Cedar Hills.

We are so blessed to be able to go to Him at any time with our concerns, joys and anxiety.  God who began a good work at Cedar Hills 60 years ago will carry it on to completion until the day we are all united with Him.  Press on by continuing to dwell in His word and seek Him for your everyday choices in life and learning to be “disciples of His great love.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for being with us every day in working to spread Your love to those who are missing the joy you give in knowing You.  We also rejoice when we look back at the ways You have helped each of us individually and as a church grow more in Your love.  You have blessed us with each other and leaders who look to You to discern what is best for Cedar Hills so that Your good work will continue for years to come.  Amen.

-Diane Potter

Day 23

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal.” Phil. 3:12-14

When I jog, I am often exhausted long before I reach my daily goal.  One way that I press on so that I can finish is by setting little goals. I will run to the next driveway, I will run to the corner, I will not stop until I pass two more mailboxes. When I reach this little goal, I set another. I reach the finish line by achieving one little goal after another.

God invites us to press on toward a goal that will one day be complete. We WILL cross the finish line. God moves us toward this goal one step at a time. Pressing on, it seems to me is about one step at a time.

One member of our congregation always answers my question, “How are you doing?” the same way. She says, “One step at a time.” She often says this as though it is discouraging. (At least that is how I hear her.) I find her response refreshingly accurate as a description of our walk of faith. What other way is there to go forward but one step at a time?

We are well on our way toward the goal that God sets before us and we keep moving toward that goal one step at a time.  When you feel like your feet are heavy, your arms are tired and you are ready to stop, what keeps you going? Ask God to strengthen you one step at a time.

Dear God,

Strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees. Give us all we need to press on toward the goal You set before us. Amen.

-Kent Landhuis

Day 22

“Complete my joy by being of the same mind… Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:2-5

Paul hopes believers will be unified, working together with one mind and purpose.  But this is a difficult challenge for any group of people with different ideas and strong personalities.  Is it even possible?

Paul is quite sure it is!  But it only happens if we share the mind of Christ.

Let’s say you’re tuning twenty pianos by ear to play in unison.  What’s the best way to accomplish this?  Suppose you play piano #1 to tune #2, then #2 to #3, #3 to #4, etc.  The problem is that each successive tuning can introduce a tiny variation.  And twenty minor variations can add up to a very large dissonance!  (It’s like the “telephone game” where a sentence becomes increasingly garbled as it is whispered around a circle of players.)

The best way to unify twenty pianos is to tune each one with the same tuning fork.  Then they all resonate together from the original tone.

In the same way, we stay in tune with each other when each of us allows his or her mind to be transformed by the mind of Christ. Christ gave up his divine privileges and took the humble position of a servant to save us.  When we have this “mind” among ourselves, we no longer look out only for our own interests, but take an interest in serving others too.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

Help us to be transformed and become like-minded with You.  Let us tune our hearts to sing Your praises, and join with others to be unified in Your spirit and love.  Amen.

-Alan Crandall

Day 21

“…not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God.” Phil. 1:28

Life happens. It can be beautiful and exciting or ugly and heartbreaking. This we are not in control of. A year ago, I did life differently. I thought I was handling things pretty ok. I was a good person and I was doing the best I could… or at least that’s what I thought.

This past year I found Cedar Hills. This past year I found Jesus. This church and the community introduced God to me in a way I never knew. But the honest truth is, He had been with me the whole time… I just needed to open the door.

Now I’m learning what it means to be Christ-like, and my life has transformed. My heart has never been so full and complete as it is today. I now know I am no longer in control. I’m surrendering and trying to listen to the Holy Spirit to allow God to do His work through me, for He has much bigger dreams for me than I could ever dreamed of.

Joy actually comes not through glory, but humility. He has started a good work in me, and He will carry it on to completion. Trusting in the Lord and adopting the same attitude as Jesus Christ will save me.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for never giving up on me. I know that I’m a work in progress, but I will try to glorify You in all that I do. Amen. 

• Lauren Palmersheim

Day 20

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases Him.” Phil. 2:13

Sometimes we worry and fret thinking we aren’t doing enough for God.  Paul reveals a secret to us in the verse referenced above. God provides special gifts, once you surrender to His Son.

Paul knew what he was talking about. He had been a self-righteous crusader, doing angry and violent acts in an attempt to please God.  As a result, Christians were persecuted and killed.  All this was done under his power, self-effort and pride. Then he met Christ.

Paul, employing his own strength and determination, met Jesus and was blinded.  As Ananias prayed for him, God did above and beyond what Paul expected.  As his physical sight returned, his spiritual insight was totally readjusted.  He began a whole new life, trudging the dusty roads, proclaiming the truth he lived. He no longer fulfilled God’s plan according to Paul’s own interpretation. He knew without question the road he traveled and the life he lived was aligned with God’s plan and purpose for him.

The life he lived and the things he did came from a source other than his own desire.  God was working in him, giving desires that were no longer his own. Things he never thought of doing before were now at the top of his agenda.  More amazing still, God gave him the power to succeed at those things that God had placed in his heart and mind to do.  God still does this miraculous thing for us. Lean into God’s love.

Dearest Father,

In Your wisdom and love, You know that I am dust and on my own I can do nothing that would please You.  Take away the worry and fretting I do when I feel I am not enough. Allow me to live in the truth of Your marvelous, gracious gift described in the verse above.   Thank You so much. Amen.

• Joanne Lodge