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

Day 19

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.” Phil. 1:27

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he is encouraging all believers to unify in both spirit and mind to live out the gospel.

How do you suppose Paul intended for us to live out our lives worthy of the gospel? Not alone. We all face struggles, obstacles, and suffering in our lives that can be road blocks for living out a Christ-centered life. There are times when, due to these roadblocks in our lives, it becomes so easy to put ourselves first. It can become easy to lose focus on Christ and not put others first, before ourselves. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

Paul commands we support each other, our neighbors, our church, and our community, to unify and come together for the sake of the gospel. Unifying makes it possible to spread the word of the gospel and the promise of Christ’s love for us all.

Heavenly Father,

I pray that whether I am by myself or with others, I always stand firm in my faith. I pray my fellow Christians and I keep a unified spirit and that we conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Amen.

-Katie Curtis

Day 18

“Among these people you shine like stars in the world because you hold on to the word of life.” Phil. 2:15b-16

Cedar Hills Community Church was started as a small group of people who lived in the same area of town.  They worshipped together, babysat each other’s children, and brought food to each other when they were in need. Their vision of living life with God and with each other has continued for 60 years.  Many of us were not even here 60 years ago, but God’s church is still here.

What were the families of early Cedar Hills like?  That small group of believers were able to “hold on to the word of life.” They were able to “shine like stars.”  This light has been shining in the Cedar Hills area of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and continues today.  What an honor we have been given to continue that work for the Lord.  What a responsibility we have to be a shining star in our neighborhoods for future generations.

Today, our facilities are showing some aging and regular wear and tear because we are using our building to shine in our community daily.  Besides our programming use, Cedar Hills Church is home to many community groups who use our facilities regularly. We continue to live life with God and each other, while we “hold on to the word of life.”  I think that small group of believers from 60 years ago would be pleased that we are still here, still shining a light, and holding onto the Word of God.

Father God,

Thank You for Your blessings on Cedar Hills for 60 years, and we pray that You continue to bless our community. We ask blessings on each person who enters our doors, and may we continue to honor You by being a light to our community.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-Lois Deerberg

Day 17

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:5

My kitchen table is my most important piece of furniture in the entire house. It’s where I offer hospitality.

A recent Global Leadership Summit speaker, Dr. Krish Kandiah, knows something about hospitality.  He is founder and director of Home for Good, a charity in the UK seeking to find loving homes for the world’s most vulnerable children.  He says, “hospitality is the opposite of prejudice.” Prejudice is an opinion that is not based on actual experience. Hospitality, or generosity shown to those who are far from home, erases opinions by providing actual experience.

Having other sinful humans seated at my kitchen table, next to my sinful self, is messy. But inviting others in and having actual experiences with them is the way to live like Christ. Inviting the sinner and his or her mess into our lives is exactly what we are called to do. Providing hospitality – this is how to move towards the same mindset as Christ Jesus. And like my kitchen table, this church building can allow for hospitality, if we take care of it.

Dear God,

Please help me with my selfish and ugly sin struggles. Though these struggles occur daily, I trust that You are with me, even in the mess. I know that You walk alongside me and love me even when I make poor choices that hurt other children of God. I know that I can call on You at any time and You will hear my cry.  Thank you.

In Your name I pray, Amen.

-Lindsey Ungs