Day 33

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you not only look to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Phil. 2:3-4

I was walking Dozer, my dog, one evening and a young woman rode past us on her bicycle. As she was passing, her cell phone leapt off its rest and fell to the ground close to us. Dozer enthusiastically ran over and jumped on her, tongue out, joyful that someone had stopped to pay him attention. We laughed and she petted him while tears welled up in her eyes. I asked her if she wanted to talk and her story came rushing out. She had been staying in a homeless shelter and the women there were bullying her. They took her clothes and pushed her around, so she collected everything and ran. Prior to that she had been in an abusive situation and had run from that too, living under a bridge for a while. She didn’t know where she would be sleeping that night, but had another shelter in mind and was hurrying to get there before they closed. I prayed with her for safety and her future. Her name is Rose. I haven’t seen Rose since. I have seen other Roses – in the shelters, walking past the house, delighting in receiving a hand knit hat at Halloween just before winter. For the efforts, I’ve received smiles and laughter and a “Thank You” written on the back of a random piece of paper, left at my door last winter.

There have been many times when my running and confusion from life’s unfairness has been the focus of all I had. I had nothing to give. I was empty. I didn’t think at the time I had much to be grateful for. Then someone gave me a car, so I could go to work and take care of my family and that, I realize now, was a turning point in realizing I am so fully blessed. Years later, God planted me in my home. It has everything I prayed for except a little pasture and barn. He put me dead center of where He needed the light to shine for the Roses that He had gifts for.

Father, I love You. Thank You for the insight. Thank You for the challenges. Thank You for always providing exactly what I needed if not everything I wanted.  Walking through the valleys have made the mountains sweeter.  In Jesus name, Amen.

-Deveri Johnson

Day 32

“I will rejoice even if lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want you to share that joy.” Phil. 2:17

Both Jews and pagans alike poured out wine on sacrifices or at the base of the altar in honor of the deity.  After Paul met Christ, his entire life became an offering to God.  As he ministered the good news of the gospel, he was beaten, put in prison, stoned, shipwrecked, and whipped.  It reminded me of a Gaither song about Mary anointing Jesus with precious oil from an alabaster jar. “Broken and spilled out and laid at Your feet.  In sweet abandon, let me be broken and spilled out for Thee.”  Each time Paul faced cruelty and trauma, I think he had this same attitude that Mary had as she anointed Jesus.

He sacrificed the claim on his own life to faithfully introduce sinners to the love of God expressed through the death of Jesus. He did not count the cost as insignificant. This was the liquid poured out on the altar. As Jesus was sacrificed as the Passover lamb to take away the sin Satan introduced into God’ perfect garden, Paul realized his freedom from sin as he claimed this truth. He poured out his life so that others held in the bondage of sin could be freed to be part of God’ family. God gave him the desire and the power to be a sacrifice.

As converts saw Paul faithfully live out this truth, they had the courage, strength, and power to also become living sacrifices.  Know what is so amazing?  As they lived their lives being faithful and as they served, they experienced the same joy Paul talked about in the verse.

Dear God,

How loving and faithful You are.  Forgive me for the times I am such a slow learner. You have spelled out Your plan and purpose, and then provided stories of people that chose to follow You. I can look into their lives and service and understand the joy in serving and being a living sacrifice. Provide me the courage and wisdom to serve. Amen.

-Joanne Lodge

Day 35

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Phil. 2:13

Paul understands and states an important principle here, that God must do His work in our lives before He can work through us, and that this is not often a quick process. For example, God was at work in Joseph’s life during the years in which he was in prison (through no fault of his own) before He raised Joseph up to a position of leadership as the second most powerful person in Egypt.

In a like manner, God was at work in the life of Moses during the forty years he was tending sheep on the backside of a mountain before Moses was ready to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt and through the Red Sea.

God often uses the quiet times in our lives, times when we may be set aside, to prepare us for what He has ahead.  We often need to wait quietly before the Lord and be patient for His timing so that He can prepare us for what is ahead.

As we celebrate the past sixty years as a community of believers at Cedar Hills, we prayerfully look forward to what God wants to do in us and through us in the years ahead.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your presence and work in my life even when I am not aware of it.  Help me to trust You in all of life’s experiences and to understand that all things work together for the good of those who love You according to Your purposes.  I want to submit myself to You so that You can work in and through me today. In Jesus name, Amen.    

-Ken Viggers

Day 31

“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 the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.” Phil. 1:27-28

Paul speaks specifically about integrity in verses 27 and 28. Some may argue it’s easier to be good, faithful, law-abiding, and helpful when in the company of others. Whereas, if you find yourself alone in the same situations, you may act differently, take a shortcut, bend the truth or look the other way!

Whether your mom claims she has eyes on the back of her head, or you grew up in a small town like me (where people reported back my whereabouts before I could make it home) — someone is always watching!

Instead of potentially being paranoid or frustrated by this reality, I propose we rest in comfort knowing that our Lord is watching our every move, is cheering us on from afar, and “has our back.” This thought then becomes comforting, providing us strength to stand up to opposition and do the right thing — whether or not anyone is there to see!

Dear God, 

You are right. Sometimes I am frightened by those who are different from me and want to sway me away from Your will. Help me to be strong and follow Your will in every situation I’m faced with,  whether I feel Your spirit with me or not.

Help me to remain eternally pleasing to You and not be tempted by earthly matters. For Your strength I pray. Amen.

-Mel Dahm

Day 30

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:8-9

“The Lord be with you.” This has become one of my favorite prayers. It is a blessing that we will know God’s goodness and God’s peace. That in a world of mess, chaos, and pain we will know what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and excellent.

“The Lord be with you.” If the Lord was with you, what good thing would you celebrate? What gratitude would rise up in you? What praiseworthy thing would capture your imagination? What noble choices would you make? What purity would you celebrate? What truth would you share?

“The Lord be with you.” And the response is, “And also with you.” The excellent and praiseworthy peace we receive from the Lord we pass on. We are blessed to be a blessing. Who do you know that needs to experience truth, purity, loveliness, and nobility?

“The Lord be with you.” Share it!

Dear Lord, 

Fill our minds by guiding us into meditations on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Guide us to practice what we learn from You, to live out the good. Thank You, Lord, for being with us to make everything work together into the most excellent harmonies. Amen.

-Kent Landhuis

Day 29

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil. 4:6

“Do not be anxious about anything…”, in a broken world filled with worry, this can be so incredibly difficult to do.  But by prayer and petition, and for myself, community, it is achievable.

In the few years that I’ve had the privilege of being a member of Cedar Hills I have learned so much, and one of those is that trusting in Him means we can be free of anxiety.  But I’ve also learned there is intentional action I need to take, and that action is to bring my worries to Him and trust that He will give me the strength I need to manage it.

Honestly, I did find it a bit ironic that “letting go” was going to require so much effort!  How easy it is to believe I can rely on myself to do good works, when really what I need to do is listen intently, seek God’s lead, and then follow it faithfully.

Father in Heaven,

Thank You for listening to our prayers!  Please help us to continue growing as individuals and as a congregation in our knowledge and faith in You, so that we may join You in growing disciples in the everyday stuff of life. Amen.

 – John Davidson

Day 28

“I focus on this one thing; forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ, is calling us.” Phil. 3:13-14

I appreciate the fact that Paul had the wisdom to point out some real obstacles that can cause me to stumble and lose the race of a lifetime.  Paul, a genuine man, knew what he was talking about.

I think of all the destruction and hate he caused the followers of Jesus.  He would have been stopped in his tracks if he had allowed those old recriminations to feed his mind. His mind’s voice: “How could God ever use you?  Look at how evil you were!  Once evil always evil, you are just fooling yourself to think God has a place and purpose for you.”  Jesus said as He died, “It is finished!! That means any sins, once confessed, and covered by the blood are gone forever.

That’s not all, Paul could just as easily have been tripped up by all his successes in the ministry. He could have had the attitude – I have already arrived.  No more maturity needed.  I have done enough for the kingdom. I should be able to go retire.  I believe, it wasn’t only past sins he was worried about, but also becoming proud of his achievements.  How many tricks the evil one employs to get us off the track, so we never finish the race and collect the prize! Here’s the antidote to counteract the obstacles—focus on what lies ahead.  Paul learned it from Jesus “for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross disregarding its shame.” (Heb. 12:2) Jesus’s prize is a seat at God’s right hand.  I have heaven and a prize waiting for me from Jesus.

Dear God,

You have a course and prize for me.  I understand to receive the prize I must continue to run the race.  Help me to identify my own personal obstacles, and then help me to avoid them. Also give me the endurance I need to finish the race. And please, Lord, keep my eyes focused on You, the destination, and prize.  Amen.

-Joanne Lodge