Day 10

“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. 1:6

The Apostle Paul’s confidence in the love and grace of God had no bounds. He knew first-hand of the transformation taking place within himself since the day he was stopped on the road to Damascus by the Incarnate Jesus Christ. I’m sure he never lost sight of that miraculous transforming event which continued within him until he passed from this life into eternity.

That we would have the same confidence! Life is full of unknowns and uncertainty.  Often the “stuff” of life blurs our vision of the purpose God has laid out for us. Indeed, God has a plan for us – a plan that will carry us into eternity. He has provided a bridge to His grace and mercy through the shed blood of His son Jesus Christ. He has illuminated our path through the unknowns of this life. We simply need to trust.

An anonymous poem describes the walk of faith He desires for us:

‘When you come to the edge

Of all light you have known,

And are about to step off into darkness,

Faith is knowing there’ll be something to stand on,

Or you will be taught how to fly.’

Dear Father,

Instill in us a strong faith that will guide us as we walk into the unknowns of life. 

Grant us the confidence that we can trust You in all circumstances.

We ask this in Your son’s holy name, Amen.

-Deborah Steinbaker

Day 9

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. “ Phil. 3:10-11

Have you ever imagined yourself as being a part of the story of Scripture? If so, you can look at the story from a different perspective and are able to feel more intimately what is taking place. Try placing yourself in Philippi, sometime in the late 50’s or early 60’s AD, only 20-30 years after the death of Jesus Christ. The area has been heavily influenced by its military population and secular Greco-Roman worship. Philippi was home to a growing diversity of cultures. Being a larger city, word of the teaching and the crucifixion of the Jewish Messiah would have likely travelled the 6,000 plus miles from Jerusalem to Philippi.

For reference, the most efficient communication method was the official empire messenger system (Cursus Publicus), which carried messages about 50 miles a day with tolerable circumstances. At over 6,000 miles away, that would have taken almost 121 days or about 4 months. And it was not these “government professionals” that carried these messages, it was fellow Christ-followers who were always looking for support to aid them in their efforts. Instead of 50 miles a day, they were more likely to walk up to 20 miles a day, meaning that it could have taken almost a full year to deliver at least one letter.

So, what message could be so important to invest so much time, resources and potentially one’s life into delivering it? The gospel! The gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John would not have even been published yet. Therefore, it was Paul sharing with them, what Jesus Christ and the other apostles had shared with him. He was so inspired by the splendor of the gospel, that he made it is life-long goal to know the Lord in all His glory and power. This may seem strange to the modern reader, but Paul had faith in the Lord’s promise of eternal life to those who follow Him, investing themselves in the “good news” along the way.

Lord, may You renew in us a passion for the advancement of Your gospel, to be continually reminded of Your faithfulness to Your people. You are the light in the darkness, and You are hope to the hopeless. Let us always be seeking after Your glorious and holy name!  Amen.

-Kyle French

Day 8

“Being confident of this, that He who began good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6

Don’t you love Paul’s direct language?  His assurance?  He says he is “confident” that God will carry out His work in us.  He’s not saying, “I think God will work in you,” or “Maybe if you try hard enough, God might keep working in your life.”  He says He is confident.

Paul knew firsthand that God works in lives, and he was quick to admit that God’s work in his own life was not yet completed. Is God working in your life?  What would it look like if God’s good work in us was complete?  Because of our sinful nature, we will never know God’s “completed work” until we get to heaven.  Rest assured, God is working in your life whether you see Him or not, and this work of growing more Christ-like is not something we have to do all alone.  God began His work and He will carry it on to completion.

What does this “good work” look like for Cedar Hills Church?  It means God was with the founders of the church (began good work) and He is still working in our church today (carrying on to completion). He works through His building, His pastors and staff, those who serve, and through the body of Christ in the community. What ways do you see God growing Cedar Hills Church?   What ways do you see God growing you? What is your part in God’s good work?

Dear Father,

Thank You that we can say with confidence that You who began a good work will carry it on to completion. Show us how we can grow more like You. Thank You for not giving up on us, even when we may not see the plan.  Thank You for seeing the big picture and continuing to guide us until the day You return to take us to heaven.  We love You and praise you.  Amen.

-Lois Deerberg

Day 7

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” Hebrews 12:1-3

We are fortunate today to attend Cedar Hills Church and to be able the hear the “good news”.  Did you ever think about this gift we have been given? This church came into being because men and women in the past saw the need and heard the call to start a church on Gordon Avenue. Then others had the vision of making Christ known more abundantly and the church and its message moved to E Avenue. We are here today worshiping God and sharing the love of Jesus thanks to those who went before us.  They didn’t give up. So how can we thank them?

I believe we do that every time we come to worship, share our talents and time, and tell those around us of Jesus and his love. We walk into the world and speak boldly of our faith because we have that cloud of witnesses that remind us, if God is for us then who can be against us!  Thanks be to God the perfecter of our faith!

Dear Lord,

Thank You for being there in the past of Cedar Hills Church, giving us the legacy of believers.  Thanks, too, for being with us today as we continue to spread the message of Your saving grace for us. Give us wisdom as we look to the future, so that as we pass on Your message, You, Lord, will continue to be glorified.  In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.  

-Karen Bronkhorst

Day 6

 “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him.” Phil. 1:29

 When we accept Christ as our personal Savior and place our trust in Him, we may have the idea that this is the end of our problems.  However, in reality we may have new problems, difficulties and hardships.  In fact, Jesus Himself told us to expect this in John 16:33 – “In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

However, the presence of conflict or hardship is a privilege if we suffer for His sake.  In fact, Paul tells us that it is “granted” to us; it is a gift.  If we were suffering for ourselves it would not be a privilege, but if we are suffering for Christ, it is a high and holy honor.

As part of the Cedar Hills Church community, we do not need to suffer alone. We can share our troubles with one another, pray for one another, support one another and grow together in love for Christ and each other.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your care and presence in all that will happen to me today.  Help me to be true to You in all that I say and do, knowing that all things work together for the good of those who love You. 

Help me to discern Your presence, to respond to the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout the hours ahead, and help me to lovingly respond to the needs of others with whom I may have contact.

In Jesus name, Amen.

-Ken Viggers

Day 5

“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.” Phil. 1:3-6

I love to read Paul’s letters to the churches that he had visited because they are real letters to real people that he actually knew and loved!  His trips and experiences are historical events that cannot be denied.  In these letters, Paul shares his deepest feelings, shows us his heart about how much he loved these people, how much he loved God, and how much he wanted to share with them the TRULY GOOD NEWS about life in Jesus Christ!  What an example for each of us to be bold and compassionate with our faith, simply because we also love our friends and family and neighborhoods.

In this letter, Paul is so thankful and joyful as he remembers the Philippian church!  And it is so cool… Paul not only remembers them. He gives thanks and prays for all of them because they have been his partners in the work of God, knowing that God will never stop his work in their lives until the day of Jesus.  Wouldn’t you love to get such an encouraging letter?  I know that I would.  I wonder if Paul received as much joy from writing this letter as the Philippians received when they read it? When is the last time that you shared some joy and good news with those around you, simply because of your love for them?

Father God,

Thank You for the joy that You give us with our life in Jesus.  While life can be tough, we know that You work all things for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.  Please allow us to share our joy in Jesus with those around us. Amen.

-Gary Mills

Day 4

“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.1:6

Why would an old man plant a row of trees in his front yard that he will never enjoy in his lifetime?

Someone asked this question recently as they taught on principles of leadership.  Leaders invest in the next generation. Leaders can see beyond the current situation to build for what’s coming next.

When I read Philippians 1:6, I ask myself, “What is my role in the ‘carry it on to completion’ part of the verse? How can what I am doing right now bring fruit for the generations to come? How can I be like the old man who has the foresight to plant a tree and care for it even though I will never see the fruit or the shade of that tree?

I have to admit my thoughts are often in the ‘now’ and often revolve around me.  The day to day tasks seem like enough! I fail to look ahead and ponder my role in the future generations of the church. It’s hard to get my heart to focus there as well. But I want to be a tree-planter. I want to participate with God in the completion of His good work until Jesus’ return!  And so, I must make a change! I look around and I see the trees surrounding me:

Someone, somewhere, had a grand-enough vision of tomorrow that stirred them to plant a tree that they would never see, to love a generation they would never know.

Dear Father,

I praise You for the work You are doing on earth.  I praise You that You know what is to come and you continually work towards that day, using people just like me to accomplish your will. Give me a heart that is softened towards Your plan for the future. Give me a vision for how I can advance Your kingdom and help the next generation of followers to love You as well. Help me to see beyond the circumstances of today so that I may be a tree-planter for tomorrow.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.                                          

-Leah Carolan

 Day 3

“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.” Phil. 1:4-5

This fall, Cedar Hills Church will be celebrating our 60^th anniversary!  What a blessing when you consider the difficulty of starting a church and keeping it going.  According to Christianity Today, only 68% of church plants still exist after four years.  Sixty years is a blessing from God.  We should consider the words of Paul to the Philippians and pray with joy because God has provided for our church. We have partnered in the gospel from the beginning, starting with a small group of believers in their local neighborhood, and God is still working today.

As we celebrate, we also need to consider what God would have each of us contribute to the future of Cedar Hills Church.  We have created a building that provides a home for many different community activities, as well as church events.  Our building is being used at all hours of the day and night, sometimes even overnight.

Prayerfully consider what your role is in this partnership in the gospel.  Could you give sacrificially to extend the life of our building?  Could you volunteer in the nursery, food pantry, kitchen, or outside pulling weeds and mowing?  We have a partnership with God who did His part by sending His son to die for our sins.  What is your role in the work of the gospel for Cedar Hills as we look to the next 60 years?

Dear Heavenly Father, 

We have been so blessed to be thriving as a church for 60 years.  We know it is only through Your faithfulness and the partnership of those who have gone before us.  Help us to do our part with joy to further the gospel in our community and throughout the Corridor.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

-Lois Deerberg

 ^{Day 2}

^“So when the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will bow down before Him. And every tongue will say Jesus Christ is Lord. Everyone will give honor to God the Father.” Phil. 2:10-11

“Every tongue will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.”  What a glorious day that will be!  At Cedar Hills, our goal is to spread the gospel and make disciples as Jesus told us to do in Matthew 28.  We believe that the church facility is an essential component of the ministries and missions at Cedar Hills.  Our vision is that people will go out every day to “Grow the Good” and make disciples in the everyday stuff of life.

Our facility will be 15 years old next year.  In that 15 years, our building has been used for good by the church and our community. We have approximately 50 active groups and ministries within Cedar Hills. In addition to our church ministries, several community groups use the facility daily, including the Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous, Family Promise and many others.

We will be inviting you to join us in a capital campaign with a commitment to refresh our space, replace outdated equipment, and reduce our current debt. As you begin to hear about this campaign, please pray that we can be a light in our community, a haven for the weary, and a place to refresh ourselves as we go forth to make disciples.  Pray for the ministries that serve others.  Pray for the growth of families who love Jesus.  Pray for God to use His people, His Church, to “Grow the Good” and bring our community to Christ.

Dear Father,

Thank You for the land here on the corner of E Ave and Stoney Point. Thank You for Your building where we can provide services for our community. Thank You that we can serve You and reach out to others so that we may see the day when “every tongue will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.”  Amen.

-Spiritual Life Committee