Author: Meridian_Messages

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Whisper 01: Be Still

As you listen to the podcast you can follow along at you versions events here.

Just because you can’t hear a sound wave, it does not mean that it is not present. What if God is speaking, but we can’t hear Him above the noise? This message looks at a couple of people who were able to get away from the noise and hear the voice of God.

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Simply Essential 02: A Place to Belong

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Mark 3:13 ESV

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.

Mark 3:14 ESV

14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

Peter, James, and John were with Jesus when:
Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5:37, Lk. 8:51), Jesus was transfigured (Mt. 17:1, Mk. 9:2, Lk. 9:28), Jesus prayed in the Garden (Mt. 26:37, Mk. 14:33).
1 Corinthians 15:8
and last of all he appeared to me (Paul) also…
Acts 26:16 NIV

16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me.

Romans 1:6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Matthew 18:20 ESV

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Meridian Church of God

We worship together, work together, and live life together right here in your community.  We’re just average people working to raise our families, make ends meet, and continue growing our walk with Jesus.  We like to have new faces in our congregation, and hope to see those new faces come back again and again.  Our church doors are open to you.

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Simply Essential 01: Warm

As you listen to the podcast you can follow along at you versions events here or follow along below.

Sometimes ideas that seem so promising don’t turn out as we hope. Imagine if there is a simple way to a better life…

John 16:33 In this world, you will have trouble.

Matthew 6:34 Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water,that sends out its roots by the stream,and does not fear when heat comes,for its leaves remain green,and is not anxious in the year of drought,for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water,that sends out its roots by the stream,and does not fear when heat comes,for its leaves remain green,and is not anxious in the year of drought,for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

 

John 13:34-35  A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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Freedom

B – Belief T – Thoughts E – Emotions A – Actions

As you listen to the podcast you can follow along at you versions events here or follow along below.

B-TEA

B – Belief
T – Thoughts
E – Emotions
A – Actions

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,  and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”   Isaiah 9:6 NIV

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.”   Isaiah 9:2-4 NIV

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  Galatians 5:1 NIV

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NLT

“…but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

When we know God, our beliefs align with the Truth.
Our thoughts are pure and create emotions that resemble: peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.
When we operate out of these emotions, our actions come a place of wholeness instead of striving. And we, Church, walk in freedom.

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Making Memories 04: Heirlooms

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Luke 2:1-6 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:15-16 the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger.

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

 

Luke 2:48 And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so?  Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

Luke 2:49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me?  Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Luke 2:50-51 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.  And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in heart.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Presence is the present.
Let’s have present hearts.
Let’s seek to be present over perfect.
Let’s treasure what matters.
Let’s love.

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Making Memories 03: Comfort and Joy

Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. This message looks at how the “good news of great joy for all the people” in Luke’s Christmas story meshes with the dark aspects of Matthew’s Christmas story.

As you listen to the podcast you can follow along at you versions events here or follow along below.

Top 10 things people don’t like about Christmas

10. Cold weather
9. Over-commercialization
8. Awkward encounters with eccentric relatives
7. Excessive weight gain
6. Hearing songs like “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Holly Jolly Christmas”, & “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” over and over.
5. When kids don’t get what they want and throw a temper tantrum.
4. When adults don’t get what they want and throw a temper tantrum.
3. The pressure of trying to find the right gifts and wondering if you have enough money to buy them.
2. Over-crowded stores with long lines and irritable people.
1. The overall let down of unmet expectations.

Luke 1:14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Luke 1:44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Luke 1:46 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”.

Luke 1:58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

Luke 2:10 “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Matthew 2:10 When they (the wise men) saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

Matthew 2:16-18 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.” Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted,  because they are no more.”

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

John Ortberg on the Strange arithmetic of sharing experiences:
When we share joy, it increases.
When we share pain, it decreases.

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

 

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

 

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