CCW Podcast

"That was the last straw."

"I've had as much as I can handle."

"I'm at the end of the rope."

Have you ever felt what these phrases convey? In 1 Kings 19, Elijah, the mighty prophet of God gets to that point. He is on the run - running from Jezebel, running from God, and running on empty. I love this passage because if Elijah can get to that point it encourages all of us when circumstances are draining.

Elijah learns a big life lesson that sometimes we have to stand still. God's voice to Elijah was not in a fire, earthquake, or wind; it was in a still, small whisper.

Have you ever gone through a dry time physically, emotionally, or spiritually? Elijah, Ahab, and all of Israel had been 42 months without a droplet of rain, but why? Deuteronomy 11:16-17 explains it clearly, "If you turn away to other gods, The Lord's anger will be kindled and he will shut up the Heavens so that it will not rain." Talk about dry. We need and desire the hand of God for the blessings of God to fall.

Elijah strikes before the challenge commences with a cutting interrogation and provocation in I Kings 18:21, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God follow Him, but if Baal, follow him." It sounds so simple, but problematically here we are two thousand years later and the nation, the country, the state, the homes falter between two opinions. What ensues from the challenge at Mount Carmel is an extraordinary show of fire putting to rest any scrutiny of who is the one true God. He prevailed at Carmel with fire from Heaven and we pray He will light hearts aflame today!

When the brook dried up, God instructed Elijah to go back into Zarephath (Name Meaning: Smelting furnace), where God would provide for him in another unexpected way. Elijah goes from the drying brook to the refiner's furnace. God commands a poor widow who had an emaciating son and barely any food to spare to sustain Elijah. We are shown in this passage how in life threatening adversity Elijah goes to the upper room of Prayer! Prayer is our air spiritually and it is there in prayer we catch a miraculous glimpse of the breath of God's in the midst of imminent impossibility. Mt. 19:26 "With God all things are possible".

In I Kings 17 we are introduced to Elijah, an unknown man headed to an unknown place sent by God to learn how to trust God in practice. Are you practicing trusting God on the drive, at the table, and in the quiet? Standing on the mountain and experiencing the glory of God begins by standing with God in the everyday.

2024 is here and this Sunday is VISION SUNDAY!!

In a moment of great, purposeful clarity in 3 of the 4 gospels Jesus journeys with Peter, James, and John, to go and STAND on the MOUNTAIN.

In this fascinating passage the disciples behold the brilliance of the glory of God as Jesus reveals His deity, and then out of nowhere, Elijah and Moses appear and speak to Jesus. In Moses's and Elijah's lifetime God revealed His glory and spoke on the mountain. Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, and John met with God on the mountain! In '24, CCW Let’s STAND on the MOUNTAIN!

This week we celebrate the last Sunday of 2023! New Year’s Eve! Next week starts a brand new year is Vision Sunday. Pastor Rick is going to communicate the vision he has for CCW for 2024. Before we do that, we are going to take a few minutes on New Year’s Eve to talk about focus. If you’re out of focus, the vision won’t mean that much to you.

Merry Christmas CCW Family!

It is vital to pause and reflect on the real basis we celebrate today. Let’s recognize that this is an extraordinary day foremost because of the birth of the Savior of the world! It is because of this day that one day we who believe will have the greatest gift: eternity with Jesus in Heaven!

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

This week we will be looking at Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. You have probably heard the song “Mary Did You Know?” but no one ever asked Joseph. He had a hard choice: marry an already pregnant woman or leave her and the baby to fend for themselves. Joseph wanted to walk away but God had other plans, and so, in a Holy nap, God sent an angel to speak the truth to him. Joseph, being a just man who feared God, responded with obedience and we are going to look at what implications that has for us today as believers!

In Luke 1:26-56, we see this virgin teenage girl's call to carry the Christ-child. Can you even imagine? Mary was heavenly accepted, highly afraid, and ultimately, honored to assist in the service of the most important person of all time.