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Erin Koester "I love Cedar Hills! As a formerly un-churched person, the members here welcomed me with open arms. No one judged me for never having opened a bible. Everyone accepted me from day one, no questions asked, and has helped me grow in my faith enormously." |
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Kyle & Dana Chapman "Cedar Hills Community Church is such a family friendly church. It provides an excellent youth group for our 13-year-old. We enjoy the Pastors and the good fellowship." |
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Jill Anderson "There is a loving community of people that go here; like a family." |
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Jack & Georgie Steele: "We have been involved in this church as first members since the late 1950's. We like the vision of this church and we enjoy the friendly people here." |
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Missy Drzycimski: "Cedar Hills Community Church became my family. They're so warm and welcoming." |
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Greg & Megan Hupke "Everyone is so friendly at CHCC. There are a variety of church services that apply to all types of people. We really like the people here, the Pastor, and the music. In the second service, the music is upbeat and allows us to sing to God, rather than about him." |
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We Believe: We in the Reformed Church in America believe God created humans perfect and free to make choices. They chose to disobey their Creator. Turning away from God, humanity fell into sin. All of the suffering and evil in the world is because of this sin. Even though we have turned away from God, God still loves all people and wants our lives to be full of joy and peace. Right from the beginning, God had a plan to make this happen. God's plan was to send Jesus, who lived a life of perfect obedience to God and who died to pay the price for all people's sins. God raised Jesus back to life. He is in heaven now, but he has promised to return to earth someday. When he comes again, he will resurrect all believers and take them to be with him in heaven. Believers are people who accept that Jesus Christ is God's Son, who believe that Jesus died for their sins and rose from the dead, and who do their best to follow his teachings and example. Together they form the church, which is called Christ's body on earth, and which has a responsibility to continue Christ's work. Living the Christian life is not always easy, but believers receive guidance from the Bible and from the teachings and example of Christ; and they receive encouragement and power from God's Holy Spirit. We've Got Hope: The old sailor looked at the skies and saw a dark storm coming. As the sea became rough and choppy, the old salt calmly lowered the heavy-chained anchor link by link, battened down the hatches and went to bed for the night. He knew the storm would be rough. But he had faith in the grasp of the anchor. He knew his boat would be there in the morning. Hope Defined Like that sailor, we have an "anchor" for our lives that can help us stand fast through the storms of life. It's called hope. In biblical terms, hope is closely linked to faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us that, faith is "the assurance of things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1). Hope, therefore, is the object upon which we direct our focus and energies. To the Christian, hope is the knowledge that we are being changed for the better as we trust in God's promises (Romans 8:28). It is the conviction that no matter the circumstances, God's plans for our lives are "for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11b NLT). Hope Described The Bible is full of examples of men and women who hoped in God's promises. These individuals did not hope in themselves but placed their hope in the trustworthy, unchangeable character of God. This hope is not dependant on our circumstances. Vaclav Havel described this kind of love this way: "Hope is not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." The writer of Hebrews explains that God wants us to take encouragement from His character and hope in Him (Hebrews 6:16-18). In fact, the Scriptures describe this hope "… as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast" (Hebrews 6:19a). Hope Derailed What can cause our hope to go sour? Often, we hope in the wrong things. It's so easy to place our hope in the wrong things. It's so easy to place our hope in this material world -- what we can see, taste, touch, and feel. These things are controllable to us. But God says His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). In fact, the things of this world do not provide a firm foundation for our lives (Colossians 2:8). Only when we look to the truly firm foundation for living -- Jesus Christ -- will we find a hope that can anchor our souls. It all begins with our relationship with God. If you have not been "born again," your hope is simply misplaced. If you are feeling hopeless right now, consider where your primary hope is grounded. If it's not in Jesus, come to Him now to find a hope unlike any other. Jesus offers His hope freely to all who willingly come to Him, acknowledge their sin, and trust in His cleansing blood for eternal life. "I am the resurrection and the life," Jesus said, "He who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25-26a). Holding on to Hope Even if you know Jesus as your Savior, you can still lose hope. We learn from Proverbs that "hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12). When our hopes are delayed, we can be overcome by a deep sense of despair. The Bible invites us to "hold unswervingly to the hope we have, because the one who promised is faithful..." (Hebrews 10:23) You can find hope and hold on to it. Here are four practical steps you can take every day to build a sure foundation of hope that will carry you through the storms of life: 1. Submit yourself to God. God is the source of our hope. Come to Him in humility and He will restore you (1 Peter 5:6-7). 2. Strengthen your faith. Allow God's previously fulfilled promises to renew your hope. God has given us written record of countless ways He has provided hope for believers in centuries past. Look to these marvelous accounts for renewal (1 Chronicles 16:11-21). 3. Trust God's timing. Sometimes God answers our prayers and fulfills our hopes quickly. At other times, for His own divine reasons, He allows us to wait. 4. Thank God today. Though it's arduous to rejoice as we wait for hopes to be fulfilled, rejoicing enables God to perfect us in ways we are unable to see at the time. And this kind of hope, purified in the crucible of waiting, and sometimes suffering, "does not disappoint" (Romans 5:1-5). As You Pray Have you lost hope? You can regain lost hope, with Jesus' help. Right now, turn to the Author of all hope and rest in Him. Pray this prayer: "Father, forgive me for not seeing You as You truly are. Please use Your Word to encourage me. Help me to hide it in my heart. Let Your Holy Spirit direct me moment-by-moment as I wait in the hope You have given me through our Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen." God's Word on Hope "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast" (Hebrews 6:29a). Hebrews 6:10-19, Romans 5:1-11 -- God's precious promise of hope Job 13:13-16 -- Hopes' perseverance through trials Psalm 33:13-22 -- Right and wrong objects of hope Psalm 25:1-11 -- Hope's source of strength We're Here For You If you would like to talk with someone please call 396-6608. |
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6455 E. Avenue NW Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 (319) 396-6608 |
