COGWC TEENS

COGWC Valentine's Day 2012

2012-02-11T22:29:00.004-05:00

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One definition of the word “peace” is “to set at one again.” When you are a peacemaker, you are bringing unity into your relationships. And this is so important because we have an enemy who is after this generation. He wants to target our families and relationships and bring division. Notice that when you look at the word “division”, you see “di” which means two and “vision.” Two visions. When two people disagree, it’s because they have two different visions over something. And I know that you aren’t going to agree with everyone all the time, but if you stay focused on your differences, eventually there is going to be division. However, if you change your focus and look for the common ground of peace, you can bring harmony into your relationships again.

Remember, the Bible tells us that blessed are the peacemakers. When we dwell together in unity, we honor God and open the door for His hand of blessing in every area of our lives!

2012-01-23T15:34:00.001-05:00

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So many people today are living with less than God’s best because they’ve allowed fear to creep in and take root in their lives. Fear is the greatest weapon the enemy uses to try to hold us back. Fear is not from God. Scripture tells us that fear brings torment. It’s designed to paralyze us and keep us from God’s blessings.

The good news is that God is greater than fear. His power in you is greater than any power that comes against you. But in order to walk in His power, you have to close the door on the enemy. See, the enemy can’t have access to your life unless you open a door and give him access. That’s why we have to be careful about what we watch, what we listen to, what we read, and what we say. When we open ourselves to fear, we give the enemy opportunity.

If you’ve allowed fear to steal from you in any area of life, today you can be free — you can be finished with fear. Conquering the enemy starts by making the choice to close the door on fear, and instead, meditate on God’s promises. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and word of our testimony! Let His truth sink down into your heart. Declare it out of your mouth. Let Him set you free and lead you into victory as you close the door on fear!

2012-01-20T23:03:00.002-05:00

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2012-01-20T23:02:00.001-05:00

“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight…” (Isaiah 45:2, NKJ)

Are you going through a season where you feel like every time you try to move forward, you hit a roadblock? Something happens that throws you off course. Be encouraged today because when you submit your life to the Lord, He promises to go before you. He is preparing a way for you. He is making your crooked places straight and your rough places smooth. You may be going through a difficult time right now, but it’s not the end. It’s only the beginning, and God has equipped you for this journey.

Today, if you feel like you’re in a dry season, don’t look at your circumstances. Look at the promise of God! If you’ll keep speaking words of faith, God promises that He’ll anoint your head with oil and your cup will run over. That means you’ll be refreshed and anointed to do what He’s called you to do. God is preparing your path and equipping you for the journey.

What do you need in order to keep moving forward? Start by checking your attitude. Don’t go around complaining or focused on the negative side of things. Put on an attitude of praise and thanksgiving. Thank Him for making your crooked places straight! Keep your eyes on Him and follow Him forward into the path of victory!

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2012-01-20T22:57:00.002-05:00

” Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17, NKJV).

Scripture tells us that every person has been given a measure of faith. That faith can grow and increase; or it can be diminished. Notice today’s scripture doesn’t say, “Faith comes by having heard the Word of God one time.” It’s by hearing—present tense. Sure, God’s Word can transform us in an instant, but most of the time, we need to hear God’s truth over and over again in order for it to become active in our lives. The more we hear the Word, the more His truth chisels away at the doubt and unbelief that’s been built up over the years. His truth sets us free and causes our faith to grow!

Just as a seed needs water daily to grow, your spirit needs the Word of God daily. Your faith needs to be watered by His Word. It can be as simple as selecting a few scriptures to meditate on daily. Write them down and carry them in your purse or wallet. Read them out loud over and over. Let His truth sink down into your heart and move you forward into the freedom and victory He has prepared for you!

2012-01-20T22:56:00.000-05:00

2012-01-15T22:14:00.002-05:00

” Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.” (James 5:7, NLT).

God has put dreams and desires in every person’s heart. But most times, there’s a season of waiting involved. Maybe you’re waiting for a relationship to improve; waiting to get married; waiting for a promotion; or waiting to overcome an illness. Much of life is spent waiting. But there’s a right way to wait and there’s a wrong way to wait. Too often, when things don’t happen on our timetable, we get down and discouraged or anxious and fretful. That’s because we’re not waiting the right way.

Notice that the verse doesn’t say if you wait, it says as you wait. The fact is we’re all going to wait. It goes on to say that we should consider how the farmer waits—patiently and eagerly. We’re not supposed to sit around discouraged; we’re supposed to be hopeful, positive and full of expectancy!

Today, no matter what you are praying for, expect things to change in your favor. Today could be the day that God turns it all around. As you wait with patience and expectancy, you’ll open the door for God to move. He’ll fight your battles, and you’ll see that abundant harvest He’s promised in every area of your life.

2012-01-15T22:12:00.002-05:00

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What do you need from the Lord today? Do you need peace, provision, guidance? The Word of God promises that no good thing will He withhold from those who walk blamelessly before Him. Now you may be thinking, “ I’m not perfect. How can I have a blameless walk?” The Good News is, when you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you automatically have a new walk. The past is erased in God’s eyes. And sure, you may make mistakes but I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When you repent of your sins and receive God’s forgiveness you are cleansed and your walk is blameless. You have to understand that God wants to pour His favor and honor on you. If you feel like there is anything in your life that you need to be cleansed from, go to the Father today and confess it to Him. Let Him make you new so that you can receive the good things He has in store for you! Let Him be pour His blessing on you so that you can walk in victory all the days of your life!

2012-01-14T11:12:00.003-05:00

A woman named Pam knows the pain of considering abortion. More than 24 years ago, she and her husband Bob were serving as missionaries to the Philippines and praying for a fifth child. Pam contracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite found in contaminated food or drink. She went into a coma and was treated with strong antibiotics before they discovered she was pregnant. Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her own safety and told her that the medicines had caused irreversible damage to her baby. She refused the abortion and cited her Christian faith as the reason for her hope that her son would be born without the devastating disabilities physicians predicted. Pam said the doctors didn't think of it as a life, they thought of it as a mass of fetal tissue. While pregnant, Pam nearly lost their baby four times but refused to consider abortion. She recalled making a pledge to God with her husband: If you will give us a son, we'll name him Timothy and we'll make him a preacher. Pam ultimately spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and eventually gave birth to a healthy baby boy August 14, 1987. Pam's youngest son is indeed a preacher. He preaches in prisons, makes hospital visits, and serves with his father's ministry in the Philippines. He also plays football. Pam's son is Tim Tebow. The University of Florida's star quarterback became the first sophomore in history to win college football's highest award, the Heisman Trophy. His current role as quarterback of the Denver Broncos has provided an incredible platform for Christian witness. "I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future, and that settles it for me." - Tim Tebow

2012-01-14T11:12:00.001-05:00

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2012-01-14T10:58:00.002-05:00

” Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11, NKJ).

God has grace in store for you every single day. Grace is His supernatural empowerment, His unmerited favor on your life. All throughout scripture, we see God giving daily grace, empowerment and provision to His people. For example, when the people of Israel were in the wilderness headed toward their Promised Land, God gave them manna each morning to eat. It would just appear on the ground. But He specifically instructed them to gather up only enough for one day’s supply. In fact, if they got more than that, it wouldn’t last. It would spoil. They were learning to trust God’s grace every single day.

In the same way, God doesn’t give us grace for a year at a time or even a month at a time. No, every twenty-four hours God has a fresh new supply of grace, favor, wisdom and forgiveness. How are you going to make it through the seasons of your life? One day at a time. Look for His grace today. Look for His provision today. Look for His hand of favor and blessing today because He promises to supply everything you need for today.

2012-01-14T10:57:00.001-05:00

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2012-01-14T10:53:00.002-05:00

“The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day” (Proverbs 4:18, NLT).

Are you facing a situation that seems dark today? As a believer, God promises that your path will shine brighter and brighter as you seek His truth and righteousness in every situation. What is righteousness? Righteousness is simply being in right standing with God. Being in right standing with God is about submitting your life to Him. It’s about obeying His commands and seeking His plan for your life on a daily basis. As you seek Him, the light of God’s Word will guide you in every decision you have to make.

No matter what you may be facing today, take time to ask the Lord to shine His light on you. Ask Him to confirm His plan for you. As you continue pursuing His truth and righteousness, as you continue to make His Word a priority in your life, you will experience more of His blessings. You’ll see those brighter days as you move forward in the good plan He has in store for you!

2012-01-13T22:16:00.001-05:00

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” Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29, NIV).

Sometimes the day-to-day pressures of life can cause unnecessary stress. In fact, many people lose sleep worrying about things or people in their lives. But God doesn’t want us to live stressed out and overwhelmed. He wants us to live a life of rest and peace.

When Jesus walked on this earth, He took time for Himself. He got away from the crowds. He spent time with the Father. That’s how He found rest. He was gentle and humble in heart. Do you ever notice that when you are stressed out or worrying about something, you’re less tolerant of others? You’re more likely to say something you don’t really mean. Today, God wants you to cast your cares on Him and live with a gentle and humble attitude. When you release your burdens and follow the example of Jesus, you will find rest for your soul. You will be rejuvenated and refreshed! You will find peace in your heart, and you will move forward in the abundant life God has for you!

2012-01-09T23:20:00.001-05:00

1/8/12 Worship Service

2012-01-09T23:18:00.001-05:00

2012-01-06T19:49:00.001-05:00

2012-01-06T19:47:00.001-05:00

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV)

So often, when people make mistakes, they get down on themselves and think, “If only…” “I should have…” “What if…?” It’s easy to feel like you’ve missed the best plan for your life. That’s when people get discouraged and stop pursuing their God-given dreams. But understand today, just because you’ve made a mistake or failed in some way, that doesn’t cancel God’s plan. God never disqualifies you. He never says, “Go sit on the sidelines. You’ve blown it too many times. You’ve got too many weaknesses.” No, God always gives you another chance!

Some of the great people in the Bible made very poor choices. The apostle Paul started off as a murderer, yet his destiny was bigger than his mistakes. He ended up becoming a great leader and writing over half of the New Testament.

What am I saying? Our mistakes, our failures, our poor choices don’t have to keep us from our God-given destiny. With God, it’s not about the way you start in life, it’s about the way you finish. Receive His grace today and embrace the bright future He has in store for you!

2011-12-31T11:08:00.002-05:00

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2011-12-31T10:59:00.000-05:00

So many people today are not really enjoying their lives because of the condition of their minds. They constantly dwell on negative, destructive, harmful thoughts. They don’t realize it, but the root cause of many of their problems is simply the fact that their thought life is out of control. They just dwell on any thought that comes.

More than ever, we have to understand that our lives follow our thoughts. If you think negative thoughts, then you’re going to live a negative life. If you think discouraging, hopeless thoughts, can’t-do-it thoughts, mediocre thoughts, then your life is going to go down that exact same pathway. That’s why we have to take captive every thought and renew our minds with the Word of God on a daily basis.

I want to challenge you today to think about what you’re thinking about. Don’t let those self-defeating thoughts linger in your mind. Instead, speak God’s promises over your life. Declare what He says about you. Take captive every thought and renew your mind daily. As you do, you’ll be empowered to move forward into the abundant life He has for you!

2011-12-20T20:31:00.001-05:00

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“Please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us” (II Corinthians 6:1, Message).

So many people today are living below their God-given potential. They’ve put their dreams on hold because of disappointments or setbacks. But God doesn’t want us to spend a single moment living in regret or condemnation. He doesn’t want us to settle for mediocrity, He wants us to make the most out of every moment of our lives. He promises to make all things new. He promises to restore everything the enemy has stolen from us.

We are the ones who have to make the decision to let go of the past so we can make the most of today. We have to choose to keep moving forward one step at a time. When you choose to walk in forgiveness, you are making the most of your life. When you reach out to help others, you are making the most of your life. When you give of your time, talent, and resources to build the kingdom of God, you are making the most of your life.

2011-12-20T20:29:00.001-05:00

A King Is Born (Part 4)

2011-12-19T22:22:00.004-05:00

A King Is Born (Part 3)

2011-12-19T22:15:00.005-05:00

A King Is Born (Part 2)

2011-12-19T22:09:00.005-05:00

A King Is Born

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2011-12-18T21:28:00.001-05:00

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“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5-6, NIV).

When times get tough, don’t be surprised if you feel a heaviness trying to overwhelm you. Don’t be surprised if you hear negative thoughts telling you, “It’s never going to work out. Things are never going to get better. It’s over. It’s done.” When those thoughts come, remember, you have a choice—you don’t have to believe those lies. You don’t have to get on board with your emotions.
In the Bible, David encountered many difficult situations. That spirit of heaviness tried to steal his destiny. He got depressed and discouraged, but do you know what he did? He started talking to himself. He said, “Why are you cast down, oh my soul? Put your hope in the Lord.” He was saying, “David, snap out of it! Why are you discouraged? Why have you lost your joy? God is still on the throne, and He still has good things in store.”

When that heaviness tries to come on you, do what David did. As you put your trust in the Lord and praise Him, He’ll give you His strength and empower you to overcome every obstacle you may face!

2011-12-09T22:00:00.001-05:00

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The earth was formless and empty…and God said, Let there be light”
(Genesis 1:2-3, NIV).

Do you need a miracle in your life for something that seems impossible? With man it may be, but we serve the all-powerful God, and He can create something out of nothing! He can make a way when there seems to be no way and open doors that seemed closed forever!

Genesis tells us that in the beginning, God created the heavens and earth, but before He spoke the world into existence, it was formless and void. If God can make the world out of nothing, He can take the empty places in your life and create something beautiful, too! He can speak light into your darkest hour. He can take your formless dreams and give them shape. He can resurrect your dormant gifts and talents! He can make your crooked places straight!

Remember, you are created in the image of almighty God. There’s power in your words, and there’s power when you’re in agreement with Him. Start saying what God says about your situation. Speak life to your broken dreams today. Speak hope into the hopeless places. Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy because He will turn things around for you and create something out of nothing!

2011-12-02T12:04:00.001-05:00

Let’s put our faith into action so that when the world looks at us, they’ll know by what they see, not just what we say, that we belong to Christ Jesus.

2011-12-02T12:03:00.001-05:00

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You cannot imagine at all how much you interest God; He is interested in you as if there were no one else on earth.

2011-11-19T15:57:00.001-05:00

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Want to know something wonderful? Even when we at times are faithless Jesus remains faithful.

COGWC Coat Drive

2011-11-07T09:58:00.003-05:00

2011-10-27T19:25:00.000-04:00

Your relationships should be a reflection of God’s love, not a replacement for it.

2011-10-27T19:24:00.000-04:00

Masterpiece In The Making

2011-10-22T23:40:00.000-04:00

Friend, God knows where you have been, what you have been through, and where you are now. He knows what your flaws are and loves you in spite of your imperfections. His tender love is far-reaching and complete.

Your past sins do not define you.

Your painful scars do not define you.

Your present sufferings do not define you.

They are just shards of brokenness that God will use to lovingly refine your beauty. The transformation from broken into beautiful is neither easy nor instantaneous. It demands a yielded heart and can be quite painful, but it comes with great reward. God will need your broken pieces—your scars, shame, insecurities, disappointments, betrayals, and failures.

2011-10-17T10:38:00.001-04:00

2011-10-17T10:37:00.001-04:00

Dear God:

Please untie the knots

That are in my mind,

My heart and my life.

Remove the have nots,

The cannots and the do nots

Erase the will nots,

May nots,

Might nots that may find

A home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots

Would nots and

Should nots that obstruct my life.

And most of all,

Dear God,

I ask that you remove from my mind,

My heart and my life all of the “am nots”

That I have allowed to hold me back,

Especially the thought

That I am not good enough.

Amen

2011-10-17T10:35:00.003-04:00

2011-10-17T10:35:00.002-04:00

If spreading the gospel was the only gossip that existed…the world would be such a better place.

2011-10-15T22:16:00.000-04:00

2011-10-15T22:14:00.001-04:00

WHATEVER IT LOOKS LIKE, THERE’S DEFINITELY ONE THING GOD HASN’T CALLED US TO DO: NOTHING. GOD HASN’T PUT US ON THIS EARTH TO HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO A BROKEN DOWN WORLD. HE’S PUT US HERE TO BUILD IT BACK UP. SO LET’S FIND OUR PLACE. AND GET TO WORK.

2011-10-13T21:20:00.001-04:00

“ Instead of focusing of what we don’t have, focus on what we do have and what we can do with it to glorify God’s name. ”

2011-10-11T23:37:00.000-04:00

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Thomas was a doubter, Sara was impatient, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead….

Now, what’s YOUR excuse? Can God use you or not?

God doesn’t call the qualified, HE qualifies THE CALLED!

2011-10-11T23:35:00.000-04:00

2011-10-11T23:34:00.000-04:00

God’s strongest warriors are armored not with metal boots or steel swords but with BENDED KNEES and HANDS LIFTED UP in surrender

2011-10-10T18:14:00.001-04:00

Don't Worry About It!

2011-10-10T18:13:00.001-04:00

God is a much bigger God and an able God. We know that God performed miracles years ago and He can still perform miracles today. But sometimes, we look at our God as a smaller God, and thus we worry excessively.

Should we still worry if we have a GREAT GOD next to us, every second of everyday? Put your trust on the Lord! Earthly things will decay but God and His love for us are eternal. The Bible teaches that we should deal with each day’s problems when they occur and not be obsessed with future concerns that may not happen (Matthew 6:34).

Luke 12:22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

2011-09-26T17:02:00.000-04:00

More From Tennessee

2011-09-07T23:05:00.002-04:00

2011-09-07T22:59:00.000-04:00

Singing Praises To The King!

2011-09-07T22:58:00.001-04:00

The COGWC Youth singing in the Smokies!!

2011-09-06T22:17:00.001-04:00

Scenes From Pastor Appreciation

2011-09-06T22:03:00.009-04:00

Associate Pastor Brad Stevens

Pastor Joey Burns, with his Brothers and Sisters - Donnie, Edgar, Billy Wayne, Judy and Debra

Chris Roberts and Jonathan Runion

Charles Harris

McKayla Bradshaw and Kara Gray

Ruby Chastain and Tarah Collett

Will Rogers and Clay M. Bishop III

Deidra Roberts

Getting ready for the softball game.

Karson Collett

All Photos Taken By COGWC Teen Ruby Chastain. Your pictures are wonderful and very appreciated Ruby!! Thank you!

2011-09-05T11:10:00.001-04:00

2011-09-05T11:08:00.003-04:00

Paul Chastain, Jonathan Runion and Mack Asher - 8/31/11 Service

2011-09-05T11:08:00.001-04:00

Youth Group Adventures in TN!!

2011-09-05T11:05:00.002-04:00

2011-09-02T23:37:00.001-04:00

Baptism of Morgan Asher

2011-08-28T16:31:00.004-04:00

2011-08-23T22:34:00.003-04:00

2011-08-17T23:58:00.001-04:00

Vacation Bible School 2011

2011-08-15T13:13:00.014-04:00

2011-08-09T22:46:00.000-04:00

God Gave Me An Eye For This

2011-08-09T22:38:00.008-04:00

Photography is just one of the passions of Nicole Miracle. She says, "the Lord gave me an eye for photography. He blessed me with it." Her pictures are beautiful expressions of her passion. Nicole is also an accomplished barrel racer.

This is MY worship!

2011-08-09T00:37:00.003-04:00

Josh Maxie has been playing drums at COGWC for years now. He is also a member of contemporary Christian band Autumns Way. Josh has always said, "me playing those drums - that's my worship." Every time he hits a cymbal or a snare, Josh is praising the Lord!

2011-08-09T00:36:00.000-04:00

2011-08-09T00:14:00.003-04:00

Jordan Philpot played his first show as the newest member of Autumns Way. He is now the bass player for the band. Congratulations Philpot!

2011-08-08T22:45:00.001-04:00

Study To Show Thyself Approved

2011-08-08T22:43:00.003-04:00

Kara Gray studying the Word. As she says, "my night consists of KJV, NKJV and NLT."

2011-08-08T13:47:00.000-04:00

2011-08-01T11:05:00.000-04:00