Merry Christmas from Christian City Church

We would like to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas!
This Christmas Eve we will have a beautiful Candle Lit Service.
The Service will begin at 6pm and will last about an hour.
We invite you to join us as we celebrate one of the most
exciting days of the year, the birth of our Savior!
See our website for more details & directions

This has been an exciting year for Christian City Church as we launched our first public service in February. We have grown and have many wonderful people who have come along side us to see the incredible Gospel message spread throughout our city and beyond.

We are looking forward to 2010 with enormous excitement!
Raleigh is an amazing city, great diversity and a common focus on a better way of life has drawn people from throughout the nation to settle here. This is a city full of talented and gifted people, we are called here to release those talents and gifts. To see people grow and come to understand how they are called to REACH OUT to the world around them.
We are just beginning to see all the incredible things God has planned for this city and its people.

Have a Wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Ps. Stephen & Merri-Beth Alexander
and the rest of the Alexander family!

Thanksgiving Newsletter

		Hello Church: We wanted to send a huge prayer for an amazing Thanksgiving to you and your family. Of all the many things I am Thankful for, one of the things I am most thankful for is you. Without you Christian City Church, Raleigh would not be possible. Thank you all for your time and support of the incredible work that was begun in Raleigh, NC We look forward to seeing everyone in church this week, I am believing this week is going to be an amazing breakthrough week as we wrap-up the series on faith. We will be setting time aside during service to pray for people this week, if you know of anyone in need of healing this is going to be a fantastic opportunity to invite them to church. I hope this helps as we push into God and seek His will and purpose for His church and our lives.
		FOOD DRIVE
		Hey Guys one quick reminder for this coming Sunday be sure to bring your cans of non-perishable food for the Eastern Carolina food bank, we are connecting with Guitar Center to help those in need.
		FREE GIVE AWAY
		We are giving away an Ipod NANO Video to a visitor from the month of November. Bring your friends and make sure to register them as first time guests and you both can win a brand new Ipod Nano Video. We will be giving away our first Nano in December.
		FREE MUSIC If you have not yet logged onto www.C3Worship.com and check out the Free Music and videos, as well as New Original Music from C3 Worship Leaders around the world
		We look forward to seeing you this Sunday at 11am Have a great week, see you in church!
		Please pass this on to friends and family that may not be on our email list yet.
		Visit www.c3ral.com for more info about C3 Church and where we are headed

Wind of Change

Revelation 22

 2 On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.

Our lives are full of seasons, some seasons are fruitful others are seasons of preparation, some seasons are dormant. Even the best seed in the most fertile soil will not grow or bare fruit in a winter season.

Winds increase between seasons signaling change is coming. The wind of heaven is a good thing, it causes a shaking in our lives. 

When the wind blows through the trees, two things fall off the tree, dead things and ripe fruit.

Dead things need to be pruned from our lives, they weigh us down and suck life from an otherwise healthy tree.

Ripe fruit needs to be released from our lives. Ripe fruit that hangs on a tree for to long becomes sour and spoiled, but when it is released in season it is sweet and blesses everyone who tastes it.

We are experiencing a season of shaking and releasing, in both the natural world and the spiritual kingdom.

This is an incredible time to see Gods hand in our lives and to trust that He is our provider. God has a plan and if we have faith we will see greater fruitfulness then we could ever have imagined.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven

Have an incredible week,

See you in church!

Ps. Steve

Fillings (the stuff in the middle)

I love cookies, they are just wonderful!  ( you can tell right away that this is a deep and spiritual blog.) Cookies and tea on a cool morning are such a comforting combination. Whoever thought of taking two cookies and putting a creamy filling between them was a genius. The filling in the middle makes the cookies even better!

The filling is the key. We run through life, and become very goal oriented. We plot our course and head  from one task to the next.   However,  we often miss the best opportunities to learn,  grow and gain a wealth of wisdom as we travel between our destination, thus the filling.

Jesus traveled from town to town, healing the sick, opening blind eyes, and restoring relationships of the broken hearted back to God. In His travels, he was never too distracted by the next destination to see the people right in front of Him. People are God's mission field, regardless of their location, whether they are around the block or around the world. God is in the people business.

Don't be so distracted by your drive to reach your destination that you lose your focus on God and the ability to see what is right in front of you.

John 4:4  Now He (Jesus) had to go through Samaria. 5So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

 7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

Jesus was tired. He  just had a long trip. He could have easily ignored this woman,( a Samaritan woman) but in speaking to her,  he saw the key to connecting with an entire village. Through this one encounter, this woman and her whole village are saved and believes in Christ.

Stay connected to God and you will see that life is more then getting from one place to the next, life is about the journey.

Have a great week,

See you in Church.

Ps. Steve

Rise up!

1 Peter 1: 3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great MERCY he has given us NEW BIRTH into a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD.

What an amazing God we have, nothing not even death can separate us from his incredible mercy and grace.

So many things that we face in life seem so unattainable and impossible. We struggle and fight to breakthrough barriers that hold us back from living with Joy and Promise. Our circumstances often appear to be getting the best of us BUT not even death can stop the plans of God.

Jesus raised Lazarus (John 11: 38-44) from the dead.
Lazarus wasn’t just having a rough day, he died, dead for 3 days. All hope seemed lost, Lazarus’s sisters and family were mourning their lose. Jesus arrives in the town, everyone is sad, no joy in their hearts that day, broken hearted.
Jesus loved Lazarus and calls out to God, everyone could hear him. Jesus did this so everyone there would know and understand that He was sent from God and that awesome power of God has no limits, not even Death.

Jesus calls out to Lazarus “Come Out” and he did, hopping out of his tomb, still wrapped in burial cloth.

You are never too far gone for God to reach out to you and raise you out of whatever death you are living in. Seek God and you will find Him waiting for you, ready to pour out Mercy and Restoration on your life.

Have a great weekend and a wonderful Father’s Day!

PS. STEVE

Holding On

Some things take forever.
It seems like just last week I was waiting on the birth of my first child, we were having a girl, my wife was overdue. We had gone to birthing classes together, we had the baby shower, we prepared the room, stocked up on diapers, It seemed like forever.
My oldest daughters name is Ashley and she is 21 yrs old now, it seems like just yesterday she was learning to walk and talk, her first day of school, her first school play.

Time is tangible we can feel it ticking by, sometimes slowly, sometimes fast

In each of our lives their will be moments that define us. God will call you and say GO or STAY, He may ask you to lead or follow. No matter how the question is framed, it is always the same core question. “Do you trust me”.
Is your faith in God strong enough to follow Him where ever he leads you.

The Israelites walked to within miles of their promise. Freed from captivity, crossed a river on dry land, lead by a pillar of fire. So close, out of millions only 2 men had the faith to enter the promises of God.

Believe in the promises God has shown you, never let go. God is a faithful God, He can not lie. There are dreams in your heart from God. Hang on to them, believe that you have already received them and you will see them come to pass.

Exodus 6: 6 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.' "

Have an awesome week.
See you in church!

Ps. Steve

A New Name

Abraham was named by God, his name was once Abram the name given to him by his earthly father. God changed Abrams name to signify what Abram was to become, Abraham, the father of many nations.

We journey through life and are called many things but God has called you to be something special and most often you need to go through a process to become what He has called you to be.

We need to see ourselves as God sees us. Powerful, Beautiful, Intelligent, Worshippers, Faith filled, Mighty, Victorious, His children!

ROMANS 12:2 be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are powerful, unbeatable people when we walk with God. Begin to speak your new name over your life, over your family, over your job, over your marriage.

Begin to see the hand of God leading you to a successful, joy-filled, victorious life.
God is for you, He is on your side, He loves you and He is there for you.

Start living your best life now!!

Have an amazing week, see you in church!

Ps. Steve

Anyone!

John 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.



The church is not a private club; it is not for a select few. Unlike many of the most exclusive clubs and associations, they thrive and create a sense of importance by excluding people.

The church is for everyone.


Jesus tells his followers that anyone can do what he has done if they have faith. We are limited from the minute we are born. Right after Ma or Da the next word we learn is NO. No don’t touch, No don’t eat that, No, No. The idea of “No” is meant to create safety and order in our lives. Order and Safety are good, as long as they don’t limit our spiritual growth. For most of us that is exactly what happens.


Jesus is God of the possible, our lives are infinite yet we live as though we are finite. Only two things are needed to follow God to all he has called you to be.
Faith and an Obedient Heart.
With God you can do anything, think bigger and then go even bigger still!
Think about all that God can do through you, instead of what He can do for you. You will be completely surprised by all that God can do with an obedient heart.


You are greater then you will even imagine. Take a walk with God this week and see where you end up. Don’t be surprised when you are healing the sick and suddenly blind eyes see.

You are Gods greatest joy!
Believe it, and have a wonderful week.
See you in Church!

Ps. Steve

You Are Called

Joshua 1:9

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Powerful words spoken from God to Joshua. Can you imagine the pressure of taking over the job of the guy who was considered the greatest leader of all time? Not an easy position to be in, some would consider it to be an impossible job. God moves people around to make room for new people, many time better people.
Joshua was Moses right hand man, Joshua supported Moses in every way, he studied Moses and followed his instruction without question. He was his most trusted advisor and friend. Both a warrior and a worshipper
There was no one more qualified to take Moses place, and yet Joshua felt completely unsuited for the job.

One of the biggest challenges we face is believing that God has called us.
Every person on the planet has a calling……EVERYONE!
We hide behind false modesty and honest ignorance. “Did God really call me to do the work of His kingdom?”
He was not only called you, He has gifted you, he has equipped you, he has annointed you and God has put you in the right place at the right time.
God is with us always.

See what God is calling you to do this week.
Have an awesome week.
See you in Church.

Ps. Stephen Alexander

Visit Christian City Church Raleigh website @

Connect

I love to read the Bible, it keeps me sharp and it always challenges me. It also reminds me of the passion that God has for us and how He wants to connect with us.

 

When Jesus says things like, “ (Luke 17: 33 – Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever losses his life will preserve it”. You may not understand exactly what he is saying but you know he is saying something other then the words you are reading.

 

God spends a lot of time thinking about us, He spent a good deal of time thinking about creating you. He knows how tall you are, how beautiful you are. He knows what gifts and talents he gave you and he knows your thoughts, even when we are not sure of who God is and how He works.

 

You (insert your name here) are a special person. Ephesians 1: 4-5 says that God chose us as a special and Holy people before he even created a place for us to live. Before the foundations of the heavens and the Earth, God thought about you, He dreamed about you, about walking and talking with you.

 

God has an awesome plan for your life. Life with God is exciting and full of adventure, it is anything but boring. Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon or the Rocky Mountains or the sun setting over the ocean? Could the same God that created all that be limited by anything?

 

The adventure begins when you say yes to walking with God and you let go of your fears and all the things that hold you back from taking that first step towards God.

Have an awesome week, you are an original work of art, signed by God.

 

Ps Stephen Alexander

 

 

Happy New Year 2009 WOW!!!!

Happy New Year to all, I hope everyone had a special Christmas holiday celebration, surrounded by friends and family. I love New Years celebrations, the time of year always causes me to reflect on me altitude and longitude and my attitude.
It amazes me that every year, regardless of the balance on the checking account or the number of presents under the tree I always come to the same conclusion. I am filthy rich in the blessings of heaven.
In the mortgage and real estate business a pipeline is a reference to future business and you always want to have business in the pipeline. A good sales person may have as much as 6 months of future business in their pipeline.
As I survey my life, I can point out blessing after blessing to anyone who would ask to see my treasure here on Earth. I would have to first point to my relationship with my Creator, just the fact that I can walk and talk with the creator of all the Universe continues to blow my mind, to the point that I can’t even put into words with any real justice.
I would next point to the amazing woman that God has given to me as my wife, again I struggle for words to describe the love I have for this beautiful precious woman. I know that she loves me for me because God has placed us in each others hands and we are both in His hands. We have four amazing children that we have poured our hearts and lives into.
Talking with your children is like talking with God, at first you do all the talking because you feel you can help them by telling them what to do. Then one day you realize that you learn a lot more about them and life is so much easier if you listen to what they have to say.
I could point to many things that have passed but what is amazing is when I look to the future my spiritual pipeline is full as far as I can see. I have had the incredible privilege of being around so many awesome men and women that have taken time to pour Gods anointing and blessings into my life and my family.
Everyone is blessed; the bible says the rain falls on the just and the unjust, the saved and the heathen. The key is to look for the blessings and be thankful for the ones you have.

In 1 Samuel ch. 17 David is compelled to fight Goliath, King Saul sees David’s Faith and passion and allows him to fight the giant Philistine but first he tries to help David by giving him his armor. A noble and honorable gesture on Saul’s part after all David was a shepherd not a soldier and he was only a young man. Most men would have died in that armor fighting but David knew that he was blessed and gifted as a shepherd, he had defended his flock against lions and bears. David took off the Kings armor and fought with Goliath as a shepherd, with the tools of the shepherd and he defeated Goliath.

This year take time to discover who you are in God, don’t take on someone else’s stuff. When you do what you are gifted to do it is easy for God to bless you and you will grow and prosper in every area of your life.
God didn’t promise to make your life perfect, He said he would make you perfect.
Have an awesome New Year!!!
Be Blessed,

Ps. Stephen Alexander