Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Easter looks like this

As we began to work on Easter, the smallest things caught my attention. And they didn't look much like Easter in the beginning.

As I worked in the auditorium Monday at Crossroads, other people were in and out, serving those who will attend this weekend simply by using their talents.  I marveled at how valuable each contribution was. This look of Easter was much different than what most people see.
pieces and parts waiting to be formed into something beautiful






I watched one lady quietly spraying the handles of the auditorium doors making sure that no germs or dirty finger prints were anywhere to be seen.   And others will soon join in to help with the endless job of cleaning all the glass windows at Crossroads... 



I watched as the sweeper was carefully aimed beneath each seat, and between the aisles where somewhere close to 2,000 people's feet had walked just days before.  The feet of people gathering to hear the Word of God.

I saw light bulbs replaced, and trash hauled out and programs prepared and new table tents advertising our pastor's next teaching series be placed with great care around Crossroads.

This is what Easter looked like yesterday... and then today it began to take a different shape as rehearsals began and the team encouraged and cheered one another on.

What started out as ideas found on-line, or suggestions tucked away for months in folders began to come alive, as if the Lord Himself breathed life into the process.  All of us believing the careful preparation of this temporary building and the details within - could somehow be used of the Lord to help remove the distractions of disorder - so a new life could be redeemed for Christ.

It was almost too much to take in...

As you come to worship this weekend, picture each hand that touched the places that surround you, and know they did it because we all love you and care desperately about your relationship with the Risen Christ of Easter.

Please join me in praying for all of those who will come this weekend!




Monday, March 23, 2015

weekend report

Well It's very hard to believe that another weekend has come and gone at Crossroads!  It was a very important weekend because we got to be lead in worship by our students and our student ministry leaders!   THIS IS the church as God intended.  The greatest thing any of us can do - is to pour into generations younger then we are.  My highest honor - the greatest joy I feel is when I get to mentor or teach or provide opportunities for those younger then myself.  To celebrate their victories and discoveries and then I get to watch them turn into who God designed them to be!  It takes my breath away to even think about it!  And it guarantees that Crossroads has a future in the Lord!

The talent these young people have is incredible and the authentic way they lead worship and ran the tech areas and took care of greeting everyone that came into our ministry this past weekend was priceless - so good!

Aaron mentoring David on sound

Blueberry had the video covered





Pastor Jesse took care of the greeting team - and the mystery man

The 24 Series continued with students and student leaders!


the view from the Lighting booth - students everywhere

Wes called cues like a pro!

Jocelyn on piano and Micaela lead beautifully


High School Pastor Eric lead strongly

Ethan and the student choir were such a huge part of the weekend!

The greeting team either welcomed everyone in a way they'll never forget - or scared them to death!  ha ha

Our Setlist:

Video Announcements

Easter Promo - Video

How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Thank You Jesus
Your Glory (Nothing But the Blood)

Prayer - student - Ethan
24 series Bumper Video
Message:  Pt. 4; The Trials

Exit song: Thank You Jesus

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries used in their worship services go to www.theworshipcomunity.com




Tuesday, March 17, 2015

what I learned today

Every day is a precious gift from Almighty God.  That's what I learned today.

I'm still basking in the thankfulness I feel for a blessed day of sleeping in, walking dogs, babysitting the most important child in the universe, and just praising Him that our family loves Him so.

It's been a really long time since I've felt like my work is not 'out of control'.  It's still impossible to fit into a 30 hr work week, but it's just good, really good.  So I sit in a place of thankfulness.

There are always things to get done and places that need 'going to', but instead of some huge new thing learned today, I just learned again to be thankful.  I thanked the God of the universe for sending His Son for me, thanked him for my hubby and family and His never ending care.

Maybe tomorrow I'll learn something astounding I can share - tonight I'm satisfied with what today has been and for the things I've already learned.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

weekend report

Oh what a weekend we had in the House of the Lord called Crossroads!

As Pastor Dave talked about Peter and Jesus' eyes locking following Peter's denial of the Lord, I pictured all the times in my own life I've sinned and so denied Him.  I could picture those eyes and I knew again the immense grace only He can offer me.

The worship was so amazing and I cherished the time this weekend that I got to spend talking with my friends.  The opportunity to do life with all of my brothers and sisters who I will spend all of eternity with just takes my breath away...  it was so good.

Our setlist:

Because He Lives

Announcements on video

Lord I Need You
Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)
All He Says I Am

Message:  Pt. 3: The Betrayal/Denial

Brokenness Aside
Pastoral Prayer
Brokenness Aside concluded

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries used in their worship services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

Have a blessed week!


Wednesday, March 11, 2015

working on Easter

I just finished writing the video revisions to our Easter videos that are in the process of being prepared.

My ultimate goal is to have every part of our service to be God-honoring and to be used to bring understanding about who Jesus is to those who attend.  In order for that to happen, we must work as hard as possible to eliminate any mistake or lack of excellence.

As I typed out words that I needed removed from the video and images I need slowed down and speeded up, I wondered if the Lord is pleased with our work.  I wondered if the Lord needs our work?

The fact that He has chosen to use us to 'create' services to lead the lost to Him is crazy!  He could have just chosen whom He wanted leaving no part to play for any of us.

Instead, he uses us to create things like services and the details those require, with rehearsals and weeks of preparation and evaluation.  And he uses volunteers who carefully clean the church, and make the coffee and teach the children and greet and park the people.  All so they can see Him through us.  Amazing.

We are just 3 weeks away now, time is moving quickly like always.

Will you play your part in the preparations by inviting lost friends and relatives?

Will you hold every detail of things being prepared in prayer asking the Savior of the Universe to reveal Himself to many at Crossroads this year?

I cannot wait to see Him touch this place....

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

weekend report


I was thankful to feel well enough to be back at Crossroads this last weekend!   You don't appreciate your health until you stay in bed a few days.  

Pastor Dave continued the Last 24 - series with an amazing message about Jesus "In the Garden"...so powerful!

So many things changing at Crossroads, this week our radio ministry begins as we prepare to 'reach outside these walls'...God opportunities are pouring in!

Our setlist:

Announcements on video:   2 of my favorite announcement ladies kicked our service off bringing us up to date on all that's going on!  Thanks Nadine and Ruby!!

Jesus Only Jesus
All My Fountains
In The Garden (There is None Like You)
My Heart is Yours

Pastor Prayer - Pastor Dave

Message:  Pt. 2: The Garden

Exit song: In the Garden...

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries used in their worship services go to theworshipcommunity.com

Have a blessed week!

what I learned today

I've been away from writing a lot lately.   And probably for those precious faithful readers, you'll feel like another 'what I learned today' is the same as always, but what can I say?   I'm a slow learner!

Things like vacations without internet and grandsons I love to focus on...and oh yeah 4 days in bed sick have occupied my last few days.

But, man oh man, God is so good and I woke up today feeling like I miss Him.  Guess what?   He didn't go anywhere - it's always me.

It's shameful the 'things' that I allow to distract me from the personal worship of the Savior being my highest priority.  Today I don't want to 'settle' outside of true eternal joy!

This is what Piper says about 'settling', "we have accustomed ourselves to such meager, short-lived pleasures that our capacity for joy has shriveled".

I feel as if this sentence so perfectly describes especially our American lifestyle, better than any other description I've read.

We settle for all these earthly things occupying all of our time...and we miss true fellowship with God, true worship.

Today may my life be full of Holy Worship in all I say and do and think.  Longing, EVER longing to know Him intimately and to have every part of my life changed for others to see.  The evidence of true conversion!




         

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

what I learned today

Today I learned how much God can use people in the most hopeless of circumstances. 





Our GoMissions team is currently in Cambodia - and for one of their outreaches they visited a remote village where every person there has the HIV virus.  This was caused by a well-meaning doctor who used the same needle to give every person shots.

How sad that the very thing intended to help the people - doomed them to sure death.  And chances are very high they've never heard about our Lord.

Our Crossroads team held them, hugged them, talked to them and the Asia's Hope leaders gave them everlasting hope in the message they taught.  All the people listened intently and were very, very grateful!

Our team took them money for rice, a few clothes and the hope of Jesus Christ.  They are praying to turn a death-sentence into a life full of hope found only in our Savior even if HIV makes their time on this earth limited.

Please continue to cover our team in your prayers!   It's so amazing to understand that Crossroads gets to share in the lives won for eternity each time we send teams 'out' as Jesus commanded.

Obedience = eternal results

Can't you just see the day when we all gather around the thrown of Jesus to celebrate the ways God used Crossroads people to deliver this precious message?

What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory

Monday, March 2, 2015

my day off

I usually give a report at the end of my day off - but today, for the first time as long as I can remember, my hubby and I both slept in and have no plans.

Some people may consider having no plans as being disorganized and the concern for nothing getting accomplished may be what you think of.  Well, to ease your mind as I sit here in the glorious sun hitting my couch - my washer and dryer are running - so at least there will be clean clothes!  Beyond that - nothing is ok!

I wonder how many people around the world wake up everyday not knowing what their day will hold?   It may even be the majority of the world - I don't know.

To me, it's a luxury I treasure highly so I sit in this moment thankful for simple things like a good nights rest and the warm sun.  And joy floods my soul.


Before I blogged this morning, I read this from John Calvin, "If God contains the fullness of all good things in himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond him is to be sought by those who strike after the highest good and all the elements of happiness."

Worship of God is an end in itself - really the ultimate goal of our lives.  Worship is not an outward ritual - it is our expressed satisfaction in Him and Him alone.  It changes our hearts which changes our outward actions and loves and life.

Space and silence creates authentic worship - not song selections and rehearsals.

Today - in the stillness, there is more room than normal for my worship - it makes me remember how important starting each day like this is to my soul and to my relationship with almighty God.

In our busy - over-extended lives I suspect 'stopping' is what our Savior seeks - it's perhaps the highest form of praise we can offer Him.


Sunday, March 1, 2015

weekend report

Thank you, thank you to all who braved the elements to come and partake of the Lord's Supper at Crossroads!  What a blessed beginning to our The Last 24 series this weekend.

If you weren't able to be with us, here is just a glimpse of what you missed!   Praying the snow stays away for next weekend so we can all be back together to worship at Crossroads!
Pastor Dave giving the local weather report from
 Crossroads!


Worshiping together!

We start them serving young at Crossroads - plastic gloves and all!











A beautiful beginning to The Last 24 series!
Our setlist:

We switched things around this weekend -

Announcements on Video:  Aaron Nicolas

Message:   The Last 24 - Pt. 1 - Pastor Dave Vance

Remember - special during Communion Special Music
One Thing Remains
In Christ Alone

Pastoral Prayer - Dave Vance

To watch our services go to www.crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries used in their services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com