Friday, October 30, 2015

our amazing, talented, dedicated staff

I really don't have to say much...because what you're about to see,  are the people who make getting to Crossroads everyday so very good!  I love our staff, how close we all are, how much we all understand what everyone cares about and dedicates their lives to...I could go on and on and on...but they say a picture's worth 1,000 words!  Enjoy!

Their entrance actually brought a hush to the crowd as we stared in disbelief
also wondering how we would every be able to follow
Dan's lead in worship...(makeup and nails done too!)



Baby Margot

Rachael is our newest staff member - the new Coffee House manager
She was 'Star - buck' get it?  
Greg claims he came as himself - look at that cute pig-tailed wife!
(Not sure what Dan is doing...)

Even superheroes hold little ones!

Just hanging out!

Harry Potter family!

Madeline and Miss Clavel

A truly crazy duo!

Hippies and tourists enjoy one another's company.

Tourists complete with fanny packs!

Way, way too much food!

Inside Out

A competition to remember - Dan's wife had to
pull his dress down...

Miss Clavel with pretend ice cream

Tad returned...frightening!

Joseph kept pushing his wife off the roller cart!
Eric and Greg won

Tad trying to balance M & Ms

Jocelyn was the winner of the balancing game!

Oliver had a riot playing with the left-over game trash!

I'm forever grateful to be part of such a great staff...even when we look weird!



starting over...again

Some people describe their lives as a continuous, never ending, repetitive journey.  

I feel like my life is perpetually starting over and over and over!

Acts 3:19-20 says...Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus










How absolutely mind-blowing that the Creator of the Universe offers this to us!  Repent and turn again... WOW!









I'm spending the afternoon reading and writing and baking and just resting in Him.  Resting in a time of refreshing as described in His Word!








Have you allowed yourself to spend time confessing then resting?  I invite you to do so soon, very soon.









A right relationship with God is the only true refreshing you'll ever experience in this broken world! 















Sunday, October 25, 2015

weekend report

This week was one for the books!  People often ask me how our process works as we prepare the weekend services.
It begins with God laying on Pastor Dave's heart what our congregation needs to hear, and then the staff begins to work.  Songs are chosen thematically to support the teachings, creative elements are dreamed up, missional work happens, caring for the sick takes place, preparing the teachings for the children and students happens, and the endless cleaning and maintenance of Crossroads is completed  and when it all comes together it's a perfect representation of all the different gifts and talents God gives to His children used to tell His story!
Just as the weekend was ready to being we had a staff member involved in an accident, a key volunteer too ill to serve and last minute volunteers that came to the rescue because they understand that God planned for us all to work together unselfishly giving of our time and talents!
This week's beautiful worship preparation took place, hours of video work happened as our dreams and ideas became reality - and our congregation responded by giving as they figuratively 'picked up their brick'!
Here is a peek behind the scenes!
Staff eating goodies 
snack break!  someone sent our staff an amazing box of goodies this week!
Crossroads
This was one early morning this week...thankful, so very thankful!
worship
worship team
We worshiped - oh how we worshipped this weekend!!

Shooting videos includes some trial and error - here our base broke so the glass didn't break!


I can't wait to work on next week's services!

Our setlist:
Lord I'm Ready Now
Welcome and announcements - Jocelyn Nicolas
Unstoppable God
Forever Reign
It Is Well
Build That Wall -  theme song
Message: Nehemiah Pt. 4. Hand Me a Brick - Pastor Dave Vance
Exit Song Lord I'm Ready Now

To watch our services on line go to www.crossroadswired.com

To wee what other ministries used in their worship services this weekend go to www.theworshipcommunity.com


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

My will or God's?

I caught myself wasting time today worrying again.  Nothing dramatic, or horrible, just worry.

This says to the Lord LOUD AND CLEAR - that I don't trust Him.  I asked for His forgiveness...again!

Then I believe with all my heart the Lord brought to my attention an article written by John Piper about discerning the Will of God and I was reminded once again, that I don't have to figure everything out.   I just have to be obedient, lead strongly, love thoroughly and His will - WILL be done!

It most likely will look nothing like I wasted my time thinking about.  And could even contain difficult things, but I am praising Him of this reminder to trust!

So I'm following what I know I need to be doing anyway, and that's pouring over His Word, offering prayer continuously and leaning fully into what's before me with the trust of the birds - which worry not what they'll eat tomorrow...

And still they fulfill their Father's purpose!

Monday, October 19, 2015

my day off

Today I had an extremely blessed day - it will by my mom's 81st birthday Thursday so today my sister and I drug her around to all sorts of places to celebrate early!
My sister, my mom and myself - loving on one another!

We began at Starbucks of course - then made our way to the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus.  It was beautiful and a great way to admire God's handicraft and care for amazing detail in the plants and flowers and colors everywhere!

cement faces hide among the cactus in the dessert display

Beautiful pieces of blown glass add color to this spot in the gardens


Private donors put up enough money to purchase many of the
Chihuly glass artwork pieces that are now a permanent part
of the Conservatory.

God's care about detail really was apparent in these
tiny 'pitcher plants'.  They looked just like water pitchers!

The Scary Plant display was up for Halloween.
This was all made out of plants and veggies - you can see the detail in the hand below!

There was an entire row of large jars with 'pickled pumpkin faces' in them

The Koi swam peacefully and were huge!
It was a great day of much laughter, reminiscing and plans for the Holidays fast approaching - it made me very, very thankful to have had such an amazing example of Godly mothering in my life... and she's still going strong at 81 years young!!

Sunday, October 18, 2015

weekend report

Our pastor has been away for the past 2 weekends and we miss him, but the Lord has been so faithful and last weekend Pastor Dave's series in Nehemiah continued from him via video, and this weekend one or our Student Ministry Pastor's taught us from God's Word.  Jesse did a great job and we worshipped and spent time together as 'the church'...

I just love it when even the camera guys can't contain their worship!



Our blessings continued this evening as 'the church' was manifested
in friendships and through the blessing of relationships -- as God intended.  
Our setlist:

Announcements:  Jeff Schultheis

Opening worship video:  Psalm 95

Holy Spirit
Jesus I Come
As We Pray
Lord I Need You

Message:  Nehemiah Pt. 3: Prayer and Action - Jesse Rider

Exit song:  As we Pray

To watch our service go to crossroadswired.com

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







Monday, October 12, 2015

Weekend Report

It was a great 2nd weekend in the new Nehemiah series at Crossroads.  Pastor Dave was with us via video while he's vacationing - people said they forgot he wasn't live and thoroughly enjoyed the message.
We had brass on the praise team and enjoyed a great time of worship!
Our Setlist:
Come Thou Fount
Unstoppable God
Made New
Whole Earth
Announcements & Intro of Pastor Dave
Message:  Nehemiah Pt.2:  Broken Hearts over Broken Walls - Pastor Dave Vance
Exit Song:  Come Thou Fount
To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com
To see what other ministries are using in their services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

Monday, October 5, 2015

weekend report

I don't remember a time recently when I've been busier and more excited about ministry then I am right now!  Our new series, Nehemiah launched this past weekend with a very unusual moving of the Spirit of God.  People spontaneously responded to Him, as personal testimonies were shared, technical difficulties we seldom experience occurred all weekend long, and we ran completely out of the devotionals that we created as a support of this series.  I felt as if a Spiritual battle raged all weekend, and that's not being dramatic at all.

I had to lay it at His feet, I don't like it when things don't go as planned.  We had all done the very best we could to prepare well and had to realize that beyond preparing well,  it was completely His to do with our work as He pleased...and He did.   I can hardly wait to see what happens next!  He is good!

Our devotionals went like hot-cakes - we ran out!

Jim, Daren and Milo 



It was so good to have Angie back and the team together again!


Despite tons of problems, our tech team pushed through!

Pastor Dave brought us a strong teaching from Nehemiah!
Our Setlist:

Undeniable - Instrumental opening
Announcements:  https://vimeo.com/141064711
Unstoppable
Broken Vessels
It Is Well With My Soul
All Creatures of Our God and King
Message:  Nehemiah Pt. 1: The Brokenness we See - Pastor Dave Vance
Exit Song: Broken Vessels

To watch our services on line go to crossroadswired.com

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