Monday, November 28, 2016

weekend report

This weekend began our Ruth series, and it was amazing!  This series will tell the beautiful story or Ruth and Hope!

Everything was beautifully prepared to support the teaching, everything from an amazing, thematic time of worship to the beautiful original video footage our team shot - to the small things like 'hope' bulbs on the tree!  All was carefully prepared and presented to our congregation!

Pastor Dave's teaching, "A Difficult Journey of Hope", set up the series beautifully and taught us much that we didn't know about this obedient woman in the Bible!

I can't wait to hear the next teaching this coming weekend!

Our worship team did a beautiful job - even inviting a cellist to join them this weekend - it was gorgeous!

Here are a few shots of our weekend.





Jocelyn ended the service with the song O Lord - it
was such a great support of the message we had just heard!


Our setlist:

Announcements on video

Ever Be
Forever Reign
I Have Decided
Oceans

Message: Ruth Pt. 1 - the Difficult Journey of Hope - Dr. Dave Vance, Lead Pastor

Special Music:  O Lord

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

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

Sunday, November 20, 2016

weekend report

We had yet another amazing weekend!

This weekend I walked around all the areas of Crossroads during one of our services.  I was completely overwhelmed as I saw worship happening in each room of Crossroads!

Here is the look of worship...

Our main auditorium was full of people fully engaged in worshipping the Lord!

The student worship was so great - I left the room worshipping myself!

The students room was set up for 100 and they were adding chairs when I came in!
Talk about praise!

Another form of worship is using your technical talents to serve!

This was worship in the 4 & 5th grade room!

Worship in the form of technically serving!

Worship in the elementary room!

And a young Pastor, Aaron worshipping God with his words of teaching!
Our Setlist:

Announcements on video

Opening Worship Intro Video

Good Good Father 

Responsive Reading

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
In Christ Alone
It Is Well

Light and Dark Video Bumper

MESSAGE:  Light and Dark - Pastor Aaron Nicolas 

Exit song:  In Christ Alone

To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com

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


Thursday, November 17, 2016

what women believe

I joke with my friends about the changes I see in myself.

I often say that if I didn't get to see them struggle with the same things I do, like my forgetfulness, I would think I'm totally losing it!

If I didn't believe that my identity in Christ never changes, and the way He sees me is so different than how I see myself, I think I would be completely hopeless.

I've watched my mom struggle with this over the past year.  So much of 'who she was' in her mind was wrapped up in my dad.  Now as she faces growing old alone I've seen her wonder what her value is.

I am more aware of the stigma attached to the aging and more determined than ever to play a part in helping them believe in their value.  Being young doesn't make you more valuable, although it is a physically stronger time, it is not a more important time.  Women believe a lot of lies.

The Crossroads women's retreat I've been working on with an amazing group of ladies, is going to be based on the 'words of women' and I long to make it applicable to all age groups.

Ladies of Crossroads - let's come together and support one another, be available to one another, honor those older than ourselves and invite others into our lives.  And refuse to believe all the lies of our enemy as he seeks to destroy our confidence in Christ!

 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  Philippians 1:6

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

what I learned today

This morning has started slowly...a very real blessing!  So I am beginning in scripture and prayer.

My devotions took me to I Corinthians 13:12, where God talks about 'one day we will fully know'.

I've always believed that God has let us know in His Word just what we need to know.  Enough challenging goals and information to spend our life pursuing righteous living and to keep us focused and plenty busy!

But this study reminded me of all the unknown things yet to come, that only God knows.  It's easy to go through my day assuming that 'my little world' contains everything there is.  Of course we all know that couldn't be further from the truth as we look beyond ourselves at our current world and it's sad state.  But I sometimes live that way, worrying about trivial things.

But when I take time to wonder about the 'unknown things', things I'm completely unable to handle right now -  it's fascinating!

What is to come - the knowledge we will some day possess  I would guess will make the things we've experienced here and worried about here seem completely ridiculous.

Oh how I long to give my Savior the respect of trusting Him enough to realize that I'm never given more than I can handle here on earth.  That I need to keep my focus fully on kingdom things and FORGET the dumb worries of today.  A lifestyle of worship and trust.

May this day be fully focused and demonstrate to the King of Kings that His agenda and all the unknown things are what motivates us today.


Monday, November 14, 2016

weekend report

Well I thought I had seen it all, and then Pastor Dave took the stage...

It was a blast this past weekend at Crossroads!  I don't think we could have fit another element into our services!  And each element was amazing!

From the recognition of our Veterans by Nicole Blakely, a retired Veteran herself, to a rap by our lead pastor - Dr. Dave Vance, to beautiful worship and the privilege of praying for a hard-working missionary!  So very good to be at Crossroads this past weekend!

We gave out EVERY SINGLE new visitors packet again this weekend and are scrambling to keep up with serving all our new attendees!  God is good, so very good!

As we prepare for Thanksgiving his week, I am completely aware of how very, very many things I have to be grateful for and I cannot silence my words of thanksgiving to my Lord!!!

Here is a glimpse at some of the things from this past weekend at Crossroads.

Yes it's true, our pastor is a rapper!



It's Undeniable!   He brought it!


Our Setlist:

Sermonspice video for Veterans Day

Nicole Blakely thanked the Veterans for their service to our country!

Undeniable - with our Pastor featured on the rap
The Whole Earth
Doxology
We Believe

Prayer for Missionary
Message:  Pt. 8, the Contaminated Church - Laodicia:  Dr. Dave Vance

exit song:  The Whole Earth

To watch our services go to Crossroadswired.com

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

Friday, November 11, 2016

grateful to our veterans



I have an afternoon today, for the first time I can remember to just work at home. So I decided it was a perfect time to review some new music for Christmas while I worked. I've fallen in love with the version of Silent Night my daughter showed me yesterday, it's by a group called Future of Forestry.


Recently I emptied my entire attic and purged nearly everything. One thing I didn't get rid of were my frames, and of course my framed pictures that weren't currently hanging or sitting in our home. I probably had 40 of various sizes.


So today I decided to sort the frames, label the tubs and get those sorted correctly. Within these frames were both original art as well as photography that I count precious of our kids, weddings and distant relatives.


As I worked the wind picked up outside and the flag flapping widely caught my eye. I couldn't stop watching it fly against the nearly artificial looking beauty of the fall. It caused me to draw in a grateful breath and just watch, just pause, just take it in.




Immediately I thought of our dear Veterans, and their selfless sacrifice for my freedom and was filled with such gratitude. These amazing veterans are the reason I can sit hear listening to whatever I want to, to praise my Lord out loud for all to hear and to worship anywhere I choose.


I thank you all sincerely and I pray that you'll draw close to the Lord on this special day and know He understands sacrifice and loves you!

grateful to our veterans



I have an afternoon today, for the first time I can remember to just work at home. So I decided it was a perfect time to review some new music for Christmas while I worked. I've fallen in love with the version of Silent Night my daughter showed me yesterday, it's by a group called Future of Forestry.


Recently I emptied my entire attic and purged nearly everything. One thing I didn't get rid of were my frames, and of course my framed pictures that weren't currently hanging or sitting in our home. I probably had 40 of various sizes.


So today I decided to sort the frames, label the tubs and get those sorted correctly. Within these frames were both original art as well as photography that I count precious, our kids, weddings and distant relatives.


As I worked the wind picked up outside and the flag flapping widely caught my eye. I couldn't stop watching it fly against the nearly artificial looking beauty of the fall. It caused me to draw in a grateful breath and just watch, just pause, just take it in.




Immediately I thought of our dear Veterans, and their selfless sacrifice for my freedom and was filled with such gratitude. These amazing veterans are the reason I can sit hear listening to whatever I want to, to praise my Lord out loud for all to hear and to worship anywhere I choose.


I thank you all sincerely and I pray that you'll draw close to the Lord on this special day and know He understands sacrifice and loves you!

Sunday, November 6, 2016

weekend report

I knew this weekend was going to be special as the praise team gathered around two dad's from our praise & tech teams, laid hands on them and asked the Lord for protection and healing.  Both have kids facing pretty serious surgeries this week.  When the church supports one another and holds each other up in prayer - there is nothing more powerful!!

I was blown away yet again, as we baptized over 20 people this weekend!  The thing that makes this so amazing is, we had a huge outdoor baptism at the end of the summer - so it just confirms the life-change we have the honor of continuing to see the Lord doing at Crossroads!  It was also a huge testimony to the work that is being poured into our youth and pre-teens as they were being taught on the important of baptism.

I always find baptism very moving as people show outwardly what the Lord has done inside of them. But before the service began, a mom of one of the young ladies being baptized walked up to me and said - "Your daughter is baptizing my daughter!", yes, I immediately began to cry - but they were tears of worship, and thankfulness that I get to see my kids lives' mature in the Lord as they pour their life into others!  I have been thanking God for this mom's kind words to me all day!
My daughter baptizing Julia who excepted the Lord
on a mission trip last year!


Then we had the honor of hearing from one of the young men we support that serve fearlessly in a country were persecution is beginning to take place.  He thanked us for our support and for the wells we are providing funds to build and was so happy to worship with us this weekend.

Pastor Dave's continued teaching from Revelation in his 7 Church series was also very stirring as he reminded us that Jesus holds the key - that all we have to do is live faithfully where we are in order to be ready for what the Lord may ask us to do next.   Are we ready to walk through the next door that the Lord puts before us?


The worship was rich as we lifted our voices singing,
Every fear suddenly wiped away here in your presence
All of my gains now fade away
Every crown no longer on display, here in your presence
Heaven is trembling in awe of your wonders
The Kings and the Kingdoms are standing amazed...

Wonderful, Beautiful, Glorious - matchless in every way

 And in light of all the uncertainty in our country right now - the words were even more rich as the worship reminded me that all the kingdoms of this world will fall before our God.  Again I say, I have no idea how anyone outside a relationship with Christ lives without constant fear and worry!

Our setlist:
Announcements shot in front of one of the local churches to support the teaching of the 7 Churches

My Heart is Yours
Come Thou Fount
Down To The River To Pray
BAPTISMS
Here in Your Presence

Prayer for Global Lead pastor

Message: Pt. 7 - The Capable Church - Lead Pastor Dave Vance

To watch our services on line go to crossroadswired.com

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