I've had a privilege few experience for my whole life. I've always worked and served with family.
I served along-side my parents in church as a kid - cleaning, mowing and preparing for our weekend services. There's something about making your kids 'help' especially with menial tasks behind the scenes in ministry that makes them take ownership and care about the ministry personally. I HIGHLY recommend inviting your kids and grandkids to serve with you.
My mom and I also worked at two places of business together before I stayed home to raise kids. These shared days of work and life let us know one another in ways most mothers and daughters don't experience.
As Ron and I had children we all served together at church doing various tasks and being there when the doors were open together.
I'm in that era of life where I see roles reversing with our kids. Now I'm the one being taught.
I started my day today 'learning' from the writing of my daughter as I continue my study of Mary from the book she just published. There's something about raising your kids, trying desperately to teach them about who the Lord is, then benefitting from their knowledge of Him... (tears streaming down my face)...
And then to get the call last night that Jared and Jocelyn lead Trinity their daughter to the Lord...(tears running down my face)... no words
And following having time in the Lord this morning using Jocelyn's book, I saw our son's video work on social media again - as we advertise our Christmas services.
How different they are - one being a 'word-smith' from an early age, the other visually able to see the story and make it come to life through his ability to understand the message that needs to be communicated and capturing it on video or graphically. Breathtaking...
You can see it at this link.
Lift Up Your Eyes
God has also gifted us with an amazing God-loving daughter and son-in-law too - both crazy in love with Jesus and talented. We consider both gifts straight from the Lord and miracles!
I'm not writing this to brag about my kids, our family has experienced ugly season's too.
I'm writing to encourage everyone who reads this to mend any damaged family/friend relationship you have right away.
I'm not suggesting you enter back into any harmful relationship, ever!
But, recently with people I've personally talked to, I've been shocked at how long it's been since they've talked to loved ones. Differences in life style and life choices have separated them - a difference in opinion in some cases is all that separates them. You DO NOT have to condone how someone lives in order to love them and let them know that.
Please consider this Christmas season a simple text or call to a family member or friend that you've distanced yourself from.
Jesus says to 'love'...He doesn't list exceptions that permit you to remain mad or harbor a heart of disappointment or lack of forgiveness.
We owe the Savior a clean heart - that's what He asks for at Christmas!!
(I would LOVE to hear your comments about steps you're going to take to contact loved ones!!)
Monday, December 10, 2018
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Big Daddy came to town
My life has taken an unusual (even for me) giant leap forward speeding ahead the past few months.... multi-sites, new staff, events to plan and lead, houses to maintain, my own families' Thanksgiving to plan and enjoy and elderly parents to love.
But I'm so thankful for all the many things I get to be part of and one of those events was the Big Daddy Weave/Brandon Heath concert Crossroads' hosted recently.
These gentlemen love the Lord and authentically serve Him as they travel! It was a joy to host them at Crossroads!
Enjoy the pictures...
We sold out - people stood in line for as far as you could see! |
Preparations began early in the day! |
The band took an extended time of spiritual reflection and prayer to prepare well for the concert. They walked around the auditorium asking the Lord to be very present! |
We sold out - no room to spare and it was a glorious concert!! |
It was a glorious night together as we worshiped at the Jesus I Believe Tour!
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Washington DC Trip = new Crossroads community
This is the first I've had time to sit down long enough to download even half of my Washington pics and write a few lines about the amazing experience me and my Crossroads' brothers and sisters had together!
We had the opportunity to organize a trip to Washington for Crossroads, and one of the best aspects of the trip was to be lead by my life-long friend Elaine Hess. Elaine is a retired history teacher who has been leading trips and teaching students about our America history for decades. Even today she is leading a group of Veterans around Washington!
The knowledge she possesses and the understanding of our Christian heritage is a rare privilege to experience as she prepared us on the bus for each thing we were about to see!
(She is currently looking into organizing a trip for us to Philadelphia to explore the rich history that area has to offer - but that could be a 2020 trip, 2019 is looking pretty full at Crossroads already)
Let me show you a little of the amazing trip we took with my pictures!
I'm hoping this video finishes uploading soon - it shows the entire ceremony at the tomb - it may be too large of a file for my blog - I'll keep trying!
This memorial is one of the most well-thought-out of all. The benches that represent the lives of those lost in the Pentagon building face the Pentagon as your read the name, the benches representing those lost in the airplane face the flight path looking away from the Pentagon when you read them...astoundingly well planned and thoughtful. If multiple family members were lost, those names are inscribed in the shallow lit pool under each bench.
To stand and visually see the area of the Pentagon the plane hit and turn and look at all the lives lost, evoked a deep sadness within me...sobering at the level of sin possible in mankind.
Visiting this amazing capital city aroused within me a renewed sense of appreciation for the sacrifice millions have been willing to make, many with their very lives for our freedom.
And yes, freedom means you are free to agree, free to protest, free to give your opinion on issues and free to choose who to vote for. But I can just about guarantee they didn't give their lives intending for people to bully one another or scare one another into agreeing with their views or disrespect another's freedom believing their opinion is more important.
I've been praying a lot for this coming election and a renewed sense of respect for one another and ultimately that true believers in Jesus Christ will step up and demonstrate kindness and respect and live out the kind of life that's easy for others to know that there is something different about them.
Each of us that had the privilege of going to Washington together loved the time we spent together, learning more about our country and more about one another...it was amazing!
Elaine Hess our tour guide - leading veterans today around Washington DC |
The knowledge she possesses and the understanding of our Christian heritage is a rare privilege to experience as she prepared us on the bus for each thing we were about to see!
(She is currently looking into organizing a trip for us to Philadelphia to explore the rich history that area has to offer - but that could be a 2020 trip, 2019 is looking pretty full at Crossroads already)
Let me show you a little of the amazing trip we took with my pictures!
Crossroads said thank you to our soldiers whose lives were lost in Vietnam. |
Judi Teaters stopped to thank a brave veteran who had once served! |
Chuck Pfeifer and Bill Lee had the amazing privilege of presenting a wreath that our guide Elaine had waiting for us. This is where they went for instructions. |
behind the quarters of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier |
Bill Lee served in Vietnam and Chuck Pfeifer served in the guard! |
This was the Crossroads wreath the men presented! It was beautiful and said on the ribbon Crossroads Community Church! |
I'm hoping this video finishes uploading soon - it shows the entire ceremony at the tomb - it may be too large of a file for my blog - I'll keep trying!
I loved this sculpture - the Air Force Memorial It is difficult to show how tall this is - it beautifully represents air... |
This is looking straight up at the Air Force Memorial |
Jefferson |
Thought is was interesting to stand behind a Korean vet while looking at Lincoln |
Washington Monumen |
Incredible detail! |
I had never seen the Washington National Cathedral before - it was magnificent! |
The Museum of the Bible was amazing too! Too many areas to explain and photograph! |
One room showed the most shared verses in different nations. This was from home of our Asia's Hope partners in Cambodia |
You could add your own words to displays and murals! |
Iwo Jima sculpture so beautifully describes soldiers working together for victory! |
We somehow ended up in the middle of a video shoot of sports mascots? |
You can see the name that the bench represents. |
To stand and visually see the area of the Pentagon the plane hit and turn and look at all the lives lost, evoked a deep sadness within me...sobering at the level of sin possible in mankind.
WWII |
The Ohio portion of the WWII memorial |
FDR memorial |
Franklin D. Roosevelt in his wheelchair |
The Breadline |
This was an era when America listened to their president on the radio |
Visiting this amazing capital city aroused within me a renewed sense of appreciation for the sacrifice millions have been willing to make, many with their very lives for our freedom.
I've been praying a lot for this coming election and a renewed sense of respect for one another and ultimately that true believers in Jesus Christ will step up and demonstrate kindness and respect and live out the kind of life that's easy for others to know that there is something different about them.
Each of us that had the privilege of going to Washington together loved the time we spent together, learning more about our country and more about one another...it was amazing!
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