the looks of ministry are many

You never know at any given time what ministry may look like.  You must be ready as a Christ follower for it to occur at any time!

Here are just a few of the different opportunities to serve we had just this week alone!

the IMAGE choir blessed us from Mansfield Christian.  I felt like a

proud mama as our own Nick blessed us on the piano!

Pastor Dave continued the powerful teaching series The 7 Last Sayings

Tough being a staff kid - you live here so you just lay down where you are! 
But what a teaching for a young one to help pack
toys, clothing and vitamins for little ones in Cambodia!

IMAGE trio was excellent!

Even as the team prepared for Cambodia - a drunk man stumbled into the church
and my hubby and another gentleman in the left-hand corner ministered to him the rest of the evening.  

And then there was my beautiful Kristin
and her hubby Will making an eternal commitment to
one another...I cried all night....so sweet!

It's a blessing to serve at Crossroads surrounded by others who take ministry out of the church and into people's lives.  I can't imagine what it would be like to not be part of this ministry...LOVE!

successful transition

As I watch rehearsal here at Crossroads this evening, I'm praising the Lord for another successful transition!

As the team prayed together during our rehearsal break Ernesto asked how many on the team were either new to the team or returning after a long break and about a 1/3 of the team raised their hands!  This filled me with a worshipful heart full of thanksgiving!

It's possible to be thankful for a rich past here at Crossroads while at the same time raising up new people to join us, change us!  We can enjoy reminiscing about  a past where all of us that started here served on multiple volunteer teams to make the church function - but none of us can do this alone long term!   And now we get to serve in the areas that we're the most talented in - not every area!

I'm thankful as we watched the Lord choose to touch Crossroads through Pastor Tim and Michelle's faithfulness leading us and introducing us to constant change.  Growing, maturing in Christ while having a blast!

Our staff has always joked about how fast things change here - they always have!

And now under Pastor Dave's leadership we get to enjoy being part of the God-given vision he is leading us toward!  A vision filled with future goals and continuing maturity in the Lord. And still having a blast!

Pastor Dave recently reminded us that if change ever stops then we have become the very thing we were terrified of becoming in the beginning.

How horrible it would be to not change and become stagnant...uninspired...unchallenged and unable to demonstrate with our lives that others are welcome here.

I'm thankful for change and leadership and new things that all lead us toward the God-given role for which we were created and the opportunity to welcome new family to the Kingdom!!

watching from afar

I watched the Crossroads services this morning.  It made me realize again how much I love being there!

I marveled as I watched all the amazing praise team members, the beautiful voices and the hearts for the Lord that I personally know.  So many hours go into preparing well each week.  As I watched I thanked the Lord for our ministry and that I get to be part of it.

But one of the things I'll never take for granted is all the behind the scenes work that it also takes to create even one service.  It takes so many hours of preparation and creative work.

The beautiful set design by Arnie was breath taking!  I wasn't there, but assume our audio guy Eric probably helped hang everything and do the work it took to get it ready for the weekend with Arnie.

It's easy to just spend money to buy things for set design - instead we take pride in creatively solving problems and making new things out of old and beauty out of repurposed things others would consider useless.  It's a challenge we love to solve!  Go tech and creative teams!

Next I watched as the graphics that Eric our Arts Director created to support Pastor Dave's new teaching series came across the scene.  Beautiful and thought provoking were the words that came to mind.

Just as I'm proud of all the amazing up-front teams, I'm also very thankful and proud of the behind-the-scene hidden teams!!

Our creative process proves again how God has gifted each person with unique talents that when used in unity bring beautiful glory to God the creator!

A whirlwind of a month

It has been quite the past few weeks! 

• son turned 30 = multiple parties
• work began on Crossroads' Easter services
• daughter engaged to an amazing, Godly man
• visit to meet her future family-in-law 
• fun with grand-babies
• prayer with our unbelievable Crossroads staff
• visited church-in-the-mall in Florida (I missed Crossroads)
• decided after arriving in Florida to take a last minute cruise

What these things caused is much praise and worship of my precious Lord!  I am a wife and mom overwhelmed with thankfulness for the faithfulness of God through celebrations as well as difficult times, a time of refreshment as I visited another church on vacation and the most restful time away I have EVER had when we decided to take a last minute cruise!  So thankful!

Just a few shots from this whirlwind past few weeks!

Surprise Eric!

Our 'dabbing' grandson

staff prayer

The beautiful entrance to Jared's families' farm event center

Our trip to North Carolina

Future location of Jared and Joci's home

Last minute cruise decision!

Baby towel animal

I believe this was taken in the tropics - during Mansfield's snow storm!

Our balcony room surprise upgrade!

I've had a lot more time lately to think and to pray, and it's been a good, reflective time of rest.

I am forever thankful and rest in Him for whatever comes next!