Packing

I'm forcing all our final purchases and clothes into our ever expanding suitcases to load our vans one last time.  I guess I'm ready to come home - already feeling the anxiety of projects waiting back home but covering them in prayer - determined to give them over fully to The Lord!

Coming home means new baby - concerts - college fair - Beth Moore event - worship with all my brothers and sisters in The Lord - Vern - gift giving - and cheeseburgers.

I am so thankful for this time away - for the experience of this foreign land - for having time for goodbyes with our daughter and son-in-law and for the amazing team we've traveled with!!  I am blessed! 

See ya soon!

reaching out

Reaching out to the unchurched is what we are about. It looks all different ways but the message never changes. The Gospel is what our world is desperately seeking, they just don't know it. So whenever I have opportunity to reach out in creative ways I get very excited! Today I got to do see this in action.

Carrie is an amazing potter!

As we speak one of the Crossroads' artists is throwing pottery in the Coffee House at Crossroads. You may not consider this 'reaching out' but I do. It gave me opportunity to advertise in our community the fact that there are Crossroads artists! People are shocked that a church embraces the arts. This creates many opportunities to explain why we consider the artists' involvement important.

I also spent some time today talking with the Director of the Art Center about future partnering with our art group volunteering at community art events. More opportunities!

Finally I heard a story from our Director of Missions, Darlene that was unbelievable... She told the story of the ladies Beth Moore group at Crossroads deciding to bring in food items to contribute to the local food bank located at Grace Episcopal Church. Food items were brought in and stacked in the back of Crossroads. Darlene did not realize they were even there for a while. The ladies that donated the food prayed over it, specifically asking the Lord to multiply their donations.

 A few days later Darlene received a call from the Grace Episcopal Church telling her that if there was any way possible for Crossroads to contribute some food (it's not our regular collection time of the year), the Kokosing Company was willing to contribute $1.00 per staple food item. And even more then that they had someone who was willing to double that offer! Darling couldn't believe she was able to tell Grace that we had items sitting in the back of our church that she would be very excited to contribute. The lady from the food bank was so thankful and said they were going to use the Crossroads food items to create a display in the front of their lobby to encourage their own people to contribute! How exciting - this is reaching out into the community at it's finest.

I am thankful once again to be a small part of this amazing ministry!!

what I learned today

I can take a hint. I haven't felt well the past two evenings so I've just been home reading and resting. Yesterday as I said I began the "Sabbath Keeping" book. Today as I studied it was about solitude, as I said, I can take a hint Lord.

I was so blown away by my study in one of Beth Moore's books today that all I am going to do in this post is quote what moved me so much- really think about this...

"Solitude is not so much the place we find answers. It's the place we find our own square foot of earth from which to grapple with heaven and decide if we're going on - possibly alone - without our answers. And many of us will. Why? Because the privilege of wrestling with such a holy and mysterious God still beats the numbness - the pitiful mediocrity - of an otherwise life. Sometimes we don't realize how real He is until we've experienced the awesomeness of His answerless Presence. He knows that what we crave far more than explanations is the unshakable conviction that He is utterly, supremely God."

So the question we must answer is, "Are you willing to be faithful, even when it means being faithful alone?"

my day off

Organizing is the theme for the day.

Pulled out all my left over as well as new wrapping paper - pitched some, scrounged for gift boxes in attic - laid out bows, ribbon and gift cards.

All my gifts laid out - inventory taken - wrapping has begun. ( not like I have that many!)

Massage (old injury flared up again - I feel old!)

We put up a few outside lights for the first time in years.

Laundry drying.

Dinner = left overs

HGTV

Tonight I am looking forward to finishing my day with Beth Moore study and additional reading by the fire...

The Lord made us with a need to rest, today I did, and it was good!

What is the one thing you find the most relaxing?

my day off

It has been a relaxing day off! Went to leasurly browse at my favorite store Gabriel Brothers, picked up a few things at a couple other stores and mostly was just home!

I spent some reflective time trying to grasp everything that went on at Crossroads this weekend...I am overwhelmed that God would bless us with such great guests and opportunities.

The possibilities with the Satellite broadcasts we can provide for our community is very exciting! As I recapped the events in my Elders Report today, I was blown away by the evaluations I looked over. Crossroads hosted 34 different churches at the Beth Moore event - when does that ever happen? About 1/3 of the ladies that attended the Beth Moore event, turned in evaluation forms, but out of those 19 Crossroads' ladies recommitted their lives to Christ and 15 ladies from other ministries also recommitted their lives! Now, that could definitely have impact in this community!

Then as I thought through Nancy Beach's impact I heard the words ring out "Wow"! Nancy encouraged our congregation to 'see' the miracles and opportunities around them. She asked us to slow down and enjoy the "wow" moments and things that God created, including us!

Beginnning last night as I was cleaning up in my office, one volunteer at a time passed my office and yelled "Wow" at the top of their lungs! OK, OK so the message was amazing, but say wow to God not me!! ha ha I even got a Wow text today! Well, I guess that just proves everyone was listening, and for that I am thankful! And for Nancy's tremendous ability to stir our souls I am thankful!

I have enjoyed today, a true day off!

a better day

This is powerful. I wish more of you had been able to be here!

Many ladies went forward for prayer. Many ladies keep thanking us for hosting this event.

God was here today at the Beth Moore event. I praise him for answered prayer with the audio and for moving among us. God is good.

dissapointing night technically

How do you react when things don't go as you planned? Especially when you work on something for a really, really long time?

My reaction was not pretty tonight.

I had worked on the Beth Moore event for several months only to experience a HUGE thunderstorm minutes before we went live that knocked out our video feed. I rallied the prayer team to take it to the Lord and 15 minutes later we had it back. However...the audio was messed up the entire night! I was very, very upset, in fact I went to my office to listen to it there because the feed through my TV was a little better sound.

Everyone assured me afterward that they still were very blessed by the night...I hope they all come back tomorrow.

I like excellence a lot, and I don't like it when other people's problems make our ministry look un-excellent ( I know, I know it's not a word). Did all my fussing do any good, of course not. In fact I'm pretty sure the enemy was laughing his head off because I missed a blessing.

I am praying that everything is resolved tomorrow, but, I'm also going to come prepared to worship despite the technical issues...I will pray and I'll try really hard to take it all in and not be defeated by things beyond my control- as if anything is actually in my control...

cool conversation

Conversation:
1.informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc., by spoken words; oral communication between persons; talk;

Sounds harmless. Not always so. It takes at least two. From my office today I heard many conversations - some were casual, some were serious, some hilarious!

I had lunch conversations, phone conversations, programming conversations, loud and soft conversations. They all took time, they all took thought (OK, maybe not the one with Deering)

Then this afternoon Steve and I got to participate in a conference call conversation with Rebecca St. James' father, the publicist and other people associated with her tours. They were amazing to talk with and Steve and I left that conversation with a feeling of amazement for what God is allowing us to participate in. To hear them describe the events that Rebecca has been leading was so exciting!

Conversations are not always full of great news as ours was today.

Conversations can be many things. Mine today = conversations I needed to have, conversations I wanted to have, conversations I shouldn't have had and conversations I never got to have.

Tomorrow will also be a day of conversations, instructing, praying, directing...I pray for God to lead me into conversations full of eternal significance as we host the Beth Moore event. What a privilege it will be to work with all these women tomorrow evening! May all our conversation bring glory to Him!

preparations

We are almost done preparing for a huge weekend at Crossroads!

We began to prepare tonight for all of our weekend guests by bathing our building in prayer! A beautiful beginning to a long amazing weekend. The quiet reflective atmosphere that our prayer team created was so perfect for a time of asking God's protection and blessing over our weekend!

We have the privilege of hosting a Beth Moore simulcast event Friday and Saturday, then hosting Nancy Beach from the WillowCreek Church Saturday night and Sunday.

Our weekend (weather permitting) will end with a huge car show. This will be a great opportunity for unchurched people to walk through the church and maybe, just maybe decide it is a place where they can begin their spiritual journey.

To watch someone, even one person begin their spiritual journey is why we all do what we do!

weekend report

I hate to see this OT Southern style series come to an end, it's been a blast. Today we ended with a lot of energy following a somewhat stressful week of preparations. God was good, so good!

SetList:

Pre service we ran last weekend's outdoor baptism pictures...not many dry eyes in the house!

Opening Praise: Let God Arise
Praise: Majestic
Praise: Your Grace Is Enough
Worship: Revelation Song
Special Music: After The Rain
Announcements: Pastor Tim talked about everything coming next weekend to Crossroads.
-BETH MOORE event: we are hosting the CCN satellite 2 day conference Friday/Saturday
-NANCY BEACH: Nancy will be coming from WillowCreek to teach next weekend
-CAR SHOW: we are located on the Main drag in town and will be hosting a huge car show next weekend as well (I'm tired already!)

Special Music: David Did Dance : Lauren Talley - artist

Message: David and Goliath (amazing message asking us all "what is the giant in your life?")

Special Music: Long As I Got King Jesus: Vickie Winans - artist

I am not a fan of Southern Gospel, but, this weekend I become a convert! AMAZING kicking specials!

If you would like to see what other ministries around the country used in their services go to Fred McKinnon's site.

To watch our services on Monday go to www.crossroadswired.com May God richly bless your week!

Moses lead grumblers

I have missed writing these past two days, but, I had such long busy days, days filled with amazing things as well as many ministry details to take care of, that if I had written it would not have even made sense I was so tired!

After a little rest, I am anxious to get back to it!

A close friend of mine and I were talking Thursday about our church backgrounds. She shared some very hurtful things that had happened in their church when she was young. I assured her she wasn't alone and that we shouldn't be surprised because the church is just made up of imperfect people. People that come from all different backgrounds with all different expectations and all different needs.

People complaining about things shouldn't discourage us, we can never let it take our focus off of why we were called to our ministries. Grumbling also shouldn't surprise us, after all Moses lead the ultimate grumblers, an example that maybe God added to the Bible to show people are never happy!

Ok, so picture this, the children of Israel finally begin lead from captivity, they grumbled, pillars of fire lead them, they grumbled, God fed them from heaven, they grumbled about the choice of food, God parted the Red Sea just for them and killed their enemy with it, and still they grumbled!

Here is a line I loved from one of Beth Moore's books, " Moses had all of forty years on the far side of the desert followed by a flock of aggravating people". The poor guy! I can't think of much worse than trying to lead a huge group of grumblers through hot sand.

All this to say, even when God performed the most amazing miracles, used men to do incredible things that only He could allow, people grumbled. So what does this have to do with us? When all every single one of us deserves is punishment for our thought lives, our bitterness, our lies and all of our many sins...

God allowed his own son to be murdered by sinful men just like you and me, buried and then He reached down from heaven and raised him up for us, for me, for you, and still we grumble...

after last night

I have measured each action and thought carefully today. It's really something to try and stay fully aware of how you use each moment of your day.

Not perfect of course, but much more careful than most days. Not terribly difficult since I was home almost all day. I studied from Beth Moore's John study today. Wow! When you start down the path of listening, God responds loudly! Here is an excerpt from today's reading..."God takes us places we never intended to go. Those are places where He will reveal Himself to us in ways we didn't even know He existed. One reason He takes us to places we've never been is to show us He's NOT LIKE ANYONE ELSE."

Beth Moore talked about when Jesus was transfiguring Himself before the three disciples it was to show them "I am not like you. " They walked and talked with Him and still they acted as if he was somewhat like them - how ridiculous! I have to admit I have thought as I read this portion in the past how dumb they must have been when witnessing miracles to still not get it. But, how different am I?

Jesus has lived, died and risen again. God has given me the entire Bible account of creation clear through the future! I have less excuse then they did. I have no excuse to still go about my day as if it belongs to me...back to last night, I want an eternal perspective and there is nothing preventing me from having one. So I continue into tomorrow to again try to be open to His leading, to believe Him even more, to know without a shadow of a doubt the He is not like anyone else and to live that way. Want to join me? I dare you!