covid-19

COVID-19

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Two lines from a song I heard last week just keep playing in my mind...

Things aren't falling apart...
They're falling into place!

The inconveniences that have occurred in my life due to this pandemic are annoying.  Some friends are positive it's strictly political, others are sure it was caused by another country, and still some think it's just a matter of the US spending money on the wrong things and not being prepared themselves.  The only conclusion I can draw safely I think, is that it is a life-threatening virus combined with other physical weakness/disease.

But it has not touched my extended family, so I've listened to the news but gone about my 'socially distancing way'.

This morning was one of those mornings when as I read updates I was overwhelmed with just a small glimpse of what this is causing regardless of origin.

Requests for prayer talked about a gentlemen with a life threatening illness that was also found to have covid-19 when scheduled for a much needed surgery.  Other family members tested positive too.

And as our Missions' Director described how completely helpless some of the foreign villages are right now that our Crossroads teams have served before  ...  no way to get food - no way to get life saving supplies, I felt deep, deep sympathy and it drove me to prayer.

I see what the Bible teaches about God's people running back to Him when troubling times occur, and that's what's been happening with me.  Every time I get overwhelmed with sorrow and go to prayer instead of worrying or complaining about anything in my life - it's proof again - tough times draw us back to the Savior.

Wouldn't you think, especially those of us who are now considered "mature believers" would just stay there - praying and worshipping and not even notice the trouble around us?  It's embarrassing to see the depths we must fall to remain in fellowship with the Lord.  It's what He designed us for.

Our country is broken - this is when believers need to be the church!  Things aren't falling apart...they'll falling into place!  This is the exact place God's needs for His plans to be complete!

We aren't physically together but have enjoyed uninterrupted teachings and worship for years -
TIME TO USE IT!

humility

humility:
the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.

Here's the struggle with humility.

When I speak falsely or exaggeratedly about anyone  I'm saying - I'm better than she is.  But it gets worse, even when we say things out loud that are true that could be left unsaid we loose our humility.

It's just that simple.  And it's just that difficult.

Another part of humility is being able to accept advice and correction without getting angry.

The bible very bluntly says in Proverbs 12:1, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid."

Well, that's pretty plain!

We can't learn or advance in our spiritual walk without the input of trusted friends.  Even trusting them to be honest about the areas we are lacking in....

I read today in a Bible study I'm doing, "it requires grace to receive what may, at the time,  feel like a wound, believing that wounds from a true friend can be trusted."  

Wounds from a friend hurt the worst, but perhaps don't last long when delivered with love?

Humility....sigh...

Oh how I long to be known as humble, but oh the journey to get there... asking the Lord to help us, do you want to try?

leading from behind

In the beginning of Crossroads there were no rules, there was crystal clear Vision and we all jumped fully into pouring ourselves into doing anything that it took to follow the Mission, the royal why 
we were doing this.

I was reading recently that any new organization can't help but move from "unexplainable to institutional" and in some ways that's where I find myself today.  Examining what the areas I oversee have become.  A strong Godly movement can only be bogged down with too much institutional!

All of our teams still care desperately about working hard, preparing well and serving all who enter our doors, but everything on earth fossilizes as it ages and fades away.  And what I long for all of teams to be is part of a passionate movement - like the early church of the Bible.

Almost 20 years into our ministry I think all of us who have been leading for a long time need to take a step backward and lead from behind. And in the next few years all of us can push the next generation of leadership from behind to achieve what we alone cannot do.  An exciting possibility!

I believe with all my might, that a movement has begun in Mansfield Ohio, and i can't wait to see what God is up to!!

my dad's bedroom

Today I had the privilege of serving my parents by cleaning their house.

Mom's recovery is going excellent - but, she's still supposed to not lift or bend down as much as possible.  So, in order for them to host all of us on New Year's I went to clean for them.

I recently showed pictures on facebook of one of their Bible's and how worn out it was - but this time I found something on dad's night stand that represents his lifetime priorities more than nearly anything else.

Remember these (for those of you who grew up in the church)?  His offering envelopes.

Dad's Bible and Offering Envelopes

I NEVER heard he or mom complain about giving to the church growing up.  Even on the weeks that I heard them quietly discussing which bill to pay and which to make a partial payment on.  It was always given cheerfully, it was always a commitment and it was always top priority.

Now that our son and daughter-in-law have a baby, I have heard them voice their concern about teaching their son how to be obedient and grow up well.

Thinking about the most important things to consider in raising a child in the way they should go, number 1 is of course to model what you believe and introduce them to Christ.  No empty words spoken by parents that don't live what they teach will ever influence a child, except perhaps to confuse them and frustrate them ultimately leading to a life of disobedience and heartache.

And perhaps no area of obedience is more important than to demonstrate to them how to honor God with their finances and priorities.


My parents never had a college education, never had jobs considered by people to be extraordinary, but all their work, and their giving and their investments are eternal investments - their reward awaits them in heaven!  And their legacy will far outlive them!

things that matter

We can spend the precious minutes of our day investing in things that are eternal or things that are temporary.

I cleaned out my purse & wallet and removed the receipts that I knew I had no need to keep and tossed them in this metal box.

When I re-entered the room later it dawned on me that each receipt represents minutes of my life that I traded for whatever it was I purchased.

First I worked for the money that bought the items, then I spent time shopping in order to buy them and finally spent time sorting through all the items in my purse and wallet in order to dispose of them.

I wondered if anything on those receipts was really worth having and how much more of an eternal way the money could have been used?  Probably nothing on them was even an actual need.

Later today I was at my parents home.

My mom was just diagnosed with uterine cancer.  After dinner I walked to the couch and noticed her Bible on the table.

The pages were very worn - she had placed tabs on the different books of the Bible to make finding the desired passage easier.

Every time her fingers have touched those pages it's an eternal touch.  Minutes that count for eternity as she studies and applies the truths from God to her life.  These minutes make up the life of the amazing woman she is.

And now all the times she's read those well worn pages they'll come back to lift my parents through this nervous time of surgery and evaluation.

The God that created her knows every cell of her body and loves her more than any of us ever have because He is her eternal Father.

The things we buy, they things we love, the things we give in exchange for those precious fleeting minutes of our days must count for eternity...  or they don't count at all.

proclaim

I wanted to write tonight and encourage each of you to sign up to participate in the Proclaim event at Crossroads! It is the most amazing thing I ever attended.

Proclaim is a 24 hour a day continuous reading through the entire Bible. People sign up and read for 20 minute periods of time. While others are reading you can simple listen, follow along or pray for the requests that our Crossroads brothers and sisters will be turning in this week and next.

You really should consider attending- sign up with your small group, serving team, family or just come yourself - Crossroads friends will be waiting for you!

Remember to stop at the Mission Kiosk this weekend and sign up for a time slot of your choice!

what I learned today

I was reading this morning about one ladies journey into mentoring younger women. Very timely because this just keeps coming back to me through conversations, requests, suggested meetings, etc.

Young women need older women - and I am one. (Older woman that is).

So, what could I possible know that they need to know, what more could I possibly commit to?

Not sure yet, but I have a plan beginning to form that will invest in at least a small group of women in my life. I'll just lay my willingness out there and see where God takes it and directs it I guess.

We see many examples of people in the Bible teaching and training and mentoring others, so it appears this is not optional. We must invest in the next generation.

Possibly the thing I am the most jazzed about is a couple of the girls I have my eyes on, could take the areas of our ministry to much higher places of quality than I have been able to do. Seriously, they offer gifts and skills and education far beyond my own and I cannot wait to see how God will use them in their families, ministry and communities! We should never be threatened by someone being better at something than we are, we should instead set that as our goal and go after it!

So...if the Bible talks about mentoring constantly, who are you building into? Your own kids don't count! Although, they of course must take first place time wise.

I'm talking about a once a month lunch or coffee, not hours and hours..So who??

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!