a deep ache

I was just doing laundry this morning - playing with Vern, more like side-stepping Vern trying to avoid steeping on him when I got this deep ache -   an ache to read God's words and focus on the Lord.

So I picked up my Bible and read Chapter 2 of Habakkuk in preparation for the weekend's teaching at Crossroads.

What did God have for me to learn from this chapter?  It's full of concern over God's seeming lack of response to evil - that's certainly current as I look around at the concern of today's believers watching our freedoms slip away.  Wondering why God doesn't just crush the evil coming into our country.

It's also full of waiting - waiting for God's timing becuase He is the only one that see the eternal picture.  Think of that - the pockets of believers being tortured and killed around our world right now - the starvation of children going on around the world - He sees it as one piece one picture on a page in man's determination to rule himself minus God.  God the creator or man.  Crazy!

So trust and waiting - that's what the first two chapters seem to be full of.  What is my response to God?  Does my lack of trust and contentment show Him I truly don't believe that He is in control?  Does my worry tell Him I feel He's incapable of controlling our future?  Even if our future holds trial and things way out of our comfort zone?

I am anxious for Pastor Tim's teaching this weekend - and my ache has been fulfilled by God's Word once again.

It's crazy that my freedom allows me to physically pick up His Word whenever I choose - and many times I choose instead to remain in my lack of trust and worry.  For only in Him is my heaviness of life relieved ed and my burdens washed away.

weekend report

Oh my my - what a weekend!

Our student ministry band was amazing leading us in worship this weekend - preparing us to hear Pastor Tim's message from Habakkuk.

The students also ran most of our tech areas - it was a very encouraging weekend to see how much talent exists at Crossroads!

Here are a few shots of the weekend!

our students leading

looking past the drum cage toward the baptism

Our students even running tech

Our setlist:

One Thing Remains
Be Thou My Vision
Lead Me To The Cross
From The Inside Out
Blessed Be The Name
Message:  God, What Are You Doing Pt. 1
Exit song:  Blessed Be The Name

To watch our services go to www.crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries are doing in their services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

what I learned today

Habakkuk 1:1-3

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

Habakkuk's Complaint

² O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
    and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
    and you will not save?
³ Why do you make me see iniquity,
    and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    strife and contention arise.

Pastor Tim begins a new teaching series this weekend called - "God, what are you doing?"

I was reading tonight to try to prepare for the weekend and I was struck by how similar the questions being asked way back then are to our prays and questions today!

One commentary I was reading began with the following paragraph.

The prophet was perplexed. Wickedness and violence seemed to go unchecked. Would there be no end to the rising tide of sin? Habakkuk took his complaint to God. “Why don’t You do something?”

Doesn't it sound just like conversations you hear around you?  Anytime I see the news it makes me wonder how much longer God will allow our county's horrible sin.

There's comfort that comes in knowing others before us asked the very same thing and our God delivered them.  His timing is perfect!

I'm looking forward to the series!