being a parent

Eric, Alyssa and Garra

Alyssa and Jocelyn

Aaron and Jocelyn being interviewed by tv station

Eric and Jocelyn working on Student Ministry stuff

Jocelyn testing out the Crossroads vintage accordian

I could not be more proud of my kids - though not perfect they are amazing.

And now on top of the two of them,  you add their spouses - who are straight from God-  and I'm completely swept up in thankfulness to Him.

As I write my son and daughter are both with the Crossroads Student Ministry Mission trip.  They are serving the Lord and they are building into Crossroads' next generation.  Breathtaking....

From time to time I get asked what the secret is to raising kids that love the Lord.  It is simply this -
they must see you love Him.

Not from time to time, not when things are going well, not when it's convenient to go to church, they must see you love Him always.  They must understand that what they believe and who they follow matters, even when they are young.

They must see He is your life and they must see that you make mistakes and are not perfect but that God forgives and longs to offer His grace.

You can talk until you are blue-in-the-face about what they should and shouldn't do, but, if they don't see a consistent Christian walk in you or someone else they look up to in their lives,  they cannot understand.  Or at the very least, it will take them longer to truly understand it.

As our daughter and her hubby prepare to leave us for a year - we believe they have been divinely chosen to go for a year serving the Lord full-time overseas.  We praise Him!

As our son and our daughter-in-law prepare to lead the next generation at Crossroads as well as introduce the next Biddle to the world, our lives could not be more blessed or more full.  In Him we rejoice and are thankful.  We praise Him!

Being a parent never ends, it just goes through many changes and it keeps you on your knees!

deeply thankful

I suppose whatever you're surrounded by, whatever you have access to constantly, whomever you see and talk to all the time - you at some point take for granted.

I've recently become more and more thankful for the dedication of the volunteers in the Magnification Department of Crossroads.  They include musicians, vocalists, artists, actors, announcement guys/gals, communion team and all the technical volunteers on cameras, technical IT, video, lighting, sound, directing and on and on...

We had two musicians scheduled this weekend that had unexpected death in family and sickness and had to drop off.  Two other musicians stepped up and played like they had practicing for weeks!

WE ARE BLESSED with an amazingly HIGH level of talent on the stage and behind the scenes both!  My goal is to never take that for granted and to always appreciate our volunteers!  I always appreciate their work , I just don't always say it - so I'm going to try to say it more!  And to tell anyone about them that will listen!

I'm also going to praise the Lord for them and pray for them even more than I do.

I am a deeply thankful and blessed leader to serve on the Magnification Department at Crossroads!

thanksgiving

I took the least amount of pictures ever at a holiday.  I don't know why -

I took this picture at my hubby's side of the family - such great food and fellowship!

Ron's mom hosted us all- so good!

Then off to my side of the family where, yes, we ate again.  Crazy!

We missed Eric and Alyssa and our nephew Matt.   It just gets more and more difficult to get everyone together at the same time, but it was good.

I was blessed that my dad got out of the hospital this morning and was with us today!  So thankful!
We watched the movie "Brave" and laughed together and then it was time to go home.  Another Thanksgiving over!

This is Ron and my 37th Thanksgiving together!  I hardly remember one without him.  I am blessed.

God is so good to our family...so very good!

a whirlwind

I have had a very, very busy day moving from one creative meeting to another.

1. Staff pictures
2. Impromptu meeting about youth worship plans.
3. Choosing and approving all the Environmental Projection backgrounds for the weekend.
4. Meeting discussing the updated sermon schedule.
5. Directors pictures.
6. Christmas music selection and discussion about video sites for Christmas support.
7. Area worship leaders and technical leaders luncheon at Crossroads.
8. Discussion/plan about the decorating of the gigantic communion table for the weekend.
9. Programming meeting: planned service content and details for the next 2 weekends
10. Discussion about our advertising strategy for our House Churches

Some of my buddies - Dan, Jamie and Jesse

In the midst of my Wednesday (which is always like this) I accomplish no work outside quickly grabbing the next meeting's notes or agenda and running down the hallway to be on time!

As I prepare to leave Crossroads, it feels I have accomplished nothing.  Then as I think back over each meeting I remember...

Area Church leaders coming together to encourage one another in fellowship!

1. Current pictures on the website - finally!
2. In preparation for one of my Thursday meetings - I gained great insights on youth worship!
3. I was once again instantly caught up in worship as we tested the tempo, color and feel of the moving backgrounds and played the music for the weekend!
4. I was very EXCITED as Pastor Tim showed us what is coming up within his teaching schedule!  My wheels are already spinning!
5. Current Directors pictures for the website - finally!
6. Very, very helpful discussion about Christmas prior to my next Christmas meeting.
7. Always a blessing to meet with other local ministry leaders!
8. I got to work with a very close friend as we discussed what would be used to decorate for communion!
9. Always very gratifying to finish putting together our services.  This weekend will ROCK!
10. House Churches are a tremendously important part of Crossroads, our plans are in the works to really let people know more about them!

Just because I am not leaving today with a ton of written work done or even details completely finished on all of my projects - does not mean I have not made progress. I did spend time with a lot of my closest friends and I did gain very valuable insights and vision for what is to come!

For today - even with all it's meetings - I give thanks!

the report

I met with the Neurologist today.  Again confirmed, I had a seizure several days ago.

Various tests today, still one tomorrow.

It is looking at this point as if they won't be able to pin point the exact cause, although some friends suggest my years of soccer could be a contributing factor!

Other friends are convinced it was brought on by lack of sleep and stress.  Didn't think I was that uptight (no comments please! )

Regardless of the cause, my prayer is that it is just a one time event.

The verdict?  No driving for 6 months.  If another seizure?  No driving for 6 months from that day.

The impact?  Tonight my husband had to go grocery shopping with me!  ha ha ha!!

We are of course GREATLY BLESSED by working together.

Although a loss of independence is quite a change for sure  dependence on Him... well, that should be something I constantly practice!

I completely trust my Creator.

final cry in Cambodia

Tonight was the final time I will cry in Cambodia...well at least I think so!

Our team treated all the orphanage directors and wives of Asia's Hope in Phnom Penh. These amazing people were so thankful and precious! Our team sat on one side of a huge table with the directors across from us. In broken English we spoke of the things of the Lord and then Ron prayed.

He thanked God for these amazing leaders, these people who spend their entire life giving these beautiful children a home and teaching them to love and serve the Lord.

What made me cry was as he prayed - I heard every pastor/director murmuring agreement and praise very quietly, almost silently to the Lord they love so completely. Of everything we have experienced it struck me as quite peculiar that my soul would find this spiritual moment so moving.

As brothers and sisters in Christ our hearts were truly united before the throne of God in those brief moments - I knew I was in God's presence. As the prayer ended, it took me a few minutes to gain my composure.

The fellowship continued although we didn't know them well and they didn't understand all that we said. I am pretty sure this is what the word communion truly means and I feel blessed beyond words.

another blessed night

I was privileged to lead the young single woman's group again tonight - again, I was blessed more than they - guaranteed! Hilarious that when we 'teach' the person learning the most is the teacher...at least whenever I teach that is the case!

Now we really need a young man dedicated to corralling and leading the young single guys at Crossroads - 20 somethings...BIG need!

Tonight we asked the question of ourselves,' are we really living each day unselfishly letting the Lord lead us each and every day as if it were perhaps our last?'

Here was one of the most difficult questions, "Have you allowed your self-centeredness to dominate your daily schedule? Why not go through your checkbook tonight and see how many checks were written for things concerning others?" Definitely revealing!

I look forward to learning more and more!

Kay Warren is coming

Crossroads is about to be blessed by a visit from Kay Warren!

Kay is a very accomplished teacher and author. She wrote and co-wrote, "Dangerous Surrender and Sanctification" among others. She is very involved in the fight against HIV and has brought great attention to this devastating disease and the people affected by it. Kay is the wife of Pastor Rick Warren from the Saddleback Church in California, and we are so fortunate that she is willing to come and spend a weekend with us on May 1 and 2.

I spoke at length today with her assistant, Paulette who I have come to love across the miles! We discussed every detail of her visit and it is going to be amazing for our congregation!

Sometimes it feels like no one else could possibly understand the challenges and loneliness we experience in ministry. Then you come to know others who have experienced the same struggles...they come along beside you and you become so overwhelmed with thankfulness that you are able to continue strongly. You give thanks to the Lord and you look for opportunities to pass the blessing on to others.

The blessing began the day Kay said she would come. And now we prepare to become just a little piece of Kay's life.