Forced to stop

This is a crazy time, a time where our plans are all forced to stop!

It's a time that proves once again that you cannot assume you will have a tomorrow that looks the same as yesterday.

I was out early this morning getting all errands run so I could take advantage of being home, getting some projects done and then relaxing.

I saw fear in people's eyes.



I heard conversations that made me sad...a lady at the front of the line at the grocery store talked about how scared she was.  Her husband was waiting to hear if he'd be let go from his job and she herself had very few hours to count on, she said "I'm scared".

This period of time is going to give us so many opportunities to share the Gospel and explain to people that God is the only unchangeable in all of creation.   But, right now there are also practical ways we can be Jesus to people.   And I suspect that may be even more powerful than just talking right now.  There is SO much talking right now....

Watch for opportunities that wouldn't have existed a couple of weeks ago without the virus.  It's not that hard to understand how the Lord will use this time to lead people to Himself!

Men offer nothing to turn to, nothing to count on that can't change in a moment of time.

God Almighty is the same yesterday, today and forever!!

Can we live Sold Out

Is it possible to live sold out to the Lord outside of trial and trouble?

Let me confess, I'm not sure I can.

Our family has had quite a year, our country has had quite a year, our world has had quite a year...

As I've looked at the chaos readily viewable at any time of the day, it draws me right back into worry and sometimes fear so once again I lay it at the feet of my Savior and rest in Him.  A vicious cycle of trust, fear, confession and back to resting in Him.

But I see that over and over I pray the most, talk to the Lord the most when I'm in trouble or worried. When I'm in crisis or can't do it on my own...

I caught myself not long ago so completely content in just a peaceful night at home, wondering if the Lord can be glorified when I'm content,  or if it's when I'm dissatisfied and in the middle of trial and turn to Him?

I just thought I'd throw it out to you, is it possible to be Sold Out in the middle of being content? Should we ever be content?

how should we pray

Last week when the Crossroads staff gathered to pray - Darlene read to us before we prayed about the suffering and persecution that we see around the world.

She asked the most challenging thing..."should we stop praying for God to end persecution?  Because persecution comes when God's people are living for Him - when new people are coming to know Him.  If we ask for persecution to stop, then in essence we're asking for God to stop working in the hearts of men." 

I thought about that all week - what a revolutionary way to think about what we see going on.   We watch as men with an evil agenda think THEY are in control when it couldn't be more apparent that they are puppets of evil - playing out exactly what God said would happen when His people rise up and are willing to lay EVERYTHING on the line to lead others to Him.  The persecuted believe with all their hearts that every person they can reach with the message of God is worth any personal risk.  What an amazing testimony this is!

Obviously we still need to ask for God to surround them with His Holy Spirit and presence so even as they face death, they know He is near.

I have been appalled at what has been shown on TV and will not watch any of it.  But, the other thing I can't get out of my mind is what Pastor Dave said in last weekend's message when he reminded us that in the book of Revelation God says in the last days we will be able to see what is happening around the world.  That's amazing that in God's Word He describes our current ability to 'see' with the internet - although He obviously doesn't come out and say 'how' we'll be able to see.

This should be extremely comforting knowing that none of this is a surprise to Almighty God and that He is indeed in control.


The question we must ask ourselves then is - if persecution comes to places where God is moving in people's hearts, is that why America is still going about it's daily business - for the most part blind or unconcerned with what is happening around us as long as we're comfortable? 

Interesting to wrestle with and pray about.

My personal prayer is for God to reveal His Glory through my life - to use me to lead others to Him,  so much so that persecution holds no place of fear within me as I rest in Him.

what I learned today

day 128

Our church has a daily Bible reading posted on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cccwired?fref=ts this makes it very easy to spend time reading God's Word daily.

Today's reading was all about fear.







There are different ways to look at fear.
-Our world is evil and full of really scary things over which we have no control
-There is no escape from conflict and fear in this life
-I find myself fearing most anything that I cannot control

There is the logical way of looking at fear
-Worrying and being afraid won't change anything, I know this but still battle fear at times

I've said it many times, I have NO idea how people watch the news, see the suffering and listen to all the evil that fills the world without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!

And thankfully this is God's way of facing fear and encouraging us

-God said the following...  “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed.”

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.—Your life is hidden with Christ in God.

He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

I rest in Him...

what I learned today

I found this excerpt in a book I'm reading by Gordon McKenzie formerly with Hallmark. The excerpt is taken from an old comic in a newspaper...

Garfield, leaping, Rambo-like, through the open door of a pet shop, announces himself: "Freedom Fighter"!

He charges through the shop, flinging open the cages of the confined pets, proclaiming: "You're Free! You're Free!"

But, instead of rejoicing in this sudden gift of liberation, the cats and dogs and birds all remain in their open cages, intimitated by the unknown possibilities ..

Have you ever felt like this? Intimidated by unknown possibilities? I have, but I am working really hard to get over it!

I ask more often then I used to.

The old phrase "the worst they can do is say no" is SO true! And most of the time, if what you ask is well thought out, and if you are prepared to take care of the details, they will say yes.

I have joked with my friends many times about how much scares and intimidates me. I grew up in a household with hard working parents that didn't ask anyone for anything unless it was absolutely necessary, so I get it honestly! What I realize now is how many opportunities I have let slip away because of being scared as well as being too stubborn to ask for what I wanted. There definitely is a security in the ordinary. It takes no explanation, no thought really, but how sad to spend our lives there.

The challenge of creating can be both paralyzing and exhilarating depending on the reason for which you create. If you've committed the decisions of your life and creativeness to Christ, then there is no reason to fear freedom or opportunity! God promises lives full of the extraordinary, in fact a God affected life is our only hope of experiencing the extraordinary this side of heaven.

What I learned today is when God released me from the cage of eternal bondage - I wasted a lot of time reluctant to venture out into His possibilities...no more

what I learned today

It is hard to believe that another week has gone by. Time to study. I read throughout the week, but knowing Tuesday morning is always a focused time to learn, makes me anticipate it even more.

The effort to devote time both to the study of God's Word as well as being a student of leadership skills, I continue to be amazed at how applicable the Word is to all areas of my life. I have mentioned in previous writings how I sometimes allow myself to become paralyzed by fear, fear of making wrong decisions, fear of disappointing friends, a boss or family. I have never witnessed such fear among God's people as I see now in the areas of politics and economics. Fear changes nothing, but stops everything.

This is an opportunity for God's church like never before.

As I continue to read through the New Testament my reading today was from Romans 13, "Every person is to be in submission to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are established by God. Wow, hits us right where we are!

Think about this, "there is NO authority EXCEPT FROM God...God appointed leaders are in place all around the world..."and those that exist are established by God." No need to fear!

Later in this passage, God says, "and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Are these passages connected?

Our relationship with our fellow men, women and children is inseparable from our relationship with God. Perhaps the secret is to recognize that our neighbor, whether it's the guy next door, the server at a local restaurant, or those in authority over us are as worthy of God's love as we are!

These verses from Romans directly impact my leadership. Can you imagine if I lead as if my neighbors are as important as myself? Fear has not power. In my work life I don't think the fear of failure is truly what bothers me, I am willing to take ownership for decisions I make that fail. What holds me back I think, is the fear of criticism. Especially non specific criticism, this kind of criticism shuts me down. Constructive criticism on the other hand, is specific and gives me direction to correct my mistakes.

Ministry if full of criticism. More than I ever experienced in the secular work place. Because it's "church", and truly does belong to all of us unlike a privately owned company, everyone has their opinion and many, many suggestions. How do we survive criticism in ministry? We submit to the promise that God has appointed our leaders and we love our neighbors as ourselves.

If, with God's help, I can live a life that loves everyone as much as I love myself, then those in authority are treated as they should be, and criticism simply becomes a part of learning instead of a focus on the wrongs committed against me.

God is in control and wants my life to reflect that confidence. I learned today there is no room for fear in a life dedicated to the Lord.