the lost

Recently, perhaps due to a more focused time of prayer with our 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, I've had an overwhelming burden for the lost.

The thing that keeps coming to my mind is that I hold the cure for everything that makes them hopeless, and still I hesitate to share at times.

I have talked recently to several young adults who are completely hopeless in the pursuit of allowing selfish self-satisfying pornography into their lives, after being raised in amazing Christian homes! The feelings and desires that God gave us to cause us to pursue satisfaction in the context of marriage and daily living our lives properly - have been turned into unsatisfied addiction.

The physical pleasures God taught us to enjoy are the very things destroying their marriages because we do not allow His influence and teachings to form and control them. 

The claims that Chrisianity is too controlling, just a bunch of rules & foolish beliefs for the weak could not be more opposite from the truth!

The ONLY thing available to mankind to brings true freedom and complete peace is faith in Jesus Christ!

THEY instead are the ones in complete bondage when they take good things and turn them into addiction.

Their supposed freedom offers the life-long pursuit of wealth and endless competition - which offers no satisfaction (just look at Hollywood and our prominent business leaders).  Their supposed freedom offers marriages that don't satisfy because they aren't following the Lord together and in many cases are involved in pornography which no human-being can compete with.  I've watched some friends fall into the hidden at-home addiction of having to have a drink thinking a nightcap is harmless. Their supposed freedom includes deceptive friends who offer a good-time "just try it once" drugs that change their lives into complete dependance on substances that need more and more to be satisfied.  And there's that new addiction to electronic devises and phones that never disconnect and Social Media daily criticism that drives teens to suicide.  Everything their supposed freedom offers leads only to complete hopelessness and deep loneliness as the endless search for more and more continues.

Our society is falling apart due to turning their backs on a belief in the Lord.  We MUST tell them of our freedom and hope in HIM!

Easter is a time when people who haven't been to church in years will consider coming.  It's almost like they really believe if they go once a year they're covered.  I heard the other day that if a child doesn't accept the Lord by age 13, they have less than a 4% chance of ever knowing Him!  It's not enough to occasionally bring their kids to church, kids have to see how it affects and changes their lives and how committed they could be as a family!

We know the Savior that offers complete satisfaction, hope and the only way to survive the crushing culture we have around us!

This is a challenge to myself as well to reach out to my neighbors - who knows what struggles go on behind the walls of their homes.  I've traveled around the world to reach others with the Good News of Jesus, but struggle to tell the same story to those around me.  It makes no sense...

May God challenge our hearts and give us resolve to reach others around us with the only Freedom known to mankind!  The news that Jesus not only gave His life for us - but rose again!

4th of July

As my hubby and I sit on our deck watching the birds and deer and taking in the beauty of this morning, I was thinking about what the 4th of July really means to me.

Momma and babies

The freedom we enjoy every single day is unbelievable, perhaps unequaled in the entire world?
That means I got to get up this morning and totally decide what I wanted to do first, how I want to spend my day, who I want to talk to or not to talk to, totally free of anyone telling me what to do next.

Our media is full of 'dooms day' forecasts and bad endings for America but that's up to the Lord. On the day he created me, He knew how and when he'd take me home.  To give up any portion of my life worrying is disrespect for His sovereignty.

So today I choose to breath deeply, taking in every detail I can notice that comes as a result of the great sacrifice of those that came before me.

I can only imagine the horror they witnessed as they watched their best friends fall in battle so that future generations, people totally unknown to them, could sit on their decks like I am - loving my hubby of 39 years and drinking coffee while we freely plan our day.

Thank you to all who had any involvement in giving me this day covered in the celebration of freedom!  Those in the military and those serving honestly in our government - thank you!

Happy 4th of July!

grateful to our veterans

I have an afternoon today, for the first time I can remember to just work at home. So I decided it was a perfect time to review some new music for Christmas while I worked. I've fallen in love with the version of Silent Night my daughter showed me yesterday, it's by a group called Future of Forestry.


Recently I emptied my entire attic and purged nearly everything. One thing I didn't get rid of were my frames, and of course my framed pictures that weren't currently hanging or sitting in our home. I probably had 40 of various sizes.


So today I decided to sort the frames, label the tubs and get those sorted correctly. Within these frames were both original art as well as photography that I count precious of our kids, weddings and distant relatives.


As I worked the wind picked up outside and the flag flapping widely caught my eye. I couldn't stop watching it fly against the nearly artificial looking beauty of the fall. It caused me to draw in a grateful breath and just watch, just pause, just take it in.




Immediately I thought of our dear Veterans, and their selfless sacrifice for my freedom and was filled with such gratitude. These amazing veterans are the reason I can sit hear listening to whatever I want to, to praise my Lord out loud for all to hear and to worship anywhere I choose.


I thank you all sincerely and I pray that you'll draw close to the Lord on this special day and know He understands sacrifice and loves you!

grateful to our veterans

I have an afternoon today, for the first time I can remember to just work at home. So I decided it was a perfect time to review some new music for Christmas while I worked. I've fallen in love with the version of Silent Night my daughter showed me yesterday, it's by a group called Future of Forestry.


Recently I emptied my entire attic and purged nearly everything. One thing I didn't get rid of were my frames, and of course my framed pictures that weren't currently hanging or sitting in our home. I probably had 40 of various sizes.


So today I decided to sort the frames, label the tubs and get those sorted correctly. Within these frames were both original art as well as photography that I count precious, our kids, weddings and distant relatives.


As I worked the wind picked up outside and the flag flapping widely caught my eye. I couldn't stop watching it fly against the nearly artificial looking beauty of the fall. It caused me to draw in a grateful breath and just watch, just pause, just take it in.




Immediately I thought of our dear Veterans, and their selfless sacrifice for my freedom and was filled with such gratitude. These amazing veterans are the reason I can sit hear listening to whatever I want to, to praise my Lord out loud for all to hear and to worship anywhere I choose.


I thank you all sincerely and I pray that you'll draw close to the Lord on this special day and know He understands sacrifice and loves you!

weekend report

It was another amazing weekend at Crossroads!

I watched groceries coming through the doors for next week's grocery giveaway, I helped several more people get signed up for the Global Leadership Summit Simulcast before Tuesday's cost increase - hard to believe that's not even a month away, and I listened to stories of more young couples beginning to attend Crossroads and their interest in our new Young Adult service!  In fact, Aaron Nicolas, our Young Adult Pastor taught the weekend message.  All of it is very exciting!

Our setlist:

Announcements:  Wendell Anderson

Amazing Grace - Milo started things off with an acoustic version of Amazing Grace
Holy Spirit
This is Amazing Grace
All Because of Jesus
All He Says I Am

Message:  Freedom - Aaron Nicolas

Exit Song: Amazing Grace

To watch our services on line go to crossroadswired.com

To see what other ministries used in their set lists to to theworshipcommunity.com

am I free

I had aspirations of sleeping until at least 9:00 this morning - my cold had other ideas.  When I lay down I cough.  With laundry in and coffee by my side, I sit down to write.  To write about anything my heart desires, to write about what the Lord may lay on my heart, to write about what pleases me and what displeases me, this is freedom.

The definition of freedom is super interesting!

Freedom

the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

That is a powerful statement!  But then I kept reading and the definition seemed to be much more focused.

the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

This made me realize that freedom can be huge or small.  Circumstantial or inclusive.  Defined based perhaps on each individual circumstance.

It challenged me to decide what freedom means to me - am I free?  

In light of recent government decisions I have been feeling 'less free'.  It's easy to believe we are on a landslide toward less and less individual freedom if you consider that important issues are being decided without taking a vote by the citizens or at least elected officials.

But I've also been feeling more drawn toward my Savior.  

So guess what?  Adversity always makes us look to the only one who offers true freedom - it doesn't take a genius to realize why He allows us to experience problems!

It's interesting how much we long to look to a fellow human being to change bad things, to save the world, to save America. Nothing, not even a single word, is happening outside of God's permission here in America today.  

As I think of brothers and sisters across the world suffering just because they love Jesus, I realize their physical definition of freedom would definitely be the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. Still, no power on earth can take away their complete belief in and reliance on Christ.

So the question I ask myself is, should I have the power to act, speak, or think as I want to without hindrance or restraint AND the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved?  Am I free?

I will never understand why I've been one of God's chosen to live in this amazing country, but I'm also learning to take it less and less for granted and that's a good thing.  They (whomever they are), always say "you don't know what you have until it's gone"...I pray for all of us - that we wake up and take advantage of our freedoms right away.  Share the beautiful Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone He gives you opportunity to do life with.  That's the freedom they're searching for and they don't realize all of these other 'feel good now things' are a complete waste of time and in the end destructive.

This is the time perhaps like never before in my life-time, to embrace the freedom we have and love those around us despite our differences and maybe we'll taste of a freedom beyond the dictionaries definitions.

I am free and I pray for safety across our amazing country today to express our thankfulness and to be together in our freedom!

freedom wasn't free

This morning I've been thinking about all the people before me that sacrificed so that I can vote today.

People that gave their lives for MY freedom
People that bravely fight behind the scenes to try and keep God values alive in the US

I am free to walk into a voting place without harassment, without fear of any kind and vote for who I think would please the Lord with their decisions.  Will any candidate really change things for the better?   We may never really know!   What we have to walk away believing is that God is in charge - and we just exercised a practice that very few places around the world get to participate in!

This may not always be the case - so I plan to take FULL advantage of my rights today.

If you're not planning to vote today then you've fallen into the enemies trap of believing your vote doesn't count.  That's crazy!  There ARE honest people involved in the process - I personally know a couple of the people behind the desk at our voting location and they LOVE the Lord with all their hearts!

Is every candidate honest ?   No.

But, how cool would it be if God chose to turn the evil to good in the US and give his people a new voice - don't you want to be part of that?

I'm not pushing either party - it has NOTHING to do with that - the fact is our freedom was purchased with a huge cost and we honor those who gave their lives, and limbs, and quality of life for us!

And, by not voting you have NO voice - you have no right to complain - and some day you may not even have an option to vote.  Please don't give that right away.

Freedom wasn't free.

songs without words

Recently my hubby and I climbed in the car to go who-knows-where, and classical music began to play  from the radio.    It was a particularly ugly piece and my hubby said, "what is that?"

I laughed and began to explain that when I'm overwhelmed I like songs without words.

To fill my jeep with classical music allows me to imagine all sorts of carefree things attached to no stress or 'to do's'.

Words in songs 'tell' you what to think - direct you to where the writer wants to take you - and seldom allows freedom in the translation.  No words = freedom to just dream and not think to just be.

No words are a suggestion from God who knew we'd need to be still sometimes.

Psalms 4:4 | 

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

Final good-byes

The time has come - the most difficult part of the trip for sure, good-bye... Made more difficult of course by Ron and my personal goodbyes to our own daughter and son-in-law.

Surrounded by prayer of precious friends we are ready.  Ready to release our children to these children.  There is no sadness in the leaving because of why they stay.  Yet still it is a huge release the likes of which I've never known.

My own children being used by ,God to raise up the next generation - Jocelyn and Aaron in Cambodia, and Eric and Alyssa with the youth of Crossroads back home.   This makes me eternally grateful!  The tears that fill my eyes are tears of thankfulness and worship, not sadness!

As I look around the campus I remember one of the things I see here that I love is the willingness that the kids have to help in any way they can.  And now our kids get to help them.  They pick up trash when they see it, help cook, do laundry and hang it and help those younger without being asked.  Things that make me thankful to the house parents raising and training them.  

And so we say good-bye for now, with wonderful memories, experiences, and praises to our God!  Here are today's sites.

Finally - I took a walk all alone (which is hard to do) back to see the future BB10 now under construction and prayed for the precious souls The Lord will rescue and fill the house with.  Takes my breath away to understand there are tiny ones being hand chosen by The Lord to be saved...

Thanks be to God for the privilege of being born into freedom allowing me to serve those less fortunate...and now I leave them in your hands...amen

freedom IS free

Funny how the world's version is completely opposite from God's....

As I was happily preparing for an amazing evening with friends and family - regardless of what the weather does, I was thanking the Lord that I was born in America and thanking Him for the ridiculous abundance in every sense of the word that I daily experience.   I was also thinking of the countless brave men and women who have given their lives and in some cases parts of their bodies and even their emotional health in the fight for my freedom.

Our freedom in America was definitely NOT free.  As I thought on these things I realized the exact opposite was true in Christ.  My freedom in Him was completely free TO ME.

He calls us to Him and all we have to do is accept Him.

He took care of the cost, mankind had to do nothing, in fact there is nothing we could do to earn our eternity.  He gives it.

Will we always enjoy such abundant freedom here?  I have no idea - it does feel like freedom is being challenged as never before, as if their's a slow leak dripping - seemingly unnoticed by most.

There should be no fear of this in Christ - prayer is what our response should be!   Today we just need to be fully focused on the privilege of another free day.  We should live thankful and serve Him on this beautiful, day that God has granted us!  I pray you'll have an amazing day of celebration!

complete abdication

Abdicate:  To release power formally

"Complete abdication to Christ is the only way to complete liberation.  "

I came across this statement today in a reading I was doing and it just really penetrated my mind and soul.  The words speak truth.

What an immature mind I have - why does it feel like I'm not free when I have to obey or follow or give up?  When instead obedience to God's truths and to what He asks of us is the ONLY place of true freedom.  The only place.  Obedience and surrender the only path to complete liberation.

I choose liberation.

what I learned today...continued...

I love this verse...I Corinthians 9:27 "..but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

We have great freedom in Christ. We are free from the law that used to be followed long ago, the law that was nearly impossible to follow! Thank goodness.

Yet even in this freedom are you willing to give up things if they are stumbling blocks to others? Are you willing to give up freedoms and even adopt disciplines that will allow you influence in other people's lives like Paul did in this chapter? People are definitely looking for someone who is different. They are surrounded by people that look just like they do! Does your life produce something that others want?

In verse 19 Paul says, "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more."

I suspect we would be a lot more successful bringing people to our church and ultimately playing a role in their conversion to Christ, if we lived this way. A slave to all...

Sometimes our personal freedom really just isn't that important...

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

As I studied Matthew 25: 20 & 21 in preparation for the Artists Small Group tonight, I was extremely encouraged by the fact that God only expects from us what we are capable of according to our individual ability. Don't you find that so freeing?

We all spend time sizing up the competition, deciding in our minds that we don't measure up to those around us who we perceive to be more accomplished, or the opposite, puffing ourselves up because we think we've done something better. Oh yeah, but, we keep a big smile on our faces at the same time! What a waste of time! God doesn't look at us all lined up comparing what the person next to us accomplished with his talents. So then, why do we? I guess it is just to try to make our selves feel better. We either compare in order to justify slacking off (I did more than he did!), or better because we've killed ourselves working so hard (I'm such a martyr look how hard I work)!

There is no comparison in God's eyes one to another, only in ours!

Different talents are given to each, according to our ability, and the return on God's investment is measured the same way, according to our ability!! We become paralyzed anticipating failure, instead of laying at His feet ONLY what He created us to be able to do! He offers us success in the assignment He gives us, (not of our own doing).

I learned today, I need to focus totally on what He has given me a talent to do and not set my eyes on anyone else. That's what you call, Freedom In Christ!