weekend report

This weekend was a crazy combination of enjoying the outdoors, praying for and watching our team in Nepal as they consider another Mission partner, chasing mice, enjoying grand-babies but mostly just thanking the Lord for letting me still be a part of the crazy life-changing ministry of Crossroads!

Take a look!

Our team visiting Nepal - pray for God's leading as we consider a partnership.

Time in the great Fall outdoors with popcorn bags as big
as my grand-babies - precious times!

3 Staff members trying to catch a wee-tiny baby mouse, just
minutes before we needed to turn our attention to the services.

I took this picture of people coming and going at Crossroads this weekend.  Not
a single week passes that I don't praise the Lord for all of these precious people
He just keeps bringing through our doors! I just get overwhelmed with love and concern
for them spiritually!

This precious sister in Christ is bravely facing cancer as it ravages
her body.  She asked to be baptized after the Saturday service.

I don't know if there was a dry eye in the lobby...she'll never know how blessed we all felt
to be part of this beautiful moment.

As you can see this weekend was full of thankful moments, restful moments, prayerful moments and celebrations as the body of Christ!  It was good to be able to enjoy family, friends and to be in the House of the Lord!

a great outpouring

I have never experienced anything in my life like the passing of my father, on many levels.

One is the great outpouring of love and support in the form of cards and letters that are still coming from my friends and relatives.  Another was the amazing food that friends brought to us!

As I sat with my mom this afternoon - I read through all the cards she has received.   I couldn't believe the pile of cards and notes she had!  The thing we marveled at was that nearly every card had extensive writing in it.  The amazing detail people included about their relationship with dad made us smile.  And the only ones that didn't contain extra writing, were from people that we've spent time with and talked to over the past several weeks, or from people who didn't know my dad, but sent beautiful cards to encourage us - a generous outpouring!

As I returned home today, my husband handed me the mail which also still contained cards coming from dear friends!

Thank you so much!

It's so hard to believe it's been a week ago that we held dad's funeral service.  Out of all the services I've helped to create, it was my greatest honor.  I loved him so so much...

We invited dad's pastor whom he loved to open the service and then family members lead the rest.

Eric and Jocelyn lead the music

My brother John read scripture

Aaron had the difficult task of reading the families' memories of dad and my brother-in-law Rob Barlow delivered a perfect message, and then my precious hubby gave the graveside message!  I was thankful for the talents of each family member, so thankful!

The veterans were so kind to honor dad too!

My mom only wanted to have 2 hours of visiting hours right before the funeral service, which was at 3:00 p.m.- so I was worried that she might be disappointed in attendance on a workday.  But everyone  just kept coming and coming to pay their respects to my amazing dad.

They came to pay respect to the man that taught me who God is, what kind of a man I deserved to marry and how to raise kid's to love the Lord.  The man that adored my mom for nearly 60 years.

I miss him desperately and just cannot thank you all enough for all of your care, your support and your example of what it means to have amazing brothers and sisters in Christ.

Now we turn our attention to mom and the tremendous changes that she will be experiencing.  To lose a partner after so many years...so difficult.  One of the saddest pictures from the whole experience was the one of mom walking out of Hospice with all of dad's possessions for the final time.  It makes my heart ache.

But she's leaning into her Heavenly Father and continues to encourage everyone else - an amazing women for sure!

Thanks for continued prayer!

what I learned today

I realized this morning as I had a couple minutes to reflect back over my whirlwind life lately, that outside of my family - one of the biggest blessings I get to enjoy are the diverse 'communities' that I get to be part of.

Pastor Dave on stage at ALIVE!

Crossroads provides me with opportunities WAY outside what I ever dreamed I'd participate in - and last week I watched as God worked to extend Crossroads' Community again as Pastor Dave got invited to speak at the ALIVE music festival as one of the main teachers for thousands of teens and their parents/youth pastors!  God seems to be moving us outside of ourselves and into the community immediately around us as well as regionally, without us trying to make it happen!  So blessed!!

Here are some of the community areas I love the most in my life:


CROSSROADS STAFF
- I do not exaggerate when I say the Crossroads staff is my second family.

1. I know any one of them would be there for me or my family at a moments notice
2. We line up behind a common Mission: "Leading People to the Truth That Transforms Lives in North Central Ohio and Around the World.  This is what we measure each possibility against, each ministry opportunity we consider getting involved in.  We do nothing that doesn't support our Mission!  It helps us to be intentional with our time and resources.
3. We celebrate with one another and support one another in disappointing times - we are family!

SERVING AT CROSSROADS

-The reason I am on staff today, is because I first got involved in serving as a volunteer.  

1. When Ron and I began attending, I served on the praise team singing and playing synth.   
2. We attempted to also help in the children's area, but it didn't take us long to realize this was NOT our gifted area!  We did however enjoy the adult friends we made.
3. Next I was offered my Director of Creative Arts position as a volunteer and Ron and I worked together with the Crawfis' to create massive set designs and worked on all the special events.  (this was pre-lighting and video - so everything had to be physically created back then - we even used a slide projector for song words!)
4. The people at Crossroads that I have served on teams with as a volunteer, and as a staff member, have become life-long friends.  Something that will never happen if you just attend Crossroads and don't get involved in serving somewhere!
5. Although I'm very dedicated to continued development of all the Creative Arts teams and groups, I look forward to getting to know more and more new people along the way outside of our area as well!

NEW FRIENDS

-For 18 years I've stood in the Sound Booth, or calling cues in the Lighting Booth, and recently I most often am pacing back and forth across the back of the auditorium, watching the details of the services.

We almost didn't get it all to fit in when it was time to leave
the ALIVE festival last weekend!

I've often joked that I recognize everyone - but really know very few names.  But recently I've broken out of my area and just last week I had the opportunity of getting to slosh through the mud with 26 High School Students from Crossroads at the ALIVE music festival.  Ron and I went as the official cooks.  (little did we know most of our time would be spent just trying to keep things dry!)  

I came back feeling like I had just met a whole new generation at Crossroads!  Oh my goodness how great these students are!

I returned so encouraged about their future involvement with the ministry and met some who have attended since they were small children!  How encouraging!!   For others this was the very first time they've done anything like this with Crossroads - exciting first steps!

I think in January, Lord willing, I'll be going to Guatemala with the Crossroads team.  Again it's a team containing some 'already friends' - but, I also see names I don't know, and God never arranges these things randomly!  So I can't wait to do ministry with new friends too!

There is no true connection outside of community and I encourage you today to sign up to volunteer on a team at Crossroads, join a House Church or take a CLASS and experience strong connection through community!

Community: A unified body of individuals; a social unit of any size that shares common values.

What God reminded me of again today - was what a privilege I have as a believer in Him to do life with so many amazing people!   Are you part of the Crossroads' community?

talking to my friends

I don't know what I would do without all my friends!

I've just been trying to be more intentional to appreciate them and to really spend time praying for them and thanking the Lord for them.

They encourage me
Remind me of God's promises
Celebrate with me
Cry with me
Love me
Teach me
Honestly direct me
They help me to be patient - when I feel anything but that
And they point me back to scripture

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.  Proverbs 15:22

Just sitting here thanking the Lord for you all my precious friends!

the 'looks' of ministry

I don't know about any of your ministries, but ours constantly looks different and in many cases unexpected!

Tonight was no exception - 5 of my friends and myself, offered a pie making class and it was quite the hit!   I only HOPE their pies turn out ok when they bake them at home tonight!

But what I watched tonight was worth any work that was done, or any other work that wasn't does as the case may be - because we saw a large church become small as ladies learned from one another and laughed and ate together. 

Here is some of what you missed if you weren't at Crossroads tonight.

Ready and donning an apron!

Friends with different pies!

My good friends preparing for the evening

Peeling fresh apples

new friends

Staring with Prayer.

Jean demonstrating her - bake in the paper bag apple pie!

Jocelyn did it, perfect crust!

It was very good to be in the House of the Lord tonight, and I'm thankful to all the gals that came out - more good times to come!

PS>  The only negative was I didn't realize on the other side of the wall from us was our Healthy Beginnings Class ...I heard rumors that several girls that were supposed to be in that HEALTHY Class attended ours instead!  Whoops!

tryin' to be wise

I've been trying really hard to be wise - and it's not working so well.

I've been trying to be wise when friends come with problems - even though I know full well they just need a listening ear - not solutions from me.  Tryin' hard to be wise…

I'm trying to be wise with my care about the ministry.  I sometimes act as if it's my ministry and have to draw myself back hard - and lift my eyes upward to once again focus on the only reason I'm in ministry.  Tryin' hard to be wise…

I catch myself worrying about who's not there, it's a normal summer but it feels way more personal this summer.

I was blessed when I found this today on my favorite author's blog.

 The very Son of God had a ministry to 12. And even one of them abandoned Him. Forget the numbers in your work. Focus on the net value of  your work. 

May I be wise when I talk to even one.  Who knows, I may have been called to ministry just to reach one!

I give up trying to be wise in the eyes of the world - and will follow and listen and wait…patiently.

abide

I haven't had even a couple of minutes to write recently.   I'm sure it means I'm not managing my time well, but here I am!

I've been occupied by many things including being concerned by several people around me that have been ill recently.  One seriously ill, the others more 'regular' sick.

In thinking about them and what they're going through, I'm not sure if anything brings focus and inner reflection like illness does.

The most serious thing I've ever had to deal with were the 2 night-time seizures I had over the past 3+ years.  The only residual effect they had was my friends lecturing me about going to bed earlier and avoiding stress, waking up with a chewed tongue and being confused for a few minutes.  (wait, actually that's a daily thing!  ha ha)

I cannot imagine what it's like to go through illness that's life threatening!

I would think it is completely consuming as if life stands still - takes a time-out, while you watch the goings-on from a far.  Being around it should bring perspective to those of us watching - revealing how we should spend our precious few years here on earth.  And forcing an evaluation of how our time is being spent.

Looking at my day as I sit on my deck I wonder what was eternal about it?

My determination to try to the best of my ability to prioritize my days to reflect that God is first place in my life - as if His existence is the driving force behind my choices is renewed once again as I think about my friends and pray for them.

I would love to not only trust Him each day, but actually, completely ABIDE in Him.  So I leave you tonight and plan to study about abiding…what does that look like and require - and am I capable of it?

If you too study about how to live a life of abiding completely in Him - please comment and share the information you find with all of us!  Let's learn together as we do this life together!

a night of friends

Friends!

I wish I could host people in our home every night!    It brings me great joy!


Tonight it sprinkled at our home several times as we prepared for dinner.   I really wanted to eat outside, but decided to wait until the last minute to make the final decision.

 I asked the Lord to hold the rain and He did!  It was delightful sitting under the beautiful skies with laughter ringing out, torches burning and conversations about things to come and school years ending.

The most simple things are the best.

Sharing basic things like food and friendly competitions of ladder ball are the perfect kick off to a long awaited summer.



Ridiculously huge desserts don't hurt either!

A good friend - Sergio

What are your favorite summer things?

the why came quickly

I was talking to a dear friend recently and he said, "you have lived such a blessed life" and went on to talk about how he's messed up in the past describing what a mess his life has been several times.

I've been told this before, and I praise Jesus everyday for His protection and love and provision, but, it's  not that I haven't experienced loss like everyone else has, it's just the the 'why came quickly' for some reason.

At 56 years of age, I'm working hard to get to the place of maturity, that one of my first reactions to trouble is to look at the situation and ask, "I wonder where this will lead me and why God had to allow this to get my attention?"   I said I'm working to get to that point consistently!

As we talked and I listened to him confess his short comings and the times God had to get his attention. I remembered the times of testing and hurt in my own life, and then I remembered the why.

-I had a horrible local church experience growing up - God's hand held me tightly to the local church when I wanted so many times to walk away from the constant drama.
*I've worked in the local church for the past 18 years and volunteered in leadership since I was an adult.  God showed me beautiful support and care from the local church growing up, but also revealed ugly leadership and selfish behavior from leaders which clearly prepared me for future leadership and taught me how important TEAM work is in the local church.  Team leadership instead of personality driven ministry, demonstrates to the congregation and community true ministry - I love to imagine what the disciples conversations were in the evenings around dinner after a full day of ministering to people!

-We lost our first baby, I miscarried on the day we were starting our regular baby check-ups.
*Just a couple weeks after losing our baby, I was able to surround a praise team member going through the same thing.  She was nearly inconsolable - I know that's at least one of the reasons why God took my baby home, to be an example to her.

-I lost my brother at age 40 to a combination of physical problems, some of which he probably could have had more control over if he had been disciplined, so our sorrow was mixed with disappointment in his short physically troubled life and his lack of disciple and the loss of a young brother.
*I saw a rest and health return to my parents that I'm convinced would have deteriorated if my brother's care and worry about him had continued much longer.

-I am about to lose my pastor and 2 of my dearest friends and family
*God needs them in a bigger arena - to bring His love to more people then in Mansfield.  God needs them to move so the man He has already chosen can take their place.  I rest in this and refuse to look at this negatively AT ALL!   (And, I praise Him and thank Him that He only moved them a little over an hour away)

I certainly could go on and on with the negative things that have happened in my life, but I'm telling you, IF you are a child of God - everything works together for a reason, despite the time frame God chooses to reveal the WHY!  

He's just waiting for you to realize this isn't yours to handle and for you to release it to Him.

It's called Trust!

my birthday

Many times my birthday falls during the week of Easter and even several times on Easter itself.  This makes it difficult to even think about since the ministry is all about Easter and what goes into it!  And honestly at my age - I really don't care about celebrating at all!

This year was different.

It started on a rainy Monday earlier this week,  when we went to Easton to shop and spend time relaxing- knowing it might be our only celebration time.  It was one of my favorite days in a very long time!  I came home with a few things, but mainly just very relaxed, especially unusual on Easter week!

But, today, a work day surpassed all my expectations!  I got to be with my friends and they gave me many warm happy birthday greetings and funny cards and very meaningful cards and gifts. I am a very, very blessed woman!

Jesse and Eric - horse heads for the Country Western series

This was one of the first things I received - a Happy Birthday text from my grandson!









There were things that made me laugh - like the crazy Student Ministry Pastors - and very thoughtful  treats - my favorite flavor lemon - which caused me to immediately gain weight!

Claire could be a professional baker!

A few of the notes I received were extremely kind, meaningful and quite surprising.  Some of the beautiful young women I work with, are girls that God has given me the privilege of loving in my home and in groups at Crossroads.  I now am surrounded by them at work and I will NEVER take this for granted!  I beg all of you reading this, to take time out of your schedule to build into other people's lives - it will come back to reward you in the most shocking ways and at unexpected times.  Everything we do with the limited years of our lives matter!

My older girlfriends at work blessed me with more of my favorite things as we laughed over the funny cards and talked about the next time we will be able to get away together and our hopes and plans for the future at Crossroads!  I love them!

Crossroads staff

At lunch I snapped a picture of all my friends at Crossroads, (missing a couple of staff that had appointments), I praised the Lord that He has allowed me to be part of this amazing group for so many years.  And I understand in a new way the only thing that makes birthdays matter to me is being surrounded by the people I adore and the job I love so much!

The only sad thing of the whole day was our very last programming meeting with Pastor Tim!  He will be missed more than I can EVER explain!

Final programming meeting with Pastor Tim

And finally a quiet dinner out with the love of my life, my hubby!  I figured out it was my 38th birthday with him - again, I'm a very blessed woman!

Thank you all for a really, really great day!

another day almost done

I cannot believe once again it's almost evening - seems like I'm always evaluating, looking back instead of making forward progress!

Eternal things today?

Served another ministries' worship team.
Took food and medicine to someone sick.
Encouraged a friend.

Non-eternal things?

Bought large cafe latte - when I stopped to get vitamins and left it in car, Vern drank it. 

Guilty face

Looked at Facebook.
Took pictures of friends.
Dusted furniture.
Ate candy.

Now off to see if I can fill my evening with eternal things instead of trivial non-important nonsense!

What filled your day?

friends

I can't imagine my life without my friends!

I got to spend the past 2 days with 3 friends that I love dearly!  We have eaten at least 20,000 calories each and spoken 1,000,000,000 words each.  And we're not done yet!

I am a blessed woman.

I know some people feel like they don't have friends, I would encourage you to put yourself in any situation or gathering that would give you opportunity to talk with people - and pray for Godly friends that can fill your life!  God did not intend that we would do life alone!

There are most definitely times that we need to pray and study and reflect on God's Word alone, and times to rest and withdraw.  But, the church was intended to be the place where we gather to be with one another, to get to know one another and to grow spiritually closer to God.  We'll spend eternity together - our lives here are what comes before that eternal time, and I want all my friends to be there with me!  An eternal celebration and worship service - that sounds fantastic to me!

I love all my friends - the different life experiences we share - and the anticipation with which we face our future together in Him!

my day off

This weekend was one of the very first weekend's I've taken off from Crossroads in 15 years and just spent the day at home.  Although I have to admit the reason I took the week off was in case my mom needed me additional nights following her surgery last week.  She didn't, so I just watched our services from home.  We are blessed with amazing praise and tech teams indeed!

Today I just have a few cards to finish and I continue the journey through time by capturing all my family's videos on my computer to create DVDs for Christmas for everyone.

Brother, talk about reliving the past!

God blessed us by making it possible for us to sell our first little house and purchase a double that we could rent one side of - allowing me to be home with our kids.  This was priceless.

Day after day I could let them sleep in, and run around the house in pjs or just diapers.  I video taped a whole lot!   As I watched videos of Eric chattering and laughing as a 2 yr. old in the tub, and listened as Jocelyn sang her way through every room of the house, memories came flooding back.  My life is moving fast.  And my kids are moving even faster!

I ache for lost friends that ONLY have this life.  That only have these memories.

All of us that God has extended grace to in the form of a Savior, we are the blessed ones.  We understand that this is temporary in a very good way, not sad way.  We live life to the fullest not in the way the world does - but using our memories, our past good or bad,  to grow closer to Him and move toward Him.

As I write my final few Christmas cards this morning, that's what Merry Christmas means to me.

The future, not the past.

my friends

I just thought tonight I'd talk about my friends.  None of us can be really close to more than a handful of people.

I'm thankful for my handful, more than I can ever tell them!

They pray for me.
They don't judge me.
They compliment me, when I deserve it.
They try hard to understand me.
They laugh with me and we laugh at ourselves - loudly!
They can show their care without even being with me.
They would come night or day if needed.
They are faithful and dependable.
They forgive me.
They don't care if I make mistakes.
They love me even when I repeat the same stories.

God never intended for us to do life alone.

What is the most important thing in a friend to you?

no room in my mind

I have not even given my blog a moments thought I've been so busy!  I've had no room in my mind to think and write - my mind has also been full of thankfulness.  So tonight I was determined to carve out a little time!!

I've had time the last few days to hang out with friends

and family and I have thoroughly enjoyed them both.  One of the things that was especially great was my mom's birthday shopping trip to Columbus!

My dad, book in hand decided to ride along, " just to be with mom he said."

We came sneaking up on him once in the mall to see him snoring away - after snapping a picture we left him in peace for a stop at one more store before lunch.

My parents have been married for 56 years.  I am thankful for every one of them.  And I take none of those years for granted.

I was telling my sister how blessed we have been to grow up in a quiet, peaceful, strife free home.  Even in adult-hood there are no fights or mean exchanges, ever.    It doesn't mean we're perfect but it means that my parents let the Lord that they love affect their daily lives.  They live it all the time.

As we celebrated my mom's birthday, I thanked the Lord for her, over and over that day.  She is the perfect wife and mother and cares deeply about the things of the Lord.  She deserved to be celebrated!

Our shopping wound down as we found a great pet store and I just HAD to buy Vern

his winter coat which he modeled when I got home.

Yes, I've been busy - but I built memories in the busyness and am thankful tonight to finally express my praise to my Lord!!

an enjoyable evening

I was tired today and wasn't sure I would be good company tonight for the guests coming to our house.  And then they arrived.

My hubby and I have had the privilege of spending time with a beautiful family from Mexico that attends Crossroads.  I loved this evening with them.

The Perez family moved here for the father, Sergio's job.  A couple of their children are now attending local schools - trying their hardest to really learn English and to become acclimated to our everyday life here.  Their English is still very broken and they work hard to keep up and to learn, to be accepted and to make new friends.  Their mother stays home all day with the youngest daughter and I need to do things with her during the week - I want to spend time with her!

God lead this family to Crossroads and I am so very thankful He did.

As we sat and laughed over pizza and cookies and coffee - we pulled out some of our own children's old toys and watched as a little 3 year old girl that we had trouble understanding smiled and played.  And I knew that there was no other way I would have preferred spending my night.

I am blessed beyond description.  I am introduced to precious people that our Lord loves almost weekly, a privilege I do not take for granted.


Although I was very tired, I loved my Friday evening!

being on a team

I prefer working as a team than alone any day. Sometimes a team you lead takes a lot of guiding, that is tough and takes strength and determination and clarity of vision.

But what I really love is to serve on a team of peers. This is the way work gets done, fun is had and support happens best.

I serve in many capacities at Crossroads Community Church, buy one of my favorites is as one of six Directors. I am the Director of Magnification (programming/creative arts stuff), Wendell Anderson is Director/Spiritual Maturity Pastor, Deering Dyer is our House Church Pastor/Small Group Pastor, Jeanette Chase is our Director of Family Ministries, and my hubby Ron Biddle (extra bonus) is the Director of Membership. Pastor Tim, our Senior Pastor is our leader and we meet each Friday to vision cast for the future, support one another and to work on the day to day projects of the church.

I treasure my time with these people and the fact that they trust me leading part of the church.

Today I came across this quote from Doug Fields, "There’s something about having fun in the context of knowing that you’re loved that adds to the depth and effectiveness of the team. If you just have fun, and it’s not apparent that you’re loved, it can lead to wounding, hurt feelings, and an environment of fear. I don’t know all the elements of building a great team, but I do know two important ones: (1) loving one another & (2) having fun together."

This is how I feel about the Directors at Crossroads as well as the Staff and Elders. We are one big team - all moving in the same direction with a little help from fun along the way!

holidays going fast

I feel like Christmas is slipping away! We got to attend a really great Christmas party last night and we are preparing for our small group tomorrow...these two parties are all we are attending as far as I know.

We have so many great friends and what makes the holiday special is spending time with them and our family - and this year family looks a whole lot different! A new amazing son-in-law and very limited time with our kids before they both are off again! This makes for kind of a panicky feeling I guess! Yet we are determined to breathe in each moment - far into our memories where they will always remain!

I thought you'd enjoy some pictures from last night - notice the competing hats!


Determine to enjoy this holiday - the birth of the beautiful Savior!

my day off

I am pretty sure we crammed as much into one day as we possibly could!

So much fun including teaching our daughter, her buddy Bethany and my sister how to make pies. We baked fresh blueberry, peach and cherry. (Yes Tim, cherry) So much fun, so much mess and 3 beautiful - first time pies!

After this activity ended we had more of the college group trickling in - eventually gathering around a bonfire to roast hotdogs, marsh mellows and finally bug bitten they are currently inside our kitchen talking while we are sitting on the deck.

As I sit here thanking God for all my blessings I am thinking back over the weekend - it was nearly as perfect as any weekend can be!

Pies, balloons, snuggling in blankets waiting for fireworks, sunglasses at night because of the 'rockets red glare'...Here are some of our friends, family and the beautiful things we enjoyed!

Thankful

I am going to try to thank the Lord for as many things as I possibly can think of leading up to Thanksgiving this coming week.

I am overwhelmed at His blessings this year.

I am thankful for my husband of 32 years, more than I can EVER say.

I am thankful for kids that love family and their Lord.

I am thankful for my parents and siblings.
I am thankful for amazing friends that would drop everything to help me if I asked.
I am thankful for unselfish fellow staff members that share a common vision.
I am thankful for our congregation that could choose to be anywhere in the world but chose to come to church to worship!

This is not to say that there have not been great trials and problems this year, but, if we can look beyond our circumstance to see God's sovereign will - even in trials we can be thankful.

(Ok, so sometimes I'm ticked for a while when disappointment comes.)

But, when I get over myself... that makes me thankful for forgiveness! ha ha

What are you thankful for? Please share!