what I learned today

Sometimes your adoration is a spontaneous overflow of Joy, in response to radiant beauty or rich blessings. At other times your praise is more disciplined and measured—an act of your will. He dwells equally in both types of praise.

I read this in a book I used for devotions today and it really encouraged me!

It encouraged me because sometimes I don't feel like praising, I've wondered if I praise anyway if He can still receive it?  I was so glad to read this today - it makes me determined to praise Him at all times.

I know at times I've withheld my praise worrying that it wasn't a whole hearted- fully engaged praise I was offering.  What that does, is suggest it's up to me to determine when it's good enough or when God can accept it.  It actually paints Him as unable to accept it suggesting it's my decision.

He accepts our praise even at times it comes out of the discipline of constantly praising Him instead of a huge experiential event!

How it must grieve Him when I don't trust Him to truly be the God of the universe, capable of all things!  The thought of Him waiting and waiting for my praise is humbling and convicting and makes me determined to never withhold whatever is on my lips and in my heart!

God desiring MY praise…unbelievable.

weekend report

Without exaggerating I can safely say, this weekend was one of the most amazing worship services at Crossroads I've ever attended!  SO STRONG and there was no doubt the Lord was in this place.  Here are a couple of short video shots and pictures to try to give you a taste of what we experienced if you weren't here!  To watch our entire service on Monday go to www.crossroadswired.com

Announcements on Video

Opening Instrumental:  Bada Bing

Praise:  The Lord Reigns

Worship:  A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Worship:  In Christ Alone

Praise:  God Be Praised

Message:  How to Know God's Will

To see what other ministries used in their worship services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

Worth writing about

As my day draws to an end, I ask myself if there was anything within my day worth writing about?

The definition of worth is "the quality that renders something desirable, useful or valuable"

Desirable?  Yes, many aspects of my day at least I considered desirable!

I held my grandson

I talked to my daughter via FaceTime 

I watched my son sitting with high school students in the Crossroads service

Valuable? Yes, I learned truths from the first few verses of John taught expositorily by Pastor Tim!

Useful? Yes, I had the privilege of introducing a new worship intern to everyone tonight and began using her to help prepare the services! 

Was my day worth writing about? Yes, because by putting it in words I  praise Him for giving me all these things, it was another day with loved ones and small things accomplished and time to appreciate all that I had in my day!

what I learned today

As I read in Psalm 22 this morning - I was reminded about how the Psalms run the whole range of emotion and experiences we have.

Starting with total despair to prayerful seeking of the Lord and finally to praise as His delivery comes.

In the book I'm reading it says this, "The Psalms is a divinely-inspired collection of prayers.  Whereas much of the Bible comprises God's words addressed to human beings, the Psalm are made up of human words to God -yet not merely human words - but divinely inspired words.

As I watch the Psalmist walk out of despair and into God's provision, I'm reminded that remaining in defeat is a choice.  In the Lord we have the choice of turning it over to Him, I mean REALLY turning it over to Him and walking in praise, or wallowing in self-pity and worry and despair.

I claim this example again today for my life.  May my very existence be that of praise and worship of Him - may I not get caught up in worrying about tomorrow, but offer Him my best attempt and leave it at His feet.  

As I'm writing this, I'm listening to birds all around me squawk and carry on, and I wonder, are they communicating with one another or offering their form of praise to their creator.  Did God create them simply for His own enjoyment and to receive their praise?

Amazing things to ponder and to praise Him for!  Today I learned that the Psalmist understood our struggles and is an example of God's deliverance!

my day off

A true day off!  (Well except a few emails about details that needed to be taken care of today or tomorrow ....)  But, that's behind me now and I'm praising Him from my favorite spot on earth!

Reflections on the week behind me force my mind toward praise...

Never, NEVER in the history of Crossroads have I heard such stories of spiritual awakening and even some brand new decisions for Christ from our Student Ministries!  Story after Story is trickling back through different friends about decisions and connections their students made on the mission trip this past week.

I must be honest...when my kids were in our youth group we were going through some rough leadership trouble and neither of my kids wanted to attend the youth group.  And now, 8 or 9 years later God has allowed them to be a small part of the healing and the re-awakening!  This takes my breath away!

I am telling you - DON'T GIVE UP - even if you think something is impossible - to the Lord a decade is as a moment and IN HIS TIMING things will be revealed and healed!  Usually not in the time we think it should happen or the way we assume it will happen.  But when it's time - your soul will marvel at the way HE chooses to reveal himself.

You can see many pictures and read a little about their mission trip by getting on Crossroads' Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/cccwired .

Other praises left lingering from this God-filled week include new volunteers within my department that I didn't even realize I needed.  People that love the Lord stepping forward to give their lives in service to make the ministry more excellent and more God filled.  Pastor Tim was talking about serving this weekend - when you're created with gifts and talents to serve in a specific area, your service increases the efficiency of everything else around you.  If you selfishly get involved in only secular things it's as if there is a missing 'cog' in the church - a part that is desperately needed!

Isn't it completely overwhelming to realize and believe that God created you to fulfill something in The Church that ONLY you can do?

Finally my praise includes DEEP - humble thankfulness for friends and family that surround me.

I had several parties to attend this week as well as family get-togethers before Jocelyn and Aaron leave for Cambodia, and in my busyness I often forget the amazing GOD-FILLED blanket of believers that surround us as a family.  Tears stream down my face in gratitude to my KING AND SAVIOR.  I truly feel blessed beyond words and it's with gratitude for another day that I lay this morning at His feet - because it's only when HE fills it that it has value and eternal significance.

Psalm 136:1-3, ESV
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

what a wonderful world

I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
They're really sayin......i love you...

These are some of the lyrics to "What A Wonderful World".

The morning following the last snow I became almost overwhelmed with God's beauty.  I stood outside waiting on Vern, and thankfulness and praise washed over me as I thanked God for His beautiful creation.

As I prepared to leave home for the morning I remained in this praise and enjoyed all the simple privileges of warmth, and jeeps and coffee and dogs...  and this song came to mind.  What A Wonderful World.

..I wondered if most other parts of the world EVER feel this way?  In areas where their main focus is what they will eat that very day, or if their children will survive another day or if the violence will ever end...  do they EVER get to see beauty in anything?

It's easy to  live as if we here in America are the world and unconcerned for those trapped in horrible areas of circumstances .

My prayer that day was for those unable to see beauty.  My prayer that day was that God would know how much I praise Him for the detail He created that I don't take my life for granted - and how thankful I am for His provision every single day

...what a wonderful world.

what I learned today

Sounds.

I cannot believe how amazing vacation sounds.

Waves crashing -sea gulls crying - silent phone -  sleeping breath that moves in and out slowly, rhythmically, tired work-laden breath slowly dissipating into calmness that is gained in no other way than vacation. Some of my favorite sounds come as my hubby and I hike our 4 mile walks while talking non-stop.  There is much panting and struggle to talk above the waves.  (I am shamefully out of breath as we talk - must work on that!)  These sounds are what we have waited for.

Sounds sum up your day.  When home my work day sounds are computer keys clicking, videos playing, conversations of future plans, long conversations of problem solving, music playing and the never ending attempts at scaring me out of the middle of concentration into near heart stopping panic as my door suddenly is kicked or as I lift my eyes from my keyboard to see a distorted face staring at me through the small window in my door, just waiting for my reaction - frightening!

No matter what we are involved in the description of your day can be described in the sounds that you hear. 

I liked the sounds I hear today, but I don't dread at all the sounds of returning.  I feel so blessed to spend my life doing the work of Crossroads.  The sounds of corporate worship, and laughter and very LOUD talking in Town Square are sounds I miss even when on vacation!  Although, there are some sounds I would be happy never to hear again! 

I have decided my life is very full of really good sounds.  This week I am going to try to find a different praise for my God every single day.  Things I normally would not take the time to value or thank him for.  I challenge you to join me - no matter what your week will hold!

my day off

Do you ever wake up just totally overwhelmed by God?  That is how I felt this morning - like I was anxious to learn more about Him and SO thankful for Him in my life!

I thought the perfect form of expression would be found in the Psalms and I decided on Psalm 68:32-35 as my praise to Him this morning.

sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth,
Sing praises to the Lord,
To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times:
Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice.
Ascribe strength to God;
His majesty is over Israel
And His strength is in the skies.
O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.
The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.
Blessed by God!


I have been feeling very behind for a long time, there are so many good things I would like to develop and haven't been able to, which probably means I just need a few uninterrupted days to think and dream.  But today I plan to just remain in Him and not think ahead as I constantly do, instead I remain in praise and thankfulness!  A true day off!

my day off

I decided to not only clean the house, but to clean up some old emails - 300+ on the account that I give to on-line places and use for ordering things.

Smart move, found some things I actually needed to follow up on. Important follow up.

I had to cancel a meeting for tonight due to a couple missing people that were unable to attend. This has created a day originally dedicated to preparing for that meeting - now empty with absolutely no time restraint. I cannot remember a day where I had absolutely nothing to prepare for. Such a weird wonderful feeling! So thankful!

God knows just when I need to relax the most - I believe He cares about small things. I praise Him today in the small things.

Can you believe God cares even about the small things in your life?

weekend report

We were so thankful that Pastor Tim is doing well following his surgery and was back in the pulpit.

Our weekend was strong and as always I was so thankful for all of our volunteers that made it all happen!

Our Setlist:

Pre-Worship: Hosanna - Hillsong United
Pre-Worship: Chosen Generation - Tomlin
Praise: All Because of Jesus - Fee
Praise: One Way - Hillsong
Worship: Rescue - Desparation Band
Worship: Holy Is The Lord - Chris Draper (Crossroads original)
Message: I Corinthians 1:18 - 25 Pastor Tim
Announcements: Wendell Anderson - Spiritual Maturity Pastor

To watch our services go to www.crossroadswired.com

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

weekend report

To watch this service go to www.crossroadswired.com

Wendell Anderson led us in a great holiday weekend, teaching us the 5 things every Christian needs to grow! Worship was just awesome and fellowship in Town Square was a blast!

Our setlist:

Instrumental: America the Beautiful
Announcement Video advertising our 5K run: Deering Dyer (Small Groups Pastor)
Original Praise song: Shout To The King - Milo Sgambellone
Praise: How Great Thou Art - Baloche
Transition by Penny Davis
Worship: Our God - Tomlin
Worship: Inside Out - Hillsong
Message: The 5 Things Every Christian Needs to Grow - Wendell Anderson, Director of Spiritual Maturity
Exit Song: Our God - Tomlin

To see what other ministries used in their worship services go to www.theyworshipcommunity.com

May God richly bless your week!

weekend report

YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS VIDEO!!!

Today we used a video that we shot using one veteran actor, (Maureen Browning our Drama Team Leader), and two actors new to Crossroads! The concept/script came from The Skit Guys - one of our favorite drama sites right now. PLEASE watch this video to see how we advertised our Easter services next weekend.

Our Set List:

We kicked off our set with 2 originals that we performed as people entered the auditorium! I am so proud of our writers!

Beautiful Savior - Crossroads
My God, My King (You Reign) - Crossroads
Video: Easter Invite
Announcements: Pastor Tim
Praise: One Way - Hillsong
Praise: King Of Majesty - Hillsong
Worship: All For Love - Hillsong United
Worship: Amazed - Brewster
Message: More Than A Story -Jesse Rider, Sr. High Pastor
Special Music: Untitled Hymn - Chris Rice
Message conclusion
Praise Reprise: Amazed

To see what other ministries used in their setlists - go to www.theworshipcommunity.com

To watch our services on Monday -go to www.crossroadswired.com

weekend report

Great weekend coming off of the Willow Creek Small Group Conference Simulcast here at Crossroads - today we will tear our entire ministry apart in preparation for our annual Harvest Party on Wednesday! If you are within driving distance you really should be here to see the masses that attend this free event!

Pastor Tim's message answering the question of, "Don't All Religions Lead to God?" was outstanding, you can watch it at www.crossroadswired.com tomorrow - including downloading the transcript!

Although we had tech problems with our headsets, preventing clear video communications, our amazing volunteers pushed through and the message was clear.

My favorite line from worship this weekend was "Your kindness leads me to repentance..." I have heard this song 100 times, why this stuck out today is weird. I grew up feeling that guilt, or a harsh father figure God is what forced me toward repentance...but His kindness does...very cool private worship moment for me!

Our SetList:

Pre-Service video by one of our artists
Announcements: Joseph Gillum
New Praise Song: This Is Your Song - Tommy Walker
Praise song: Mighty To Save - Hillsong
Worship: You Are Good - Gateway
New Praise Song: God You Reign - Brewster
Praise: Let God Arise - Tomlin

Message: Don't All Religions Lead to God

Exit Song: God You Reign

You can see what other ministries around the county used in their worship services by going to Fred McKinnon's site.

God Bless Your Week!

weekend report

Well it was a great weekend in many respects, teaching=excellent, worship=spirit filled, fellowship=sweet! But....Pastor Tim was not able to teach Sunday due to flu=bummer!

Thank the Lord for technology=DVD teaching with live worship - still excellent but missed Pastor Tim! Here is our setlist;

Opening Instrumental: Concetta - Tesh

Announcements: by Joseph (I accidentally recruited Joseph to do announcements and forgot to give the regular guy the weekend off...duh! I was very embarrassed, oh well, at least I remembered to cover the announcements!)

Praise: All To You - Brewster
Praise: Glorified - New Life
Worship: Enough - Tomlin
Worship: Facedown/Surrender: combined the two

Message: ReKindle Pt. 2: Rekindling the Dedication

Exit Song: All To You

Have a magnificent week and don't catch the flu!

You can see what other ministries used in their worship services by going to Fred McKinnon's site.

You can watch our services at www.crossroadswired.com

talking

One of my top abilities...non-stop talking! A gift, a curse an annoyance at times for those close by! I talk and talk each day, giving my opinion, expressing my thoughts putting in my "two cents worth". Why do we have such a need to be heard? Why do we think everyone simply has to know what our perspective is?

We have a natural desire to communicate, God desires communication with us. Can you believe it? He knows what is going to come out of our mouths, so why does He want to hear it?

He created us at least in part to commune with Him, He has every right to assume His creation would cry out in worship to Him...man, how disappointed He must be with the choices I make with my time! So what is it God values from us?

I would assume He simply wants us to realize He is our creator, He deserves our praise! I am never disappointed in my time with Him, but, sadly it is ME that has to decide to give him time. The enemy's trick is to so occupy our minds and our time with the distractions of the world that we forget who gave us our minds and our time...I am soooo easily distracted!

"My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.'
And my heart responds, 'LORD, I am coming.'"

—Psalm 27:8

Talk to Him today...more than usual.

my sunrise

God blesses me every time I see amazing clouds, oceans, storms, flowers, sunsets or sunrises. I never take them for granted. His artistic nature always delights me. This is what greeted me today as I arrived at church to begin my work day.

In CLASS 501 we are taught our worship shapes. My worship shape is 'naturalist'.

Romans 1:21 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

How anyone can see nature and not believe in God as creator is impossible for me to understand. I praise Him every time I look at his nature!