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!!

I am not scared

I love my age - I am no longer scared about much.  I used to be scared of everything...

I have also become strangely attracted to things that seem impossible.  I like trying to see if I can figure them out, it's kind of like getting inside somewhere you are not supposed to go.  My curiosity has never been stronger.

Age brings a kind of confidence normally, I'm not so sure confidence is what I feel now, instead it's more like I finally truly, completely trust God.  And I rest in that.  Of course I take back the reigns and try to do it myself once in a while, but He's patient with me and I think He enjoys strength instead of cowardice.  Especially if it can remain non-arrogant. 

In some respect being scared served me well in the past - it protected me from things, but, I wonder how many opportunities I missed due to contentment to remain right where I was in my safe little place?  Sad.

Anyway, I'm writing this to encourage you to try new things - step out and follow Him confidently and see what He has for you.  Enjoy your age no matter what it is and thank Him for every moment He gives you.

Hebrews 13:6    'So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear".... 

tonight I was scared

We had a gentleman in our services tonight that became very agitated and finally left.

I get very scared. Even though he didn't do anything except leave the auditorium mumbling, it still made me wonder what could have happened. It made me think about stories of violence that I have heard about over the years.

We have an amazing security team that paid close attention to what was going on. And all was well.

If you are from another ministry, do you have a security team? I would really encourage you to work on organizing one immediately!

Have any of you ever been in a public place where something that happened scared you ?

teachers training at Crossroads

I attending the teachers training today at Crossroads. If it's offered again, I would highly recommend that you all take it. If you lead anything, small groups, Crossroads University Classes, a volunteer team - anything, it's highly applicable.

The scripture they used as the text was Matthew 8: 23-27. We were asked to consider what we would want students to 'know' about this passage and then what they should 'do' as a result of knowing.

As we sat and discussed the text it puzzled me why the disciples would be scared, even with Jesus physically with them. They had already witnessed him healing and doing other miracles. Different times when I have studied over the years I have been somewhat critical toward the disciples wondering how they could possibly doubt this physical Jesus when they saw what He was capable of doing. They said in the passage, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?" As if they were totally surprised!

Then I remember all the times I get scared and try to do things in my own power and wonder if I would have believed it if I were in their shoes (or boat I should say). Probably not. I have been taught these truths over and over, and the the Holy Spirit convicts me over and over, and still I live as if I don't believe at times.

God works in mysterious ways and today as I went to learn better methods for teaching, I was a student who learned much more than I went in expecting to learn!