finally there

Today is a personal celebration of FINALLY being in my #1 favorite spot in the world...my deck.

my view past my computer screen

I'm watching twirling seeds fall from gorgeous green trees and birds visiting our bird feeders as I hear the 'flap' of the American flag overhead...I breath deeply here and I learn.  Deep breaths have been missing lately - it's been nearly 5 full weeks now that I haven't worked a full 'on-site' week and it's taken a month to get everyone fairly healthy again.

I woke up today preparing to accompany my hubby to help another staff member complete a relocation of a Crossroads attendee that found herself in trouble.  We discussed as we drove how difficult it is sometimes to tell the difference between truly helping someone and being taken advantage of.  It's difficult to know the difference sometimes and even more difficult to discern whether our responsibilities are to just blindly help and serve without trying to figure everything out - or to insure the need is real.  This was a necessary 'saving', and it was good to watch a fellow staff member give this person another chance.

I wasn't sure how long it would take, and although I desperately needed to spend some time at home today, I marveled at how God can use all of us to accomplish and provide what He needs others to discover and know.

This serve opportunity took no time at all to complete and soon I found myself finishing the last load of laundry and now I'm here, in my favorite spot again.  Resting in the Savior and basking in His creation fills my heart again, and I couldn't be more grateful to finally be here again!

The Church - as supporter

Never in my life as a church attendee have I felt the kind of support I feel from Crossroads.

Recently God presented our daughter Jocelyn and her husband Aaron with the opportunity to go to Cambodia for a full year.

Immediately Crossroads' congregation began giving toward the $22,000 that was required.  And as usual when there's a need they met this need in a matter of weeks.  Also involved in the preparation was a need for musical instruments that would allow them to give the rescued children music lessons.There have been additional funds given toward that need as well.

Never have I ever been associated with a more generous church.

Our congregation is generous in other ways as well.

They forgive and they move forward.  They embrace new.

As we send our daughter and son-in-law out, Crossroads leaders decided to bring our son and daughter-in-law in.  He replaces a much loved young leader who is no longer at Crossroads.

I have heard many conversations regarding the release of this young man.  Some were spoken out of hurt at the loss of a friend.  I saw ugly words written to staff in charge and heard youth declare they would never follow anyone new.  This was hard.

And when the person coming into replace is your own son it is personal.

I realize it would not have mattered who the incoming person was - students experienced loss and that always hurts.

Finally, over the last week or two I have heard breakthrough conversations regarding forgiving and trusting leadership and being kind to those in charge.  This makes me hopeful.

Last night as the student ministry kicked off the new format for Wednesday nights, I had the privilege of sharing with the students 'why we have the rules we have' when you are up front serving.  I looked into their eyes as I spoke and almost became overwhelmed with passion to do everything within my power to contribute in some way to help move them quickly through any remaining sense of loss.

The support Crossroads has given to our family is something I can never express enough thanks for.  I love you all and count it the most high privilege to serve at Crossroads and do life in The Church!

My day off

As our daughter and son-in-law prepare to leave as missionaries for a year - I find myself paying close attention to each moment I have with them. They are amazing people and they love to serve others.

As my son and daughter-in-law prepare to have our first grandchild - I find myself paying close attention to each moment I have with them wondering how this little one will change all of our lives. They are amazing people and they love to serve others.

This morning as I stood with 10 other people paying final respects to a friends's deeply loved father, I got to hear my sweet husbands words drift through the chilly wind as he eloquently blessed the grieving family. I then got to hear my daughter's voice perhaps at her finest with guitar in hand standing next to the casket sing the words to Amazing Grace. Even the the young children there began to weep as the beautiful notes and words filled the small tent. Breathtaking...

As I looked across the many gravestones representing people unknown to me I wondered how many were experiencing God's amazing grace - sitting in His presence? The greatest privilege we have on earth is to share the eternal hope that only Christ can bring to a dying world and to serve others.

Our family is not perfect that is for sure, but as I thought about it today I think except for their relationship with Christ, the most important thing we taught our kids was to serve others.

Whether it's in graveyards, or in the local church, or in our own home - we were created to serve.

It is perhaps the highest form of love.

...it's a quiet forever love.

Milo needs you

June is here and summer is upon us.. I present to you without further hesitation or a due, without reservations or fears, with a great sense of pride and accomplishment overflowing with tones of infectious joy and rapture, not at all holding back, but looking ahead as a fool looking the wrong way down a one way street and expecting to see a car; and unfortunately standing in the middle of the road. and now what you've all waited so patiently for ......THE JUNE SCHEDULE....


This was the header on the June Magnification schedule that Milo, one of our worship guys sent out recently to our team!


I laughed so hard and it made me appreciate his ridiculous sense of humor once again!


I am SO thankful for our staff at Crossroads.


And please, if you haven't yet stepped out to serve within the ministry consider doing it right away.  Find an area of the church you are talented to serve in and offer your skills.  Summer is difficult for the church with many among us heading for 'the lake' or 'the boat' or 'the game' or who knows where...we need you.  God wants to use you.

Please grab that card in the seat back in front of you, and sign on up.  And who knows, you too may get the schedule sent to you with a mind boggling header like the one above from Milo!

change agent

Have you ever thought of yourself as change agents? You can be!

You know, it is so easy right now to focus on all the negative stuff going on in our country and in our news. Do you know that only about 100 people control all of Americas secular media? So why do we give them such power by cowering and believing what we hear when we KNOW the truth of God, the ONLY truth?

What if we all believed we could do something to change it with God's help?

Our community could be greatly affected for Christ if we each believed with all of our hearts that God has placed us exactly where he wants us. All of you that have jobs you don't really like, all of you that have bosses that are unfair or unkind, all of us no mater what your circumstance are can become agents of change.

Sometimes I think people have gotten the impression from the church that working within ministry or at least the times you serve at church are the only true things that are important. You could not be more wrong! God needs you to be right where you are. Give the people you spend your days with hope, they are desperate for something to believe in. It is no mistake you have been placed right where you need to be.

I encourage you all this week to make one change. What can you change as a testimony to those around you? A more positive attitude, an attitude of help, whatever it is let your light shine! Look for opportunities to live for God no matter where you are home, work, school or church.

If you want to list your name, and place of employment, I will pray for you this week! Be an agent of change for the Kingdom of God which never, ever changes!

volunteers

I appreciate all of the Magnification volunteers more than I can ever say.

Today, as I arrived totally confused about what to work on first a dear friend and great volunteer came to the rescue! I thank Deb so much for her help today!

One of the main things I love about Crossroads is our commitment to empowering volunteers to help run the ministry. Compared to most ministries our size we have a really small staff, and based on the amount of events and services we have coming up this fall, it's feeling smaller all the time! So we place a high value on our volunteers!

I loved all the volunteer experiences I had in ministry before going on staff, well except in children's ministry, but that was not good because I WAS NOT GOOD at it! Definitely not my gifted area!

God expects us to serve one another, He gifted us to each bring our uniqueness to the ministry, to serve others as only we can do. How sad when there is a position not filled in our ministry when I know full well that someone possesses each of the gifts that we so desperately need! Thanks to all of your who obediently serve - you understand the joy that God gives when we do what He created us to do! Thank you so much.

meet my friends

I am going to begin introducing you to my friends. First I would like you to meet Milo Sgambellone and his family. Milo is one of our Worship Leaders and he not only has amazing talent as a guitarist and vocal leader, but also as a writer. He has a great family and this past Sunday they served us breakfast!

It was not only delicious but was so much fun to watch Milo and his wife Lisa and kids Hannah, Mia and Noah serve the entire Magnification Department and Staff breakfast!

This was an amazing way to teach your kids to serve! What a blessing!!

my day off

I spent a little time cleaning up following the Drama Ministry party at our house last night. What a blessing to see this group come together! None of them had previously served together until recently. And when I asked the group last night if any of them were currently in a small group the answer from everyone except for one single girl, was NO! COOL! A group is born!

As the evening went on, I could tell we would all become close, and all complimented one another in many different ways. This is how ministry should work, attend, serve, connect, do life together!

Today as always I had errands to run and dropped some things off at the church. I am now preparing for my husband's staff to come for dinner! Fun stuff!

In the midst of my busyness today I had the privilege to encourage friends who are struggling right now. And in the midst of encouraging my friends, they encouraged me right back! When you love the Lord, serving just means being available. You don't have to have a big detailed plan or agenda, you just have to be...