successful transition

As I watch rehearsal here at Crossroads this evening, I'm praising the Lord for another successful transition!

As the team prayed together during our rehearsal break Ernesto asked how many on the team were either new to the team or returning after a long break and about a 1/3 of the team raised their hands!  This filled me with a worshipful heart full of thanksgiving!

It's possible to be thankful for a rich past here at Crossroads while at the same time raising up new people to join us, change us!  We can enjoy reminiscing about  a past where all of us that started here served on multiple volunteer teams to make the church function - but none of us can do this alone long term!   And now we get to serve in the areas that we're the most talented in - not every area!

I'm thankful as we watched the Lord choose to touch Crossroads through Pastor Tim and Michelle's faithfulness leading us and introducing us to constant change.  Growing, maturing in Christ while having a blast!

Our staff has always joked about how fast things change here - they always have!

And now under Pastor Dave's leadership we get to enjoy being part of the God-given vision he is leading us toward!  A vision filled with future goals and continuing maturity in the Lord. And still having a blast!

Pastor Dave recently reminded us that if change ever stops then we have become the very thing we were terrified of becoming in the beginning.

How horrible it would be to not change and become stagnant...uninspired...unchallenged and unable to demonstrate with our lives that others are welcome here.

I'm thankful for change and leadership and new things that all lead us toward the God-given role for which we were created and the opportunity to welcome new family to the Kingdom!!

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!

my day off

I only left home once today - and thoroughly enjoyed the slow pace of the day!

Out to eat with hubby for brunch following Vern's vet appointment - just to get nails cut and regular monthly med supplies, quick stop at grocery story and then home for the day... so appreciative of this opportunity!

I'm trying very hard to get a slow 'groove on', time to calm down a little and focus on important things like I did today!

Things like:
Pulling weeds
Sitting
Trying not to cough (cold hanging on)
Planting just a few flowers
Chopped lots of fresh things today: strawberries, tomatoes, celery, lettuce, sliced chicken for dinner = healthier diet
Holding Vern
Washing and folding clothes
Reading
Praying
Loving my cheapo Walmart deck chair

The thing that caught my attention several times today was, when on a slower pace, I find myself noticing what God's provided and giving thanks almost constantly.  No wonder He talked about a day of rest, and Jesus often had to 'get away' from the crowd and all the demands.

I followed His example today and I could get used to this!  A great day off!

what I learned today

Every day is a precious gift from Almighty God.  That's what I learned today.

I'm still basking in the thankfulness I feel for a blessed day of sleeping in, walking dogs, babysitting the most important child in the universe, and just praising Him that our family loves Him so.

It's been a really long time since I've felt like my work is not 'out of control'.  It's still impossible to fit into a 30 hr work week, but it's just good, really good.  So I sit in a place of thankfulness.

There are always things to get done and places that need 'going to', but instead of some huge new thing learned today, I just learned again to be thankful.  I thanked the God of the universe for sending His Son for me, thanked him for my hubby and family and His never ending care.

Maybe tomorrow I'll learn something astounding I can share - tonight I'm satisfied with what today has been and for the things I've already learned.

my day off

I usually give a report at the end of my day off - but today, for the first time as long as I can remember, my hubby and I both slept in and have no plans.

Some people may consider having no plans as being disorganized and the concern for nothing getting accomplished may be what you think of.  Well, to ease your mind as I sit here in the glorious sun hitting my couch - my washer and dryer are running - so at least there will be clean clothes!  Beyond that - nothing is ok!

I wonder how many people around the world wake up everyday not knowing what their day will hold?   It may even be the majority of the world - I don't know.

To me, it's a luxury I treasure highly so I sit in this moment thankful for simple things like a good nights rest and the warm sun.  And joy floods my soul.

Before I blogged this morning, I read this from John Calvin, "If God contains the fullness of all good things in himself like an inexhaustible fountain, nothing beyond him is to be sought by those who strike after the highest good and all the elements of happiness."

Worship of God is an end in itself - really the ultimate goal of our lives.  Worship is not an outward ritual - it is our expressed satisfaction in Him and Him alone.  It changes our hearts which changes our outward actions and loves and life.

Space and silence creates authentic worship - not song selections and rehearsals.

Today - in the stillness, there is more room than normal for my worship - it makes me remember how important starting each day like this is to my soul and to my relationship with almighty God.

In our busy - over-extended lives I suspect 'stopping' is what our Savior seeks - it's perhaps the highest form of praise we can offer Him.

I'm so thankful

As I mix Ron's grandmas homemade roll recipe, and burn the first fire of the winter - I am completely full of thankfulness.

Why the Creator of the universe chose to call me to Himself is something I'll never understand.  It's abiding in His calling that covers my life in purpose.  That purpose fills every second with assurance that there is a reason for each day, that all I have to do is remain in Him and watch for opportunities to serve Him - normally by serving those around me.

The family that the Lord has surrounded me with is one of the areas of my life that I thank Him for continuously.  Always remembering how short our time here truly is by loving them deeply each time we're together.

Today I got word that my daughters' friend lost her father in an accident.

Today we also found out a friend from Crossroads has been given 2 - 3 months to live, completely unexpectedly.

As I bake my rolls I think of these families and can't imagine that they will be able to be thankful tomorrow or that Thanksgiving will even enter their minds.  As I bake my rolls I pray for them, and I tell the Lord of my thankfulness for Him in my life.

I'll think of them tomorrow as I express my thankfulness and love to my family and those we spend the day with.

I'm just so thankful...

preparing for difficult

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

Question to myself, do I only believe the Lord is good when things go my way?  When things are not difficult?

I am trying to give thanks in all things!

This weekend I have a chance to be the leader that my friends and co-Crossroadians need. 

My prayer is that the Lord will give me words to say that bring glory to Him!  May I be used to fill the hurting places of our congregation. 


I'm here now, at Crossroads.  Preparing in the Lord to serve Him strongly - and preparing to be thankful in ALL things.

being a parent

Eric, Alyssa and Garra

Alyssa and Jocelyn

Aaron and Jocelyn being interviewed by tv station

Eric and Jocelyn working on Student Ministry stuff

Jocelyn testing out the Crossroads vintage accordian

I could not be more proud of my kids - though not perfect they are amazing.

And now on top of the two of them,  you add their spouses - who are straight from God-  and I'm completely swept up in thankfulness to Him.

As I write my son and daughter are both with the Crossroads Student Ministry Mission trip.  They are serving the Lord and they are building into Crossroads' next generation.  Breathtaking....

From time to time I get asked what the secret is to raising kids that love the Lord.  It is simply this -
they must see you love Him.

Not from time to time, not when things are going well, not when it's convenient to go to church, they must see you love Him always.  They must understand that what they believe and who they follow matters, even when they are young.

They must see He is your life and they must see that you make mistakes and are not perfect but that God forgives and longs to offer His grace.

You can talk until you are blue-in-the-face about what they should and shouldn't do, but, if they don't see a consistent Christian walk in you or someone else they look up to in their lives,  they cannot understand.  Or at the very least, it will take them longer to truly understand it.

As our daughter and her hubby prepare to leave us for a year - we believe they have been divinely chosen to go for a year serving the Lord full-time overseas.  We praise Him!

As our son and our daughter-in-law prepare to lead the next generation at Crossroads as well as introduce the next Biddle to the world, our lives could not be more blessed or more full.  In Him we rejoice and are thankful.  We praise Him!

Being a parent never ends, it just goes through many changes and it keeps you on your knees!

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!

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.

deeply thankful

I suppose whatever you're surrounded by, whatever you have access to constantly, whomever you see and talk to all the time - you at some point take for granted.

I've recently become more and more thankful for the dedication of the volunteers in the Magnification Department of Crossroads.  They include musicians, vocalists, artists, actors, announcement guys/gals, communion team and all the technical volunteers on cameras, technical IT, video, lighting, sound, directing and on and on...

We had two musicians scheduled this weekend that had unexpected death in family and sickness and had to drop off.  Two other musicians stepped up and played like they had practicing for weeks!

WE ARE BLESSED with an amazingly HIGH level of talent on the stage and behind the scenes both!  My goal is to never take that for granted and to always appreciate our volunteers!  I always appreciate their work , I just don't always say it - so I'm going to try to say it more!  And to tell anyone about them that will listen!

I'm also going to praise the Lord for them and pray for them even more than I do.

I am a deeply thankful and blessed leader to serve on the Magnification Department at Crossroads!

33 years ago

An amazing thing happened 33 years ago today - Ron Biddle married me!

I know what you're thinking...if that's the case then why am I on my computer? Because he is at an Elder's meeting for a little while.

So I was thinking. I can be sad that we are not out on the town, or I can be thankful for where he is.

I choose the latter.

My husband could be a million different places right now, out with the boys, at a bar, even being unfaithful - but, he is at an Elders meeting. How can I possibly feel unhappy about that?

Today I am more thankful for Ron than I have ever been. I am thankful that it is no transition from having kids to an empty nest because we are close and have always maintained our own 'couple life'. I am thankful that I can trust my husband. I am thankful that we can work together and not have problems because of being together all the time. I am thankful that I don't have to make excuses for his behavior or try to cover up what he is really like. I am thankful that he is so full of mercy for others. And I am thankful that despite 33 years of ridiculous mistakes and annoying moments, he still loves me.

33 years ago I married the man that I love. Today I love him more.

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!

so thankful for opportunities

Yesterday I got to attend the "Gifted To Lead" conference.

Got to see Nancy Beach again!

Anyway, what a blessing to be challenged by such strong leaders. Challenged to lead strongly and confidently. Challenged to admit we were created with leadership gifts and to work hard to develop them. Challenged to follow God's leading in our lives always.

They described with shocking detail the 'ways' I have often felt in my leadership journey. Times I felt stupid for blurting out some idea that no one understood - times I didn't speak out and wished I had, especially when it involved things I was concerned about and shrugged it off instead of speaking honestly - and times of God moving in ways so far beyond our own doing.

I am thankful for all the people in my life that have pushed me out of my comfort zone - have told me 'you can do it' - have given me the opportunity to succeed and to fail.

I am thankful for those friends and volunteers that work under my leadership - I feel many times so sorry for you as my attention wonders to and fro - I feel proud of you as you create and serve and push to further God's Kingdom - and I love the longevity that so many of you have with our ministry, this speaks volumes to me because these days commitment is so rare.

It was a great day of learning and basking in a leadership surrounding - just soaking it all in. I am very thankful, so thankful!

Christmas Eve rocked!!

I have never, never had so many people tell me that our Christmas Eve service was the best ever, as I have this year.

I have to give credit, where credit is due - the picture shows our Magnification Staff. What an amazingly talented group! From the left is Jonathan Pierce, the most brilliant human being I know in the areas of IT and all things technical, next to him is Milo Sgambellone - band recruiter and worship leader extraordinaire, that's me on the piano, to my right is Dan Fleming worship leader - scoring genius and vocal coach of America! and next to Dan is Sr. Pastor Tim Armstrong, not a teaching goes by that someone doesn't tell me they have never learned as much as they have at Crossroads due to Tim's teaching, very, very gifted, very, very ornery! Last but certainly not least, in the front is Steve Browning everyone's right hand man - creative genius with everything video related, also oversees sound, lighting, roadie team and everything else no one else knows how to do or wants to be responsible for. The most exciting thing about this team is that they are my friends as well as co-workers! Cool!!

This team can take any wacko idea that Pastor Tim or I come up with and make it happen. They can shoot it, edit it, write the music for, score for any instrument known to man - anything it takes to support Tim's teaching and the mission of Crossroads!! You can watch the Christmas Eve service here.

This picture was taken immediately after the final Christmas Eve service at Crossroads - we were exhausted but oh so thankful for the amazing attendance and God's goodness!

The Christmas Eve drama was out of control good!!! Maureen Browning and Jeff Fellure were AMAZING and brought the house down with their performance of the Skit Guys drama "Innkeeper's Dilemma". Click on the title to watch it on God Tube!

The music was fabulous, the artistic video support was top notch, we tapped into all the senses to bring everything toward, A Baby Changes Everything the theme of the night supported with the new song by the same title from Faith Hill and performed by Michelle Armstrong who rocked the walls out! Amazing performances also by Cody, Melissa and Penny and Milo and Dan!! Magnificant!! I couldn't be more thankful!!

I ate too much

I ate too much turkey, too much ham, too much dressing and too many desserts! In the midst of the feast, we talked about what we are thankful for...

I am thankful for the people around me that see ability within me that I myself would never see, they believe in me. These people have the unique gift of encouragement, discovery and development.

I am thankful for children that not only believe in the Lord, but understand what that relationship demands in their lives.

I am thankful for a husband that allows me to develop and obsess over work that I love without feeling threatened, he is my biggest support and greatest love.

I am thankful for a God that chose me and despite the fact that I constantly DO NOT live up to my end of the deal, He never abandons me. He sent His son to die for me before I physically existed. WOW!

my day off

I finally had a very simple day off! It was a day of things to be thankful for.

I was thankful for a friend who spent time studying her old college books in order to try and treat my throat (dysphonia) with massage. I am so thankful for her care and very excited to see if it helps.

I was thankful for time to spend with my husband before he leaves on his amazing mission trip. We made the most of the day by eating out constantly, breakfast, lunch and dinner!

I was thankful for good reports from college from my kids, the opportunities they have make me so grateful to my Lord.

I was thankful for beautiful weather and beautiful flowers, we bought mums that were amazing!

I was very thankful for a simple day off!