celebrating together

Tonight was our first of 3 weekend services here at Crossroads- just like always.

Tonight was also the night Pastor Tim made the first announcement about our orphanage campaign total amount.

I could hardly wait to reveal it!  During rehearsal when we sound checked the video where Pastor Tim announced the total, we stopped it just short of revealing the final amount.  The gasps and complaints from our tech teams and praise team could be heard across the auditorium!  So fun!

I won't reveal the amount tonight because our Sunday attendees have not yet heard - but to celebrate together in song following the announcement was nothing short of a little taste of heaven!

It dawned on me, if we celebrate this much for this accomplishment - how will eternity be?  Loud praising and singing and worshiping forever - think of it!!!  I cannot wait - truly!  Can you imagine each day being filled with His presence?  We will become so overwhelmed each time we are with Him that we will break into praise and worship, we will raise our voices as one massive choir...we will praise him shoulder to shoulder with our Cambodian brothers and sisters.  And they will bring with them those they have lead to the Lord - and our little Crossroads congregation will know their investment is eternally significant.

Until then - dwell in unity Crossroads - behind the common cause of being light in a dark, dark land.  And I speak of the US as well as Cambodia when I say that.  God is good - and we have witnessed a supernatural movement of His spirit within our people.  I love it here...

the love of God

The thing that set John apart was that he chose to fully believe and fully receive the love of Christ above all other things.  If we could grasp just a little of the true quality of His love we would live transformed.

Do you think there could be a modern day Paul or John if we took God's love seriously?  I think so.

Why do I have all of God available to me and still I struggle as if I do no know the King of Kings?  I am hardly different then those I rub shoulders with in the world - barely different than those who do not claim His name.  Separated from them only by the claim to know Him.

I am going to begin to pray to receive a new heart focus to fully pursue the love God offers each of us!

Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

packing lunches

I love packing lunches...

For me, packed lunches conjure up all kinds of really good memories.

My mom used to pack our school lunches with all kinds of home made treats!  I loved opening my lunch each day to see what she packed just for me.  I also remember how very important the lunch box itself was.  It had to be just the right one - an extremely important part of every back to school shopping trip!

Another memory associated with packed lunches was connected to 4H.  We were taught how to pack a balanced lunch, how to wrap our sandwiches properly - at that ancient time we used waxed paper.  We then took our packed lunch and sat across from a judge who graded our lunch.  I got outstanding ratings each time (my mom was the perfect teacher, it was almost like cheating)!

I also remember many fabulous picnic lunches as a family growing up.  Nights at the ballpark - days at the swimming pool and of course the amazing memories of Cedar Point - packing so we could enjoy home cooking even away from home.

And as any important memory requires, the passing down of traditions to our own children.

We packed lunches for school, for soccer games and for many summer family reunions.  Each family packed their specialty to share with cousins amid competitive sack races and softball games.

And still I find packing lunches sends a special 'I love you' along with our kids and their friends.  Recently packing lunches occurred for a return trip to Boston and now on an ongoing basis I pack once again for our son as he heads out to work each morning.  (He would pack it himself, but, I insist)

Packed lunches - I love making them and giving them,  a small token of my love!

no mushrooms

I walked for 1 1/2 hours deep into our woods this evening searching for mushrooms while my hubby mowed.

I watched in front of each foot as I walked after pausing to scan ahead of me before I stepped forward, looking for likely places for mushrooms.

I found instead abundant sign of many, many deer - ground hog holes so huge and deep I was terrified they would jump out at me!  So I stomped hard and carried a stick.

It began to rain steady so I stopped and turned my face up - I love being out in the rain and it has been a long time since I've walked in it.   Focus - face down - searching.

I found the most brilliant bright red mushrooms I have ever seen - more like wide flat toad stools and many little round poisonous ones. 

My husband tried to make me feel better reminding me we live in the coldest place in Ohio and saying it's just too early for mushrooms in our neck of the woods (no pun intended).  He lied.  But I appreciated the attempt.

All in all it was an exhilarating walk, quiet time, very different than my days have been recently. 

I will be buying mushrooms tomorrow.

what I learned today

Today I was preparing to lead a single young woman's group - the study was about how to become a woman of security.

As I have said numerous times before - I always learn more than the girls do.

The author said this, "Insecurity keeps a woman from experiencing consistent joy even within a relationship because a man cannot provide security, only God can."

I certainly looked for security from my marriage in the sense of a life long relationship, I hope I never expected my husband to be responsible for my personal security.  As I continue to mature in Christ it has given me the confidence I need to fulfill my calling, even when I am not sure I can do something.  Because the opposite of trying is always worse than failing.

I feel sorry for some of my brothers in Christ.  Some of the insecure woman, even Christian woman I know that are constantly needy, are such a drain on the relationship.

Guys have told me over the years there is nothing more attractive than a woman who is confident, not bossy, confident. Big difference.

It was a good reminder today as I read that the ONLY consistent joy we will ever experience here on earth, is through an obedient relationship with God.  Not man, not career, not children or wealth - all of these things pass away...

Security and confidence are attractive to all those around me, so even when I feel very uncertain I need to obediently step out and try.  And realize that even failure teaches.

I am curious if any of you struggle with insecurity?  Care to share?

my day off

This has been a tremendous day!

An impromptu meeting with Pastor Tim and several others to discuss the details regarding our offering for Cambodia this past weekend.

A meeting right after at the Carousel Works to discuss final details about their open house in a couple weeks. (you can buy tickets in advance at the link above)

Late breakfast with hubby and son.

Then home and an hour long phone conversation with my daughter!

In reflecting about the weekend services here are three things out of many that I am very thankful for:

#1  Based on the congregation's response, they got it!

When you plan services it is very hard to judge if creative ideas will transfer into understanding.  And ideas that do not lead people toward understanding are pointless.

#2  There is great evidence of maturity within our congregation

The fact that the general giving was where it needed to be from a budget standpoint ON TOP OF the sacrificial giving toward the orphanage, proves our congregation is maturing in their personal walk with the Lord.

#3  I have never been more proud of our pastor

 Tim is like a younger brother to me.  I spent time with his older sister at their home when we were all still in school.  (He was often hanging upside down swinging from a tree or something when I was around).  Anyway, the pride I feel at the wisdom in the timing of this project cannot adequately be described.   I don't wait well at all, especially when I am passionate about something!

 Instead of rushing ahead too soon we waited and now you can just feel the Holy Spirit at Crossroads filling our people with an excitement I haven't seen often.  I cannot wait to fully see what God's obedient people gave to save these orphans!

Thank you all so much for giving and if you were not able to be with us this past weekend please watch our service so you are fully aware of all that went on!   www.crossroadswired.com

Oh and - it's not to late to give!

weekend report

I have no idea where to begin...  it was awesome

Our first of 4 services was very rough -after a review meeting and a few tweaks we went back out to face the second service.  Much better!

We used Easter as our first EVER service, in 15 years where we passed an offering plate, the reason, to raise money to build an orphanage in Cambodia with Asia's Hope.  And our people stepped up!  We won't know totals until next weekend, but everyone seemed SO excited and willing to help!

Our Setlist:

Opening welcome/explanation of offering and Repurposed theme - Pastor Tim
Smooth Criminal - Cello Duet  (We used this with scripture on the screens)
In Christ Alone
Our God - Tomlin
Come Thou Fount - Sublime
Message:  Repurposed; pt 2
Beautiful Things - Gungor  (With full music video that we shot at Milliron Recycling) offering was taken during this song
Let God Arise - Tomlin

I will be posting pictures and updates all week so stay tuned!!

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

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