Jesus - the center of our mobile

I just read the book "The Shack" by William P. Young. Wow! This is a very unusual book, intensely thought provoking, and I must admit - "messed with my mind" a little. Or should I say "messed with my little mind"....

This book causes you to rethink a lot of what you've thought about God, mostly making the point that EVERYTHING about Him is love. What He allows, how He works, it's all love provoked. It delves into these issues in a deeper way that I've ever thought about them before.

But there's one quote from the character representing Jesus that will stay with me. It's the position Jesus should have in our lives. I love the way Young represents it -

"Mack, I don't want to be first among a list of values; I want to be at the center of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather than a pyramid, I want to be the center of a mobile, where everything in your life--your friends, family, occupation, thoughts, activities--is connected to me but moves with the wind, in and out and back and forth, in an incredible dance of being."

"And I," concluded Sarayu, (the character representing the Holy Spirit) "I am the wind."

I love the picture this represents! Feel the "wind" as it sways your life's mobile today. And know that Jesus is the center rod - nothing moves without Him!

Then I Shall Know Fully

Pastor Eddie's words were something like "see the other side". For some, heaven is a Biblical term that conjures up ideas of a place that requires death to enter. For others who have known the raging battle of terminal illness, heaven is a welcome relief for the ones we love who have suffered and are now "gone to a better place". And still for others, heaven is the alternative to "that other place" we want to avoid. But yesterday's message reminded us that heaven is a place of full knowledge of Jesus - face to face...seeing our Savior. I'm sure our human minds limit even our imagination of what that will be like. Yet that is not just for daydreaming, but for living our lives here "in light of eternity". What does that look like? Searching beyond the surface into the "souls" of the people we work and play with. Do they know who Jesus is? Who He really is? That He loves them? That He wants to breathe His breath of love into their lives? That He pursues a personal relationship with them?

And what does that look like for "blogging women"? I think it has something to do with trying to see each other through the eyes of Jesus. To look beyond what this world says is "in" or "cool". To look into the eyes - the windows to the soul - and look for deep, meaningful relationships based on the love of Jesus. Don't make it more than it is. Just love each other as much as is humanly possible on this earth with the kind of love that Jesus has for us - agape love!

In the words of one of the songs the youth sang yesterday,

Everyone needs compassion

love that's never failing

let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

the kindness of a Saviour

the hope of nations

So take me as You find me

all my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

Saviour, He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever, Author of savlation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave!

"Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:8

The Women Have a Blog!

This is my first attempt at blogging. So here goes...

We are excited to present our new addition to the Women's Ministry here at Crossroads Community Church. Our purpose is to build a place of connection through this blog that might enable women to be informed and edified. Now you're probably wondering what the word "edified" means. It's not very commonly used, but it's full of meaning. An online dictionary defines it as:

edified - instructed and encouraged in moral, intellectual, and spiritual improvement

That makes sense, doesn't it? I try to look for ways to be more edified. That means I look for a variety of means to help me improve spiritually. That would include Bible study, prayer, church attendance, and "connecting" with other women of all walks of life. There is so much we can learn from each other as we enter the many "crossroads" in our lifetime.

I hope you will find this blog a place where you can come each day for refreshment and inspiration and that it will encourage us to feel connected - not only in cyberspace, but face to face!

Let me introduce you to our pastor's wife - Dianna Hammond is married to Pastor Eddie Hammond. They are the parents of Stacy Hollis and Josh Hammond and the grandparents of Elijah, Josiah, and "Baby Boy" (due in August) Hollis. When asked what she would like to share about life with Eddie, she replied "He is the same 24-7. What you see on Sunday morning is what I see all week. I've learned so much about loving people from him. He needs our prayers as he leads Crossroads."