A God Near and Far

Jeremiah 23:23 "'Am I only a God nearby,' declares the LORD, 'and not a God far away?'"

I was thinking this morning of what the weekend brings. Crossroads at the Lake is this Sunday, June 28. It will be a great time. It's always fun to worship outside. To see folks baptized in the Lake is really cool too. The Youth are leading Wet and Wild games after the pitch-in dinner. Haley has some really fun games set up for those brave enough.

Then I was thinking about our group that's heading off to Haiti the 30th. This verse came to my mind. Our great big world will seem a little bit smaller to them as they bridge the gap between Sullivan and the places they're going in Haiti. Let's remember to hold them in prayer while they're preparing to go and also while they're there. They are going as Ambassadors for Christ. What an awesome opportunity! By being faithful in prayer for them, we share in that mission experience. So while I may not leave Sullivan this month, I plan to be a part of my church family's service through prayer.

So, join in, invite, and rejoice in the Kingdom of God!

You have been a refuge, shelter, shade...

Isaiah 25:4 "You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat."

My youngest son is gone to a youth conference this week. He left after the second song in the second service Sunday. I know he is having a wonderful time getting away and spending the week with lots of teenagers! I started a tradition several years ago when my kids first started going to youth camps and conferences. I set my alarm for earlier in the morning and wake up to pray for them and ask God to reveal Himself to them that week, to keep them safe, to let them experience Him in a new way, etc. And God has blessed these weeks. These experiences have "cemented (is this a word?)" their relationships with God in a way that is different than the every day experiences they have at home. Being with other teenagers who are seeking Christ, worshiping Him, and joining with them in these times is so huge for kids.

This morning as I was praying, I thought about how different God is for each of us. When I asked Him to reveal Himself to my son, I realized the many ways He reveals Himself to me, but that God would meet needs so vastly different for my teenage son. Wow! Think about it, your needs and my needs are different and yet He is so real and personal. Now you might be thinking, "Chris - what a basic thought. Haven't you had that before?" I guess I just never thought about it in terms of mothers and sons and how God is God to both of us.

Then I went to the Word and asked God to give me a verse that expressed this thought. And He did! Wow! again. These are just some of the words to describe Him - refuge, shelter, shade...

I pray that you enjoy Him and that He reveals Himself to you in a new way today!

God's Grace

2 Corinthians 12:8 "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
9 But He said, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

I'm going to be honest. I'm still really struggling with my herniated disc. I've had a small setback and I'm discouraged. I need this scripture today. And then, I feel really bad that I'm making such a big complaint when others have way more difficult situations to complain about. So, I'm sharing the verses that I'm sure will give me strength in hopes that whatever you're going through will also be helped by this message.

Delight in weakness? In insults? In hardships? In persecutions? In difficulties?

God, help us to feel Your strength when we're struggling so that even though we may feel weak and powerless, we can rise up as we feel Your power and strength!

Friday Thoughts

Fridays I like to leave you with something for over the weekend. Well, not too long ago, I listened to an audio of a young woman with an unbelievable message. It truly touched my life! I want to share it with you. It's about 54 minutes long (but worth it!) and if you get a chance to listen, it will surely inspire you. It might be something you can share with a friend, too. Give it a try. I hope the technology works. If not, let me know. I'll try to figure out what to do!

deathisnotdying.com/event/video/

With Love

1 Corinthians 13:1 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

Do you ever stress when your plans "take a 180"? Mine have today. The electricity is off in my office, so I've headed back home. I'll remain ready to go in if they get it back on soon, but Sullivan was really rained on in the last few hours and I'm sure there's a list of needy people.

It just occurred to me, though, as I came back in my house where my 2 sons are still sleeping, that I could come unglued today. Oh, sure, I love being at home. I'd be at home every day if I could. But an unexpected day at home, now that's another situation. To be honest, I'm going to have to rally my physical and emotional and get on track or else I'll crawl back in bed and "veg" all day. But I need to do some stuff on the house, so I'm going to try to change directions faster, maybe, than I ever have.

Then there's the boys. They're not going to be the happiest when they wake up and find their mom home with them today. They had planned an early morning fishing trip; that's off. There's a pond in our yard, but obviously no fish. I need to purpose in my heart that I will not let my own situation cause my voice to sound grumpy with them. I've got to grab this day in its downhill spiral, and with God's help, make something of it.

Honestly, I'd love to take advantage of 2 strong boys at home with me today and put them to work cleaning the house with me. But if the only thing they ever hear come out of my mouth is chore lists, that's not a very good relational foundation. So I will refrain. I will do what I can do and try to let them know that I just enjoy being with them. Have I got this mastered? Nope. They hear chore lists come out of my mouth way more than they should.

So, I'm going to try not to sound like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal today. I'm going to try to speak the language of love!

"Becoming a Holy Temple In the Lord"

Ephesians 2:19 "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

This scripture jumped off the page at me as a picture of what God is doing at Crossroads. We are built on Christ Jesus and we are joined together as we become what God wants us to be. The Greek word for building in verse 21 is oijkodomhv which refers to edification or promoting growth. I know that I have grown a lot since coming to Crossroads.

What do you think we could do to involve more women in serving at Crossroads? Do you have ideas? Do you have needs that other women could help you find the answer to? We want to know because we want to find more and more ways to be "joined together".

So leave a comment on the blog, or give me a call, or look for me Sunday to share your thoughts!

Acts 17:28

28 "For in Him we live and move and have our being."

This verse covers it all, doesn't it? Live, move, have our being...there have been many songs written from this simple sentence. Yet it's so full of Christ. He is our Everything! Or is He? One aspect of my purpose here on this earth is to encourage people to make Him a part of everything in their life. Everything! Too often, God is compartmentalized into a neat little package that is part of one's religious beliefs, but not a relational being. God wants to have an intimate relationship with every person. He wants to be a part of every day, every move, and every happening. Is this being a fanatic? You bet. But I'll accept that label. Because you see, everything else in this world and in my life can disappear. But I'll still have Jesus. He's the Rock that we can cling to when everything else in this world is shaky.

Let's encourage everyone we can to seek Him every day. This blog is one way to connect to Him and His Word. There are countless other ways. If this blog touches your life, pray about sharing that with someone else.

May He be your Everything!

Do Not Grow Weary

^{Galatians 6:9} "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

It may seem like a strange topic for a Monday, but I just want to share what a blessing last night at church was. First of all, the Fireproof movie is absolutely awesome. Kirk Cameron did some of his very finest work here. It is intense, not a bit cheesey (which some people assume because it's a movie about marriage), and quite beautifully inspiring. AND, you need plenty of tissues. I loved what I saw of it. We were kind of busy with the teens/concessions, so Mike and I will watch all of it together, maybe tonight.

Then I want to mention the teens/concessions. We made about $150 for the youth group! But more than that--I was so proud of those kids. They served people, worked together like a team, and really represented Crossroads in a spectacular way. Am I exaggerating? I don't think so. They were also busy coming up with ideas on doing "Movie Night" more often and offering a "Date Night" for parents to drop off their kids for a movie and snacks, and parents could go out on a date. Now Mike and I didn't come up with this idea. The kids did. They loved the idea of getting together and doing something for others!

Brad and Abby Mason came with little Hunter to look after any other babies that came with their parents. Hunter was the only one, and since Brad and Abby had seen the movie already, they went on home after hanging out with the teens for a bit.

I especially want to mention Pastor Eddie and the other adults who played kickball with the kids whose parents were watching the movie last night. And in case you didn't realize it, it was hot and humid. They played outside until intermission, then came in for concessions. Eddie made sure everyone had a cold drink, then headed back outside to play more. I think they were all quite exhausted after about 2 1/2 hours of kickball in the heat. But the kids had a blast! And what an experience for the kids to know that adults cared enough to spend that time with them.

We are so blessed to have a Pastor who not only preaches the whole Bible to us, but lives it too. He didn't delegate the job to someone else, but "got down and got dirty". He was pretty sweaty, too.

We estimated that there were between 60 and 70 people there for that fantastic evening! I wish there would have been more. But maybe it's the start of something good.

Some of us are tired from the effort put forth last night. Some are way more tired than others. But we'll start in again today looking for ways to continue to build the Kingdom. I hope the message will spread and serving will become so contagious that we look as busy as a beehive, or the workers putting up the new Dollar General. I don't drive by there and see any of them sitting back, watching the others work. They're all working like crazy for the goal.

So, spread the word, and let's encourage one another not to grow weary, but to keep on keeping on!

Psalm 121

1 "I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip--he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you--the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forever."

Today being Friday I wanted us to have thoughts to take us into the weekend. This is such a beautiful Psalm and I hope it will be a blessing to your hearts!

I've had a good week and look forward to spending some time this weekend enhancing our blog. Some of the women discussed some ideas to add and I'm going to be asking for more ideas from all of you. It is my prayer that you will find a connection with God and with other women as we seek Him together!

God bless your weekend!

P.S. Don't forget the Fireproof movie this Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. The Youth will be serving concessions for donations. It should be a fun night in the "theater". Hope to see you there!

Glory in Christ Jesus

Romans 15:17 "Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God."

A rather short verse, but powerful. Our service to God brings glory to Christ Jesus. We can't ever repay Jesus for what He's done for us, but serving God brings Him glory. One definition of the word glory is expressed this way: "radiant beauty or splendor". Our faithfulness in serving God through our every day tasks is actually seen by God as radiant beauty or splendor. That's a breathtaking thought, don't you agree? I don't often see my mundane daily chores as fitting any of these descriptive words. But as we do them to please God ("So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31), He accepts our heartfelt intentions as the most beautiful gift He could receive.

Hmmm, I think I'll put a little more heartfelt intention into my work today. God deserves all the glory, all the praise, all the honor...

Overflow With Hope

Romans 14:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

...the God of hope...maybe you need hope today. I've been a Jesus follower for a long time, but there's still days I need to be reminded I serve a God of hope. There is so much bad news in the world that if we focus on that, we're sure to feel hopeless. And the bad news doesn't even have to be somewhere else in the world. It can be at our front door.

If you didn't know by now, I like to visualize scripture. This verse says to me: since God lives in me, and He's the God of hope, He will fill me so full of His joy and peace that I overflow - overflow - OVERFLOW - with hope. I see a pitcher running over with milk - and it never runs out - it just keeps running over the sides, getting all over the table, running onto the floor, etc. The milk is not only in the pitcher, but spilling over onto everything near it.

What's the secret? If God lives in me (which He does) why are there times when I feel so empty? There are times when I'm sure I'm not spilling over and affecting those around me. The secret is the last phrase of this verse: "by the power of the Holy Spirit". If I allow the Holy Spirit to rule my life, I tap into the hope, joy, and peace that is already in my life through God living in me.

I hope this reminder of God's never-ending, always overflowing hope is as timely for you as it is for me!

Living Sacrifice - Romans 12:1-2

1 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers (sisters), in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Good morning! Thanks for your comments about the blog and wondering where I was last week. My computer had a virus and spyware. I had to take it into the shop and have it cleaned out. Most of my week was "computerless". But I'm back and sharing one of the scriptures that inspire me most!

These verses truly inspire me to make every day a sacrifice to God. I get buried with the workload I have and start to focus on the tasks instead of the reason for the tasks. That's why I like to renew my mind like verse 2 says. There are a lot of ways to do that. Certainly the Word of God is our main priority. I am so thankful for the eternal power of the scriptures. They were pertinent when they were written, and they're still relevant to my life every day.

Other ways of renewing my mind is to read uplifting books, blogs, magazines, listen to good music, take a few minutes to talk to and listen to God, etc. These "Power moments" help us so much to be able to test and approve what God's will is. I don't want to become overwhelmed with stuff that is not in God's will for my daily life. But I most certainly will if I'm not seeking Him and living every day for Him. It's like the spyware that was in my computer. It crept in little by little. At first I didn't even know I had let in something that could endanger my normal running processes. But pretty soon they accumulated until they became a roadblock to my agenda. They had to be purged! Same way in our lives. Let's have a frequent maintenance program to clean and clear out the junk in our lives and become transformed for God's will.