Please Pray for My Pastor

It is absolutely no secret to you, my dear readers, how much my church means to me.

I moved here just over 4 years ago and when Randy passed away, many asked me if I would be going back to Oklahoma. My Dad is there. One of my son’s and his beautiful wife and 2 of the best grands on earth live there. My brother and his beautiful wife live there. 

BUT...
My church is here. And they have all created their own lives in Oklahoma. So, I need to create mine. And doing that around my church seems the best for me.




We all know that The Church is not the building. (even though I love our church building.)

It’s the people! All the wonderful people that I go to church with. And the staff. I have had my share of different churches in many places and I can say that the staff at Cross Road is the best all around staff I have ever experienced.

Many churches have one personality that really stands out. Our staff melds together so well, it’s hard for me to imagine one without the other!

We have Linda, Doug and Kenny who work in the background and are the basis of the foundation.

Lathanyo  leads us in worship every Sunday. Inviting us to the Throne of God to Worship.

Audra works with early childhood and loves these young ones with a passion that is astounding.

Matt, one of my favorite people,  does such a great job with our youth.

Bob, affectionately known as PBob. Oh my goodness. What a wonderful job he does. It would take several people to fill his shoes!

Pastor Brad. This is the man that every week either holds me accountable, comforts me, or encourages me – sometimes he does all at one time! He breaks open God’s Word every week and speaks truth – he is the reason I’m writing this blog today, dear readers.

Pastor Brad, fortunately listened to his body and knew something wasn’t right, went to the ER and through a Heart Cath discovered he needed open heart surgery. THIS is why I’m writing, please keep Brad, his wife Robyn and their girls and grands in your prayers. His surgery will be Saturday and I want to ask each of you to pray with us for this man and for his medical team.

Thank you! God Bless.

Global Leadership Summit 2015

This is where I have spent the last two days:

The Global Leadership Summit

This is my Summit Notebook and I have filled it with notes. I so envy all those “young” people around me taking notes on their phones!! I couldn’t even type fast enough to “tweet” the wonderful bits of information given!

(Not only am I a slow tweeter : ) I am also bad at taking “selfies”! Oh, where is my grand when I need her!!!! She is an expert at all of this!!)

Anyway, this is a picture of my beautiful friend Linda. She is our Church Secretary but this week I have renamed her the

“Face of Cross Road Church.” 

For 2 reasons:

1. She is the first person you see when you come in our church or first voice you usually talk to when you call. Plus, as in all ‘organizations’ she is the heart of our church – the go-to woman for any needs!
2. PLUS, she’s just so pretty – not that Pastor Brad, Pastor Bob, Pastor Matt, or Doug aren’t “pretty” – she’s just prettier!  (I didn’t put Audra in this list because she is prettier, too!   Inside and out!)

Anyway, I was fortunate enough to spend these two days with wonderful Christian people!

I chase rabbits so easily.  (sigh)

What I’m writing to say….

I am “pressed down, shaken together and running over” with blessings from God.

My ego was bruised, my heart was broken, my heart was mended and I am filled up again and ready to carry on with God’s Work. We all need a good revival to our souls every now and again. It’s what keeps us going.

I have heard good teaching, good leading, and great preaching. I am full.

Thank you, Bill Hybels for Willow Creek Community Church, and for The Global Leadership Summit. Thank you for listening to that still small voice and following His direction.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me the opportunity to live in this season and to be able to drink at the well you have provided.

WE ARE WINNERS!!!!

A Pastor who uses Basketball analogies has my attention from the get-go!  Great job Pastor Brad.

The Owner/Coach: Jesus Christ

The Team: Christians

The Playing Field (I know he meant court!): The World

The Playbook: The Bible

Game Day: Everyday

The Spectators in the stands: A Crowd of Angelic Witnesses (Heb 12:1)


And I know how this game will end because we are told in our playbook that:

WE win in the end!!!

I am learning to love my church!! I’ve been slow to this love because of so many reasons from my past. God has let me take my time to accept all of the changes in my life and my church home. He is so good.

My husband has been an encourager and a listener..  Bless him!

Church

“From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.” Dr. Seuss in “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”

This is the way I feel when I think of all the places I’ve lived. I’ve lived “From there to here, from here to there!”

And in everyplace I’ve lived there have been funny things and sad things but more importantly, I have always had a church home. Then, when I’ve left to move to another place, I’ve had to leave that church home and go to a new one which has always been sad.

Well, the same again. I married Randy and Cross Road Church became my church home. We were married there – my memories start there. Randy’s  memories go back to the beginning of Cross Road.

   Our current building on the day of our wedding.

Now, we’re moving again. BUT – This time I’m taking the whole church family with me!!! Our church has a wonderful opportunity to move into a new building, a new area, a new neighborhood. I am so excited for this move.

But, I’m more excited for the pastors, the people who have been here from the beginning – they are the ones I’m the most excited for.

The fun thing? – some friends of mine attend the church that is moving into our old building!! How special is that?

Congratulations Pastor Brad, Pastor Bob, Pastor Boyce, Pastor Matt, Audra, Linda and everyone who has made Cross Road their church home. What a wonderful milestone for Cross Road Church.

                            
                                   Our new building!

But we all know “the church” isn’t a building. It’s the people.

Worship in the “old” building!

My Thoughts From the Sermon Series “The Beatitudes” (4)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.”

I’ve never been really hungry. I used to fast on a regular basis and spend time in prayer and Bible study (notice I said used to…) This beatitude  really convicted me. Why did I stop? No idea…. I just did. -

Anyway, I’ve never been really hungry. And when I did fast, I only fasted from food, never from water. So I've never been really thirsty. When I would drive the combine for my Dad I would always have a water jug with me. So when the heat and dust would cause thirst, I would pause and drink.

So to really understand “hunger and thirst for righteousness” I don’t - if I’m identifying “hunger and thirst” with food and water.

However, I do understand  “yearning.” The thesaurus lists the synonyms of yearning as:

longing

craving

desire

want

wish

hankering

urge

hunger

thirst

appetite

ache

This yearning I understand. I can wrap my mind around “yearning” and then  put a perspective on “hunger” on “thirsting.”

Sometimes I have a yearning to read my Bible. Such a strong pull towards God’s Word. I really feel a NEED to pick up my Bible and read.  I know when this yearning appears that I should stop what I’m doing and read my Bible.  Duh. This is not rocket science…

But do I always do it? No. “I’ll do it later” is a very common thought for this procrastinator.  God is speaking to me at a particular time and I’m ignoring Him.

Righteousness.  The synonyms of righteousness are:

decent

ethical

honest

honorable

just

moral

right

nice

good

true

right-minded

virtuous

These words could describe many people that you and I know – but it is pairing these characteristics with Christ that creates righteousness.

Righteousness is putting God first in our lives, having no other “god’s” “idols” before us.

What do I have in my life that I put before God? Oh, man, again – a convicting thought.

My family, my interests, my church, my friends, my blogging, – what do I spend more time on than Christ? How much time do I spend reading His Word, praying, doing what He needs me to do for His Kingdom…..

We I spend more time on so many things than I do on the thoughts of Christ.

To be filled, to be satisfied, I must be holy. I need to strive for righteousness. I need to let go of ME and yearn for Christ.

“Blessed is the man that hungers and thirsts for righteousness for they will be satisfied.”

Thank you, PM.

(PB was gone this week, Family Minister Matt filled in.)

(these are my thoughts concerning this passage of Scripture and not all are from PM)

My Thoughts From the Sermon Series “The Beatitudes” (3)

“Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.”

When did our world begin equating meekness with weakness? Even the dictionary describes this word as a form of weakness. But to go back to the Greek, Meekness in this passage of scripture does not mean weakness.

“Blessed is the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time.”  It is self control – guided by Jesus.  It is being even tempered.

Meekness comes from an unshakable confidence in God.

“Blessed is the man who has every instinct, every impulse, every passion under control. Blessed is the man who is entirely self-controlled.” Self controlled with e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e.

Meekness is true humility that has no room for pride.

humility = teachable

Sometimes when I believe I’m being self controlled, I’m actually just being apathetic. Oh, my, I have so much work to do in my life. (I will be writing more on apathy when we get to mercy.)

An unshakable confidence in God. Self control. Humility. WOW.  PB really stepped on my toes in this one.

Just when I think “I’ve got it” I realize I’m being prideful and God points out all the things I need to improve on.

Jesus showed Righteous anger himself. Anger in itself is not a sin, not a lack of self control. A selfish anger is sin. Selfless anger is not sin. Righteous anger – an anger with the sin we see in the world is not a sin.  Letting God control that anger within us is what makes the difference.

Being on my knees – that’s the best way to become meek.

Thank you, PB.

(remember, these are my thoughts concerning this passage of Scripture and not all are from PB)

My Thoughts From the Sermon Series “The Beatitudes” (2)

“Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.”

Blessed is more than “happy.” PB in this series says “Oh, for the Bliss…. “ – utter joy and contentment. Being satisfied.

Happy is an emotion that comes from outside stimulation. Joy is an emotion that comes from the inside. My relationship with God gives me joy.

“Happy are the sad” says there is a state of bliss that comes with a heart that is broken. Not broken for a death but broken for the suffering that goes on around me – and broken for my sins.

It’s so easy for me to say “Forgive me for having a rude thought about someone,” or “forgive me for overeating,” words are often easy. But to actually MOURN for these sins that are inside of me. That is an effort that I often don’t want to take the time to commit to.

It’s making my sins personal and realizing that each time I think that thought or chose to overeat (these are just examples of some of my sins) – I – Me – I  am the one hitting that nail in His hand one more time with a hammer that I HOLD.

My sin is mine. I must take responsibility for it. I must mourn from deep within my soul for my sin. Confess, ask for forgiveness and TURN FROM IT.

Repentance.

That is the key, you know. Turning from it. Making a change.

A continual living in sin is pounding the nails. It is causing the pain. I must commit to make the change.

Thank you PB.

(remember, these are my thoughts concerning this passage of Scripture and not all are from PB)

The Colvin Project @ Cross Road Church:Part 4

It’s the anticipation – Just like “The Night Before Christmas.”

“…. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there…..”

Everything is ready, waiting on the families.

      

      

      

The table to write thank you notes, the table with cookies and hot chocolate, the boxes – just waiting!

Then they came! We had such a good day and it was so fun to watch the excitement of these wonderful families.

      

350 boxes of food delivered.

The Colvin Project 2013 - completed.

The Colvin Project @ Cross Road Church: Part 3

 Day 4:

After purchasing the food and getting it set up to pack in boxes – see H.E.R.E.  and then packing the boxes and loading them on the truck – see H.E.R.E. – we unloaded the boxes at Colvin Elementary on Monday morning. Not as many workers needed for this phase but they had to have strong backs!

Thank you to The Blues Brothers Realty Company for the loan of the truck. We couldn’t take on this project without a big truck to work with.

   

 

Every box of food gets a jug of juice.

350 boxes of food and 350 jugs of juice waiting for Wednesday to be taken home.

Each box includes:

3 lbs of rice

Quick Oats

Cut Green Beans

Fruit Cocktail

Instant Mashed Potatoes

Pinto Beans

Instant Corn Masa

Bath Tissue

Canned Chicken Breast

Vienna Sausage

Tuna

Cream Corn

Peanut Butter

Crispy Oats
Grape Jelly
Hot Cocoa Mix

Saltines

Stewed Tomatoes

2 Chicken and Noodle Soup

Tomato Soup

This is one of those projects that blesses all the way around. Those receiving food are blessed. The school is blessed by watching their students be blessed. And we, as a church are blessed beyond belief. Filling a need, spending time together, working together for a common goal. - and the blessings go on and on.

The Colvin Project @ Cross Road Church:Part 2

Day 3:

After getting everything set up - See Part 1  H.E.R.E. – We come together on Sunday morning and pack the boxes. Everyone gets involved from the youngest to the oldest. It is a very impressive assembly line and we always have such a good time!

   Joanne gets the homemade cookies ready to transport. We serve cookies and hot chocolate to the parents as they come to the school to get their boxes of food.

   

Some of the people helping with the assembly line. 

              

   

 

            

             

The Assembly Line in action!

A well oiled machine!

  

 

      

  

    

This assembly line is 3 sides in a U shape.

As the boxes are filled, then taped, a group takes them to the truck to prepare for delivery to Colvin Elementary first thing tomorrow (Monday) morning!

       

       

       

       

 

Thank you to Rod Brown for taking pictures while I worked the assembly line.