"The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps." - - Psalm 85:12-13
I don't know when you last rode a roller-coaster, but its been awhile for me. Still, I can remember the thing that all coasters have in common that scares me the most - - its that "clickety-clack" climb up the hill, waiting for the cars to careen over the top, scream down the hill and around the loop until the whole thing crashes to a stop, and you're not sure if you should be laughing or crying or both.
In a sense, Crossroads is getting to the top of that initial hill. Its kind of a cool vantage point, because you can see so much - - - so many connections in the community, so many new friends, so many chances to share Jesus with people who don't know Him yet. But you kind of have to take a minute at the top of the hill to realize and think about a couple of things:
1) Are we really ready to go over the top of this thing and hang on for the ensuing ride?
2) What is the track on the way down starting to look like?
Answer those questions, though, and you are well on your way to some alignment for your group or your church start. For us, the primary task always lies in connecting people to Jesus - - that's alot of possible conversations, so we're never totally ready to go over the top. In a sense, "going over the top" is simply believing God to provide and to protect, so if you can believe that, then go for it!! Make big, bold plans that are connected to a simple, coherent vision........we'd love to see at least 50 kids gathered at our neighborhood park every week, bringing their families, learning and growing with each other and hearing about Jesus all the way. Its a bigger vision than we have the means for, but its a little vision when compared to the size of the Harvest - - it just means we have to lean all the more on the Lord of the Harvest to see it happen.
This little roller-coaster ride is unique in every planting situation, but the same God is building track and putting us on it. If you want some Scripture to reflect a little bit on that thought, check out Psalm 85 - - I have read it about 30 times this week because it just jumped out at me Monday and I've been reading it since, seeing how God does work in our lives, how He builds track for us and goes before us - - - I hope it draws you closer to Him, too!!!
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Crossroads Ministries exists to connect people to Jesus in the midst of everyday life. If you are following Jesus now, find someone who is not and invite them to walk with you! If you're not following Jesus but you know someone who is, follow that person around, ask lots of questions. Wherever you are in your faith journey, we want you to know that there is a God who loves you and has sent His Son to live & die for you, so that you can live forever with Him!!!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." - - Ephesians 2:8-9
I am headed to 'fabulous' Las Vegas for a couple of days of rest and relaxation, and it suddenly occurred to me that even in a place built on greed, our God can show up and become very much alive in our lives!! The whole idea in Las Vegas is that by seeing lights, flashing screens, and hearing music and laughter, you will be enticed into a whole other world. You'll get caught up in the idea of winning, the hope of 'hitting it big', but most of all, its the idea of getting something for nothing that will draw and captivate people of all ages, from all walks of life.
Now more than ever, we want something for nothing! Our newspapers give us the grim news of a reeling economy, we see strained or broken relationships in our lives, at our jobs, even in our own homes, and we just want something to go our way for once - - in one fashion or another, we want to get something for nothing! Friends, I hate to bear bad news, but most of the time, it just isn't going to happen - - we aren't going to get a free ride, a free lunch, a free pass, or a free anything! Whatever freebie we're looking for, chances are, it just isn't going to come..............
..........EXCEPT, that is, when we are looking to the free gift of Jesus as He comes into our lives! The Bible tells us clearly that you and I are SAVED - - comepletely, totally, without cost - - when we put our trust in Jesus, and it is in Jesus that we get something for nothing!! What we get, in fact, is the best news of all!! We don't get a free ride, free lunch, or a free pass, we get the free gift of eternal life spent with our God!! Next time someone tells you that you can't have something for nothing, tell them about Jesus, who gives the best gifts of all & gives them completely free!!
+ + + + +
Crossroads Ministries exists to connect people to Jesus in the midst of everyday life. If you are following Jesus now, find someone who is not and invite them to walk with you! If you're not following Jesus but you know someone who is, follow that person around, ask lots of questions. Wherever you are in your faith journey, we want you to know that there is a God who loves you and has sent His Son to live & die for you, so that you might live forever with Him!!!
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." - - Ephesians 2:8-9
I am headed to 'fabulous' Las Vegas for a couple of days of rest and relaxation, and it suddenly occurred to me that even in a place built on greed, our God can show up and become very much alive in our lives!! The whole idea in Las Vegas is that by seeing lights, flashing screens, and hearing music and laughter, you will be enticed into a whole other world. You'll get caught up in the idea of winning, the hope of 'hitting it big', but most of all, its the idea of getting something for nothing that will draw and captivate people of all ages, from all walks of life.
Now more than ever, we want something for nothing! Our newspapers give us the grim news of a reeling economy, we see strained or broken relationships in our lives, at our jobs, even in our own homes, and we just want something to go our way for once - - in one fashion or another, we want to get something for nothing! Friends, I hate to bear bad news, but most of the time, it just isn't going to happen - - we aren't going to get a free ride, a free lunch, a free pass, or a free anything! Whatever freebie we're looking for, chances are, it just isn't going to come..............
..........EXCEPT, that is, when we are looking to the free gift of Jesus as He comes into our lives! The Bible tells us clearly that you and I are SAVED - - comepletely, totally, without cost - - when we put our trust in Jesus, and it is in Jesus that we get something for nothing!! What we get, in fact, is the best news of all!! We don't get a free ride, free lunch, or a free pass, we get the free gift of eternal life spent with our God!! Next time someone tells you that you can't have something for nothing, tell them about Jesus, who gives the best gifts of all & gives them completely free!!
+ + + + +
Crossroads Ministries exists to connect people to Jesus in the midst of everyday life. If you are following Jesus now, find someone who is not and invite them to walk with you! If you're not following Jesus but you know someone who is, follow that person around, ask lots of questions. Wherever you are in your faith journey, we want you to know that there is a God who loves you and has sent His Son to live & die for you, so that you might live forever with Him!!!
Friday, January 23, 2009
WHO BUILDS THE HOUSE??
"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." - - Psalm 127:1
A friend was encouraging me the other day to read Psalm 127. I went to read it, and I was amazed - - I had read it before, but never really paid attention to what it is asking you and me to do!! We spend alot of time in our lives making our own way, doing our own thing, figuring out our own plans, running our own lives. But if we are so good at running our own lives, why does it usually feel like we're running on Empty??
The truth is, running our own lives is a pretty easy way to make sure they don't run well at all. God asks us to live life with Him at the center, not apart from Him or with Him pushed off to the side. When we build, He wants us to be building with Him. When we make plans and goals, He wants us to look to Him first. Only then, with God at the center of our plans and our lives, do we start to see how exciting a life of following Jesus can really be. When we follow Jesus this way, all of the sudden our hurts and our concerns and our fears become things that we can happily and joyfully bring to Him.
Build with the Lord today and everyday, and enjoy every part of the life He gives you to live!! Enjoy your family, your friends, your co-workers and neighbors - - God has always meant for us to live in relationships with each other and with Him, so enjoy the people He has placed in your life, and enjoy having Him at the center of it all.
+ + + + +
Crossroads Ministries exists to connect people to Jesus in the midst of everyday life. If you are following Jesus now, find someone who is not and invite them to walk with you! If you're not following Jesus but you know someone who is, follow that person around, ask lots of questions. Wherever you are in your faith journey, we want you to know that there is a God who loves you and has sent His Son to live & die for you, so that you might live forever with Him!!!
"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." - - Psalm 127:1
A friend was encouraging me the other day to read Psalm 127. I went to read it, and I was amazed - - I had read it before, but never really paid attention to what it is asking you and me to do!! We spend alot of time in our lives making our own way, doing our own thing, figuring out our own plans, running our own lives. But if we are so good at running our own lives, why does it usually feel like we're running on Empty??
The truth is, running our own lives is a pretty easy way to make sure they don't run well at all. God asks us to live life with Him at the center, not apart from Him or with Him pushed off to the side. When we build, He wants us to be building with Him. When we make plans and goals, He wants us to look to Him first. Only then, with God at the center of our plans and our lives, do we start to see how exciting a life of following Jesus can really be. When we follow Jesus this way, all of the sudden our hurts and our concerns and our fears become things that we can happily and joyfully bring to Him.
Build with the Lord today and everyday, and enjoy every part of the life He gives you to live!! Enjoy your family, your friends, your co-workers and neighbors - - God has always meant for us to live in relationships with each other and with Him, so enjoy the people He has placed in your life, and enjoy having Him at the center of it all.
+ + + + +
Crossroads Ministries exists to connect people to Jesus in the midst of everyday life. If you are following Jesus now, find someone who is not and invite them to walk with you! If you're not following Jesus but you know someone who is, follow that person around, ask lots of questions. Wherever you are in your faith journey, we want you to know that there is a God who loves you and has sent His Son to live & die for you, so that you might live forever with Him!!!
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