| Blog Thoughts from our staff and fellow worshippers. |
||
ARE YOU A VISIONARY? It seems they are always playing defense, jumping from one crisis to another. They wake up and wonder what's going to happen to them today. Visionaries are those who set goals, write them down, and devise a plan to achieve them. These are people who play offense, they go to bed knowing what they'll do tomorrow. We know that unexpected things happen to all of us, but it's much easier to make adjustments to your plans than to have no plan at all. God himself says this: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Be encouraged in this new year
The Power Of Grace In 2 Corinthians 12, The Apostle Paul says that he prayed 3 times that his thorn in the flesh would be removed, Jesus replied to him “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) I've heard many people teach this verse that basically God was saying, "learn to live with it Paul". The problem with that is that throughout the life of Jesus on earth I never heard him tell a blind man to learn to live with it, I never read where he told a possessed person to take a nerve pill and learn to live with it, he never told a hungry person to be satisfied with their hunger and he never told a person trapped by sin to stay in the trap. He always offered a way out, but sometimes the way out was actually an inside job. When we go through situations in our lives that feel like a thorn in the flesh and God responds to us by saying his grace is sufficient, I submit to you that he is not saying, "learn to live with it" but perhaps he is saying, let me change you and not necessarily your circumstance. God's grace is not a medication to calm our symptoms, but rather, it is the power of Christ sent to heal us from the inside out. Let his grace work in your life today.
Hit The High Note! This week our kids heard me talking about our upcoming series entitled "The Honeymooners". They wanted to know what the old tv show was about so we pulled out the DVDs and watched a few episodes. Surprisingly enough they now love the old black & white series and can't get enough of it. I'm just thankful that something has replaced "Spongebob" at our house. Anyway in one of the episodes, Ralph (Jackie Gleason) pulls out his old trumpet and regrettably remembers all the things he had started in life but never really finished. His tag-line is, "I never could hit the high note". He makes a pledge to change, to reach his potential and to hit the "high note" in life. For several months now I've been thinking about our uncanny ability to rise to the challenge and do absolutely incredible things when we need to, but then when we're not challenged, we also have this ability to settle into the boring land of mediocrity. Too many times we allow the demands of life to determine whether we live in the state of average or the nation of greatness. My friends......this ought not be so. The absolute greatness of our God ought to determine the Don't settle, don't settle, don't settle.....hit the high note!
Selah v. The Tyranny of the Urgent
Adventures In Googling Psalm 23:5 (NKJV) For the past few weeks I’ve been thinking about this scripture. Well here in Psalm 23:5, David says that God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. I see this picture of someone sitting in a battlefield with war waging around them, yet this person sits quietly at a well-decorated and sumptuously prepared table enjoying a meal with their Lord. In a place that a person should be overwhelmed with the chaos and even danger swirling around them, David says, I think I’ll just sit here and eat from the master’s table. I just feel like that is God’s word to some people right now. Sit there and enjoy what God has prepared for you even in the presence of your enemies!
"Daddy, I saw sheeps....and God was taking care of them!" These were the words that excitedly rang through the van as we drove through the Garrett County countryside. Little Victoria was so excited to see the "sheeps" and since she didn't see a shepherd, she automatically assumed that God himself was taking care of them. As a pastor, my life is filled sometimes with extreme dynamics. I got a call Friday night of news that a man's father had died. Last night I was with a family that found out their unwed teenage daughter is pregnant and this morning I got a call with someone excited that they were about to "close" on a new business. Last week I rejoiced with someone who got a great new job and five hours later prayed for someone who found out their job is in jeopardy. Some weeks feel like a roller coaster, in one minute you're rejoicing with someone over their good news and in another, you feel the weight of someone's burden. Sunday, I preached about the widow's offering and how her offering was a declaration of dependence on God. She was at a place in life that she knew, he was all she had, but she also knew that he was all she needed. I know we could be like some churches and paint smiles on our faces and pretend that life's difficulties don't exist but...no thank you, I've been there, done that and I'm not interested. I'm convinced that if some packaged and marketed a new Jesus doll, you couldn't find a trace of the nail prints in his hands. You see our faith cannot be based upon our current comfort level, our faith must be based on the person of Jesus Christ-his death and his life, his sufferings and his victories. Alvin Slaughter once said that life is a collections of great victories and sometimes, what feel like great defeats. But here's what I know....even when you can't see the shepherd, he is still taking care of his sheep! I don't know what your week will be like but I encourage you to look for the shepherd, for he is there! Transitioning from the “What Ifs” to the “What Nows” “A Really Bad Carwash” An interesting thing happened to me this week. As I was leaving a restaurant I heard the familiar sound of someone's car alarm going off. Years ago it would have drawn the attention of everyone around, but we have grown accustomed to this somewhat common occurrence and all the people close to the car in question just ignored it and went about their business. I almost did the same but I had a second thought and took a second look . I had to make split second decision, do I, like the others, ignore someone in distress because after all I'm on a tight schedule or do I change into my super Christian costume and fly to the rescue? In a matter of seconds I was rushing to the aid of someone stuck in an automatuc car wash with a door that would not open. This is frightening I know, but keep reading. Like me, have courage in the face of fear! Just as I was about to rip the door off the track with my bare hands, I had another second thought, perhaps I should call 911. With my powerful hands gripping my cellular lifesaving device, I dialed the number with lightning quick speed and as my finger landed on the send button, the door suddenly opened and out came a very thankful and shaken lady. She thought I did something, but....I didn't. What shocked me was she said she had been in there honking her horn and flashing her lights for some time but no one came to her aid. Now believe me, I'm not patting myself on the back, I really did nothing but pull into the parking lot, but I was shocked that no one else stopped, not even the people in the bays next to hers getting their cars washed. I'm not too quick to feel good about myself because I then reviewed the many, many times I have heard about someone's need and because of whatever reason, I went on about my business. Maybe it was someone changing a flat tire or maybe I overheard someone express their need, but I ignored it. Ah, Jesus had a story about a very similar situation, we call it the story of the Good Samaritan, Check it out this week in your Bible, Luke chapter 10 and perhaps you should dust off your super Christian outfit! Be Blessed, Unintended Consequences” One of the things I have tried to teach my eldest son over the past few years has been the principle of unintended consequences. A great example happened this week at a local university. A college student burnt off some fraying strings from his bath towel. When he was done, he pitched the towel on the floor and left. Seems harmless enough. Now here are the unintended consequences. After he left his room, the towel ignited and caught the bathroom door on fire. The fire spread from the bathroom to the room and throughout the building. When all was said and done, the total damage estimate is $100,000. The price of a new towel, 8 bucks at Walmart. This young man has just learned about unintended consequences. Over the past few weeks we've been looking at "God-time", that is spending time with God, aka, prayer. We've probably all made quick decisions in our lives that resulted in unintended consequences. A word spoken in anger that forever changed a relationship, a decision made based upon emotions instead of principle that costs us way more than we were planning to "spend", etc, etc. One of the things that "God-time" will help us with is making quality decisions. Proverbs 16:9
“Years Remembered” As we all know you can remember a specific year in your life usually by the events which occur. Pastor Dave spoke about this on a recent Sunday. Year 2007 was memorable to me because this is the year my husband David, began his retirement. To celebrate his 32 years of work we took our first cruise to Alaska. It was definitely a trip to remember. Also that year we began our new life as full time residents of Deep Creek Lake area in McHenry. Year 2008 has been even more memorable because we found Crossroads Church, which has been a true blessing from God in our lives. For me in particular, 2008 has been extremely special because at the beginning of the year I set a goal for myself to get back in touch with God. I started looking for a church here at Deep Creek and saw an ad in the “The Republican” newspaper about this church in a movie theater, contemporary, and no special denomination. This was the beginning of a new “most memorable” year in my life. You see I never really stopped praying to God over the past years but what I did not realize until coming to Crossroads, was that getting back in touch with God for me, meant I needed to create an actual relationship with God. I have always prayed but I have learned over this past year that my prayers were stale. I did not have a feeling of closeness with God when I prayed but instead I felt distant. I felt that God was some being so much greater than myself that when I spoke to Him there was this invisible barrier between us. I knew he would hear me but I also was aware I am just one of so many who pray and have needs. What I needed to learn was how to “talk” to God when I pray. Being at Crossroads and participating in Bible Study is helping me reach that goal. It is going to take a while to hone my skill of talking to God to create this new relationship since I never really had a truly intimate talking relationship with God before but I am determined to make it grow. Pastor Dave has spoken about how he believes God wants 2009 to be a special year, a positive year to remember. So we began by partaking in a “Daniel 10:2-3” fast for the 3 weeks prior to the super-bowl game. I wasn’t sure about how this fast would be for me but it turned out to be great because I now realize that this fast kept me calm during a time of severe turmoil. By the end of the fast I found myself unemployed at one of the worst times in my life. I have been unemployed many times before with really no concerns about finding a new job. This time is different. I have many concerns, the economy, my age of 58, and I live in a small area where jobs are hard to come by. Even with all of these concerns I feel much calmer about my situation than I would ever have been in the past and I attribute this not only to the fast but also to my new relationship with God. I am so thankful and blessed to be among so many who have such close relationships with God. I am in a great place where I have never been before and I feel so much joy and happiness in my heart because God is living in me and with me.
Help, Jesus Has Left The Building! The Fast Though the weather was bad we still had some new folks visit the Church and it was a pleasure meeting them as well as worshipping with our "church fam". Over the weekend our clothes dryer finally died. It's been limping along for several years, but it seems it has dried it's last load of Marsh laundry. The weekends are so busy that we haven't been able to get a new one yet so we have installed a clothes line in our bathroom which actually goes quite well with our old farm house decor. I also got a call that the pipes have frozen and burst in our Fairmont building, so it appears that this week will be another adventurous one. Anyway that's enough about our "dirty laundry". If you weren't able to be at our gathering yesterday, then I encourage you to listen to the Podcast-it should be posted this evening. In it, we talk about how the Church has been institutionalized and how it needs to be privatized. I also want to encourage you to read Isaiah chapter 58 this week. I call it the fasting chapter because it really explains to us the many benefits of fasting, such as: -To make your voice heard on high. These are just a few of the benefits listed in this chapter, so please take time to read and meditate on it this week. Well with 7 people in the household the laundry is piling up at a fast pace, so I guess I'm going shopping. Be Blessed, The Fast Day 5 The Fast Day 1 OK, here's the deal we've got a group of really
hungry people who over the next 3 weeks are going to be transformed. We need to stick together during this fast so we want to hear from you. Crossroads Church is an answered prayer in my life. My husband and I have been attending for less than a year, but already are feeling connections here. I grew up spending weekends at the Lake with my family, and have always wanted to be able to return to the place that played an important role in developing the woman that I have become. Tom and I were able to realize that dream 3 years ago, but were torn between our family and church home near Pittsburgh, and spending more time in Deep Creek where we might retire. Finding a church at the Lake became an ongoing issue between us. It was a “God accident” that we arrived late at the cinema and saw people walking in the lower entrance last summer, leading us to check it out. What we discovered was the beginning of finding a new church home, and hopefully a new place to serve the Lord. So, I end this blog with the insights given to the disciples in Mark 9:2, where Jesus led them to the mountain to be all alone in communion with God. How this applies to me is that first comes a deepening relationship through my prayer life. Then, and only then, can I persevere in faith, mature in love, and truly bear fruit as a Christ-follower. What I know is that there are no “accidents” in life, but all incidents are part of God’s plan. I know that when I pray and seek him in earnest, He is faithful. And when I give, I am blessed. I have never been able to “out give” God. I asked for a new church home… I will leave the rest of this story to my Lord. Sharyn Miller
Conviction... Ugh!!! I kind of feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy stole the football just as he was about to kick it... splat. Conviction hurts and “But God...” doesn't work. The Lord woke me up at 3:00 am Sunday morning and I did what every other person in the world would want to do at 3:00 am, I rolled over, but it didn't work. Ugh, again. As we were on our way to Church I told my husband what I felt that God was saying to us. Then I said “I hate conviction.” His reply, “You shouldn't hate conviction. It's shows that you are a child of God.” I know, I know but I think maybe a donut and cappuccino might have made it a little easier to swallow. Sometimes when you are growing, you have growing pains or if you are working out, the next day the muscles are going to hurt. It is the same with our Christian walk. Sometimes what we need to do isn't always the easy thing. Sometimes we are working out new muscles that we haven't used before and sometimes we are working out muscles that we haven't used in a long time. On Saturday instead of washing the clothes and cleaning the house or going Christmas shopping which were all things I needed to do, I went sled riding in the cow field behind our house with the kids, all five of them. We all had a ball of fun. Even the baby, Olivia, who turned one at the end of October, laughed the entire time. Victoria, the three year old, Olivia, and I would go down the hill together. We laughed and screamed. Yes, like a bunch of girls. The boys kept saying that it was a long way back up the hill. Matthew and Caleb thought that I was too old for sled riding. Well, they were right. There were some muscles that I hadn't used for a long time. It hurt. If we don't use our muscles on a regular basis, they will hurt. In our Christianity we can become old and stale, if we don't use our muscles. At times it might be more comfortable to sit on our spiritual couch doing our regular, normal, every day activities instead of climbing our spiritual hill but what a ride we might miss. The Lord reminded me of a verse in Matthew 17: The disciples hadn't walked away from God. They hadn't left the Church. They were still doing the work of the ministry. What...you mean they were still doing the work of the ministry? Yes! Wait... could that ever be us? Surely, not. Sometimes we get caught up in the work of the ministry, doing the same old, same old. I can better relate it to family. On Saturday, I could have done the work of the family, all things that needed done, or created a memory, along with a lot of sore muscles. What a ride and memories the disciples were missing! A story for the grandkids. I remember when... When we, as Christians, sit on our spiritual couches, what will we become? Spiritual couch potatoes. Maybe we have never used certain muscles or maybe we just haven't used them in a while. I don't want to be a spiritual couch potato. Time to work out. Working out is always easier with company. Anyone care to join me? They call that in the health club world a two for one deal. It is harder to quit when some else is yelling, come on, let's go. “Come on, Let's go!” Have a Blessed work out and week,
Monday Morning Blog
I Kings 18 - 19, provide great examples of how life is so often a series of peaks and valleys. In chapter 18, Elijah just had a major victory. He had his equivalent of a showdown at the OK Corral, only about a thousand years or so before Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. He not only called fire down from heaven, but also slew the prophets of Baal with a sword. Imagine that! We think it’s pretty cool sometimes when someone gets rid of the sniffles quicker than expected because we prayed. This guy called fire from Heaven! He built an altar, killed the sacrifice, built a trench and covered it and the sacrifice with water, had a bar-b-que, and killed 450 men! Move over Arnold, here comes a real man’s man. Just coming off of that experience, chapter 19 begins. Queen Jezabel was ticked off. Elijah’s victory was a major blow to not only her ego, but also to her false religion. She was seeking revenge and was on an all out manhunt for Elijah. This forces Elijah to do what anyone in his right mind would do... go live in a cave and wallow in a deep depression. God asks him in verse 9: “ ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (NKJ) Elijah answers God by saying: Isn’t that like us some times? We work and we work for God. We sacrifice. We do things we think could have never have been done if it wasn’t for us. And when God asks what are you doing, we are ready to unload. It was at that point in our story, that God led Elijah to the top of the mountain. He passed before him in a hurricane, in an earthquake, in a fire, and then in a small voice. God was not in the things in which Elijah thought he’d find him. The hurricanes, earthquakes and fires all come in our lives. We think we’ll be able to find God there and when he doesn’t appear to us when we want, we become disheartened. Yet, in your despair, focus your hearing. Soon you’ll find God was there all along ready for you to finally listen. I started this blog entry off with: It’s pretty awesome how God speaks! I said that because if you go back and read all of the posts currently written, and reflect on the Fireproof series thus far, you’ll hear a small voice speaking a clear message. God is not only concerned with your earthly relationships, He cares about His relationship with you. We’ve been accustomed to leaving a challenge at the ends of these things, so here’s mine. This week, take the time to stop the hurricane that your life may currently be in. Take a breather, and see if you can’t hear the still, small voice. BrandonMonday Morning Blog As I think about Pastor Dave’s message on Sunday morning I am reminded of Christ’s message to us in scripture that says “I come to give life and give it more abundantly.” I believe the abundant life He is talking about comes out of a healthy relationship with God which then allows us to have a healthy relationship with our family and friends. Have a happy Thanksgiving, Monday Morning Blog Monday Morning Blog Over the past few weeks we have been talking about our relationships and the way that we communicate with one another. After spending time this week thinking about how I treat those around me I paused for a moment and took it a step further…. Our time with God is a pure example of a relationship in the truest form. We talk (pray) and He listens. We ask and He gives. He loves and we return that love through worship and through our obedience to Him. I then thought about how my daily actions may or may not have demonstrated that love to my Heavenly Father. No matter where you are in your walk with God it is always good to take time to evaluate your relationship with Him and make adjustments where they are needed (just as you would with your spouse – particularly if you had an argument). Too often we find ourselves asking for help in increasing our walk of faith in times of trouble; however, as we walk out of the trial of fire we forget what we left behind. Although God may take the chains of bondage from you (and free you from a heavy weight) – you cannot press ahead without giving thanks for His ever-present help in a time of need. Yet, you cannot dwell on your past either. You may or may not know me now as the young woman who sits in church enamored with the piano player (ok it isn’t 30 reasons why he is great but, I have to admit I think he is). However you may not know our story or how God brought me out of a very dark place in my life. We met at 12 years old in the church… he was preparing to give his first sermon and I was touched by this young man’s passion for God. I immediately tugged on my mom’s skirt, looked up into her eyes and said “that is the boy that I am going to marry”. She smiled and began to head to the first available seat knowing full well that the odds of that happening in today’s society were quite slim. Today we are engaged and planning our long awaited wedding. However, our story didn’t end at the church in fact it was just beginning. Despite our interest and the love in our hearts, life took us in different directions. Now, I am sure you are wondering why I am telling you this story…. I have learned to appreciate my future spouse not through years of waiting but, through years of fire. Those times taught me how blessed I am to find a man who loves God and understands how to demonstrate the love of God to a family member, friend or future spouse. I have spent the last eight years of my life in a dark, desolate place. I made a choice without God’s input to give my heart to someone who should have never been in my life. Those eight years were filled with words of hate and destruction. Emotional, mental and physical abuses were a part of my daily routine. I went from being a happy person to a lonely, isolated individual who was so depressed that I had moments when I wondered if I should allow myself to live. The choices that I made brought me to this place however, there were days in my despair that God still showed himself to me in a very real way. One simple prayer can change everything and it did for me… “God show me who I am meant to be with (who you have for me)” that same day our relationship ended and I found myself slowly filling my life with God through prayer and fasting. At this time I joined Crossroads ministry I spent my time engaging in the worship, reading the word and having prayer times with friends to keep me accountable. As the weeks went on I began to allow myself to feel again and I found myself back with the boy that I met at 12 years old. Today we couldn’t be happier. Each one of us has been in that place of despair. A time when there seems like there isn’t any hope for us or for our lives. You may be in that place right now, you may have just left that place or you may have been out of it for the past 20 years. Wherever you are in your walk, take the time to forget those around you and worship in a way that shows God how grateful you are for His healing, His deliverance and His love. When our favorite football team wins we scream at the top of our lungs until we are hoarse, when we watch a romantic movie it brings us to tears… shouldn’t what God has done for us stir the same kind of reaction? This week I encourage you to take time out of your week to communicate with God how grateful you are for His mercy and for His ever present help in your time of need. Sir Winston Churchill once said “You make a living by what you earn and a life by what you give” – make your life about what you give to God (your worship, your praise, your love, your speech, whatever it might be). Scriptural Reference: Leviticus 7:37-38 /Leviticus 27:1-25 (love in action and learning to thank God) Talk is cheap. It’s easy to talk about loyalty, love and respect, but harder to put such values into action. I challenge you to take action by taking the time to worship and thank the Lord for what He has done (sacrifice of your time or favorite television show). Leviticus, along with the rest of the Law spelled out practical ways in which Israel could demonstrate its thanks, loyalty and love for God, as well as ways for the people to demonstrate their commitment to each other as a covenant community. One of the most important of these practical steps was the sacrificial system. The sacrifices were inconvenient and costly however, by carrying them out, the people showed in a very evident way that they were God’s people. Their sacrifices turned words into actions. In the same way we as believers need to translate our words and thoughts into actions, even if it costs something. “My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring. This is the way we know that we belong to the way of truth” (I John 3:18-19). Monday Morning Blog If you’re like me… well, first of all I apologize… but if you are like me I’m sure you have a morning routine. I also began to realize I would wake up in a bad mood! I would be so concerned about the things that I had to do, that by the time I opened my eyes in the morning, I would be immediately exhausted. So, I conducted my own little experiment about two weeks ago. I actually tried to change my routine. I usually get up in the morning, start the coffee maker and begin to intravenously pump caffeine into my veins. A shouting match usually follows this up between the pundits on the morning news and myself. I figure that their unwillingness to respond to my masterful comments is a signal that I am right and they are wrong! A quick shower follows this before work begins. Well, two weeks ago I began to get up and start the morning with prayer. Now, there is no secret to it. I didn’t, like Daniel, throw open my windows and pray so that all can hear me. I just began to have a conversation with my God. There was no mystique. I didn’t lay prostrate on the floor. I just talked. Then, when I got in my Camry and headed to work, I took the time to play Praise & Worship music. We are inundated in the course of the day with negative speech. So, why not separate the beginning of the day? One of the first things God taught Adam & Eve was the sacrifice of first fruits. It wasn’t because God wanted to burden his creation with a new set of rules to follow. I believe it was for their own good. God’s teaching of first fruits continued through history to when he spoke to Abraham about circumcision. Today we are so myopic in our view of first fruits. We only see it as God wanting our money. Unfortunately, some pastors have perverted the Malachi scripture in their quest so that their ministries can grow to behemoth stature. Yet, if you really look at the heart of what God was speaking, I believe that he simply wanted us to take a time in our lives to center ourselves. O, this week, take that time. Change your tune. Rather than beginning your day filling your heart and head with worry and the cares of this world, offer your first fruits of your day. Remember the scripture: “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” Monday Morning Blog We had a great day yesterday at Church. It's always encouraging to see new faces and of course to fellowship with those already a part of the "family". We had a few people out sick and should be praying for their quick recovery this week. After our evening service in Fairmont, we went out for some 1/2 price appetizers @ Applebees (oh yeah) and ended up getting to bed at about midnight. As I was reading a devotional to my kids this morning, (something I admit that my wife usually does), we read the following verse. 1Ch 14:10 And David inquired of God, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up, for I will deliver them into your hand." The simplicity of David's relationship with God really struck me as I read that verse. It seems that many times in life we "make" the will of God a mystery and prayer a chore instead of a conversation. David had a question, he simply asked David received in one verse something that we struggle for years to receive, an answer. I have to ask myself, why what was so simple in David's life, is so complicated in mine? or yours? It's certainly not that David was just a better "Christian" than I, because in that same chapter, it's detailed how David married "more wives". Is the problem perhaps that I have allowed religion and theology to complicate my relationship with God so much that something as simple as a conversation with God seems impossible? I'm going to think about that this week. Be Blessed and have a great week! Ps Dave |
|
|
