But now... through...

Click to view messages Invite a Friend Forward to a Friend Midweek Experience Online Registrations Online Giving But now... through... "But now, this is what the LORD says he who created you: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and...when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.." From Isaiah 43:1-4 We love these words from God! The words God spoke through Isaiah are words we have been meditating and conversing with God about for years. God has spoken specifically to us through different words and phrases in this passage countless times. Same scripture, fresh understanding... every time we listen. While spending time with this scripture over the last few days I (Clare) am hearing the phrase "But now", and I (Scott) am hearing the word "through". We are continuing to listen and savor what God is speaking through this passage and these "small" words particularly. What we have learned is that the smallest word from God can change things... even your life! We are deeply encouraged and challenged to do something with what God has spoken... we are even more importantly deeply invited to experience connection with God in the process. If you remember, the word God gave us for the church in 2010 is year of connections. Connecting with God and people in ways that will bring eternity into the hearts of people that will lead them into eternity with God. One of the primary ways to connect with God is to listen for His word to us personally through His words in scripture. How about you... do you have time in your schedule to listen? Time to hear the words of the One who loves you and can give faithful direction to your life? Time to have a conversation with the One who listens to you? Here is a way to connect with God and His words today. Take about 15 minutes to 20 minutes... Silence: Begin in silence.Take a few moments to quiet yourself in God's presence turning your heart and mind toward Him. Use this moment to slow down... breathe in the truth that God wants to connect with you and breathe out the busyness and complexity of your life. (1 or 2 minutes) Read: Read a short passage of scripture aloud, slowly twice. Listen for a word that warms you, alarms you or invites you to pay attention to it. Stay with that word. Gently repeating and hearing it in your heart and mind. (4 minutes) Meditate: Sit in silence with your word. Allow the word to ruminate within you. Savor the word like a delicious piece of food in your mouth. Consider how this word connects with what's going on in your life today... what area of your life does this word touch...? (3 or 4 minutes) Pray: Talk to God honestly about your feelings. Does this word bring gratitude? confession? excitement? tears? trepidation? Fall deeply into prayer. Let all of your emotions and anxieties be played out without holding back. Journaling or drawing may assist you in this moment. (3 or 4 minutes) Contemplate: Now, rest silently in God's presence. Trust God that the words that have been shared between you are blessed. Trust the understanding, the working out of this conversation... and yourself into the hands of a faithful God who loves you. (2 minutes) Live it out! Is there anything God might want you to do in response to what you have heard? Look for the ways the Word of God will become flesh to your world... through you. Journal or tell a friend what you have heard and plan to do. Connecting with God and you through His Word, P.S. Learn more about connecting through our series There's an App for That. This week the app... faithbook

Throwing one back (spinach) for Haiti

Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund Click to view messages Invite a Friend Forward to a Friend Midweek Experience Online Registrations Online Giving Last week in our series "There's an App for That: hisLight"  we talked about having a "Popeye" moment.  That's the moment when you look at some deeply disturbing issue and you say 'I've had all I can stands and I can stands no more!" Then, you pop open your can of spinach and throw one back to gain heroic power. (A much better way to get courage in a can). Bill Hybels teaches this principle in his book "Holy Discontent" and encourages us to all become "Popeye People."  Guess what Crossroads?  Some of you are Popeye People!  You already raised over 13,000 dollars last Sunday for Haiti!  Since Sunday, we have been in continual contact with Pr. Carlo and the needs of his people. We have secured a plane and pilot, purchased the supplies to fill the plane and it leaves Sunday morning!  The team that worked on these efforts... Popeye People!  Families have designed t-shirts, a teenage girl set up 50-50 raffles that are bringing in amazing amounts in desperately needed funds...  Popeye People!  Some churches in other parts of the country have heard what we are doing and have sent generous funds... Popeye People!  Family Bible in Marshall sent an over the top bounteous check... Kindhearted online donations (give online)... Dr's and a pharmacy contributing medical supplies... Uhaul and ground troops donated time and truck packing.  All totaled our efforts since Sunday: well over $20,000!! POPEYE PEOPLE! The needs are overwhelming... the generosity is rising to meet the need.  We have people who have promised that their funds are coming.  We have people who are praying and working to bring relief.  Truly Popeye People! To keep up to date on Haiti Relief through Crossroads go to our website.  We are doing our best to post comments from Pr. Carlo and give updates on needs and ways you are relieving the precious people of Haiti.  Pastor Carlo says he knows he has a family in the United States who love him and the precious children and families he serves!  Throwing one back (spinach) In Jesus Name!

Word for the Week: Haiti Update

Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund Click to view messages Invite a Friend Forward to a Friend Midweek Experience Online Registrations Online Giving

Haiti Update Pastor Carlo is safe! Praise God! As you know, the earthquake in Haiti has had a catastrophic impact. Yet, in the midst of the most desperate circumstances God shows his most amazing activity. Three days after the earthquake, we heard the miraculous news that our precious friend and ministry partner Pr. Carlo Thomas is safe. He has been a part of the search and rescue mission... no surprises there! Some of the churches have been damaged. He lost a wall at his house. He will need a lot of help in rebuilding and helping the victims in his areas. Like the Apostle Paul, Carlo continues to live a life of deliverance through many dangers toils and snares. Many of you want to know what you can do to help the Haitian people. At the same time you want to make sure that your assistance doesn't fall in to a black hole of good intention. From before the time Crossroads began, we have partnered with Pr. Carlo and New World Mission, serving the schools and churches in Haiti. At no time has that partnership been more critical. Our connections with Haiti are already proven and ready to address this devastation. Our partners on the ground in Haiti are already doing the heroic work on their end, now we are called to do our part. The most important resource we can give now is money. With it we will purchase desperately needed items (antiseptics, bandages, water, blankets etc...) to be flown to Haiti through our faithful carrier, Agape Flights. Donations can be given online at ccmonline.org, in Sunday's offering or mailed to Crossroads. All donations should be designated to Haiti Relief. You can rest assured that 100% of your donation will go directly to meet the Haitian people in their time of need. In our devotion time this morning, we read of the friends that lowered their friend through the roof so Jesus could do what only Jesus can do!! (Mark 2:1-12) Now it's our turn. Instead of lowering our friends through the roof, it's time to pull our friends from the rubble. The pictures you see are some of the pastors and children... our friends in Haiti. Please pray for them all to be found and rescued! Please give with a generous heart.. our friends need to be pulled out of the rubble. With thanks, hope, and continued prayer,

There's an App for That

Click to view messages Invite a Friend Forward to a Friend Midweek Experience Online Registrations Online Giving There's an App for That This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us. - 1 John 5:14 How do we pray prayers we can be confident in? How can we know God is hearing us? There's an App for that. Its the KISS principle... Keep It Simple Sweetie. The Bible tells us to have the faith of a child. Children keep it simple. Have you ever watched a child who is confident that they are loved by their parent or grandparent? Our grandson has an amazing habit of asking for ANYTHING confidently. It's our job to determine whether or not it's good for him. It's his job to ask... and trust us, he asks confidently! Many times people don't pray or pray cowardly, uncertain prayers because they think the answer is up to them. Don't live like that. We have asked God for CRAZY amazing things. Sometimes He says, "No" and sometimes He says, "YES!" It's up to Him to know the best answer, it's up to us to ask a loving God confidently. Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. - Matthew 19:14 Don't miss the opportunity to pray confident prayers this weekend as we teach about the App for That. This is a year of connections with God. Come learn how to get the Apps and use them. Check out last week's App for that with your theme song for the year. Confidently Asking in 2010, © 2010 Scott & Clare Loughrige