Being Part of a Church Family

This week I have really been thinking about church and how important it is in my life. It's summer. Often what happens in the summer is that people race to enjoy the super-short, nice weather season that we have here in Minnesota. Often, at the expense of church attendance.

Now, before I go any further, let me clarify that I completely understand this! I don't want to guilt anyone into coming to church or feeling bad about missing a weekend service. We all need breaks, and we all need rest from the craziness of life.

This week, however, has me really thinking about all the wonderful friends and family that I have come to know and love as a result of my church home, The Crossing.

You see, this week, one of our Crossing family, Kirk Trisdale (click to visit his CaringBridge site), had a run in with a wasp. As a result, he is right now fighting for his life in intensive care. It has been astonishing to see the amazing outpouring of prayer and support from his church friends and family. People showing up and praying at the hospital, bringing food and clothes to help his wife, people praying, and posting prayers on social media. I am blown away by the family of God!

Please pray for Kirk and his family and friends. Watching his church and his family rally around him has really made me appreciate the good things we have as a part of Christ's family.

Hebrews 10: 24-25 (NIV) "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

It is so beneficial to us to keep meeting together! Something about worshiping Jesus together brings us close. Being together stirs love in our hearts that otherwise wouldn't stir, and moves us to perform good deeds we could only do as the body of Christ, together.

So, if you've been missing church this summer, I want to gracefully encourage you to go this weekend! Worship with your family and experience Christ in His house! It is really easy to fall into the habit of not going. Don't forget that we were designed to do life in community, as a part of something bigger than just ourselves.

Beauty in Every Circumstance.

This morning I looked out my kitchen window. Wow, it was really beautiful. There is about 2 or 3 feet of snow, my old shed, some critter prints in the snow, and the sun is catching the glint of ice crystals on the snow. 

It looks like diamonds were scattered by someone on the surface of the snow. And I think to myself, "That's awesome. Too bad it's a thousand below zero."

Ever do that? Look at something that is so amazing, then throw the negativity of our present circumstances over it so that we can't enjoy the blessing?

Life gets like that. God will bless us with amazing things: our spouse, our family, good friends, our home... and we allow our problems to outshine the blessings.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

I want to challenge you today to have a day of joy. Spend some time in prayer and thank God for your blessings, regardless of your circumstances!! God's will is that you will have joy! Stop looking at your problems and focus on Jesus! Soon your season of cold will melt into warmth. In the meantime, you are blessed!! Be thankful!

I am praying that you will have a great day as you walk in thankfulness. You are blessed. Just stop and think of all the ways that you are blessed. Forget about the fact that it is 5 below zero. Even when it's cold out, there are diamonds on the surface.

If nothing else, you have a relationship with the Creator of the universe. Chances are if He can speak things into existence, He will change your circumstances!

God bless and have a great day!