Here’s a link to a blog I follow by Pastor Steven Furtick called Provison for Weakness. It’s an incredible thought based on Proverbs 30:26. You should definetly take the time to read it, I promise it will challenge you.
Just think what life would be like if we actually lived it the way God intended us to, placing margin in our life to prepare for the trials and obstacles we face. I believe Paul nailed and was trying to send a message when he talked about this in Ephesians 6. I guess the saying is true “Knowing without Doing is Nothing”.
I know I’m a little late on this, but staff retreat was awesome!! We had all of the staff come to our house and continued to build the team by connecting and spennding time together getting to know each other. We took the idea of a play and pray retreat from Mark Batterson at National Community Churchin Washington, DC. Each year in January we plan out all the details of what and when, but half way through the year we take time to refocus and grow together. This year we went to the lake and went tubing and man was it a blast!
It’s funny because all of us are good friends and God has taken us and placed us together to accomplish His ultimate goal in showing the world the hope of Christ, yet I believe no matter how close you are there is always room to grow. In fact, usually the relationships that are the closest to you are the ones you take for granted. Just a thought!
P.S. Check out Lanny and Seth’s Post with pictures.
Nearly two years ago Mandy came to me telling me about one of her crazy dreams. If you know Mandy this is nothing unusual. I think that every time she dreams, it is some off the wall hard to understand story. In this particular dream it was about the roller coaster MR. FREEZE at Six Flags. She dreamed that we were waiting in line to get on the ride and just about the time we were to get on it the conductor got on the loud speaker and said that due to techincall difficulties they are suspending the ride at this time. So, we then left to go ride another ride, as we walked out of the building we notice the ride going again, but just as it got to the top where it stops before it goes backwards, it got stuck. If that’s not bad enough, about that time an airplane was out of control and about to take the tower of Mr Freeze out, so in utter panic and fear people started jumping out of the carts in hope of saving thier lives. She also pointed out how we were supposed to be on that train, but we left when they had difficulties. (Believe my I know that is a bit crazy, but I warned you at the begining that’s how they normally are.)
Now, fast forward to Wednesday, July 16th. Mandy and I are at Six Flags celebrating our anniversary and the first thing she says is “you know I don’t want to ride Mr Freeze”. I respond with the typical answer, Why? She said because of my dream, I then told her how crazy she was and how she needed to get over it emphasizing it was only a dream. After some convincing she relented and we got in line for Mr Freeze. As we waited she was not very talkative, except to point out how nervous she was. Finally, we got up to the front of the line, ready to get on the train, and Mandy starts to pray, yes pray! “God if we are not supposed to get on this ride make that conductor stop this because of technical difficuties. The train moves into position ready to shoot out like a cannon just like it always does, and then theres a delay. We wait, and wait, then the conductor comes on the loud speaker and says? Yep, you guessed it technical difficulites, as a matter of fact the same spill that she dreamed. Needless to say that was a total conformation for her and we were out of there, never to ride the Mr. Freeze again!
Thankfully the rest of her dream did not come to pass, but it does make you wonder why things happen like that sometimes. The truth is God is all knowing and cares for everything you do, even the littlest details. So, don’t take for granted the next time you feel that gut feeling or little small voice, take a step back, asses the situation, maybe there’s a lesson to be learned.
OK, so this past week was the 9th Anniversary for Mandy and I. It’s hard to believe that we have been married nearly a decade. Let me start by saying it has been by far the best nine years of my life and so much has happened in just a short time. From the experience of following God and working together to spread the hope of Christ to the birth of all three of our children. WOW!
We actually went out on our Anniversary Thursday of last week, but decided since our kids would be gone to grandparents this week we would go to Six Flags Over Texas and stay the night in a hotel. So, we got up this morning and headed that way, first thing we did was went to all of our favorite rides starting with Batman, and right away we noticed something a little bit different, but we weren’t ready to admit it. You see both of us were very dizzy after the ride. Even though it’s been over two years since we had been we thought that surely nothing had changed since the days of youth pastoring and riding everything as many times possible. Man were we WRONG! Don’t misunderstand me we had a great time, but we had to resign to the fact that we had gotten a little older, and instead of running as fast as we could to the next greatest ride we found ourselves taking our time and noting how much our kids would love this ride or that ride. Believe it or not we even rode “the train” I can’t even remember the last time I did that.
All in all it was an incredible day and nine years that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. I LOVE My Wife and Kids!!!
P.S. Stay tuned for the story of Mandy and MR. FREEZE!
Yesterday, I walked into the bathroom and I saw my little girl Gracie standing on top of the vanity yelling out “Yeah, I’m on top of the world”. I quickly pointed out to her that we don’t stand on top of the vanity or any furniture for that matter. Of, course as always she asked why, and I explained the normal reasons plus, showed her how her little brother Eli was now trying his best to climb up on “Top of the World”. She quickly responded in a tone as if everyone should know, “Daddy, everyone wants to be on top of the world.” Hiding the smile, and laughter I helped her get down.
After reflecting on this I thought how true her statement was, everyone does want to be on top of the world. In fact, no one wants to be in the valley. But yet, it’s in the valleys of life where we learn the most valuble lessons that help carrry us and sometimes even catapult us on “top of the world”. (Check out James 1)
The past couple of weeks have definetly been a valley experience in the life of The Crossing. From set back to set back it was hard to keep focused on the vision and plan that God had given us. However, we knew the most important piece to the puzzle was to pray and seek God and trust in Him and once again He came through. Looking back it’s amazing to see how through the valley He was there even when it didn’t feel like it, and how every single thing that we prayed for came to pass. Although it was not always how or definetly when we thought it should be, it was always the right answer at the right time. Maybe you’re in a valley in your life right now, just know the key component is prayer. God sees your future and has big plans laid out just for you, all you’ve got to do is just trust. (and that’s the hard part!)
“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”. Jeremiah 29:11
Ever since Gracie was just a baby she has loved to get on my back and ride it like I’m her personal mule. One day when she was on it I began to do the whole Eeyore thing and I would say “Ba dupe, Ba dupe, Ba dupe, Ba dupe”, and from that moment any time I am laying in the floor she jumps on my back and says “Daddy, I want to play Ba dupe, Ba dupe.”When Eli was old enough she passed this game on to him, and tonight she has offically passed it on to Harrison as well. This has always been one of those fun games you play with your kids and a memory that will last a lifetime. I Love My Kids!!!!!!!!
Can you see the resemblance?
VS 
Technology, you love it or hate it. Most of the time I love it, but there are cases such like the one that happened last night that make me hate it. I was going to go to the store for Mandy and just as I was reaching for my keys, I bumped my phone which happened to be sitting on the bar and it fell into the dish water in the sink. Did you know that Moto Q phones can’t float and are not water proof? I mean what can we expect, right? They can retrieve email, carry all your contacts, access the Internet, take pictures, play songs, send text messages, oh and they can actually call someone as well. It’s amazing what all they can do, but I can promise that floating in water or anything to do with water is not one of them. So, after this unintended experiment of mine I now have a phone that can only operate as a phone, because the screen went out. Technology, gotta love it! Right???