TMG
Hello, Crossroads Family!
We should have a great time this coming Sunday morning! I’m looking forward to worshiping with you. I hope you’ll invite a friend and plan to arrive on the early side if you’re able. We have some good singing planned, opportunities to connect with each other, and a sermon from the book of Revelation! Of course, our new “Breathe” ladies Bible study will begin this Sunday at 9:00, too, also at the Community Center.
“Breathe” Bible Study – 9:00
Worship – 10:00
If you missed last Sunday’s service, I hope you’ll take time to watch the sermon online. “The Spiritual Leader & Worship” was our theme, from Isaiah 6:1-11. You can get caught up by watching on the Crossroads Facebook page.
Worship is not something that happens to us; worship is our choosing, with our mind and will, to direct our attention totally to God. It’s not an experience; it’s an act. There can be no such thing as passive worship if it’s truly an act of offering myself to God. Let’s keep all that in mind and allow God to draw us into worship Sunday and throughout the week!
God is answering prayers! Thank you for joining small groups last Sunday to pray that God would draw new families and individuals to Crossroads. Let’s continue to pray, anticipating that God will answer as we do.
Going On at Crossroads
Youth Group this coming Wednesday, February 23rd.
Food, fun, & fellowship, starting at 6:30 pm at the Rodriguez home, *contact us for location*. Invite a friend to come with you!
Worship Team Meeting next Sunday, February 27th.
Worship team, don’t forget that we’ll meet following the worship service next Sunday. Thank you!
Powerful Colossians
If you want to be quickly energized, try reading the short New Testament letter of Colossians. I read through it this morning while the sleet and snow were falling, and it proved again to be a wonderful encouragement to my spirit. Here are some things to look for (among others) as you read through Colossians:
Paul’s Prayer
What an amazing prayer is found in 1:9-12. Use it to pray for yourself, or for any friend / relative / co-worker / church member when you’re not sure how to pray.
For this reason, … we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God ; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness (endurance) and patience ; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Paul’s Point
The purpose of the letter to the Colossians is really not revealed until chapter 2, verse 4. There, Paul writes, “I say this so that no one will delude you with well-crafted arguments.” Read on in the letter to find out what those arguments were that Paul wanted the Colossians (and us) to beware of!
Paul’s Power Word
You’ve heard of power naps — those short naps that quickly revitalize the sleeper. Paul has a power word in Colossians — it’s the word “all.” Watch for it as you read through Colossians :
- 1:9 — that you may receive allspiritual wisdom
- 1:10 — that you may please the Lord in allrespects
- 1:11 — that you may be strengthened with allpower
- 1:11 — that you may attain to allnecessary endurance and patience
- 2:9 — in Christ, allthe fulness of God dwells in bodily form
- 2:14 — in Christ, we have been forgiven of allour transgressions
- 3:8 — put aside allanger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty talk
Put Off, Put On
So practical, the middle of the letter reminds us of what we can (and should) “put off” and “put on” throughout the day, each day.
- 3:8 — “Lay aside (put off) all anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty talk. Do not lie to each other.”
- 3:9 — “Lay aside (put off) the old self.”
- 3:10 — “Put on the new self which is being renewed according to the One who created you.”
- 3:12 — “Put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other, and forgive each other.”
- 3:14 — “Beyond allother things, put on love, the perfect bond of unity.
Concerning the quality of humility (mentioned in 3:12 as one of the things we should put on), someone recently wrote me these thoughts:
- “The life God bestows is imparted, not once for all, but continuously, by the unceasing operation of His mighty power. Humility, then — the place of entire dependence on God — is, from the very nature of things, the first and highest virtue of the creature, and the root of every other virtue” (Andrew Murray).
- The most subtle form of pride is a feeling of inferiority. Whether I’m feeling superior to others or inferior to them, either way I’m focusing too much on myself. When I discern either of those two thoughts within me, I need an attitude adjustment, something that’s only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit.
- “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less” (C.S. Lewis).
- “We’d like to be humble … but what if no one notices?” (John Ortberg)
Take time to read this encouraging letter! I hope to see you Sunday! May God grant you strength, grace, and safety in all you do today. May He hear our prayers for ourselves and for each other.
— Tom
Leave a Reply