Hello, Crossroads Family !
I’ve enjoyed time spent with you over the course of the past week ! I hope you’ve also enjoyed some of the good fellowship God is fostering among us, … and that you’ll find a way to plug in for encouragement and support this week.
We had meaningful discussions at Immerse last Wednesday night, and I hope you can join us this Wednesday (tomorrow), for continued application of God’s word to us in Psalms and Lamentations. Please feel free to come even if you missed last week ! 7:00 pm at the church.
I had a great time with about fifteen others of you at our first Easter cantata practice. There is something about singing with people that builds a unique bond ! I hope you’ll join us this Sunday at 12:30, after the fellowship meal. You’re welcome to join even if you missed last Sunday ! The music is beautiful, and our first-ever Crossroads Church Choir is doing a great job !
I had an opportunity with a few others Sunday evening to practice for the Bible Quiz coming up on March 28. There was plenty of learning and laughter as we tried to figure out what we know and don’t know about the Gospel of Luke. March 28 will be the big night, starting at 6:30. Location still to be determined. Everyone is invited to join the fun, even if you’re not competing on a team.
Beyond these things, our women’s Breakfast & Bible Study got off to a great start last Saturday and will meet again this Saturday morning, 8:00 at the church. All women are welcome ! Men’s Recharge starts this week on Thursday with a discussion about gifts of the Spirit. How has God gifted each of us to serve Him and each other ? Men, you’ll be glad you came ! This Thursday, 6:30 pm, at the church.
Three things to remember about this coming Sunday :
- Our 8-13 year-old Bible Class will meet during the sermon.
- If you took a baby bottle to raise support for Nevada Birthright, your filled baby bottle is due back this Sunday. Thank you for blessing moms and babies ! If you didn’t take a baby bottle but would like to make a gift to Nevada Birthright, you may give a gift of any amount to Kim Reedy.
- As you know, a fellowship meal is planned for after the worship service. Bring something to share if you’re able, but even if you’re not able, plan to stay for food and fellowship ! There will be plenty to share !
I’ll have a full day of show choir this Saturday with our own Nevada Classic taking place at Nevada High School. There are around 30 choirs performing throughout the day, some high school choirs and some middle school choirs. Come on out if you’d like — I’d love to see you ! Cost is $15 for adults, $5 for seniors over 65 and for students. Our varsity choir will perform at 5:30 pm. You can find the schedule at showchoir.com.
Other prayer requests include these :
- Please pray for Erlinda Reichard who is suffering from a severe bout of double vision. May the Lord bring relief and also direct doctors to the root of the problem.
- Angi Dahmer will have surgery on her foot this week on Thursday and then will need some recovery time. Let’s pray for strength and provision for Angi and Shane.
- David and Midge Prickett have been under the weather. May the Lord encourage and bring healing to David and Midge, and to others in our church family who have not been feeling well.
- Alex Lewis travels to the St Louis area for a job interview this Thursday.
- Diane Ray asks that we pray for those working in the front office at the Sheriff’s Department, for their spouses and families. Thanks, Diane, for keeping us up to date with prayer needs in the Sheriff’s office !
Finally …
I was encouraged this morning by reading David’s prayer in Psalm 17. In it, he asks God to hear (v. 1), to look (v. 2), to answer (v. 6), to show lovingkindness (v. 7), to keep David, to hide David in God’s shadow (v. 8), to confront the wicked (v. 13), and to deliver David’s soul (v. 13). What a great prayer ! So often it’s that last request (the deliverance of our soul through challenges) that we need !
I was especially struck in this psalm by the repeated use of “my …” and “Your …” :
my cry
my prayer
my judgment
Your presence
Your eyes
my heart
my mouth
Your lips
my steps
Your paths
my feet
Your ear
my speech
Your lovingkindness
Your right hand
Your wings
my deadly enemies
my soul
Your sword
Your hand
Your treasure
Your face
Your likeness
It’s very personal, isn’t it ? David and God. You and God. It’s this kind of “Real Life” Christianity that I’m trying to emphasize on Sunday mornings. I hope it will be more and more like that for all of us !
I look forward to seeing you sometime this week and, Lord willing, this coming Sunday !
Strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather healed. — Hebrews 12:12
Tom
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