Could the word "invasion" be used to describe life sometimes? As I logged on to write a post I had not realized that it had been three days since I last visited my blog. I begin to sit back and think of all that had happened on Thursday and Friday and thought' where did the time go'.
The past couple of days have been filled with giving care to the people God has placed around me. I also had the opportunity to be an advocate and stand up for one who could not defend themself. Not only that, but I began seeking the help I need to remain balanced and create that care for myself that I sometimes tend to neglect.
My devotion this morning is what caused me to think of the word invasion. I read from Luke 15 that tells of three different stories to describe God's love for people. At the very beginning (verse 2) the religious rulers were critizing Jesus because He invited those considered the worst of the worst to eat with Him. Scripture uses the word "welcomes" to describe just how warmly Jesus behaved toward these "bad peole." As I give thought to the critizers it is not difficult for me to sense their fear of being invaded by all the bad stuff these bad people would bring with them... into their space and expose them to. Is it at all possible to learn from those that seem so very different from us?

My reading took me to Isaiah 52 which prophesises God's plan of salvation. The verse that really stood out to me was verse 12... I translate it as God has your back.
I left on Monday of this week to attend the Pastor's Institute (returned earlier today). Our General Director of Church of God Ministries, Dr. Ron Duncan, spoke at this event. I love how God will use various people and events to confirm the work He is doing around us. Dr. Duncan spoke of the need of trust being restored to leadership within the church, as well as giving room for more Holy Spirit led leadership. I believe Crossroads Church of God is being guided in this same direction.
This evening Angela and I (along with another couple from the Congregation, Troy & Cheryl) attended the 51st annual dinner of the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce. I had been asked to begin the celebration with the invocation prayer, and was honored to do so. A huge aspect of living out the part of our mission of "making the presence of Christ known" incorporates involvment in community leadership. My prayer is that on an increasing basis we as believers in Christ may influence and impact the world around us.

Yesterday I did something right. My daughter seemed to have a need to hang with me as the family got ready for the day. Number one... I noticed this! So, I invited her to help with making breakfast. Normally if I'm the one helping to make breakfast I will get everyone set and move right along with the next stage of my "beautification" process which entails... (wait... that's really TMI). But my daughter kept hanging around the kitchen counter. Number two... instead of blowing right past her to do my own thing I stopped and ate breakfast with her at the counter...and we talked! Now this may not seem like a big deal to you... but it's not your blog.
This morning I was reading from Genesis, Chapter 3. It tells of the first sin and of the needs it created for all of us; not just Adam and Eve. This morning I was drawn to the way sin affected the relationship between Adam and Eve. The innocence that once was, was now gone. The way they viewed each other had changed. Sin also brought with it the first instance of fear as both man and woman hid themselves from God. God asked the question "Where are you?" not because he did not know where they were hiding. He was asking them about where they were in their relationship with Him and with each other.

The action taken yesterday by our Crossroads Congregation during our Annual Business Meeting in adopting the proposed revised bylaws, and the ratification of our Leadership Team members was a huge deal for me as pastor. This helps to provide in me a confidence in the direction I believe God is leading for our Congregation. The ministry plan I began to outline during our meeting produces an excitement within me to lead with direction and intentionality. We will continue to move as God gives direction which may seem slow at times, but we will keep moving forward!
Late last night I was reading from the book of Amos (chapter 4). In this chapter God gives His people opportunity after opportunity to turn to Him before finally suffering the full consequences of their own disobedience. I picture this as God holding back, or protecting, His children from experiencing the full consequences of their actions... allowing on occasion for those consequences to be felt in hopes of waking them up. Because of God's righteousness he must require payment in full for sins. The ultimate consequence is death of our spirit; an eternity in separation from God (this is Hell). The only way to have that debt paid in full and escape the consequence of Hell is to allow God to make that payment for you through faith in the sacrifice and resurrection of His One and only Son, Jesus.