Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:03 — 36.7MB)
Date: August 31st, 2014
Scripture: Acts 10
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
For more resources please visit crosslifechurch.org
“Desperate is a strong word. That’s why I like it. People who are desperate are rude, frantic, and reckless. Desperate people are explosive, focused, and uncompromising in their desire to get what they want. The New Testament is filled with desperate people, people who barged into private dinners, screamed at Jesus until they had his attention, or destroyed the roof of someone’s house to get to him. People who are desperate for spirituality very seldom worry about the mess they make on their way to be with Jesus.”
—Mike Yaconelli
Desperate. We tell people, “Be careful, you don’t want to come off sounding desperate.” And yet all throughout the scriptures we see desperate people making their way to God and to Christ. There’s the woman with the issue of blood, the friends who lowered their friend down to Christ, a father seeking help for his little girl and more.
It seems that being desperate or sharing our helplessness with our Father is not something to be avoided, but rather a key ingredient to prayer. We have been giving many gifts, abilities, talents and resources. But the one thing we must never forget is our dependence upon God.
Take time this week to remind yourself of your need for God to work in your life. Then take a little more time to ask for His provision. Then stand back and watch the great things the Lord will do in your life as you depend on him.
Oh, and don’t worry if you sound a little… desperate.
Rick and Diane with our Banner
We had a work day yesterday and we were overwhelmed with the work and kindness from our friends at First Bible FWB Church in Newcastle. Thanks to their help and some great work from our own team we were able to:
and more…
And we had a pretty amazing lunch as well. A big thank you to everyone who came out. These are just a few of the signs of life we are seeing at Crosslife. We can’t wait to see what God does among our church and community this fall. Please be in prayer for us that everything we do will be pleasing to him.
You can check out the photo gallery on facebook.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:32 — 41.7MB)
Date: August 24th, 2014
Scripture: 2 Kings 7:19
19 The officer had said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen?” The man of God had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!”
For more resources please visit crosslifechurch.org
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:38 — 36.3MB)
Date: August 17th, 2014
Scripture: John 4:25-26
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
For more resources please visit crosslifechurch.org
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:12 — 30.4MB)
Date: August 10th, 2014
Scripture: Mark 8:34-38
35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
For more resources please visit crosslifechurch.org
This song has really been a blessing to me in recent weeks. It’s a great reminder that God is inviting us to be a part of HIS story. We can’t always see how he’s working it out, but our responsibility is simply to surrender. It is amazing what God will do with a surrendered life.
If you haven’t checked it out before, take a look at Steven Curtis Chapman’s story concerning the loss of his daughter.
“Right after the accident, I started just running because I just didn’t know what else to do,” Will said, referring to what he did after making sure other family members were responding to Maria. “I just wanted to run and just be away — as far away from the site of the accident as possible — and just started running and was planning on just running as far as I could.
“And then Caleb, not too long after that, just kind of ran and tackled me and just kind of jumped on me,” he said of his 18-year-old brother. “… And it was just like, ‘You can’t leave, you can’t leave,’ and just — was just on top of me saying, ‘Everything’s going to be OK. We love you. You can’t leave.’ And just — it was just that — that was super important.”
It is so powerful.
Then see if you can spot Maria’s word “SEE” in the following video. I hope it encourages you as it has encouraged me.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:39 — 33.5MB)
Date: August 3rd, 2014
Scripture: Genesis 50:20
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
For more resources please visit crosslifechurch.org