Crosswinds Blogs

Do you feel special?  Most of us don’t at times in our lives – we feel alone, forgotten or sometimes just beat down by life.  This world is full of people who feel that way most of the time, where feeling peace is an exception.  There are even hurting people within your own church that are feeling that way – unloved.

I love what God says about how He feels for us….

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”  Psalm 139: 13-16

Holy God, please  envelope the hurting people of our churches and communities with your peace and love.  Help believers to feel the call on their hearts to reach out to people in pain and extend the love of God to them.  Help us to grow as churches to minister to those who need to feel your love in a real way to help them to finally feel accepted, loved and special. Let us not sit back and wait until we are asked to help, but to enthusiastically spring into action when we see a need. 

Blessings, Michele

Mom… Mommy… Mum…Madre.  Whatever way you say it, our Mothers hold an important part in our lives.  They feed us, teach us and fix all those “boo-boos” – the list is endless.  As we honor the mothers of this world on Sunday, let us also honor the women in our lives that may not be our moms (or anyone’s mom), but their love and care touches us all.

“…well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.”  I Timothy 5:10

This verse refers to qualifications that widows must have in order to be taken care of by the church. However, it is really showing how woman can serve Christ and the church.  It is not saying that she needs to do these things once she becomes a widow, but that she has already been doing these things – she is “well known” for them.

Holy Father, thank you for giving us moms and the love they shower upon us.  For those whose mom is no longer here, we ask that you would provide the warm memories of comfort and your peace.  For those whose relationship with their mother is strained, we ask for healing.  Help us Lord to be thankful for every woman in our lives – whether she is a mom or not – for the compassion, wisdom and care she provides for us.

Blessings, Michele

God – please help!!!  Do you sometimes feel like you are yelling this from the rooftops?  At the end of your rope, feeling crushed by the things going on in your life, you call out to God and beg him to help you.

 I have been reading a great devotional about prayer by Oswald Chambers.  It is designed to make you think and a recent “question to ponder” asked: “Do I pray more out of panic in response to my circumstances or out of faith in response to God’s promises?”

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4: 4-7

 Lord God, you are Holy and you deserve all praise.  Forgive us for the times when we cry out to you only when in desperate need.  Help us to seek you out at all times, and to grow closer to you.  We give all our anxiety to you and ask you to bless us with your peace.  Help us to become gentle of spirit and to always rejoice in you.

Blessings, Michele

I am such a failure!  I can’t do anything right!  Everything I touch falls apart!  Do you have days like that?  We all do… really, we do.  Those thoughts and feelings are designed to make us feel alone, unloved, and unappreciated.  Those thoughts will often stop us in our tracks and keep us from doing what God wants us to accomplish.  And, unfortunately, as God showed me this week, those thoughts show a deeper problem…

 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart and reverence for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Jesus Christ you are serving.”  Colossians 3: 23-24

The lesson here is quite subtle or we avoid seeing it there.  Whatever we do, we are to do for the Lord, not for men – and that includes ourselves.  When we are doing things for ourselves, quite simply, that is pride.  Maybe that is why we feel like such failures – our pride is wounded. Let us turn instead to God and work for Him.

Lord God, we are sinners when we do things for ourselves and our own glory. Help us Lord to examine our motives and show us when pride is creeping in, even when we are doing things for what we think is for your glory.  We acknowledge that you are Lord and we are not – forgive us for putting ourselves first.  Help us to work with all our hearts and reverence for only you.

Blessings, Michele

Are you a busy-body?  Do you run around from place to place with a to-do list that never seems to get any shorter?  Maybe a small place in your heart is yelling “yes”, but you hesitate to admit it.  Maybe you even feel a little attacked.  Hey, I am not yelling at you… I have the same problem!  We can get so busy in the day-to-say events of life that we rarely take a moment to breathe.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be still.” Exodus 14:14

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” Psalm 37:7

God is quite clear that we need to rely on Him – that we must rest in Him.  For those who work or volunteer in the church, we simply must hear this reminder.  Being “busy” – even if it is FOR God – is not always the best thing.  If we, in our hurried days are not spending time resting in Him, than we are missing out on a blessed and special relationship with our Father.

Oh Holy Father, you call to us and ask us to rest in you – please help us to do just that.  Forgive us for those times when we are wrapped up in our schedules and to-do lists and not spending time with you.  Help us to order our days and tasks so that you are the priority and help us to learn the blessing of saying the word “no.” and   Bless us Lord with resting in you and help  our relationships with you  to blossom.

Blessings, Michele

Increased crime.  Decreased incomes and jobs.  Increased abortions.  Decrease in family values.  Increased divorce.  Decrease in sanctity of marriage.  And that is just the beginning… everywhere you seem to look the news is depressing!  What has this world come to?  What do we tell people who have lost hope – when we may be losing hope even ourselves?

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world!”  John 16: 33

Almighty Father, we come to you and give you thanks for overcoming the world with your love!  Forgive us when we lose hope while living in this weary world and give us the strength to carry on.  Help us, Lord, to remember that your Son sacrificed himself for us and in His resurrection, He has overcome the world.  Help us to share that message with our communities and prepare hearts to hear your words of peace.  We give you our country, Holy Father, and ask that you rescue us from destruction. 

Blessings, Michele

“Abandon hope all ye who enter here” is a quote we have all heard.  But where does it come from?  It is from Dante’s Divine Comedy and is the supposed inscription at the gate of hell.  What a perfect picture!  Why?  Simply put…HOPE is God! 

 “But know, Lord, what do I look for?  My hope is in you” Psalm 39:7

 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.”  Psalm 130:5

As we enter this week of Easter, we celebrate our eternal hope that came from our Savior’s sacrifice.  Jesus is the way and only through him are we saved!  His glorious resurrection has given us faith and hope in a God that will bring us home to Heaven and keep us away from the gates of hell.  We have HOPE!!

“Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God” I Peter 1:21

Holy Lord, thank you for giving us hope!!  You lovingly accepted us while we were dirty in our sin and sacrificed your only Son for us – words cannot express our gratitude.  Help us to grow closer to you and greater appreciate your love for us.  During this Easter week, embolden us to share your message of hope with everyone that we meet.   May your message be spread worldwide!

Blessings, Michele

Have you seen one yet?  Maybe you were awakened by their sweet call this morning.  The birds are making a comeback… early bulbs are starting to peek through the ground.  That means Spring is right around the corner!  I love this time of year because of the promise it holds.  I am reminded that when things look the darkest – maybe even dead – God can create new life.  So, that means there is hope for me… and you!

“God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore the joy of Your salvation to me, and give me a willing spirit.”  Psalm 51:10-12

Father, help us to be reminded of your Presence in everything we see – from Spring buds to the welcoming of new life in nature around us.  Thank you that you can renew us!  We ask Lord that you would help us to do a “Spiritual Spring Cleaning.”  Show us areas that we have held back from you, areas that need to be pruned and help us to do just that.  Create clean hearts, minds and bodies in us that we can use to glorify you!

Blessings, Michele

It can be kind of cute when a little kid looks up at us and says “I can do it myself!”  We are excited they are discovering their independence,   but a little sad they don’t want our help anymore.  What about us?  Don’t you think God feels much the same way when we say those words to Him?  He wants to be our Father and help us – will we let Him?

 “For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die.  But if by the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.  For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’  The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ – seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”  Romans 8: 13-17

Lord God, please give all Christians a deeper desire to know you better.  We ask that we will all be drawn to the Word and to prayer – making our relationship with you our highest priority.  Please help Christians renew their commitment to you and lead this nation to repentance.  Help our nation, Lord, to stop stumbling in the darkness and find its way back into your light.  Heal our country and guide us to follow your law.

Blessings, Michele

Abortion, gay marriage, religious freedom – all hot topics in America. In fact, there are many things that Christians deeply believe and stand for that the world, as a whole, does not.  Unfortunately (and this is not going to be a very popular statement) – Christians often make themselves look like fools.  

 “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.” James 3:9

We have every right to defend the Bible.  We have every right to stand up for God and His law, seeking to help our country follow it too.  But, we have no right to demean, hate, harm, or treat badly those who do not see things our way.  Each human being is created in God’s likeness and deserves God’s love and salvation.  We must, as Christians, love everyone and share with them God’s love.

You are an almighty God.  You are an encompassing God who loves everyone.  Forgive us Lord, when we allow disagreements to harbor negative feelings in our hearts.   Help us to share the Gospel and a Biblical-perspective with love, compassion and a smile on our face.  We know you give us the Truth – there is no reason for hate-filled words!  Help us to love everyone, especially those that do not follow your Word.

Blessings, Michele