Crossroads Community Church in Norwalk, Ohio is celebrating 10 years of being in their current building. Ten years ago they were at a crossroads-in order to move ahead,hurdles would have to be scaled. Just the financing for such a project is staggering. Then add the careful planning that had to go into the big decisions that were made: location, size, and placement of church and parking lot on the land. After that comes the gazillion (Is that even a word?) other decisions that would have been made starting from the ground up. Just thinking about it overwhelms me! One thing I know for sure: they built the church on a firm foundation. How do I know? It’s still standing.
We all come to a crossroads in our lives where we need to make a decision. Do we want to carry on as we are: in worry, stress, and pain? Or do we want to start building something new with a firm foundation? Jesus is the Rock we should build on. “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.” (Isaiah 28:16, NLT) In the storms of life, our ‘house’ will stay standing because God himself watches over it. “The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side.” (Psalm 121:5, HCSB) We don’t have to live in a house filled with anxiety; we can live in a house filled with peace. God’s already dropped off the welcome gift on the doorstep. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV) So the only question is: will we pick it up?
Things to do today:
- Accept the peace that God is offering.
- Read a similar blog called ‘Hold Fast to Peace’ and listen to songs ‘Prince of Peace’ and ‘Perfect Peace.’
Even with obstacles, we need to keep going. I learned this one summer when my friends and I hiked the Billy Goat Trail in Maryland on what had to be the hottest day of the year. The trail itself offered its share of challenges with much of it covered in rocky terrain. We climbed over, then slid down, giant boulders on a regular basis. The sun beat on our backs as the flowing waters of the Potomac River tempted us from far below. One of the biggest challenges was scaling a steep cliff face along the Potomac’s Mather Gorge. Although we consumed water regularly, the weight of it in our packs seemed to get heavier as the day wore on. Despite the deterrents that day, I’m happy to report we kept going and made it to the trail’s end.
The children’s’ song “Rain, Rain Go Away” is appropriate for my area of the country. Heavy and continual storms lingered for days, leaving roads closed, fields underwater, and rivers pushing over their banks. Persistent gray skies affect the temperament of everyone. There’s an attitude that sneaks in and causes us to want to hide under the covers until the storms pass. After all, who wants to face another day of running through the rain or fight yet another losing battle with a windblown umbrella? Watching the rain fly by my window makes me think it will never end. Fortunately, we all know the sun will shine again.
Recently I saw a movie that had God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as an integral part of the storyline. They each interacted with the main character, (Mackenzie), and supported him in his heartache and pain. Many scenes gripped my heart and sent my emotions on a roller coaster ride. But one scene in particular continues to visit my thoughts. Mackenzie steps out of a small boat and literally walks on the water with Jesus. Later, when he tries it again, instead of walking on the water, he sloshes through it. He looks back at Jesus in confusion. Jesus lovingly says, “This always works better when we do it together, don’t you think?” (Good point to ponder.)
When I’m in a Zumba class, sometimes I don’t think I’ll make it all the way to the end. I’ll cruise through the warm-up, make it through 3 or 4 songs, and then somewhere in the middle I question my sanity for being there. (To be completely honest, there have been people who have questioned my sanity in other areas of my life, but that’s another story…) I know I’m not alone in my exhaustion, because I see people glancing at the clock and peeking at their watches. Just when I’m thinking of an excuse to sneak out of class, I hear my favorite words, “Last song.” It’s amazing how that changes my attitude. Instead of quitting, I finished!
There’s always a little uncertainty about winter weather in Ohio. One forecast calls for tons of snow; another predicts we will have little snow but frigid temperatures. Quite frankly, I just want to know if I should be preparing my ‘snow-shoveling muscles.’ (I’m not even sure if I have any. I wonder if I can buy them on Amazon?) A few years back I remember opening my garage door and having the snow reach my shoulders, which completely ended the thought of going anywhere, and totally changed all plans for that day. Is it too much to ask what to expect? Is it too much to want to get ready for any contingency?
Have you ever tried to restore an old piece of furniture? It’s not easy. This summer my niece found an old beat-up dresser at a barn sale. Somehow that old dusty, paint-peeling specimen of furniture found its way into my garage. The first thing I did was wipe the cobwebs and dust it off to see what it looked like underneath, (not a lot better, truth be told). The hinges were crooked, the paint was peeling, and some of the handles were missing. So I scraped, sanded, and scrubbed it; then began the slow process of painting it layer by layer. It took awhile and I had to backtrack a few times, but today the sparkling white dresser sits in my niece’s bedroom with shiny new handles and a whole new outlook on life.