Crosby's Consideration's

Whom we Preach

2011-09-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:28 KJV

Jesus was with God the Father before the World Began He came in the flesh, a man born in Judah, the city of Bethlehem, full of grace and truth; to a virgin to whom the Holy Ghost came upon, and to whom the Highest overshadowed.

“As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:” In the Old Testament He appeared to Abraham, Job, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel; and in the New Testament, to the disciples and Apostles (to name a few).

In the flesh, He was a Jewish rabbi who taught the children of Israel God’s law and commandments, because He had not come to abrogate the law, but to fulfill the law. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

He taught the Word of God in Spirit and in Truth, because, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

They bore Him witness in Nazareth and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. Great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan were astonished at His doctrine: For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

They brought Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His Word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

The blind received their sight, and the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, and the deaf heard, the dead were raised up and the poor had the gospel preached to them. The prophet Isaiah said of His first coming, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: ....” (Isaiah 35:5, 6) This is Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God.

"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" (II Corinthians 4:5a).

"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole" (Acts 4:10).

"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" (Acts 5:42).

"Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them" (Acts 8:5).

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus" (Acts 8:35).

"[Paul] preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18b).

"And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ" (Acts 18:5).

"We preach Christ crucified" (I Corinthians 1:23a).

"I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2).

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" (Galatians 3:1).

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).

"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).

"What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Philippians 1:18).

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him" (Colossians 2:6).

Pray for Japan

2011-03-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Need in Japan

Japan has been, and remains, one of the most orderly and admirable societies in the world. However, Japan is also at a point in its history where it is experiencing unprecedented social upheaval, which creates anxiety and uncertainty throughout the culture. Every segment of the population is impacted.

"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;

they will never be silent day or night.

You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest,

and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem

and makes her the praise of the earth."

-- Isaiah 62:6-7

The Lord is raising up intercessors all over the world to spearhead the advance of the church into unreached and resistant areas. The fact that you are reading this article indicates that the Lord is establishing watchmen on the walls to petition the Lord for His people in Japan. You are part of a growing stream that will ultimately turn into a river of revival for the nation of Japan. This prayer guide is being used around the world to link Japanese Christians and Japan watchers in a prayer-net of intercession.

You have an extremely important position in Kingdom work. Do not grow weary in doing well through prayer. Carve out time for prayer. We consider this guide not so much as a finished product that includes all the needs of Japan and the church, but rather as an introduction and starting point for prayer. As you focus your heart on Japan, ask the Lord to broaden your heart with the deep things that are on His heart for His people in Japan.

Therefore ASK BIG; base your prayers on His greatness. May He enlarge your heart for Himself, Japan and the world.

The Source of Life

2010-12-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

They replied, “What does God want us to do?” (John 6:28)
Even when Jesus clearly explains grace, we tend to argue with him. He tells us how to gain salvation, and we shake our head in disbelief. He gives us the Good News, and we flip through the paper looking for the bad. Surely there’s something he’s left out, we think. It can’t be that easy.
“Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you,” Jesus told the crowd of curious onlookers. “For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose” (John 6:27). His words were clear, but their skepticism was deep.
“They replied, ‘What does God want us to do?’” (John 6:28).
When faced with the free gift of salvation, they wondered how they should go about earning it. “We understand our need for eternal life,” they were saying. “But what do we need to do to get it?” Jesus understood their confusion, and he answered by reiterating his earlier promise. “This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:29).
We are the ones who make it complicated. We are the ones who want to earn God’s acceptance and approval. We are the ones who try to attach conditions to God’s plan of redemption. But Jesus only asks one thing. That we put our faith in him. That we trust him to save us. That we believe in his promise of eternal life for all who would call on his name. That we accept the gift with love and faith and graciousness. Try to pay for a gift, and you’ve done nothing but insult the giver. Try to work off its worth, and you’re working in vain. A gift is free for the taking, or it is no gift at all.
Things have changed very little since the days that Jesus walked the earth. He continues to hold out the free gift of eternal life, and people continue to try to pay him for it. We’re still wondering what God wants us to do. And two thousand years later, his answer hasn’t changed. “Believe in the one he has sent.”

FROM THE BATTLEFIELD OF FAITH

2010-11-08T07:55:00.001-08:00

When Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, it wasn’t because he’d heard revival was breaking out there. He wasn’t a discouraged preacher looking for someone to impart something of God to him. No—he states clearly, “I went up…to Jerusalem…by revelation and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach” (Galatians 2:1–2). Paul went to Jerusalem to share a mystery that God wanted to reveal to his people.

This godly man had his own full, glorious revelation of Christ. He didn’t learn the doctrines he preached by shutting himself in a study with books and commentaries. He wasn’t some isolated philosopher who dreamed up theological truths, thinking, “Someday my works will be read and taught by future generations.”

Let me tell you how and where Paul produced his epistles. He wrote them in dark, damp prison cells. He wrote them while wiping the blood from his back after being scourged. He wrote them after crawling from the sea, having survived another shipwreck.

Paul knew that all the truth and revelation he taught came from the battlefield of faith. And he rejoiced in his afflictions for the gospel’s sake. He said, “Now I can preach with all authority to every sailor who’s been through a shipwreck, to every prisoner who’s been locked up with no hope, to everybody who has ever looked death in the face. God’s Spirit is making me a tested veteran, so I can speak his truth to everyone who has ears to hear.”

God hasn’t turned you over to the power of Satan. No—he’s allowing your trial because the Holy Spirit is performing an unseen work in you. Christ’s glory is being formed in you for all eternity.

You’ll never get true spirituality from someone or something else. If you’re going to taste God’s glory, it’s going to have to come to you right where you are—in your present circumstances, pleasant or unpleasant.

I believe one of the great secrets of Paul’s spirituality was his readiness to accept whatever condition he was in without complaining. He writes, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

The Greek word for content here means “to ward off.” Paul is saying, “I don’t try to protect myself from my unpleasant circumstances. I don’t beg God for relief from them. On the contrary, I embrace them. I know from my history with the Lord that he’s doing something eternal in me.”

“That ye may be able to bear it…” (1 Corinthians 10:13). The word bear which Paul uses here implies that our condition isn’t going to change. The point is for us to bear up under the situation. Why? God knows that if he changes our condition, we’ll end up destroyed. He allows us to suffer because he loves us.

Our part in every trial is to trust God for all the power and resources we need to find contentment in the midst of our suffering. Please don’t misunderstand me—being “content” in our trials doesn’t mean we enjoy them. It simply means we no longer try to protect ourselves from them. We are content to stay put and endure whatever is handed to us, because we know our Lord is conforming us to the image of his Son.

Posted by David Wilkerson

Take hold of your Faith by Trial

2010-08-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

by David Wilkerson

If we didn't have conflict, pressure, trials, wars, we would become passive and lukewarm. Decay would set in and our temple would lie in ruins. We wouldn't be able to handle the territory we've gained. That's why the enemy's plan against us is clear: He wants to take us out of the battle. His aim is to remove all the fight from us.

We find all our resources for maintenance—strength to go on, power over the enemy—in our spiritual battles. And on that day when we stand before the Lord, he will reveal to us: "Do you remember what you went through on that occasion? And in that awful battle? Look at what you accomplished through it all. It was all secured through the battles you won."

The simple fact is, God has put his treasure in human bodies. He has made you a temple, a house for his Spirit to dwell in. And you have a responsibility to maintain that temple. If you become lazy and careless, neglecting the maintenance work needed—regular prayer, feeding on God's Word, fellowshipping with the saints—decay will set in. And you'll end up in absolute ruin.

As I look back on my own fifty years of ministry, I recall many times when it would have been easy for me to quit. I would pray, "Lord, I don't understand this attack. Where did it come from? And when will it end? I don't see any purpose in it at all." But over time, I began to see fruit from those trials. And that fruit—resources, strength, spiritual wealth—supplied me in a way I couldn't have gotten through any other means.

I urge you: Take hold of your trial by faith, and believe God has allowed it. Know that he's using it to make you stronger…to help you take spoils from Satan...to make you a blessing to others…and to sanctify it all to his glory.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair" (2 Corinthians 4:7-9).

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things that are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Smith Wigglesworth

2010-07-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

INDIA AND CEYLON 1926

Report published in Pentecostal Evangel, p. 10 May 29, 1926

BROTHER WIGGLESWORTH IN CEYLON

The campaign began March 5th in a hall capable of holding a thousand people. From the first night it was a great success, hundreds being saved.

Smith in Ceylon, 2nd row, 6th from our left

Not a night passed without many standing up and reaching out their hands to heaven, calling out, “Jesus save me! Jesus deliver me!” Each night the evangelist would single out people in the audience who were in pain, and would pray for them. Immediately after prayer was offered the suffering ones would testify that they were free, from pain. If it was a case of stiff limbs, they were made to exercise them by walking up and down, running, stamping their feet, or waving their arms about in order to test whether the pain had actually gone.

One night a woman came up the aisle, walking in pain, her body all doubled up, and she finally fell on the floor in front of the platform, the pain was so great. Brother Wigglesworth jumped off the platform and put his hands upon her, and said, “In the name of Jesus I bind this pain and loose this woman.” Immediately she ran up and down the aisle, free from pain, and then went and sat down to listen to the message. She was perfectly whole. This demonstration had a great effect upon the crowd.

Some nights the evangelist prayed for over five hundred people, many of them coming hundreds of miles bringing their sick with them - the blind, deaf, dumb, lame, palsied, consumptive, eaten up with cancer, tumours, epilepsy, weak-minded, deranged, crippled. God worked mighty miracles; blind eyes were opened, deaf ears unstopped, stammering tongues spoke, men on crutches put them over their shoulder and went away, stiff joints were made supple, headaches and fevers vanished, asthma was treated as an evil power and cast out in the name of Jesus.

Handkerchiefs were brought in an ever-increasing number and piled high upon the platform. So many were brought (quite 500 some nights) that a fairly large suitcase was necessary to hold them all.

One night, while our attention was diverted, a boy stole six new handkerchiefs that had been brought. Two nights later he came back with them confessing that he had not been able to sleep since he had taken them. Many wonderful cures were wrought through this means. One was taken to a sanatorium and placed on a consumptive boy. The boy is wonderfully better, is putting on flesh and looking healthy.

Many people were helped by rising from their seats in faith and saying, “Jesus heal me,” without the prayers of the evangelist at all. One woman, who had eruptions on her arms and burning sensations caused by these eruptions, was healed as she sat in her seat. Truly these were wonderful days. God’s Spirit was poured out and Jesus was glorified

Walter H. C. Clifford. Colombo, Ceylon.

Happy Independence Day

2010-07-04T06:47:00.000-07:00

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Vampires and Werewolves: IS THIS OK FOR CHRISTIANS?

2010-07-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

I found this on another blog and could not resist. I agree with it, so here it is.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Twilight series novels and movie, you probably don't have teenage (or preteen) kids. I don't have kids, but I have nieces who are into it, as well as several friends and co-workers' kids. It's basically the hottest thing out there -- think of it as the new Harry Potter, but for older kids.

In a nutshell, the Twilight series is a young adult novel series written by Stephenie Meyer -- the first book was published in 2005. The story is about a seventeen-year-old Isabella "Bella" Swan who moves from Arizona to Washington, and finds her life in danger when she falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen.

Edward admits to Bella that he and his family are vampires, but says that they only drink animal blood to keep themselves from turning into the monsters that many other vampires are.

Edward and Bella's relationship grows over time, and they fall passionately in love. Their foremost problem is that to Edward, Bella's scent is a hundred times more potent than any other human's, making Edward struggle to resist his desire to kill her. However, despite this they manage to stay together safely for a time.

Now, according to Wikipedia, the plot gets intense when another vampire coven sweeps into Forks, Washington. James, a tracker vampire who is intrigued by the Cullens' relationship with a human, wants to hunt Bella for sport. The Cullens attempt to distract the tracker by splitting up Bella and Edward, and Bella is sent to hide in a hotel in Phoenix. There, Bella receives a phone call from James, who claims he is holding her mother captive. When Bella surrenders herself, James attacks her, but Edward, along with the other Cullens, rescues Bella and kills James. Once they realize that James has bitten Bella's hand, Edward sucks the venom from her system before it can spread and transform her into a vampire, and she is then sent to a hospital. Upon returning to Forks, Bella and Edward attend their school prom and Bella expresses her desire to become a vampire, which Edward refuses.

Now interestingly enough, Wikipedia has a little explanation of the book cover, which looks like this:

Apparently, Stephenie Meyer has stated that the apple on the cover represents the forbidden fruit from the book of Genesis. It symbolizes Bella and Edward's love, which is forbidden, similar to the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, as is implied by the words from Genesis 2:17 that is quoted at the beginning of the book. It also represents Bella's knowledge of what good and evil are, and the choice that she has in partaking of the "forbidden fruit", Edward, or choosing not to see him.

Now book two introduces werewolves, and book three finds Bella and Edward engaged, and brings into the story a group of really bad "newborn" vampires. And book four, the last book, has Bella and Edward getting married, having rough sex, and Bella getting pregnant and the talk of possible abortion. At the end of book four, Bella transforms into a vampire.

I think I have most of that pretty accurate. Again, I didn't read the books, but my blog here is not to discuss the plot -- it's to discuss whether Christians (or more specifically, Christian children) should be reading it.

The tough part about this series comes from the fact that it's appealing to preteens, teens and young adults. Not only is that an age where kids begin to develop their morals and values, but it's also an age where typically kids begin to really understand the importance of God and Christ. If the child lives in a strong Christian home, then by this time (or around this time) preteens and teens will officially accept Jesus Christ as their savior.

Unfortunately, this is also a time in their lives when peer pressure begins to affect their choices... when popularity plays a bigger role... and when temptations are strong and the prospect of swaying from their core family beliefs becomes a reality.

In a nutshell, what do I think? I think that Satan is getting better and better at his plans to thwart Christians.

Now I'm not saying that Stephenie Meyer is evil or works with Satan. But Satan's influences are there. Bottom line, this series of novels is about darkness, evil, sex, blood and obsession. Now I know, I know... many people will step up right away and say, "But this is different! There are good vampires in these books, and it's a love story!"

But that makes no difference. A love story under the cover of darkness and blood does not make it okay. It wouldn't be any different than a love story under the cover of homosexuality.

Plain and simple, this is a story about vampires and werewolves -- two creatures who for hundreds of years have been the epitomizing characters of evil, darkness and death. The fact that a modern-day author gave them an intriguing story line of love to appeal to pre-teens doesn't make the novels okay.

In the last book, there is a strong storyline of Bella's agreement to give herself completely to Edward, which results in a painful and very physical act of sex. The book describes bruises all over Bella's body. What teenage parent wants their daughter to read about giving herself up completely to a man in that manner, while that young? What Christian parent wants their daughter to read a story that romanticizes succumbing and surrendering to anyone but God Himself?

To me, that's one of the most important issues of this series -- the fact that the "romance" and love story is such a dominating theme. There are lines in the book that say things like “You are my life now.” There is constant dialog about the two being together forever, and it's clear that obsession on both parts is strong. Edward is completely intoxicated and drawn to the smell of Bella's blood, and Bella's love for Edward is the absolute most important thing in life. More important than life itself, in fact. She desperately wants Edward to turn her into a vampire in order for her to be with him always.

These characters are 17 years old! Is this what 12 or 14 year-old teens should be reading? I honestly don't think so. Let's take some verses from the Bible to back up my opinions.

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:16-26)

Now, some Christian parents are saying, "I'm not going to prevent my daughter from reading it, though. Just because it's not love in the way Christian love should be, it's still good for her to read other forms of literature so that we can discuss what's right and what isn't." But it's just not that simple. Do you remember being 13 years old? It's easy to get swept up into love stories. I can't think of one teenage girl who doesn't have crushes on boy actors. So while you may have good intentions of letting her read the Twilight series, the bottom line is that she's going to get sucked into it. It completely appeals to the teenage girl's interest in love stories. It might start off with her reading the first book, but then she'll move on to the second, and then third, and the fourth. She'll go from reading about a crush... then onto blood lust... to physical lust... to killings... then pregnancy... then talk of abortion... then the desire for immortality via vampirism. Your daughter will want to see the movie, and put posters up on her wall, and send Facebook flair, and so on and so forth.

I'm not saying that Christian parents who allow their young daughters to read these books are bad parents or going against God. I'm just saying be careful. The devil is sneaky. Over the past 4 or 5 decades, he has slowly worked his deceptions, lies and manipulations to pull God out of schools and public places. No longer are Bibles allowed on school campuses. No more can the Ten Commandments be posted in public places. Prayer is not allowed in schools. It's "unconstitutional" to have God or Christianity present in any public forum or institution that your child might be a part of. Over time, Satan has managed to deceive us into removing God from our children's public life. Now part 2 of his act seems to be introducing Godless themes and ideas as perfectly acceptable. Homosexuality is cool. Teenage pregnancy isn't the big deal it used to be. Abortion is a woman's right. Abstinence doesn't work, so safe sex is better. Vampire love stories are romantic. And on, and on, and on.

In Philippians 4:8-9, Paul writes: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Why did Paul write that? What does that mean? He's talking about the power of suggestion and surrounding yourself with things that are Godly. Why do you think motivational posters are so popular in offices these days? Because when something occupies your sight or mind on a consistent basis, it becomes part of your thought process. You instinctively and subconsciously gravitate towards those images and thoughts. That's why reading Scripture is so important. If a Christian reads Scripture daily as opposed to once a week or a few times a month, it's more likely that he'll use, remember, reflect on and incorporate the message of God into his daily life.

So with that in mind, think about the highly-influenced teenage girl who might read the Twilight series each day... watch the movies a few times... discuss the characters and plots with her friends... and see the poster on her wall every night and every morning. The messages of the story, whether intended or not, will become part of her subconscious. Vampires... blood lust... sex... obsession... submissiveness... rivalry... anger... darkness... death... werewolves...

All of that becomes a part of her daily life. Do those things sound Godly? Would they be pure, true, lovely, praiseworthy and noble in God's eyes?

I think an even better lesson for your child would be to teach them to stand apart from the masses of followers. I know it's not an easy thing for a 13 or 14 year old to understand and accept, but this is why it's difficult being a parent. It's your job to show them that following the crowd is not what brings goodness into their lives, especially when the crowd is following something dark and sinister.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul gives them instructions. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

Sure, lots of children and teens in past decades have had a fascination with scary movies and such things as vampires, werewolves, mummies, etc. But this is one of the first times where creatures of the night have been romanticized in such a way that it tugs at the heartstrings of our teens and causes their eyes to glaze over in daydreams. Most parents and educators just shrug, and say that it doesn't bother them as long as the stories are somewhat clean and the kids are reading. No longer is there any sense of darkness and light, right and wrong, good and evil. Parents roll their eyes and say, "Hey, kids are wise enough to know. They're so grown up these days."

But the prophet Isaiah says:

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight. (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Do not be the one who encourages your child confuse dark with light, or good for evil. Protect them and guide them so that they have the wisdom and knowledge to discern and understand things that are pure, good, light, noble, righteous and glorious. Give them the confidence and strength through God's word to stand up against those things that are unholy, dark and impure.

And in my small and humble opinion, I am really bothered by the fact that the book has a passage from Genesis on its front pages. "Forbidden" or not, I just don't like the idea of God's holy words on a fictional novel about vampires and werewolves. If this was a genre book tucked back into the horror section of a bookstore, I wouldn't be so verbal in my opposition. But this book is specifically intended for and marketed to teenagers. That just makes it that much more wrong.

1 Corinthians 10:32 states: "Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God--"

This means your children, as well. Do not cause them to stumble in their faith or in their journey at a young age because you didn't step up and show them right from wrong. Do not encourage their fascination with darkness because you didn't reinforce God's light. And most of all, don't ignore the signs of opportunity to teach them God's word when they can be so easily influenced by the Devil's. "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." (Ephesians 6:10) Be strong in the Lord to protect your children and guide them to Christ.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14) He is talking to you.

Jesus also said, "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly." (Mark 7:20-22)

In order for things of that nature to come out from within your heart, they have to be put there in the first place. And Satan with his evil minions are working to do just that very thing in any/every way they know how. Protect your child's heart by keeping them from stories like Twilight. I can assure you that God and Christ would not endorse those novels.

Instead, take your teen to a Christian bookstore and encourage them to pick out a novel that seems better suited to the Scriptures. Maybe someday soon someone will write a tween story about angels, and create a book based on the love for/from God.

Many blessings to you all...

WHILE THE FOUNDATIONS ARE SHAKING

2010-06-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

Originally by David Wilkerson

While all the foundations of the world are shaking and Satan roars like a maddened lion, and everywhere there is confusion, violence, and uncertainty, those who trust in the Lord, confident in him, will stand still to see God's salvation with hearts and minds at peace. They can enjoy rest and sleep sweetly, unafraid of conditions around them.

I give you some glorious promises of God for all who trust in him in these perilous times.

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried; he is a buckler [shield of protection] to all them that trust in him..." (2 Samuel 22:31).
"Show thy marvelous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them" (Psalm 17:7).
"Oh, how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust thee before the sons of men" (Psalm 31:19).
"Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of men; thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues" (Psalm 31:20).
"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord" (Psalm 31:24).
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:5).
"The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him" (Psalm 37:39-40).
"In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me" (Psalm 56:4).
"Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 62:8).
"They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever" (Psalm 125:1).
"Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25).
The only safeguard against Satan's lies and evil devices is to face him with the promises of God. God's Word is still all powerful and the devil still trembles when we stand firm with this Sword in hand.

Today—now—take your stand.

R.I.P. Spongebob

2010-06-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

Oil Spill hits bikini bottom. It is truly a sad day for his family and friends.

2010-05-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you!!!!!!!

Lord, Change Me

2010-04-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

A thought heavy on my heart today is simply Lord, Change me. I should seek to change the one person God gave me to change - myself, and cease from the preoccupation of thoughts about who else around me needs change. That is their Maker's place, not mine.Change and being conformed into the image of Christ requires a broken and constantly repenting heart.

"O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel." Jeremiah 18:6

Natural clay cannot be molded until it is wet. The human heart cannot be made pliable until it is wet with the presence of God the Holy Spirit who will only inhabit the heart postured in humility.

We spend far too much time praying, "God, change my circumstances...change my coworkers...change my family situation...change the conditions in my life..." Yet we seldom pray this most important prayer: "Change me, Lord. The real trouble isn't my spouse, my sibling, my friend. I'm the one who stands in need of prayer."

God orchestrates the steps and lives of all of his children. He doesn't allow anything to happen to us merely by happenstance or fate. And that means he has allowed your crisis. What is he trying to tell you through it? He's saying you need to change.

Like it or not, we're all in the process of changing, in one way or another. In the spiritual realm, there is no such thing as mere existence; we're continually being changed, either for good or for bad. We're either becoming more like our Lord or more like the world -- either growing in Christ or backsliding.

So, are you becoming more sweet-spirited, like Jesus? Are you looking soberly in the mirror each day and praying, "Lord, I want to conform to your image in every area of my life"?

Or has your bitterness taken root, turning into rebellion and hardness of heart? Have you learned to shield yourself from the convicting word of God and the voice of his Spirit? Are you spewing out things now you once thought a Christian would never be capable of speaking? Are you hardening beyond change?

If this describes you, let me tell you plainly: You will never receive deliverance unless you change. Your life will only become more chaotic, and your situation will worsen. Stop building your case, pointing your finger, justifying yourself. God won't meet you until you wake up and admit, "Nothing is going to change for me, unless I'm changed."

Cry out to the Lord honestly in prayer: "Change me, O God. Dig deep in me -- show me where I've failed and gone astray. Expose my pride, anger, stubbornness and sin. Help me to lay it all down."

Restoring Power to the Church

2010-03-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

There is an old song that is titled "We've got the Power". The song goes like this: Give me your hand, let's agree together; and all of our enemies, will crumble at our feet. For whatever we bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven; at the name of Jesus, satan has to flee.
We've got the power in the name of Jesus We've got the power in the name of the Lord
And though satan wages we will not be defeated, we've got the power in the name of the Lord.
For many years now, satan's tried to stop us; but the church of Jesus, is still alive. Like a mighty army, we keep moving onward; winning every battle, with the Lord by our side.

WE MUST NOT LET THIS SONG JUST BE A CLICHE!

In first Samuel 4 we find a sad story. Israel has suffered the loss of 30,000 soldiers killed in one day and 4,000 the day before. The 2 priest, the sons of the high priest Eli were killed in battle, the arc of God was captured, Eli heard of all this and fell over and died and his daughter-in-law went into labor and with her weak words named her son "Ichabod" meaning that the Glory of God has departed from Israel. (Literally meaning that the magnificense, splendor...was gone)

It's sad to say but this is so true for alot of churches across this great world today. The power and the glory of God is gone! (Some of them know it and some of them don't.)
When God's people got real with God, when they confessed their sin, got ride of things they held in more value than God, God returned in a mighty way!!!
I pray that you are living in the Power of Christ!!!

This is a short excerpt of a message I preached Sunday night. God Bless.

A Merry Heart

2010-02-25T06:57:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 17:22 Conveys that "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine"
Today I challenge everyone to simply laugh and be happy. It can change your life!

A young minister was asked by a funeral director to hold a grave-side service for a homeless man, with no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there.

As he was not familiar with the backwoods area, he became lost; and being a typical man did not stop for directions. He finally arrived an hour late. He saw the backhoe and the crew, who was eating lunch, but the hearse was nowhere in sight.

He apologized to the workers for his tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave, where he saw the vault lid already in place. He assured the workers he would not hold them up for long, but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. The young minister poured out his heart and soul..

As he preached the workers began to say "Amen," "Praise the Lord," and Glory," he preached, and preached, like he had never preached before: from Genesis all the way to Revelations. Finally, he closed the lengthy service with a prayer and walked to his car.

As he was opening the door and taking off his coat, the minister overheard one of the workers saying to another, "I ain't never seen anything like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

I could'nt let this one get by.

There once was an Illinois man who left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day.
When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick e-mail. Unable to find the scrap of paper on which he had written her e-mail address, he did his best to type it in from memory.
Unfortunately, he missed one letter, and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher's wife, whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her e-mail, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fainted to the floor.
At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:
"Dearest Wife,
Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow.
Signed, Your eternally loving husband.
P.S. Sure is hot down here."

Being Led by the Spirit

2010-02-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

Being led by the Holy Spirit….
The Bible says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). How can we as Christians live a life where we are constantly led by the Spirit of God?
The first thing we need to do is to slow down our inner life. If we have tensions and turmoil inside we cannot expect God to lead us because we are being so full of ourselves. The sign of being led by the Spirit of God is total peace and assurance in the heart.
When we take decisions from a point of rest we can have the faith that God is behind us. God will not be there where there is confusion and lack of harmony and all sorts of discord. The Bible says, “Be still and know that I am God” In order to be led by the Spirit, we have to be like Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus to listen to Him. Martha on the other hand was busy doing the work of the Lord. It seemed the right thing to do to her natural mind but God wants us to receive from Him first. God’s work and any work that we do has to be done by the power of God.
If today we are confused about our lives then we need to give up what we are doing and seek the Lord in stillness. At the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus felt troubled in heart due to His impending crucifixion, He fell on His knees three times to talk to His Father. After the third time He came out a Man at peace knowing the will of God. With calmness He was able to answer His accusers because He was now being led by the Spirit of God.
One thing that I have learned is that God is usually not in a hurry to do many things that we consider important. God works at a pace that brings skill to the work at hand. There is a time to be fast and there are times when you have to be slow but when we catch the frequency of God it will all be done with joy and peace.

God of our Monsters

2010-02-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

God said to Job, “Behold now behemoth [the hippopotamus], which I made with thee” (Job 40:15). “Canst thou draw out leviathan [the crocodile] with an hook? Or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?” (41:1).

Why would God begin his revelation by having Job consider these two massive monsters? Why would God have Job look into the faces of a hippopotamus and a crocodile?

First, the Lord posed this problem to his servant: “Look, Job, here comes the hippopotamus after you. What are you going to do? Can you wrestle him down in your physical strength? No? Maybe you can try to sweet-talk him.

“Now, behold the crocodile that’s threatening. How will you handle him? This creature has a heart of stone. He has no concept of mercy.” This was more than a simple lecture about the animal kingdom. Rather, God was telling Job something about life’s “monsters.” He was showing his servant that these two awesome, ferocious, overpowering creatures represented the monstrous problems raging in Job’s life.

“Consider the hippo. He tramples down everything in sight. He’s simply too big a problem for you to handle, Job. You are no match for him whatsoever. Nothing you can do will tame him. Only I, the Lord, know how to stop such a monstrous creature.

“And what about the crocodile, Job? No human can do battle with such a creature. And nobody in his own strength can strip the crocodile of his thick armor. The same is true of your spiritual enemy, the devil. Only I can win the battle with him.”

Do you hear what God is saying in this speech? He’s speaking not just to Job but to all believers. And he’s declaring, “Face the truth about the monsters in your life. You can’t handle them. I’m the only one who can.”

Job answered, “My God is all-powerful. He can do all things. And no purpose of his can ever be thwarted. I know I can’t stand up against the hippo or the crocodile. But that doesn’t matter. I know God can. My part is simply to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (see Job 42:1-2).
I like posting original stuff, but this was to good to pass by. It is from David Wilkerson.

Is anything made in America?

2010-02-09T19:55:00.000-08:00

John Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock.....

(MADE IN JAPAN ) for 6 am.

While his coffeepot

(MADE IN CHINA )

was perking, he shaved with his electric razor

(MADE IN HONG KONG )

He put on a dress shirt......

(MADE IN SRILANKA ),

designer jeans

(MADE IN SINGAPORE )

and tennis shoes

(MADE IN KOREA)

After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet

(MADE IN INDIA )

he sat down with his calculator

(MADE IN MEXICO )

to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch

(MADE IN TAIWAN )

to the radio

(MADE IN INDIA )

he got in his car

(MADE IN GERMANY )

filled it with GAS (from Saudi Arabia ) and continued his search for a good paying
AMERICAN JOB.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day checking his computer (made in MALAYSIA ),

John decided to relax for a while. He put on his sandals

(MADE IN BRAZIL ),

poured himself a glass of wine

(MADE IN FRANCE )

and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA ),

and then wondered why he can't find a good paying job in AMERICA???

Keep thy heart with all diligence

2010-02-04T06:13:00.000-08:00

We must notice that the heart is the wellspring of desire and decision. The bible declares the heart to be the center, not the brain. When the bible speaks of the heart it is not speaking to our physical organ that pumps blood through the body. Rather, the "heart" as used in the bible is spiritual language that encompasses the totality of one's intellect, emotion and volition.
The heart is a knowledge faculty; People know things in their heart(Deut. 8:5)
pray in their heart(1 Sam 1:12-13) meditate in their heart(Psalm 19:14) hide God's word in their heart(Psalm 119:11) divise plans in their heart(Psalm 140:2) keep words within their heart(Prov.4:21) think in their heart(Mark 2:8) doubt in their heart(Mark 11:23) ponder in their heart(Luke 2:19) believe in their heart(Romans 10:9) and sing in their heart(Eph 5:19).All of these actions of the heart are primarily issues involving the inner knowing.
The heart is also a center of feeling and volitional activity. We can go on and on with this.
When Adam and Eve chose to follow the serpent's temptation to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, their decision drastically affected the human heart-it became tainted with evil. Jeremiah said"the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperatly wicked:who can know it?"
Simply put, hearts that are committed to doing evil run the risk of become hardened. If you refuse to listen to God's word, and instead follow the wicked desires of your heart you will lose all sensitivity to His word and the Holy Spirit.
BUT, God's answer is regeneration!
This comes when a person repents of their sins, turns to God, & place a personal faith in Jesu as their personal Lord and Savior. Regeneration is a matter of the heart.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Ronald Reagan Quotes

2010-02-03T05:39:00.000-08:00

The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. - Ronald Reagan

"Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a loud voice at one end and no responsibility at the other."

"A tree's a tree. How many more do you need to look at?"

"Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have."

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table."

"All the waste in a year from a nuclear power plant can be stored under a desk."

"Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement."

"But there are advantages to being elected President. The day after I was elected, I had my high school grades classified Top Secret."

"Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty."

"Democracy is worth dying for, because it's the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man."

"Don't be afraid to see what you see."

"Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known."

"Facts are stubborn things."

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."

"Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged."

"Going to college offered me the chance to play football for four more years."

"Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets."

"Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them."

"Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They're just braver five minutes longer.

"History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap."

"How can a president not be an actor?"

Happy Anniversary

2010-01-05T08:36:00.000-08:00

Today my wife and I have been married for 14 years.

I have loved Crystal since I was 15 years old. She was and is the love that inspires me to be more and to give more. I adore her in so many different way's, she is my blessing from God.
I Promise To Love You, Hold You, Adore You And Praise You For As Long As I Live.

I love to feel you in my arms as you sleep so peaceful and sweet
The warmth of your body, the smell of your perfume and to feel your heart beat

To see you in the night, in the light of the moon for you are so beautiful
Your love, your warmth, your laughter, your touch fills my heart so full

My one desire is to love you so much that you never have doubt
The love that I feel for you is so overpowering that at times I want to shout

I want to shout out that I love you and I adore you
I want the world to hear me praise and love for you

I wish that I could lift you to the stars above
I know that you were sent by God to me with love

I adore you not only for only your beauty but for what you have shared with me, your love
You are a beautiful person whose inner beauty is like that of an angle from above

I praise you as my wife, a wife more perfect than any other
I praise you for you kindness & love that you share with our children as their mother

Together we have stood for each other
I can only love you and never another

Please know that I love you for all that you are and all that you give
I promise to love you, hold you, adore you and praise you for as long as I live

I love you

It is Written

2009-12-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

When Jesus was tempted by Satan He answered each time with, "It is written" (Matt. 4:1-10).
The Living Word, the Logos,came alive that very day.His initial earthly conflict with Satan was a victory He won by a faithful appeal only to one authority, "It is written."
We are to know the word of God! "Thy word have I hide in my heart that I might not sin against Him". Satan, the accuser, is going to come your way. BE READY!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying this Christmas season!
Blessings...

Rolllllllllll Tide!

2009-12-05T06:45:00.000-08:00

Miracle in the Making!

2009-11-16T08:51:00.000-08:00

This is parts of a message that the Holy Spirit gave me for this past Sunday.

Are you ready for a miracle? Are you ready to receive? Have you been searching the scriptures? Having Faith?...
Whether it is a disease, child, parent, or marriage someone is in need of a miracle.
We must be reminded that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Let's look at miracles. In the Genesis of time God breathed into a handful of dust and man became a living soul. (scientist to this day can't explain it)
He separated day from night. Set the son ablaze, hung the moon and stars. He holds the 7 seas in the palm of His hand. He measures space with the span of His hand and the blast of His nostrils can spilt the cedars of Lebanon.
He is the God of all miracles! Miracles still Happen!

He breathed life into the 90 year dead womb of Sarah. The point: When God says it's going to happen-GET READY!!! It may not be in your perfect timetable, but it will be in God's perfect moment.
He parted the Red Sea for Moses and Israel. He rained manna from heaven 40 years for their provision. He caused water to gush out of a rock. he held the sun still for Joshua.
He is the same yesterday, today and forever!!!
He muzzled the mouth of lions for Daniel. He walked in the fire with 3 men who would not bow to the idols of the world. Led a pebble stone into a giants forehead through David.
What miracle do you need?
God sent a miracle in a virgin named Mary. That son became the healing, miracle working son of the living God.
He healed the lame, the deaf and the blind. He healed diseases and leprosy. Nerve problems were gone. Dead were raised. Dumb talked.
(He can do it for you right now!)

Jesus said to the Church: "Greater works than these He will do"
Are you ready for a miracle?

This is just the beginning of what was preached. Friend, there is a miracle in the making for you!!!

Paradise- Lost and Regained

2009-11-02T07:55:00.000-08:00

Genesis 3: 21-24

Satan- (accuser or adversary) was a great angel created perfect and good. He was appointed to be a minister at the throne of God. Yet, before the world began, he rebelled.
On May 11,2000 a lady found a new e-mail on her computer, which simply said "I love you". It looked innocent, perhaps even romantic. Like most of us would she clicked to open the message, and the so called "love bug" was born. With lightning speed it raced all around the world bring politics and businesses to a halt. It was a deadly computer virus that caused millions of computers to crash. One virus, yet so much contamination. (Think about it)
BUT, it was not the first time that a single virus has caused so much grief to man. In fact, a deadlier virus hit planet earth more than six thousand years ago, polluting the entire world.
It seemed like all hope was lost forever. Oh, but God was not through!!!!!!!

God has provided a way to cleanse us and free us from sin and restore us into His fellowship! Jesus came to earth to destroy the works of Satan.

This garden that we see in Genesis was cleaned out. god drove out Adam and Eve and placed angels with flaming swords to keep out anything and everything. Nothing is getting back in. Nothing or no one is getting to that place.

But we have to look at another garden. There is no name for this garden. (Mark 16) We do know that it was a new tomb and Jesus is hastily buried there b/c the Sabbath is about to start and all work must cease. As two women, one the mother of Jesus came to finish the embalming process, they come to see a stone rolled away! Then they encounter an angel who announces "He is not here! he has been raised from the dead!!!

Do you notice the differences in the two gardens?
One is about verdict and exile. the other is about release and return. One is about condemnation, the other is about reconciliation. One is about the loss of relationship, the other is about return of relationship. One has angels of separation, the other has angels who were announcers of redemption.

The way is now opened again!!!!!!PTL.

In the old Adam we die, but in the new Adam we have eternal life!
God saved the best for last! Hallelujah!!!!!!!

This is excerpts from a message I preached Sunday morning. God Bless.
Until all are Reached,
Pastor Shawn Crosby

The Raptue

2009-10-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

2009-10-07T16:05:00.001-07:00

Christ's Call to Follow in His Footsteps

2009-09-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

2009-09-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally have settled in and settled down here in Mobile. We are getting to know everyone and getting to know our way around the big town. Justin and Kelsey seem to be adjusting well with all the change. (Big move for country folk)

We have already met our neighbor in our city house (can't wait until the church begins building our house in the country). Justin shot a squirrel and the neighbor pitched a fit. That's ok, if Justin can't the cat will! (My Godly Preacher instints were to tell him to keep his squirrel on his side of the fence)But oh well it's just temporary.

Hope to Blog soon...

Pastor Shawn

IM BACK!?!?!?

2009-09-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

PTL!!! Im finally back in Blog Land. It has been a long couple of months, but I can honestly say that it was worth it. We are in are second week at Mobile and finally have settled down. The Church and the people are wonderful! God truly has placed us with a terrific people.
One of the important exhortations of the Bible is the call to “wait on the Lord.” Even though God promises special blessing for waiting, waiting is one of the most difficult exhortations of Scripture. Why is it so hard? Because, as a part of fallen humanity, we are so prone to take matters into our own hands, to follow our own schemes. Yet, over and over again we are told in Scripture “wait on the Lord.”

We don’t like to wait and when we think of waiting we are apt to respond with the pun, “Wait? That’s what made the bridge collapse!” Of course, that’s weight, not wait. But then these two words, weight and wait are not always unrelated because one of our needs in waiting on the Lord is the need to cast the weighty burdens of life on Him.

The comment about the bridge expresses our normal dislike for waiting, especially in our “I want it now!” society. Ours is a society that has grown accustomed to immediate gratification. Due to modern technology and all our conveniences—telephones, refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, fast foods, airplanes, etc.—we have many things immediately at our fingertips. Just think of the speed of the latest computer technology in comparison with the computers of only a few years ago.

It has truly been tuff waiting, but God has supplied!!!
Blog to everyone soon. God Bless!!!!!!!
Pastor Shawn

An answer to Prayer!

2009-08-13T14:44:00.000-07:00

Where do I begin? The last year of our lives have been a big question mark. Maybe one day I will write a book (yea right).
BUT, as of yesterday the Lord has indeed answered one of our prayers. We have officially taken the Pastoral position at Georgetown Assembly of God in Mobile, AL.
YEA!!!

We are very excited and yet a little nervous. Justin and Kelsey both are excited (probably because we bribed them with something). I will fill everyone in within the days to come. Pray for us!!!!!!!!
God Bless.

Pastor Shawn

I Will Rise

2009-06-11T07:36:00.001-07:00

The Lord Hears the prayers of the Righteous

2009-05-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

(Proverbs 15:29)
It is reassuring that God hears our prayers. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).
God listens to the righteous.Hallelujah!!!

The Psalmist wrote: "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul. I cried to Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!" (Psalm 66:16-20).

We read of many answered prayers in Scripture. God heard the cry of Ishmael when he and his mother were without water in the desert (Genesis 21:17). God heard Rachel's prayer for a child, and Joseph and Benjamin were born (Genesis 30:22-24). God heard the cries of the Israelites in Egyptian slavery (Exodus 2:23,24) and sent Moses to set them free. He heard when they were hungry and gave them manna (Exodus 16:12). God gave water to the thirsty, children to the childless, freedom to slaves and food to the hungry.

David's prayer for deliverance was heard: "I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. ... In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered His ears" (2 Samuel 22:4,7).

God heard the prayer of King Hezekiah and extended his life: "In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, 'Thus says the Lord: "Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live." ' Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 'Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.' And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 'Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, "Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: 'I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David' " ' " (2 Kings 20:1-6).

Notice that God was influenced by Hezekiah's prayer. First He said he would not recover. But because of his fervent prayer, God changed His mind. Some people think: 'Why should I pray? God will do what He wants anyway.' This is a big mistake. We should pray fervently because God is influenced by our prayers.

God heard the prayer of King Josiah and postponed Judah's punishment until after his reign: "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded ... , 'Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.' So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. Then she said to them, 'Thus says the Lord God of Israel, "Tell the man who sent you to Me, 'Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants -- all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read -- because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched." ' " But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, "Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'Concerning the words which you have heard -- because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,' says the Lord. Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.' " ' So they brought back word to the king" (2 Kings 22:11-20).

Many answered prayers were fervent prayers.

God listens to those who fear Him, who stand in awe of His greatness, goodness and power. "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. 'They shall be Mine,' says the LORD of hosts, 'on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him' " (Malachi 3:16,17).

But maybe you are thinking: 'I prayed to God and He did not do what I asked. Does this mean He has rejected me?' No, not at all. Although God listens to our prayers and is influenced by our prayers, we must understand that a prayer is a request subject to His sovereign will. A good father always listens to his children, but a good father does not do everything his children ask.

Some people view prayer as a kind of remote control of God. He must do everything they say when they push the buttons.

God is sovereign. He has all wisdom and all knowledge. He knows the future. Although He allows Himself to be influenced by our prayers, He must do what is best for the whole world and for all time. You may be praying for sunshine while a farmer is praying for rain. We must be humble when we pray. Our prayers are imperfect. "For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26,27).

Our prayer makes a real difference. Yet by nature a prayer is always a request to our sovereign Lord in whose will we acquiesce.

The prayer of Jesus in the garden demonstrates this: "Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done'' (Luke 22:42). An angel came to strengthen Him but He had to drink the cup. His prayer was heard, however. In Psalm 22, which begins "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (verse 1), the triumphant close is introduced in verse 21 with "You have answered Me." The Father heard the prayer of His Son, "who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear" (Hebrews 5:7). God's answer was not prevention of death but resurrection from the grave, victory over death not only for Jesus but for all who believe.

Although Paul healed many by the power of God (Acts 19:11,12), his own request was denied: "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

Let us pray fervently knowing that God hears the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29). "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). Let us also understand that prayer is a humble request, a recognition of God's sovereign power. With Christ we must pray "nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6,7). "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Stand Still and Let God Move!

2009-05-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Stand Still - By The Isaacs

The Father has a plan. Though it's hard to see it now
You feel you're walking all alone. But He is there no doubt
When the storm around you rages, And you're tossed to and fro
When you're faced with life's decisions, Not sure which way to go

Stand still and let God move, Standing still is hard to do
When you feel you have reached the end, He'll make a way for you
Stand still and let God move

When the enemy surrounds you, And the walls are closing in
When the tide is swiftly rising, And you wonder where He's been
Friend, there never was a moment,That His arms weren't reaching out
You can rest assured and be secure, God is moving right now

Stand still and let God move, Standing still is hard to do
When you feel you have reached the end, He'll make a way for you
Stand still and let God move

The song say's it all. Nothing more to add!
View this song at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rVpW9A4RUo

Prayer and Fasting

2009-05-14T09:06:00.001-07:00

Prayer and Fasting - A Definition
Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, but this is not always the case. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two activities are combined and dedicated to God's glory that they reach their full effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire. Rather, it is simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, and wisdom you need.

- What the Bible Says
The Old Testament law specifically required prayer and fasting for only one occasion, which was the Day of Atonement. This custom became known as "the day of fasting" (Jeremiah 36:6) or "the Fast" (Acts 27:9). Moses fasted during the 40 days and 40 nights he was on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God (Exodus 34:28).
King Jehoshaphat called for a fast in all Israel when they were about to be attacked by the Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chronicles 20:3). In response to Jonah's preaching, the men of Nineveh fasted and put on sackcloth (Jonah 3:5). Prayer and fasting was often done in times of distress or trouble. David fasted when he learned that Saul and Jonathan had been killed (2 Samuel 1:12). Nehemiah had a time of prayer and fasting upon learning that Jerusalem was still in ruins (Nehemiah 1:4). Darius, the king of Persia, fasted all night after he was forced to put Daniel in the den of lions (Daniel 6:18).

Prayer and fasting also occurs in the New Testament. Anna "worshipped night and day, fasting and praying" at the Temple (Luke 2:37). John the Baptist taught his disciples to fast (Mark 2:18). Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before His temptation by Satan (Matthew 4:2). The church of Antioch fasted (Acts 13:2) and sent Paul and Barnabas off on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:3). Paul and Barnabas spent time in prayer and fasting for the appointment of elders in the churches (Acts 14:23).

- Required or Recommended?
The Word of God does not specifically command believers to spend time in prayer and fasting. At the same time, prayer and fasting is definitely something we should be doing. Far too often, though, the focus of prayer and fasting is on abstaining from food. Instead, the purpose of Christian fasting should be to take our eyes off the things of this world and focus our thoughts on God. Fasting should always be limited to a set time because not eating for extended periods can be damaging to the body. Fasting is not a method of punishing our bodies and it is not be used as a "dieting method" either. We are not to spend time in prayer and fasting in order to lose weight, but rather to gain a deeper fellowship with God.

By taking our eyes off the things of this world through prayer and biblical fasting, we can focus better on Christ. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

- What Does it Accomplish?
Spending time in prayer and fasting is not automatically effective in accomplishing the desires of those who fast. Fasting or no fasting, God only promises to answer our prayers when we ask according to His will. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." In the prophet Isaiah's time, the people grumbled that they had fasted, yet God did not answer in the way they wanted (Isaiah 58:3-4). Isaiah responded by proclaiming that the external show of fasting and prayer, without the proper heart attitude, was futile (Isaiah 58:5-9).

Happy Birthday!!!

2009-05-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

You are the best daughter in the world!!!!!!!

We Love You!!!!!!!
Dad, Mom, and Justin

Hearing God's Voice

2009-04-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

Are You Ready to Listen?
Hearing God's voice is something we all long for-but did you know that it's not hard to do? In fact, God wants you to hear His voice! He doesn't speak to us through a quiver in our liver or through vibes or mediums. Hearing the voice of God is as natural as hearing your best friend talk to you. What's more, we can hear Him everyday and not just on special occasions. He speaks to us in the natural moments of life.WOW
Do you want to hear God's voice? Then you must be ready to listen.

Hearing God's Voice through Prayer
When you want to have a conversation with someone, how do you begin? Do you stand in front of the person and hope they will talk to you? That might work, if the other person is outgoing enough, but usually we begin a conversation by opening our own mouths and talking, engaging the other person's attention. It's the same with God! He loves to hear us talk to Him, and it's in those moments that we prepare ourselves to hear the voice of God. Prayer is like saying, "Hello, God, it's me. I believe You created me and that You know way more about how I should live my life than I do. I'd like to get to know You better. Here's what's going on in my life, and I'd sure like Your thoughts on how to handle it. Would You please speak to me about this today?"

Listen Closely. In an ordinary conversation, we speak, then listen for the response of the other person. It's the same with God! Once we've prepared our hearts to listen through prayer, we're more likely to hear the voice of God. Does He speak to us through an audible voice? Some claim He does, but usually that's not the case. We may not actually "hear" the voice of God, but He speaks to us in many ways. Here are some of them:

God speaks through His Word
God speaks through our thoughts
God speaks through conversations with others
God speaks through circumstances

Hearing God's Voice with the Help of the Holy Spirit
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26). The second chapter of Acts describes the events that occurred on the day of Pentecost, after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Verse 3 says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, the Counselor promised by Jesus. This unique aspect of God's personality did not come to them as someone they could see and touch, but rather He came to live inside them. That same Spirit is available to you and me today. Are you a Christian? If so, you already have the Holy Spirit available to you. Ask God for a fresh filling everyday, and He will prepare your heart to hear God's voice. His Spirit, that still, small voice inside you, is the One who will remind you of what God said, and help you recognize God's opportunities in your life.

Recall Notice!

2009-04-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.
This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

This defect has been technically termed "Subsequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some other symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.

The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.

Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers' Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.

WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.

DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.

Thank you for your attention!

Crosby Pics

2009-04-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

Just wanted everyone to check out our pics @ http://crosbypics.shutterfly.com
Have a great day!!!

Drug Problem?

2009-04-03T06:33:00.000-07:00

Holiness

2009-04-02T06:58:00.000-07:00

God calls us to be holy. After all, God is holy. (Most of us just assume that, but in the Bible they're so awestruck by God, they keep saying it : 1 Peter 1:15-16; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:4).

When we speak of the 'Holy Spirit', we're saying the Spirit is holy. If we are 'indwelt' and even 'filled' with the Spirit, does it mean holiness is in us? But what is holiness? Following the law? A saintly countenance? A quietude people can see? Churchly achievement? Excellent performance? Good deeds? Good PR? Being super nice to everyone?

The holy life is simply living as someone who belongs to God and who lives by the vision of the Kingdom of God. Were it only so simple!

For we, on our own, don't have much to work with. We can't rightly envision what a life of holiness is, and even if we could, we couldn't get ourselves to be that way. So, the Spirit brings us into the holiness of Jesus. (I'm not talking about a holiness 'like' Jesus' or a holiness in Jesus' style. Thanks to the Spirit working through your faith, Jesus is really there with you and within you, giving you Jesus's holiness.)

Some Christians emphasize biblical standards of holiness. Some call this legalism, and unfortunately sometimes it is legalism. Firmer roots for personal holiness grow when we recognize that we are broken creatures, through and through. Even our vision of what makes for holiness is marred and twisted.

We start growing in Christ as we learn we are strangers to God's ways. This leaves us no recourse but pray for the Spirit's leading. Without the Spirit's work, we not only cannot know God, but we also fail to discover our true selves. The Spirit, through the Bible, shows us what a God-pleasing life is, and leads us to want to live it and treasure it.

God doesn't get appeased by your doing good things, any more than by sacrifice or conquest of a nation. God's not impressed. God does better things in the first minute of each morning than anything we ever did. If you need Godliness, only God has it, so only God can give it to you. It is 'earned' in a sense, but only by what Christ did. And through what Christ did, his life, death, and transcendence of death, God gave it to you. The light shines on you, and from there it reflects onto everything else.

I beleive that it is truly the last hour that we are living in. More than ever before we must strive to live Holy and walk with Jesus!!!

God Bless

2009-02-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

RECALL NOTICE
The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.
This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.
This defect has been technically termed "Subsequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.

Some other symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.
The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.
Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers' Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention!
Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by "kneemail".

The Safest Place

2009-02-19T16:18:00.000-08:00

Interesting stats!!

THE SAFEST PLACE

How to stay safe in the world today.
1.. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.

4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. So, ... above all else, avoid hospitals.

BUT, ... You will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church! ====scroll on...And....Bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less. So,...for SAFETY'S sake - Attend church, and read your Bible IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to tell the best 2 ladies in the world (Crystal and Kelsey) Happy Valentine's Day!!! Both of you mean the world to me.
I love you with all of my heart!!!!!!!

The Ministry

2009-02-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry"

I have come to realize in my life just how precious the ministry is. It's a calling.
I remember an old statement that I have often heard that says "some are called, some are sent, and some just packed up and went".

It is amazing that our Lord would take an undeserving sinner who has no business even being a child of God, much less serving in the public ministry, and train him, then call him to publicly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. That is what the Lord did for the Apostle Paul who wrote those words to a young pastor and co-worker, Timothy. That is what he did for me. That is what he does for all who are called to be pastors. There’s not one called servant of the gospel who is deserving of it. The apostle Paul knew that. He’s the one that openly admitted that he was the "chief of sinners."

To me, there is nothing more I Love in this world than Pastoring. I had the chance over the weekend to re-visit my former Church (which I Love dearly) Cypress Grove Assembly and preach to them Sunday morning and Preach at Carmel Assembly in Bonifay, FL. Sunday night.
In both of these services God moved in a mighty way during the alter time. Thank God!!!
Thanks to both of these Churches for allowing me the opportunity to Preach this Gospel!

God Does Care!

2009-02-04T07:13:00.000-08:00

In all of my trials in life I have come to realize in every one of these, God does really care!!!
I can tell of many trials and tests, in times that I even wondered if God was even concerned about what was going on, that He does.
I am often reminded of a great statement that even I have preached on, that "the teacher is quiet during the test". WOW

You may have heard it said there are three kinds of people: Those who have been through trials, those who are going through trials, and those who are going to go through trials. Throughout the Bible we are told of the trials and tribulations to come. We live in a fallen world and none of us are exempt. Satan's mission is simple; he comes to rob steal and destroy (John10:10).

God can take the trials of our lives and turn them into glory for Him if we will allow it. When going through difficult times, I try to look at the situation as a refining of my faith. I know God didn't make the trial happen, but that He can use it to show me that He is in control because He is God. Taking a look at 1 Peter 4:12-13:
"Beloved, do not thing it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

Just to let you know, Crystal is doing better. It is because of the multitude of Prayers that have been said for us. THANK YOU!!!!!!! She will be Ministering as the guest Speaker @ the end of the month in Tallahassee, FL. at A Women's Conference. The Theme of the Conference is "Surviving the Storms of Life".

Baby Crosby

2009-02-02T08:27:00.000-08:00

Now to the reasoning behind the last couple of post. This was written by Crystal in a hardship that we recently had to go through.

Written on Jan. 13, 2008

Today makes 14 days I have known that we are pregnant!!! Finally after surgery, testing , and a lots of money and prayers later to see those two pink lines thrilled my heart beyond words. The joy and elation that expecting a new arrival brought much happiness to our home, friends, and family.
But my, how short loved was the celebration. Today I lost my baby. She's gone now. Her tiny little presence that had made herself known only 14 days ago has left my body. To others the loss may seem so insignificant, "gee I never ever heard a heartbeat" but I knew She was there and now I feel such great loss to know she's gone.

I'll never hear her little heartbeat.
I'll never feel the kick of her foot in my ribs.
I'll never hear her cry at birth.
I'll never feel her skin against mine.
I'll never hear her say Mommy and Daddy.
I'll never kiss her little face and fingers.

To others she was just and embryo, to me she was life. I miss her presence already so much. The pain hurts . I Love her. I feel She is a part of this home and I will forever remember the creation of her little life.

Prayer (Part 2)

2009-01-30T12:44:00.000-08:00

The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him." No matter the person praying, the passion behind the prayer, or the purpose of the prayer - God answers prayers that are in agreement with His will. His answers are not always yes, but are always in our best interest. When our desires line up with His will, we will come to understand that in time. When we pray passionately and purposefully, according to God's will, God responds powerfully!

O' how (I), we need to let this sink into our lives!

We cannot access powerful prayer by using "magic formulas." Our prayers being answered is not based on the eloquence of our prayers. We don't have to use certain words or phrases to get God to answer our prayers. In fact, Jesus rebukes those who pray using repetitions, "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him" (Matthew 6:7-8). Prayer is communicating with God. All you have to do is ask God for His help. Psalm 107:28-30 reminds us, "Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven." There is power in prayer!

Prayer

2009-01-29T11:17:00.000-08:00

All of us long to connect with someone who can identify with our circumstances and share in our day-to-day life. Prayer is just that - a personal experience and intimate connection with our loving Heavenly Father.
Imagine meeting your best friend for coffee at your favorite cafe. Your friend knows everything about you. You can count on your friend being exactly where he says he will be. Anytime you need him, you can call and he won’t be upset with you. He is willing to listen and responds with love and concern. That is just like prayer. The only difference is that your best friend is God. God is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. He knows everything you ever did and He still loves you! He knows your future too. He has the best plans for your life. He cares for you so much that He gave His Son so that you could be with Him forever. “For God so loved the world, the He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). You can talk to Him about anything that concerns you. Tell Him your desires and passions. Share your concerns for your loved ones. Talk out your fears with Him. Communicate to God what is inside you without fear.

Through recent trials in our own life I have been reasured that no matter what, even if you wander why God may not answer your prayer, we must pray according to the will of God!
I have seen Christ move on my behalf many times, so when the enemy tries to tell me that prayer is no good, I know fore sure that is not true.

I will fill you all in soon on what has inspired me to Consider this. God Bless.