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Stewardship Challenge- 2016
Growing together as a couple or as an individual-continued In the last blog, I mentioned something that I would like to address in this blog. One of the things that I suggested was taking Communion as an individual, as a couple or group. Communion, the Lords Supper, or the Eucharist, whatever terminology you prefer is all the same thing. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me”. Why do you think the Lord would ask us to remember this last act that He shared with the disciples? He is also asking us to do the same today, but why? I believe it’s because we get so busy with life and activities and even with His work that we forget to really focus on Him and ALL that was accomplished on the Cross! I believe Communion is one of the highest and most overlooked weapons of Spiritual warfare that we have in our possession. As we partake in Communion, the power of healing can break forth! I hope as you take Communion from this day forward, you will stop and think about ALL that is available to us through this act. I think we as Christians only receive a small portion of what is available to us as His children. The price has been paid for our healing and freedom; let’s not waste the opportunity each and every time we take Communion. Try taking Communion on a daily basis for a month and searching the scriptures for different ways to apply Communion to your lives. “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who are being saved.” Acts 2:47-47
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Stewardship Challenge 2016- Growing as a married couple or as a single person
It is so important to grow in the Lord if you are single or married, you just might go about it differently. Below are some ideas for both of you to consider. For a couple, you might consider approaching a younger couple or a single person to mentor. There are many out there who are just waiting for someone just like you to help them. Take them out to lunch or dinner or have them over to your home and encourage them in the Lord. If you are single, plan a potluck and invite a couple whom you respect to speak to the group. Finish off the evening with communion. With summer fast approaching, plan an outdoor activity just for yourselves or with a couples group to enjoy together. One of the important things that I think is essential for a strong marriage is to pray together. Make it a habit to pray together several times a day. Another thing that I see as necessary is taking communion together, weather you are single or married. I will share a story about myself in taking communion. I had some nerve damage done to the back of my head and the doctor gave me some medicine for it. I took it faithfully … After several days, I felt like I had dementia…I couldn’t type or remember things. I took time off work to spend time with the Lord. I was on the back patio praying and I felt led to go in and take communion which I did. While I was taking communion, I felt impressed by the Lord that my problem was the meds I was talking. I immediately called the doctor and told him I could no longer take the meds. Within a few days ALL of the symptoms left. It is important to spend the time necessary to hear from the Lord. Communion is very important to me personally and as a married couple. A good book I can recommend is, Communion with Jesus by Steve and JoAnne Rupp. Take long walks and really communicate with each other. Take in a festival or concert in the park close to you home. There are several that will be coming up in the summer. Do an internet search for festivals in your area, enjoy as a couple or as a group. Never take each other for granted as a couple and never take your friends for granted. Life is too previous to waste it. “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being” 1 Corinthians 10:24  Crossroads Ministries will be conducting a Volunteer Training Class at our office on Saturday, February 27, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The purpose of the class is to train you how to minister to the elderly in care centers. If you enjoy visiting with the elderly or feel called to this ministry, plan to join us for one of these informational meetings. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF THE ELDERLY! Volunteers needed for care center visits, Bible studies, church services, special events… Let us know how you’d like to serve! RSVP required! Call Kristi at (719) 635-5767 or email: kristi@crossroadsusa.org to reserve your seat! Location: Date & Time: Crossroads Ministries Saturday, February 27th 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Great ideas for Valentine’s Day! Give your wife a dozen red roses. On each stem attach a note for a future date—something she would really enjoy Make a book about why you love your spouse and why you are thankful for him/her. (Will give you the opportunity to think about the positive reasons we love them instead of dwelling on any of the negative) Enjoy a candlelight dinner at home and plan to watch a romantic movie together with dessert. Hide little candies in your spouse’s clothes, under the pillow, in the car, etc. Fill a jar with Valentine candy and notes for your spouse. Make the notes good for future events: example- back rub, trip to mountains or beach, husband can do dishes for a week, or you can make notes of things that you appreciate about your spouse. Make a special “14 Reasons Why I Love You” Valentine’s Day breakfast. Leave the note on your spouse’s plate. Visit places in your home town that you haven’t visited before and enjoy the drive and new food options. Switch it up for a special Valentine’s Day breakfast at a new restaurant. Have a picnic full of memories…Treat your Valentine to a carpet picnic…in your living room! Instead of making an extravagant meal, separately buy each other’s favorite appetizers and finger foods. Get foods that hold certain memories; your first date, etc. Light candles while you dine and share memories of your life together. Have fun on Valentine’s Day but remember: Love is not meant to be given and received just on Valentine’s Day. Instead, it’s to be practiced every single day of the entire year!! Stewardship Challenge 2016
Week Four- Love, Marriage and Dating For the next two weeks we will look at dating/date night or singles night. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching so let’s look at ways you can make this special whether you are single or married. First of all, let’s look at the beginning of Valentine’s Day and the meaning behind it. Approximately 250 years after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there was a priest by the name of Valentine. He lived in Rome. At that time, Claudius was the Emperor of Rome. Some people called him Claudius the Cruel. St. Valentine didn’t like Emperor Claudius, and he wasn’t the only one! Many people felt the same way. Claudius wanted a big army. He thought men should volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to leave home and go off to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their girlfriends and wives. So, not many men volunteered for the Roman army. This made Emperor Claudius very angry. He had a crazy idea that if men were not married, they would be more inclined to join his army. So Claudius decreed that there would be no more marriages. Young people thought his new law was really cruel. Valentine thought it was ridiculous! One of his favorite duties as a priest was to marry people. After Emperor Claudius passed his law, Valentine kept on performing marriage ceremonies – but secretly. He would whisper the words of the ceremony, while listening for soldiers on the steps outside. One night, Valentine did hear footsteps at his door. The couple he was marrying escaped, but he was caught. He was thrown in jail and told that his punishment was death. St. Valentine tried to stay cheerful. Many young people came to the jail to visit him. They threw flowers and notes up to his window. They wanted him to know that they, too, believed in love. One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit him in his cell. They often sat and talked for hours. She believed he did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and performing marriage ceremonies. On the day Valentine was to die, he left her a note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it, “Love from your Valentine.” That note started the custom of exchanging love notes on Valentine’s Day. It was written on the day he died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. When they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh — because they know that love can’t be beaten! Let’s not go through the motions this Valentine’s Day. Life is busy, and it seems so commercialized – sure. But remember why Valentine’s Day exists and it becomes more meaningful. Let’s take it as an opportunity to consider our spouses an unmeasurable blessing and remind them of their worth. Imagine not being allowed to marry because of persecution! We get to spend valuable time with our husband/wife doing anything we can imagine – dreaming, traveling, laughing, and loving TOGETHER. Valentine’s Day is a fresh reminder that we are unbelievably blessed to be married. That’s what this holiday has come to mean for me – and it’s plenty of motivation and reason to express my love in creative ways. Next week we will look at fun and serious ways to express our love if we are single, dating or married. So stay tuned!! Crossroads Ministries will be conducting Volunteer Training Class on Saturday, February 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at our office located at:
5585 Erindale Drive Suite 207 Colorado Springs, CO 80918 If you enjoy visiting with the elderly or feel called to this ministry, please join us for this month’s class. If you would like to attend please call Kristi (719) 635-5767 or email: kristi@crossroadsusa.org to reserve your spot today. |
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