Crossroads United Methodist Church

05/28/2020

Psalm 71:14 As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Morning Prayer: I am grateful for this affirmation this morning. I have many times felt as if all hope was lost but I know it was not because I live in the unwavering hope that is instilled in me when I see the beauty of this world and the good that people do when living in Your ways. God, today I pray that we can all see past the subterfuge of negativity and fear to the beauty that is within those very things and the goodness and love that these challenges illuminate. I live in hope because every day I am given proof that my faith is not unfounded. The beauty of this day and the limitless love I can share at any moment is the gift I could not give myself. I praise You for the fidelity You have shown us in Your love through our life's journey. God I pray that we can all know that hope does spring eternal. May it be so.

Morning Focus: I will look for God’s love in all I see, hear and feel today. I will know that challenges are the opportunities to see God’s love illuminated.

05/27/2020

Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties

Do you know someone in Loudoun who needs help with their rent as a result of COVID-19? The COVID-19 Emergency Fund and Helpline is here to help! Call 703-669-5040 or visit https://communityfoundationlf.org/covid19helpline/ for more information.

05/27/2020

Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have is an anchor for the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast.

Morning Prayer: God, all too often now I feel that I am somewhat adrift. The days melt one into another; as I awake I have to remind myself what day it is. Memorial Day just passed and I was aware of the solemnity of the day, holding in my heart all those who have sacrificed their lives for others. But the weekend is also a time for pools to open, neighborhood barbecues and fireworks, and none of that happened. It is disconcerting to say the least. So I am so very grateful for the hope I have in You. Your love, Your grace is the anchor I need right now. You are sure and steadfast and knowing that You are as close as my own breath settles and soothes me. And as I am settled and soothed my hope is that I can become an anchor to someone else who is struggling and feeling disconnected. May it be so.

Morning Focus: I will approach this day settled in God’s love which is my anchor in the uncertainty I feel.

05/26/2020

HOPE Preschool

What an awesome morning!! HOPE Preschool had our first drive by pick up for our students' work and items left at the school back in March. It was so WONDERFUL to see their little smiling faces and their parents!! For those that didn't come by today, remember to come through carline tomorrow (9am - 11am) to pick up your things. We would love to get to say goodbye and have a great summer!

05/26/2020

II Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by what we see.

Morning Prayer: Thank you God, for this short sentence, full of power and resolve. They capture my imagination as I picture what my life would look like if I constantly lived out this conviction. Too often, I am living by what I see and these words don’t feel honest or correct. What I see in front of me can hold me captive, in the kitchen, in the grocery store, in the news, or in our newly hazy future. Taking a deep breath and extending grace to myself, I imagine instead what my life would look like if I relentlessly lived out these words. If I gently stepped back from what I am seeing and tuned in to what I most deeply believe. When I live by faith, I am more patient with my family, more generous with my neighbor, and more hopeful in the world around me. When I live by faith, I can use what I see to discover my part of bringing about love, healing, and justice. When I live by faith, I become motivated instead of dismayed, empowered instead of helpless. Be with me, God, as I live by faith today. May it be so.

Morning Focus: In every new moment, may I choose to live by faith.

05/25/2020

Hebrews 10:23 Let’s hold on to the confessions of our hope without wavering, because the one who made the promises is reliable.

Morning Prayer: God, when I read the word “reliable” this morning, it feels like a deep exhale, a weight lifted off my shoulders. There are few things in our world we can define that way and focusing on the shakiness of it all traps us in anxiety. As I prepare to take my next step, my footing might feel unsteady or my path may appear foggy. Yet I trust Your promises. I fix my mind on my hope in You, a hope that illuminates that step like a steady light. It does not waver. It does not flicker or dim. You have promised Your unconditional love for me and for every other person in this world, and You are reliable. Help me remember to hold tightly to this hope in every present moment. May it be so.

Morning Focus: Reliable- sound, trustworthy, unfailing, stable, and secure. Today I hold hope because God’s promise of love is reliable.

05/24/2020

Still

Here is the song "Still" from this morning's online gathering. We hope it is a reminder to you in times of uncertainty.
Be still, and know that I am God - Psalm 46:10

05/24/2020

I Corinthians 13:13 My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love - yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.

Morning Prayer: God, in the confusing new experience of my current daily life, saying “my understanding is incomplete now” is an understatement! Every day I carry questions big and small in my heart, sometimes looking up to the heavens or shaking my bowed head to simply ask “why?” There is comfort knowing that one day, these silent questions will be answered, but these words also bring incredible encouragement in the waiting time. What is most true is most clear, what is everlasting is present now. Faith, hope, and love. These qualities, while hard to define, are what I know most deeply. They are planted by you in my heart, rooted deeper than my questions, growing stronger throughout my life. Even in the hardest moments, when faith seems childish, hope seems foolish, and love seems impossible, You cultivate these gifts. They form my path ahead, as we move from precarious to sure, unknowing to knowing. Today, help me move forward gently and intentionally. May it be so.

Morning Focus: Pause to meditate on each of these words. Faith. Hope. Love. What gifts do they bring to you today?

05/23/2020

Jeremiah 30:17a For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord….

Morning Prayer: When I read this passage, I know it’s my soul health You’re referring to, God, not my physical health: the heart of my soul. The wounds from which I suffer the greatest have never been physical. I’ve experienced a great many hardships in my life thus far, all of which took a toll on my heart and soul. There was a time in my life, God, when I allowed that pain to steer my choices causing me to pull back and isolate as a way of protecting myself. Yet all that did was allow the pain to fester and create a cancer of sorts in my heart harming myself as I drifted farther from love. How ironic that today, during this pandemic, we’re advised and encouraged to self-isolate and social distance, in order to protect our physical health. Help me, God, to find ways to protect and preserve my mental and spiritual health while respecting the guidelines for physical health during the pandemic. Remind me of the many opportunities You’ve provided for me to stay connected with You and others and encourage me to avail myself of them. Take my fear, God, and replace it with confidence and love that no matter what, You’re always with me. May it always be so.

Morning Focus: Today is a day filled with opportunity! I will center myself and reach out to others virtually and safely so that my heart and soul are connected with love.

05/22/2020

HOPE Preschool

A touching video from our friends at HOPE Preschool ❤️

Yesterday should have been our last day for the year at HOPE Preschool. Since we didn't get to say goodbye in person and have all of the hugs that we are usually blessed with; here is a "Have a Great Summer" video. The entire HOPE staff is also sending virtual hugs to all of you. Enjoy your summer and be sure to come back to visit us!

05/22/2020

Isaiah 40:29 God gives power to the faint, and to whoever has no might God increases strength.

Morning Prayer: God, as I prepare for my day I am grateful that in my weakness I find strength in You. It is tempting to use the necessity of isolation to withdraw and nurse my own wounds, my own fears. Yet what this scripture also says is that You will give power to the faint. My hope is that I will use the power I find in You to address the inequalities and injustices that become more evident in times of collective struggle. How might I contribute with my voice or with my resources so that those on the margins are not left behind. How am I being a healer to others during these troubling times. Let me use the strength and the power I receive from You to be the voice for the voiceless. May it be so.

Morning Focus: Today I will use the power and the strength I receive from God to examine and expose my own wounds so that I may begin to heal and try to be a healing presence to others.

05/21/2020

II Corinthians 12:8-9 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to relieve me of this. But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.”

Morning Prayer: I wake this morning to this scripture thinking about my grandmother who suffered with Parkinson’s disease for 32 years of my life before she passed away. She always walked in Your ways and gave me a strong foundation of love, compassion and hope. The thorn in her side showed the awesome grace that You give to us to make it through this life and be an inspiration and healer to those we don’t even realize. Help us all to see that the things that we must endure are the very pathways to the fullness of understanding that this mortal toil is but for a time and that there is nothing that can stand in the way of our love for You and our fellow travelers in this life. May it be so.

Morning Focus: I will go forth knowing that the things that challenge me also inspire me and others in God’s great power and love.

05/20/2020

Parenting with Positivity- Thursday, May 21st at 7pm
Achieving Results using a Positive Mindset

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAucemurjktGtDj0iKW4X1x3HiCjqWTIlUd

This FORTitude Panel focuses on finding and focusing on the positive in our lives. While the Corona virus has created tremendous challenges for parents, a positive mindset can help families stay calm, resilient, and healthy. Panel Series Guest Dr. Suzanne Nixon, Licensed Professional Counselor, Jennifer L. Wall Licensed Professional Counselor and Erica Rowe Loudoun Entrepreneur and Mom of 2 will discuss:

What is a positive mindset?
The benefits of modeling a positive behavior
Practical ways to achieve positivity in our daily lives

05/20/2020

John 20:27-28 Then, looking into Thomas’ eyes, Jesus said, “Put your finger here in the wounds of my hands. Here—put your hand into my wounded side and see for yourself. Thomas, don’t give in to your doubts any longer, just believe!” Then the words spilled out of his heart—“You are my Lord, and you are my God!”

Morning Prayer: God, when I read this scripture I think of how vulnerable Jesus was to invite Thomas to not only see but touch his wounds. I am often tempted to hide my wounds. I want people to see how good I am and not my broken parts. Yet today’s scripture says that when Jesus displayed his wounds that’s when Thomas believed in the resurrected Christ. I know that when I learn of how others have been wounded I then have more compassion for them. I respect their vulnerability. I relate to their pain. So today I pray for strength to be honest about my weaknesses, my wounds. I don’t need to flaunt them, but I do need to own them. I need to know that by sharing my weakness, my wounds, I may be helping another person work through there’s. May it be so from now on.

Morning Focus: Remember everyone carries wounds. Have an intention to be more vulnerable about your own.

05/19/2020

II Corinthians 4:7-9 We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that the extraordinary overflow of power will be seen as God’s, not ours. Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option. We are persecuted by others, but God has not forsaken us. We may be knocked down, but not out. We continually share in the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the resurrection life of Jesus will be revealed through our humanity.

Morning Prayer: God, in the midst of being in this place of uncertainty, isolation and fear I often have feelings of not knowing what to do, of being knocked down if you will. I know that quitting is not an option; I have a family that depends on me every day. It is with this reminder that You have not and will not forsake or forget me that I am able to continue on each day, doing what I must. I am reminded that in all that I say or do, to my families, friends or strangers I encounter in these strange times, I am a vessel for Your message of love and hope. Whatever wounds I may suffer, You are the great Healer and the message of Your healing power is revealed through the scars on me and in me. May it be so.

Morning Focus: As I rise I remind myself of the words Trading My Sorrows: I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed, I am blessed beyond the curse, for God's promise will endure and God's joy will be my strength.

05/18/2020

Psalm 34:19 Even when bad things happen to the good and godly ones, the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated by what they face.

Morning Prayer: Thank you God for Your commitment and presence. In any season where there is suffering and pain, we find ourselves searching for reason. In one inhale, we ask “Why, God?” and in the exhale, we know there is no answer. This scripture doesn’t attempt to solve or justify a timeless universal question. Instead, it reiterates Your promise, God. These words burst with victory and soothe with encouragement. When bad things happen, You will rescue us. When we are wounded, You will not leave us broken down. May we lean on Your relentless love as we rise up. May Your devoted glory be revealed in the stories our lives tell. May it be so.

Morning Focus: As you inhale, say to yourself “No matter what I face today...”. Then as you exhale, say to yourself, “I will not be defeated.”

05/18/2020

Healing Is In Your Hands

"No mountain, no valley, no gain or loss we know, could keep us from Your love." Here is the third worship song from today's online gathering. Thank you for watching with us!

05/18/2020

Way Maker

With God there is always a Way! We hope this video of our worship team reminds you of that. God Bless!

05/17/2020

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

Here is a beautiful rendition of our worship team leading the song Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) for our Sunday online gathering. May we all continue to trust in God during difficult times, and know that we are surrounded by God's loving presence that makes us stronger.

05/17/2020

Proverbs 16:24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Morning Prayer: God, Your wise words remind us that our words matter. Words can cheer the heart. They can lift up our spirits and give us hope. Words can also cut deep into our spirits, wounding, discouraging and causing pain. When we speak carelessly we risk causing injury that may not be easily healed. During this time when our nerves are frayed and our feelings and emotions are heightened by fear and anxiety, I pray for us all to have fresh awareness of the power of our words. May we speak words of peace and love to each other. May we think carefully before speaking words that might wound or cause pain in these times when face to face reconciliation is impossible. Although we feel that many things are beyond our ability to control, we can do our best to control our words. May this be so for all of us.

Morning Focus: Today I will use my words to bring peace and healing to the world.

05/16/2020

James 3:17 …wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form…

Morning Prayer: God, my intention is to always listen for and act upon Your divine wisdom. My biggest dilemma when I read scriptures like this though, is “how do I know if the wisdom I’m receiving, internally and externally, is from You...inspired by You? Someone shared with me once, ego is Easing God Out. How can I be certain the insight and wisdom I receive and act upon is Yours, God, and not my own ego “easing God out,” reinforcing my own agenda? I remind myself that You’ve provided me with a wealth of resources to quiet my mind and slow my body so that I am able to break through the noise and chatter, the committee, that sometimes is fully and noisily engaged in my head. When I begin my day with a simple gratitude and breath prayer, the peace I feel following a restful slumber stays with me as I proceed about my day. Mindfulness practices help me stay connected to you, for when I’m at peace, my choices are born from a wisdom I am confident is You, God-inspired. Thank you, God, for always being there for me and with me. May it always be so.

Morning Focus: As you awaken, before even extending a leg off the side of the bed, give thanks for this new day, a day filled with God opportunities that await your presence.