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Disappointment. Discouragement. Struggles. Grief.
Every coach knows that when a player gets down, the job of the coach is to “get them back in the game”. Unless, seriously injured, I can hear a coach from the sidelines proclaiming “get up! Get in there!”.
Just a few short weeks ago, my oldest daughter started cross country. I had never been to, seen, or taken part in a cross country meet before this fall. Standing at the finish line with several different schools represented and a couple hundred young athletes testing their ability, I was blown away by the support. Everyone cheers everyone. I was so overcome by the scene; strange wet droplets fell from my eyes. I have never been much of a crier, but the encouragement from the onlookers was like nothing I had ever seen before.
Red faces covered in sweat were proof of just how hard each runner was working. And there were the coaches pushing, stretching and encouraging each student to their max. That's what a good coach does, pushes and encourages each person to their maximum potential.
Job is a man we find in scripture who had been pushed to his max. In the first 41 chapters of Job, we read about his loss. Job lost everything. We read of the unhelpful conversations he has with his friends. And, we read about the dialogue he has with God. Job goes through 3 phases. First, he refuses to respond to God. Second, Job admits his lack of knowledge. Finally, Job relents. He sees God for who God really is - a God that comes to us where we are, a God who meets us in our struggles.
Chapter 42, God restores a double blessing of everything to Job. The very end of the book explains that Job dies a very satisfied man.
Like a great coach, God is right there, telling Job to get up, and get back in the game. Like a great coach, God doesn’t leave Job when he is down. God walks with Job, understands Job, teaches and blesses him.
But, unlike a human coach, God isn’t standing shouting from the sidelines. Instead, God is near to us. So near, that he gives us His very presence in the form of His Holy Spirit. Our great coach pours out his Holy Spirit on us, in us, through us and for us that we may walk through the trials of life with God as a very near guide. Now that is a great coach.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Melissa
PS. Don't forget to join us for worship: Register for worship here!
We believe in our Kids!
We are looking for a few folks who are willing to invest in the next generation. Kids Own Worship (KOW) has resumed!. We are lookinf for a few volunteers who would love to hang out with K-4th grade students once a month or once in every 2 months. Talk to Pastor Melissa if you are interested!!!!
Wednesday night Children's and Youth programing is back! Join us from 6:30-7:30 pm at Eagle View Elementary school. Register your kids today.
Hospitality
At Crossroads we love being a community! You are invited to hang out with friends and church ‘family’ while enjoying snacks and coffee. If you are interested in learning more about how to help with hospitality, contact Pastor Melissa
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