Laura Crosby

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Road Trips

June 1, 2015 /

 

Adventure starts where plans end.-3It’s June 1st – the start of summer, and for many of you that means VACATION!

Every year when I was growing up, our family took The Big Vacation. We conquered a different region of the United States each summer. Planning for these extravaganzas began in the freeze of Chicago winters when the July road trip was just a tiny glimmer of warm light at the end of a cold, dark tunnel.

I’ve been thinking about those family adventures and decided it would be fun to do a summer blog series on Bible “road trips”. I’ll post once a week and include questions so you can use this for personal study or with a small group. Because these are a little more substantive, and because it’s summer, I’m just going to commit to one post a week. My small group is going to be discussing this IRL and you can join virtually. Sound ok?

In addition, I‘d love it if you’d post pictures of your road trips on Instagram (https://instagram.com – lauracrosby) or on my Facebook page with the hashtag #roadtrip and what you’re learning with a link to the blog.

Some of the things we experienced on our family vacations are consistent with what I see in biblical road trips:

  • Packing up – Abraham
  • Provision – Moses
  • Promise – Joshua
  • Pit stops – Elijah
  • Peter
  • Perspective – Paul

But today, just one thought…

No matter what road trip we’re on with the Lord, no matter where we go, our home is in Him.

They will ask the way to Jerusalem
    and will start back home again.
They will bind themselves to the Lord
    with an eternal covenant that will never be forgotten. Jer. 50:5 NLT

Questions (We’d love to hear any of your thoughts in the comments below!):

  1. What’s the most fun trip you’ve ever taken?
  2. How would you describe this leg of your journey or “road trip” with God? You may want to take a look at this Discipleship Map for help.
  3. What are the biggest challenges and fears as you look at the road you’re on?
  4. What promises do we have for our road trips? Exodus 33:14, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 16:11, Hebrews 13:5b. Which means the most to you?

The Bible, Jesus, and Check Marks

May 29, 2015 /

So when I was in college, “The Rule” (or at least the way I remember the Rule) was you had at least one half hour at 6 a.m. in a Solitary Place for your Official Quiet Time – 10 minutes of prayer time and 20 minutes of Bible reading.  Extra credit for journaling and lighting a candle. The truly Spiritual would be silent and HEAR A WORD FROM THE LORD. It felt legalistic and a little oppressive rather than life-giving, but what the heck, I’m a first born rule-follower so I gave it my best shot.

Then I grew up and realized (maybe in one of my Official Morning Quiet Times) that Jesus never Tweeted about #quiettime. He never added an 11th commandment about rules, regulations and minute breakdown for what was the minimal requirement for time with Him.

Instead He said, “Come to me…”, “Abide in Me”, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace…”come to me
Continue reading

A Different Way of Praying

May 27, 2015 /

There are a heck of a lot of people in pain, in need, in despair these days. Can I get an amen?

That means a heck of a lot of prayer concerns.

If you’re like me, that can result in almost mantra-like repetition of “Please heal…Please guide…Please provide…Please bring…” The focus ends up being on the concern rather than on the character of the God we are talking to.

Kind of like when you’re in a conversation with someone and realize you’re focused more on what YOU want to say than on them.

So, I’m trying something a little different lately.  I’m picturing holding the person or the situation before the Lord and then meditating on the attributes that He brings to bear on the situation. Continue reading

All the Bible People You Don’t Like

May 25, 2015 /

I’ve been realizing lately there are a LOT of Bible People I don’t like.

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Jacob, for example. He was just a jerk. And Gideon and Saul. I don’t like them. And I’ve never really liked Naomi.

They were SELFISH, and BITTER, and forgot all about GOD after He was always there for them! And they’re in the BIBLE for Pete’s sake!

My Bible reading plan has been MAKING me re-read about all these not-so-nice people who are just so….frustrating. I read and they’re about to do something stupid like worship a false idol or lie or whine and I’m like “No, no! Don’t do it!” but they do it anyway. Go figure.

And then it hits me. These not-so-nice-muck-ups are ME!

Maybe I cringe at the ugliness in others because deep down I recognize it as my own. Continue reading

3 Suggestions to Maintain Sanity in the Summertime

May 22, 2015 /

Dear Mamas,

I know you. I’ve been you. It’s May and you are so over school.

You are over science projects that involve late-night trips to Target, and one million school permission slips, and person of the week posters, and lost binders, and room-mother cupcakes to bake, and being the Enforcer of All things Homework.

You’re ready for Summertime when the livin’ is easy. You have dreams of vacation and weekend lemonade stands, popsicles, and your kids happily making forts in the back yard or having a marathon game of Monopoly on a stormy day. There will be barbecues and lake time, sparklers,  hopscotch and baseball games that will just magically happen like at Disney World where no one ever loses a flip flop or  their temper.FullSizeRender-14

Can I offer a few suggestions before Summer is upon us and your dreams come crashing down like the Excalliber Roller Coaster at Valley Fair? Continue reading

Three Questions to Ask When You’re Dinged

May 20, 2015 /

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I got this scar when I was 16 years old.  You can barely see it in this picture, but it’s there. Trust me.

I wish it was a scar from a bullet I got moonlighting as a spy (cuz I do have those skills you know), but no, not this time.

I was working on a car wash in a church parking lot to raise money for a high school athletic club I was part of.  There was a metal piece of trim sticking out on the side of the car, and as I swiped, it sliced my finger open leaving a deep cut that required stitches.

This is a scar that (almost) everyone can see. But I have “invisible” ones too.  I know you do too.

That teacher who shamed you. That boyfriend who dumped you. That parent who let you down. The friend who said “You’re too…” or “You’re not enough…” That time you were fired or betrayed or overlooked or compared and found lacking.

They may not be physically visible, but these wounds are deep and long-lasting.

What’s an invisible wound or painful memory you carry with you? Continue reading

5 Reminders For Your Heart

May 18, 2015 /

We’ve been in San Francisco over the weekend for Maggie’s graduation with her Masters from Berkley.  This is that time of year – one of graduations and weddings and new ventures and births of every kind. It’s a season of marking moments. Looking back and looking forward. As I was reflecting on this I thought it’s a time when maybe our heart needs reminding of some things.

So, today, a list of 5 Reminders your heart needs as you launch into whatever new things God has for you: Continue reading

It’s Not Your Story

May 16, 2015 /

“Then another generation grew up that didn’t know anything of God or the work He had done for Israel.” Judges 2:10

This was part of my reading the other morning, and it reminded me of some statistics I heard in a message by Craig Groeschel.

A Harvard Business Review article says only 10% of family businesses survive to the third generation. The first generation starts the business. The second generation runs the business. The third generation ruins the business.

Unfortunately we see this pattern in Scripture too. Think about Joshua. He leads the people into the Promised Land with great risk and reward. The second generation inherits the Promised Land. They haven’t fought any battles, they’re just preserving what’s been given to them and their worship of God becomes half-hearted. The 3rd generation sees the preservation and half-hearted worship without any risk or vision and they turn away from God.

Judges 21:25 says, In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

It’s incredibly difficult to pass anything from the first to the third generation.  What does that say to us who are parents? What does it say to those who are children of faith? Continue reading

Trick Mirrors and Other Spiritual Phenomena

May 13, 2015 /

I’ve always told my family and friends I have killer spy skills (as in “good”, not assassin-like).

I like to think I could be the female Jason Bourne.

I love Europe. I love the idea of running and jumping over rooftops. I like driving fast. What more do I need, right?

Well, with these spy skills, I’ve discovered a conspiracy of epic proportions. If you’re a guy reading this, it may not be your post, but if you’re a woman this will probably change your life and you’re welcome.

I’ve discovered that there is a conspiracy among shop owners of stores with women’s clothing. They are all buying TRICK MIRRORS that make you look better than you really are! I know this from first-hand experience.  I shop “virtually” with my daughters and I am not blind or unrealistic. I send pictures to both Katy and Maggie for their approval. Continue reading

The Five Hardest Words You May Ever Say

May 10, 2015 /

My phone pings and I look at another text update from my sister-in-law.

My brother David, who is two years younger than me, my brother who is strong and fit, my brother who is faithful and kind and always has a great sense of humor, has cancer. Stage 4.

And day and night we, his home team, in the bleachers and on the bench, pray for healing. For relief from unbearable pain and nausea, for strength and courage.

We are a family of Jesus-followers with a long heritage of belief and a sound-track of “Great is Thy Faithfulness”.  We trust in a giant of a God. We know without a shadow of a doubt that our God is powerful and loving and can heal David with both hands tied behind His back (so to speak).

In the past two years one of our closest friends was healed from Pancreatic cancer. Unheard of. A miracle. Another close friend died of Pancreatic cancer. Both were faithful, both trusted the goodness of God and the power of prayer.

So what do we do with that as we walk with David through this fiery furnace? How do we pray with total faith and hope for the kind of healing we want for David while acknowledging that, for whatever crazy reason, it may not be God’s will to show off?

I think the hardest thing we do is to join Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in being “if not” Christians.  Continue reading

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