Gods Special Friends

2011 disAbilities “A Day with the Stars” Day Camp . . .

JenFelix — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:53:18 +0000

This last Saturday was our 4th Annual Day Camp with the theme of it being “A Day With The Stars”. The day began with volunteers arriving at 6:30 am in order to prepare for the approximate 80 participants who were coming. We had the likes of Ricky and Lucy, Joe Dimaggio, Marilyn Monroe, and Sonny and Cher who all performed and mingled with all of our guys, and in the end, the true stars were each and every participant. From walking the red carpet, to sharing meals, to participating in crafts, bible stories, and worship, God was honored, and the Love of Christ displayed through each and every person. We are truly blessed and I can’t wait for the planning of our 3 Day Camp which will be here before we know it!!!!!

Inner Beauty

JenFelix — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 18:09:32 +0000

Here it is Saturday morning and my day is underway. As I was combing my hair and watching television, a commercial came on that struck my attention that reminded me of the mindset of the world we live in. It was the cover girl commercial in which Ellen comes on and makes a very profound statement that goes against everything we as Christians believe. Her words exactly, “Inner beauty is important, but not nearly as important as outer beauty”. WOW!!!! What an amazing lie we are being subtly told here within this commercial. Now, I am not saying wearing make up or desiring to look our best is wrong, but I do believe that when we send a message like that, where the outer beauty outweighs the importance of our inner beauty, a danger sign at least in my mind goes up telling me “Warning, the message you just heard is a lie, for TRUE BEAUTY comes from within” – and here within the disAbilities Ministry, each and every person is beautiful inside and out because it’s not all about what you have or how you look, but rather who you have living inside of you!!!!

Off And Running

JenFelix — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:38:09 +0000

Well, it’s been a while since my last post, and so many things are happening. God is just continuing to move within our midst and as a result, the ministry is thriving in such an amazing way. So just to give everyone a quick update on what’s happening, Friday Night Live has just continued to grow, and as a result, we are officially launching our own set of worship tonight within our Friday Night Live Study. Then, our Sunday Servants has grown as well, and therefore, the launch of our 2nd service class is this Sunday. Furthermore, our next ministry event is our Valentine Dinner and Dance, which looks as though will break the 100 mark again in attendance. And then, in addition to all of this, we are also getting really excited for the launch of a new area of ministry called “Saturday Heroes”. This aspect of the ministry is community based and we are looking forward to what God has for us within it. Then lastly, the Deaf Ministry is another amazing aspect to the overall ministry that began several years back as just a vision, and now today, we have almost 15 people actively involved on the team. Wow!!! What a way to really dive into the New Year . . . and I am sure there will be much more to come as we continue to Trust in Him – So stay tuned everyone – for the Disability Ministry here at Crossroads for the year 2011 is Off and Running . . .

Thought for the Week . . .

JenFelix — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:47:12 +0000

Well, today is the first day back after having some time off for Christmas and the New Year, and I can’t wait to dive back in and see everyone’s smiling faces again. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and when I consider everyone within the disAbilities Ministry that God has brought our way over this last year, my heart just doesn’t grow fonder, but my cup overflows. God’s blessings that have come upon us are like a priceless treasure to be held onto tight, never to be taken for granted, or let go of, which then reminds me of something a friend shared with me just this past week that I would like to pass on. That when your cup does overflow, go and get a bigger cup, because the Blessings that God desires to pour out onto you are one’s that He desires for you have, cherish, and experience within every breathing moment, of each and every day. So my thought for this week is this, as our ministry continues to grow, let’s continue to take nothing for granted, and value and treasure each and every Blessing that God bestows upon us, for it is in those Blessings, that we are able to continue to feel and experience the Heart of God.

Thought for the Week . . .

JenFelix — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 22:09:02 +0000

With Christmas being right around the corner and all of the last minute things that need to be done, it could become very easy to forget what the true meaning of Christmas is all about. That unto us a child is born, whose name is Emmanuel, Almighty God, and Prince of Peace, and that Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Now with that in mind and with all things considered, wouldn’t we all agree that Jesus is truly the greatest gift ever given and made available for everyone to receive. For with Christ in our lives, and guiding and directing our ways, nothing seems to compare. So as we all inch our way towards Christmas Day, and with all the business that goes along with this very season, my thought for the week is this, let us remember Jesus, and know, that it is always better to give than it is to receive.

Thought for the Week . . .

JenFelix — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 23:56:40 +0000

Well, when I think about the last week or so, the only two words that can come to mind is “exhausted and blessed”. Placing these two words together may seem a little interesting. However, considering the last three events we have had, I believe these two words are quit fitting. To begin with, we had an over the top Volunteer Christmas Dinner, which included some participants and families from the ministry. It was a time of fellowship, bonding, and vision casting for the new year, and the response from everyone who attended was nothing but positive. The next event was a panel that we did at our Mom 2 Mom’s ministry here at the church. We had 3 mothers share about the challenges and the blessings associated with having a child with special needs, as well as how it has changed them through the years. What an amazing blessing this was to be able to see and be a part of these mothers connecting, sharing, and being a blessing for others, all at the same time. Then, the last event was this last Saturday. This was our annual Christmas Dinner and Dance for all the participants within the ministry, and once again, God completely took it over the top. The food was fantastic (which was mostly cooked by volunteers), the numbers were staggering (about 150 people dancing the night away), and the Puppet Ministry who performed another magnificent set for us (Which of course always incorporates God’s Love). I can’t really say enough about this ministry and what is happening within it. We are having new participants come on almost a weekly basis, along with new volunteers who seem to be just “falling” out of the sky. I can’t think of a better place I would rather be, with a better group of people, who have truly caught on to the vision where there is no “us” and “them”, it is just “US”. And so this week, my thought for the week is this, keep running the race and don’t ever stop or give up, for God sees everything, and everything done for His glory for ALL of His people, carries with it blessing beyond any of our comprehension.

Thought for the Week . . .

JenFelix — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:09:35 +0000

This past weekend was just an amazing weekend filled with time with family, relaxation (kind of – lol) and lots of food. I am truly blessed. But the one thing that just took the weekend over the top was the lighting of the Christmas Tree. It was a time for us as a church family to reach out into the community, and come together and truly celebrate the beginning of this Christmas Season. Now I know that many may say, that “Black” Friday is the beginning of the Christmas Season. My take on that however is this, that although the day itself may be filled with an abundance of deals and chaotic fun, the true meaning of Christmas is really about the ushering in of a new era, that represents the Kingdom of God. So my thought for this week is this, let’s all remember to “slow down” and smell the roses – and remember that it was on that special day that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born – and the Kingdom of God became truly at hand . . .

Thought for the Week . . .

JenFelix — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:34:57 +0000

This week I am so excited!!!!! Not only do I really enjoy Thanksgiving time, but I truly believe God has parted the red sea within my life and my schedule, and is providing for me a few days of rest. Now I know for some, Thanksgiving time is anything but rest. Within it comes family time, cooking, eating, traffic, shopping, and a whole mess of other things. But for me, this year’s week of Thanksgiving doesn’t feel like that at all. It almost feels like a time of re-junvination of sorts. So my thought for the week is this, remember to look at the glass as being half full, and make the most out of everything God provides. He knows everything of what we need, so that we may continue to learn, to grow, to share, and to serve. So with that, may everyone have a Blessed week as we celebrate this Thanksgiving, while remembering the One for whom we truly need to give ALL of our thanks to –

The Plans of the Diligent . . .

JenFelix — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:38:36 +0000

As we are preparing to enter into Thanksgiving and this Christmas Season, I am reminded about how interesting it is how these two specific times of year just seem to creep up on us. Like as if somehow we didn’t know they were coming. But if we were to honestly take a step back and really think about it, Thanksgiving and Christmas come around at the same time every year. So what is it really that causes many of us to be so unprepared, and left having to do everything last minute? Well, I believe it is because of lack of planning. Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty”. And when we seek to apply this scripture to our lives, our jobs, our ministry, and everything else around us, nothing is able to then just creep up on us, because we are prepared. We have made a decision to be engaged, and actively pursue what needs to be done. Then organized it in such a way that by the time we reach the execution phase of it all, we are actually able to then enjoy it. Applying this concept then to the disABILITIES Ministry, one of the reasons why I believe we all have been able to enjoy our events so much, is because we have embraced this scripture and made it a part of who we we are. We are planners. And so as we as a ministry, and as individuals within this ministry, enter into this time of year with everything going on, let’s continue to embrace this scripture and remember, the plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as hast leads to poverty . . .

Thought for the Week . . .

JenFelix — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:46:56 +0000

Sometimes in life we may feel as if we are stuck. Where every direction we seem to go the obstacles that present themselves are like a road block preventing us from moving even an inch forward. In turn, all of this combined may then cause us to begin to lose our joy, and cause the very vision that we once had to become distorted and out of focus. That is why it is imperative that with each and every day that comes, that no matter what the circumstances, or the highs and the lows that may present themselves, that in all things we remember Christ, and know that it is through Him that we are able to experience peace, love, joy, happiness, and purpose through it all. Therefore, my thought for this week is Philippians 4:13, where Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” That a part from Him I can do nothing, and that everything that I do do, is because of His might and His strength, and not my own. It is truly a daily thing to consciously remember that it’s not all about me, but rather, it’s ALL about HIM!!!!!