We have come to a red light at the Intersection, where we as a writing team, feel God has said it’s time to stop. Though this decision was not easy for me personally, I feel at peace about it, as God has directed my life to a different corner, maybe a different intersection, for this next season of life.

I can’t thank our faithful readers enough for walking with us on this journey for the last four years. We hope that you have enjoyed our themes and our posts as much as we have writing them. I’ve often thought as I sit to write a post that God knew I needed that topic or scripture more than I even realized. Where I often thought I was writing for “someone” out there who needed to hear certain words, it was really me who needed them. Thank you for your encouragement and comments on the weekly posts. They ministered to each of us in ways you may never know.

If I could think of one last thought to share with you, it is this, and sadly I can’t take credit for these words. I was sitting in church this weekend when our pastor said, “that God’s will (for our lives) is always right, but it may not always be easy.” I don’t know what the next season of life holds for you, but I encourage you to walk in obedience where the Lord directs you. Look for the green lights before you leap into a new adventure. Slow down when you are given a yellow light. And stop when God so gently gives you a red light.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. Ecclesiastes 3:1″

In Love and Prayers for each of You,

Krista

While Krista, Michele and I still have a deep desire to bring God glory through the written and spoken word, we’ve come to realize that our intersections are changing addresses.  For me, I’m just a few weeks away from launching the ministry God laid on my heart years ago.  Eyes of your Heart Ministries is birthed from Ephesians 1:18, which says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you.”  In a day and age when hope can seem elusive and my faith is clouded by the worries and things of this world, I’m on a quest to begin seeing through the eyes of my heart.  Come join me on this journey at www.eyesofyourheart.com beginning September 16th.

Once again, thank you for giving us the opportunity to come into your homes and lives.

I’ll let Paul’s final words in the book of Colossians be my send-off to you:

May God’s grace be with you. Col 4:19 (NLT)

Thus the birth of The Intersection.

The longer I live, the more I recognize the temporary nature of things. What is news one day becomes history the next. What we birth one day eventually graduates and moves on to college. Time always moves forward, and eventually a day comes when we have to let go of those things we once held dear.

This is where we find ourselves today with The Intersection. What a joy it’s been to walk with you! How much I’ve loved meeting you here, sharing a little bit of life and faith together! These intersections we’ve made, these moments in time when we’ve chosen to allow our separate stories to meet, will not be wasted. In fact, I believe they’ve become part of the imprint of Eternity, stories we’ll re-read and reminisce about when we’re sharing Heaven’s real estate.

Until then, don’t forget the heart of the message of the Intersection. Within the text of God’s word lies ancient paths to help us navigate today. It’s not outdated or obsolete. No matter how much time passes, God’s word is “alive and active,” able to encourage, equip, inspire, convict and lead you through the numbered day of your life.

Hang on to it as if your next breath depends on it. Who knows — it just might!

Much love for you, friends. Until we meet again …

I’m with you. And so is our Jesus, Immanuel, God with us!

~ Michele

• I took my kids to a park, forgetting that teens from the nearby high school spend their lunch break there and fill the air with profanities.  Hours later, my four-year-old son shot off a round of expletives that had never before left his mouth.
• I met up with a friend for a short while, then gave her a hug when we had to go our separate ways.  I could smell her sweet perfume on my clothing the rest of the day.
• I served green beans with dinner.  Rather than hearing my daughter scream in protest like normal, she grabbed the salt shaker, sprinkled some on, then reminded me that she now likes this vegetable thanks to watching a friend put a little spice on it.

What do these three occurrences have in common?  They all remind me that people rub off on us, whether they’re aware of it or not.  There’s no way the teens in the park could have known that their choice of words would influence my young son’s vocabulary.  They simply talked as they normally did, thereby causing Gabe to talk in a way contrary to his normal speech.  My friend couldn’t have guessed that she’d cause me to smell like her perfume, nor could Micayla’s friend imagine that my daughter would become excited over the vegetable that just last month she protested.

Accidental rubbing off.  If people can rub off on us so quickly, I can only imagine we do the same to others.  Questions is, what do we want to rub off onto others?  Griping and complaining, or praise and adoration.

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive? so that you will have the right response for everyone.” (Colossians 4:6,NLT)

I experienced this feeling of “discomfort” over the weekend. My husband’s company held a family picnic at a nearby park. I’ll admit it was not on my Top 10 List of events I wanted to participate in this weekend. If I had my choice I would much rather be with my peeps—my friends and family that are familiar to me. Then the thought crossed my mind: Who are my peeps anyway, and what makes me so comfortable with them?

I will admit that about 95% of my circle of friends are Christians. We share a common bond. Our conversations are safe. We share a mutual view on current issues. There is a depth-ness to our conversations because they center around our mighty God. I find myself socially confident in these circles, but put me with a group of corporate, possibly pretentious, strangers, and I feel like an outsider.

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5”

This scripture hit me as we were driving to the picnic. How often do “outsiders” visit church each weekend only to feel completely uncomfortable? Are they greeted with a smile and a handshake, or turned away because they feel they’ve walked in on a sacred party they know nothing about? Do they feel silly asking a question because everyone looks like they know exactly where to go and what to do? Hmmm. Definitely some food for thought.

As it turned out the picnic was great! I met several wonderful people who shook my hand with a smile. They welcomed me and made me feel, dare I say, comfortable? They weren’t pretentious, like I had conjured up in my mind. The afternoon was very enjoyable. And, to top it off, my sweet daughters won a cash prize for the three-legged race! Go figure.

I learned from a few simple, but profound words in scripture, that being wise and making the most of every opportunity can sometimes be as simple as being friendly and reaching out to others who I may so easily ignore and pass by on any given day.

“Um, sure,” she responded, caught off guard that I came up to her as her Bible study group was leaving the room.  I knew the timing was bad, but truth be told, I was desperate.  Lola is known for praying and I urgently needed another person to help pray me through a series of trials and challenges.

Lola is one of many people I cherish in my life that pray.  I mean pray.  They don’t necessarily use nice, flowery clichés or words so big I need to be armed with a dictionary.  I’m talking about talking, to their Father.  Regularly.  They just can’t help but talk to Him.  He’s their Daddy after all and their hearts grow void and desolate if they go too long without chatting a bit with Him or just sitting to listen to what He has to say.

Colossians 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” 

I’m grateful to be surrounded by such incredible people who devote themselves to prayer.  They inspire me to do the same, but mostly I’m challenged to do so because I’ve seen the tremendous, unspeakable effects of prayer.  Revelations 5:8 talks about the “golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”  Let’s devote ourselves to filling those bowls.