Crosspointe Ministries https://mycrosspointe.org Changing Lives Through Love Wed, 28 Sep 2022 23:37:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.5 https://mycrosspointe.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/favicon-150x150.png Crosspointe Ministries https://mycrosspointe.org 32 32 211305560 Imitators of God https://mycrosspointe.org/imitators-of-god/ https://mycrosspointe.org/imitators-of-god/#respond Wed, 28 Sep 2022 23:37:23 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12274
imitators of god

This last Sunday’s service was really out of the ordinary: we were celebrating our Church Anniversary! Seven (7) Years already! so much has happened, so many miracles, so many victories in Him.  Our God is amazing!! We have been fed plenty with the Word of God in truth and Spirit in the past years. It is incredible to have pastors who will dedicate their lives to God and our Church: Crosspointe Ministries, the way they do their work, always going beyond expectations and having so much love for all of us! I am forever grateful to God Who has put these wonderful people in my life to help me walk the narrow path which God has created for me (and for each of us). Our pastor Vickylextar has been and still is so faithful and obedient to God, and the message we received was a reinforcement for me to continue to be obedient, to trust God completely and to become a true Imitator of God.  

So what does it mean to be imitators of God? Is it really possible? Yes it is! why? because the Word says so ”Therefore become imitators of God…” (Ephesians 5:1) And the Word of God is true. So, how can I do this? By walking continually in love, by valuing one another, seeking the best for others without being selfish.  It also means that I need to walk with everybody with complete forgiveness, as Christ has done for me and all humanity.  And one important thing our pastor told us (and it was not the first time she was telling us that) is that she had given “carte blanche” for all in terms of forgiveness

Giving carte blanche and forgive all, become imitators of God

It is a matter of decision, and when you have made your decision to forgive anybody for anything that has been done to you then, you don’t go back at what happened that could have been quite offensive: you have to remember that you have made a decision and that you are honouring that decision.  So I did, in my heart, give again “carte blanche” to many people I know who either hurt me or have been offensive, and even for the future ones so it will be easier and quicker to reposition myself in Him.  I want to ensure that all is good in my heart and that I can keep my heart as pure as Imitators of God possible for Him.  I do love God with all my heart, soul and mind, and I do want to honour Him for the rest of my life, He has done and keeps doing so much for me, it’s just incredible!  In Him I rejoice every day, I never thought I would be able to rejoice but in Him I do; thank you, God.

Pastor Carole, September 28, 2022

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Fleeting Appearance & False Evidence https://mycrosspointe.org/fleeting-appearance-false-evidence/ https://mycrosspointe.org/fleeting-appearance-false-evidence/#respond Thu, 15 Sep 2022 00:56:18 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12265
fleeting appearance & false evidence
 In this Sunday’s service, Pastor David talked about living a life where we are walking in truth and alignment with the Father.  He gave us the title of his sermon “Fleeting Appearance & False Evidence”.

It can be so easy to play church, where we act and say the right things but it is with the absence of God. Appearance… it can be very deceiving. If our words and actions are not sincere, rooted in truth, or even worse, if God is not even in the equation, we are lukewarm and this does not please Him. How backward is this? To be a Christian and to do things in His name while He is not even a part of it. This is a very scary place to be; this is an example of fleeting appearance & false evidence!

Fleeting Appearance & False Evidence, you must stop , it's a warning ! Let's align in truth.

We were reminded of Mathew 7:21-23, where we are warned that so-called Christians who actually performed wonders were not connected to the Father. He (God) did not know them.

This is a warning that I take heed to. I am grateful to be part of a body that corrects and encourages us when we are not on track. So as I continue to walk in truth, have my heart open, rise up, be teachable, and aim to please the Father, I will finish this race and I look forward to the Father saying- “well done my good and faithful servant”! May we pick up our crosses daily and check our hearts so that we live a life that is true and pleasing to Him

Sabrena, September 15, 2022

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The Power of the Blood – Forgiveness https://mycrosspointe.org/the-power-of-the-blood-forgiveness/ https://mycrosspointe.org/the-power-of-the-blood-forgiveness/#respond Sat, 10 Sep 2022 23:10:58 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12254
the power of the blood – forgiveness

Last service, we received an inspiring message on one of the most central teachings of Christianity. Pastor Vickylextar shared in length about The Power of the Blood-Forgiveness of Yeshua. There is so much to say about the shedding of that Blood, the sacrifice of Yeshua, and what He accomplished by them; but I’ll focus here on a few aspects of forgiveness that comes from these.

The Blood of Yeshua speaks better things than the guilt and judgment we deserve (Hebrews 12:24). Rather, His blood speaks eternally for mercy and forgiveness towards us, affirming that the price of our forgiveness was paid by the willing sacrifice of the most innocent of all—Yeshua Himself.

Truly, His Blood still speaks on our behalf at this very moment and welcomes us to stand before God as if we never sinned—holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight (Colossians 1:22). This free righteousness is the hope of the Gospel! With this overwhelming forgiveness, we can even be healed, set free, and, most importantly, be reconciled to our Father in Heaven. Even our conscience is washed pure by the power of the Blood-Forgiveness, so we can walk as forgiven individuals, should we continue in faith!

The power of the blood - forgiveness is strong, makes us holy!

However, to enjoy this amazing free gift, we must avoid the trap of offence that can lure us away from the mercy of God. As Pastor Vickylextar warned in her message, if we are forgiven and we hold something against somebody else, we nullify our forgiveness. Indeed, let us remember Yeshua said that “in the same way you judge others, you will be judged” (Matthew 7:2) and that “if you do not forgive others their sins, neither will your Father forgive yours”. Let us understand that it would be rather prideful and self-centered to want to be forgiven of all we’ve done wrong and refuse to extend that same forgiveness to those who wronged us. Who are we to throw the first stone after all? In the end, do you believe it’s more important to cherish God’s amazing gift of forgiveness or to hold on to offence and frustration?

Zach, September 10, 2022

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The Washing Machine https://mycrosspointe.org/the-washing-machine/ https://mycrosspointe.org/the-washing-machine/#respond Sun, 04 Sep 2022 20:21:48 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12246
”The washing machine”

Water rafting: the “washing machine” experience and the failed fishing expedition.

We all began well didn’t we? Everything looks okay and sometimes it may even look rosy doesn’t it?  Indeed, it was all peaceful, serene and quiet, and we say to ourselves “life is good ” and punch in the air and shout yes!!!   I have made it!!

In life, we may have received the best of instructions and may have had rich experience in our area of interest and thereby checked all the boxes, we may have done all that is needed to be done. O yes, we’ve played our part and yet a strange wave hits us suddenly, we can’t even tell what hit us to  knock us off our game, knocked off our most comfort position, most comfort places, most comfortable situation; a place we wished we had lived forever after.

Now in a “mess” and yet in the midst of the downward spiral, experiencing the “washing machine” down below the water drowning in the deep, this compares with our unfortunate part of our  life experiences. A situation way in over our head and there seems not to be a way out.  But, we can always reach out to team members (brothers and sisters) they are still up there in the comfort of the raft to lend us a hand back up. We are never alone!!!

The Washing Machine with water, when life pulls you down, But there is a way out always!!

The fishing experience of Simon Peter “the reed, shaky man” even the very experienced fisherman, who knows the sea very well: he’s been on this very sea all his life. Even though he was subject to life’s unfortunate events, coming home empty handed, all efforts proved unprofitable and yet with Yeshua the story of his life was changed for good. There was a way out!

Like Pastor Jonathan, like Peter,  I have felt discouraged many many times and yet look at me now, look at yourself now and we realized that had it not been the very people God has planted in our lives, our story would have ended in tragedy to say the least. 

Even if you still can’t find a way out, like Pastor and like Peter, we can reach out for the much needed help. When the worst thing is happening and or has happened, there is always a way out, always!! Look at the life examples of good people around us. We have a family, so we never walk alone. There is always help available to us.

Nii, September 4, 2022

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Shattered Dreams https://mycrosspointe.org/shattered-dreams/ https://mycrosspointe.org/shattered-dreams/#respond Mon, 29 Aug 2022 11:01:30 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12240
shattered dreams
Recently, we were invited by our pastor to present in a creative way, a presentation of our shattered dreams. Initially, I shied away from this assignment, as I felt I had already laid out all of my past hurt and disappointments to the church on more than one occasion. Moreover, I am typically a reserved person and I don’t consider myself to be much of a creative. It wasn’t until God showed me specific wounds that were still in need of healing that I decided to yield to this assignment. Initially, I was unsure of where to begin and in which manner to present so what did I do?
I asked the Holy Spirit to show me specifically what He wanted me to share and exactly how to share my shattered dreams.  I figured, since I am made in His image, I must have some creativity in me as well. Without a doubt, God came through and the ideas began to flow as the tears poured down. It was then that I realized that this assignment had very little to do with how creative I was and much more to do with my willingness to allow God to take me further along my healing journey.

Women alone facing her shattered dreams and wanting healing

I discovered that there are often layers to our healing and God was calling me to go deeper into my innermost thoughts that are usually hidden from the outside world. I realized that it was okay for me to acknowledge that although I have been healed from many wounds, that there were still some parts of me that needed some extra care and attention. I was reminded that Our Heavenly Father is not afraid of our emotions; even the ones that may seem overwhelming to us because He created those too.  Indeed, He is our Comforter who is ready to comfort and heal us every single time we open our hearts to Him in truth. If we let Him, He will transform our shattered dreams (and for some, shattered lives) into beautiful, incredible masterpieces. 

Pastor Mercy, August 26, 2022

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Family Fun Day! https://mycrosspointe.org/family-fun-day/ https://mycrosspointe.org/family-fun-day/#respond Thu, 18 Aug 2022 02:10:11 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12234
Family Fun Day!
Sunday, August 14, 2022 there was no church service online. We had a Family Fun Day! A rafting activity was planned for those who wanted to participate and others spent the day with family and friends.

Family Fun Day!

I thought what a great idea; encouraging families to spend time together during Family Fun Day. God is a fun Father, He loves to see His children enjoy His beautiful creation.
It also teaches the kids that God is fun. We are the church everywhere we go so let us reflect Christ’s character wherever.

Nadeige, August 18, 2022

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Esau Syndrome https://mycrosspointe.org/esau-syndrome/ https://mycrosspointe.org/esau-syndrome/#respond Fri, 12 Aug 2022 21:24:44 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12226

esau syndrome

Green bowl of soup steaming, to illustrate the Esau syndrome of giving up soup for our birthright in Christ.

Our theme scripture this Sunday was Hebrew 12:14-17; Pastor David took us on a journey which admonished us to beware of the trade-off we make in our daily lives, sometimes in a dire situation or even when things are going well. These trade-offs are dangerous, and while temporally satisfying our fleshy needs, we can cause us to lose our birthright in Christ. So this is the Esau syndrome – when Esau traded his birthright for a quick meal, he sold his blessing as the firstborn. An act he regretted later but was too late.

Fortunately, the message challenged us to examine our situations before it’s too late and determine what short-term fleshy satisfaction we are not giving up for our birthright in Christ. The message provided us with some nuggets to help us cure this Esau syndrome and fulfil God’s purpose in our lives:

· We must know our birthright in Christ, our inheritance in Christ.

· Be led by the holy spirit, which will help diminish our flesh.

· know God’s purpose in our lives, and beware of dos and don’ts

· know that our actions can affect God’s plan for us and others.

The Pastor shared some examples about Joseph and David and how they did not catch the syndrome in some troublesome situations by treating their adversaries with love, kindness, and faithfulness – and they were able to fulfil the great purpose God has for them.

We are encouraged to persevere with the work of God by enduring God’s discipline in submission to God at all times. Above all, we must make every effort to live in peace and holiness. We are reminded that this is a daily battle, but our faith in God will complete the work.

Theo, August 12, 2022

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Where is your allegiance today? https://mycrosspointe.org/where-is-your-allegiance-today/ https://mycrosspointe.org/where-is-your-allegiance-today/#respond Fri, 05 Aug 2022 03:06:21 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12214

Where is your allegiance Today?

I am grateful that indeed, He has clothed me with gladness, giving me beauty for ashes and a new identity of worth and love, in His Name! My life story is summarized in one verse, reminding me that good news ought to be shared. Oh, to keep this truth close to my heart and always occupying my mind, will certainly help me keep to the narrow path.

Pastor Vickylextar continued and asked: where is your allegiance today? Though my heart would quickly respond, I asked myself if the answer would be obvious to anyone looking at my daily life, watching my reactions, or hearing my thoughts. To whom would they say my allegiance belongs? Am I loyal and submissive to my flesh or my selfless Christ?

Oscar Wilde wrote: “(..) little action of the common day makes or unmakes character, and therefore what one has done in the secret chamber, one has some day to cry aloud on the housetop”.

To me, this illustrates that every little action I make, any decision I take reflects whom I truly serve, and I am either getting closer to God doing so or pulling away by choosing self. Every choice and decision of the everyday matter, and we daily ought to choose to whom our allegiance will go.  Again, I ask the question “where is your allegiance today?”

Person reflecting on ''where is your allegiance today""

On another note, the example of the centurion’s faith in Luke 7:1-10 deeply resonated with me. His confidence in who he knew Yeshua to be and what He could do for his servant was impressive and admirable. One could argue that he had all odds stacked against him to prevent him from being outspoken and public with his beliefs: his position, ethnicity, reputation, occupation… He chose not to let any of this come in the way of him asking for help for a servant he loved from the Man he knew and believed, with no doubts at all, was the Son of God. His allegiance was made clear through his words, humility, and the way his faith was demonstrated through his responses to Christ; he chose to let no excuse stand in the way of what he knew to be true. So many soldiers and political/war heroes throughout history pledged allegiance to a cause, a country, or a king, and they believed that sacrificing their lives for them was the greatest honour they could receive. Am I recognizing the great honour it is to be asked to die and deny this deadly flesh to submit to and serve God Almighty, even to the point of literally losing my life for His precious gospel?

Let us be faithful and submissive soldiers, ready to die for the cause and committed to making our allegiance known, stronger, and even deeper. As for me, I pledge allegiance to Christ. He is my God, my cause, my motivation. My life, my reason for being, my all. I will ensure that my flesh remembers this and gets nailed to the cross daily. I am committed to ensuring that my allegiance is made obvious through the smallest and biggest detail of my life, so my life itself can be the bearer of good news to every soul I am blessed to meet on my way. Let us boldly walk the narrow path with confidence, submission, and obedience so that we can share this great news with the poor!

The harvest indeed is plentiful; let us march forward, soldiers of God!

Lisa, August 5, 2022

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Moving Forward https://mycrosspointe.org/moving-forward/ https://mycrosspointe.org/moving-forward/#respond Sat, 30 Jul 2022 06:23:34 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12202

moving forward

Have you ever looked at your past and wondered how to move forward? Have you ever felt like you can never do enough to prove to people your past is just that, the past?  The good news is that you are not alone and there is encouragement for you! 

This week during service we explored an event in Luke 7 that spoke about a gathering hosted by a Pharisees in his home. A key person the story focused on was an unpopular woman with a shady past and her act of love for Yeshua. It was tradition in those times for people to walk everywhere they needed to go. I’m sure they didn’t have an issue getting in their 10,000 daily steps! As such, when a guest would arrive at your home, it was customary to greet them with a friendly kiss and wash their feet to welcome them in. Upon Yeshua’s arrival to the Pharisees home, He was not greeted with the fullness of these traditions. However, there was one person that sought to care for Yeshua!  As the women knelt down and washed and cleaned the feet of Yeshua with her tears and hair, the act was received with a sharp response from the host. The Pharisee not only condemned the women’s past with a disgusted expression but also brought into question Yeshua! Despite how the crowd of people may have looked upon this interaction, the women pressed on to get to Christ! 

The past at times comes into our present but it’s up to us to determine that we will press on and not let anything hold us back for change. People may bring up our past actions, or they can’t see you as you are today, or we may stumble as we grow and may lose faith in ourselves! Are you ready to let all your ways, your past, your thoughts, your behaviors all go to let God change you the way HE wants you? Are you ready to push past the looks of those around you? To be moving forward and towards the call of Yeshua for your life?

Women moving forward and motivating themselves for encouragement

All He wants from you is for you to seek Him and never run from Him! He loves you as you are today and will be your helper and comforter along the path. He will be with you every step of the way! Today, my past no longer determines my emotions, my actions, or my love for those around me! Allow God to transform you too and press on!!

Pastor Chrystal, July 28, 2022

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Complete Healing https://mycrosspointe.org/complete-healing/ https://mycrosspointe.org/complete-healing/#respond Fri, 22 Jul 2022 14:58:18 +0000 https://mycrosspointe.org/?p=12184

Complete Healing 

Sunday’s service wasn’t a conventional service. It was a moving one during which people shared their different experiences since they had fully committed their lives to being transformed by the Lord. ‘’Complete Healing”  was fully demonstrated by various persons.

What stood out for me were the messages on rejection. Everyone faces rejection in one form or the other at some point in their lives. I’ve found myself being rejected by people, schools, and organizations but I learnt that in every situation I’m supposed to remember that I’m chosen by the Lord and accepted by Him. I need to make a conscious decision to believe in the Lord and follow His voice, complete healing is always available to me.

Women alone, facing rejection, but with God, complete Healing is part of our journey

In difficult seasons, we might feel like we can’t feel the Lord’s presence and we’re all alone, and we might also find ourselves questioning the reason for our challenges and experiences. It’s important that in all this we surrender everything to the Lord in prayer because He guarantees us that he has plans to prosper us and give us hope and healing.

 Chiraene, July 22, 2022

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