Simply Selby: The Crossing

This past Easter, I found a new church. I had been attending another church and I liked it. I had attended that church for 8 years. I became an official member of that church the same day I found out I was pregnant with Mallory. Both of my kids were baptized at the church. I loved that church-still do. But life happens and the preacher who I grew to love-retired. I tried to go back and I just wasn't feeling it. I wasn't getting what I use to out of it-so we all know what happens when you're not connecting. You stop going. So each week, I would find excuse after excuse of why we couldn't go to church that week. And before you know it...it was six months, seven months since we had attended church. (*nothing was wrong with this church. it was fantastic. Just didn't connect anymore*) And then...I heard a rumor. I heard a rumor that a new church was coming to town. The Crossing. I had heard of this church so many times before because of their locations in Quincy. Didn't really know much about the church or how they did things--just that a few of my friends attended the Quincy location. My aunt and uncle attended and we had a few conversations about the Jacksonville location. We met during the construction phase to go take a look and I took Mallory with me. It started to get us both excited. I liked what I saw, I liked what I heard, I liked who I met. We attended the first day and it was amazing. LOUD but amazing. Then we went back the next week--still LOUD but equally as amazing. Every single week, we kept going and every single week-I felt more and more connected to God. The sermons were EXACTLY what I needed to hear EXACTLY when I needed to hear it. And for the first time ever-Mallory wanted to go to church, got excited about going to church and started praying on her own! My heart knew we were where we needed to be. My heart was once again restored. God does nothing by mistake. And a month and two weeks after attending The Crossing, my family experienced a HUGE unexpected loss. I felt lost, scared, hurt, angry, sad....all the emotions you feel with a death. I questioned God. I yelled at Him. I didn't understand (still don't). BUT each week, when I would go back....the sermon and the music hit me to my core and was exactly what I needed to hear. The pastor reached out to me and talked through some of the questions, I had and NOT ONCE questioned why I was angry with God. Told me God is a big boy with broad shoulders and can take the anger....what he can't take...is if I walked away.
So I dove in...head first....I started reading my Bible app EVERY SINGLE DAY. Some on finding joy, some on death and loss, some on finding your way back to church, some on how to be a good parent (lol). I have never felt closer to God. I told my aunt, that maybe I want to be close to God so I can be close to my cousin. Maybe it's life's way of giving/taking. I don't know but love the place it's taking me and my children. Mallory and Morgan both love it and are gaining so much out of it as well.
In May-Mallory had her dance recital. We get dressed and ready in the gym and then she leaves and lines up to go on stage. Right before she was leaving to line up on stage-she looked at me and said...let's pray. So we would say a quick prayer for her each time she would leave to go on stage. I was a mess the first time she said it and loved seeing first hand God working through her. It was a good reminder to me that I should be praying before, during and after things like this.
She will tell me about a Bible verse she learned AND will put it to work. A few weeks ago the message for her was "When the pressure is on, you can trust God is with you." She brought this up so many times....before a soccer game, before a test she was to take, a doctors appointment she was nervous about. She would bring up this message. So if anything....this new church is leading Mallory in the right direction. And Morgan...well....she's getting there...lol! No she finally loves it. She would cry the first few weeks when I would drop her off but now she walks in and is ready. If I ask her at home, do you want to go to church? She always says yes! It's cute when I ask what they learned....Jesus, a lion, donuts, Cheerios. lol! And she ALWAYS prays for my sister's dog Ollie. He is probably the most prayed for dog in Central Illinois.

This summer Mallory and I attend Crossing Camp which was in Rushville, IL. I was nervous about it at first as we haven't done anything like this, was way outside my comfort zone and didn't know what to expect but we LOVED it. Every second! It's so well done and all centered around showing kids how to have a relationship with Jesus. It's like a kid's dream place!!! We had a blast and although she will go next year alone, (YIKES) I know she will love it and have memories of these camps to last a lifetime....and who knows....maybe mom will just have to volunteer so I can participate in all the fun, too.

So I encourage everyone to find their place. The first few times I went-I literally had to tell myself...be open, don't judge, open your heart to take in this message. It was loud, it was more different than ANY church I have ever been to but each week, I felt more and more connected. I have never gained so much from a church. This is the type of church I like and gain from. Others enjoy the more traditional. My church may not be your church. And your church may not be my church. And that's ok. Just find YOUR place.

BUT I sure will invite you to come sit with me Sunday!