Joe & Becky Cruse

Hey everybody Just a quick note to let those ever faithful Cruse Family fans know that the family will be doing a reunion concert this coming Sunday night, Feb. 22th @ 7:00 pm at the Fellowship of Ft. Bend in Rosenberg Texas. Lots of great old songs, a few new ones, and a host of laughs, tears, and memories as we share the testimonies of God’s faithfulness as well as a look at what the future holds for this first family of contemporary worship.

For details or directions, please call 832 729 8332. Hope to see all of you there!
PB

One of our church members sent me this note this week. I thought it would bless those of you that read the blog. Enjoy PB

You have probably seen the popular slogan on bumper stickers, tee-shirts and baseball caps: Life is Good. I even have a decorative wooden plaque hanging in our family room with those three words painted on it. I bought the sign a few years ago while I was experiencing a prolonged and painful season of physical injury and disability. As my entire family and I wrestled with God in the midst of these circumstances, I bought the Life is Good sign and hung it up, hoping the ever-present declaration would magically affirm that life really was good even when it felt so bad. I longed to believe the pop culture sentiment – life is good. But my daily life continued to be a frustrating physical struggle which negatively affected me physically, mentally and emotionally. Even on “good” days, there was enough pain and hardship all around – not only in the news but in the lives of friends, neighbors, and co-workers – for me to continue questioning the sentiment Life is Good. Yet there was the sign on my living room wall. The sign started to irk me. Whose idea was that sign anyway (besides mine for buying it)?

We recently moved again and I thought about not hanging the sign up in the new house. But I like the way it looks over the entertainment center so I gave it another try, even though the sentiment still didn’t sit quite right with me. And then the truth broke through. One morning, while contending in prayer for friends and loved ones struggling through challenges and discouraging circumstances, I opened my eyes and saw the sign - Life is Good. And the moment I saw it, I felt a clear response in my spirit – No! God is good. Life is hard.

Life is hard. And it seems to be getting harder pretty quickly these days. Even billionaires – like the man in Germany who recently took his own life – are losing heart. No matter their economic standing, people are in pain all around us - in “the world” and in the church, too. No one is exempt from the difficulties and challenges life can bring in any economy or political environment. And yet, we seem to judge that God is not good when life doesn’t seem good. Who told us that life must be good in order for God to be good? He is good in the midst of every circumstance, betrayal, injustice, and financial strain, just as He is good in the midst of every joy, victory, increase, and positive circumstance we experience. So now my wooden Life is Good sign reminds me daily that when I shift my thinking to the unchanging fact of God’s goodness regardless of circumstances, I am free to stay in positive relationship with God no matter what’s happening to me, in me or around me. That’s not to say that one of these days, I might not grab a marker and update that sign on my wall - or maybe go online and make a bumper sticker - to let everyone know this simple but life-changing truth: Life is Hard. God is Good! LF

Let me start first by recapping our New Season Revival. In a nutshell, WOW. Words can’t even begin to describe the week. People were dramatically touched and changed, pastors and staff included. The worship each service was off the scale and it seemed as though throughout the whole week, one message was being preached even though we had three guest speakers. I truly believe that this week will be one marked in the annals of history as a pivotal turning point for this ministry. And no, I’m not being over dramatic….it was and is a new season in the life of our church and ministry and God WILL watch over HIS word to perform it!

Both Ps Mike Hankins and Ps Sam Carr referenced the word “season” and spoke prophetically to our church about the new thing God is doing here. Let me say, I’m no Greek scholar, in fact our “resident theologian”, Ps Jay Crisman, helped me better define the Greek renderings for the word, “season”. Kairos (God’s timetable—not limited by minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years) and Chronos (referring to the natural markings of time).

Sometimes our minds will not allow us to see beyond the natural realms into the big plans God has for us because we judge our future based on what has happened to us in the past. God’s course of time in our lives is not limited to, or contained, or stifled by yesterday. In fact, the plans that God has for us are good ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) Now that’s good news!

This past Sunday morning, several stood to tell of God’s greatness through the 21 day fast and also from the revival. Financial miracles, healings, confirmation of words spoken were just a few of the exciting things people shared. It’s one thing to hear it from the pastors and yet, quite another thing to hear good news from the people! To God be the Glory! It’s so exciting to look forward to all He has in store for us corporately and personally.

As we move forward in this new season, we see God bringing great multiplication in several areas—

1. Souls—that we could see an explosion of new believers coming into the kingdom
2. Laborers—we desperately need laborers to help disciple, train and impart
3. Resources—time, talent, materials, as we put up the dome on the new property
4. Provision—finances to take possession the property and buildings for the glory of God

We covet your prayers and will stand with you as well. Drop us a response to this blog, tell us what you are praying for, and we will present it to our church on Wed nights for corporate prayer. Until next time–PB