As we approach the season of Lent, we embark on a profound 40-day journey starting on Ash Wednesday and culminating on Easter Sunday. This year, the Crossroads Chronicles team, alongside our sermon series, invites you to delve into the significance of the number 40 as revealed in Scripture.
While we often associate this period with Jesus’ 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness, a time orchestrated by the Spirit of God, it is essential to recognize that the number 40 recurs frequently in the Bible, each instance laden with meaning. Consider the Israelites, who endured 40 years of wandering in the desert, or the Great Flood, where rain fell for 40 days and nights. Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai, receiving the divine word of the Lord.
This recurring theme of 40 symbolizes not just hardship and trials but also a transformative period when God is at work, shaping, testing, and preparing us for renewal and growth. Embrace this opportunity to reflect on these powerful biblical narratives as we journey through Lent together. God is at work. This edition of the Chronicles features six personal stories told by members of our church family in a round-table discussion. The purpose was to ask how God showed up in the midst of their wilderness season.
You will hear difficult parts of each participant’s journey, and also how God has remained present throughout. You will also hear them describe it as a transformative season when God was at work, testing and ultimately preparing them for renewal and growth. Sharing these stories can ignite forgiveness and foster healing. In this roundtable conversation, the topics addressed are often left unspoken within our church community. The challenging issues include caring for a family member with a long-term illness, divorce, addiction recovery, supporting homosexual family members, overcoming sexual and emotional abuse, and healing from rejection and trauma. As each person speaks, it reinforces the need to provide a safe space for open discussions in a supportive, encouraging environment. We feel this is vital to our mission as a community of saints. The church has a role in providing guidance and comfort.
At the start of the discussion, Pastor Brett underscores the significance of sharing authentic stories within our congregation about personal experiences and the work of God in the midst of them. He describes this roundtable conversation as not only a story told in the Chronicles but a conduit for the spiritual health of our church. He acknowledges the cultural shift and creation of a welcoming space for all people to feel comfortable and free to engage intimately with a living God in the fabric of their lives. When we are willing to share our experiences of God’s goodness, it is a compelling way to reach out to others who are facing similar wilderness experiences. Our stories can serve as a lifeline, offering hope to others as they navigate through painful wilderness moments. Part of the beauty of being an intergenerational church is that younger, emerging kids are inspired by what they witness and hopefully say, “Wow, that's what that looks like when people testify to the goodness of God in their lives—I hope to be able to do that someday.” Sometimes our stories help our kids skip over pain; it doesn't always happen, but it is both powerful and healing when it does.
We are thankful to those who have shared their journeys. Their willingness to open up and tell their redemption stories is priceless, inviting readers to connect and reflect on their own paths.
Thank you for inspiring us all!
Pastors Brett and Tara
