CrossRoads Community Church

09/05/2026

"God Went First" by Grant Fishbook

My daughter and I had the amazing privilege of spending a week at JH Ranch. This father-daughter experience was a highlight for us, as it focused on building our relationship in new and exciting ways.

A part of our week was a series of rope challenges that involved heights. I am NOT afraid of heights… I just don’t like them! In one particular obstacle, my daughter sensed my nervousness and said, “It’s ok, Dad, I’ll go first.” She did, and her courage inspired me to follow!

One of the most humbling truths I’ve come to understand is this: I didn’t initiate my relationship with God—He did. He went first.

Before I ever thought about loving Him, He loved me.
That’s why the Bible says:

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10, NIV)

That truth removes all pressure to perform. I’m not trying to earn something—I’m responding to something that’s already been given.

God went first.

He pursued me. He forgave me. He made a way for me. When I didn’t even know what I was doing, He came and gave His life for me. That’s love!

When I really let that sink in, it changes how I live. My obedience becomes a response, not a requirement.
My love becomes a reflection, not an effort.

I don’t give of myself to earn God’s love—I give of myself because I already have it!

Today, I want to live from that place. Not striving, but responding. Not performing, but surrendering.
Once again, will you join me? Let’s pray:

Dear Father, thank You for loving me first. Help me to live in response to Your love, not in an effort to earn it.
Let everything I do flow from the truth that I am already loved by You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Never forget, my friend—

You are a miracle!
Grant Fishbook

09/03/2026

"Imitating My Father" by Grant Fishbook

I have a picture of my son and me in matching baseball uniforms from when he was a young child. I also have pictures of him throwing and hitting. If you matched those up with pictures of me doing the same activity, the similarities are startling (as well as clearly defining why we both did not end up playing professional baseball)!

Like father, like son.

One of the most powerful images in my mind is watching a child imitate their parents. They copy everything—the words, the tone, even the attitudes.
Whether it’s good or bad, they reflect what they see.

That’s the picture God gives me of my relationship with Him.

I’m called to imitate Him—not in a distant, unattainable way, but as a child who is deeply loved. That means my identity comes first.

I don’t imitate God to become His child—I imitate Him because I already am.

Listen to this powerful verse: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.” (Ephesians 5:1, NIV)

That phrase—dearly loved children—changes how I see everything. I’m not trying to perform for God. I’m not trying to earn His approval. I already have it.

And because I have it, I want to reflect Him.

So I ask myself: Do my words sound like His? Do my reactions reflect His heart? Do my priorities align with His priorities?

This is where life gets real. It’s easy to talk about faith—it’s much harder to live it in the everyday moments.
When I’m frustrated, tired, or inconvenienced, that’s when imitation matters most.

Being like Jesus means I choose patience when I’d rather be harsh. I choose kindness when it’s easier to ignore. I choose humility when pride is knocking at the door.

This isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being intentional.

Today, I want to pay attention. I want to notice the moments where I can reflect Jesus more clearly. Not as a performance, but as a response to love.

Let’s do that together, starting with this prayer:

Dear Father, thank You that I am Your dearly loved child. Help me to reflect You today. In my words, my actions, and my attitudes, make me more like Jesus.
Show me where I need to grow, and give me the strength to choose Your way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Never forget, my friend—

You are a miracle!
Grant Fishbook

09/02/2026

Check out the plan 'Vision Before the Valley: From Trauma to Abundant Mission'. Find it out here:

Identity stolen by trauma? Discover your mission. Humankind experiences the collective PTSD of the Fall. Since the Garden, we have lived with the afte

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

"God Guides Our Life" (YouVersion)

Have you ever faced something unexpected? Maybe it was a surprise that brought you joy, or a tragedy that greatly affected your life. All of us experience moments in life that we don’t anticipate.

Even though unexpected things will happen, we still plan and dream for how our lives will go. We may have plans for our future education, or plans for specific relationships in our lives. But we can't fully plan for the unexpected—since we cannot know the future. We don’t even know what might happen in the next few minutes.

We learn in Scripture that God is all-knowing, which means He knows everything that will happen everywhere in the world. He has complete knowledge of every event and action that happens. More than that, He is also sovereign, which means He has ultimate control over everything that happens in the world.

That means that even though we make our plans, God is ultimately the one who directs our steps. He has the power to change the direction of our lives, as well to as guide us into what’s best for us.

Take some time to think about the dreams and plans that you have for your life. Have you ever submitted those plans to God in prayer? This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t make plans for your life, but rather, whatever you plan should not come before God’s plans for your life.

Take a moment to ask God to direct your steps. Ask Him to reveal any desires or plans that are not from Him. Submit your plans to God so that you’ll be open to follow Him wherever He leads you. Thank Him for His goodness and grace in guiding your life.

08/30/2026

We are so grateful for you; thank you for joining us. Please click the link for today's sermon.
https://www.youtube.com/live/c8hWC4dKeiI?is=qU1BhE4UOztOgDh4

08/29/2026

"Steady and Unchanging" (YouVersion)

In an ever-changing, always-moving, constantly-shifting world, we can count on the unchanging nature of God.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the author of Hebrews said it like this:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT

A title for the three distinct parts, or “Persons” of God, is the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And the Son—Jesus Christ—is the purest reflection of the Father, who never changes.

When you unpack the stunning mystery that is God made flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ, you’ll notice that He said audacious things like: “I and the Father are one,” (John 10:30) “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father,” (John 14:9) and, “Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (John‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬)

John described Jesus as the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬)

God said of Himself, “I the Lord do not change...” (Malachi 3:6) This unchanging quality is called the immutability of God.

From generation to generation, God is the immovable rock where we can firmly plant our faith.

God cannot lie. He cannot be unjust. He’s always good. He’s always faithful. He’s fully perfect. He’s self-sufficient. He’s continuously steady and constant, enduring and everlasting.

If your world has been rocked, or if everything around you seems to be shifting, or if it's challenging to tell what is solid rock and what is shifting sand, you can trust in, count on, and place your hope in Jesus.

He’s not only your righteous Savior, but He’s also your unchanging God.

08/28/2026

"Just a Little Time for God?"⏰

Have you had a chance to talk with God today?

It was one of those mornings—I had slept terribly and felt completely unsettled. My tinnitus was so loud that I could hardly focus on anything else.

Ironically, that was the very day my new song, "When I Pray," was being released. And what felt especially difficult that day?

You guessed it... praying. 🤭

Have you ever experienced that? You begin to pray, maybe get through the first sentence, and before you know it, your mind has wandered somewhere else.

Don't worry—we've all been there. So eventually I simply prayed:

"I have LITTLE strength.

I have LITTLE time.

But I have SO MUCH OF YOU.

And that means I have MORE THAN ENOUGH."

It's not always about saying a lot of words.

God understands when we're exhausted. He understands when we feel scattered and overwhelmed.

But it's often in those very moments—when we feel like we're barely holding it together—that He wants to give us more of Himself.

Exactly what we're missing.

Romans 8:26 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8:26)

That day, my groan was simply:

"I have LITTLE strength.

I have LITTLE time.

But I have SO MUCH OF YOU.

And that means I have MORE THAN ENOUGH."

And God's answer was simple: "I am here. I am your strength."

You don't have to be strong to come to God. You just have to come. He will fill your weakness with His strength. 🤲🏻 (See 2 Corinthians 12:9)

You are a miracle!
Déborah Rosenkranz

08/27/2026

"Look Up" (YouVersion)

It’s normal, as well as understandable, to spend our time, energy, and attention focusing on the here and now. We’re busy, after all. Sometimes we're preoccupied. And when we stop to really think about it, it’s difficult to perceive something beyond our five senses.

But in his letter to the Colossians, Paul encourages his fellow believers to look up:

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As you think about Paul’s words and the realities of heaven, here are four things to consider:

- First, heaven isn’t some vague, dream-like state. It’s a real place, with real people, where God is the true King.

- Second, there will come a day when we will all meet God face to face. We will no longer need faith or hope, because that which we’ve hoped for will finally be revealed.

- Third, our troubles and our heartbreaks (and even death itself) are temporary! Scripture tells us that, eventually, God will do away with pain and death and sickness and suffering—forever.

- Lastly (and most importantly), God is still on His throne, with Jesus beside Him in the place of honor. No matter how crazy, senseless, or heartbreaking the world can seem, we can have confidence knowing that nothing is outside of God’s sovereign plan.

So when you’re tempted to look around at others or look inward at yourself, look up instead. Heaven is wherever God is, and that’s the truest reality of all.

08/26/2026

"The Greatest Commandment" by YouVersion

In Matthew 22:37, Jesus said: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

This verse is a powerful reminder of the greatest commandment, calling us to a wholehearted devotion to God. It challenges us to examine the depth and sincerity of our love for Him, urging us to go beyond following the rules of religious traditions and to cultivate an intimate, all-encompassing relationship with our Creator.

Loving God with all our heart means that our emotions and desires are aligned with His will. It means that we prioritize Him above all else, allowing His love to shape our affections and guide our decisions. When we love God with all our soul, we are committing our very being to Him. Our identity, purpose, and existence are rooted in His love, and we find our true fulfillment in living for His glory.

To love God with all our mind is to engage our intellect in the pursuit of knowing Him more deeply. It involves meditating on His Word, seeking His wisdom, and allowing His truth to transform our thoughts and perspectives. This holistic love for God is not a one-time event but a daily, intentional choice to surrender every aspect of our lives to Him.

Reflecting on this commandment, we are reminded that our love for God should be evident in every area of our lives. It should influence how we interact with others, how we spend our time, and how we use our resources. As we grow in our love for God, we become more attuned to His presence and more responsive to His leading.

Today, let’s surrender our hearts, souls, and minds to God. Let us seek to deepen our relationships with Him, knowing that as we do, we will experience the fullness of His love and the abundant life He promises. Amen.