A little McBride Update

It's been a bit since my last blog- whew! Time flies when you're having fun :)

We have been here in Texas for 3 months already. God has been so good to us!

We are revitalizing a church here in Amarillo, and our hearts are already knit with this City.  We have been painting, cleaning, freshening up and working hard to prepare a place for others to meet Jesus. God has put together a worship team and we are so excited for the future.

Our first outreach was to the area Strip Clubs for Valentines Day- God put on my heart to reach out to the forgotten and overlooked- the women's ministries of Christian Heritage Church and Grace Church got together and made 60 sweet little gift bags of candy, lip gloss, nail polish, etc. with the tag that said, "You're beautiful" and our church names and numbers. We dropped them off before the clubs opened for the day- without pointing fingers or hitting them over the head with a Bible. Just tangible love - wrapped up in a little bag.

We are planning an Easter Family Fun Day at the park across from the church on March 30.  We will have thousands of eggs, games, giveaways, and lots of fun for the adults and kids. This is not a gimmick- it is simply a tool to break down walls and love on people.  We believe Jesus died not for programs and church buildings- Jesus died for people and we have to be willing to get out of our little bubbles and go to them. We are so excited about what God is doing.

In our personal lives, we have been challenged, pressed, pushed, and provoked to more of Him. I truly believe, as a great friend once told me, that obedience brings blessing.  But I also realize that blessing may not always look like we think it should.  We may look for the money, or the feel good of the moment, while God may be sending something disguised as suffering or discomfort that is really a blessing.  "Blessed are you when you are persecuted for my sake..."   

Not everyone has been over the moon to have us here :)  Believe it or not, some really love the way "things have always been" and aren't too excited about the boat being rocked.

I realize that we are not the cookie cutter preacher and preacher's wife.  And I am truly okay with that.  We know that our message will be sweet to some and sour to others.....that we will challenge and provoke some.  We are learning to be alright with who we are and embrace our anointing.  Walking in love and obedience to the best of our ability.  Keeping our eyes on Him. Staying close to the One who never changes His mind.

I have also begun an Etsy shop - at www.etsy.com.  The Lord put on my heart that there are creative ways of supplementing our income - already in us.  Creativity takes courage :)  I began creating art prints - scriptures, quotes, songs, etc.  I believe that words are powerful- that which we meditate upon is what we think about and become.

We also began working on special order leather bracelets - I had gotten one for Christmas and really wanted to make them for others. They can be specialized with different colors of leather and a word/phrase choice. We now have them for sale at a local shop here in town, and God is really blessing our efforts.  We are so grateful.

Here is the link to the shop...


I have seen His hand work in our lives so visibly - maybe it's because we are removed from our comfort zone - away from familiar - I'm not sure, but I have SEEN His hand and am eternally thankful for all He has done for us.

Be encouraged - the more you seek Him- the more you find Him. It's a promise, and He never breaks His promises.

Love,
Christa

Trust Your Story

Last night I had a dream about my dad. I was visiting him in prison, which was pretty familiar because he was in there for most of my life. I woke up wondering why I would dream that, why my mind would wander there again. He had a heart attack a few years ago and died before being released, crushing my little girl dreams and I have been working through the pain of that ever since.

The conclusion I have come to is this - I had the dream and woke up- and there wasn't pain. I didn't wake up in tears. I woke up in thought and remembrance. That is progress.

I am getting better at telling my story and embracing my story and loving my story. Because every part of our story is a piece to our puzzle. And there is purpose locked inside every part when we learn to embrace it.

Have I "arrived"? No way. Is it never going to bring me to tears again? No regrets or sadness? Of course there will be times of that. I am human and a void was left. But God is the one doing the mending, not me. And His timing is perfect. He is a gentle Healer.

We can sit back and pretend it didn't happen, or we can give Jesus the pieces and let Him make something beautiful. Because He loves broken things.

Christa ⚓

Be strong and courageous.

I have learned more about myself in the past 4 weeks than I have in the past year.  Being placed in a different environment, stripped of all that is familiar, away from close relationships and friends.  A wise woman told me that I would see what was really in me during this time, the good and the bad.  And she was SO right!  When pressure is applied, things will come out, things you didn't know were there and thought you had overcome.  Turns out they are there, and you just have to remind yourself they are covered in the blood and He is enough. 

His grace is always sufficient.  

He asks that we have courage - not because we can do it on our own, but because He is with us.

What is courage?

Courage is the ability to keep standing on weak knees. The ability to find beauty in your breaking, live vulnerably & intentionally. He loves when we admit we are broken.  He loves it, because in our weakness He is made strong.  

Courage is knowing that when we admit our smallness and weakness - it will help someone else, that thinks Christians are pretty and perfect and have it all together.

Courage is vulnerability and it is bravery. It is showing up no matter what the cost. Pushing through even when we aren't sure we'll be recieved.  Knowing that no matter what - He recieves us and believes in us.  

As small and broken and fragile as we are.

So be reminded...His mercies are new every morning. His grace is enough for you.  Because He died, there is always enough. 

Just look into His eyes, and you will see.  

Love,
Christa :)

Everything's bigger in Texas...

Haven't you heard? Everything is bigger in Texas :)  That's what they say anyway, and I think it may be true.  I am specifically speaking about God.

At least it's my perspective right now.

I have seen the hand of the Lord move in our lives more in the past month than I ever have.  He is always faithful, always moving.  But removing ourselves from our comfortable hometown, and predictable schedules has brought such a clarity to me.  Being vulnerable and away from the norm really makes you see who/what you really trust in.

I can really SEE Him moving.  

His protection, provision, blessing and smile on us has been amazing.  He is such a good daddy.  Not only though what we need, but sometimes He even gives us what we want.  There have been times I have said something I would like to have, and it wasn't even necessary.  Just a want.  And there it came, less than a few hours later.  This has happened several times since our move to Texas.

I believe there are times in our lives that our Daddy God pours out His favor and blessing on us, as a reminder of His goodness and greatness.  We also have times where we feel like He is quiet and far away.  Or we have times of testing and fire and we need to cling to these "good" times and remind ourselves how sweet He really is.  Our faith grows during these times.

We are getting settled in our new home, have found a kitchen table (thank you Jesus!!) and other needed furniture, and are cooking meals in our brand new stove!  The people are beautiful, and have showed us such kindness and love.  We ate VERY well the first week here.  And we are in the process of joining a local gym to remove any signs of these meals :)

We all rode horses this past Saturday!  Kevin had rode when he was a child, but the rest of us were first timers :)  What a great time we had.  Loved our time there and hope to go again soon.

Please keep Kevin in your prayers, as he had to leave his BRAND NEW Christmas gift - a beautiful Harley Davidson, AND his 1995 Harley - in Wytheville, Virginia when the trailer decided it wasn't ready to leave VA yet.  They will be reunited in February :)

We so appreciate your prayers!  The children have all started their new schools and are excited for the future.

Sending much love to all from Amarillo.

<3 Christa

We are here!

Well, we are here in Amarillo :) what should have been a 2 1/2 day trip was a 5 day adventure. Broken down trailer, reloaded twice, snow and sleet, new friends made along the way, and lots of laughs.

Learned many lessons along the way, most importantly that the body of Christ is real and very much alive. The kindness of people I've never even met before was such a blessing to my heart.

Today we get the keys to our new home! We are excited to unpack and get settled. And wash our mountain of laundry! ;)

I will update soon, we are so appreciative of the kind words and prayers. We love you big!

As Bob Goff said, "this year we will show people what we really believe, and we won't even have to open our mouths." How true.

Wishing you a happy 2013!

Change and Transition

"Change is the announcement of something... - transition is walking it out."

The past two weeks have been a bit of a blur for me.  Praying, painting, sorting, cleaning, praying, packing, making trips to goodwill, crying, praying, decluttering.  You never really know how much "stuff" you have until you prepare for a move.  What we need vs. just stuff sitting around.  

The house is officially on the market!  Today the papers were signed. We are praying for a quick sale- we trust that no matter what happens, His will be done. 

We will begin to pack the trailer on December 18, and will begin our trip to Texas the day after Christmas.  Our last day at Crossroads will be Sunday, Dec. 23.

Please keep us in your prayers...some have asked what they can do, and this is the greatest need right now.  Prayers for Crossroads and all those connected, for us to all trust His plan and purposes. Prayers for comfort and peace for us and our children, and for us to stay in the center of His will.  

We so appreciate the encouragement!  God has placed so many anazing people in our paths.  We could not keep our feet going at this rate without you or your kindness.  Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

God put this in my heart the other morning - "Just believe: immediately and continually. I will do the rest!"  This has been such a blessing to me.  Hope that it is for you too :)


-Christa <3

Texas - Our new assignment

"I feel the strings that can’t ever be cut, of the Body that’s bound together by these grace veins pulsing with the one blood of the One Who let His and we are bound because we are free." 

-Ann Voskamp

Today marks the announcement of a new season in our lives.  We have heard the call of the Lord, and we will begin the transition of moving to Amarillo, Texas to pastor a church.

For those that know us, this may be a shock.  We have lived in the same area (Kevin moved from Louisiana at a very young age) and have served in the same church building for our entire Christian lives.  Virginia is all we know, all our children know.

But about 7 months ago, something began to stir within us.   We were serving and tending the flock, as Moses, and we turned aside because we saw a burning bush.  Through a great deal of prayer and discernment, the decision has been made.

We have had relationship with Gary & Carolyn Burd for about 5 years, and knew there was a deep connection at the first meeting.  But we never dreamed the the Lord had plans to tie us together so closely.

At the end of the year, we will move across the country, and begin our new adventure.  We will pastor a church called "Oakdale Grace", and are believing for revival and awakening in Amarillo.  We will pour our lives out, as we have done for the past 5 years in Petersburg.  We will follow hard after the Father's heart, stopping for the one, and loving the forgotten.  We will afflict the comfortable, as the Father has called us to.  And we will do so with the heart to please our Daddy, to show His love.

This is a bittersweet time;  we love those who God has placed around us, and have poured our blood, sweat and tears into the assignment He has given.  We believe that we have done all that He has asked of us, given all we can give, and we will finish well.  We are ever grateful for our time here, we have learned so much.  God has used all of these experiences to not only shape and mold us, but to bring healing as well.

We trust the Father - His plans are always good.  He is not finished with Crossroads, and will continue to use it as an instrument of His glory.  Greater things are yet to come!

If you should have any questions, you may contact us through email at pastorkmcbride@aol.com or mcbride1024@aol.com.  We would appreciate you prayers!

We love you and are believing for great things!

-For the least of these,
          Kevin & Christa <3