More Than A Dash.

Published January 29, 2025

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More Than A Dash.

Life doesn’t always go as planned, does it?

We all have our calendars packed—places to go, things to do, and people to see (or avoid!). 

Whether we live with detailed plans or a bit of spontaneity, there’s always something directing our steps and contending for our hearts attention and affection. 

Yet, when we take a step back, all those plans boil down to a dash—an entry date, a dash, and an exit date that sum up our life stories.

But is that really all there is to it? The dash? 

Life is so much more than that—it’s filled with nuance, complexity, and meaning. 

And perhaps, the most important question we must ask is this:

“How will you be remembered once your life has ended?”

Will you be a bystander, just going along with the flow? 

Or will you be remembered as someone who lived the cross-bearing life—one who truly reflected the image of Jesus?

As we learned from Sunday’s message, we can choose to live like Pontius Pilate, driven by self-interest, or like Simon of Cyrene, who, in a moment of great injustice, chose to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. 

The crosses we bear—or the ones we don’t—are what sum up our lives. 

And one of the most powerful crosses we can bear together is praying for each other, for our campus, our community, and the world.

Today, let’s step in and stand up as cross-bearers, praying together in the following ways:

🙏 Lord, reveal Yourself to seekers, that they may encounter Your grace, believe, and live as faithful cross-bearers of Jesus.

🙏 Lord, help us see Your interruptions as divine appointments to respond with love, mercy, and action, reflecting You to those in need.

🙏 Father, remind the overlooked that You see, know, and love them. Bring hope and encouragement to their hearts.

🙏 Jesus, like Simon, teach us to boldly bear our cross with humility and obedience, moving from passive faith to active love in following You.

🙏 Strengthen our faith to trust Your sovereignty, knowing You are always working for our good, even when we can’t see the way.

🙏 Shape our hearts to be obedient, not just in the obvious moments but in the daily decisions that reflect our trust in Jesus.

🙏 Empower us with boldness to stand for justice, reflecting Jesus’ grace and truth wrapped in love, even when it’s inconvenient.

🙏 May the Gospel not only be heard but lived, making Your love felt by others where we live, work, and play.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to step out of the crowd of bystanders and stand up a cross-bearers—taking up our crosses, and living as Jesus’ hands and feet, doing what’s right in God’s eyes—even when others stand by. 

It’s not always easy. It can and will get messy along the way.

By stepping in to bear the cross, we experience our rescue in a way.

Our story of being rescued by Jesus can also become the catalyst that leads others to their story of salvation—receiving the rescue, the freedom from sin through the gift of salvation found only at the cross and in Jesus.

And in the end, our brief time on earth—our dash—becomes so much more. 

It transforms into the eternal legacy in Christ Jesus that it was always meant to be, fulfilling God’s very purpose we’ve longed for our lives to reflect all along.

See you soon!

God Bless,

Pastor Alvin and Mallary Brown
alvin@makingamosaic.com :: mallary@makingamosaic.com


Additionally, we will make space to pray for God to extend His reach beyond the limits of our city and into the world, seeking His wisdom, unity, safety, and provision for the following people and initiatives:

As we pray, let’s remember Campus Missionary Akan Eyoh, whom God has called to serve in Nashville, Tennessee. He ministers to Vanderbilt University students and is a member of Bethel World Outreach Church. Akan’s passion is to see the campus and its students transformed by the truth and power of the Gospel in ways unlike anything Vanderbilt has ever experienced.

Join us in lifting up Pastors Dihan, Julie Lee, and their families in prayer. The Lees serve as pastors of Renew Church LA, an Every Nation church. Tragically, their home was completely destroyed in the recent California fires, along with all their possessions. Despite this immense loss, they remain steadfast in seeking God, walking alongside members of their congregation who have also been deeply affected. Together, they are fixing their hearts and eyes on the cross of Jesus. Let us stand with them in prayer and generosity, supporting the Lees and Renew Church LA as they journey toward the redemptive restoration of their lives and their city.


Helpful links: 2026 GO Conference | Football Fellowship | Baby & Child Dedications | Download Church Center App

General Prayer Requests & Updates

For evangelism to flourish so communities and campuses in the greater Fort Worth area will be reached, and the lost will see and experience the love of Christ and be drawn to his kingdom.

For signs and wonders to follow the preaching of His Word.

For team unity and laborers to help carry the load.

For finances and provisions.

For fully funded campus missionaries (2 per campus) to help reach the next generation — Texas Christian University (TCU), Tarrant County College (TCC), Texas Wesleyan University (TWU) and Tarleton State University – Fort Worth (TSU), University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), and Dallas Baptist University (DBU).

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