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Learning to trust God in the bleakness of tomorrow may seem like an overwhelming task, but ONLY God knows what Tomorrow Holds. That should at least make it easier knowing He’s already there. When we live Right – God will keep us from sin. This drove me to think- the reason for Jesus after all was that God so Loved the World (John 3:16) So what makes it so hard for us to love Him back? Do you know the true meaning of Love is Trust! If you Love something, set it free, if it comes back to you it is yours, if it doesn’t – it Never was! How many times have we all heard this?? It’s the True meaning of Love and Trust! Trusting in the unknown of tomorrow, but choosing to Love in the Brokenness of today. I can face tomorrow because He lives! He Loves and I can TRUST in that! He will be there even if I don’t see or feel Him – I can Trust in That! Christianity suffered greatly under the rule of the Roman emperors. They had Rituals without righteousness, these conveyed ceremonies without sanctification. This only led the people to worldly desires! Though the Bible says our riches are stored in heaven, but if you can’t Trust in Jesus as the Risen savior, then you too will revert to the love of this world! You will miss the conviction of Truth – that of which God says this world is temporary for your Heavenly Home awaits! The more you learn to give, to consciously choose to allow God to move you in His Will – the more you’ll learn to Trust! So that even when troubles strike you’ll know it’s only temporary and the battles already been won! I have to remind myself as well, but it is in these moments where my faith grows and my trust is tested! The best thing you can do is remind yourself it’s only a test; so how can you win? You win by trusting God and the process. Maybe you won’t come out unscathed, you’ll have scars, but the scars will always remind you the true test of your faith. True Trust is Knowing God will meet you on the other side of the struggle. Often times in our Human minds we can only describe these times as Impossible to overcome! I’m here to tell you to Remember that through GOD All things are Possible!

For a moment stop thinking about what you want; ask what Gods will is for your life.
Sometimes you have to give up yourself to find yourself. Sounds cliché but truer than you realize! Understand it’s the end of the story that really matters. The gospel (the Word of God – Bible) tells us to ‘submit’ your life to Christ in ALL your ways. The Hebrew word ‘ya da’ actually means ‘to know.’ So we are to care more about knowing God, than knowing ourselves.

“This is what God is waiting for you to grasp: If you know me, You would Trust me!” (Liz Curtis Higgs)

God promises to help you along the way, but you must be willing to follow His way. Pray for God’s will over your life. Submit your life to Him; it will give you greater confidence. Understanding though that even along Gods purposeful path there will be unexpected bumps, curves and bends. Our paths aren’t meant to be straight! Each ‘hiccup’ along the way was intricately designed to teach you something new. Embrace the lesson, take what you’ve learned and add it to your wisdom. Few of us ever set out on a journey without a map or a plan, but that is exactly what God is asking of you.

If this is the same thing he expected of His disciples, what’s makes you think you are better than they?! Thinking about the journey they took to spread the gospel – each one was unique in their own way. None so worthy of Gods forgiveness or better than the other – All were sinners; yet distinctly chosen! Simon/Peter, Andrew (Peters brother), James, John (James’ brother), Phillip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas. These men followed Christ’s instructions and set out in the direction God had told them to go. None knowing where they would sleep or where they would get their next meal, but knowing this is the way and with God on our side, doing His work: everything else would fall into place!
If we don’t think about where we are going or how we want to finish; it is more likely that we will drift with the current of our circumstances or default to the decision of others. As we consider how to find direction – it’s important to consider how we want to finish our journey here on Earth. Let God take you where He wants you to go – it’s not a race to the finish; Humble yourselves for a Heavenly reward awaits you at the End!

May you find your Purpose in the journey of His Will!

Don’t pray for wisdom – Pray to be wise – to know and understand the difference. The Lord says ‘My wisdom is not for you, a foolish person can only become Wise!’ Wisdom is much more special than Gold. Pray for strength and courage, knowledge and compassion. Wisdom is not for the meek – Wisdom is for the mighty! For mere understanding will take you farther than you can imagine. Knowledge is the greatest gift you can achieve. Cleanse your hearts and I will purify your souls! Life on Earth is merely a Blink in time – choose to be wise and seek knowledge above all else.
Life has too much suffering, often we suffer unnessarily because of lies we believe about ourselves and our circumstances. We accept these as fact – the words our mind speaks to our hearts. The ‘What ifs’ of life overwhelm us! Though this can be overcome through prayer, faith and the truth of God’s word! Pray to be WISE, to understand the knowledge of Gods word. Pray that He will give you meaning to the passages you read! Today is a day many of us will go to church (as a show of good faith / because its Easter – and we feel it’s our duty to God to show our appreciation for His sacrifice.) What about the other 364 days of the year, where is your appreciation then? We all have busy days and as we feast with our loved ones and show our gratitude today – try to remember to feast on Gods Word Daily! Man cannot live on bread alone; we live on the Almighty’s Word. Pray for His understanding to Make you Wise! Learn to Love His Word; so you may have the abundance you seek!

It’s not Happy Easter – It’s Happy Resurrection Day! Your resurrection is only found in Gods Word! Seek first the kingdom, so you may obtain the knowledge He offers!

What would happen if we all looked at everyday as a gift and not just another day? Would we choose to just allow the day to go by unnoticed or would we look at it with New Vision. Everyday is a gift, not just another day. Yes we do the mundane needed to survive, but what about embracing each interaction as an opportunity to be the seed for someone else. Whatever the task is that unfolds before you is an opportunity! It’s Gods way of allowing our Free Will to be used in any manner we choose! Choose Wisely!
Life is short; make Time to See and Do things that are important to you! However, it is necessary to say – We have to continue the mundane, but make it enduring, meaningful and purposeful. Time is fleeting; say the things you hold back, love the way you want to Be Loved, share your dreams and try to make a difference in the world. Yes, the World! Small changes in the way you approach each new day will have a ripple effect! Recycling, putting someone else grocery cart back, picking up the trash instead of stepping over it, saying a kind word to the cashier or just choosing to wear a smile (did you know a smile can be felt and heard?)

Today is Not just another Day – Today is the Day you choose to View the world with a New Vision! Every moment of everyday You have a Choice! What will you Choose?

I’ve taken some time to just be. Sometimes you just have to let go, do the daily grid and just be. No time for research or commentary, for which to reflect. So todays post will not include research – it will just be a reminder to all of us that it’s ok to take time to breathe and just be. Of course I still spend my time with God; talking and praying. Meditation is my reflection on His word. We’ve bought land and moved on it, to hopefully build our dream home. So much has happened; yet seems like not much has been accomplished. That’s ok when you live in the spirit; it makes just being, a central part of the process! My husband and I have started a devotional together trying to get to a happier place in our marriage. Marriage is hard and life can be difficult – We all need God to be in the center of our lives and our marriages. Yeah, I know – easier said than done! However, if it’s something you practice; make a point to spend time with God daily; you will find he lives within you. Then, you’ll get to a point where just being is OK. Life moves quickly, but if you can commit to just 3-5 minutes a day to be with God (read a devotional, a Bible chapter, or five minutes of real prayer time) you’ll notice a difference in how you view Things. I could list so many examples of things, we get frustrated with or mishaps that happen that seemingly ’ruin your day’, but the truth is, it is Your reaction to these Things that truly reflect who you are and where you are in your journey with Christ. Let today be a day to Just Be

Today it has become more common that people seek out like minded souls. I’ve realized this comes with a very High cost. Running in like minded circles limits perspective and wisdom. Ultimately these like minded individuals only reinforce the ideas one already had and without the testing of opposite views one can’t grow. In understanding the Big Picture of Life we must first realize it’s Bigger than Me – Bigger than You. Life isn’t just about the daily ins and outs, the things, the achievements or the efforts – it about Salvation – Yours and Mine! All of these things here on Earth will mean nothing when your earthly body dies. It’ll be the things stored up in your heart and soul that really matter. When you come to know God and grow in your spirituality – You’ll begin to understand that nothing on this Earth is yours. What we call possessions are actually gifts – gifts that can be taken from us in an instant. Remember that- the idea that you ‘have’ something can be met with radical implications. We own our home (without a mortgage or with – meaning the bank owns it.) Yet in an instant it can be lost to a flood, fire or other natural disaster. What about a car (paid for or not) – we lost 2 in 2 years due to auto accidents. What about our family- our parents, our children; Do we not realize they are only lent to us for a little while. God will take them back one day – guaranteed! Nothing in Life is certain – except Death! To realize what we have been given is a blessing. Acknowledging that it’s Bigger than Me and all I can perceive or accomplish in this life can disappear in an instant clarifies for me the passage: Matthew 6:19-21. Store not your riches on Earth, but instead store your treasures in Heaven where they cannot be taken. I believe this passage is telling us to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and once we’ve found it (being born again) it’s our job to seek out others to help them also to find the kingdom (Holy Spirit) and guide them to become born again as well. Then will you reap the treasures you’ve stored in Heaven.

The victory is coming. God is on your side. We All know and face heartache and disappointments, but God says Take Heart and Hold On – Victory is coming. Even when you feel the whole world is against you and darkness all around. There is a light that envelops you, but it comes from within. A Living Faith – a hold on your heart – you never knew before. Be kind and patient with yourself. There are no short cuts to spirituality. Growing fruit takes time. It’s a Living Faith that grows with time. Don’t fret or worry – Instead Pray! The peace of God is an eternal calm. Before you know it- a sense of God’s wholeness will envelop you. You’ll feel the stillness in your soul. An eternal calm that only a living God through Living Faith can offer. The peace that God offers is an eternal calm, which lies to deep to be reached without growth in Living Faith. You can have it – He offers it to everyone, but only You can find it by growing your own spirituality. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself – because there is No such thing.

Do you hear the knocking? Jesus is there – can you see him? We miss the meeting because of course We do NOT hear and we cannot see. We want our prayers, our questions – answered now! However, when we sin we want to await the judgements for generations. We must often feel that because God doesn’t answer or give immediate judgment, then, that must mean there is no God?! That’s not the Truth – God is there; He is knocking, yet you cannot hear. Mostly because the World has blocked out His sound. There are those that believe there is No God. They have made a conscience or naive decision to choose that as their truth. Maybe they’ve been exposed to the hypocritical Christian?! Those that sit in church on Sunday, but cannot quote one Bible verse or those that claim religion or Christianity with their mouths, but contradict their words with their actions. Actions speak louder than words. God is willing for us to suffer to get our attention – to teach us how to live! We were born into this world with an innate nature bent away from God. We were born with rebellion and ignorance to Gods word. For as we grow what is nurtured in us becomes a part of our nature/character. We are born weak, rebellious, and most often stubborn. With that said it’s easy to drown out the knocking. He is knocking on the door to your heart; will you let Him in?

Today can be your day of Salvation! Ask Him to cleanse you of your sins, to open your mind and change your heart. Then the door will begin to open – how wide or how far it opens is up to you! The more you read and study His word You Will (not might) begin to watch the change in your life. You’ll even notice a change in those around you because of your growth. As Truth comes to Light – understand there is only One True Living God and His One and Only SON, Jesus Christ, that came to save our souls through His death!

As I type, I understand that God is at work. He uses me to spread HIS word. He has aligned my soul to the Spirit – The HOLY SPIRIT. I am about to reveal something that only HE can share and is NOT for the Meek. Please know and understand that I, Crystal, have a gift that he bestowed upon me and continues to grow in me. I allow the SPIRIT to use what is called automatic writing to commandeer the relayed message. My mind and Heart are pure – God’s one and only spirit can live in you and through you; if you allow. He sits on the throne above all- He sees and experiences ALL. He knows your trouble – the worlds trouble – the plights you fight! Your soul is Yours, but can you allow him to commandeer you too? The only way to get the Spirit is to relinquish your life to HIM. He can’t use an unwilling subject. You have been gifted with Free Will for your Whole life – God shall Never interfere with that. YOU must choose for yourself, whom you will live for – God or the World.

I’ve been given the keys back…… The above seems like a message we have all read or heard before. I read it over and over and see that HE capitalizes NOT for the Meek. What must He mean – it’s an easy read and easy to understand at least upon Human thought and consumption. However, knowing what I have had to give up and what I continue to endure as I deliver His messages and reveal my truth even to my loved ones- I can personally attest that what He is saying and asking is NOT an easy task. Can you shoulder your cross and walk with Him daily? Spend time forsaking yourself and your loved ones to be at His beck and call, whenever He presses upon you to step outside your comfort zone? I am constantly aware that He calls me to talk to strangers; reprimand my closest loved ones; reach out to old friends (whom I may not have talked to in years) to deliver messages that I know will be hard to hear and most certainly hard to deliver. Growing in Spiritual Maturity is NOT for the Meek (or the weak minded). It’s hard, very hard and often a daily struggle.

To quote Jesus from the bible, when approached by a naysayer – I will follow you no matter where you go! He replies ‘pick up your cross, leave all your possessions and do not look back and you can follow me’. The naysayer says, ‘but let me tell my family, let me bury my dead,’ Jesus says, ‘if you must do all these things ‘first’ then you are not fit to be my follower’ I’ve probably paraphrased that a bit, but you will find the passage in (Luke 9:57-62 ~ The Cost of Following Jesus). How harsh does that sound and from Jesus no less? Wow, how that person must have felt! That’s how you Will feel at times when you choose to follow Jesus – its not an easy road at times and you will face hardships and struggles even on His path. Just know that He guarantees It Will be Worth all the Heartache you Suffer!

We all desire something. Fill in the blank of what you want (or desire). With lack of Love of God (for God) we may want for this desired thing for a long time. Even with HIS Love the longing can remain – Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. Our desires, may not actually be His desire for our lives. We may not really Need them to fulfill the void we feel. It is never wise to bargain with God for your worldly desires. Alot of time we cry out in desperation- Lord I’ll do this, if you only grant this one wish (or desire.) It is wrong to negotiate with the Lord. He is Almighty, yet Sovereign, Great in Might and Righteousness! Though His Grace can fill that void without ever granting your ‘wish.’ Your desire can be fleeting. Pray mostly for His Will in your life and those you love! He knows greater than even you, what your Heart desires. The Best thing is He already knows whether that Desire is truly what is Best for you! When all we hear or feel is silence, know that God is Not forsaking you – He is preparing YOU! Preparation requires Patience and Real understanding of His word! When all you hear, see or feel is absence, loneliness or a void – Fill your desire by Embracing His word. He will fulfill you and sustain you.