Missing Something

My Pastor has been preaching a series called Missing Something. It has been a series that really makes you reflect. I stopped today to remember who I was before I surrendered to Christ. I wasn't a good person, I lied, stole, and cheated my way though life.  I had been neglected and abused in some way my whole life.  After I learned who I was in Christ I started demanding better for myself, I prayed for God to deliver me from the hands of the people who were, at the age of 24, still abusing me. I am not the same abused and broken girl I once was then, but I still have deep wounds that only time and God can heal.
  Pastor Ralph's teachings have been about having The Joy of the Lord, Being Humble, Having Confidence, and Perseverance and Focus.
     The Joy of The Lord; When you think about JOY, you think overwhelming happiness. But the Joy that you have, learn to have, when you are a Child of God, is more of a confidence. It's KNOWING who God is and KNOWING that he uses everything in your life for GOOD.
       Being Humble; A humble person is someone who is grateful and doesn't think too highly of themselves, but for me I believe it is more than that. Being Humble is more for me about Mercy and Grace and well as Gratitude and Honor.
        Confidence isn't about a good self-esteem and who You are ALONE, but about Knowing Who God says you are and Knowing who He is and KNOWING He always does what He says.
         Perseverance and Focus; Well I think this is the simplest of concepts but the hardest in application, well at first and sometimes in the middle and at the end as well.  Keeping your Focus on God when your "world" is crumbling around you. But that's the thing, your world isn't crumbling!  The Enemy whispers those lies trying to get you to take your eyes off of Jesus, forgetting the very important fact that God works EVERYTHING in your life for GOOD. Staying to Fight each Battle to be able to WIN the WAR!!
   When the scars start to open, I need to stay focused on the One Who Saved ME!! The One who cut the chains that bound me to a life of abuse. My Daddy is God and my Big Brother is the Big Bad Jesus him self, and with them being for me, Who can successfully stand against me!

Thank You Pastor Ralph Morris for being obedient to God!

Only By God's Grace, Learning To Live Humble

  God has given me the gift of being able to cook well as well as the gift to enjoy it, a lot! Well today I figured I'd make up a batch of Duncan Hines brownies, Duncan Hines NEVER disappoints me! NEVER! Well I must have overcooked them, because they were the driest brownies EVER!! No wonder no one at the party ate more than one! But the good part about this is, tomorrow they will be covered in vanilla ice cream and hot fudge!! They will be yummy, even if I have to add 1000 calories to them to make them editable!! lol
  I believe that I have been too proud of my cooking. I also believe that God is humbling me in this regard.  I know that pride is the fastest way to Hell and the fastest way to lose friends.  The Bible says: The pride of man will be humbled And the loftiness of men will be abased; And the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, Isaiah 2:17 (NASB) . I know that just as easily as God  gave me this gift he can take it away in a heartbeat.  I do not want to tempt him, yet I catch my self boasting that I am a good cook or I find myself comparing my food to my friends food. How audacious of me to think that my skills or gifts are better than someone else! James says this, But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. James 4:16 (NASB) or How about this in Jeremiah 9:23 (NASB)

Thus says the Lord, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; But in Romans, it shows us that boasting in the Lord is good; Romans 15:17 (NASB) Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.

   I have a friend who doesn't have a Gift for cooking, she does a good job but admits to lacking in that department.  She is the most creative person, OMGoodness, she pulls ideas out of her head for craftiness that I only wished that I could do what she does. But I would NOT trade my cooking ability for her crafting ability, no way, no sir!!  Being able to put a good tasty meal on the table for my family is part of the fabric of who I am!     Here is a great thing about friendships and family, we can play off each other strengths and talents.  We can help one another, teach one another, go to one another for ideas and help. Isn't that what being a christian is all about? Helping each other strive and grow through the love of Jesus Christ. Check out what Paul says in his second letter to the church in Corinth, For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;  2 Corinthians 5:14 (NASB). I am so incredibly grateful that God has given us his infallible word to live by! With out it, With out Him I would be LOST!!  I love being christian!!  God is So Good, All the TIME!!

God Bless!

Dirty Feet

My husband and I love to go garage saleing. Today we went to few sales, but because if the threat of rain, we only found 3. Two of the sales were very small and not worth stopping at. But the last one was in the country down a long gravel road was big and had lots to shop, so we stopped. I quickly found a plastic kids bowling set and knew I had to have it. As I walked back to our pickup truck to grab my purse I noticed the dust in grass was pluming around my feet. I felt so embarrassed for others to see my feet so incredibly dirty, covered in a white chalky dust. I quickly paid for my purchase and got in the truck with my family. I looked down at my dirty feet and I grabbed a tissue and tried to wipe off the dust.
We stopped at a gas station to get some drinks and snacks. Jena and I went into the restroom and we washed our feet and sandals. It was at that point my mind went to the last supper where Jesus washed his disciples feet.
Could you imagine, Jesus, God in the flesh, kneeling down washing your feet.
Seeing where you have been, how you take care of your feet, or lack thereof. For me, it would be embarrassing. For one, I should be washing his feet, He is my God, my Savior. I owe him my EVERYTHING !!
Second, I should be being a good steward and taking care of my own feet. On that same page, if The Great I AM can wash my feet, why is it so hard for me to not complain about cleaning up after my family? This something I will be working on through God's grace! How amazing is our God, he uses something as simple as dirty feet to remind me to be a good steward of my home! PTL

Obey God, and Trust Him for the Results

Do you know how incredibly hard it is to Obey God when you can't see what he is doing, or is it? Even when I am hurting the most and full of grief I can still Praise and Worship God. I was told after my son's death that my Worship of God was a blessing to an "Older" Christian. As a "Preschool Christan",  I do know that what ever you are going through always praise and worship God.  It is only by God's Power and Might and Strength that all things are possible. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. So, although it may seem hard to obey God, in the end, It is the easiest and best way to live.  “It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul,  that  He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil. Deuteronomy 11:13-14.  Knowing that God has a plan for me and that Jesus died for me, makes me WANT TO OBEY.  That is the meaning of being a Follower of Christ, the WANT TO, not have to. My prayer for you, is that you have an obedient week!
Much Love, Crystal