Folks,
First off I am reading a book called Sipping Saints, by David Wilkerson, and let's just say it is a very challenging, thought provoking, real-truth-smack-you-in-the-face kind of book. I truly want to encourage people to not take my word for it, but seriously read the book, cover to cover, it's an easy read, only a 118 pages....so here below is just an excerpt from the book.....
"If you are a Christian who chooses to drink beverage alcohol and wine, I challenge you to be honest about it. Don't justify your indulgence by using Jesus or Paul as an alibi. Be honest enough to admit that you drink because you enjoy the taste; because you seek an exhilarating effect; because you refuse to allow anyone to interfere with your freedom. Be honest enough to also admit you are not above getting addicted, just as millions of honest people have. Be honest enough to acknowledge that your taste for beverage alcohol could lead to alcoholism, if allowed to grow.
If you choose to drink, don't be a closet user. Don't be a hypocrite. If it is not a sin for you to indulge, drink in the presence of children, your pastor, your trusted friends and relatives. If it is not a sit against god or your body, His temple, then permit yourself to drink before going into a secret closet of prayer. Drink not only at mealtime, but celebrate all of God's goodness to you with a drink in hand. Drink to you health, to your salvation, to eternal life, to divine protection.
If you cannot drink to your faith, then it is sin, because the bible says, "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23) If you cannot hold up your glass of beverage alcohol and look into the face of God to thank Him for it and experience the witness of the Holy Spirit, then, like Adam and Eve, you are hiding behind fear.
If you cannot drink under the steady gaze of the holy Christ; if you cannot drink in the glow of the indwelling Holy Spirit; if you cannot drink with a pure and yielded conscience, then you should not drink at all! It would be dishonest.
If the world has lost its morals.....God hasn't. He is still the unchangeable holy Father who commands a universal family of sanctified children. Let us be honest enough to place our moral standards under divine review until they conform to His.
Ten Reasons for Total Abstinence
1. It is an offense to new Christians.
2. It is unscriptural, condemned in both the Old and New Testaments.
3. It is mockery; it is unwise;
4. It has the potential to deform unborn babies, poison the liver, and cause depression
5. It is recommended only for the terminally ill people with heavy hearts.
6. It is a shameful example for children.
7. It is wrong because it identifies one with the terror and despair of six million alcoholics.
8. It is a phony substitute for the true wine of the Holy Spirit
9. It can easily become addicting, even to the godliest of people.
10. It has the overwhelming potential to turn a sober child of God into a fool.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Humbled, and in Awe....
Today I watched with probably hundreds of thousands of people across the world, David Wilkerson's home-going service, at Times Square Church....I must say it was very touching, moving, and most of all encouraging. I am amazed by this man's full on passion and fire for Jesus and the following of His Holy Spirit. David Wilkerson seemed to be a man of few words...but oh, how important and life-changing those words were, and still are today!! His words to just a mere boy, on the streets of New York, when he said to Nicky Cruz..."I came to tell you God loves you Nicky, and even if you cut me into a thousand pieces, every piece would still love you!!" How those words changed the entire life of one of the worst gang members in all of New York City! How then, if we would use those same LIFE GIVING words, to tell people everywhere we go, simply that God Loves You!!! If we would just be real with people, share our own joys and hurts with others, and be a torch-bearer, a light if you will, to shine and give hope to people who desperately need it!
I think after just watching brother Dave's service....three things were evident in his life, and I want those things to be desperately evident for the rest of my life....is 1) his generosity to others, 2) his simple, genuine love for ALL people, and 3) his deep love for Jesus Christ and His Holy Word. I have been passed a torch that has been lit, and it is my job to keep the torch burning and pass it on to others!! Truly all that matters to me is Jesus, loving Him with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength......and loving others....and telling them Christ loves them....some people might get caught up in things, or fame, or money of this world, but Lord, in reality none of that matters, next to you!!!! If I could shout it from the roof-top, and on the street and in my car...it would be that I LOVE JESUS, I LOVE JESUS, I LOVE JESUS!!!! HE IS MY ALL, HE IS MY EVERYTHING, HE IS MY LIFE, THE REASON I LIVE!!! GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY!!!!!!!
I think after just watching brother Dave's service....three things were evident in his life, and I want those things to be desperately evident for the rest of my life....is 1) his generosity to others, 2) his simple, genuine love for ALL people, and 3) his deep love for Jesus Christ and His Holy Word. I have been passed a torch that has been lit, and it is my job to keep the torch burning and pass it on to others!! Truly all that matters to me is Jesus, loving Him with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength......and loving others....and telling them Christ loves them....some people might get caught up in things, or fame, or money of this world, but Lord, in reality none of that matters, next to you!!!! If I could shout it from the roof-top, and on the street and in my car...it would be that I LOVE JESUS, I LOVE JESUS, I LOVE JESUS!!!! HE IS MY ALL, HE IS MY EVERYTHING, HE IS MY LIFE, THE REASON I LIVE!!! GLORY TO GOD ALMIGHTY!!!!!!!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Unsettled
Hey folks,
I know everyone has heard the news about what is going on in Egypt, but the more I read about it, the more concerned I become about the implications this could have not only on the country of Egypt, but also for the surrounding North African countries and ultimately as rain trickles down it will affect us here in the United States. This political unrest has actually been going on for about a month now, and even a month before that the same rallies were happening in Tunisia where right now over 5,000 people have fled the country by ship, heading to Italy's beaches. All this information may seem overwhelming but at least for me, it points me back to how much I need to pray:
We need to pray for the country's leaders, for the powers that be, for the thousands right now that stand in harms way, that this in some way, would be a turning point for many people to reach out to Jesus Christ, and that the gospel would continue to spread even in the midst of the country's chaos. When we pray, that is when God moves. We have not because we ask not. I know I have a lot of needs when I pray, but I also have to remember I am not one this earth alone, and there are millions upon millions of people who need a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ, who is the Author of our Salvation, He is the healer, the Peacemaker, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings. I need to be mindful to pray not only for this country but for the entire world.
God Speed,
Crystal
I know everyone has heard the news about what is going on in Egypt, but the more I read about it, the more concerned I become about the implications this could have not only on the country of Egypt, but also for the surrounding North African countries and ultimately as rain trickles down it will affect us here in the United States. This political unrest has actually been going on for about a month now, and even a month before that the same rallies were happening in Tunisia where right now over 5,000 people have fled the country by ship, heading to Italy's beaches. All this information may seem overwhelming but at least for me, it points me back to how much I need to pray:
We need to pray for the country's leaders, for the powers that be, for the thousands right now that stand in harms way, that this in some way, would be a turning point for many people to reach out to Jesus Christ, and that the gospel would continue to spread even in the midst of the country's chaos. When we pray, that is when God moves. We have not because we ask not. I know I have a lot of needs when I pray, but I also have to remember I am not one this earth alone, and there are millions upon millions of people who need a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ, who is the Author of our Salvation, He is the healer, the Peacemaker, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings. I need to be mindful to pray not only for this country but for the entire world.
God Speed,
Crystal
Friday, January 21, 2011
Bible Read-Through....in 90 days...humm....
Hey ya'll!
I just wanted to say that today is my second day of reading through the bible in 90 days. I have to admit this is going to be a little challenging for me, but I think I'm ready for it! We shall see how it will go, and I will keep everyone updated (actually this will be a kind of accountability in a way!! hee-hee!!) but...let me just say that today is day two, and it was kind of a rough start, like I didn't want to do it, and just would rather watch some show on tv, or get on facebook, or take a nap instead...but I just felt compelled to just start reading, and I'm like ok God...here we go..and I was only suppose to read to today to Gen CH 28 but I read to CH 30...and just as I was reading...I kept thinking to myself 'THIS IS AN AWESOME STORY GOD!" and I almost couldn't put the bible down...I just wanted to keep reading!!! (boy God can sure change an attitude...especially mine ha!) but seriously the bible is like the next best thing I believe to understanding God's heart, and His guidance for our lives! but I'm excited because I know above all other books the bible is REAL...it is 100 percent TRUE! (which makes me want to sometimes jump through the pages, to see what life was really like, having to fetch water from a well, and cutting animals for sacrifices!! YUCK!) but I am excited to be on this journey of reading the bible, for all it's worth, to understand it, and get wisdom and insight for my life!! LORD HELP ME!!
TO BE CONTINUED...
I will let you know how Leviticus, and other books go, but Genesis is pretty AWESOME, LIKE JESUS!!!!
PEACE AND LOVE,
Crystal
I just wanted to say that today is my second day of reading through the bible in 90 days. I have to admit this is going to be a little challenging for me, but I think I'm ready for it! We shall see how it will go, and I will keep everyone updated (actually this will be a kind of accountability in a way!! hee-hee!!) but...let me just say that today is day two, and it was kind of a rough start, like I didn't want to do it, and just would rather watch some show on tv, or get on facebook, or take a nap instead...but I just felt compelled to just start reading, and I'm like ok God...here we go..and I was only suppose to read to today to Gen CH 28 but I read to CH 30...and just as I was reading...I kept thinking to myself 'THIS IS AN AWESOME STORY GOD!" and I almost couldn't put the bible down...I just wanted to keep reading!!! (boy God can sure change an attitude...especially mine ha!) but seriously the bible is like the next best thing I believe to understanding God's heart, and His guidance for our lives! but I'm excited because I know above all other books the bible is REAL...it is 100 percent TRUE! (which makes me want to sometimes jump through the pages, to see what life was really like, having to fetch water from a well, and cutting animals for sacrifices!! YUCK!) but I am excited to be on this journey of reading the bible, for all it's worth, to understand it, and get wisdom and insight for my life!! LORD HELP ME!!
TO BE CONTINUED...
I will let you know how Leviticus, and other books go, but Genesis is pretty AWESOME, LIKE JESUS!!!!
PEACE AND LOVE,
Crystal
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Following Jesus in the year 2011
Just wanted to start afresh in 2011 with blogging...I feel sometimes like I fall off the bandwagon, getting caught up in the all chaos of the Holidays!
But I want to start this new year off right...It is the first week, of the first month, of first year of a new decade....I believe God wants our firsts...not our middle's, or our leftovers.....leftover fries are just not good YUCK! but in order to give God our firsts' we have to make it a priority, we have make a conscience effort in obedience, we have to be true to our word...and that's what I want for this year! To be a truly sold out person who loves Jesus with all my firsts!!
Matthwe 25:21
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!c]">[c]’
I want to be faithful with my firsts for Jesus this year 2011
But I want to start this new year off right...It is the first week, of the first month, of first year of a new decade....I believe God wants our firsts...not our middle's, or our leftovers.....leftover fries are just not good YUCK! but in order to give God our firsts' we have to make it a priority, we have make a conscience effort in obedience, we have to be true to our word...and that's what I want for this year! To be a truly sold out person who loves Jesus with all my firsts!!
Matthwe 25:21
“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!c]">[c]’
I want to be faithful with my firsts for Jesus this year 2011
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