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
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Experiences....Life and Death
Hey!
Just wanted to blog....I feel like I need to, since I have so many thoughts and things in my head that I just needed to get out on paper some-how.....and not that I need this blog as a venting session, but just I feel I get more organized and just become a better person when I can journal, look as something and remember it....because to be honest if I DIDN'T write things down....I would be so confused and forgetting things left and right!!
So, the title of my blog is Life and Death....partly because my great uncle passed away this past weekend, and I just came back from the visitation last night. I have heard this question asked a million times before and today I'm asking it to myself.....Why is it that the older you get, the less you see your family, and when you do, it happens to be more at funerals and weddings than in our normal life?! I hate it!! I hate the fact that I don't get to see my family more!! Family, means everything to me...and I think it will mean even more, once I have a family of my own!! I might be crazy, but I LOVE MY FAMILY......I LOVE MY FAMILY SO INCREDIBLY MUCH....FOR ALL OF LIFE....THEY MEAN THE WORLD TO ME, THEY TRULY DO MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME......even though sometimes we all can get a little crazy....there isn't anything I would not do for any of them. I look at even my extended family uncles, aunts, cousins, and realize I am so incredibly blessed by God Almighty! I have so many incredible memories from my childhood, and at family get togethers....and even though I'm not that old.....it seems like in the last 10 years even, the family is pushed aside, and it's "every person for themselves" Are you kidding me?! I would do anything for my family, next to give my life and my possessions for my family....and then next to that there is God's family.....which I would also just about say is as close as my blood family....I see them more often that I see my real family back home....and I feel like I do have family at Stone Creek Church that have forever changed and altered the course of my life for eternity......I love them, ALMOST as much as my family :)
but anyway......I guess I just have this utter respect for my family.....my great uncles and aunts mean the world to me....they just have such rich lives and stories and have truly been blessed by God....my great uncle Charlie had 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He was also served in WW II in the Navy aboard the Attala, and also was able to DC in 2009 for an special recognition for his military service.... I guess my family is just full of people who really love each other and stuck together throughout the years! Maybe it has to do with growing up in a small farm town....I dunno, but I consider myself blessed to be in the family I am born into.....and to sit at the feet of such great and honorable people when I was younger.....I will always have a deep respect for my family, and I truly want to honor them, as I have seen first hand how family comes together and just does stuff...helps out whether big or small.......I have such a giving, gracious, and loving family to tell all the stories, I would have to write about 15 pages for people to understand....(maybe I should write a book! ha!) I totally understand the saying, when you marry.....you really do......for all it's worth, you marry into the family as well......you become a part of something much larger than yourself, your schedule and preferences change....and you do that......well at least I do....out of respect for my family......I conclude with this......Don't miss out on your own family.....Take time for your family.....You can NEVER go back in time.....time only continues to push us forward....as we look forward we are leaving a legacy behind us.....What kind of legacy am I leaving? I know priorities and things have to change the older I get.....My parents did a good job of raising me....but I want to do an even better job of influencing the people, kids, and family that will come after me........also....I think of how Jesus lived.....He lived the life of a legacy, worthy, and honorable, ONLY because he was an obedient child to His Heavenly Father....He spent time with Him.....EVERY DAY.......my greatest thing in my life I want to pass on to people, is nothing about me really, but I want people to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that God LOVES them....that God's love in me, would be bigger than myself...that people would know they are loved for eternity!
I know this is long, but just thought I'd share with you
In His Steps,
Crystal
Just wanted to blog....I feel like I need to, since I have so many thoughts and things in my head that I just needed to get out on paper some-how.....and not that I need this blog as a venting session, but just I feel I get more organized and just become a better person when I can journal, look as something and remember it....because to be honest if I DIDN'T write things down....I would be so confused and forgetting things left and right!!
So, the title of my blog is Life and Death....partly because my great uncle passed away this past weekend, and I just came back from the visitation last night. I have heard this question asked a million times before and today I'm asking it to myself.....Why is it that the older you get, the less you see your family, and when you do, it happens to be more at funerals and weddings than in our normal life?! I hate it!! I hate the fact that I don't get to see my family more!! Family, means everything to me...and I think it will mean even more, once I have a family of my own!! I might be crazy, but I LOVE MY FAMILY......I LOVE MY FAMILY SO INCREDIBLY MUCH....FOR ALL OF LIFE....THEY MEAN THE WORLD TO ME, THEY TRULY DO MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME......even though sometimes we all can get a little crazy....there isn't anything I would not do for any of them. I look at even my extended family uncles, aunts, cousins, and realize I am so incredibly blessed by God Almighty! I have so many incredible memories from my childhood, and at family get togethers....and even though I'm not that old.....it seems like in the last 10 years even, the family is pushed aside, and it's "every person for themselves" Are you kidding me?! I would do anything for my family, next to give my life and my possessions for my family....and then next to that there is God's family.....which I would also just about say is as close as my blood family....I see them more often that I see my real family back home....and I feel like I do have family at Stone Creek Church that have forever changed and altered the course of my life for eternity......I love them, ALMOST as much as my family :)
but anyway......I guess I just have this utter respect for my family.....my great uncles and aunts mean the world to me....they just have such rich lives and stories and have truly been blessed by God....my great uncle Charlie had 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He was also served in WW II in the Navy aboard the Attala, and also was able to DC in 2009 for an special recognition for his military service.... I guess my family is just full of people who really love each other and stuck together throughout the years! Maybe it has to do with growing up in a small farm town....I dunno, but I consider myself blessed to be in the family I am born into.....and to sit at the feet of such great and honorable people when I was younger.....I will always have a deep respect for my family, and I truly want to honor them, as I have seen first hand how family comes together and just does stuff...helps out whether big or small.......I have such a giving, gracious, and loving family to tell all the stories, I would have to write about 15 pages for people to understand....(maybe I should write a book! ha!) I totally understand the saying, when you marry.....you really do......for all it's worth, you marry into the family as well......you become a part of something much larger than yourself, your schedule and preferences change....and you do that......well at least I do....out of respect for my family......I conclude with this......Don't miss out on your own family.....Take time for your family.....You can NEVER go back in time.....time only continues to push us forward....as we look forward we are leaving a legacy behind us.....What kind of legacy am I leaving? I know priorities and things have to change the older I get.....My parents did a good job of raising me....but I want to do an even better job of influencing the people, kids, and family that will come after me........also....I think of how Jesus lived.....He lived the life of a legacy, worthy, and honorable, ONLY because he was an obedient child to His Heavenly Father....He spent time with Him.....EVERY DAY.......my greatest thing in my life I want to pass on to people, is nothing about me really, but I want people to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that God LOVES them....that God's love in me, would be bigger than myself...that people would know they are loved for eternity!
I know this is long, but just thought I'd share with you
In His Steps,
Crystal
Monday, September 20, 2010
TALKING ON THE PHONE....
Hey folks,
My job, in the last few days, has got me thinking about the government and Jesus.....weird and strange combination, I know but, still something to blog/think about.....It is just odd to me, that to get things done at the business level, you have to go to the top, and even then, that doesn't work. In my job now I have to talk on the phone to managers/owners of different businesses in town. Which is fine, but when I ask them to do something, it's like they automatically say "OH, WELL WE CAN'T DO THAT...THAT'S DONE IN CORPORATE OFFICES...IN FLORIDA, OR INDIA....or wherever it may be....and then they give you an 800 number that puts you through an automated system, then you get transferred two or three different times to the correct person that you need to speak to, and then.....LOW AND BEHOLD, YOU GET....(drum roll please)...TA DA TA DA....THEIR ANSWERING MACHINE!!!! WOAH!!! WOW....now you have to speak to an answering machine where the person on the other line and easily delete your message or in some cases take a week to respond to you message......so this is corporate America.....what ever happened when you could walk into a business, and speak with the owner, and get things done, and not have to get the run around.....
I am SO THANKFUL AND GLAD that our Heavenly Father does not have an answering machine, or ever goes on vacation, or steps out of the office, or is to busy with other people to notice our prayers, our needs, our hurts, our desires......Our Lord CARES....truly I believe it, even if things don't work out the way we planned, or in the timing that we want it to!! It's like the Hillsong lyrics from Tear Down the Walls that say...
Cause I don't need to see it to believe it..
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls That all creation would Come back to You It’s all for You
We don't have to see or have life planned out where we will be 5 or 10 years from now....I believe life is about letting God direct you to go, and then me having enough courage to follow wherever He is leading me......no matter if people understand it, no matter if people like me or not....no matter what the circumstance....I believe what the bible says in James 4:7-8, 10
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up
When we Draw near to God He will draw near to us.....but notice the bible does not say WHEN WE DRAW NEAR....it just says simply....DRAW NEAR....that is what we are to do.....it is not an IF/THEN situation.......the more I live the Christian life....and follow God, and the direction of the Holy Spirit.....the more things become a matter of just plain discipline.....and dependence.
My job, in the last few days, has got me thinking about the government and Jesus.....weird and strange combination, I know but, still something to blog/think about.....It is just odd to me, that to get things done at the business level, you have to go to the top, and even then, that doesn't work. In my job now I have to talk on the phone to managers/owners of different businesses in town. Which is fine, but when I ask them to do something, it's like they automatically say "OH, WELL WE CAN'T DO THAT...THAT'S DONE IN CORPORATE OFFICES...IN FLORIDA, OR INDIA....or wherever it may be....and then they give you an 800 number that puts you through an automated system, then you get transferred two or three different times to the correct person that you need to speak to, and then.....LOW AND BEHOLD, YOU GET....(drum roll please)...TA DA TA DA....THEIR ANSWERING MACHINE!!!! WOAH!!! WOW....now you have to speak to an answering machine where the person on the other line and easily delete your message or in some cases take a week to respond to you message......so this is corporate America.....what ever happened when you could walk into a business, and speak with the owner, and get things done, and not have to get the run around.....
I am SO THANKFUL AND GLAD that our Heavenly Father does not have an answering machine, or ever goes on vacation, or steps out of the office, or is to busy with other people to notice our prayers, our needs, our hurts, our desires......Our Lord CARES....truly I believe it, even if things don't work out the way we planned, or in the timing that we want it to!! It's like the Hillsong lyrics from Tear Down the Walls that say...
Cause I don't need to see it to believe it..
I don’t need to see it to believe it
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning Deep inside my heart
This life is Yours and hope is rising As Your glory floods our hearts
Let love tear down these walls That all creation would Come back to You It’s all for You
We don't have to see or have life planned out where we will be 5 or 10 years from now....I believe life is about letting God direct you to go, and then me having enough courage to follow wherever He is leading me......no matter if people understand it, no matter if people like me or not....no matter what the circumstance....I believe what the bible says in James 4:7-8, 10
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up
When we Draw near to God He will draw near to us.....but notice the bible does not say WHEN WE DRAW NEAR....it just says simply....DRAW NEAR....that is what we are to do.....it is not an IF/THEN situation.......the more I live the Christian life....and follow God, and the direction of the Holy Spirit.....the more things become a matter of just plain discipline.....and dependence.
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