tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84338788892275825882024-08-29T15:41:41.496-05:00chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-22153638451839829492011-03-01T09:58:00.001-06:002011-03-01T09:58:55.455-06:00

This started as a facebook status, but I kept thinking of things to add.Revelation 1:5-6: To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. The Greek word for "made" in verse 6 is poieo, meaning (among other things), "to produce, bear, shoot forth." Jesus wasn't just

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-15194878472983008142010-12-23T10:48:00.000-06:002010-12-23T10:49:10.974-06:00

In the past three weeks, I have made fudge, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, inside-out Oreos, and a double-batch of divinity. I have stayed up until 2:00 in the morning cleaning my house, washing table linens, and scouring my Christmas china. I have established a mid-sized tree in the corner of my living room, and shoved around other furniture to

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-46034285737713992422010-11-23T12:15:00.001-06:002010-11-23T12:17:27.662-06:00

“God been preparing you and the one He has for you for one another like Isaac and Rebekah. Don’t accept the counterfeit. He will be a man with an apostolic anointing, but don’t put the word ‘apostolic’ in a box. You will not marry this year, but begin to look for it next year. And you will not have to fear rejection anymore.” ~Stranger in hotel, North Carolina, October, 2007“GOD speaks my

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-87858636336359031522010-11-19T12:17:00.000-06:002010-11-19T12:18:17.336-06:00

"Isaac is coming! Isaac is on his way. You've waited long, but Isaac will come as God has promised. And the Lord says to get rid of the Ishmael." ~"Reverend T." Mississippi, Spring, 2006 "God, can I have her?"From what he's told me, JD asked the question one day at work without really expecting an answer. Although both he and his mother had been praying for and about me for several weeks, he

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-43858086290189328162010-11-15T14:42:00.001-06:002010-11-15T14:42:49.507-06:00

“God says that He’s preparing an Isaac for you, and that the Holy Spirit will be your Eliezer and will draw the two of you together at the appointed time.” ~”Reverend T” Mississippi, Spring, 2004 JD and I finally unofficially/officially met late one weeknight in 2009 at church. The leadership at the church had decided to construct a new platform, which required tearing out the old one and some

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-73190360637542953672010-11-09T11:37:00.000-06:002010-11-09T11:38:18.458-06:00

"God gave you this desire for relationship, and He cares about the feelings of loneliness that you've always faced. He is going to bring an Isaac to you." ~"Stephanie" Florida, June, 2000I first saw JD at the church I was attending late in 2008. From my vantage point on the platform I only knew him as the guy on the back row who always came late, always left early, and never smiled. There

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-79618140530942901742010-11-03T20:56:00.000-05:002010-11-03T20:57:11.725-05:00

“God, do You just not care about my feelings? I’m lonely!”It was the fall of my senior year in high school in Asia. I was seventeen years old, all arms and eyebrows, and convinced I was invisible. My best friends both vowed I was terrified of men—mostly, I was terrified of trusting people. I had no concept of guarding my heart, and no paradigm of what it meant to casually date. I was more

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-77227604612560646682010-11-03T20:55:00.000-05:002010-11-03T20:56:15.859-05:00

I was unprepared for the mix of emotions that would surface the night that I met JD’s parents. Panic met dread and spiraled into a desperate hunger for love that belied the affection-lavished childhood I had received. Although that spring night was not my first time to meeting the parents of a significant other, on every other occasion something always felt wrong. Despite their kindness, I always

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-50650827584459118712010-08-10T10:09:00.001-05:002010-08-10T10:10:23.658-05:00

…because God has a sense of humor…Water WalkingFor the most part, the Lord seems to like to take His time bringing things about in my life. I still have so many dreams as yet unfulfilled. However, when the time came for me to purchase my first home, He provided the money, led me to the house, and whisked me through the closing process at a dizzying speed. I signed closing papers on my home within

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-47679045277918194772010-07-27T08:49:00.000-05:002010-07-27T08:50:46.783-05:00

“I wish I were braver,” says Lucy Pevensie in the 2008 cinematic portrayal of C.S. Lewis’s “Prince Caspian.”Aslan replies, “If you were any braver, you’d be a lioness,” and a smile dawns across her face.When we next see Lucy, she’s walking alone to face the iron-clad Telmarine army on a bridge they constructed to cross the river. She approaches one side of the bridge, and the army stops abruptly

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-11297979240349070672010-07-21T16:24:00.001-05:002010-07-21T16:27:42.181-05:00

…because God has a sense of humor…Definition of “A Beans Day”It had been a high stress day at work; I came home exhausted and had a raging headache. JD decided to be kind and start dinner for me–minestrone soup, at my suggestion. Every recipe I found online suggested that the ingredients list was flexible, so JD decided to build our meal off of a bag of dry 5-bean soup beans.After they had been

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-61441663303429747972010-07-15T17:40:00.000-05:002010-07-15T17:41:58.096-05:00

My friend, Sara, is one of my role models. She has what I like to call “forefather-faith”–the kind of stubborn trust in the faithfulness of God that sent Abraham away from his family looking for a land he’d never seen; that sent Abraham’s servant on a quest looking for Isaac’s bride; and that compelled three Hebrews to defy an order to worship an image in the face of certain death. Sara believes

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-63029790733246457642010-06-30T12:06:00.002-05:002010-06-30T12:07:54.896-05:00

In the United States, statistics typically agree that one in two married couples will get a divorce. The percentage gets higher when we focus on those who have married for a second or third time. We embrace quick-fix, microwave solutions to problems that deserve greater attention–sexual intimacy on the second or third date, one-night-stands, broken promises. We are a culture indulging in reality

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-74329373563611055072010-05-27T09:15:00.000-05:002010-05-27T09:16:06.774-05:00

My apologies to all of you who regularly read my blog for the Scripture musings–this one is going to veer from my usual trend just a little. I saw a post by one of my mentors today that warmed my heart. She said:…this saddens me…Men are commanded by God to “agape” their wives, (a complete and excellent love, as represented by the Father’s love for His Son). I hear very little of this and do not

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-82416392850478149082010-05-12T16:23:00.001-05:002010-05-12T16:25:19.852-05:00

Near the end of last week, I was listening to a sermon that referenced Luke 16:15. Jesus is talking to the people about the dishonest manager, who, through his shrewdness, canceled debts owed to his master and made friends with many people before he lost his job so that he would have someone to take him when he had nothing. He admonishes us to use our resources to live generously and make

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-7787765334964612422010-05-10T11:56:00.000-05:002010-05-10T11:57:25.020-05:00

They say You're bigger than we are--that to be able to shrink You down to our level with glib explanations would minimize the greatness of who You are. Does it sadden You, or anger You, or amuse You that we've made worship about us? Will we ever truly understand that it's always going to be about You? We jump up and down trying to grab Your eye, competing with our sisters for Your favor,

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-3133214568744570342010-04-26T13:20:00.000-05:002010-04-26T13:21:51.335-05:00

"What an idiot!""You're such a doofus!""Did you see that jerk just cut me off?""Why are you being so stupid?""Ugh--he's so annoying!"____________________________________The pastor of the church I visited this past Sunday spoke on the tripartite nature of man. In the course of his sermon, he reminded us that everything we learn in life about the world, we receive through our five senses;

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-38859719577726949472010-04-23T11:43:00.000-05:002010-04-23T11:44:26.795-05:00

Thick, black smoke billowed across the sky, hanging like thunder-heads on the horizon. Orange streetlights glared down into the pavement. Orange flames licked the blazing car stalled on the interstate. Shards of glass littered the black top, glinting red and spiraling light in all directions. The seatbelt cut into my shoulder when I braked; and scudding squeals filled the air as those in cars

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-39358702901754049402010-04-06T13:59:00.000-05:002010-04-06T14:01:06.199-05:00

In the beginning was the Word of God incarnate. The Word took a physical body and lived with us. He was light shining in the darkness, hope in the face of despair, love blooming in hate, beauty in squallor, perfection in brokenness, God walking and living on earth. We rejected Him because we loved darkness. Our hearts embraced death when crucified the Life.But because of His submission to the

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-17324512796781340932010-03-30T13:35:00.002-05:002010-03-30T14:08:31.538-05:00

While reading in John 1 this morning, I felt the Lord quicken my heart over verse 4: In him was life, and that life was the light of men.In particular, I felt the Holy Spirit settling over the words "life" and "light." Strong's concordance says life here (zoe) means, "of the absolute fullness of life; life real and genuine; a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, and blessed." This is a

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-40555703084638421622010-03-25T10:02:00.001-05:002010-03-25T10:03:55.270-05:00

Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. ~Psalm 86:11What is Your way, God? What does it mean to walk in Your truth?Truly, Your way has always been first to be and then to do. First, be holy (even as You are holy) and then do the things that mark a holy life. First, love You fiercely and proactively, and then take care of other people as an overflow

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-63178515822671193102010-03-15T14:56:00.000-05:002010-03-15T14:57:56.996-05:00

I've spent hours staring at a brick wall. Sometimes days....even years. The lesson God began teaching me over a year ago continues to come back around--the quiet voice that answers, "here I am" in the middle of so much noise and confusion still echoes in my heart when I expect it least.I was reading in Psalm 46 this morning and God began opening my heart to the truth of verses 1 and 2 again.

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-79730680225262073702010-03-12T14:55:00.001-06:002010-03-12T14:55:59.829-06:00

Your Spirit hovers over the sea of humanity, eyes probing hearts and searching spirits. Do You see me? I'm waving frantically with the banner of love that You gave me. I want to draw Your eyes, even when they burn me alive.Noah released a dove from the ark and it returned to him because there was no place for it to rest. You sent for the dove of Your Spirit and it settled on Your Son. I want

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-69985429610850144672010-02-22T14:48:00.002-06:002010-02-22T14:49:24.936-06:00

There’s a new section here at the Thoughts In the Watchtower site. A new page entitled “Scripture Thoughts” should be showing up under the link to my bio (on the wordpress site). I’m going to start keeping a journal-style, stream-of-consciousness type log of some of my journeying through the Word. I’ll mostly have word studies and rough analyses of short passages of Scripture. Please feel

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8433878889227582588.post-90032292797365387352010-02-14T10:08:00.000-06:002010-02-14T10:09:34.470-06:00

Ah, February 14. It stirs up so many emotions... A few years ago when I was a first-year undergraduate, I "observed" by wearing a black shirt to classes. A year or two later, I'd progressed to wearing all black. I turned my computer settings to all black and gray (down to my instant messenger away message). My sister-in-law and brother teamed up to give me an anti-Valentine's day gift--my candy

chrystalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09781812352189114636noreply@blogger.com0