New Year - New Adventure

Welcome to the new year! It's a little late coming, so forgive me, but if you know me personally, you know my year has been a delightful new adventure!

A couple days before my birthday, I got engaged to an amazing friend and partner in the Kingdom of God.  We are working out details for a wedding, but getting to know each other better is our top goal right now as we pray about those details.

New adventures always bring more dynamic and thrilling views, along with the harder paths and rockier terrain.  I choose the hard stuff for the good stuff, and that's where I've been most blessed.  What about you?

If you've chosen a road less traveled, let me encourage you today... don't give up on the things you love because of the effort it takes to get them.  This is as true in any relationship as it is in a life-goal: hard times come, but the reward is worth it.

Hang in there and keep pressing forward!

Encouragement from Scripture...

Galations 6:9
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Philippians 3:14
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

The New Leg of Our Journey: Crystal Laine

For anyone that has read my blogs throughout the years, you may not know that my writing extends beyond this website.  I have been writing music and lyrics for over ten years now, and praying for every line to be used in some way.  For an artist, to reveal artwork is a huge risk, because we make ourselves vulnerable to the world's interpretation of it in addition to our intention behind it.   At the same time, this risk is what makes artwork so beautiful and vibrant:  every perspective brings a new light to the artwork.

Without "too much, too soon," I'll share with you that I've ventured into this new journey with you of singing and songwriting.  I specifically titled this post as "Our" instead of "My" because - without a doubt - no artist does it alone.  This is so much more than "all about me".  There are countless people that fall into the category of musician, producer, encourager, promoter, listener, and prayer partner (to name a few).  All play a pivotal role in ensuring a message reaches the ears, eyes, and hearts of people worldwide and throughout the generations to come.

In the next few months, I'll be working with some local musicians (including Phillip Gonzales) and distant musicians (including my cousin, Zack Leffew) to polish and record songs.  I need your help in these ways:

• Pray - For me, every administrative aspect of this dream's goal, people to be blessed by it, and for the people who *get* to deal with me ;)
• Write - Send me a note to encourage me, ask specific questions about the music, or to let me know of the best calorie-free chocolate recipe you can find
• Share - With your friends, family, online community, the doorman, the taxicab driver, and the neighbor's pets (to name a few)

Below I have just a couple links to my new social media sites where people can "follow" or "like".  Please pass them on, have no shame in sharing, and help me stay accountable on this journey.  I'm excited.  I'm challenged to new levels.  I think you will like taking this trip with me.  ;)

Facebook | CrystalLaineSings

Twitter | @CrystalLaine28

One final note: don't give up on dreams God has placed in your heart.  Trust Him and His timing, walk closely with Him even when you don't see fruition, and enjoy His presence every step of the way.

Soli Deo Gloria

Love Comes to You

My analytical mind gets so overloaded with details sometimes that it's so hard to sift out the facts that are needed versus he facts that are not. On the day I'm writing this, I'm reminded of the truth that whatever debris is swirling around inside of my mind, I can depend on the truth that God is constant. He's the anchor in the storm, He's the unshifting rock I can rest on. 

There's a song that Kari Jobe sings called "Love Came Down" and I'm going to share the lyrics here because of their powerful truth that I am focusing on today: though I may be overwhelmed, I will trust in Him still, because his Love comes down to rescue me every time. 

Like waves on the shore, God's love consistently flows to us.

If my heart is overwhelmed, and I cannot hear Your voice 

I hold on to what is true, though I cannot see 

If the storms of life they come, and the road ahead gets steep 

I will lift these hands in faith, I will believe 

I'll remind myself of all that You've done 

And the life I have because of Your son 

Love came down and rescued me 

Love came down and set me free 

I am Yours 

Lord, I'm forever Yours 

Mountains high or valley low 

I sing out and remind my soul 

I am Yours 

I am forever Yours 

When my heart is filled with hope: every promise comes my way 

When I feel Your hands of grace rest upon me 

Staying desperate for You, God; staying humble at Your feet 

I will lift these hands in praise, I will believe 

I'll remind myself of all that You've done 

And the life I have because of Your son 

Love came down and rescued me 

Love came down and set me free 

I am Yours 

I am forever Yours 

Mountains high or valley low 

I sing out and remind my soul 

I am Yours 

I am forever Yours 

The Quickest Way to Get Rid of Junk Mail

I probably get 10-20 new e-mails a day.  Most of the e-mails I get are split between advertising or marketing and articles to read.  Do you have the same thing happen?  Or, are you the kind of person who gets 95% of your paper mail as “junk mail”, and an occasional bill just to spice it up?

And what happens to this mail?  Most of it gets deleted or trashed before it’s opened.  No, I don’t need new tires again this week, nor do I need to get another coupon deal to the local ant watching exhibit. 

Delete.  Shred.  Trash. {insert an old Batman exclamation here}

But then… then you see it.  That old friend sent you a card in the mail.  A new friend decided to e-mail you a personal message.  What joy and jubilation!  Well, I certainly delight in that event.  I’m like the person walking away from the mail box with a pile of junk mail left at the base of the post, carefully peeling back the envelope to my friend’s letter to preserve the sanctity of a real piece of postage.

The letter was addressed to "Auntie Crystal"!!
Blessed my socks right off.  :)

Sounds silly, right? But the fact is, letters are important to me.  I consider the time it takes a person to write them, what they may have sacrificed from their day to put a pen to paper or their fingers to a keyboard.  I consider the inflection in the person’s voice and their facial expressions as I read what they wrote.  I smile at their humor or tear up to their grief.  I look forward to the event that I was invited to.  I relish in them: soak them in like sunshine.  They bring me such joy that I tend to go over them again-and-again.  Do you do the same thing??

Several years ago I received an amazing book of letters: the Bible.  They are like a collection of treasures all written down in one book for me to soak in: the letters from God.  One verse at a time, I see His intentionality and His consistency through the thread of history.  One word at a time I see more of His personality and His beauty. Each time I pour over them, I’m reminded that I still don’t know Him completely, and it compels me to keep going back. 

Consider this today: How we perceive God will determine how we receive His letters.  Just as an informal advertisement goes to the garbage, if we see God as an informal God, we will discard His letters.  If we see God, though, as a loyal friend who delights in us, and in whom we can delight in, we will see His letters as a treasure and keep pouring over them.

My hope and challenge to you is this: delight in God’s Word (the Bible) as you would an unexpected surprise letter from one of your closest friends and see what He wants to show you.  I am confident you will find a depth to Him like you have never known, and you will grow in peace and understanding as you dwell on His words all day long. 

Finding Opportunity in Boundaries

Several weeks ago I had the chance to visit a friend of mine.  We try to get together every few months and it's a fabulous time of reciprocal encouragement.  My friend, Phyllis, just recently was told by her doctors to switch to a new diet to see if it is beneficial for her.

In despair, Phyllis told me about this new diet restriction.  She lived most of her life in the Midwest as a farmer's wife, working hard to till the land, plant seed, cultivate, and harvest.  She knows mashed potatoes and fried chicken like breathing.  She knows all the goodness of a fresh apple pie and the buttery delight of warm biscuits and gravy.  But she's been told "no" to all of that.

Even with the food changes being made in this generation, change is never easy.  I understood Phyllis' frustration and yet I had to believe there was a better opportunity in this new diet challenge.  As we sat there, Phyllis showed me her list of ingredients that were "safe" and that she could eat on her new eating plan.  We concocted a recipe and went to the kitchen to start making it.

An inviting aroma wafted through the small kitchen as we started to cook the vegetables.  We talked about new ideas for recipe's that could be made with these same ingredients and we laughed at, truly, the opportunities that are revealed within this dietary restriction.

You see, if Phyllis had never been told to limit herself of what was comfortable, she never would have come up with these new ideas.  She never would have found out that she actually liked other things.

 

Often, God does this for us, doesn't He?  He takes us from what we know, what we're comfortable with, and He closes that door of opportunity.  We respond with frustration, usually; heartbroken at the reality that He has removed something we loved so much from our life.

What if....

What if He was actually cutting out those things that were toxic to us, that we could not tell were toxic??

What if He was actually moving us to a place where we could see an abundance of blessing that we have been missing all along??

Do you see where I'm going with this?  Let's take a new approach.  Let's purposefully look for the God-viewpoint and stay in that place.  It may mean coming across as insensitive at times, but done in love, it can be a gift second only to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Let's explore the boundaries that God has given us with fresh excitement: He's not through with lavishing His love on us yet!

Thoughts with Terry: the Sunday Christian and the Daily Christian

Times with my buddy Terry are always edifying.  We meet for lunch, pray over our food and the table, and are mindful of ways we can bless people around us.  Most of all, we dwell on the goodness of God.  Here is a peak at a topic we most recently discussed.  Feel free to join the conversation with a comment below...

What is it that separates a Sunday Christian from a daily Christian?  

The short answer: our awareness of God.  

If we are truly aware of God in our life, we are more mindful of whether or not we are pleasing Him.  No, it doesn't mean we are perfect, but it means we have a holy reverence for Him, an understanding that He sees and knows all, and that we are ultimately accountable to Him alone.  It can change our attitude and our response to external (or internal) chaos, but if we don't stay mindful of His presence, we are quick to do something that may not please Him.  Human nature is to sin.  Human nature covered by the blood of Jesus is to repent and be forgiven.

Today, let's walk in forgiveness of each other because of the love God has shown us.  And let's remember that "nothing in all creation is hidden from God.  Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." (Hebrews 4:13)

  

Unfailing

I fail often.

People right now in my life are failing me.

I don't hate people because they fail or else I would have to hate myself. Failure tells me you're human, and I can deal with that, because I am too. There is a gut-punching feel that hits when someone fails me, though, until I remember that I have probably failed them too.

But God doesn't fail. In fact, He is so good at being God that He can even take my failures and my friends failures and make something really cool out of them.

Think: gift basket. You may have five types of soap, some silly decorative items, and some random candles. These can all be useless to you (perhaps), but when you put them all together for a gift, you create a spa gift for a friend.

I'm hoping for some gift-basket blessings that come from my failures, and your failures, so that together we can be a huge blessing to people in need around us - and to each other!

If you're having trouble believing that God can use you - messed up you - (like messed up me) - I encourage you to challenge Him by offering Him yourself.  Despite the failures, offer yourself to Him, and work with what He gives you to show you that your life still matters.

...and trust that He will never fail you.

Wisdom in the Trenches-Worry

I would say that "trenches" are places where you are on your knees and getting dirty.  Places where you've hidden yourself in a hole with the hopes of finding something or hiding from something.... or both.

So when I say "trenches", my mind's eye goes to a place where people go to get down and dirty with their requests to God; where they go to hide from the enemy's fire and find peace and resolution in the Victor's hands.

I'm huge on prayer.  I'm the person who doesn't take it lightly and will offer up whisper heart prayers if nothing else is available.  So, when someone offers to pray for me, I want to give them a specific thing to pray for.  I did this recently - I asked a couple who was praying for me to pray for a specific concern I have about my time away on a mission trip.  Their response just made me smile, knowing that it was God alone who gave them the words to say to me...

"We will definitely pray... God hasn't give you this opportunity to blindside you while you're gone, you know, so relax and enjoy your ministry experience."

This isn't to say that God doesn't have surprises up His sleeve for my good, but it is to remind me to NOT WORRY.

How much do I know worry is bad for me?  MUCH.  It's bad for you too.  I need people who are in the trenches with me to remind me to keep my head down when those thoughts come my way.  I am granted victory over them time and again, but I am certainly not immune to them.  Let's encourage each other to continually cast our cares on God, not trust in our own line of sight, keep praying in the trenches, and sing a few campfire songs while we're down there.  We want freedom, after all, and singing the good old praises invites God's Spirit to be a part of us.  And where the Spirit of the LORD is - there is freedom.

Giving time to Anger

Ephesians 4:26 (MSG)

Go ahead and be angry.  You do well to be angry-but don’t use your anger as a fuel for revenge.  And don’t stay angry.  Don’t go to bed angry.  Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.

I was talking with a new friend today.  A very positive person, I wondered how they would answer the question:  what makes you angry?

It’s easy for me to assume something makes everyone angry.  And perhaps that’s still true, but my friend’s response got me to thinking about what I possibly waste on anger.  

Let me explain – 

Anger should always only be temporary.  The Bible talks about letting go of the anger because if we do not, the Devil will have a place in our life to step in and control us like a puppeteer.  

So my challenge to myself is this: don’t go to bed angry.  Also, never give anger more than a moment’s thought during the times that it does come around.  

Every moment angry is a moment for the Devil to move closer to me, and that’s the last thing I want. No dancing with the Devil for me, sir.  No thanks!

And what do I waste?  I waste time to praise and thank God.  It seems like only moments now, but when I get to heaven one day, I don’t want to have wasted a single moment on anger when I could have invested it in my Lover, my King, my Savior.

Anger Management Class...

Who are you looking for?

I just read  a great short blog on the lists we create for our [future] mates.  I thought I'd share it with you.  I love the thought process of "dating mercy".

Read it here:  She Seeks

Enjoy!
 

Why We Need People

I have recently started going to a local group where we share about life, we learn, we eat amazing food(!!!), and we build really cool friendships together.  And I love to meet new people and make friends.  Friends are, many times, what carry us through rough times, they can lend us hope when we're running low, and they can be a presence in our life when others come and go.  I hold a high value on friendship - whether a friend for a season or a friend for life.

So I was very delighted to hear a conversation between two people in my new group of friends.  One was telling the other about how stressful their life is right now, and how all they can seem to do is just make it through the day and be glad they did.  The comment that made me smile was when the second person said, "But that's just it - you make it through the day.  You did it and you can do it again.  And you just keep making it."

This is where relationships are so vital!  I've known so many people who I know would have been better off in their situation if they just, simply, had people around them.  Including me!  Here's the thing about people.... most of the time, there really doesn't have to be verbal communication in order for them to make a difference in your life.  They can make a difference because they let you know you're not alone.  They can offer you hugs and lunch and laughs, they can share with you tears and dirty hands and stories.

That brings me to this point - YOU make a difference by being a part of people's lives.  You were created for a purpose and you are needed.  Please don't neglect reaching out to people when an opportunity arises.  Somebody probably needs to hear you remind them they can make it through their day, they can do it again, and they can keep making it.

Image from HERE

If this letter is for you, you will know it...

Dear Friend,

I heard you had a rough day today.  Yeah, I know, rough is putting it lightly.

When I heard about it, you know what I felt?  Ache.  My heart ached for you.  I hurt for you.

Because I know that kind of day.

The tightness in my breathing brings back memories of heaving sobs, of sleepless nights, of ache, ache, ache.  Of wondering when the pain is going to end.  Of hoping against all hope for.... hope.

Most people don't quite understand that ache, though.  Most people don't deal with that ache.  Thank God they don't have to.  Most people haven't held the weight we've held.  Most people don't know or haven't been to that place.  And that's ok.  It's only hard when they judge as if they have.  But I know.

And no, it doesn't seem right for us to carry that ache.  But we have.  We know God, we know salvation, we know heaven, we know grace, we know healing, we know mercy.  And boy do we know pain.  We just know.  We don't like to talk about it much, it's not the most savory of conversations, of course.  But it's very real.

And my solution is this: I have no solution.  I have no remedy for that pain.  For some reason we deal or have dealt with it when others never scratch the surface of it.  Jesus alone helps us through.  Not friends, not blogs, not medicine.  But when we make it through - it is solely by the grace of God through whatever means He uses.  And we know that.

So why am I writing you this letter?  Just to tell you this: you're really not alone in this understanding.  I know.  So we know together.  Whether we like it or not, we know.  But we are not alone.

I hope you will hold on to this realization, and hold on until you find that sunny, breezy, beautiful place of no pain - of something lovely. And I hope in that moment that you will say, "holding on was worth it - for this."

With hugs of love,

Crystal

Live every moment....

Live every moment, as though it was your last
Before the Thief of Always steals tomorrow from your grasp
Before the chance to know His love has somehow passed you by
Let your heart reach out, right here, right now, for the Lord to touch your life
                           -Jaci Velasquez, Thief of Always

 A few weeks ago, I went to spend time with one of my friends from choir.  Though about 50 years separates us, I love her as if she’s a sister my age.  We ate at her favorite pizza parlor and she gave me a tour of her home.  She moved here several years ago at the insistence of her children, who lovingly purchased and furnished the beautiful place she lives in.  She has nothing but praise and love for them. 

One thing that is just remarkable to me about this lady is that she is such a graceful and welcoming person.  There aren’t very many people who don’t just have a blast spending time with her.  Spunky, she is.  She’s not willing to give in to discouragement, though she deals with it often.  I admire her greatly.

That is probably some of the reasons why a lady in her development, Tanya, became such good friends with her.  Tanya has been dealing with medical issues for a while, but you’d never know it looking at her.  She’s spunky too, but a bit more quite than my friend.  So I had the delightful idea when I was visiting my friend, to plan for a ladies’ night in where we could invite Tanya to lift her spirts a little and have fun together.  We were going to plan it as soon as I got back from my trip.

That was a couple weeks ago.  Last Thursday, Tanya passed away suddenly. 

I grieve because I simply miss her sweet spirit, but I know that as I grieve, she rejoices with no pain, and with the love of her life.  I take great comfort in that.  Also, as Pastor Phyllis mentioned at her memorial service, Tanya simply got an address change, and those who know Jesus with see her again someday.

While I celebrate the fact that Tanya is at peace, I am also challenged to not let a moment go by when God brings someone to my heart.  Take advantage of that opportunity now, because it may not be there tomorrow, and you never know what God might have for you to learn from that moment. 

 “Father, I want those you gave me to be with me right where I am…” John 17:24

Here's a little blast from the past.  Enjoy. :)

Judgment Scars

One of the most challenging events I find myself in is choosing to love a friend despite their false judgment of me. 

I am fully aware that I've done the same - judged falsely.  And I'm so thankful for my friends who have looked beyond my words and remembered my heart.  False judgment can really cause scars.  I look at those friends now, and I see the scars that I've helped engrave.  I am not proud of it.  But, it helps me to remember two things:

1. I need to just walk away from the sinful urge to place my judgment on someone.  Who am I?  What do I know?  Only God can see their heart.  Only God can know where they stand.  I am not the Judge.  My perspective really doesn't count here.

2. I've been forgiven by this friend.  What humility!  To stare at the scar you have helped give someone and know that, even though they bear that scar, they have chosen to love you.  They have chosen to wear their identity in Christ and not pay any attention to the scar you have caused.  

Timely enough, this is a beautiful picture to me of how much God loves me.  Even though what I've done has hurt him, He has chosen to love me.  I hurt God when I do things that pound a nail into His Son's hands.  While this may seem backwards, don't let the timing throw you off - I definitely was part of what nailed Jesus to the cross.  His death was a prepayment for all the wrong I would do.  He didn't deserve it, but He took it anyway.  For my sake.  For yours. 

And this Sunday, this Easter Sunday, I'm remembering the scars I've caused, and remembering the forgiveness I've received in spite of them.  May God grant me the grace to pass that forgiveness on when others scar me.  This is real love.

Beautiful!

One for the saving

I jumped into a group of young adults here in SW Florida last week called "Connect".  The group is finishing up a 12-week study called "Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll and this week's topic was on "What makes Jesus superior to other saviors?"

There was a question asked during the meeting that was compelling to me: who, right now, are you leaning on to be your savior? 

Savior is a term that is used to describe Jesus, but it's not specific to Him, necessarily.  Some people mentioned spouses, friends, or affirmation as their savior.  I know some people consider money or knowledge to be their savior.  I have struggled with success being my savior. 

2011 was riddled with "FAIL"'s for me.  Lots of great successes happened, of course, but so did some pretty large failures.  Specifically, I struggled with failing a state license exam over and over.  I sought help, sought perspective, and wrestled with the ups and downs of depression. 

Thankfully, God saw me through it all, and on the flipside, I can make out a distinct tie between my thought of success as my salvation. No, logically I would never have thought this would be me, but my actions and my response proved otherwise.

I am so thankful for this revelation.  The hard truth is this: success is not difficult for me, so the option to make it my savior will always be there.  Now that the temptation has been revealed, I can make a conscious decision to walk away from leaning on it as a savior and to find my real salvation in Jesus. 

Every human is subject to this kind of error, because we all need a savior. 

I would encourage you to seek with God what things or people you may have placed in your life as a savior, and make a conscious decision every day to turn to Jesus instead.  Let's keep trusting Him, together, to come to our rescue. 

Isaiah 43:11  I am the Lord, and there is no savior besides me.

Things That Make My Heart Very Happy

Knowing God

World Missions 

That genuine laugh you get when something is so unexpectedly funny, and your laughter is not judged as appropriate or not - it is just enjoyed

Little surprise kisses

Holding a baby

A cool breeze on a warm day, and looking up to see sun bursting through a cloud or a group of trees

Sunsets and sunrises

Music

Playing with a child who - for some reason - just loves playing with you

Good, old-fashioned, quality time with a best friend

Fun outdoorsy stuff on a perfectly weathered day 

Picnics

Birthday parties

Finishing a good book

Gerber Daisies

Spontaneous phone calls from my very-far-away, very-important, very-busy brother

Travel

:)

(Not necessarily in that order...)

One of the Most Important Things....

...to God is relationships.

I would argue that yes, God wants us to have relationships with others on every level and to experience the interest, joy, frustration, excitement, allure, confusion, disappointment, hope, pain, and growth through relationships with others. Why? Because this is the one place in life He knows we are completely hopeless without calling on Him to get us through.

From MotivationalTwist.Com

(Repost from an old blog.  Original publish date was 11/1/08.)

Dove Love

Dove has been so full of good advice lately, and so full of love for me.  I just thought I'd share some of the sweet notes they've been leaving for me.


Good, positive thinking here:

And this one:

Hope you've enjoyed partially sharing in my delight.  (The chocolate itself was delightful too, but I'm not sharing that unless you come to my office to visit me.)

:)

Go be loving to someone today!

Missions Spotlight: The Spence's in Mongolia

I love keeping up with friends that are missionaries.  It makes my world and my heart explode. (In a good way!)

Some of my missionary friends are Jeff and Shauna Spence and their two girls, Mikayla and Ava. 

I met Jeff and Shauna in North Fort Myers about 6 years ago in an old Sunday School class.  We were studying what it meant to be an Armour Bearer for God, and they were both working at E.C.H.O. for training on how to help people learn to grow crops for food. 

They went to Mongolia several years ago to work with farmers and help them learn sustainable growth in a low-agricultural location.  Now, they are able to work with local Mongolians and share the love of Jesus with them through not just words, but through activities that can help save nations from poverty. 

Here is a picture of the Spence's.  They've had Mikayla and Ava since they've moved to Mongolia (though I believe the girls were born in the USA).

And here is a picture of their backyard- full of evidence that they know what they're talking about!

If you want to keep up with the Spence's, subscribe to their blog here.....
 

mongoliamessage.blogspot.com 

S U P P O R T    M I S S I O N S ! ! !  :)

2012 Goal: Remember Every Day

I'm such a practical Christian.  I like to live out my faith for people to see it - not to show off, but to be honest with my life.  But even with my practical side, I am deeply moved by my heart's Lover.  I'm deeply, unashamedly, undoubtedly moved by my Savior, Jesus Christ.  And I am equally moved by the love of God the Father, for all He sacrificed in giving up Jesus.

Salvation and God doesn't make sense to a lot of people.  There doesn't seem to be anything practical about it.  Truth be told, though, it is the only practical thing - God's love for us.  We don't see the big picture well enough to understand this most of the time.  

But when everything else fails - EVERYTHING - God's love is still there.  

I would hope for you to read that one line and let your heart be seared by this love.  I dare hope it does.  Not because I typed it, but because God's Spirit whispers to you that this is true. 

Please listen to this song.  The song is a tool.  It's a way for you to connect with God.  It's a way for you to move past the here and now and invite God into this very place - this very moment - every circumstance - every joy and sorrow of your life - right now.  Don't get lost in the song.  Get lost in the incredible Love described in the song.  This is the Love of God.  Get lost in Him.

My first goal and hope and delight for every year of my life is that I never forget - that I always remember - the incredible love, the incredible sacrifice, and my incredible inheritance in Jesus Christ.  I hope you find that same delight every day with me this year.