Monday, March 30, 2015

Be Brave and Stand

Doesn't it seem like the world is going crazy? Every time we turn on the television there is never-ending bad news-somewhere in the world, twenty-four seven. When I was really sick-stuck on the couch-unable to walk except from the couch to the bathroom (thank God for being able to do at least that!) I would watch the news most of the day.  Now I can barely watch it without becoming anxious or upset. I have to turn it off or walk away. 

And I have God on my side. I have a relationship with the Creator of this world. I can talk to and receive peace from the Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords, yet I can feel this way when I watch the news! How do people who don't have God do it? Where do they find their peace or joy or satisfaction? How do they live day in and day out not knowing what is going to happen when they die? Or what will they think when they do die and it isn't what they expected?

These are the questions God has been bringing to my mind and laying on my heart. In a chaos-filled world, there is a solid rock. Christ is the solid rock. I hear God saying-Why Krystle aren't you telling them about Me? I have no answer. There is no excuse. There is no reason why-unless you count insecurity and anxiety and not knowing what to say or how to start the conversation. 

God wasn't accepting that answer. Moses immediately popped into my head-along with Abraham, Rahab and David. God can use anyone-as long as He is working through us we don't need to be afraid. More than ever people need the Lord and I have the answers. 

Easter is here! He is risen! That is the gospel message! He lives!!! He is the answer to every problem. I stand on the promises of God-why wouldn't I want to freely share these amazing promises about my God who sustains and carries me day by day? 

I love hymns and am currently listening to Keith and Kristyn Getty-Live at the Gospel Coalition. Every hymn is beautiful and powerful. The hymn, "By Faith" came on and the words struck me, especially the chorus-

We will stand as children of the promise
We will fix our eyes on HIM our soul's reward
Till the race is finished and the work is done
We'll walk by faith and not by sight

Fixing my eyes on Him, my soul's reward! Till the work is done! How can the work get done if I am silent? Walking by faith is not easy, but He is greater and mightier and nothing is impossible in His name. So when He whispers, "Tell the world" I need to seek and use the opportunities He provides and speak the good news-He lives!!! 

The whole hymn is encouraging so here is the video if you want to listen! 



Saturday, March 28, 2015

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Sweetest name I know. I just fall in love over and over again. I cannot see Him, I cannot touch Him, I cannot see His face, but I know He is there. I know because He has always been there. He will always be there. He knew me before I was even formed in the womb (Psalm 139:13). He created me and He loved me so much that He sent His only Son to die for me. Yes, I am talking about God and His Son Jesus. This love for my Savior is overwhelming and all-consuming. I have found that when you pursue God, when you give Him everything you have, when you give Him complete control, He will give you a peace beyond all understanding. He gives you all of Him. He doesn't hold anything back and He has written you an amazing love letter (the Bible) that tells you His past, His present and what He has in store for your future. A future that can be spent eternally with Him. 

However, life does not become easy. It does not become pain-free or stress less. I believe it becomes harder. I believe there is suffering involved. I believe it requires a daily surrendering of yourself to God and His authority and Lordship. I believe what Jesus told his disciples-that you have to die to self, pick up your cross and follow Him (see Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23). In fact, He demands it . He tells us in Matthew 10:38, "Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Jesus is beyond worthy. He died for me and for you. He didn't just die easily, He suffered through beatings, verbal assaults, was tortured-for my sins and for yours. 

What God has really impressed upon me as Easter approaches is that Jesus was separated from God-truly forsaken-for me, for you. We will never have to be forsaken by God because Jesus was-He became sin, He became our substitute, He became the living sacrifice. His relationship with God was completely cut off because of my sin. That is how much he loves me and you. However, death could not hold him. The grave could not defeat Him. He rose again on the 3rd day defeating death, overcoming the grave, ascending to sit beside God on the throne. 

This world hurts. The evil can be overwhelming. The pain crushing. Satan attacks over and over again-especially as we grow closer to God. I have my days where I wonder what God could possibly be doing and why things aren't happening like I want them too. I become angry and depressed at times. That is when I know Satan is smiling and thinking he finally has me where he wants me. BUT-the bottom line is I make a choice to believe, to have faith, that God knows! He knows what is best for me. He is sovereign. He is working all things out for my good and His glory. He loves me more than I can imagine. He asks me to trust and believe. As I sit here I find myself asking- Lord how can I not? 

He is my Prince of Peace, my Lord of Lords, my King of Kings! He can be yours too! 



Linking with Inspire Me Monday

Monday, March 16, 2015

Trust


These words have resonated with me since I saw this for the first time on Facebook months ago. I want these words to be true of me. I want this to be my goal. It was the reason I started this blog over 2 years ago. This world is not my home. My longing is for more-for my eternal home in heaven with my God, my Savior, my Jesus. 

I still find myself with the desire to get married, have children and to serve God with my life. However, I trust God no matter what. Yes, I believe God has given me these desires, but He has given me a greater desire for Him. This world will do everything it can to knock you down, chew you up and spit you back out (over and over and over again). That's where the trust comes in. He knows-the beginning, the middle, the end. He knows our whole story. I want Him to be my story. Nothing compares to God. Nothing compares to His unfailing love, His overflowing grace, His abundant mercy. The things of this world fade away when compared to my omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God. 

She doesn't follow the crowd
and she doesn't fit the mold
because being like the world 
is not really her goal.
Her TRUST IS IN THE LORD 
and she longs for much more
than anything this world
could ever have in store. 

Saturday, March 7, 2015

First or Last Call?

Life is full of highs and lows, mountains and valleys. Forget life for a moment- EACH day is filled with highs and lows. Lately it seems that the lows have formed a mountain and the highs are buried underneath. Singleness, chronic health problems with daily pain and a job that just feels more overwhelming and impossible to do each day-these things comprise my current season of life. 

When the terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad days pile up, who do we turn to first? Do we talk to the people we live with? Do we pick up the phone and call our best friends? Get on Facebook (or any other social media outlet) and tell the world what is wrong? 

Yes, I have done all three of those things. Then I saw this picture and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I don't know where this picture came from and who to give credit to for it, but I am very thankful they posted it. 


Let it be Jesus the first name that I call. Challenging, huh? It is easy to turn to the people we can see and hear and comment/message with. However, Jesus wants us to turn to Him first. He sees everything that happens to us. He willingly and tirelessly listens. He loves us no matter what. He never leaves us and He waits for us to cling to Him first in those not so great moments of life. He wants us to turn to Him first even in the best moments. He wants all of us. This is what God has been teaching me through the trials. He provides a peace that passes all understanding and gives hope that no one here on Earth can. 

In case I missed God's point, the song "Let It be Jesus" (Chris Tomlin) played through my iPhone the other day. What is funny is that I never make it to the end of the playlist where this song is located. I know it was God's way of getting his message across to me. Here are the words: 

Let it be Jesus
The first name that I  call
Let it be Jesus
My song inside the storm
I'll never need another

For me, to live is Christ
For me, to live is Christ
God I breathe Your name above everything
Let it be, Let it be Jesus

Let it be Jesus
From the rising of the sun
Let it be Jesus
When all is said and done
I'll never need another, Jesus there's no other

Should I ever be abandoned
Should I ever be acclaimed
Should I ever be surrounded by the fire and the flame
There's a name I will remember
There's a name I will proclaim
Let it be, Let it be Jesus

It's a beautiful song and a precious reminder to call on Jesus above all else. It has been in my head since the day I heard it. We will truly never need another no matter what we face during this life. Let it be Jesus- He is the best first call you will ever make. 

Here is the song: