Cool Stuff!!

Well, this week has been very good (not great but good)! I have been more disciplined in my workouts and I have been getting up in the mornings on time! :) I have also been spending time in prayer and reading the Bible (b/c I wake up when I'm supposed to and have some time). Of course, still much work to do as far as leading a disciplined life...one day at a time!

A few things that really spoke to me this week:

1. Colossians 1:24 "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind the
afflictions of Christ"

I am no great scholar but I did look up more about this scripture and read through my devotional about this scripture and it is jammed full of great insight and information! When we tell others about the power of Christ, the redemption story, and we share only what He has done in our lives we are missing out on a great point. We are not sharing the "revelations of Jesus" -- therefore, the Spirit of God is held back in ministry because those listening are only gaining a better "spiritual culture" and not experiencing the power of Christ.

I know that I do have a tendency to share about Christ with others from my own personal experience of what He has done for me/to me. I do not share what Jesus actually did and His actual story. Hmm....

Also, noted is that when we look at a person's personality or words of wisdom or outer appearance we are not able to see that person the way Christ sees them. We get tangled up in their fleshness. In order to see them as Christ does we must look deeper at their Christ like characteristics. Some personalities will not mesh very well, but if we are sisters/brothers in Christ then we must learn to look past those flesh difference and acknowledge the heart, the motivation, and those things which each other do for Christ and like Christ! That spoke a lot to me, and really gave me a new perspective on the way I look at people, especially those who I clash with!

Then too...this scripture is written by Paul. He is saying here that he is rejoicing in his own sufferings for the sake of others because of the afflictions of Christ. Because Christ came and was afflicted for the church -- Christ then rose from the dead and is in Heaven -- the task of suffering was left to those on earth -- the church. So, Paul rejoicing because he is advancing the gospel. He is picking up where Christ left off (sort of). Christ charged us with the same role. We are His disciples and we are to also suffer for the generations that are to come. For our children - we are to stand up for the gospel so that the Word remains - and on and on. Cool stuff! :)

2. Another devotional I read this week was from I Thessalonians 3:2 "Fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ" -- and I quote "If you seek great things for yourself - God has called me for this and that; you are putting a barrier to God's use of you. As long as you have a personal interested in your own character...you cannot get through identification with God's interest."

Also, "God is using me from His great personal standpoint, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him, and never say - Lord, this gives me such heartache. To talk in this way makes me a clog. When I stop telling God what I want, He can catch me up for what he wants without let or hindrance. He can crumple me up or exalt me, He can do anything He chooses."

Again...cool stuff...that spoke to me this week and I wanted to share in my blog. Okay...off to work again!

Peace.
Krystal

"I have learned that the aim in life is God's, not mine."

P.S. Click here to listen to Chris Sligh's song -- another "cool stuff" moment. I really like this song and it was great to listen to the 100 times 88.3 played it this week :)

Silly Me :)

Sometimes I find myself wishing things were different. Wishing that I did this better or that better etc. Sometimes I say to myself "well when this happens I will do this..." Sometimes I catch myself feeling like I'm waiting for my "real life" to begin. I catch myself thinking that when I have children that people will actually few me as a real women and I will finally be doing what God REALLY wants me to be doing. How silly! Right? Yeah! Crazy thoughts. When did those thoughts pop into my head. I KNOW that God LOVES me now. God is not waiting to bless me - He is blessing me now and He wants to continue to do so. God wants me to live each day for Him alone and not worry about the future (that we are not guaranteed). I KNOW that I am doing God's will for MY life right now. I KNOW that I am a real woman and THIS is my REAL life. :) Funny girl I am.

HOWEVER, there are things that I need to improve on, and I don't need to keep waiting around for the next best thing for me to start working on becoming a better person. So tonight I decided to write down seven things that I want at this time of my life. Here goes:

7. I want my Master's in Social Work. Yes, I really do want my MSW. I really enjoy what I am learning. I love being involved with the social service world and I LOVE doing therapy. I trust that God has me in this program for a specific plan and purpose, and it is great how it goes along with Preston's goals and such. I am very happy in working towards this goal! It is good!

6. I want to be healthy. Here is one where I am struggling with. I would venture to say that Preston and I are healthier than that average 25 year old, but there is much room for improvement, which leads into number 5.

5. I want to disciplined. There are things that I do, which I feel very disciplined in, but not every area of my life. I want to become a truly disciplined person in every area of my life. I need to focus on discipline of my time, discipline in my hobbies, discipline in my time with the Lord, discipline in my exercise program, and so forth.

4. I want to be a selfless, loving godly woman. Not for my own sake, but for the sake of Jesus Christ. I love God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit! They are really AWESOME little oneness group there! I desire for others to feel the love of Christ through me, and I desire to love others the way that Christ wants me to. I struggle here, and I don't know that it is because my motivation is not to do so, but rather, because I am not bold -- and I am not bold when I have not been disciplined in spending quality, daily time with Jesus Christ.

3. I want to be a prayer warrior. There have been times in my life that I have felt, seen, heard, and known the real POWER of prayer. But, recently (like in the last couple of years) my prayer life has been dry and a struggle. I pray for people, but in passing thoughts. When I was in college I would spend time in mediation with the Lord and I had a vibrant prayer and visions life. It was wonderful. I do not know exactly what happen to get me off that road, but I believe that prayer is amazing and that we as Christians MUST pray...and so must I now!

2. I want to be AN AMAZING WIFE (and some day mother). I am a VERY blessed woman when it comes to husbands. Preston is such a wonderful and loyal man, and he is very strong in his faith and work ethic...etc. I love the way that Preston loves me and cares for me and about. I have enjoyed these last 3 1/2 years of marriage and I see the growth that we together have experienced. Our communication is much better than when we first got married, and our love really is stronger. There are a lot of things that Preston (and I) would say that I do right and well; however, there is ALWAYS room for improvement....and I want to continue learning, reading, and praying about becoming the best wife I can be. People who do well at their task are those who spend quality time learning and practicing.

1. I want to ALWAYS place God at the center of everything I do. I want to become bolder in my walk with the Lord. I want to become more passionate about serving God and I want to grow in my relationship with Him.

So, those are what I want. I don't want to get into further details because I already feel like I'm sharing too much, but anyway, this week I have simple plans to incorporate of little more of these into my daily day! One day at a time!

God is SO amazingly wonderful, and I am grateful that He loves me and blesses me. I know that the closer I walk with Him, the more my eyes will be opened to His blessings. In order to be a great wife I must get hubby some food before he vanishes away.......

God Bless
Krystal V

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."
- Zig Zigler