There is no fear in love… Perfect love drives out fear! Love how comforting the words of God are to the fiber of my being. Thankful for the consistent & solid truths God reveals to my heart. Always in awe of His mighty ways, his unconditional love, His patience, and how He’s an ever present help in times of trouble!

Are you struggling with the fear of uncertainty today? There is hope in Christ and in our relationship with God the Father, there is no fear!

Pray today for a spirit of love that casts out all fear! Pray today for peace of mind and quietness of soul! Pray today and thank God for always being present in your life! Read truths of the scripture to help us cast off any spirit of fear. Blessings, Crystal

Battling fear and uncertainty has the potential to possess you, to steal your joy, and make you feel like your losing your mind. I love this verse, because we are reminded that “God” alone is to be the stronghold of our life! We all struggle and need the hope of Jesus Christ. As I read this verse, I was convicted, because I have fallen into a trap of feeling fearful often. I do not want anything to be the stronghold of my life, especially not fear! Satan uses fear to wreak havoc on our minds and souls. I am seeking to replace any stronghold of fear in my life, with God! God alone is the stronghold of my life! When I keep God as the stronghold of my soul, all fear is gone. God always has a way of leading me to the perfect words from His word to speak into my hearts and brokenness!

This past Sunday, I sat in church and we began singing the old hymn “Because He Lives”! As the words on the projector ahead read “Because He lives … ALL fear is gone!” The dam of my soul broke and the tears flowed like a never ending waterfall. God simply reminded me the most profound and basic truth; Because of Christ’s death & resurrection… I DO NOT have to live in fear! I can rest knowing that God has always been, will always be, and will forever be in control of everything that happens in this world and in my life!

If your struggling with fear today, you are not alone! Me too! However, we absolutely do not have to continue battling fear… We can live in peace, joy, and hope simply because Christ arose in victory over this world’s greatest enemy!

Blessings, Crystal

“Because He Lives”

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;

He came to love, heal and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living

Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby

And feel the pride and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living

Just because He lives!

And then one day, I’ll cross the river

I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to victory

I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!

This woman on the right was my beloved and Godly great-grandmother. I came across this picture today and just started bawling. As a child, there were very few people in my life whom I felt loved me, felt safe and secure with, or who gave me a sense of true love and peace. This woman, although I didn’t get to see her as often as I wished, was all of those things to me. She had the most tender and loving spirit! She prayed and spoke of God’s love every time I was in her presence. She amazes me to this day, because there weren’t Christian counselors available to help her through her past pain and grief, and she certainly had a lot, yet… She was the epitome of spiritual healing! She was filled with the Holy Spirit!

Today, I thank God for placing this Godly woman in my life! I think sometimes, you don’t realize how much you love someone until you’re much much older! I sure loved her and can’t wait to spend eternity with her in Heaven. She died about 10 years ago and it’s been a long 10 years without her on this Earth! I fall way short of the Godliness, tenderness, kindness, gentleness, and love this woman beheld… But, I sure hope to somehow follow in her footsteps, if even only a little.

One of my favorite memories of her was when I was 5 years-old. She lived about a mile from my school and I didn’t want to go home after school. Therefore, I walked on a busy road by myself to her apartment building. I knocked on her door and the look of surprise and concern was obvious. Unlike everyone else in my life, she didn’t scold me, yell at me, hit me, or shame me. She received me! She showed me love! She fed me a snack, talked to me about how much she loved me and how she didn’t want anything to happen to me. Then in love she walked me home, held my hand, and she never told my mother about the incident (because she knew that would mean trouble for me). I have very few memories from ages 5 – 8, but I remember this in vivid detail. Mostly, I remember the extreme love and tenderness I felt, as it was a rare feeling for me as a child.

Thank God for someone special in your life today, even if it means going back in the past… even if it means you have to cry over the memories! Show someone intimate God-fearing love today, people forget a lot of things, but they never forget feeling loved.

Blessings, Crystal

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Look at these boys… They are so big now! This is a reminder that my kiddos do not belong to me… They belong to God and he has an amazing purpose and plan for their lives! I am learning that I must not cling to hard or hold them back out of fear of letting go. I am continually reminded that my place is only to train them up, point them to Christ, and guide as they walk in the life God already has planned for them!

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”