Easter Celebration!

Today we celebrate the greatest day for Christian believers - Jesus Christ is Risen!!!!

As I reflect on our church services today, I found some interesting items.  Today was the largest crowd at our church since Gary and I became the pastors at First A/G in Siloam Springs. There was no "WOW Factor" to draw a crowd.  It was a VERY wet, dreary morning, but the excitement in the building was incredible!  We opened with three praise songs about Jesus, and people were singing like they were happy to be there.  The message was awesome, of course, since I think we have the best pastor in the world!  At the end, we celebrated some more with great music.  Everyone was happy, had a smile on their face, and a bounce in their step!

Now, I say all of this to ask a simple question....why don't we as followers of Christ live this way EVERYDAY?????  I am as guilty as the rest, but it really occurred to me today.  Every Sunday should be Easter Sunday.  Attendance should be increasing every week, we should be singing and rejoicing every week, and smiles and happiness should exude every week. 

So what do we do to keep the "Easter Spirit" alive in us?  The work is finished, Jesus paid the price, now let's celebrate everyday!  Let's try to keep our focus on the main thing.  Our Redeemer Lives!

Celebrations

It seems each year in mid-February, we begin the celebrations!

February 12th is Ashlyn's birthday.  I cannot believe my baby girl just turned 15 and in 365 days will be driving alone!  Look out...  She is such a beautiful young lady, and we are very proud of her.  God has blessed her with an amazing personality, unbelievable musical talent, and a heart for Him.  We couldn't be prouder of the young woman of God she is becoming!

February 14th is Mitchell's birthday.  I still cannot get over the fact that their birthdays are two days apart.  If you "plan" pregnancies, this might happen, but adoption????  It makes me laugh that we celebrate the same week.  Anyway, little man (as we call him) is now 6 and keeps us in stitches.  He has to be one of the funniest kids I've ever seen.  Right now his obsession is the statue of liberty.  He dresses up like a statue, asked for a cake of the statue and talks about it ALL the time.

March 1st rolls around and Gary and I celebrate our wedding anniversary.  This year is our 20th!  I cannot believe it's been 20 years!  I've been married longer than I was single. (I was really young.)  Marriage has its ups and downs, but Gary and I are blessed to have a wonderful, God centered marriage that I have come to cherish greatly.  I really do realize how unique and blessed our marriage is in today's standards. 

So in a few days, the celebrations come to an end for a few months.  It's been fun as it is every year.  Thank you Lord for your blessings of Ashlyn, Mitchell, and Gary in my life.  I am blessed more than I deserve!

The Life of a Rubber Band

As I was cooking last night and thinking about things that are currently happening in my life, I had a "mental pic" of a rubber band.  The purpose of a rubber band is to stretch to fit to hold things together. 

Lately, I feel like a rubber band....God is stretching me!  I am currently teaching an Adult Sunday School class called "Crazy Love" based on Francis Chan's book.  I am also teaching a Ladies Bible Study on Wednesday nights entitled "Radical" by David Platt.  These two books/series have created a "STRETCH" in my life for numerous reasons:

1.  The material in both series are very similar about how Christians ought to live out their faith.  It is not the norm, either.  It's a radical, get out of your comfort zone, and be all that Jesus told you to be kind of message.  That's a stretch for me.

2.  I am not very confident in myself when it comes to teaching adults.  I teach teenagers all day long, and it's a natural process for me.  They are very forgiving.  Adults are another story...but I am finding they are forgiving too and are as hungry for God to move in their lives as I am.   Again....another stretch.

3.  Finally, I feel like I am on a new spiritual journey, so to speak.  God is doing something new, fresh, and exciting in my life.  I think we all reach points where we feel we have become comfortable and need to be stretched spiritually.  So that's where I am.  I am so loving being in the Word, listening to His voice, and seeking His face.  It's an awesome experience.

So if you haven't been "stretched" in a while, I challenge you to pick up a copy of "Crazy Love" and/or "Radical" and see what God has for you.  It's changing our church!!!! 

To God be all glory, praise, and honor~
Krystal

A Special Day

I intended to write this blog this past Saturday, January 8th, but waking up with a stomach virus negated that decision.

Twenty years ago as Gary and I were planning a wedding date, we really wanted to get married on January 8, 1991.  The only problem was it was a Tuesday that year, and I wanted a big, traditional church wedding.  Most people don't attend weddings on Tuesdays, and Gary wasn't willing to wait three more years for January 8 to fall on a Friday night.  :0)

The reason January 8 is a very special day is because both of our parents celebrate wedding anniversaries that day, and we thought it would be neat to share the same anniversary with them.  Well, needless to say, we opted for March 1, 1991, instead of waiting three years.

My parents celebrated their 40th anniversary this past Saturday, and Gary's parents celebrated their 51st anniversary.  It is really neat that we have such great examples of parents who have lived the vows they made so many years ago. 

Now that I have been married almost 20 years, I know marriage is hard work!  When you are young and in love, repeating the vows at the altar doesn't sound difficult.  But we all know, life happens, and the newlywed phase wears off soon.

I am thankful for Godly parents who stood through better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to give our family a legacy of love.

Happy Belated Anniversary, Dad & Mom, I love both of you so much!  And to you Jim and Glenda, thanks for your example and being my second set of parents.  All four of you are wonderful people, and we are blessed to be your children.

Merry Christmas

Wow, Christmas Eve 2010...can you believe it? 

I have enjoyed the holiday season this year with many parties, lots of laughs, long days of shopping, and very little rest.  Oh well, that's our typical life in the month of December.  Today I finally wrapped all the presents.  My kids are now excited knowing they actually have gifts.


As I reflected on what to say in my blog, I was very moved and challenged earlier this week as Kerwin Dees, one of our assistant principals, shared his favorite Christmas memory.  You see, Kerwin's precious wife, Vicki, has been battling cancer for 32 months.  I cannot tell the story the same as Kerwin, but he shared how friends had come and decorated their home, had cooked a Christmas meal for their family, and had sent gifts to them.  The children and grandchildren all came as they celebrated Christmas just last Friday.  He went on to say that we should always celebrate like it might be our last one. 

I was challenged in the fact that Vicki's faith is amazing and strong.  In fact, she got a wonderful report from her doctor two days ago.  She is such a testimony of God's faithfulness.  (Check out their blog at:  http://www.vickidees.blogspot.com/).

It challenged me to not take the little things for granted.  My family is healthy, my kids are wonderful, my marriage is the greatest, our church family is the best, and so much more.  I think so many times we view the things that are wrong when we need to thank God for all that is right.  I know I personally shouldn't focus on how tired I am, my long to-do list, and all that frustrates me.  I need to focus on the fact I am blessed to have time and strength to do the things I must do.

So my Christmas wish for you is that you might truly reflect on the greatest gift ever given:  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  What a sacrifice and an immeasurable gift of grace!

Merry Christmas to all!!!

The Rat Race

I'm sure you've heard the expression "The Rat Race of Life".  I am unfamiliar of where this expression originated, but I have known it for years to be associated with the quickness and fast pace of daily living.


Today I was reading about life spans of various animals, I know, strange topic!  Look at a few of these:
MAMMALS
Beavers - 19 years
Elephant - 69 years
Hippopotamus - 49 years
Squirrel - 16 years

REPTILES
Box Turtle - 123 years
Cobra - 28 years
Giant Tortoise - 152 years


I don't know if you perceive a pattern, but it seems the "slower" animals live longer than the "faster" animals.  It leaped off the page at me as God told me to "slow down" and enjoy life!  My mother is always telling me that I am too busy (and I know you are reading this, Mom). She is absolutely right, and my response (excuse) is always, "there's nothing I can do about it...this is just my life."

You know, this is my life and there is not much I can do to change all the responsibilities I have as a wife, mother, teacher, pastor's wife, and friend, but I need to take the time each day to slow down, meditate in the Word, thank God, and look for opportunities to help others.  Sometimes in the hectic days of life, we just need to SLOW DOWN from the Rat Race and reflect, rest and renew our souls, minds, and spirits.

So if you want to be a "busy beaver" or a "jumping squirrel", go right ahead.  I am going to try my best to slow down like an elephant, hippo, or a tortoise because if you remember, the tortoise always won the race!!!

Blessings!

November...The Month of Giving Thanks

I cannot believe November is already here and almost half way over!  Where does time go?  I've heard the older you get, the faster time flies.  I'm learning that is very true, and I'm not sure what is going to happen when I turn 40....a rapid spiral decline?  lol

With the month of November at hand and the fact there are 30 days in November, I decided to list the 30 things I am most thankful for.  These are in no particular order except #1.

1.  My salvation through Jesus Christ.  There is no other name by which we are saved.

2.  My wonderful husband who is everything to me.  I could not have been given a more patient, kind, and loving gift from God.

3.  My beautiful teenage daughter.  She is truly beauty inside and out and fun to hang out with!

4.  My very entertaining 5 year old son who keeps me young (and tired).

5.  My parents...my heros....my inspiration.

6.  My baby sister who makes me proud.  What a great woman she has turned into. (and of course, I love her family too)
7.  My extended family.  God has given me great in-laws.
8.  My job.  I am blessed to be a teacher at Siloam Springs High School and teach some of the most wonderful teenagers I know.  A lot of people don't think the next generation is going to make it, but there is definitely a group in Siloam Springs who are awesome and are world changers!
9.  My essential needs are met.  Thank you Lord!
10.  My church family.  When you do not have the privilege of living close to relatives, it is such a blessing to have an incredible church family who loves you in spite of your humanness.
11.  My friends.  What an amazing group of girlfriends I have! I love you all!
12.  My Bible.  I am thankful to have the opportunity to read God's Word whenever I want and wherever I want.  I never want to take that for granted.
13.  I am proud to be an American!  I am blessed to live in the USA and count it an honor to pledge allegiance to the flag every day!
14.  My freedom!

15.  The ability to sing and worship the Lord.  I love to sing His praises!
16.  Encouraging words.  These can make the difference in your day. 
17. The simple things in life...quiet moments, dandelions, falling leaves, a calm breeze.

18.  I am highly favored!

19.  Pictures....memories truly last forever with photos and bring a smile to my face.
20.  Sweet Iced Tea, a great Southern treat!
21.  Modern conveniences...cell phones (most of the time), air conditioning, hair spray, internet, etc.  I'm glad I live in this day and time.
22. Flowers...my favorite is the gerbera daisy.  Of course, pink roses from my husband are special, too!
23.  Living in Northwest Arkansas. It's a great place to raise a family.
24.  My yorkies.  Even though they don't always make me happy, it's nice to come home and know at least the dogs are happy you are there!
25.  Seasons.  Isn't God amazing for His creativity?
26.  Pecan pie...need I say more?
27.  Transportation besides horse and buggy.  Lucky me!
28.  Vacations.  It is one of our family's favorite times of year.
29.  Missionaries.  Without these servants, how would the Good News be spread around the world?  They are His hands and feet to the nations.
30.  Thanksgiving.  What a blessing to give thanks!

I challenge you to take a few minutes to reflect on what you are thankful for this November.  You might not make an all-inclusive list like me, but be sure to have a heart of thanksgiving.  I know my list could have been longer, but these were the things that came to me as I blogged.

Happy Thanksgiving!