Krystal – Page 2 – Trees Of Hope

30Jul 2024 by Krystal 7 Comments

BUSY or AVAILABLE…what are YOU?

Today is another milestone: 42 years of life on this earth! It has had me thinking what one word would define me? The word BUSY is perhaps the adjective that best describes the average person these days. I would much rather have someone say I’m kind, peaceful or hard-working, but NOT just “busy.” Go, go, go, do, do, do…. what happened to getting off that treadmill after our global pandemic? How quickly we forget to SLOW DOWN and stop just being “busy!” Now, I want to tell you a true tale of this word BUSY being used by someone in my life in an offensive way. When we use the word "busy" to decline an invitation it carries a certain message with it: I AM BUSY, but YOU must not…

12May 2024 by Krystal 8 Comments

For Mothers: A Few Goodbyes

Faith, Personal Testimonies

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there, moms-to-be, and never forgetting the moms who have gone ahead of us on to glory. It is promising that we still have a day set aside for celebration and hopefully REFLECTION of our own moms, ourselves, and the legacy we are ultimately leaving behind. As I sit here writing when I want to clean the house and prep for an upcoming garage sale, I am reminded I need this MORE. Need what? I NEED times of reflection, of internal mental, emotional, and spiritual REST for my soul. My children are a wonderful blessing, and as of yesterday we now have our first teenager! As I love to watch them bloom and grow there is another part of me that fears the…

31Mar 2024 by Krystal No Comments

HE LIVES! This is my testimony!

Faith, Personal Testimonies

This Easter is one in which our hearts rejoice as a family for the countless blessings God has bestowed upon us. This post will be short but sweet as we list a few testimonies of HIS faithfulness! 1.We are currently living a dream right now in Ecuador, having just received a mission's trip team from our church to come and support our Ecuadorian brothers and sisters. For us this is truly a MIRACLE and an answer to years and years of prayer. 2.Two people we know recently gave their lives to CHRIST! Both were ones we had the privilege to pray for and influence; our hearts are so full to the brim for their decisions to dedicate themselves to JESUS! 3.JESUS is ALIVE and well...How do I know? I spoke…

25Dec 2023 by Krystal 10 Comments

The Gift of LEARNING

Faith

Please enjoy this Christmas gift from me to you of my heart’s expression below. Merry Christmas, dear friends and loved ones! I would like to pose a question: If you were given 5 hours on any given day to do ANYTHING you wanted with no distractions or people around, what would you choose? Take a moment and really think and decide! I know if I’m honest part of that time I would most likely spend cleaning unless I completely abandoned my house and went somewhere else! However, my hope would be that the majority of the time would be spent in deep concentration reading a very good book! This Christmas I am thankful for many things. Let me share one of those with you. Learning. We experience it every day…

24Oct 2023 by Krystal 6 Comments

Resisting Brokenness…AGAIN!

Faith, Personal Testimonies

Before a recent surgery I had last week, I was anxious. For starters, it was an unromantic way for my husband and I to spend our 17-year anniversary since we officially began dating! So, I surmised if I didn’t think too much about the procedure and didn't make a big deal of it to anyone that the recovery would be smooth sailing. Even the surgeon and some online advice seemed to make the whole process seem speedier and more expediated due to new surgical techniques. To top it all off, I prided myself on my daily exercise regime that made me feel strong, healthy and energized. I internally boasted: My body will surely bounce back since I have taken such good care of it. To my dismay, the moment I…

30Sep 2023 by Krystal 6 Comments

I Can’t, BUT…

Faith, Personal Testimonies

I have felt “I can’t” a lot recently. It comes in waves and today I felt close to drowning. I KNOW I can’t. I can’t continue on in my own strength and I can’t be everything to everyone or even close to that. The more relationships you have the more complicated and overwhelming life can feel. At times I internally ponder whether I’m focusing my energy wisely. It’s a question I should always bring to Our Father God. Days are so short and time is so valuable. In the midst of my inability I have found the beauty of knowing who God is: When I say, “I can’t” He says,” I CAN.” When I say, “This is impossible,” He says, “With me, all things are possible.” When I say, “I…

03Jul 2023 by Krystal 6 Comments

A Time to Remember

Faith, Personal Testimonies, Teaching Your Children

It’s the 4th of July, a time to remember the Declaration of Independence and the initiation of the United States of America. It was adopted on July 4, 1776 at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall, by the Second Continental Congress. It explains to the world why the thirteen colonies considered themselves as independent states no longer under the British rule. Their independence was justified by the listing of 27 colonial grievances against King George III and by proclaiming their right of revolution. It became one of the “most circulated and widely reprinted documents in American history” (Wikipedia). A few months ago I received a call out of the blue with a special message. It was to inform me that a former Kindergarten ESL (English…

25Mar 2023 by Krystal 5 Comments

REVIVAL.

Faith, Teaching Your Children

Revival: The definition is, "an improvement in the condition or strength of something." This term revival is something devoted Christians dream of and pray for. In case you haven't heard, it has been one month since a revival began in the United States! Yes, from February 8-February 24, 2023 there was a 17-day long revival that happened at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. It was an unplanned event in human terms, but God had been moving hearts and calling people to pray years and years before! I watched an interesting interview done in Spanish of a few guys, one a Mexican American and the other a current Latino student at Asbury. The Mexican American had driven 30 plus hours to attend this revival while it was still in full force. It…

28Jan 2023 by Krystal 8 Comments

A Dangerous Prayer…

Faith

The news has been full of senseless acts of violence that will forever impact the lives of many. It's particularly horrendous when appalling tragedies happen around holiday celebrations. Even so, we can't quite comprehend the full force and ugliness of sin and Satan's grip unless we are somehow connected and involved. An accident, an addiction, an unfulfilled dream, a death? What will it take for us to take our eyes off of ourselves and our pettiness and return to God? It's thrilling to be on the mountaintop of life looking out at the paramount view. It's freeing to rejoice with those who have overcome tremendous obstacles and celebrate jointly. However, would we truly value the blessings without the dreadful days? Isn't it the broken times in life that are ripe…

27Dec 2022 by Krystal 8 Comments

Epiphanies for the New Year!

Faith, Personal Testimonies

Maybe it was turning 40 that did me in, but I am realizing more about life NOW than I ever did before! Let me take you along on the journey of a few epiphanies that I have had this year, ones I want to apply both now and in 2023. Maybe you can relate to these, and may God use it to make us better servants for Him! First, football season is exciting for our country, the United States, as we cheer on our home team! I will be honest in that I was never a true fan, though the Buffalo Bills have been improving each year and were recently voted the team with the biggest and most loyal fan base. This year I had an incredible epiphany: I actually…

Author: Krystal