30Sep 2023 by Krystal 6 Comments
I Can’t, BUT…

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…
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03Jul 2023 by Krystal 6 Comments
A Time to Remember

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…
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25Mar 2023 by Krystal 5 Comments
REVIVAL.

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…
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28Jan 2023 by Krystal 8 Comments
A Dangerous Prayer…

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…
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27Dec 2022 by Krystal 8 Comments
Epiphanies for the New Year!

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…
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30Oct 2022 by Krystal No Comments
Renew Your Mind

Renew Your Mind

Faith
Of utmost importance in our day is renewing our minds. This post was a long time in the making because the practice of renewing my mind has been ON MY MIND! My artist Laurelle Like many, I have my struggles with daily life. This summer I experienced much freedom and the ability to live without crippling anxiety. I can be very hard on myself, most of us can, and I see where I lack before I see what I have accomplished. As people in general and definitely as Christ followers, we need a constant daily dose of real wisdom and truth. Oh how quickly we UNDO our minds and waste precious time with unnecessary scrolling on our phones these days, everyone included! Habits form easily and take a sustained effort…
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22Aug 2022 by Krystal 18 Comments
A Milestone Birthday: 40!

A Milestone Birthday: 40!

Faith, Personal Testimonies
I got comfortable with being thirty something but now it’s on to bigger and better numbers! I want to remain positive about getting older, though it comes with its aches, pains and mental battles. It’s knowing I’ll never get younger, but with God’s help I’ll become wiser, braver, kinder and ultimately more like my Savior Jesus Christ. This morning I was making chocolate chip cookies with coconut flour. The recipe I looked up required 6 eggs. Well, I had a hard time justifying the use of all those eggs so I skimped and just put in 5. The batter seemed to be a good consistency as I added the coconut oil so I finished mixing and popped them in the oven. The real test came when they were baked and…
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16Jun 2022 by Krystal 4 Comments
A Time to Grieve

A Time to Grieve

Faith, Personal Testimonies
"Daddy will be here in thirty minutes! Almost time to go," I reminded my kids. I put the final items into our suitcases before our vacation plans got underway when I received the news. It was a phone call that changed my life: a young and dearly loved cousin of mine in Tennessee passed away suddenly at only 40 years of age. He was the brother of my cousin in Virginia who we were heading to visit. Immediately plans were cancelled. The next day my parents, two siblings and I traveled to be with my aunt, uncle and cousins there, and attend the funeral. It has been exactly one month today since his passing and the grieving process has taken its toll on all of us as a family. It…
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19Feb 2022 by Krystal 4 Comments
Trapped

Trapped

Faith, Personal Testimonies
It’s winter in Buffalo; the snow has arrived and is sticking! We stayed home for the holidays and got a chance to go ice skating, experience bumper cars on ice, and enjoy some sledding to kick off the winter season! On the other hand, some people are still limiting their outings and social interactions. As much as we are trying to capitalize on winter fun, we can’t help but miss the days when hopping on a plane was so “easy.” It’s a feeling of hopelessness at times when thinking about if or when things will ever return to how they were. Front yard snow forts! Trapped. The last time I started to feel trapped was interestingly when I was IN Ecuador. We had visited in March of 2020 with no…
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10Dec 2021 by Krystal 4 Comments
Let it Go…

Let it Go…

Faith, Personal Testimonies
The song, “Let it Go” from the movie Frozen is a simple way to say, “Get rid of _____ and be free.” Well, I have a confession to make: I recently realized I wasn’t free. Upon evaluation of my life the past few months in particular I found one area that I needed to “let go”: social media. Having said that, this post is NOT a dig at anyone who is on it, as I know most people are! I only hope to inspire you to eliminate your extra habits, things or relationships in life that may be subtly yet directly causing undesired stress or anxiety. A few weeks after posting this blog, a friend of mine named Courtney Campbell shared that SHE TOO made this decision AND blogged about…
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