Awakening

We need an Awakening!

We need global revival!

We need national reformation!

We need God to move!

And Rochester, NY will be the forerunner for it all!

If your able to come both this Friday and Saturday evening (Bethel Christian Fellowship) the sessions are free! This is awesome to have so many people here that are serious prophetic forerunners in the times and seasons we live in!

Here is a short video on AWAKENING by Dutch Sheets - very powerful: http://www.theequippingcenter.org/user/dutchsheets001.wmv

Organic deals anyone?

Earthbound Farm

I thought I'd let all you beautiful people know that if you go to Earthbound's website and set up your contact info. with them they will send you a fair amount of great coupons. I received two free products, six $1 $ 75cents off, and their newsletter. It's a real blessing when you are eating organically. The only place that i have seen Earthbound products is at Walmart...if you know of any other places we can get their stuff let me know. I would prefer to shop other places if i can . And also their containers are also made from recycled bottles, which is another plus to treating God's creation better :-)

Organic coupons everyday -

And if you're really interested saving on, not just produce, but other organic products (including produce and soap, lotion, cleaning supplies, etc.) then here is a wonderful BLOG for you to check out....

And lastly my favorite coupon site I have seen thus far is Whole Food Market website. Please check it out...a lot of the coupons are on food found at Walmart or Wegmans!

FLAWED...

Did you know...

...that i have flaws?

Yes.

I sometimes don't do what I'm told.

I can become anxious.

I can be unloving toward my husband.

I can be frustrated with children.

I don't always eat the way I should.

i sometimes have food on my floor,

and bugs in my house.

I don't make my bed,

and I stay up way too late.

I don't like to call people back

and i'm not always a perfect friend.

I sometimes have idle time

and don't use it wisely.

I don't always have "happy" thoughts

and i can be obnoxious.

I don't always trust God

and i fight with the fear of man.

i think my way is the best way

and i forget others' ideas

i'm usually not on time

and can't seem to keep to a schedule

i feel confined in ridgidiment,

and i sometimes can't spell big words like that.

I sometimes lose my patience

and lean on my own understanding.

But you know what? God STILL loves me! And He still loves you, so let's stop beating ourselves up for all the imperfections and allow God BE God.....it is what makes Him.... well, HIM. It only His Love that perfects us!

Power of Distraction

While it is not wrong to seek a certain level of security in life, it is necessary to remember that, ultimately, security in this world is an illusion.

Television. The Internet. Movies. The mall. Text messaging. Ipods. Cell phones. When have we ever been so bombarded with distracting beeps, buzzers, flashes, sounds, messages, pop-ups, and just plain noise? Advertising companies have designed entire campaigns around the premise that if they can distract you and hold your attention long enough, you most likely end up buying something from them. Our entire society is actually built upon distraction, which is essentially competition for your attention, e.g., your money. And as we know, 'time is money', so to get your money, they actually get your time - your life - your soul.

The Cry of Mordecai By Robert Stearns

The more and more I dive deeper into the heart of God, the more I find the enemy working over-time to steal away my eye. Over and over again the Lord has been bringing me to 1 John where He speaks to us pertaining to the Last Hour. "Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning" (3:7-8 NIV). How many distrations has the enemy put in your way to keep you from hearing and seeing God? And there are many that the enemy has set up, that it would be even the small, forgotten, petty distrations that are the ones he gracefully tries to keep from our knowing. How many distractions have have led you astray and kept you from taking risks, being radically obedient or even dared to dream impossible dreams? God is ready to wake us up and to rise up an end-time army is this 11th hour. What are some things that may be keeping us from hearing God? In the middle of a world with many voices screaming for our attention, are our hearts prepared to hear the task at hand? In Isaiah 44:12-30 the prophet talks about the worshipping of idols, but not just any idols....they were ridiculous man-made pieces of wood that people would worship and call their God. It was like the people were so blind and confused that they couldn't even see that what they were worshipping was just a piece of wood. And as ridiculous as it sounds, we also can become blind to the obvious. Satan loves to create a delusion for us so that it would be hard for us to recongnize the truth.

As I travel to minister to the Body of Christ today (in the US and internationally), I am shocked and even alarmed by how often we who call ourselves believers really don't think according to the mindset of the redeemed. We say that we believe the Bible, but when it comes right down to it, inside our minds we are vastly distracted from what is true and right - from the basic level things that the Kingdom of God is really all about. To be honest, we are often more concerned about what people think of us than what the Word of God says. We are too focused on maintaining good appearances rather than being inwardly transformed. We are so fearful of natural ourcomes that we neglect to operate in the faith that God desires us to walk in. We are often inwardly jealous of others, discontent, and bitter; rather than peaceful, at rest, joyful.

The enemy knows the power of inner distraction! What is it in your life that could be stealing away your attention? What distractions keep you from spending time with the Lord? What changes could we make TODAY so we can hear God more clearly?

I encoourage you in your time with the Lord today to ask Him what may be some things in your walk that could distract from the truth? Ask God what are some things that keep you from Him....

oh how loving, patient and remarkable our God is, isn't He?

For Justice sake

THEY CAME FOR THE COMMUNISTS,

AND I DIDN'T SPEAK UP BECAUSE I WASN'T COMMUNIST.

THEN THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS,

AND I DIDN'T SPEAK UP BECAUSE I WASN'T A JEW.

THEN THEY CAME FOE THE TRADE UNIONISTS,

AND I DIDN'T SPEAK UP BECAUSE I WASN'T A TRADE UNIONIST.

THEN THEY CAME FOR THE CATHOLICS,

AND I DIDN'T SPEAK UP BECAUSE I WAS PROTESTANT.

THEN THEY CAME FOR ME,

AND BY THAT TIME NO ONE WAS LEFT TO SPEAK UP.

~ Poem attributed to Martin Niemoeller

Niemoeller was an influential Lutheran pastor from WWII Germany who was initially complicit with Hitler's political agenda and pledged him the support of the Protestant Churches he represented. When Niemoeller finally recognized Hitler's true intentions and realized he was not going to honor any of the allegiances he had made to the Church, he with-drew his support form the Nazi party. He was subsequently arrested and spent the remainder of the war in the Nazi prison and eventually the Dachau concentration camp as one of Hitler's personal prisoners.

What a challenging poem! The word of God says, "RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTICE are the foundation of Your throne! Lovingkindness and truth go before you" (Psalm 89:14). Can I be really honest about something I have observed over the years of being a part of Bound4LIFE? A lot of people don't take serious their call to justice on behalf of those things which are right in the eyes of God. Abortion is just one issue among many that needs justice to be served; I understand that. But even among the many, how many of us can actually say we've taken on one of them and are the front-lines to see resolution? Would we lose face, as Niemoeller did, and forfeit any amount of comfortable living for the sake of justice and righteousness? What about abortion? What about human trafficking? What about the nation of Israel and the Jewish people? What will it take before we stand and be bold in what we know is right before God?

Maybe it will take us being the ones served unjustly. But then....will it be too late?

My food for thought today. God bless!

Love,

Crystal

Radical love

(something supernatural part 2)

You see, it is not enough for us to obey God on our own - we need to become a contagious force for change and bring others with us in our quest to win back this world for God. Radical people will do radical things - especially those who have the burning zeal of God within them like the prophets, judges and kings and queens throughout Bible history. Radical people aren't afraid to do what needs to be done, even if it hasn't been done before. And they know that, in order to accomplish the task in front of them, they will need the help of others working toward the same goal."

The Cry of Mordecai By Robert Stearns

Being radical doesn't mean being stupid, but it may make you look like you are. Ha ha! Really. I find the closer and deeper I get with Jesus, the more He speaks about doing things that outside the "norm". Even the Church starts to turn their head a little bit. But it's that kind of zeal and radicalism that is going to lead an End-Time Army. It's not going to be the spectators that sit and judge what is happening in the Church Sunday morning. It's not going to be the Church that kept things "seeker-sensitive" instead of SPIRIT-SENSITIVE. It's not going to be the individual who cares more about the things in this world or is easily anxious about the burdens of life. No. It's going to be the Church that is radical in their love for Jesus. Why? Because it' the very warning Jesus gives to the Church in Matthew 24. Many hearts will grow cold and far from love because of the increase of wickedness - and thats not just wickedness in the world, that is also wickedness in the Church.

How crucial is radical love for Jesus in this hour?

It IS crucial!!! His love cries with urgency. We are able to love God because He first loved us. The love of God cries out to us, wooing us to love Him back!

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

John 2:17-19

The bigger picture IS the last hour. The "last hour" is not an actual hour. God does not live in time or space. Rather, it is an urgency to live ready for the return of Christ! We are living in the last hour because we are awaiting our Groom's return. And every day, every minute is one moment closer to His return. He has been preparing His Bride to be a part of an End-time Army for centuries. Who is so radical enough in their love for Him that they would say "YES!" We are in the hour in which we should always be living - readily awaiting the return of Christ.

But what keeps us from that disposition? It is our love for the things in the world - the desires of the flesh, the desires of our eyes (heart) and the pride of life. Even fear is a form of pride. Fear chokes us sometimes when God is ready to catapult us forward! Some times it takes an act of radical love for us to be free to live in the Spirit and be obedient no matter the cost. God will give you a revelatory gift when you choose to not love the things of the world. He will be more nearer and speaking more than ever when you give up everything else. And that is not even a fair swap at its greatest! For He truly gave up everything for us, and we could never out-give Him.

I encourage you to give Him all you got. Let's be radical in our love for Him!

Love,

Crystal

Some cross reference for look-up on the end-time hour - 2 Tim 3:1; James 5:3; 2 Pet 3:3; Jude 18

For PART 1 of Something Supernatural click here.

something supernatural (Prayer at Moriah)

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the amount of things God is doing? I mean, I love it. I love when there's so much revelation on the table you can't stand it. I love when there is an ocean of knowledge God is unleashing. I love talking to God and knowing He is speaking back. I love feeling in love.

I was in great expectation going to Camp Moriah (Poplar Bluff, MO). For those who don't know, Mt. Moriah was where Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on the altar. It's also believed to be where the first and second temple of the Lord was built. Moriah means, "God is my teacher", and "ordained by God". That, in and of itself, was so powerful to me. Yet, the Lord made it quite clear to me that "it" was not going to come how I would expect it. What was "it"? Well, to be quite honest, I didn't really know.

here's the thing.... Do you ever read the Word of God and leave baffled by the fact all of its promises and supernatural encounters are not consistently operating in your life? When I read the Word, it seriously challenges me to my core. I think a lot of the Church, along with myself, suffers from the fear of man. Truth be told, that if we believed that God was "faithful and just to perform His Word", then a lot of us would living a whole lot different. It's a wonderful thing to be a mother, meet God in my comfortable home, maybe even fellowship a little during the week with other believers, but simply, I believe God wants so much more for us. So much more! If our love for God was greater than our love for the world (acceptance, approval, being comfortable, sin), revival would probably be breaking out all across the churches of America.

I believe the "it" I was looking for WAS God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God who defeated the Philistines. The God who delivered Israel from the hand of Pharoah. The God who consumed the water on Elijah's altar and brought fire on all the prophets of Baal. The God who brought a great cloud by day, and fire by night. The God who would save Daniel in a lions' den and keep 3 men alive in a sweltering furnace. I wanted to see the God whom promised I could see Him face to face, promising even a greater glory than what Moses experienced in the wilderness. I wanted to see the God who would save my soul by sending His Son as the perfect sacrifice for my sin. The God who would fulfill every Word spoken, never to return void. The God who gives dreams and visions to mere men. The One who can make the lame walk, the blind see and the dead rise! Oh how the Word of God challenges me! Does it not you? Why don't you tear out the page between your New and Old Testament so that you can be reminded that God has not changed. That it was never intended, by God, for man to separate the two. We serve the same God. We change! But He does not. I cannot help but think I am missing God if His Word is not being performed in my life. I needed an encounter.

Here's something I learned while out in Missouri, an encounter that I so desired does not come without a cost. yeah....yeah....yeah...we've all heard it before. But when are we going to wake up to its reality? The cost is you! Its when you give up everything. You give up your being to the obedience of Jesus. It sounds lovely behind the pulpit, but trust me, your flesh will feel like its being murdered. For myself, I am aware more suffering is to come (if i want more, that is). I am thankful to be back in a real bed, using a real bathroom, having access anytime I want to a shower. But God literally plucked me from all natural means and comfortable reality to make me realize what he really desired from me. - And what the cost would be for His Glory.

TO BE CONTINUED....

i plan to share a lot more. and I really pray that those who read are not only blessed, but also provoked by the Holy Spirit to run after God. I genuinely believe that if you are reading God wants to do something supernatural in your life. I will be praying for my readers - for our pearls will not be thrown to swine.

Colorado: Beauty from our Creator

Looking right into Father-in-law's back yard....Mount Sopris

i needed to include this nice pic of Cheri.....she's just so beautiful....any takers?

breath taking

Abigail and the sweetness of our beach day

A little teaser of our trip....

It is absolutely beautiful!

Rival Falls....hiking...enjoying God.

God is so creative!

...in the valley

MORE TO COME :-)

I Am Lovesick

All I want is to see you,
Face to face
Closer than how Moses spoke to you
i want to touch you
feel you
even buy you roses.
For Your worth is far above anything in time or space.

For You are God.
With no shape or form
but then You created me out of Your heart
so Your image would be seen.
And how lovely You are my Love.
And i am....
.......completely in love.

i want to enter Your world
to see through Your eyes.
Come, Perfect One
and consume me,
baptize me,
love through me.

All wisdom, all understanding is Yours.
and now it's mine.
just because i love You.
Just because I've chosen to enter Your world.
And there, everyday, I have to choose to stay,
loyal
faithful
true
Just as You have kept all Your promises to me.

i am lovesick, my God.
The well in me can't be kept silent.
It bursts with joy,
bursts with a song
a song of love
....and revelation

You are a River and I am an olive tree
Many years i wait for your waters to bring forth my fruit
and when it comes,
oh how good it is!
It's oil is better than wine
just like your love is better than life.
Oh!
And life is now worth living when I am in love.

yes, it's true
i am in love with You.

Drink it up!

I just got a new water bottle.....

it holds 72 oz.

So, this is a little reminder...DRINK UR WATER!

Drink half your body weight in ounces :-)

Some fun water facts:

Water is the basis and essential of all life, and that includes your body. One can go quite a few days without food, but no one lasts longer than 3 to 5 days without water. Chronic dehydration is very common and it might be the root cause of many illness and diseases. Water is about 80% of an infant's weight, 70% in adults and 60% in the elder. The older we get, the less water we drink, and the more ailments we develop latter in life, all could be as simple as not drinking enough water every day.

Dehydration occurs when the body receives less water than it required. When your body is lack of water:

- By 1%, creates extreme thirst. Your mouth is dry. By now, your body has already started to malfunction. Never wait until you feel thirsty to drink water.

- By 5% can cause a slight fever.

- By 8% will cause glands to stop producing saliva, skin starts to turn blue

- By 10%, your tongue will swells, your kidneys started to fail, muscles go into spasms and you will have trouble walking.

- When you are 10% short of water, your skin will crack, organs will grind to a halt and you may die!

Why is water important to humans?

1. The majority of every cell in the body is made up with water

2. Water is the major part of the sweat, tears, and saliva

3. It is the biggest part of the blood and lymph systems, carrying food and oxygen to the cells and carrying away waste out of the body

4. It helps control the blood pressure by balances the electrolytes

5. Water flushes the kidneys to get rid of toxic substances in the body

6. It helps moisten the eyes, mouth, and nasal passages

7. It regulates the body temperature, keeps it cool when it is hot and insulates the body from cold

8. It is also a shock absorber to cushion the body's organs

9. It lubricates joints so you can move without pains

10. Good water can provide many of the trace minerals that the body needs

We need water not only for drinking, but also for everything else in our daily life. We need water to cook, to wash, to clean, to flush, to grow and endless other things. The earth is 70% covered with water for a reason. But there are only about 2% is fresh water. Learn to preserve and appreciate the most precious resource of life and always supply our bodies with the freshest, cleanest and most natural water. Our health and well-being depend on it.

About 70% of the bodies' weight is water. It is the very thing the body needs most. Water is accountable for many body functions. Drinking enough clean and fresh water not only improves your overall health and well-being, it may also prevent you from many ailments and sicknesses. Give your body the quality water it deserves and in turn, it will serve you with the optimal health and appearance you have always desired. For the best possible water for your health, right from the faucet, for pennies per gallon, please visit http://drinkingwatersafety.fitnessguide101.com/best-water-for-optimal-health. After all, who wants to fill 70% of their bodies' weight with impurities, toxins and chemical treated water? Resource:Ezine Articles

My "green" babies

Clothe isn't for everyone, but if you're looking to save on the dollar, its the way to go. Forget the old folds and pins. Now they make clothe just as easy as disposables. The only time spent will be the extra load of laundry at the end of your day. But if you're willing to take the extra 15 minutes to load your washer it could save both the waste produced in our landfills and your wallet.

Here a great exert from my provider - And a wonderful break-down of what you save:)

Why Choose Cloth?

Better for Baby

• Children are much more comfortable in cloth diapers versus diapers made of plastic and paper.
• 

Fun colors and patterns to make diapering fun.
• 93% less likely to get diaper rash than disposables
• Disposable diapers contain Dioxin, Tributly-tin(TBT) and Sodium Polyacrylate just to name a few chemicals. While cloth diapers contain, well cloth.
• The use of disposable diapers has been scientifically linked to male infertility with young men who wore disposable diapers as babies.
• The largest organ in the human body is the skin.Cloth diapers protect your child's tender parts in ways that single-use diapers can't. Did you know that single-use diapers have up to 60 known chemicals in them? 


• Your child will be doing great things for the earth from their very first day! Using cloth diapers saves trees, sensitive wildlife habitats, petroleum, landfill space and helps to reduce Global Warming!

-

Better for the Environment

• By the age of three the average child will have used 8,736 diapers that are sitting in a landfill that we currently do not the decomposition time of. 


• Cloth diapers can be resold or reused as rags to cut back on environmental waste.


• One child in disposable diapers will require 20 trees, 420 gallons of petroleum and generate one ton of garbage!


• It takes 20 trees to diaper one child for 2.5 years. 

• It takes up to 200 years for a single-use diaper to decompose. That means every disposable diaper ever made is still in a landfill somewhere!


• It takes 2/3 cup of petroleum to produce just ONE single-use diaper!


Better for You (and your pocketbook)

• It’s Cheaper!
• Cloth diapering is a growing trend amongst young parents.
• Fun colors and patterns to make diapering fun.
• More convenient…That’s right More convenient! No more running to the store because you are almost out of diapers. Just throw a load of laundry in and you are all set!
• Cloth diapers are re-usable for future children just like baby clothes or a crib.

• Studies show that a child in cloth diapers will potty train 6 months to one year earlier than a child in single use diapers.Saving your family hundreds of dollars!


• Cloth diapering is easier than ever. Huge strides have been made in the past few years with cloth diapering accessories. These new accessories make cloth diapering easier and more fun then ever.


• When you use LUVABOOS, you not only benefit the global community by using a sustainable form of diapering; but, you also contribute to our local community.

Disposables

Newborn size:168 diapers at .25/diaper=	$42.00
Size 1: 448 diapers at .22/diaper=	98.56
Size 2: 490 diapers at .25/diaper=	122.50
Size 3: 1920 diapers at .30/diaper=	576.00
Size 4: 1095 diapers at .35/diaper=	383.25
Size 5: 1825 diapers at .39/diaper=	1642.50
Pull-Ups: 70 pull ups at .41/pullup=	28.70
	2893.51
Add disposable wipes bought in bulk:	180.00
Total:	3,073.51

*Figures based on a real 3 year old! Sized Pocket Diapers

Size Small: 24 diapers (based on 15.95 each)	$382.80
Size Small Inserts: 24 (range between$3.-$6. each)	144.00
Size Medium: 24	382.80
Size Medium Inserts: 24	144.00
Size Large: 24	382.80
Size Large Inserts: 24	144.00
Cloth Wipes: 24	20.00
Small Wet bag for travel	14.50
Pail liner	19.99
Toilet/Shower Sprayer	44.95
Total:	$1,683.94

*Keep in mind this is one of the top of the line, most convenient ways to cloth diaper!

Total Savings: $1,389.57

One Size Pocket Diapers

One-Size 24 diapers (based on 18.95 each)	$454.80
Cloth Wipes: 24	20.00
Small Wet bag for travel	14.50
Pail liner	19.99
Toilet/Shower Sprayer	44.95
Total:	$553.79

*We highly recommend the One-Size system for families with 2 in diapers or if you are pretty sure this is your last baby! Otherwise in the long run a sized diaper option will last longer as the diapers are used less per child.

Total Savings: $2,519.72

Want more info? Click here for a local business of Rochester, NY Also there is a great blog I've been reading if you're not convinced yet!

Luvaboos give you an opportunity to try clothe for $15 before you purchase. This wonderful if its completely new to you and you don't know which clothe you would like to buy.

I'd be lying if I said the money saving wasn't what sold me. I love going green and keeping waste to a minimal and recycling, but I was convinced when I knew my pocket money would stay in my pocket.

I have personally spent about $500 on clothe diapers and I have two babies in clothe and I am a working mother. Just goes to show you anyone can do it! I have saved our family $420.00 thus far and the number continues to grow as they grow. By the time they both hit the age of 2 I will have saved our family nearly $1500. Now thats a pretty penny and worth every load of laundry!

It's worth looking at for all you mothers and future mothers...