spring break - a break from the brain

so this week is spring break. no classes all week long. and, for the record, school is almost out. we graduation on may 16 and it's just so close.

i was talking to the honey last night and considering whether 1st year has been all it's cracked up to be. there's been some good times, but i'm finding that there's alot more to it than i initially intended. it's so easy to pick the most outgoing or freely spirit moving people out and be frustrated b/c i'm not @ their level. it's easy to feel like, during the crunch time, that i've not accomplished or grasped everything i was sent her to land. it's even easy to beat myself up for not trying all of the very cool outreaches and classes offered here @ bethel and thus deduct that i've wasted my time this last 9 months.

but last night i realized that we're all in different seasons. i, personally, have been in a deep place of deliverance most of this year w/ god getting @ all of the deeply hidden things that have terrorized relationships, tormented those that i love, and made lunchmeat of my insides b/c i'd not yet been ready to deal w/ some very hard things.

i guess, my point is, 1st year has not looked as i supposed it would look @ all. it's been alot of soaring ups and very low downs. it's been joyful, unbearable, infuriating, and freeing. i say all this b/c recently, i've had a hard time putting this year into perspective. i've heard myself and even listened to some others imply that i hadn't accomplished what i came here to do. the reality is, i had no idea what i came here to do. i knew that god would release some solid connections in my life here and that i would come into a place of expansion. beyond that, my expectations were quite nondescript.

so i feel like my perspective and god's are totally different about 1st year. i think that god is capable of accomplishing all that he has set out to do in me as well as through me. after having some light shed on this incident, i realized that this investment of my time will impact every portion of my life in the days to come. it will affect even the places in the future where my time is to bask brightly and joyously in the fullness of my dreams realized.

i just want to commend anyone that's every sacrificed a chunk of their life out to invest in your future as a child of god. it doesn't ever seem to be what we think it will be, but it's always a fruitful endeaver when you've got the right heart.

be blessed in the year of new beginnings!!

xoxo

the names of god...

i just have to say that god is exactly who he says he is. he proves himself faithful day in and day out and i just have to let someone know. he truly is provider, healer, comforter, lover... i could go on for days w/ the character of god. but suffice it to say, this late @ night, that he is nothing less than what he claims to be... good! and i just can't help but be thankful for his goodness.

if you're feeling defeated right now, hold on a bit longer and let him break through every wall that's held you back in the past seasons. for every gate that's not opened for you, the lord says that he is swinging wide open the gates this year on our behalf! take a deep, sweet breath and let the expectation of heaven saturate your insides tonight. bask in the glories to come and the kindness of a good, good daddy...

much love,
chrys

job hunting & easter break

please pray for me right now as i'm on the mad lookout for a job. i've got a bit less than 2 months left of school and i need something now. however, i'd love for my job to be something that i can do now w/ my current hours and then transition into full time once summer rolls around.

i've had breakthrough in that i've been on a few interviews, but the schedule seems to be the perpetual issue (i'm only available in the mornings and all day on mondays & saturdays). even still, i know that god has something for me. please just pray that it will be released!!!

on a much brighter note, today is our last day of school before spring break. we've got a week off plus tomorrow which is good friday. i'd really love for a few bits of daunting circumstances to pan out so that i can enjoy a bit of the area. i'm hardcore contending for breakthrough right now as i know everyone is.

much love,
xoox

mission trip update - mexico trip cancelled

i posted a few weeks back and also made mention to my mission trip in my last support letter, so you may know that i was planning on going to tecate, mx.

unfortunately, due to some really uncool circumstances (finances!! grrr!!!), it doesn't look as though i'll be able to go. we had our first official mission trip training today and i believe i'll be staying here in redding. honestly, i'm sort of upset. however, after hearing the vision for the daily outreaches we've got planned, i'm sort of excited. i think we'll be doing some block parties, treating kids to fun days, and like events.

overall, it will be good. i just had sort of hoped that i'd be able to get out and about seeing how i didn't have the opportunity to go home for either thanksgiving or christmas. even still, i intend on being here over the summer and maybe i'll have a chance to do some exploring of california then....

much love,
chrystal

call me button

so check out the call me button over to the right in the margin. you can use that button to page and/or call me directly if you feel so inclined. so have fun w/ that!