The Communion of Community...

I love these pictures...


Mostly because of the memories that surround them, that you can't see


In progression, they tell a story of individual lives,
coming along side and becoming community



God intended us to live in community not isolated,
we are better when we live within community where we can share and grow

You see at the time these were taken, life, Satan, and some very toxic relationships had turned me to isolation, And I was down for the count. You know the kind of days when you want to pull the covers over your head and never move out of the bed! Or like when Elijah sat discouraged, tired and defeated ready to give up and die, because it was too scary and too hard. Ever had one of those days?

Just as God brought ravens to Elijah's rescue, God brought a handful of good friends to see me through, when everyone else, yes mine own familiar friends that I went into the sanctuary with as David said; Turned their backs on me without even asking my side of the story.
Ahhhhh but those faithful friends walked alongside me, counseled me, listened to me, corrected me where needed, encouraged me often, stood by me at the risk of their own well being, ate with me, laughed with me, cried with me, opened the word with me, prayed with me and for me, trusted God with me when none of us could see the answers, but knew God would not leave us nor forsake any of us.
I was with 2 of these friends when I took these pictures, 2 years ago, and at the time of these pictures none of us knew how the story would be written for or against us, we just knew we had our God and a few good friends that could be transparent with, and pour our hearts out to. To me this is what God had in mind when he made us to need and desire community. We are stronger in community, we are wiser in community, we are better in community, we grow in community, we mature in community.
To the glory of God, we had different paths to get where we are today, but certainly as of the time of this writing we all are healed because of community, stronger because of community,sharpened within community and better equipped to help others heal within the safety of community.
And you thought these were just some random pictures of some horses......

2Bclear or more to the point, 2Bcrystalclear....

Strange how something makes an impression on us, and it can have such a profound effect on us that it becomes us, we embrace it, it becomes our mantra....



Or was it maybe always meant to be, is it who we have always been, possibly even who we were born to be and through life and revelation of our own being we come to the knowledge that has always been us? Something possibly Sovreignly designed and destined for us from before the foundation of the world. Yes this is the belief to which I subscribe, and the reality that I live on a daily basis. Some might call it being comfortable in my own skin, The truth to which I subscribe is that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and that this truth allows me to know just how loved I am. And I awake again and it is just as true today as it was yesterday and more so as I sink down into the truth that has certainly set me free.
For many years I have known the meaning of my name:
Crystal: Brilliantly Clear
So what about it? Well for years I would say it means what you see is what you get because that was what it meant to me, and I didn't think much more about it! Oh until the giver of life came and completely changed my life around and I began to see meaning in even the smallest things. I was very interested as I looked into the bible how God would emphasize the meaning of a name and that it totally embodied who that person was. I then began to think of my own name and what that said about me? Yes what you see is what you get, but what does that mean and what impact is it meant to have on me and on those around me? I began to realize to be brilliantly clear meant being totally transparent, see through, no masks, no facades! And I knew that is how my life was intended to be lived out, not just for me, but for those around me who may not be able to as easily live that way. This is why my email, my car tag all reflect this saying 2Bclear, 2Bcrystalclear, O2Bcrystal clear, it is a reflection of who I am to be in Christ. And when I am living Spirit-Filled, is when I come closest to fulfilling who I was made to be. And as I have come to a new understanding of that, God has allowed me to again see a new meaning to my name to be Brilliantly clear, also says to me that I am free from sin, clear...Brilliantly Clear never to be judged on my sin, but now free 2Bclearly who I was made to be... no longer 2 just B Clear but 2Bcrystalclear.........