CRYSTAL LEWIS

horses and horses

2012-02-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

yes, i'm confessing, i'm a book-by-the-cover buyer. sometimes that works out...and sometimes it doesn't. the book i recently started proved to be one of those books that lives up to the beauty of it's cover. it's called 'run with the horses'... i like the cover so much because i happen to be a horse-obsessed person that still (after almost 10 years riding and owning horses) takes her eyes off the road to see the ponies in the pastures i pass along the road! here are a couple of new pictures of my pony-pals...

proverbs {paraphrased}

2012-02-16T11:13:00.000-08:00

proverbs 15:1

'...a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger'

when i respond in patience and humility, with a sweet-tempered tone of voice, to a comment made by someone else, whether that comment was laced with sarcasm, criticism, frustration or antagonism (which can sometimes be concealing hurt, pain or confusion), i am doing my part as a peace-maker to diffuse what could very easily become an otherwise explosive situation.
it stands to reason then, that if i react to remarks with a negative, sarcastic, impatient and otherwise high-and-mighty tone of voice, i'm sure to be doing my part to provoke an argument....and effectively tear down the other person, rather than build them up.

there's no place like home

2012-02-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

well, i'll start by apologizing for the lack of posts over the previous 3 weeks. in case you don't follow me on instagram (because if you did you'd already have been inundated with photos from our trip!) you maybe aren't aware that i've been in Europe with my family...Paris and London to be exact. it was a sort of 'last hurrah' family vacation of sorts, as our son, Solomon, will be getting married in June and every trip after that will either be with 3 people or 5...

i'll be posting a recap of sorts (via my previously posted instagram photos as well as some shots my daughter captured with her much-nicer-than-an-iphone-Nikon-camera) in the coming days.

but first, i wanted to share one of the big ah-ha lessons i learned, before life gets away from me and busyness sets in. again...

we are American. all four of us were born and raised in the US. we speak a certain way based on where we grew up and also, in part, on where we live now. having been raised in southern California, i suppose there are traces of so. cal lingo that remain, even though we live in Montana now, which doesn't seem to have much of an obvious accent. i'm sure we say 'like' alot as well as other californiaisms that set us apart and make our origin obvious.
but i must say, i've found that as soon as i spend time in places that DO have clear accents, i tend to start mimicking the cadence and inflections i hear. this is unintentional, seriously (although really fun). and Brian has, many times, said to me...(especially in Latin America) "you know, they can't understand you any better because you're speaking with an accent. you're still speaking English". this also happens quite regularly in New York and Texas. somebody help me.

with this in mind, i walked the streets of Paris and London; attempting to remain true to my home language, while still not appearing to be a tourist. and i found, that try as i might, my origin was obvious. there was no way that people (and there were A LOT of people everywhere...unlike Montana!) could here us and think we were from anywhere but the good ol' USA. and that got me thinking...

as a believer. a Jesus lover. a Christian. does my language give me away? does the content of my conversations betray my beliefs? i hope so. i hope people don't have to spend time guessing 'where i'm from'. i hope the fact that i spend time with Jesus is clearly communicated in what i say and how i say it.

12 in 2012 {February}

2012-01-31T16:38:00.000-08:00

Hyde Park, London

it's February 1... time for a new memory verse!
my verse for this month is a reflection of the fact that I get easily distracted. I admit it. I'm probably one of those people that's been living with undiagnosed ADHD, for years!!
I do love immersing myself in a project but I usually struggle to stay focused on said project, and keep clear of doing too much at once. the jury is out on whether or not multi-tasking is a benefit or detriment to your brain. does it help or hurt your ability to function. does it enhance or hinder ones level of productivity? I suppose it depends on you and your own personal preferences. except when it comes to sin...
in our relationship/life with Christ distraction comes at a steep price and with severe consequences. a lack of focus can mean a painful falter, a bad fall, a serious failure.
keeping your eyes on Jesus and a guard about your heart are imperative. letting your guard down, allowing your foot to stray, taking your eyes away from the road WILL cost you.

the passage of scripture I've chosen to memorize this month is a reminder to me of the importance of focus:

crystal;whitefish; Proverbs 4:25-27 (NLT)
"look straight ahead and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
mark out a straight path for your feet;stay on the safe path.
don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil"

can't wait to see your verse! post it here!!
even if you're choosing to memorize the same verse as me,
type it out here in the comments section...

office space

2012-01-21T10:03:00.000-08:00

after my son moved out i eased the pain of my broken-heart {i'm being slightly mellow-dramatic here, although i do miss him} by turning his bedroom into my office! you can read all about the transformation here...

proverbs {paraphrased}

2012-01-19T14:37:00.002-08:00

p r o v e r b s 4:23

'...above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.'

no matter what...whether storms come, struggles arise, circumstances change, life gets crazy, today seems unbearable or tomorrow insurmountable... no matter what he says, she said, or they do...
protect the state of your heart. do not neglect it. put all your care into the keeping of it.
knowing that everything you say or do is a reflection of what is in your heart.
whatever is in your heart will overflow into the moments and days of your life...from conversations to conflicts, relationships to reactions and responses, decisions and what you do, to what you see and what you say. it all comes down to what is hidden in your heart.

practice makes perfect

2012-01-18T17:24:00.000-08:00

when i was growing up, my sisters and i were ~~forced~~ allowed to take piano lessons. our mother was {still is} a remarkable musician. she has a true gift of musical understanding as well as execution and performance. she saw in us a fraction of the potential to become musically-inclined {although can you actually BECOME musically inclined? i don't know... i think you either are or you're not. anyway...i digress}, and she steered us in that direction. granted, we most definitely were musically-inclined, but to varying degrees. i gravitated more toward my voice being my instrument, rather than the piano {or flute or clarinet, both of which i played for a time...a very short time} as it just came easier for me. the piano was always a bit of a struggle. yes, i admit, largely due to distractions that came in the form of cheerleading and boys. but the struggle, i always felt, went deeper than that. i still believe that i do not possess the same gift that my mom does. but it's also become clear to me that a huge part of my failure as a pianist was due to lack of practice.

yep. turns out my mom was right. oh the drop-dead, drag-out fights we had over practicing!!!
i always wanted to do something else...like sing in my room. it was difficult for me to concentrate at the piano because it was, well, hard. and like lots of kids, when the going got tough...i just wanted to get going! but of course... now i wish i would've practiced.

my daughter began playing the guitar when we moved to Montana 5 1/2 years ago. she had taken piano lessons up until that point and very much wanted to quit. i was so torn between relating to her based on my feelings as a kid her age {knowing exactly how she felt} and my feelings as a parent {and someone filled with regret over having not put in the practice time as a kid}. so i compromised. i made a deal. i allowed her to stop taking piano if she'd choose a different instrument to take it's place. she chose guitar and excelled beyond our expectations. it's been truly remarkable watching this gift unfold in her hands.

i have watched her learn and grow and it has dramatically inspired me. so much so... that i started guitar lessons. yes...at 42 i'm a new student. i hate it. and i love it. let me tell you...it is extremely difficult for me to add yet another item to my to do list. and i admit that for the first 3 weeks, i barely practiced. mostly because of my 'lack-of-time' excuse. but also because...it's hard. it hurts! and it does not come easily for me. however, i had a revelation this last week. i sat down with my guitar {which is pictured above. it's very pretty and sparkly which makes me want to play it more... it's an 80's re-issue of a 50's Gretsch Silver Jet} and my lesson book and actually, truly, practiced. and i found that some stuff that hadn't made sense previously, came alive and a light clicked on in my head. i highly doubt that i'll be hauling my fancy guitar along with me on planes anytime soon... but i actually believe that it's not outside the realm of possibility anymore. the fact that i just might play along with my band someday both terrifies and excites me. can i do it? this late in the game? why not?

as i began really experiencing this new found revelation...that practicing actually works... i saw a very clear spiritual analogy. the dictionary declares practice to mean: 'repeated performance or systematic exercise for the purpose of acquiring skill or proficiency'. in other words, whatever we practice...we become good at. so, if i am consistently practicing dis-obedience, it stands to reason that i become very good at disobeying. if i consistently practice sinning, i become quite good at that. if i allow bitterness, jealousy, irritation, impatience and anger to go unchecked and become a regular part of my attitude...it will easily become my character and i'll get real good at judging, hating, gossiping and yelling. the flip side is also true: whatever i do not put time into, or practice, i will not grow in or get better at. for example, if i do not nurture a relationship, chances are it will suffer or cease to exist. if i do not put in the time to study the Word, pray, listen, read, learn... my mind will become stagnant and dormant. i run the risk of remaining simple-minded and immature.

the Bible says, in 1 John 3:9 that 'those who've been born into Gods family DO NOT make a PRACTICE of sinning'. what on Earth are we doing, then? why would we, who've been redeemed, rescued and restored, revert back to old behavior? may it not be said of us!!! can we, together, commit to PRACTICE holiness, goodness, obedience and love? let us, like 1 Timothy 6:11 says..."pursue righteousness and a godly life. along with faith, love, perseverance and gentleness" {my verse for this month}.

there is no such thing as true perfection this side of Heaven, but i know that we can become really good at whatever we put our minds...and time... into. let's say, with the Psalmist, "give me understanding and i will obey your instructions; i will put them into practice with all my heart." {Psalm 119:34}

i am Christ's

2012-01-12T11:34:00.000-08:00

i read this passage this morning and it convicted, moved, stirred, inspired and encouraged me. let it do the same for your heart today...

spurgeon: morning and evening

1 corinthians 3:23

ye are Christ’s

ye are Christ’s. you are His by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son;

His by His bloody purchase, for He counted down the price for your redemption; His by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to Him;

His by relation, for you are named by His name and made one of His brethren and joint-heirs.

labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, friend, the bride of Jesus

when tempted to sin, reply, “i cannot do this great wickedness, for i am Christ’s”. immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin.

when wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ’s and touch it not.

are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? stand fast in the evil day! remembering that you are Christ’s.

are you placed where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? rise to the work with all your powers! and when the sweat stands upon your brow and you are tempted to loiter, cry, “no! i cannot stop for i am Christ’s! if i were not purchased by blood, i might be like Issachar, crouching between two burdens; but i am Christ’s and cannot loiter”.

when the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply, “thy music cannot charm me, i am Christ’s”

when the cause of God invites thee...give thyself to it.

when the poor require thee...give thy goods and thyself away, for thou art Christ’s

never belie thy profession

be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian,

whose speech is like the Nazarene,

whose conduct and conversation are so redolent of Heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Saviour’s, recognizing in you His features of love and His countenance of holiness.

“i am Roman!” was of old a reason for integrity;

far more, then, let it be your argument for holiness,

“i am Christ’s”

my life as a dog

2012-01-09T18:23:00.000-08:00

my dogs are funny. and i'm more like them than i care to admit...
read more here...

proverbs {paraphrased}

2012-01-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

p r o v e r b s 19:15

'slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will suffer hunger'

when you dilly-dally around all day, not doing what needs to be done, it wears you out and makes you feel sluggish...even though you didn't actually accomplish anything.
a person that engages in do-nothing nonsense will inevitably become ineffective and dormant, not growing, producing or becoming what they are meant to. there are choices to be made here....

12 in 2012

2012-01-01T00:34:00.001-08:00

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R !

another year. another chance. another try.

new goals. new dreams. new seasons.

as i contemplate and call to mind all this past year has held, i'm giving weight to my thoughts about where i failed....and how i can learn from my mistakes. a somber sentiment perhaps...but only at first glance.

truly, i believe there is joy in getting up, pressing on, pressing in and pursuing (my word for the year!). and aren't lessons learned in the trenches, valleys, struggles and skirmishes of life? often our eyes are opened only when we hit our head hard enough on the ground after we've been knocked down. too much? i don't know, i love a good action film/story and most of the time victory only comes after a couple of losses. the win seems sweeter when failure is familiar.

one of the goals i set for myself in 2011 was REMEMBER. that was the word that, for me, meant memorizing scripture each month along with Beth Moore...and thousands of other women across the country. she encouraged us to choose and memorize 2 verses each month, posting them on her blog on the 1st and the 15th. i can't say that i actually posted mine every time, but i did keep both a written record, as well as a digital one, of all of my verses. i share this with you for 3 reasons.

one: because i began this post talking about failures and mistakes, and i wanted to also mention the importance of learning from our victories and accomplishments... the fact that finishing well, achieving a goal, actually doing something you weren't sure you could do... is a HUGE motivation toward future efforts.

two: because there is no better safeguard against sin (failing/falling) than committing scripture to memory, hiding the WORD in our hearts, letting the TRUTH be the light onto our path. it will be a salve to our wounded souls, a healing oil for our broken hearts, the stone in our slingshot, an arsenal of ammo for our weary flesh... we cannot survive, let alone win, without it. and next time we come face to face with failure, well, we'll have protection.

three: i want to do it again. with you! do you want to join me??

so here is what we'll do, together.

on the 1st of every month, i'll post my verse for the month here.

you'll comment right here on the blog (not on facebook, or twitter) with your first name, city, verse (and where it's found) and what version of the Bible you used. there really aren't any rules (other than

please, lets not use this as a commentary or comment space)

don't feel like you have to memorize the same verse as me...although, of course, you're welcome to! let God speak to you where you're at, and i know he'll inspire others through you

as you allow him to inspire you.

and by the end of 2012 we will have memorized 12 verses!!

so....as TODAY is the first day of not only a new month, but a new year, here is my verse for the month of January...

Crystal, Whitefish, '...PURSUE righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.' 1 Timothy 6:11 {NLT}

with anticipation of great things this year...

crystal

become who you were born to be

2011-12-27T14:37:00.000-08:00

there are 2 kinds of people in this world. those who love LOTR, and those that don't. i fall into the first category. for those of you who fall into the second, LOTR stands for Lord of the Rings, the J.R.R Tolkien masterpiece that has captured the hearts and imaginations of story lovers for decades.

i will take this time to confess: i have only read the Hobbit. i have not read the other books. i'm embarrassed to say that. (however, it is one of the {many} things i plan to do this coming year. )
in spite of this fact, i still consider myself a die-hard LOTR fan. i've fallen in love with the story and the characters, to the point where the lessons and parables therein translate into life and reality. (nerd. i know)

case in point: on Christmas night we watched Return of The King, the final installment of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. (the extended version, for the record). by way of background information, for those of you that are not super-fans, at this point in time Middle Earth is enraged in a massive battle with little hope of survival or peace. the 'good guys' are on the verge of defeat. they are mustering strength and courage in spite of their certain doom, and fighting fear as best they can.

hope comes in the form of a man and a sword. the man, Aragorn, the heir to the throne of Gondor. this would-be-King has been reluctant, almost rebellious, to take his rightful place on the throne. maybe he was overly humble, perhaps under confident, possibly fearful or full of doubt...whatever the case, he chose to stay a step removed from his right as the man-in-charge. until, one night, in the eleventh hour, he was reminded of who he was and given the Sword with which he would fight and give hope to all men.

"put aside the ranger, become who you were born to be"

the story goes so much deeper than what i've shared, but hopefully you get the general idea. when the film was over and we went to bed, i couldn't help remembering that line. "...become who you were born to be." it got me thinking about new years resolutions and calling and purpose. where does God want us? are we where we are supposed to be? how do we know? more specifically i began contemplating the idea of rebellion, and disobedience. how many of us confidently step into and walk worthy of the call of the Lord on our lives? how many more, like Aragorn, steer clear of our calling. hold back, keep quiet.

perhaps as we approach yet another new year...and yet another new beginning and second chance...we need to remember who we are! we need to be reminded that we are, indeed, heirs!!! Romans 8:17 says that 'since we are His (God's) children, we are his heirs'!! we have a calling to fulfill. a purpose to pursue. don't let distractions or doubt keep you from 'becoming who you were born to be'.

choose now to fight... i'm not being melodramatic here, i'm serious. we live in an age when our survival, our peace, depends on our choices to respond in obedience to the call of God. i encourage you to search the scriptures, get on your knees, be still and listen. let God speak to your heart. and be prepared to take action.

eighteen

2011-12-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

my son turns 18 today. i don't know what else to say.

except... when did the little guy on the left become the big guy on the right?

i'm overwhelmed with gratitude to God for allowing me the privilege of mothering this boy. he is an exceptional person. a fun and loving brother. a talented musician. a true believer. a real Jesus follower. a remarkable young man. and way cooler than me.

we have traveled together. worked together. played together. i'm considerably blessed to watch as God raises up this next generation of worshipers...and my kid is one of them! i'm really not sure where he has learned all of the things he's learned...i'd like to take a little credit. but seriously, only a very little bit. he has come into his own, on his own, in so many ways. he impresses me. he inspires me.

as we move into the future and this season of life changes, my prayer life becomes different. it's not more or less important to pray for him, just new. different. this transition is difficult, i won't lie. as everyone will tell you, it feels as though it's happening overnight. where did the time go? and yet God is watchful and knows. and cares. and i trust HIM. letting go is a bit easier knowing that i'm letting him go into the hands of the one who made him.

did i mention he's engaged? in only 6 months he'll be a married {young} man! Brian and i married when i was 19 so....almost 23 years later it's a little silly for me to say "you're too young". we adore his fiance {Bethanne} and are truly thrilled as we face the future.

18. a new chapter in all of our lives. we couldn't be more proud of this kid.

happy and healthy new year

2011-12-14T13:42:00.000-08:00

only 18 days until 2012!!! are you ready??
here are some tips/thoughts on making resolutions and goals in the coming year...
read more

Niagra Falls

2011-12-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

on our way back over the border from Canada into the States (see photo recap here), we chose to take a little detour in order to see Niagara Falls. it was close to midnight, and it was very cold and dark, so actually seeing the falls proved difficult. the mist from the falls chilled the air and the moisture seemed to seep into my skin. even by Montana standards, the weather outside was frightful!

if you haven't been to the falls before, it's definitely worth the trip. the power of the falls themselves is overwhelming, almost impossible to describe. i think because the experience is not just in the seeing, but in the feeling. what you physically feel in your body when you are that close to that much power. we parked a little ways away, as, since it was so dark, we couldn't really see where the falls were, at first. we walked along the path that followed the Niagara River and in the moonlight the water seemed to flow along gently and unhurried. and then, the mood of the water changed. it began to churn and swirl. rush and push.

i initially stood a safe distance away from the railing, yet i still felt a drop in my stomach and a rise in my heart rate. i ventured a few steps closer and as i did i held my breath. i found myself right on the edge of the falls. still behind the railing, of course, but directly above the point at which the water RUSHES over the edge, dropping a whopping 170+ feet! though it was dark, the white caps of the water were visible and the sound almost deafening! i allowed myself a {brief} moment of imagining something...someone...going over the edge. i shuddered.

later that night, as i finally checked into a hotel and began to unwind, i considered what i'd seen and felt. i was reminded of 2 Peter 1:3-11...

"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

just like the Niagara River ambles slowly along for miles before the water crashes down into what seems like oblivion, our lives and our journey allow time for contemplation. for thought. for choices. we don't just fall into sin and stupidness without some warning. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that God will not allow the temptation to be more than we can stand. he'll provide a way out. he'll give warnings, cautions, signals. don't ignore them! falling away, over the edge, giving in, is a choice. temptation is something common to all of us. none of us are exempt from the wiles, schemes and scams of the enemy. the sons and daughters of holy men have fallen. the mothers and fathers of so-called saints have fallen. don't get so comfortable in the flow of life that you aren't aware of the falls. take the time now to grow in the knowledge of our God and apply the precious promises he provides so that when you should see the falls approaching, you'll be of the right mind to jump, flee, run, take the way out.

proverbs {paraphrased}

2011-12-08T18:59:00.000-08:00

{Solomon, 10 & Izzi, 8}
2004

we are currently in our 7th year of homeschooling. my son, Solomon graduated last year. my daughter, Isabella {Izzi}, has another year...at least:). at this point (with Solomon turning 18 in 2 weeks and getting married in 7 months) i'm holding on with all i've got!!! we've tried different methods and done different things. we have basically been a homeschool smorgasbord. and we've had a tremendous amount of fun and adventure doing so!

early on, one of the assignments i gave to my kids was to take a Proverb each week and paraphrase it. i was always pleasantly surprised at the various ways they interpreted their verse(s). their interpretation and paraphrase encouraged me to do the same, and i have found fresh meaning in the scripture as i put it in my own words and squeezed the truth out of it.

that said, i've decided to add this to my blog as a regular feature. i hope you'll return frequently to peruse the paraphrased proverb of the week, but i also would encourage you to do the same. pick up a pen...or sit down at your computer... and let the Word of God speak new, fresh truths to your heart! after all....

{Proverbs 2} says:
that if we seek after wisdom,
spend our time on things that will make us smarter, deeper thinkers,
put our minds to work on things that will grow our relationship with Jesus stronger...
if we consider such things more valuable than all the money in the world,
if we quit wasting time on mindless games and pointless endeavors,
then...a light will go on in our minds!!!
we will gain understanding
we will gain wisdom
we. will. get it
because life flows from God. knowledge, understanding, wisdom.
they are all extensions of who HE is. only by knowing him, seeking after him,
PURSUING him, are we ever truly able to see

giving thanks: 2011

2011-12-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

1. my husband, Brian Ray, brined our turkey for 36 hours prior to our meal and then roasted it to absolute perfection! 2. pumpkin pie made by miss Carrie Rowe 3. my place settings were comprised of Lenox china (received as wedding gifts in 1989) and my collection of Stratford Stage, by Royal Staffordshire, china that i've been piecing together as i find it since we moved to Montana. 4. cups set aside for hot apple cider 5. chocolate mousse and homemade whipped cream made my daughter, izzi ray 6. digging in 7. beautiful rustic wood cake stand, made for me by my dear friend Leah 8. green salad with cornbread croutons and sugared pecans....and jalapeno's 9. gluten free rosemary + olive oil drop biscuits made by my friend/neighbor Ashley 10. homemade apple pies, again made by izzi 11. lemon tart with homemade crust and meringue, thanks to our resident master chef (husband!) 12. spiral ham prepared by Brian Ray (with secret ingredients honey and red pepper flakes)

thankful for family and friends

2011-11-22T15:04:00.000-08:00

as Thanksgiving is upon us i was reminded this morning of how truly thankful i am for my family and friends. my friend Kelli and her husband Reed were going to spend Thanksgiving with us, however they decided to take a road trip to be with family instead. this last year has held some difficult burdens for Kelli to bear, including the loss of both a sister and father. difficult indeed. so being with family is well, more than understandable...it's priceless.

{Kelli + me, 4th of July}

when Kelli told me they weren't going to be with us on Thanksgiving, but with her sisters and mom instead, i have to admit... i got a little jealous. i was wishing i could be with my sisters and parents too. we've lived apart for quite some time, so it's nothing new to not be together on holidays. but time is so short. our precious moments together are few and far between and kids grow so fast! i just want to encourage you to love and enjoy your time together with family!

sisters {l-r, me (eldest), Cassandra (youngest), Candace (middle)}

i was blessed to get to spend a weekend with my sisters recently! i love that we are FRIENDS!! we had such a great time talking, running, laughing, eating{and taking pictures of ourselves}. we live many miles apart and though we won't be together for the holidays this year, i'm grateful for the times we ARE able to spend together.

so this Thanksgiving, will you do something for me? will you at least CALL family!! don't just email or text them! hearing the voice, if not getting to see the face, of a loved one means so much. finally, i want to just say how much i LOVE my daughter and my girl-friends!!! they are like sisters to me and i'm blessed to call them friends!

tattooed on your heart

2011-11-16T15:33:00.000-08:00

tattoos. a controversial subject. my husband has 2 armfuls of them, a process that began {way} back when he was 18. i had my first tattoo done when i was 22. i'd been married for 3 years and my husband, Brian, wisely made me wait, even though i'd been saying i wanted one for a while. he said..."when you can't sleep because you want one so bad...and when you know EXACTLY what you want, we'll talk". it seemed more like fatherly advice, rather than husbandly, to me at the time. but since i was, in fact, married at 19 and he is 6 years older than me...well, it was appropriate.

Sid's Tattoo Parlor, Tustin, CA

now here we are, 20 years later, and at 42, i got my 7th tattoo. i wasn't really planning it {ie; losing sleep over it} however when you live, uh, lets say on the outskirts of a big city, and the opportunity presents itself to get in some ink-time with a well-respected artist...you jump at it! my daughter called me out on the last-minute decision...."wait a minute...you always said you should lose sleep over....", "yes", i said,"you should. i still believe that. however, once you have a few tattoos already... and when you live where we live... you just always have a few ideas bouncing around in the back of your head just in case". plus, i had an idea of what i wanted...

that hurt a little bit

when i was growing up in Anaheim, CA, my dad pastored Anaheim First Church of the Nazarene. every Sunday...and i do mean every single one...he opened the morning service with this verse:

"and God has not given us a spirit of fear. but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." {2 Tim.1:7}

one day i asked him why he quoted that particular verse every week. he replied that it was his life verse. a verse of scripture that God had used in the process of calling my dad into ministry. at a time in his life when he felt incapable, afraid and unsure, God used those words to remind him who he was in Christ. and that in Christ, through Him, he could accomplish what he'd been called to.

that verse became my verse. it has affected my life in countless ways, on numerous occasions. it has helped me remember that my calling is secure in Jesus, even when i feel like "he couldn't have meant this job for me". it has held me safe and sound along the path of ministry that can sometimes get rocky and lonely and steep. i'm grateful to my dad for listening to the Lords calling and acting on it. i'm grateful to God for the Word of Truth that guides and protects.

so, i called my dad the day i got this verse tattooed on my arm. i have to admit... i was a little nervous to tell him. i mean, my parents haven't been all that thrilled over the years with Brian's and my, uh, artwork. and even though i'm a wife and mother...and adult for pete's sake!... i was still a bit apprehensive about calling him. but, i knew he'd see it eventually, and i didn't want him to hear it from someone else. so i dialed his number, and conjured up a happy tone in my voice as i said..."guess what i got?! a new tattoo!! but don't worry, you'll like it. it's our verse!" and i will remember his response forever. he actually laughed a little, and then said,

"hey, as long as that truth is tattooed on your heart, i'm ok with it."

and the winners are...

2011-11-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

thank's to all of you that tweeted and facebooked about Kauzbots last week during our giveaway!! they are a very special company doing a very unique thing. even if you didn't win, i hope you'll remember them and consider purchasing a bot {or 2} for friends and family this holiday season!

ok.... i'm now going to reveal the 2 winners of our Kauzbots giveaway....

our twitter winner is: Milcah of Momma's Reviews

and our facebook winner is: April Ellis-Postell

hooray!!! and congratulations!!
if you both would email me your mailing addresses
{to wesley@metro1music.com}
i will make sure that your Kauzbot goes out ASAP!

thanks again everyone for participating!!!

Kauzbots are Kool....Giveaway!!!!!

2011-10-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

{Karthy(l), supporting autism; Karson(r), supporting music for a cure}

hooray for Kauzbots!!!! i'm so excited to not only introduce you to Kauzbots, but to offer you a chance to WIN one for yourself!!!! this is a fabulous southern california based company started and run by a friend of mine (check out their website and story here). i've purchased a couple of BOTS already for friends because i absolutely could not resist, (you can read my interview with Keith the Kauzbot Kreator here) and i just know you're going to want one for each of the little...or big...people in your life as well.

SO....as this is my very first giveaway here on the blog, i'll explain exactly what you need to do in order to enter. just follow these 2 easy steps:

1. copy and paste this quote on your twitter or facebook page:

introducing Kauzbots! they are krazy-kool robot toys that support kauses in a unique way www.kauzbots.com @thecrystallewis #kauzbots

2. in order to let me know that you did indeed tweet or post this, (and effectively be entered into the giveaway) i've included @thecrystallewis and #kauzbots above, but if you don't have twitter and are posting to your facebook page, then you don't need to add @thecrystallewis or #kauzbots, simply comment right here on my blog telling me you did it! and include a link to the post

i'm going to be giving away TWO Kauzbots! (Shown in the photo above) one for entries via twitter and one for entries via facebook. (one entry per person please)

i'll announce the winners on Friday, November 4.
ready.....
set.....
GO!!!!

good for the bones

2011-10-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

i'm in awe of the way scripture is living and active...always fitting, never fails. today i'm mulling over Proverbs 3. i've read it countless times over the years, but for some reason today it seems new and fresh. years ago i memorized prov. 3:5, as many of you probably did as well, and it went something like this...

'trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.'

here it is in the amplified version:

'lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. in all your ways know, recognize and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.'

i know its a little wordy....but i LOVE it!! for me, it wrings out the meaning, expressing fully the feeling and emotion in it. sometimes i need that extra added umph. and for today...the next 2 verses really hit home.

'be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn entirely away from evil. it shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.'

another version says: '...it will be health to thy navel, marrow to thy bones'
in other words...good for your gut!

oh, that we would listen and obey! why do we forsake these precious promises of emotional and physical health! i don't know about you, but my nerves can get awfully frazzled and frayed by the end of a day. and my body can feel weak and my bones brittle at times. these verses feel like survival and life to me. and all i have to do to receive these promises is to:
1. not be a know it all
2. acknowledge God as God, honor and worship him
3. have nothing to do with evil. actually the Bible says to flee from it. as in, turn my back on it and run!

flourish, don't flounder

2011-10-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

this past week we hosted my parents here in Montana for some fun family time, as well as a chance to record my mom...singing and playing the piano. it was a spectacular time together. of course, we recorded more than we intended...ie; my dad sang on a couple songs, izzi and i both joined in more than once, we even had props going at one point...all was filmed as well! it was a sheer joy and pleasure to hear my mom as she was clearly in her element. she is a genius player, modulating to any and all keys at will, no written music neccesary. its more than a little intimidating, really.

on the morning of their departure, i was able to spend some time in the Word prior to breakfast and the busyness that packing up and hitting the road demands. i'm reading through the Psalms and Proverbs continually and the Psalm that i read that day was Psalm 92. you can imagine my surprise and delight as i read verses 12-15...

"the righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. they will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming 'the LORD is upright! He is my ROCK!, and there is no wickedness in Him.'

as i spent time with my parents, i was reminded yet again (not like i've ever forgotten) what faithful lives of service to the Lord they've lived. i am overwhelmingly blessed to have been raised by them. i was moved by this passage for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that, in spite of massive life changes over the last couple of years (mainly my father stepping down as senior pastor after having served as such in a handful of churches for nearly 50 years!!) they have managed to FLOURISH spiritually. they are a living breathing example of these verses to the rest of us...who are not far behind!!

we have a choice, you know. to flourish or flounder. we can make choices in our lives that will inevitably lead down one road, or another. personally, i like what Psalm 1 says...

*don't get advice from people that don't know God

*don't hang out and spend every waking minute with people that don't believe Jesus and love him

*don't sit around and listen to fools talk nonsense

instead...

*read the Word of God

*memorize the Word of God

*think about the Word of God

and then...

*you will be like a tree that gets plenty of water for its roots

*you will grow

*you will 'bear fruit'

*you will be like the tree in Psalm 92 and STILL bear fruit when you're old!

i'm eternally grateful for the example my parents have set for me... literally.

birthday blessings

2011-09-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

so my birthday was this past week. you have to know something... i. love. birthdays. well, celebrations of any kind, really. i like dressing up, i like making other people dress up. i just think parties are fun!!
this year i am having a belated co-celebration/collaboration with another girlfriend whose birthday is close to mine. we were born in the same year, as well as the same month, which, i don't know, i think brings a heightened sense of camaraderie.

one of the reasons for the delay in celebration was the fact that i was 'working' on my birthday this year. since i now share the day of my birth with a day of national disaster, 9/11, it's just the way it goes. and i must say that i was SO honored to be a part of the 9/11 10 year anniversary concert/event in Rancho Santa Fe, CA at Horizon Christian Fellowship. i love the people, pastor and purpose of that place!

on monday, as i began my journey home, i began to check my email and facebook and listen to voicemails. i found an absolutely astounding amount of messages from friends, fans and family that literally brought me to tears. i was...i am...totally overwhelmed by the encouragement and love i received.

i just started a study in the book of Colossians. the very first lesson takes a look at Pauls encouragement of the believers in Colossae. he started out building them up, telling them that he'd been praying for them, expressing his approval of their faith and love toward others. that is what so many of my friends and family did for me! built me up! loved me, even from a distance. i want to be that kind of friend. i want to be a diligent encourager. seeing the good, edifying, building up, praying with, loving. knowing that we can all benefit from a sweet word.

Proverbs 16:24 'kind words are like honey--sweet to the soul, healthy for the body'

this was my 40th bday: 80's prom

all day long

2011-09-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

the first single from plain and simple is 'all day long'. it's based on Psalm 25, specifically verses 4 and 5 which say:

'...Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.'

i was brought to this realization one day as i felt particularly needy. i just seemed to struggle from hour to hour, each 'season' of my day {morning/afternoon/evening} brought a new frustration, realization, irritation, fear...an uphill battle at every turn. i don't remember if it was that morning, or the next, that i read Psalm 25. I was quickly reminded that my hope and trust in the Lord is something that has to be renewed... ALL DAY LONG! and that his mercies are new every morning! that he is ABLE and WILLING to provide and protect at every turn.

the song starts out:

'in the morning, before my feet hit the ground, before the cares of the day creep in and crowd out your voice, i remember the promise i've found to be true and all day long my hope is in you'.

i have learned...ok, i'm still learning... that it is enormously important to start my day with Jesus. not with Facebook. not with email. not with Twitter. with Jesus. HIS words are far more valuable to me than any others, and yet all too often i get caught up in what the world has to say to me first thing in the morning, rather than seeking out Gods word{s} for me for that day. so, what i like to try to do is grab my phone, before i even put my feet on the ground, open up my Bible app, and read a Psalm or Proverb. i like reading the corresponding Proverb to that day's date. {as there are 31 of them, its kind of a simple place to start} i use my phone as my alarm clock so it's right next to my bed when i wake up.

i truly believe that this first step helps to strengthen and remind me of Gods promises throughout the rest of the day. its true, we may encounter frustrations, realizations, irritations, and fears, but it's also true that our battle is not against flesh and blood {Ephesians 6:12}... and we have direct access to the weapons with which we can fight and win the battle.

'My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.' {Psalm 25:15}

no wonder her name was Angela...

2011-08-29T19:08:00.000-07:00

this past weekend i flew to CA to sing at a memorial service for a precious friend. she fought the dreaded battle with cancer for 13 years. it began as breast cancer, and ultimately spread to her brain, among other places in her body. it came and went. and came back and went away again. and came back with a vengeance.
she was the mother of 5 beautiful boys. home schooled them all! she was a huge reason for our family choosing to homeschool. i loved this lady.
once again, i was reminded of the brevity of flesh, and inspired by her legacy to live a better life.
one of her boys, as he spoke during her memorial service, said...'no wonder her name was Angela. she really was an angel'

i am inspired to:
love my family deeper...
do the things i keep putting off doing...
make time for friends...
spend time with Jesus...
pray. pray. pray.
live from an eternal perspective

i am reminded that this is not our home. that our time is limited here, but our time is limitless in Heaven.
i read this incredible devotion by Charles Spurgeon that puts it all in perspective...

"Yonder in the better world, the inhabitants are independent of all creature comforts. They have no need of raiment; their white robes never wear out, neither shall they ever be defiled. They need no medicine to heal diseases, "for the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick." They need no sleep to recruit their frames-they rest not day nor night, but unweariedly praise him in his temple. They need no social relationship to minister comfort, and whatever happiness they may derive from association with their fellows is not essential to their bliss, for their Lord's society is enough for their largest desires. They need no teachers there; they doubtless commune with one another concerning the things of God, but they do not require this by way of instruction; they shall all be taught of the Lord. Ours are the alms at the king's gate, but they feast at the table itself. Here we lean upon the friendly arm, but there they lean upon their Beloved and upon him alone. Here we must have the help of our companions, but there they find all they want in Christ Jesus. Here we look to the meat which perisheth, and to the raiment which decays before the moth, but there they find everything in God. We use the bucket to fetch us water from the well, but there they drink from the fountain head, and put their lips down to the living water. Here the angels bring us blessings, but we shall want no messengers from heaven then. They shall need no Gabriels there to bring their love-notes from God, for there they shall see him face to face. Oh! what a blessed time shall that be when we shall have mounted above every second cause and shall rest upon the bare arm of God! What a glorious hour when God, and not his creatures; the Lord, and not his works, shall be our daily joy! Our souls shall then have attained the perfection of bliss."

He knows my name

2011-08-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 49:16 "See? I have written your name on the palms of my hands"

some years back my husband, Brian, and i had our wedding rings tattooed on. we do also have actual rings, but we liked the idea of the obvious statement. the can't-break-it, can't-lose-it permanence of a tattoo. my fingers are pretty small, so i have a 'B' for brian on my finger. but his finger is big enough to have my whole name. and i see it there, on his hand, everyday. a regular reminder of where i belong. of whose i am. and though my name is written on Brian's finger, not his palm, it still reminded me of Is. 49.

in Isaiah 49, God is desperately trying to reassure his people that they are His!! that HE is there!!
(v13): Sing for joy, O heavens!

Rejoice, O earth!
Burst into song, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

but they doubt and worry and say: (v14)
"The Lord has deserted us;
the Lord has forgotten us"

but that's not true!!! God has not forgotten! he cannot!! see what He says then in verse 19...
"See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. "

This is true for YOU today!! God the Father, Savior, Redeemer...knows YOUR name. He has it written on his hands. you are His!

Psalm 19

2011-08-02T10:34:00.001-07:00

The Law of the Lord is:

perfect.........it revives the soul
trustworthy.........it makes the simple wise
right.......it gives joy to the heart
radiant.......it gives light to the eyes
pure........it endures forever
sure........it is more precious than any worldly thing
in keeping it there is a GREAT REWARD

what a friend...

2011-08-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

i admit, sometimes when i sit down to have a quiet time alone with the Lord, i find myself at a loss. a loss for words, at times a loss for where to read in scripture, or what devotional book to read. sometimes i have a plan and all goes according to it. but other times, i feel stuck. there are even days when that feeling of 'stuck' keeps me from getting away with Him.

as i thought about this today, i was reminded of friendships that have felt this way. there have been times when i have put off getting together with girlfriends because it just didn't seem like there was anything specific to talk about. no plan. but i realize that in simply making...and keeping...a commitment to get together and hang out, amazing conversation transpires! beautiful, relationship-deepening dialogue takes place.

and so it is with my Jesus! truly my best friend. the one and only person i can share EVERYTHING with. my doubts and fears, my joys, my tears. and there is no judgement. there is no condemnation. only truth in correction, love in direction. enjoyment, me of Him and...revelation of revelations...HE of ME!!! i am SO grateful for a perfect friend that understands and DELIGHTS IN ME!! do you know that?? HE DELIGHTS IN YOU!!

Zephanahiah 3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delightin you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."

and so i take great delight in HIM!! and i am thankful for this 'friend that sticks closer than a brother' {proverbs 18:24} as, among other things, he is the perfect example of the kind of friend i want to be.

'what a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer. oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear. all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.'

journey

2011-07-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

life is a journey. it's not a let-me-just-get-where-i'm-going-and-be-done-with-it kind of thing. our final destination is of the utmost importance....but along the way we learn and grow and change and do, and that journey is invaluable. we can't get where we're going with out it. you could almost say life IS the journey! and so, with that in mind...the constant change and metamorphosis, learning and growing, the Isaiah 43:18/19 perspective... i'm launching a new blog. hopefully you'll find it to be a well organized place, easily navigable and full of information and inspiration. all of my previous blog posts will be here, just reorganized and categorized under the appropriate tabs/headings that you'll find at the top of the page. check out each section (tab/heading) to read the description of each one. i hope you'll enjoy it and you'll invite all your friends to join us here!!