ello everyone!

hey. its been awhile! im sorry!
things are always hectic. im so busy. and teenage life is filled with countless drama. but Jesus is here. and hes HUGE. and i can feel him. and it is wonderful. i had been having a lot of drama with josh lately and then i finally was like what am i doing? i cant fix this. but God sure can. so i prayed, and i told God i knew i couldnt do it, there was no way i could fix it, josh is way too stubborn, but You can. and like a few days later, BAM! out of nowhere, things with me and josh were improving greatly! its amazing. Hes amazing. the pastor, randy harling, at simpsonville, he said something a few sundays ago that i really liked. he said that it is a whole lot harder to build relationships up, than to tear them down. and it really is. its so easy to ruin a relationship with another person, but building it up, keeping it strong? it takes effort. on both friends parts. friendships take time and effort. we have to be taht way with all our friends, and most of all, we have to be that way with Jesus. we have to put effort in to have a relationship with him. we have to talk to him. think about it. how can you be friends with somebody you never talk too??? you cant. so think about that. how are you gunna better your relationships with your friends, and most of all, with your Lord?
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

Easter contata!

hello!
i went to simpsonville first baptists easter contata tonight. let me tell you, it was pretty much amazing. they put some much work into it and the orchestra was great. Joshua and Ricky did a really good job on trombone and saxophone. and the choir sang so pretty. and the skits, were awesome. the guy actually got up on a cross...it was so cool. but it just broke my heart to see him up there, to see my savior die. let me tell you, it made me think. Jesus died for us. he has to be the most selfless person out there. he gave his life for us, when we dont deserve it. we're so unworthy yet he loved us enough, to die for us. just so we could spend eternity with him. i think that is absolutely amazing.

so. i fell in love with this movie. August Rush. i think its the best movie ever.
ya'll should watch it.
i love y'all!
God Bless!!
- crystal jade

today...

hey y'all!
so westons been struggling lately, but i asked him how he was tonight, and he said amazing. this threw me, because hes been so depressed lately. but he told me that he finally found out how to fully trust God. and i think thats just amazing. i need to do that too. i fully trust him with some things, but there are areas in my life where i worry, and i shouldnt. i have to realize everything is going to be okay because Gods got it. hes here. his arms around me. watchin out for me. i just see how much weston has grown in Christ, and i think back to when he didnt believe at all...and its so amazing to see how much God can work in someones life. God literally uses wes to show me hes still here. when im loosing hope and feeling down, weston always comes with some amazing story about how Gods done something for him, and it reminds me that Gods here. God is here.
"God is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit" -Psalm 34:18.
i love that verse.
i love you Jesus!!
oh && if anyone has suggestions for a song candace & i should do for 5th sunday night sing,
leave them on a comment!
i love y'all!
- crystal jade

hello!!
so i wanna write about Solid rock friday. Coach Chaplin, our basketball coach, spoke. and it was pretty amazing. he talked about the team and how they didnt just play for basketball they played for God. he talked about how they had a guy come in and they would do a devotion 3 times a week...and i just thought that was AMAZING. a sports team, at a public school, playin for Jesus Christ??! thats so amazing. and it just made me really happy to know that the reason we did so well this season was b/c they didnt play for themselves.
also, i went to the band banquet last night. first of all i have some congrats...
CONGRATS TO MY LITTLE BROTHER! FOR WINNING OUTSTANDING 7th & 8th GRADER!
secondly,
CONGRATS TO MY GOOD FRIEND CHADLEY SCRUGGS!!! FOR WINNING OUTSTANDING JUNIOR!
i was also glad because mr freeland prayed before we ate and thanked God for everything, and it was nice.
well i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

hello!

hey y'all
its late. so this one wont be long. but im getting back into writing.
i'll be writing about different things lately, b/c im reading Leviticus, and its quite dry. haha.
i've been reading in Psalms periodically to pick me up. its really been helping. i found a couple really good verses, i'll put them on here tomorrow.
i love y'all!
God Bless!
-crystal jade

im back!

I know.
its been forever.
nobody probably checks this thing anymore.
things are difficult right now. im not going to lie. theres a lot of stuff goin on and just yeah.
but i want to share with y'all a song that picks me up :]

i dont know if i still have the strength to get up again
i dont know if i can face my own reflection
Jesus take this heart that feels so cold again
and make it new
i hold this hope inside
that you'll never leave me

when all around me starts to fall
and when my faith it seems so small
even in my darkest hour
i will believe

i dont know how i could turn my back
and walk away
all i really want is for your love to hold me
Jesus take this heart and make it whole again
i know you'll never leave me

when all around me starts to fall
and when my faith it seems so small
even in my darkest hour
i will believe
even if the sun begins to fall
even when i feel nothing at all
even if im all alone
i will believe.

its by this Christian band called Mainstay. they're amazing.
so, leave me some comments.
how is everyone?
i miss you all.
God Bless.
-crystal jade

hey everyone!

hey y'all!
i know its been awhile. and i must apologize but i have to be short tonight because i need to go memorize my speech for my exam on friday...4 pages...prayyy for meee. well lets see...updates...i got my liscense, FINALLY! exams couldnt be any more exhausting. they're awful. my new years resoloution this year was to read the entire bible, so im reading the entire bible this year :] i've been reading in Genesis. its very interesting. i like it a lot, meltdown is sooo soon. im excited. things with mitchell are still difficult, so please pray for that, because im not doing so well when it comes to us. nothing else really is new. just pray for my friend zach still b/c hes still not saved, but Jesus is workin' on him :] i know he isss.
well i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

our God is an awesome God :]

hey y'all.
its been awhile again. i know. things are busy. family was down for Christmas. which was good :] Happy Birthay Jesus :]]! so i wanted to tell y'all something. its pretty cool. i prayed this morning about how i want God to use me, and give e a chance to witness to a lost person. well my friend Zach is an atheist, and he decided to tell me about that today, and i got the chance to witness to him! it was soo amazing because i JUST prayed to God about how i wanted him to use me, and to give me the chance to witness to someone about how great he is, and he spoke through me to Zach today. im not sure how Zach is feeling, hes not ready yet, but the seed is planted, and if Jesus needs to speak through me more, im more than happy :] weston also got the chance to witness to Zach, and that was pretty cool. because weston used to be an atheist. so hes got a pretty good perspective on that sort of stuff.
so i just thought i'd share with y'all how God used me today :] it was pretty great.
i love y'all!
pray for Zach.
& pray for me.
God Bless!
- crystal jade

wednesdayy

hey y'all!
today...lets see. i got up, went to school...got made fun of by chadley, as usual. came home, went and gave evan [my 6 year old boogerman] his Christmas present & then it was off to church, where mitchell decided it would be amusing to hit me with a large ball multiple times and push the table into my head. gosh hes such a dork. but im glad hes feeling better. anyways, we finished watching the nativity story, which was really great. it makes me admire Joseph and Mary for what they had to endure. and to see our savior being born. even on a movie, it just made me think about how he was born, marked for death, born to die for us, for our sins. and how big of a sacrifice that really was. its pretty much amazing what he did for us. and so we really need to remember the real reason for Christmas. sure the giving and getting is great. but we have to remember Christmas is really all about celebrating the birth of our wonderful savior, Jesus Christ. who gave everything, including his own life, so that we might be saved. so just remember...Jesus is the real reason for the Christmas season!!
i love y'all
God Bless!
- crystal jade

tonightt

hey y'all.

i only have 5 minutes.

so i'll try to write more on this tomorrow.

but as for today, my teachers are trying to kill me. i had my portfolio due today, a DBQ in that same class due today, a speech due today AND a test on the great divorce by C.S. lewis. school is extremely stressful. haha. thank God for my wonderful friends like chadley & christopher who are helpin me get through it. haha. lemme tell y'all, prayer is powerful. and God is amazingg. just rem that :]

dakoda is telling me about mixin some weird candy with meat? this story ought to be quite interesting...

love y'all!

God Bless!

- crystal jade

long time no postt.

hey y'all!
i know. its been a LONGG time. i've been extremely stressed lately. and also extremely busy. i wasnt home one night this past week. i've got so much to get done for Christmas and then theres chruch & dance & mr walls huge project tied in with that...im so busy. today was the best day i've had in awhile. things have been really really difficult with mitchell and everything, so please, pray for me. but today church was good this morning, Eric preached, and did a GREAT job might i add. and then we went Christmas carrolling tonight, it was really fun. we saw mrs freya, it was great to see her. megan came over inbetween church and i hung out with her for awhile, shes like my sisterr. the first payment of meltdown as been made, so we have a good idea of whos going. its a pretty large group i think we've got 23 people? maybe 24. something like that. it should be fun. i stayed for the 11:00 service today too to listen to the Cantata, Randy did a greatt job. hes a great music director, you can really see the Lord working for him. and also speaking through Eric. and i wanna thank Steve & Boomer for doing sunday school and sunday nights, they're doing a great job. && Becca & Terry for helping out with youth band, they're doing a great job.
so anyways, whats been goin on with me lately?
well im stressed. but Jesus is right here helpin me through it all and i can feel him. and everythings going to be alright.
we get out wednesday. exams are right after Christmas
wall's portfolio is due tuesday, AHH.
i've been working on it for he last two weekends. and Chadley has half of mine at his house. goodness. haha. ill be happy when its over.
band is going good, dance is twice a week our first competition is less than two months away. again, AHH!
i am still reading my bible EVERY night. i just havent felt up to much writing lately. but you could totally feel Jesus all over the place today. it was amazing.
Eric talked about how we should act like its Christmas all the time, just not get into the giving and serving spirit at Christmas, but be like that everyday of our lives. and i thought that was a GREAT sermon. it was definently different than any other Christmas sermon im used to hearing and it was great to hear something new and exciting.
well i will try to post tomorrow.
im going to go watch the notebook, i think.
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade.

oh && pray for mitch. hes sick.

its been awhile

hey y'all!
i know, its been FOREVER. but things have been really difficult lately. still are. God is here though, and i can feel him. and i have faith. i just need y'all to pray for me. Eric preached a great sermon sunday night. and the praiseband did greatt tonight. 3 guitars, keyboard, & drums + the singers= yay we have a full band. im excited for sunday. i'll try to type a devotion tomorrow. yes i am still doing my devotions, i just havent really felt up to writing lately. but hopefully ill start back tomorrow. i would tonight, but i have a headache.
but ima talk about faith.
bad things happen. its inevitable. but they test our faith. i've had alot of trials lately, and i've been super depressed, but i realize that everything with be okay, b.c i have Jesus and he wants whats best. and if its meant to happen, Jesus will make it happen. so you just have to realize you HAVE to have faith.
Hebrews 11:1 says, "now faith is the substance of all things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"
it really is. i cant physically see Jesus, but hes here. and without faith, i have no hope. so faith, is what keeps me goin. faith in Jesus Christ. so i ask you...do you have faith in Jesus?
i love y'all
God Bless!
-crystal jade

blessings

hey y'all!
today was alright. thursdays arent ever that great. it was b-day, but it wasnt too awful. except for i totally FAILED my spanish quiz. and dance was alright, i learned this really cool new kick. now right now ima just write this then read my bible & then hopefully talk to mitchell. and maybe candace. i havent really got to talk to her today. this old lady whos SOOO sweet at lunch gave me&ash&candace a brownie today. shes so sweet. i just love her. we call her our grandma. haha.
so i did my devotion on blessings. God gives us many blessings, how should we respond to them? with honor and praise to God of course!
Exekiel 34:28 says, "I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessings." if we do Gods will and we follow his commandments, he will bless us greatly. here on earth, and in heaven. all we have to do is follow him.
Genesis 12:2-3 says, "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (NKJV) God tells Abram [Abraham] that he will bless his family and make a great nation out of them and without knowing everything Abraham just leaves and trusts God to bless him, we should all be like that. when God tells us he is going to bless us we shouldnt question it. we should just believe him. he will never break a promise. he always means what he says.
Psalm 145:8-9, "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." the Lord blesses everyone who accepts him. he is gracious, and he is compassionate towards everyone. he LOVES us. all we have to do is trust in him, and ask him to forgive us of our sins.
so count your blessings! because God has blessed you in many ways. and dont make it a secret! tell others!
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

bitterness

hey y'all!
wednesdays are always good. JESUS. church. friends. mitchell. :] haha
well anyway my devotion was on bitterness. bitterness can most def. get in the way of your relationship with God big time. theres no reason to just sit there and contemplate things that upset you. just let it go.
James 3:14-16 says, "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For wehre you have envy and selfishs ambition, there you find disorder and evil practice." biterness and grudges are NOT healthy things. and more importantly, they arent Godly things. we shouldnt envy others, or be selfish, and certainly shouldnt hold bitterness against others because those things are of the devil and they can put a rift between our relationship with God.
Proverbs 14:10 says, "The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy." (NKJV) nobody wants to be around a person with a bitter heart. bitter people are generally pessimistic and nobody wants to be around someone who has such a dreary outlook on life. holding grudges can not only put a rift between you and God but it can also put a rift between you and other people. so dont hold grudges. Remeber, holding a grdge is like letting someone live rent free in your brain...why would you want to continue to think about something that just makes you angry?? so dont!!
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

belief

hey y'all!
i havent been home for long. 30 minutes maybe. after school i had to work until it was time to go to band practice, where i couldnt lock the door so mitchell had to lock it fore me, haha. & then i went ot band practice & we're singing pretty awesome songs and then i got home, ate, and here i am. tuesdays are busy. just like every other day of the week.
so my devotion was on your beliefs. they're extremely important to who you are, and who you become.
2 Timothy 1:12 says, "That is why i am suffering as i am. Yet i am not ashamed, because i know who i have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what i have entrusted to him for that day." its important to be able to believe in people. just remember...no matter what you can ALWAYS believe in Jesus.
John 20:27 says, "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." God has never ever given us a reason to doubt him, and he never will. we just need to trust him, and believe him. he will always do what he says, he will always be with us. we just have to believe that hes there.
Matthew 8:13 says, "Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go! it will be done just as you believed it would.' and his servant was healed at that very hour." if we just believe what God says, and believe that he will answer our prayers when we pray for things, God will answer us. we will witness his amazing power, and how wonderful things can be if we just believe in Him!
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

hey y'all!

hey y'all!
i know im slackin' its just i've been SOOO busy lately. with church and school and dance & everything. i have been doing my devotions nightly, of course. i just havent really had time to write about them much and for that, im terribly sorry. i just got home from dance not too long ago. yesterday was greatt. i LOVE sundays. i went to church in the a.m. got to sing some awesome songs, heard a great message by rev. ponder then i went out to eat with the gilberts & then mitchell came over & then we went to his house and went fourwheelin' then we went back to chruch & went to mcdonalds with the youth. today was the normal monday at school, then i came home, made a smoothie for me & ricky & candace & then i talked to mitchell for awhile, went to dance, called mitch back, and now im waitin on him ta call me back b/c he was busy when i called and somewhere in there i've got to fit a shower. haha. tomorrow i've got to work until band practice. new job. its kind of exciting. i'll have money! haha
mk so i did a few good devotions.
since its pretty late
ima write about the one on the bible tonight, & do beliefs tomorrow or thursday.
The bible is a powerful tool that God gave us.
Matthew 5:6 says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." we need to hunger and thirst for Gods word. be in it every single day, studying. it will help us grow in our walk with God.
Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (KJV) it is powerful, and can help better than any weapon or anything. it can convict you, and it also will lead you down the path of righteousness. it helps you know right from wrong, and if your thoughts and intents are in Gods best intrest. so stay in Gods Word, its need to keep your thoughts and intents pure and to lead you down the path God has laid out for you.
John 14:23 says, "Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." if we love Jesus, and have truly accepted him to come into our hearts, we will hunger for his word. if we truly love Jesus Christ, we will want to read in his word to learn about him, and his wonderful works.
so stay in Gods word!!
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

long time no write!

hey y'all!
im terribly sorry. i know its been awhile
but i've been super busy. and wed night i just didnt feel like writing b/c i was kind of having a really bad day. but right now i am in an AWESOME mood. b/c Jesus is amazing. haha. and i had a really good time last night, megan came with us to the hhs vs. mauldin football game to watch ricky & the marchin band & then we took her home and i got to spend some time with mitchell, after waking him up. haha.
so tonight i wanna talk about asking God. you should NEVER be afraid to ask God anythinggg.
Luke 11:9-10 says, "So i say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks recieves, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (NKJV) if you ask God he will give you what you ask for, if your looking for something and you involve God you will find it. God is always there. and all you have to do is ask him and he WILL answer your prayer.
Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious aobut anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God." if you want something, pray about it. ask God. and NEVER forget to thank him. he will always answer your prayer. always.
James 4:2 says, "You do not have, because you do not ask God." which is a GREAT verse. if you dont have something, the most logical reason to why is because you have not asked God for it. you should NEVER be afraid to ask God for anything, thats what he wants you to do. if your not asking God, your taking it into your own will. and nothing ever turns out good because God can always do it better.
God is listening, and hes ready to hear from you right now. so ask!!
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

angels

hey y'all!
today was alright. for a monday. haha. it was b-day. blah. but oh well. i worked on my english project a little bit & read & then finished ash&rachels birthday presents and then i went to dance & then came home & got on here.
i did my devotion on angels. they are Gods helpers to do his work here on earth, watching over us, and helping us.
Psalm 103:20 says, "Praise the Lord, you his angels, you might ones who do his bidding, who obey his word." God has angels to do his bidding. to praise & worship him, and to watch over us as we go through our lives everyday. angels are always there lookin' out for us and doing whatever God asks of them.
Matthew 13:39 says, "and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels." just like the last verse says, angels are here to do Gods work on earth.
Matthew 16:27 says, "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." when Jesus comes back, he will have his angels with him. they're Jesus's workers, and they're guarding over us.
you have one watching over you :]] my devotion book says: Angels do God's work here on earth...and so should you.
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

thats what i love about sunday...

hey y'all
today was sunday. i love sundays. for the most part, today was great. went to church, rev. ponder preached a great sermon, then i went around simpsonville with mitchell and he came back to my house & hung out till about 2 then left me to go fourwheelin. hes still in one peice, so we're good. haha. then we came back to church tonight. but recieved some bad news. our youth pastor, allen davis, is leaving us. now im going to be absolutely honest, its difficult because of everything we went through with pastor chad and david and robbie leaving. we all felt abandoned, but i know they've set out with a call from God to do great things. and now allen is leaving. its hard, when everyone who made an impact on your life, everyone you looked up too and got close to as leaders in your church just picks up and leaves. especially all at one time. we still have amazing people that im soo glad to still have at new hope, like most def the gilberts & the runyans & becca & steve & boomer & mrs gale & everyone. but i will not lie, it is hard. i honestly dont really know what else to say right now.
my new devotion book is pretty cool. i'll pick back up on the devotions tomorrow.
i recommend readint Matthew 28. pretty cool chapter. its what allen talked about in sunday school today. how if we're Jesus's deciples we are also called to be his missionaries and learn & teach others the word of God!
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade

addiction

hey y'all!
today was good. it was a-day. i went to the football game, for about twenty minutes, and then went home with candace and we spent our usual friday night doing absolutely nothing. i talked to mitchell last night. hes feeling a bit better. his fevers down. so i thank God for that. though i still think he should take cough medicine, he wont listen to me. haha.
i did my devotion on addicition. addicition is a horrible thing. my uncle jimmy & grandfather were addicted to alcohol, it killed them both. and now im watching it waste away my uncle don. its tragic, and really scary. addicition is not something you want to get wrapped up in. your ONLY addicition should be Jesus Christ.
James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so decive yourselves. Do what it says." so, dont just listen to what the word says, DO IT. you can sit here and read the bible all day, but unless you use what it says, its not doing you any good. addiction to things other than God is absolutely not doing what the bible says.
Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a High Preist who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come bodly to the throne of grace, taht we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (NKJV) every Christian is tempted, but those who stay strong and go to God, will not sin. God is always there to help us when we need him. and certianly to help keep us from addiction, or bring us out of an addiction. so just trust in him!!
John 8:34 says, "Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.'" this ones pretty self-explanitory. if you sin, your a slave to sin. and if you sin repeatedly, your a slave to an addicting sin.
so dont be a slave to addcition unless its for Jesus Christ!!!
i love y'all!
God Bless!
- crystal jade