When Pain Brings you Closer to God

Pain.

It's a word that comes in a number of ways, when tragedy strikes, when you lose a loved one, when you go through a heartbreak, when you feel alone.

All are things that can make us feel down and cause pain in our lives.

But what I think we don't realize is how pain can actually be a good thing. Okay maybe not in the way you may thinking, but from personal experience I know God has used my pain for good.

In the moments when I felt so much pain in my heart that I couldn't bear sharing it with anyone for the fear of them knowing too much about my struggles, I cried out desperately to God. I prayed he would show me why we as humans go through so much pain, so much suffering.
I didn't necessarily get a response right way, but He started opening my eyes and my spirit to understand just a glimpse of why we do in fact go through suffering.

He started speaking into my heart and reminding me that He would never let me walk this world alone. That no matter the pain I would encounter, because He didn't say I would never go through struggles. He promised me He would be right there next to me in the midst of my pain, and He promises you the same thing, He will be there next to you when your grandma has passed away, when your relative has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer, when your heart has been broken, when you just lost your job, when you don't know where you will get your next meal, when you failed the exam you studied so hard for, when you feel like no one will ever understand you or what happened to you.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

In this world, we will all go through trouble, pain, suffering, it is inevitable. 
But we can take heart, Jesus has overcome the world! 
And he has promised that he will use ALL things we go through for His good. 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."- Romans 8:28

So whatever it is that you are currently struggling with, I want to encourage you, you are NOT ALONE. God is with you, he will comfort you when you feel like you have no hope and are at the end of your rope. Know that He loves you, and that He has such a marvelous plan for you and your future. I am praying for every single person that is reading this, I pray the God of all hope will bring Peace, Joy, Love and Comfort at this moment. May His presence remind you that you can face these struggles because you are not alone. God bless you! 

- Cristal 

How Social Media Can Prevent You From Being "Social"

Now don't get me wrong, I love this thing we call social media just as much as the next person who owns any sort of technology. But when we get real and honest don't we agree that Social Media can become a bit...dare I say it, annoying. Not that it's bad posting about what we did today, or the day before, but honestly do you really want other people to know what you're doing every single second of the day? Okay I know that not all social media sites promote this type of behavior to take place, Or that everyone who has any Social Media does this all the time. But how would you like to meet with friends and forget to look into their eyes for one on one communication because you're too busy looking down at your phone on a social site? 

Or what if you were going through something difficult in your life and you are telling your friend how terrible you feel, only to find their heads bowed in full concentration on a man made device than on the words you are telling them. Ouch. I know that wouldn't make me a happy camper. In fact I'm pretty sure I would be pretty hurt because the attention of my friend is no longer fully invested in our conversation, or friendship, but in fact on what is going on in the lives of everyone in a virtual community of people that are on social media.

Why not be unconventional for a change and do something different with your time. Or instead of taking a picture of that really delicious meal in front of you, put the phone down and be fully present. Be in the moment. Take it in. Make memories. Go outside without your phone. Enjoy nature to its fullest. Listen to the people in front of you. Show them you care by giving them your undivided attention. Don't be like everyone else and miss the best moments that cellphones can't capture, the beauty of just living life to the fullest without a care of who's watching you. Put the phone down and go enjoy every moment life has to offer! May God bless you, and may you enjoy the life you've been given to the very fullest!!! 

"Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life." -Eckhart Tolle 

Never Alone

    It's been over a year and three months since I last wrote on here. I miss it. I miss writing to inspire others,  I miss writing to inspire myself. Since the last time I wrote a lot of things have happened to me personally. I started College(Sophomore), I got a Job( started my second Job on Monday) and got a car. 

These things have all been nothing short of amazing but through the process of all this change I've realized how BUSY I am now. With these new responsibilities and obligations comes investing time to all these activities, and still have time to read the Word, and talk to family and friends. I guess you can say I really don't have much time to just relax. What I never realized when I was in High School was how lonely all these things can make you feel. Being an adult is pretty cool, and having your own job/car is also sweet, but I never knew being so busy could make you feel so alone. 

Now I'm being really honest right now. I know a lot of people are scared to get real with others sometimes, but I've learned it's necessary to be real so you can grow and mature as a person. Even if you're not so busy right now but in fact the opposite and have a lot of time in your hands, this can also make us feel lonely and isolated at times. So as you read this if you relate to anything I just wrote I want you to know you are NOT alone, you are NEVER alone.

Though you may go through dry seasons, or difficult moments in your life, there is someone who will never leave you nor forsake you. I want to remind you that there is a God who cares about you and loves you unconditionally. Sometimes you might really feel alone or like no one cares, but take heart God CARES. In reality he is the only one who will be there when no one else is around.  

I pray as you read these words you are reminded of the infinite God who has loved you from the start. Praying that God would comfort you in this season of loneliness. Sometimes we need to feel the pain to appreciate not being in it. Have a great day! May God Bless you always!! 

P.S. I also wanted to share a song that is very near and dear to my heart, I pray you listen to the lyrics and it speaks to you as it does to me. 

Be the Change you Want to See

     I can't believe it's going to be a year since I last wrote a post on here...And I also can't believe how fast time is passing by. I'm about to graduate High School in five days, and i'm  scared but excited because this will mark the beginning of the rest of my life. 
 Recently i've been hearing God speak to me, he's been revealing so much to me and I think it's because something Big is about to happen in my life. (I mean other than Graduation) 

Change. No one likes it, at least I don't. I like new things, but with new things comes the unknown, and thats the part that scares me. But God is faithful, he never gives us anything we can't handle. And though change is hard, sometimes change is the only thing that will help us be who we really want to be. 

I've always heard the saying "Be the change you want to see", but until now I've never realized how much meaning that one phrase has. I see a world that is calling out for Love, I see people that are hurting everywhere I go. And as I read that phrase God stirs in me a desire to take this literal and apply it to my walk with him. If I want to see people's lives changed by God, I first have to let Him change me completely. You see I can't expect people to change if i'm not changing myself. People want something real, they want real stories, real people, real Change. 

So if I really want to make a difference in this world I have to change the way I see people. I need to seek God daily, I need to be connected with God in word and in Spirit. I have to be the Change I want to see. It starts with one person, it started with one person at the Cross. It will end with one person. But it also continues with one person, you and  me. Be the change you want to see.

^" Our faces, then, are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:18

Now I want to encourage you, God is calling you, he is igniting a Passion in you to reach out to people, but first seek His face, seek his word, seek his will for your life. And you will see once you start changing, people will start giving God glory for the change in you. Go out and be the change you want to see, Let His light Shine through you! 

Love Like Fire

     Spending a week away from Miami made me realize my growing hunger for God's presence.  I just came back from my youth group's camp on Saturday, and it was sooo Incredible that I cant even put it into words. Before I left I asked God to speak to me and to use me in any way he chose to. And that is exactly what he did.  

This past week was full of God's spirit, love, grace, and his precious face. I remember thinking God was going to move in my heart, but I didn't realize how much he would move. He awoke my heart and Ignited a burning fire for his Spirit. He renewed my confidence in him and reminded me that I am His and He is mine. 

One of the many things that God showed me at camp : to truly follow God means to fully deny all of me. Meaning I have to give up everything that pleases my flesh, all my hopes, dreams, desires, and fears. I have to deny myself daily, pick up my cross and follow after Him.

'Jesus said to all of them, "If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to follow me."' Luke 9:23

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God wants to use our lives, but we must first surrender all that we are and find ourselves in Him. He wants to use our simple lives to make His love known. So now I want to encourage you, the person reading this, I want to tell you that God has AMAZING plans for your life. Plans that go beyond anything you could hope for. But first you must deny yourself completely, surrender YOUR plans for your life and let his Spirit guide you into the direction he wants you to go. 

I encourage you to keep seeking His face daily. Pray daily for a dose of his Spirit and a hunger for his presence. I pray God may reveal to you his plan for your life, he loves you with a burning fire. May he shine his face upon you and renew your spirit with His love. God Bless you guys! 

"So let us be thankful, because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We should worship God in a way that pleases him with respect and fear, because our God is like a fire that burns things up." Hebrews 12:28

P.S. I leave you guys with a worship song that spoke to my heart & spirit at camp. This song reminds me that God's love is like a burning fire in our hearts. If we let it, His love will consume us and burn for all the World to see. 

God is Faithful

   It's been 4 months since i have written on here, and so much has happened i don't even know where to begin. I guess i will start by giving God all the glory, honor, and praise. 

About a year ago i remember God speaking to me about starting a bible club at my school. I began to have a strong desire to see the teens at my school being touched by God's amazing love. I started to pray and seek God, i asked him to guide and lead me into his perfect will. 

So one day i went to the activities director and asked her if i could possibly start a bible club at school. She said i had to write a letter to the principal asking her for permission.

And so my challenge began i prayed and i wrote her a letter, i even went to go speak to her in person. But for some reason i never got into contact with her. 

I felt i had tried hard enough to speak to the principal, but i was wrong. Even though i tried to talk to her i never went back and tried again. I wasn't persistent. I gave up very quickly. Why? Because i was scared of rejection, i was afraid things wouldn't go right and i didn't TRUST that God would help me and give me strength to go on. 

I continued to pray, silently hoping somehow God would do something about the club. 

My sophomore year ended and i had forgotten about the club, thinking it would never happen. 

Junior year kicked in and i was excited/sad to start my second to last year in high school. I felt i had a limited amount of time to bring God to my school. I had a strong urgency to bring hope to the hopeless. October of 2011 came by and one of my close friends  told me about a bible club meeting and that i should go with her. 

I cannot tell you what i felt at that moment. My heart skipped a beat and i couldn't believe what she told me. I went to the meeting and was immediately moved by God's Faithfulness. 

It's been 3 months since all this and so many things have happened since the first meeting. I now have new Christian friends at school. Friends that i know God has amazing plans for. And now we have a place to gather together in Jesus name to hear about his love for the lost and broken, and to grow as Children of God.To unite as one in his name and make a difference in this world. 

However, I have to give God all the Glory for doing this, because he was Faithful in his promise to me. He promised he would start a bible club at my school, and that i would be a part of it. And he even gave me the privilege to be a part of the office board. Which i have no idea how that happened! But Praise God for being so Faithful and true. I know he's going to do some mighty things in my school, in my family, in this world. Pray God would use this generation to rock this world, because i know he is able to,and i know that he will. 

God is Able to do beyond what we can hope, dream, or imagine. 

I thank you all for reading this!!! I pray God May Bless you and make his face shine upon you!! He loves you so much!!! <3 

P.S. Here is a video about God's Faithfulness. 

Rise from the Ashes

     Don't EVER let your bad circumstances define who you are.
I've learned that living a tough life doesn't have to be a bad thing.
It's sort of like the saying " what doesn't kill you makes you stronger", you can rise from the ground. Even though you've been struck down, you have the strength in God to get back up.

I have been blessed to have a family that has showed me love. However, not everyone is lucky  to have that love in their lives. There are people who have been abandoned by their parents, spouses that have abused each other, physically and emotionally. And there are people who have felt like they are worthless because of the things that have happened to them.
People that feel they have lost all hope.


One thing i want those people to know is that even though they have been through some struggles in their lives, that doesn't define the person that they will one day become.
And that there is HOPE.
There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

" We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

I want the person that is reading this to know they are NEVER ALONE. And that there is always hope for their bad circumstances. Don't ever let the struggles you go through win, you are a strong, courages person who can overcome anything with God by their side. So don't be discouraged and KNOW that God has everything under HIS control. Even the trial you are facing in this very moment. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Philippians 4: 13

I pray God may comfort you with his all-consuming Love and Joy. And i pray you may lean on him when you feel like you just can't take it anymore. He is always there with arms wide open. May he bless you and watch over you always&forever <3 I Love you ALL!!!