What does the word Burn mean to you? And what does the word Shine mean to you? Do they affect your daily life?

I have to say that no much has had more of an effect on my life like Burn and Shine have in the last year. Burn and Shine respectivly are the Mens and Women's Ministry here at SEBC. I've been a part of them from the beginning of my time here, and they have become a deep part of who I was. We, as a ministry team, do a lot of dramas (Human Videos) and just spend time seeking the Lord together. We've been all over Alabama doing dramas, and spend countless hours together getting them ready.

What a blessing Burn and Shine has been to me over the last year. The people involved have influenced my life more than they will know, and our time together always a joyus occasion. We've spent more hours together than most drama teams get to, because we live "together". We can meet late at night or early in the day, and know that we will be there. It is rare that I am without a part of that group of people. I mean, very rare.

It was a former member of Burn that introduced me to something that is very much a part of my life right now. I don't know who I would be without that ministry, and I cannot tell you that I know who I would be without WhoSoEver Ministries. It is these people that opened doors in my life to see that God has a bigger plan for me than I ever had for myself.

Burn people were praying for me when I was in Africa. They were the ones that called when I got back into America. They were the ones that never tire of hearing the stories. They are the ones that I owe a whole lot more to than anyone I know. They are people that I would call family more than anyone I know. They are people that love. They are people that I would take a bullet for. They are people that when you hurt them you hurt me. They are people that I know for a fact would love you too.

Burn is something that is amazing. Burn is part of the revelution. I can see us staying together after graduation. Even if we don't, I can tell you that these people are going to do something great for the kingdom. I know these people well enough to say that this is real for them.

Our faith isn't a joke. We will love you. We will teach you. We will let you live with us. We will let you fail together. We will let you succeed together. We burn and shine. Do you want to burn and shine?

This is something Ike gave me a while ago. I like it and am trying to live it out.

I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slowdown, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sightwalking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at thepool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,preach until all know, and work until He comes.And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)

A Young Pastor in Africa

From Got 2 to Get 2

This is from Matt yesterday. It really encouraged me, and I hope that it encourages you too.
Its almost a changing of mindset. From "got to" to "get to". I don't got to go to class tomorrow. I get to go to class tomorrow. I don't have to talk with a friend; I get to talk with a friend.

My car wreck put a lot of things into perspective for me. I realized that my life was literally hanging on the line that afternoon. I realized that I SHOULD have died, but I didn't. God has a plan for me and my life. I'm realizing that. He wants to use me. He has a plan for my life that I cannot wrap my mind around. He wants to use someone as broken as me to do something to impact the kingdom.

So that's what I'm thinking about.
About how much God loves me.
About how much that I get to do everyday.
About how much I got to do today.
Today is my only promise.

Love

Not Just Another Day

I'm sitting here in Bible Overview, and I'd like to not be here, but I am so I thought I'd post this while I was listening to Joel.

Today was really good. Nicole and I went shopping for a dress for a wedding that she's in, so we had some good fun at the Galleria doing that. We found a good deal too, which is encouraging. It was good to be with a friend when those times are few and far between.

Life right now is really good. I had a sweet time with the Lord this morning too, so that is really good. The few quiet times I've done have been dry recently, and this one was really encouraging. I read in Matthew 16:24-25 "Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." I am really beginning to realize that faith requires so much more than I ever thought. Harder but better I think.

I have had a lot to do today, so its been a full day. My Mondays are usually the days that I am trying to remember that the day began the same day. I look forward to my bed on Monday nights. We're doing a Thankgiving dinner tonight with Women's Ministry, which is pretty exciting. I just got my apple pie out of the oven a bit ago, and I'll tell you that I am looking forward to eating with those girls. I don't always get time to do that, so it is refreshing.

School is good; I'm ready to get the month off for the semester. But Thanksgiving is coming; there is hope for the future. I am ready for this semester to be over. Its been a really long semester, which makes it hard to stay focused. I'm ready for new classes. I think I'm taking 4 classes next semester, which will be a nice break, but I am interning at Crosspoint. I'm ready to start that! I have Disciplines of the Christian Life, Theology 2, Intro to Church Ed, my Practium, and hopefully Comparative Philosophies of YM independantly. I am pretty pumped about a new semester, and just having new classes will be nice, and I won't be here a whole lot, so that is nice too.

WhoSoEver is going pretty good; its always busy, but life is well. Worth Dying For is going to be there tomorrow, so that is exciting too. Lives are being changed, and that is what matters.


I've got more to do before I go to bed, but its early yet. I'm pretty pumped about being done with Bible Overview for this week and getting to the homework for music that is looming over my head for another class tomorrow.

Much Love. Be Blessed.
Kristyn
Matt 16:24-25

And So We Begin

This is the first entry. I do have to put this disclaimer right here first, there are no promises to how often this gets updated. Its more of a when I have time kind of thing, but I'm hoping to make it so that you all can get a picture of who I am and what goes on in my daily life.

I'm just making this the first entry. I am in love with a man who's name is Jesus Christ. He is my Saviour and Redeemer, and I am nothing without him. It is him that makes me even anything. I have a relationship with him. I have nothing to do with Religion. Religion frustrates the daylights out of me, and its just not who I am. He is my best friend and best confidant. If you want more info on how to make him the Saviour and Lord of your life, email me. I could talk about him for days, and often due, but I just need to put out there Jesus Christ is an amazing best friend to have, and he wants to be your friend too. You'll likely find him intervined in a lot of what I write; you'll find that I talk of him often. I will refer to him like he is my friend just like my roommate is my friend.

Blessings and Grace!
Kristyn