Serving A Mighty King... Reaching the World for Jesus

Islands and Mountaintops

2009-05-27T13:30:00.002-05:00

"Islands and Mountaintops"

When people feel like they are all alone, they often say that they feel as if they are on an island. The truth maybe that you have simply come to a place in your walk that your companions are unable to ascend to. The reality is that you are not on an island at all, but standing on top of a mountain surrounded by water.

Let me explain. Life is lived on levels. Everyone will not be able to obtain certain levels in life because they lack the ability to handle what awaits them at the next level, or they may simply refuse to make the necessary changes to go to the next level.

For those that God has called to do a special work in life, isolation and loneliness are inevitable. You must realize that you cannot take everyone with you. They cannot handle the altitude that you are being called to. You will begin to notice, as you continue to ascend in the will of God, that the number of people who have the ability to share your perspective of life are few and far between.

Therefore, your feeling of separation and isolation are not indications that something is wrong. It simply means that you have risen above the sea of mediocrity and ascended to a place that few others are able to witness.

Your perspective is everything. Change your perspective of your situation and don't allow the enemy to cause you to despise what God is doing in your life. You are not stranded on an island, but standing on the top of a mountain!

Pastor J.C. Matthews

Islands and Mountaintops

2009-05-27T13:30:00.001-05:00

"Islands and Mountaintops"

Quiz...

2009-05-10T18:56:00.002-05:00

ABC's of ME
You've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with the ABC's of YOU. At the end, choose 26 people to be tagged. You have to tag me so really you just need 25 more people. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you - but not in a creepy stalker kind of way.( Speak for yourself, I want to know in a creepy stalker kind of way! )

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your ABC's of Me, tag 26 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

A - Age: 2o
B - Bed size: Twin
C - Chore you hate: Bathrooms.
D - Dog's name: Not a dog person
E - Essential start your day item: phone. first thing I look at.
F - Favorite color: orange and pink
G - Gold or Silver: silver
H - Height: 5' 4
I - Instruments you play(ed): flute; keyboard; piano; guitar
J - Job title: Sales Associate
K - Kid(s): none
L - Living arrangements: me and Stacey
M - Mom's name: Judy
N - Nicknames: Kris; KRam; Kristy
O - Overnight hospital stay: Not ever besides being born.
P - Pet Peeve: people who want everything without an obligation!
Q - Quote from a movie: "I would rather fight with you than make love with anyone else."
R - Right or left handed: right
S - Siblings:Melissa, Lisa, Amy, Wendy, Kim
T - Time you wake up: varies!
U- Underwear: ummm.
V - Vegetable you dislike: asparagus
W - Ways you run late: I'm an expert. I don't need a way.
X - X-rays you've had: way too may
Y - Yummy food you make: I don't cook much. But love me some spagetti!
Z - Zoo favorite animal: Elephants!

Enjoy it!

What is the Vision?

2009-04-20T09:06:00.000-05:00

The Vision
So this guy comes up to me and says "what's the vision? What's the big idea?" I open my mouth and words come out like this…
The vision?
The vision is JESUS – obsessively, dangerously, undeniably Jesus.
The vision is an army of young people.
You see bones? I see an army. And they are FREE from materialism.
They laugh at 9-5 little prisons.
They could eat caviar on Monday and crusts on Tuesday.
They wouldn't even notice.
They know the meaning of the Matrix, the way the west was won.
They are mobile like the wind, they belong to the nations. They need no passport.. People write their addresses in pencil and wonder at their strange existence.
They are free yet they are slaves of the hurting and dirty and dying.
What is the vision?
The vision is holiness that hurts the eyes. It makes children laugh and adults angry. It gave up the game of minimum integrity long ago to reach for the stars. It scorns the good and strains for the best. It is dangerously pure.
Light flickers from every secret motive, every private conversation.
It loves people away from their suicide leaps, their Satan games.
This is an army that will lay down its life for the cause.
A million times a day its soldiers
choose to loose
that they might one day win
the great 'Well done' of faithful sons and daughters.
Such heroes are as radical on Monday morning as Sunday night. They don't need fame from names. Instead they grin quietly upwards and hear the crowds chanting again and again: "COME ON!"
And this is the sound of the underground
The whisper of history in the making
Foundations shaking
Revolutionaries dreaming once again
Mystery is scheming in whispers
Conspiracy is breathing…
This is the sound of the underground
And the army is discipl(in)ed.
Young people who beat their bodies into submission.
Every soldier would take a bullet for his comrade at arms.
The tattoo on their back boasts "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain".
Sacrifice fuels the fire of victory in their upward eyes. Winners. Martyrs. Who can stop them ?
Can hormones hold them back?
Can failure succeed? Can fear scare them or death kill them?
And the generation prays
like a dying man
with groans beyond talking,
with warrior cries, sulphuric tears and
with great barrow loads of laughter!
Waiting. Watching: 24 – 7 – 365.
Whatever it takes they will give: Breaking the rules. Shaking mediocrity from its cozy little hide. Laying down their rights and their precious little wrongs, laughing at labels, fasting essentials. The advertisers cannot mold them. Hollywood cannot hold them. Peer-pressure is powerless to shake their resolve at late night parties before the cockerel cries.
They are incredibly cool, dangerously attractive inside.
On the outside? They hardly care. They wear clothes like costumes to communicate and celebrate but never to hide.
Would they surrender their image or their popularity?
They would lay down their very lives - swap seats with the man on death row -guilty as hell. A throne for an electric chair.
With blood and sweat and many tears, with sleepless nights and fruitless days,
pray as if it all depends on God and live as if it all depends on them.
Their DNA chooses JESUS. (He breathes out, they breathe in.)
Their subconscious sings. They had a blood transfusion with Jesus.
Their words make demons scream in shopping centres.
Don't you hear them coming?
Herald the weirdo's! Summon the losers and the freaks. Here come the frightened and forgotten with fire in their eyes. They walk tall and trees applaud, skyscrapers bow, mountains are dwarfed by these children of another dimension. Their prayers summon the hounds of heaven and invoke the ancient dream of Eden.
And this vision will be. It will come to pass; it will come easily; it will come soon.
How do I know? Because this is the longing of creation itself, the groaning of the Spirit, the very dream of God. My tomorrow is his today. My distant hope is his 3D. And my feeble, whispered, faithless prayer invokes a thunderous, resounding, bone-shaking great 'Amen!' from countless angels, from hero's of the faith, from Christ himself. And he is the original dreamer, the ultimate winner.

Guaranteed.

Without Words.

2009-04-16T10:21:00.001-05:00

I don't have words to explain what is going on. Life is extremely busy. Its blowing by!
I graduate in less than a month!
I'm definately excited!
But I'm almost done my undergrad!

Countdown.

2009-04-10T18:35:00.003-05:00

10 anonymous things you want to say to 10 different people:

1. I told you I wouldn't fall in love with you. And I'm not planning on it.

2. Its the little things that I see that mean the most. I'm starting to see that you are trying so hard. It makes me smile. A lot.

3. You are already driving me crazy.

4. You are my whole world, and I would give my life for you if I'd ever have to. Without a doubt.

5. 15 weeks.

6. I wish you would know that I existed and realized I was more than just a pain.

7. People like you make me want to live with purpose.

8. You make me smile when I want to cry.

9. I miss you.

10. you have been an example of exactly what I want to be when I grow up. You have no idea how much I appreciate the time you put into being a leader.

Nine things about myself:
1. I am from NC, my family lives in Maryland, but I live in Alabama. And I'm totally okay with that.

2. I try to be nice with people. People in the north that are rude drive me crazy.

3. I have a southern accent. And I'm okay with it.

4. I dislike shopping for clothes.

5. I still believe that chivalry isn't dead.

6. I cannot sing.

7. I’m in college and I don’t drink

8. I love falling asleep, and the feeling right before it.

9. I cannot spell. At all.

eight ways to win my heart:

1. Make me feel like I'm the only girl you'll ever love.

2. Do anything that makes me not so stressed.

3. Make me feel like I'm a part of your family.

4. Surprise me! Do something that I don't expect.

5. Be around when life gets tough for me.

6. Give me your opinion when we're talking.

7. Smile.

8. Become my best friend.

seven things that cross my mind a lot:
1. I wish Jesus would come back.

2. I'm done.

3. Stop talking in class.

4. There is no way it is time to wake up.

5. I wish you would learn how to drive.

6. I want to see you.

7. Will He ever come.

six things you wish you never did:
1. Car Wreck

2. Said No.

3. Told you what I thought.

4. stopped Running.

5. Missed it.

6. Told you what I was doing, instead of asking.

five turn offs:
1. Lack of work-ethic.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Missing Happiness!

4. Too agreeable.

5. a lack of ambition

four places I want to go:
1. Alabama

2. Hoover ;-)

3. Vacation

4. Australia

three smiley faces that describe me:
1.
:-)

2.
;-)

3.
:-/

two things I want to do before I die:

1. Fall in love.

2. Announce Jesus coming back!

One belief:
I'm standing here waiting on you to move.

Thoughts.

2009-03-31T10:57:00.000-05:00

This idea could change my whole world: if I want to change my world, I am somehow going to have to risk myself and me being rejected. Somehow, I have to let people into the parts of me scare me to share, in order that they can see the real me, and to let them see the change that happens inside of me as Christ continues to transform my life.
I’ve always been the kind of person that will not do something if I won’t succeed. I am absolutely terrified of failure. More so than I let on to people around me, I am scared to fail. I’m scared to not do everything to the best of my ability. I’m a fairly competitive person. Or actually, I’m very competitive. If you spend any amount of time, you realize that I am competitive. I’m learning to not be so competitive, but it’s a tough thing for me to learn. Deep down, I like to be the best. It doesn’t matter what it is, but I want to be the best. Somehow, I think that I can be the best, and I want to be able to do that.
I’ve had to learn to put everyone else above me. I’ve had to learn to serve. Often, that means that I can’t be the best. That means that someone has to be better than me. In the last few years, that is how I’ve learned to not be the best and let someone else. I think I’ve grown with this.
But, I haven’t learned how to do something knowing that I am going to fail to the best of my ability. I am learning how to fail gracefully. I am learning what grace is, because often, it is God’s grace that does the work that I don’t finish. Its God’s grace that covers my failure and that can seem like a scary thing.
I am a work in progress. And honestly, this probably does not make a whole lot of sense. But I’m okay with that. God’s not finished with me yet. And I hope you can see me as a work in progress. I know that somehow, deep down, we are all a work in progress. God isn’t finished with us yet.

100 Truths

2009-03-26T23:32:00.000-05:00

100 Truths! After you've filled this out, tag 15 people and have them do the same.

1. last beverage? water
2. last phone call? A sick friend
3. last text message? Twitter- Danelle
4. last song you listened to? You Found Me –The Fray
5. last time you cried? Its been a while.

SIX HAVE YOU EVERS:
6. dated someone twice? no
7. been cheated on? no
8. kissed someone & regretted it? no
9. lost someone special? yes
10. been depressed? yes
11. been drunk and threw up? no

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:
12. Pink
13. Purple
14. Orange

THIS YEAR HAVE YOU:
15. Made new friends? Yes.
16. Fallen out of love? nope
17. Laughed until you cried? yes... often
18. Met someone who changed you? Yes
19. Found out who your true friends were? Yes
20. Found out someone was talking about you? Yep
21. Hugged anyone on your friend's list? Of Course.
22. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life? I'd say 95%
23. How many kids do you want to have? I don’t know if I want any.
24. Do you have any pets? no
25. Do you want to change your name? officially to Kristyn
27. What did you do for your last birthday? Had the Basement ☺
28. What time did you wake up today? 7:30a
29. What were you doing at midnight last night? sleeping
30. Name something you CANNOT wait for? One word. Hillsong.
31. Last time you saw your father? Christmas
32. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life? There’s one thing.
33. What are you listening to right now? The Terminal
34. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom? Yes
35. What's getting on your nerves right now? The fact that I can’t sleep.
36. Most visited webpage? Facebook, duh.
37. What's your real name? Kristin
38. Nicknames? Kristyn, Kristy, Kris, Sweetie, Boo, K Ramsey, Ramsey
39. Relationship Status? Single.
40. Zodiac sign? –Leo if I remember right
41. Male or female or transgendered? Female
42. Elementary? Mountain
43. Middle School? Mountain
44. High school? Grace
45. Hair color? Blonde
46. Long or short? Its pretty long
47. Height? 5'4''
48. Do you have a crush on someone? Define crush.
49. What do you like about yourself? I don't know... There is so much that needs work.
50. Piercings? 1
51. Tattoos? 0
52. Righty or lefty? Righty

FIRSTS:
53. First surgery? Tonsils and Adnoids
54. First piercing? Ears
55. First best friend? Jamie Findley
56. First sport you joined? Skating
57. First pet? Tracey
58. First vacation? Myrtle Beach
59. First concert? I don’t remember.
60. First crush? Phillip. Kindergarden.

RIGHT NOW:
61. Eating right now? Nada
62. Drinking? About to get some water
63. I'm about to? Fall asleep hopefully.
64. Listening to? The Terminal
65. Waiting for? a lot of things. :)

YOUR FUTURE:
66. Want kids? maybe
67. Get married? yes
68. Careers in mind? Ministry

WHICH IS BETTER:
69. Lips or eyes? eyes
70. Hugs or kisses? depends
71. Shorter or taller? taller
72. Older or Younger? older
73. Romantic or spontaneous? Spontaneous for sure. :) But that IS romantic!
74. Nice stomach or nice arms? arms. :)
75. Sensitive or loud? sensitive
76. Hook-up or relationship? relationship
77. Trouble maker or hesitant? troublemaker of course. lol hesitant people get on my nerves...

HAVE YOU EVER:
78. Kissed a stranger? no
79. Drank hard liquor? no
80. Lost glasses/contacts? yes
81. Sex on first date? no
82. Broken someone's heart? no
83. Had your own heart broken? yes
84. Been drunk? no
85. Been arrested? no
86. Turned someone down? yes
87. Cried when someone died? yes
88. Liked a friend that is a girl? no

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
89. Yourself? mostly
90. Miracles? yes
91. Love at first sight? I think so.
92. Heaven? yes
93. Santa Claus? I believe in the spirit of Christmas.
94. Karma? what goes around comes around.
95. Kiss on the first date? Depends.
96. Angels? yes

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
97. Is there one person you want to be with right now? yes
98. Had more than one boyfriend/girlfriend at one time? nope
99. Told someone you loved them when you didn't? no
100. Posting this as 100 truth? About to

Another Day of One Liners:

2009-03-26T07:09:00.000-05:00

Classes are back in full swing. I didn’t know how much I was enjoying break til we got back from break.
I was/am working on a long blog post. I don’t know now if I’m going to post it. It definitely got more personal than I imagined.
The Basement was awesome last night! Casey did an awesome job, and people worshiped for a long time after. God moved.
I have to work this afternoon; it’s a love/hate thing right now. I love going to work, but I have lots to do today and wish I could do some of those things instead.
I have lots of school work to do right now; I just need to sit down and get a lot of it done, but its been tough to get motivated. That’s what I’m working on this evening.
I’ve been doing a lot of running/walking lately, often with Kelly. Its tough to get motivated, but I feel so much better after, and I am going to keep it up!
I need to pick a passage for my Herm paper; any suggestions of a favorite Proverb?
I made a new to do list file this week, based off of something that we had come in at work. I am liking how it works so far.
I don’t know how it is that I’ve been going still; I haven’t been so tired as I am right now in a long time.
God has brought me some new friends in this season of my life; God is so good.
I’ve been taking time to clean out my life in the last week; I feel cleansed and refreshed.
I’m pretty excited about this summer and what God is going to do this summer here in Birmingham. You should definitely check it out and take a road trip and come visit us here!
You should check out some of our ministry team’s blogs. I’ve been enjoying them a lot lately!
Trina: http://fabulouslyfrugalicious.blogspot.com/
David: http://threesidedlines.blogspot.com/
Ami: http://amiknight.blogspot.com/
Kelly: http://kellyann122.blogspot.com/
Lauren: http://www.jesuslovindiva.blogspot.com/

And team: if I don’t have your blog link, leave me a comment and I’ll put it in here for you! I’m about to do a post that has you, your picture, blog address, and blog content and I want you to be a part.

Just some thinking and processing....

2009-02-28T20:50:00.002-06:00

In order to consider a marriage relationship, I have to be able say all of these things:

• There is no fear inside of me that I am going to ever lose you. Death is the only condition in which either one of us would consider divorce.
• Our marriage is a lifelong unconditional partnership, and no matter what I feel, I will be committed to you for the rest of my life here on earth.
• I won’t change my mind when I just don’t feel like loving you one particular day; I will always love you, and I have to know that I know that you will always do the same.
• For the rest of our lives, we will walk together, knowing that we were called together for an eternal purpose for us to live out here on the earth.
• There is no doubt in my mind that you are the one that I am to spend my life with; you are the partner that I have longed for a long time.
• You are the one I have prayed for; you are an answer to prayer for me. I will walk with you for the rest of life, no matter where that takes us, knowing that God is going to use us as a couple in a mighty way for his kingdom.
• I love you more than I can express, and I fall in love with you each and every day more and more.

That's what you see that I'm waiting for.

Another.

2009-02-25T13:28:00.005-06:00

Another couple days has passed by without a whole lot of drama, or anything super special go on. The Basement last night went really well; God moved, and that is really what matters. We could talk about what went will for production team, or the drama team, or the care team, but the reality is that God showed up and did the thing that no team can do, even the best team in the world. The altar was so crowded (to the point that we waited to clean the stage because there were so many people at the altar), and people got their lives rocked. Like Laura and I were talking about last night, people met Jesus last night for the first time. Like the first time we found that love, people found what it means to be fully embraced by the Father. People realized that their beauty enthralls the King, and that has to be the most beautiful thing that one has the opportunity to see.

I smile to think about the people who woke up for the first time today knowing that they are loved by the King, no matter the things that they did yesterday. I smile to think that people are loved to the point that their friends don’t matter anymore. And I laugh out loud when I think about the people that God brought to me; I laugh with them (and often at them). They have taught me to laugh. They teach me what it means to love others. They let me know that I have people who pray for me, who will scare me in a dark hallway just to laugh, who make me smile when I don’t want to smile, and who make me want to follow Christ with everything inside of me. I would be lost without them, and probably way too serious.

This is the team:

You definitely need to check out the Basement when you are in Birmingham. If you have to come here just for the Basement, you still need to do it. The revolution is rising. A generation who is preparing themselves for the return of Christ is leading the very thing that could usher in the return of our Saviour.

And this is what we like to call history in the making:

What are you doing to make an impact in your own generation? Will you be an historical interruption or just another status quo Christian? Will today be another day that goes down as a day that just passed by without you making an impact on someone's life?

May we be a generation who prays as if it all depended on God and live as if it all depends on us!

One Liners

2009-02-18T11:49:00.000-06:00

• I have quite a bit to do today; resting is on the list.
• Now if only Hartley would let us out of Romans early. Can’t say that that it going to be the case though. I have yet to get out of Romans early.
• I’m ADDing really bad today, especially in class. Just don’t want to be in school today.
• Updating my blog is often hard, especially as of late. God is moving in life, but it stuff that I’m not ready to talk to blog world about yet.
• Production last night went amazingly well. Now to figure out what it is that causes the nights that go really well to go well, and get it to be every week.
• It’s been cool to see our production team work well together and grow together. Not always easy, but we are growing.
• I’m definitely hungry for lunch. Don’t really know what I’m going to do for lunch, but I definitely need to get some food in my body SOON!
• I think Trina twittering all the time about food makes me more hungry than before ;-)
• Lilly is growing cuter by the day; there is a new picture up on my facebook!
• I don’t have a whole lot more to say; really, I’m just in one of those moods that I don’t have a lot to say today.

Much love,
Kristyn

Darkness

2009-02-14T10:59:00.001-06:00

“When everything comes down to love,
Than just what am I afraid of?
When I call out your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I’m yours”
-Addison Road “Hope Now”

I’ve loved this song for a while now. Its one I keep regularly in my playlists and cds in the car. It’s a song that I continue to go back to, a song I find myself regularly worshipping to, simply because I often forget what I was created for, and who I was created by. That I am created to worship the King and serve HIM for the rest of my life. This is the only thing I was created for; I will spend eternity doing those things.

Love is a scary thing. I think that we are scared to “fall in love” with someone else. I know for a fact that I am scared. The idea that someone wants to love me and know everything about me absolutely makes me want to run away. When I was in high school and walked through the things I did, I always was able to hide parts of myself. Even today, there are parts of myself that I can hide from the world. To let another human know me fully, still, on some levels, scares me.

But my God knows me fully. He realizes my deepest darknesses and still loves me like I am. He knows me and still loves me. I think I realize my deepest darknesses and don’t really know why God wants to love me. And I think that we all think that way in some respects. Why would the only one who knows my deepest darkness love me the most? Because He is LOVE. He desires to see the real you; He wants you to run to him when darkness seems to overcome everything. I know what when I run to him I find rest in the shadow of his wings. At times, I go to bed fighting with something inside of me, and rest well because I let Him fight for me. Sometimes I wake up knowing that He went to war for me while I slept. Like Pastor Pat says often, I can’t wait to watch the Holy Spirit Blockbuster to see when I went to sleep, the battles that were fought for me.

I am not alone when I fight for anything. I am not alone even when my life seems to be that I am. It’s a battle that I’ve fought a lot lately. My God loves me; I forget that he does because of the world that feeds me that lie so many times. I get convinced that I am not enough and will never be enough. That is a scary lie to believe, no matter who we are.

Darkness in life is just that: Dark. It’s hard to see the light when the darkness seems to overcome everything around us. But we have the light. Don’t forget that friends!

another quiz

2009-02-14T01:19:00.001-06:00

* * * * * * * * * * FOODOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * * *

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Usually Ranch.

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
My Favorite? Probably Texas Road House

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Chicken

What are your pizza toppings of choice?
I love just plain cheese. I’m boring!

What do you like to put on your toast?
Peanut Butter.

Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla

* * * * * * * * * * * TECHNOLOGY * * * * * * * * * * * *

How many televisions are in your house?
None at the moment… should be one soon!

What color cell phone do you have?
Black

Do you have a laptop?
Currently typing on it!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BIOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Right

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Tonsils and Adenoids

What is the heaviest item you lifted?
Probably a speaker at the Basement.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
Yes

* * * * * * * * * * * * BULLCRAPOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
I would, so I’d be able to say goodbye.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Really, I wouldn’t. I’m Kristyn. Couldn’t imagine myself as something else.

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
$1000 would pay a lot of bills. So yes!

* * * * * * * * * * * * DUMBOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?
Probably about 25… need a couple new pairs for summer though!

Last person you talked to?
The lady at Wal-Mart. Curious conversation!

Last person you hugged?
Linda Oliver from hope for the nation!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * FAVORITOLOGY * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Season?
Summer.

Holiday?
I like Christmas in a warm state!

Day of the week?
I don’t have a standing favorite. Changes every week!

Month?
I like summer!

* * * * * * * * * * * CURRENTOLOGY** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Missing someone?
Kind of

Mood?
Chill

What are you listening to?
The typing… refreshing time of the day for me!

Watching?
Nada

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * RANDOMOLOGY* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

First place you went this morning?
The kitchen probably

What's the last movie you saw?
I’m in the process of watching A Walk to Remember!

Do you smile often?
Most of the time!

Sleeping alone tonight?
Yes

Do you always answer your phone?
Most of the time…

It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
Facebook

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
I like my Blue!

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?
I don’t add. Love me a strawberry or watermelon slush though, but only during happy hour ;-)

Do you own a digital camera?
Yes

Have you ever had a pet fish?
Yes. College, you know?

Favorite Christmas song(s)?
It’s a joke that I get made fun of for at Christmas time, but I despise Christmas music.

Can you do push ups?
Yes.

Can you do a chin up?
Haven’t tried.

Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
I just feel ALIVE!

Do you have any saved texts?
Yes ;-)

Ever been in a car wreck?
Yes. Changed my life.

Do you have an accent?
People tell me I do. Southern accent with northern mannerisms. Thanks dad!

What is the last song to make you cry?
Hope Now by Addison Road

Plans tonight?
Got home a bit ago from an awesome night; have plans with a paper for tomorrow night! (Yeah being a senior!)

Plans tomorrow?
Yes. Work, B, Paper, Grocery Store, Cleaning, Getting Ready for the week to come!

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
I have hit my rock bottom. It was rough!

Have you ever been given roses?
Just one for a couple of different events.

Current hate right now?
Papers, School ;-)

Met someone who changed your life?
His name is Jesus. And her name was Mercy.

Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
If I could know what I know now, yes.

Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
Nope

Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
Just my ears!

Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now?
God’s will is my life plan!

Does anyone love you?
I think so.

What songs do you sing in the shower?
Whatever is on my mind that day.

Ever had someone sing to you?
☺ Yes!

Do you like to cuddle?
Sometimes; have to be in the mood though.

Have you held hands with anyone today?
Nope

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Lauren and me took one together on the way to Vestavia Tonight!

What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?
I didn’t really.

Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
Mostly newish (about 2 ½ years)

Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Yes, seldomly. If I want OJ I want pulpy, but I don’t want OJ a lot!

What is something your friends make fun of you for?
Let’s not go there.

Have you ever ridden an elephant?
No

Do you like to play Scrabble?
No

When is the last time you ate peanut butter and jelly?
I make them lots! But I only eat them very seldomly

What were you doing at 1:00am last night?
I was in the bed!

What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
Awesome, I don’t have anything to do this morning!

I've got a meaningful blog in the works! Look for it tomorrow!

Questions...

2009-02-11T18:39:00.002-06:00

Or Alternative Title.. I didn't come up with something cooler.

001. Real name → Kristyn Ramsey
002. Nickname(s) → Kristy, Kris, Ma'am, Sis, Aunt Kris
003. Status → Procrastination. Its an art.
004. Zodiac sign → Leo I think
005. Male or female → female
006. Elementary → Mountain Christian
007. Middle School → Mountain Christian
008. High School → Grace Academy
010. Hair color → Blonde
011. Long or short → Long.
012. Loud or Quiet → I'm pretty loud. :-)
013. Sweats or Jeans → Both.
014. Phone or Camera → Phone.
015. Health freak → Somewhat
016. Shorts or Pants → Shorts or a Skirt
017. Do you have a crush on someone? → I'm in love with Jesus.
018. Eat or Drink → Definitely Drink
019. Piercings → Just ears
020. Tattoos → I want one.
021. Water or Fire → Fire- You're talking to a pyro
022. Love of your life or 4 Billion Dollars → Love of my life

FIRSTS:
023. First fear → Acceptance. I was a pretty unscared kid.
024. First best friend → Jamie
025. First award → Skating
026. First crush → Couldn't tell you.
028. First big vacation → Dominican Republic
030. First big birthday → I haven't had a big birthday. Not really keen on them, and being the 5th kid, you don't get many.

CURRENTLY:
049. Eating → chewing some gum
050. Drinking → nada
052. I'm about to → finish getting ready to do laundry
053. Listening to→ Something Stacey is playing... its good though
054. Plans for today → Laundry and Homework. Sounds exciting right?
055. Waiting for → a phone call

YOUR FUTURE:
058. Want kids?→ maybe.
059. Want to get married? yes
060. What careers do you have in mind?→ Full Time Ministry

WHICH IS BETTER WITH A GUY?
068. Lips or eyes → eyes
070. Shorter or taller? → taller is usually nice
072. Romantic or spontaneous → Sponaneous
73. Nice stomach or nice arms → Arms
074. Sensitive or loud -> Sensitive
075. Hook-up or relationship → relationship
077. Trouble maker or hesitant → idk

HAVE YOU EVER:
080. Lost glasses/contacts → Yes
081. Ran away from home? → Nope
082. Hold a gun/knife for self defense → No
083. Killed somebody → No
084. Heartbroken → Yes
085. Been arrested → No
087. Cried when someone died → yes

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
089. Yourself → I believe in the Christ who lives inside of me.
090. Miracles → yes
091. Love at first sight → I think you can know you're going to spend your lives together.
092. Heaven → yes
093. Santa Claus → If I didn't, I wouldn't get presents from home. :-)
094. Sex on the first date? → no way
095. Kiss on the first date → Nope

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
097. Is there one person you want to be with right now? → yeah
098. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life → I am. I want to see where the Lord is going to talk me!
099. Do you believe in God → With every fiber of my being
100. Post as 100 truths and tag 10 people → this is not 100 truths. it is missing some numbers.

Praying hard today... its been a hard week!
<3 Kristyn

Others Can, You Cannot

2009-02-08T13:43:00.002-06:00

If God has called you to be really like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion & humility & will put you in such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians…& in many ways He will appear to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

Other Christians & ministers who seem very religious & useful may push themselves, pull wires & work schemes to carry out their plans but you cannot do it…& if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure & rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

Others may brag on themselves, on their work, on their success, on their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, & if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself & all your good works.

Others will be allowed to succeed in making money, or having a legacy left to them or in having luxuries, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something better than gold, & that is a helpless dependence on Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

The Lord will let others be honored & put forward & keep you hidden away in obscurity because He wants to reproduce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can be produced only in the shade.

He will let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him & get the credit for it, but He will make you toil & work on without knowing how much you’re doing. And then to make your work even more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done, & thus will make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love & will rebuke you for little words & feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, & has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He will not explain to you reason in His dealings with you. He will take you at your word; & if you absolutely see yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in a jealous love & let other people say & do many things that you cannot do or say.

Settle it forever that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit & that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue or chaining your hand or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not deal with others. And when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased & delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship & management of the Holy Spirit over your life, you have found the vestibule of Heaven.

You know at times it may seem unfair that others can do things that you cannot do, but just remember that God has a purpose & plan for your life that only you can fulfill. I know in my life that the Lord won’t allow me to say or even do some things that other Christians can say or do, but that’s not because the Lord is unfair, but I realized that my plan & purpose that the Lord has for me won’t allow it. But everything comes back to trust. Do you trust God with your life? Do you trust His timing? Just remember…others may; you cannot…

From a friend...

2009-02-05T11:05:00.005-06:00

Good Morning Friends!

My prayer is that you are well today, rested and ready to face the challenges and the joys that you will find before your head finds the pillow to conclude another day.

Each day is hard in its own ways for each of us. At times, we don’t understand what it means to find ourselves out of the situation that we don’t want to be in. There are times that we don’t understand why we aren’t getting the things we think we deserve, when the reality is we don’t. Like Pastor Dave said last night, if I got what I deserved, I would be struck down dead. I don’t get what I deserve, and I praise God for that!

I never deserved to meet this girl who changed my world:

Or this one:

I didn’t deserve to meet my “brothers” (who we all have a love/hate relationship with each other):

I never deserved the opportunity to see God do this:

And I never dreamed that I would actually be a part of it:

And no doubt, I didn’t deserve a Saviour who went and did this to cover my sin:

I didn’t get what I deserved. I praise God I didn’t get what I deserved.
Are you thankful that you get what you didn’t deserve?

Another day.

2009-02-02T09:25:00.003-06:00

Another day. Another moment to rise to the occasion.

It’s a glorious rainy day here in Birmingham. Classes are back in full force; I’m just not ready for this. May 15 cannot come soon enough.

God is moving. God continues to show up when we get ready for services. God is showing up in our daily lives. Church yesterday was good; worship was refreshing. Good to see God show up in people’s lives. Matt is speaking this week; I’m looking forward to it. If you live in Birmingham, you should definitely be there. Comment or email me for details. We are watching a revolution rise up in this city; we should be honored that we are a chosen generation. Being chosen isn’t always easy; looking for the easy way out is not for us. But it would be easy to be that way.

Proverbs 27:19
A mirror reflects a man’s face but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses.

Show me your friends; I can show you your future. Your five closest friends will shape you more than anything else.

Check the people you are with. Are they seeking the Lord? Are they teaching you? What do you do when you are together? Is the Lord a part of what you do on a regular basis?

I’m watching a revolution rise because people got with people who call them to be better. People who call them to rise to the occasion of our lives. People who want us to be the generation we are called to be rather than the generation that people expected us to be. People who desire God to show up in our world. People who want others to see what is means to really glorify Christ with our lives.

Some of the team

(By the way, check out Basement Mission Media every Tuesday Night at 6:30p central time, 7:30p eastern time, 5:30p mountain time, and 4:30p pacific time to see The Basement on live feed. The Basement comes to your home computer.)

The Revolution

Will you rise up to the occasion of your life? Will you make it count for something in light of eternity? Or will you continue to be the status quo like every generation before you?

We're changing Birmingham; what are you changing?

Love each of you! Leave me a comment!
Kris

25 Things...

2009-01-29T23:56:00.003-06:00

So, the truth is I don't really have anything cool to blog about tonight, and its taken it out of my today just to survive, so I thought this would be interesting.

RULE: Once you've been tagged you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you it's because I want to know more about you...

Here are my 25 facts:

One of the worst things for me is getting up. The whole idea of "Smile, its a new day!" doesn't hit me for a great while after I am awake. I love to sleep.
I am rediculously stubborn, even to myself sometimes. Some ideas I just can't "get over."
I am a horrible procrastinator. I suffer for it. I'm late just about everywhere, mostly because of the procrastination.
I love media. I don't go many places without a computer. I rarely handwrite anything now a days because I can just type it.
I want to do full time large scale youth ministry for a job.
Lillian is most of my world. And she's cute too!
I love my guys. More than they know. And, my girls are AMAZING. My whole world would be messed up without them in my life.
I am so DONE with school. Just want that piece of paper that says GRADUATED.
I do want to get married at some point. But it won't be for a while. I'm focused on the Lord, graduating, and ministry right now.
I am an observer by nature. I will more often watch than participate. Unless its something I'm good at and need to step up and lead, I'll normally just watch.
Work is getting old quick. I've never kept the same job both semesters since I have been in college. Ask me about that sometime.
I've had the same cell phone number more than half of my life. & that says a lot cause I'm only 20.
I can sleep just about anywhere if I am tired enough. And I love to sleep on airplanes. Its not very often I don't fall asleep.
I have far too many clothes. More than any one person should own.
I carry my backpack just about everywhere. Its like my grown up security blanket. If I have it, I feel safe.
I tend to do things in order. But in order means how I think they should be, and don't always make a ton of sense to everyone else.
This is taking forever.
I'm not sure that I really want kids. My sisters can have me just a bunch of nieces and nephews to spoil.
I'm not spontaneous pretty much at all. Seriously.
I love to have sweet tea. I could drink it just about everyday. But I try not to.
You need a twitter. Facebook status updates on steroids. Pretty cool.
I dream of getting married. I want to get married, but I know right now that I need to be focused on the Lord and his purposes.
I'm praying for my future husband. I can't wait to meet you babe!
The Basement is a huge part of my life. That's like its own 25 random things post.
And finally to the end, I love Jesus. I was set free from a life of suicide and depression and he has taken me places I dream of!

Love ya'll. Keep Jesus FIRST today! Be blessed!

Verse of the day...

2009-01-24T20:15:00.002-06:00

So picture of the day failed horribly in my life, but I wanted to let you read a verse that rocked my world.

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.' " 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

We are nobody's who God has chosen to use to be a part of changing the world, and scripture is clear that He's chooses the no body's so that HE gets the glory. God is moving in this city. God is using us to change our city. And God is about to do more in this city than you can imagine.

Check out our website or our myspace to see what the Basement is all about and see what God is doing in Birmingham!

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-01-14T12:20:00.000-06:00

The Lunch Date Blouse GIVEAWAY!!!!

You definately need to check out this giveaway that Trina linked me too!

Its super cute!

Kristyn

A Photo A Day- 1 Jan 08

2009-01-02T15:58:00.005-06:00

A Book I'm Reading

The Mess in my room... its clean now ;-)

Something that I want to do this year is to take at least one picture every day. Knowing me it will be more than one, but I want to document the year and the journey that the Lord takes me on.

Yesterdays are above: 1 January 2008

Just Some Pictures...

2008-12-18T23:19:00.007-06:00

Thought I would upload some pictures from Africa 07 and a picture from Vacation last year... just some edits.

Where I'm At.

2008-12-18T23:00:00.004-06:00

I try to talk to you, but I don't know what to say. I'm afraid you don't want me to say anything. So I don't. But inside of me there are words waiting to come out. And I tell you how I feel- like how I miss you. And how I love you despite my broken heart. And how I need you in my life. And especially how much I want you. But those words may forever stay in my heart-- locked inside. Sometimes I wonder if there are words locked inside of you too... but I might not ever know.

Super Cool...

2008-12-15T02:16:00.003-06:00

And updating my blog for the second time in the same hour.

For one thought:

If you had every resource, what would you do that you aren't doing now?
What impact would you make that you aren't making now?
Would it be worth it to give something up so you could make an impact on earth, that could last through all of eternity?

Just thinking... I want to know what you think.
Kristyn

Not Me Monday

2008-12-15T01:18:00.002-06:00

One of my super cool blog friends McMama (www.mycharmingkids.net) posts one of my favorite post of the week. This is the first time I've done it, but I'm working on getting into the habit of blogging more...

I am not bloging right now as to procrastinate on my last paper for Fall 2008. I'm being disciplined and getting the paper done right.

I didn't just throw my stuff all over the floor and not pick it up this weekend. I was good and put everything away in its place.

I didn't skip church this morning because my bed was so comfortable.

I didn't procrastinate on this paper.

I haven't been procrastinating like a CHAMP on Christmas shopping. Christmas is in ten days. I have more sense that that.

I'm not trying to talk myself out of running tomorrow before I get ready for the day. I do it every single day, and don't convince myself that i don't need to because I'm not trainign for a specific race.

That more "Not Me's" than you probably needed to know, but I'm working on bloging more and this was motivation to do so!

To the Basement Crew....

2008-10-18T11:08:00.001-05:00

And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

2 Corinthians 8:10-12 (NKJV)

I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

2 Corinthians 8:10-12 (NASB)

I know this verse was written for us! Specifically today for the very purpose to encourage us in our mission! Remember that passionate CONSUMING desire? Have you lost it a little? It's only logical that you have. We gain it back, but some days we're down in the dumps thinking that what we're doing isn't really working. That verse says to finish! Don't stop your gait! We have to finish this with as much zeal and zest as we started out with! All we have to do is be willing! It doesn't matter if we have the ability to do 'this' or 'that' because God can use you whether you actually have the ability for the task He wants you to do! Look at Moses! He couldn't speak well, but God used him anyway! Look at David! A shepherd boy who became the king of Israel! Seeing a pattern? Look at Paul! He was killing Christians! Putting them in jail, but saw the light on the Road to Demascus and was struck blind only to receive his sight back! Not just his physical eyesight, but the doors of his heart were opened as well! You gotta be seeing this pattern now! Look at me! I'm a freaking nobody! I'm not rich. I don't have any money. I'm not worth a hill of beans. (haha, no pun intended there. =) But God is using me and will continue using me until the day I die! And He does the same thing for you! Your tuesday nights are NOT spent in vain. All the hard work you put into those nights. God bless you. jewels in the crown! Oh big ones little ones. green ones. purple ones. =)

We must cross that finish line with all the passion and desire in our hearts as we started out with! 1 Corinthians 9:24 says:

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." (NKJV)

Run! Run! Run! (Forrest Gump comes to mind here... =p)
Run that race! Don't stop for anything or anyone!

I know there are so many people who will tell you and are telling you right now that this ministry is stupid and worldly and demonic and wrong. It brings me to tears. This isn't supposed to build up walls. So don't let them build up those walls. And do not become discouraged when people speak out against you! Jesus said that you are blessed if you are reviled for His sake.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NKJV)

I love this verse. It has become my anthem to anyone who speaks against what we do.
Paul became a Jew so that he could relate to the Jews and speak with them about Christ, from their perspective. He became a Gentile to the Gentiles to bring them the gospel from their side of it. All that he did to become as others, he did without sacrificing his morals. He lived in this world, but he was not apart of this world. We live in the world, but we're not of this world. We come to an MTV generation. We get their attention. They come and are radically changed only for the better. Don't let any cause you to believe this is a bad thing that's going on.

I'll finish with this: Only God knows the outcome of this, but we cannot stop what we're doing. We MUST see this thing through! Please be encouraged by this! It's come as a revelation to share with you! 1 o'clock in the morning and I'm tippity tapping away. =) It's not in vain. Nothing ever is.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
John 3:16

** I DIDN'T WRITE THIS, but I wanted to let some of my blogger friends who wouldn't get to read it on facebook to read it** Thank you Kelly Bean!

350 days ago...

2008-10-11T15:51:00.003-05:00

Its been 350 days since a day that I will never forget. Most people probably couldn’t tell you the date, or why that day is so significant in my life. That day absolutely, beyond the shadow of any doubt, changed my life more that I would have ever dreamed. Still today I fight the that day, often physically, but more often emotionally. The memories of those moments will come up, and remind me what a joy it is to be alive.

Sitting in the service Tuesday night, which is something I don’t do every often, I got a reality check. Matt’s was talking about having just one chance, having just one chance to make a difference for Jesus. Its one conversation. Its taking the time to tell someone about the answer they are searching for. If I would have known a year ago what would have happened, I would have no doubt done things differently. I would have stopped. I wouldn’t have been so rushed.

But honestly, I can’t really tell you who I was before this accident. The memory of the accident no doubt cloud the memories of life before it. I can’t tell you what I was thinking. But I’ve learned since the accident. I am a fighter; I will fight for what I know I need to do. The people that surrounded me after the accident, and likely before, will tell you that I wanted to do things on my own. There were days that I needed A LOT of help, but I tried to do it myself. I think this was because I knew that I needed to do it myself to prove to myself that I could.

Driving again absolutely was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Learning to trust myself behind the wheel of a car was really hard. I remember driving for the first time; I couldn’t tell you the first time I drove by myself when I got my lisence, but I can tell you exactly where I was going when I drove by myself for the first time after the accident. But I can tell you that everytime I get in the car today, I am reminded of the grace of God and his hand all over my life. I am reminded that I was given a second chance at life that I didn’t deserve.

A second chance at life will change you. Having the opportunity to live again. I was telling someone my story about the accident a couple weeks ago. This was the comment that came out: “once you almost lose your life, you understand the importance of living each moment like its your last more than you ever have before.” Watching people come around me and help me when I needed it. The weeks of recovery that took everyone around me to help me heal. It shows you the importance of friends. It shows you how often you need to tell people that you love them. It shows you how little material things matter. It shows you how short life is.

I beg you friends, to count today like it matters. Today could be the last chance you have to live. I never knew that almost a year ago I almost lost my life. I wouldn’t change what happened because I am a better person because of it. My testimony is a picture of God’s grace and how much love he has for us. If you’ve never heard the story, ask me about it. I’ll show you how faithful God really was through the whole situation.

I’m learning right now to trust in the Lord and know that his plan is way greater than the plan I had for myself. It’s a time that I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I know that I have to trust in the Lord. He has a plan that is a lot bigger than I could ever dream for myself.
Keep seeking. Love each of you.

And here are some of the pictures of the car. Thankfully there aren't any of me, but you can see that I came out alive of something I know I shouldn't have.

Rambling

2008-09-15T13:29:00.002-05:00

You know what?

Sometimes it gets old. It gets old to be the one who is waiting. It gets old to see all your friends have the time of their lives when you face life by yourself. It gets old to let people know that you just are you and there isn’t someone else in your life. That for some reason that you aren’t good enough for someone. That you work and keep busy, but at times you feel so alone in the world.

But, to meet a baby who was just given the gift of life. To know that you will know her for the rest of your life. You are waiting for the day that she calls you and says, “I love and miss you Aunt Kris.” Her twenty-inch body took my breath away. She is so beautiful. I don’t think I can love someone more than I love her. Lilly will always be a part of my life; she will know that she is loved so she won’t go through the pain that I had to go through. To know that God sent his son as a baby to save me. What a precious gift babies are. I don’t think I realized that as much as I do now before I met Baby Lillian.

And to realize that you aren’t with someone because there is someone out they’re waiting for you. To know that you don’t have to change yourself to be loved; you will be loved for the rest of your life just as you are. To realize that there is someone out there for you. That one day your divinely orchestrated life will cross with the person that He made for you. You will realize that this is the man you were to marry. Or you realize that God made you because he wants you all for himself. He didn’t make you a husband because he wants you to whole-heartedly serve him for the rest of your life. He wants you to focus on him and his work. It will be worth it.

We just have to be okay with God’s plan. I don’t know God’s plan for my life for tomorrow. I don’t know where I will be in five years except for in constant communion with him, serving in his kingdom wherever he tells me I need to go. That's the only constant that I know will be there in the future.

The bad doesn’t seem so bad when you realize we were created as eternal beings. The promise of the future makes living for Jesus worth every hardship. Knowing Him is worth so much more than the worries of the world.

Just some of my ramblings from today. Praying for each of you.

The Last Great Outpouring

2008-07-30T13:45:00.002-05:00

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and was and is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8

Behold, you stand on the threshold of a new day. For I have truly great things in store for you. Yes, you have not power to conceive what I am about to do. For I will bring to pass a new thing. You will rejoice exceedingly. You have heard of the showers, but I say to you: I will send a mighty downpour. Many have cried out to me from hungry hearts and received my fullness and seen My glory; but I say to you: In the day of great deluge which is coming, many will come to know the reality of my power who have until now not even dreamed of such a thing.

Many who are scoffer and who are honest doubters will find themselves swept away on the swelling tide of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. For this is the time of the last great outpouring. This is the day of preparation for the coming of the Lord. Many shall rejoice together in the Spirits work who are now at sword's point over doctrinal disputes and barriers of tradition.

But let your heart be encouraged; for a new day is dawning: a day of repentance and a day of gathering for My people. For they shall not continue to be barricaded and isolated behind walls of prejudice. I am the Lord, and I will be worshiped in Spirit and in truth, and not in the bigotry of sectarianism and narrowness of denominationalism. The world is waiting for a robust Church to minister to its needs; and how can an ailing, dismembered Body bring healing to a sick and dying world?

Surely I will pour out My Spirit, and by prophecies, by signs and wonders, but many different types of miracles, and by healings, I will reaffirm the veracity of My Word and bring the message of the Gospel of Redemption to many who would otherwise never give heed. I am the Alpha and Omega. Stand firm in Me. Never waver.

Be faithful regardless of apparent failures and discouragements; for My Word shall surely be fulfilled, and your eyes shall see revival in proportions such as never before witnessed in the history of the human race.

Keep your eye on the end of the course. Victory is secured already. Do not let the hurdles cause you consternation. Stay in the running. Truly, I am at your side. According to each day shall your strength be; and the race is not won by the swift, but the obedient shall receive the prize.

Come Away My Beloved
Frances J. Roberts

Hope that blesses you at much as it did me today. Jesus is taking over our city. Be ready to have your world rocked. He's in that business. Keep doing what your supposed to do. Love you guys! K

Blink

2008-07-28T13:59:00.002-05:00

**This blog is inspired by a blog friend of mine. Read her blog; its a beautiful picture of motherhood, and trying to understand who God is. Be prepared to cry, laugh, and morn right along side of her. Audrey Caroline**
Blink

Taking a mental picture of a moment knowing that you will probably never get it back again in life. Taking the time to realize the beauty of each moment, and know that so often they only come once. They were some easy moments; some times they were really hard moments. But they defined me; they mark a time of change, a moment that will forever be a part of my memories.

Walking down the sidewalk with Matt, telling him about the World Race and what God was doing. Having him respond with “I want ‘my team’ here” but understanding why I need to go.

Blink.

Reading a letter from my dad with “I love you” at the bottom.

Blink.

Seeing a picture of Lillian and realizing in less than 2 months she will be in the world, wanting to protect her, but also let her see the world at the same time. Falling in love with something that is only a picture that I can hold right now.

Blink.

A text from Ashley that says I love you. If she only realized how much I needed that.

Blink.

Struggling to get a normal family picture whenever we go get them taken.

Blink.

When Dana came up to Birmingham for Taryn and Herbie’s wedding, shopping, going to the wedding, and running after. Realizing what a beautiful friend I have in her. A sister that God never gave me.

Blink.

Walking down the hallway at Cathedral with one of the Basement Crew; it doesn’t matter who it is, but talking just of life, of the unknowns, and faith in Christ. Never realizing how big of a thing we really are apart of, just focused on doing what we are supposed to do. But knowing that what we are doing is changing the world.

Blink.

Finding a bumper sticker that only Dana would understand and sending it to her.

Blink.

Hearing from an old friend and reconnecting, realizing I has just thought about her the day before.

Blink.

My first night at the dorms by myself, feeling so alone, not realizing what amazing friends were going to come from college.

Blink.

Struggling through my first semester at Southeastern, hating life, and having God do an amazing work in my life over that semester.

Blink.

Walking across the stage at graduation in 2005, pretty sure that Dad was going to light my gown on fire with the candle.

Blink.

Meeting Mercy, having her stay on my head all day, and wishing she could have been my own child.

Blink.

Walking on the jet way in Entebbe, saying do you realize that we’re in Africa now? I feel in love that day with a continent that will always be a part of my heart. And little did I realize how much a country would change me.

Blink.

Watching the sunrise after a day of being sick at Telling the Truth rescue unit. Its like God was painting a picture just for me that day.

Blink.

Breaking my arm on the well arm in Uganda, passing out, and the awful hospital visit.

Blink.

Hanging upside down in the car, deciding whether to give up right there, or fight. And deciding to fight.

Blink.

Talking with Jason for the first time about working at CrossPoint, and the moments that followed and the time I spent there.

Blink.

This will be updated later this week with more moments that are just like those posted and some pictures of those moments, but I wanted to get this put up.

Promises.

2008-06-25T14:00:00.003-05:00

Encouragement for the journey:

Set Your Course By My Promises

“The Lord is faithful, who will establish and guard you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Be not afraid, I will not allow your adversaries to swallow you up. You are My child; I will deliver you, honor you, and be glorified through you. Because of My faithfulness to you, even your enemies will recognize my power. I will keep you in sickness, and in death I will be your sure comfort. I will walk with you through the valley, and you will fear no shadow. Hold to My promises. They are given to you A chart is given to a ship, and a compass to the hunter. You may set your course and find your way by My promises. They will lead you and guide you in places where there is no trodden path. They will give you direction and wisdom and will open up your own understanding.
Study My Word, the Bible. It abounds with nuggets of courage. It will strengthen you and help you, and even in eternity you will partake of its far-reaching effects.

Come Away My Beloved
Frances J. Roberts

I read this today. Jesus opened the book, and I just read it. Finding out this news last night, and reading this really made it that He's taking care of me. I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. Hopefully this encourages you too.

To Pass Through the Storm....

2008-04-30T14:02:00.003-05:00

and remain positive that He is still God, though the storms we face.

That is what it means to go through a hard time.

We will get through this Southeastern Bible College. Our God has never failed us, and I know that He won't fail us now. We are so blessed to have the family we call Southeastern. Never forget that our bond will get us through this storm.

A. L. O. N. E.

2008-02-15T12:43:00.001-06:00

Today was one of the days that the reality of being alone really hit me right in the heart. The reality of the fact that my family is 1000 miles away. The reality that I really don’t have anyone to lean on.
I am always okay. The world doesn’t know anything different. In fact, so many people don’t. So few people are let into the world when I am not okay. I can fake that smile so easily. I wonder if some people know. And I realize the power of a kind word. The power of a single gesture means more than people know.
I went out to dinner tonight by myself. Leaving to ski in Maggie Valley has been on my mind all day. I’m excited, and nervous at the same time. Everyone was out with their boyfriend tonight, and I decided to go out to eat, because I know I wouldn’t get a “free” meal this weekend. I decided on Golden Corral in some ways to remind me of home. We used to go eat here all the time when I lived in Maryland. I thought that I would be alright; I didn’t figure that coming to a place like this would remind me so much of my life that I left in Maryland. But as I was paying, the guy ringing me up figured I was with the people behind me, a father and a son. He overcharged me, and I told him so, and he went about fixing it. It wasn’t until I realized that it could of easily been mom, dad and me, like it was when I got home from Africa.
Walking getting food made me realize something: I really am alone. My friends are awesome; don’t get me wrong. But you can’t replace family. You can’t tell me that you wouldn’t be lost without them. People here don’t realize the value of family; only when you are away you can. Only when you really are alone do you realize how big the world really is, and how much people don’t really care.
One thing that I am going to do whenever I’m out alone is look for others that are alone. It could be just a meal, or making someone’s day one time. The lady next to me realized my pain through the tears in my eyes, and brought me a stuffed dog and wished me a Happy Valentine’s Day. You have no idea how much it meant; I’m sure she doesn’t either. But when you’re facing the world alone, you realize the power of one kind word. Of one gesture, of one moment. She gave me hope to realize that there really are good people still out there. She gave me the courage to pay it forward. To love someone else who is like me and “alone”.
Jesus is there. I know that no doubt in my mind. I know that he’s sitting across the table with me. At times, its so hard to be sitting at the table alone, with every other chair tucked in under the table. I know that He’s there in spirit; it is just hard to imagine him in the skin. It so hard when you are facing the world with you and whatever you have with you. Its hard to realize that so often this computer is the only other thing around. That the words on the page are a vent of sorts. That the only thing that really listens is this document.
I’ve tried to convince myself that Valentine’s day is simply a commercial holiday. But what I can’t honestly convince myself is that it isn’t a holiday. The holidays are the worst. Those days are the hardest. My parents have been married 27 years today. I called to tell them congrats, and my mom said this: “Just wanted to let you know even though you aren’t here we still love you and we miss you.” The reality of those words hit me. They really do, I know that. I just want sometimes to be there. I want to be able to teleport. It would be so nice to be able to be back home for just a meal, and back, but such isn’t possible.
I’m good now that I’ve had a night of rest. I know that I am loved. Jesus is restoring

A. L. O. N. E.

2008-02-15T12:43:00.000-06:00

Seeing Beauty In What the World Deems Ugly.

2008-02-04T11:51:00.000-06:00

Seeing Beauty in the little things. Seeing beauty in the things that really don’t make sense. Seeing it in the face that our lives aren’t perfect. Seeing that Jesus really is reigning in this city like no other. Seeing that Birmingham is waking up to revival. We packed out the BJCC on Saturday with Christian artists. They were turning people away at the door. They couldn’t get in. There were tons of people there. Different walks of life. Different ages. It’s been so cool to see that Jesus is really doing something in here. I saw people who shouldn’t be alive there, myself included. It drives me to share the gospel. It drives me to saw that people from many walks of life are searching for Jesus. It forces me out of my comfort zone. Justin Standridge said three nights ago that at any time God could use someone else to share the gospel. That God could decide to take us away from WhoSoEver Ministries. It hit me that this is an honor rather than an obligation. Not saying that there aren’t days or events that I feel like it s job; but when you realize what Jesus did, and why he came, that we can find joy in the fact that we GET to serve and be used by him. I can’t say without wondering that Jesus didn’t ever feel like he was doing his “job”. I think that he did; and I don’t feel like I’m sinning because of it.
I talked to a lady two nights ago at Winter Jam that asked me this: “What made you turn from your old way of life?” In joy I was able to tell her that Jesus is the reason that I was able to do that. And that he was the only way that I was able to do that. He saved me from the pit of hell. He brought me out of the pit of despair and back into his marvelous light. The beauty of being saved from my sin. The beauty of the fact that I have my mind made up that this life isn’t over. The grave doesn’t have a hold on me. I might be dead on the way home and die. The death rate is 100%. Everyone in all of history died, Jesus included. Dying is something is beautiful if you are looking for the beauty in it. Beauty is not something that isn’t there; we just fail to see it. Keep looking for beauty friends. You will see it if you look hard enough. Keep looking for it.

What is beautiful?
Death
Disease
People
Jesus
Grace
Love
Annoying Habits
Wildlife
Culture
Travelling
Seeing People Give Their Lives to Jesus
Church with all its faults
Family
Technology
Alive Things
Noise
Voices
Laughter
Children
Teenagers
Mountains
Parents
College Students

And the list goes on and on.
Just look for it.

More Rambles

2008-01-31T15:44:00.000-06:00

I’m sitting in Starbucks in Mountain Brook Alabama, typing something to post on my blog on my new Mac Book; it seems like a ridiculously common picture. I’ve become more of the kind of person who would own a Mac over the last year. I’ve become more of a quiet observer than anything else. And to be perfectly honest, I think it’s a good thing. It might seem like it would be bad, but being perfectly honest, it’s something that has made me more aware of the people and things around me than I was in the past. I know now what it means to listen, and that has definitely helped in my listening to God. Having changed so much of who I am over the last year, so many of my habits have too.
I’ve become more of a leader in the last year than in the years past. At times, I wonder why I do it. I wonder why I even find myself in leadership. I don’t always like it; there are times that being a leader is the last place that I want to find myself. But I find it so often. Pretty much everywhere that I find myself, I am a “leader” which is what makes me guess that leadership finds me rather than me looking for it. This makes me venture to guess this: most of the leadership positions that I am in are because of God’s choice rather than one I chose on my own. It’s a beautiful thing most of the time, but at times I wonder what would happen if I weren’t a leader.
Being a leader is something that I was born to do. Being a middle child, it’s not really what most people would expect out of me. They don’t see that I was born to do this. I talk to people often about leadership, much like I talked to Jason Gunnells about last night after church, and realize that some people aren’t born to be leaders. It took me a long time to realize that most people really aren’t born to do this. But the people who are, we all tend to think in similar ways. We tend to act in similar ways, at times out of desperation. There is a great burden of leadership that I didn’t understand until I was the “head” leader, and helped lead a large ministry with about three other people. A burden of the fact that the words I say or don’t say often lead others; the burden of the fact that because I lead in ministry, I am at war for souls. What I do here, like the quote says, directly affects eternity. One comment could make someone turn away from Jesus all together, or turn back to him.
I think that is the burden of anyone who calls themselves “Christian”. It hits me hard because of the fact that my name means that. “Christian” I am called on a regular basis. What kind of calling does that have on my life? I think the name that someone carries has a lot of weight in who they are. There are definitely people that don’t live up to what their name means, but I wonder why so often people do, and again, why is my name Kristin? And why does my middle name mean strong? A high calling, no doubt.
So I think that I’ve rambled more than I needed to, and I’ve got to get out of Starbucks and get Burke from Bible Study. I pray that each of you is blessed immensely.

And teens/ college students: if your reading this: check out myfamilyisclueless.com Its a place that you can tell your family what you wanted to tell them without revealing who you are.

Be Blessed Friends and we will talk soon!

Cleaning, Laundry, and some of my OCD tendencies

2007-11-26T19:55:00.001-06:00

Its what makes me Kristyn.

I’m one of those people who have a room that is almost always clean. It’s rare to see something not cleaned up and put away. Everything in my room has a place. I need that. I have to have that consistency. I really like being able to walk into my room and know exactly where whatever it is that I need. I vacuum and clean more often than most, especially most college students. Someone made the comment that my room is almost always “room check ready.” I need to cleanliness in order for my mind to be in order. I have laundry done almost daily, and people make fun of me for that, but I need it.
Chaos is not something that I function well with. I don’t mind a surprise irregularly, but most of the time I am totally aware of what is going to go on. I plan most days to know when I get up what I am going to face when the day happens. Sure, life happens and stuff that I would like to get done doesn’t, but I usually have plan for the day. Without a plan, I am a mind in chaos. Without a plan, from experience, nothing really productive will get done that day. I have a constant running task list, sometimes one hundred things on it, sometimes three; sometime little things (like vacuuming) or sometimes big things (like a 10 page paper). I tend to take things in smaller tasks. I like to focus on things in such a way that the tasks are manageable for my mind to wrap around. I like when I can work on a paper, do a paragraph, and know that I did what I wanted to do that day and what I needed to do to get it done on time. Not to say that I don’t drop the ball, because I do it often, but rather that I figured out that this is how I work. This is how I work.
This isn’t everybody, no doubt. There are people who plan months in advance. I can tell you that if you ask me about something more than about 36 hours from now, I don’t likely know what I am going to do. I plan about 36 hours in advance. And there are people that have no idea what the next hour is going to bring; the kind of people who never really have a plan. I have friends that are all three types: long term planners, short term planners, and non planners. They all exist. They all work. They are all just different. I just have to remember to appreciate that all people are different. At times, people who don’t plan drive my crazy. But I remember that they love me for being a bit OCD at times, and I need to love them for their quirks.

Beautifully Single

2007-11-20T15:01:00.001-06:00

The title might seem like an oxymoron to some. We had this discussion last night at mens and women's ministry; it wasn't the focus of what we were talking about, but it was something that we addressed.
Kasey Graydon said this "I double dog dare you to submit yourself fully to God right now, when you aren't in another relationship. What God can do with you is something that he cannot due with a majority of the population."
I'm taking that dare. I'm saying right now, my focus (my thoughts and my actions) are on Him. I'm focusing on the fact that this time is beautiful. I am focusing on the fact that God could have me called to singleness, and honestly, I am completely okay with that. The accident really showed me that God does have a huge plan for my life, and right now I am at a point that he is telling me to be satisfied with him and with Him alone. To devote myself to the ministries the God has put in my life; I am saying to you that God wants all of me, and not the part that I have left over after I have a romantic relationship.
I am not saying that God is telling me to be single for the rest of my life. I am saying that I am going to take the rest of my time here at SEBC and focus on him. My mom always told me, "Kristyn the one who is worth it will wait for you." I know that I am meeting people right and left. I am meeting people that could be my future husband. But something that Ryan Kruise said "He won't give your one to someone else." Meaning that God won't take the man that he made for me (if he exists) and give him to someone else because I committed myself to him. When you read it that way, then its kind of bogus.
I am so excited to see what God is going to do in the next year; I am excited to say to you that I know that God will do something with me. Let's Roll!
Kristyn

2007-11-17T22:22:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-14T20:26:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-12T19:23:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-11T17:35:00.000-06:00

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