March 15, 2026

Do You Dream of More Time?

September 17, 2014 by

More Time
In the busyness of life, do you dream of more time?  As women, we have so many titles—there is the employee/employer, committee leader, wife, mom, coach, church and/or community volunteer, taxi driver and friend.  Is it possible to give 100% in each role and find time to take care of our spiritual and physical health? In my opinion, the answer is no.

If you find yourself in a constant state of go, here is a question…

“Is your busyness keeping you from knowing, and fulfilling,
God’s purpose for your life?”

If the answer is yes, then how do you prioritize your time to know God’s purpose?

Ladies, we will never know the answer until we make time with God each day our first priority through prayer and studying His Word. If we make Him a priority, He will begin to show us how to prioritize our time to fulfill HIS PLAN each day. You may be in a season of your life that you need to give up certain responsibilities, ideas, or selfish ambitions.  He is ready to show you.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says,
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse we hear quite often that gives us hope that God has created us for a purpose. However, verses 12 and 13 tell us how we can find that purpose—by SEEKING HIM.  God wants time with us with no distractions.  Just as we want our husband/boyfriend to give us his full attention, God expects the same.

When you give Him your undivided attention, I promise He will show you
• Where your time should be spent each day
• How your time can best be used for His purpose
• How you can use your time to take care of your physical and spiritual fitness

I understand the challenge of knowing when and where to make Him a priority each day.  If you feel that way and dream of more time, I would love to help you. Email me at crystal@yourfitnessdesigner.com to receive a free time assessment called “Fitting it In.”  Within 5 minutes of completing this assessment, you will discover how to find time to focus on your priorities and take care of your physical and spiritual well-being.

Don’t let the busyness of this world keep you from growing with God and fulfilling His purpose for your life.

In Good Health,
Crystal

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Fix My Eyes

September 17, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Hit rewind
Click delete
Stand face to face with the younger me
All of the mistakes
All of the heartbreak
Here’s what I’d do differently

I’d love like I’m not scared
Give when it’s not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on You

I learned the lines and talked the talk
But the road less traveled is hard to walk 
It takes a soldier
Who knows his orders
To walk the walk I’m supposed to walk

The things of Earth are dimming
In the light of Your glory and grace
I’ll set my sights upon Heaven
I’m fixing my eyes on You
I’m fixing my eyes on You
I’m fixing my eyes

Singer / Songwriters: For King and Country (Luke and Joel Smallbone)

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When I fix my eyes on Jesus, through His strength, I can do ALL the things He asks me to do. God ways are not our ways. What doesn’t make sense to us doesn’t have to…as God always has a higher purpose for what He calls us to do.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”
Isaiah 55:8 NLT

For God to do the unimaginable in our lives we must be willing to keep our eyes focused on Him and not be trying to figure things out by our own strength.. He must have full reign over our lives… More of Him and less of Me..

He must become greater; I must become less.
John 3:30 NIV

I love this passage in the Bible where Jesus prays for Simon that his faith would not fail him.

But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.
Luke 22:32a NLT

Our faith is what gives God the ability to work in our lives. You either trust or you don’t—it is as simple as that! What unimaginable are you believing for in your life?

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us,
to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20 NLT

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Heavenly Father, thank You that we can do ALL that You ask us to do by Your strength and power that is at work in us at all times. All we have to do is tap into it… May our faith in You not fail us and please forgive us when it does. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!!!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Turning Back to God

September 17, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.
Psalms 51:15-17

As we as Christians walk through our lives, we need to remember that we are not perfect, nor should we judge each other.  Our purpose is to share God’s love and to mentor those who come along with us.  We are to be salt and light to the nations.

Jesus tells us,
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:13-16

There is a time for us to review our actions and to repent once either we see it, or once someone brings it to our attention.  Either way, there is a time for us to seek to change.  Pride can so very easily prevent us from repenting, turning from our sin and beginning to respect God again.  But what happens if we continually sin, again and again, the same sin?  Peter posed this question to Jesus…

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive
my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21 and 22

Jesus then went on to say,

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Verses 23-35)

I am not sure about you, but I endeavor to lay my life down at the foot of the Cross and do my best not to take it up again.  But with my being humble and contrite, I can lay my sin down each and every day while I make every effort to not take it on again.

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Father, forgive me a sinner!  Forgive my weak fleshly desires.  Forgive me when I am quick to speak, before I think.  Forgive me for when I judge others before I know what their life holds.  Forgive me for not seeking You first, when I know I am supposed to.  Forgive me my pride.  Help me replace “I can do it” and instead say “with Your guidance I can do it.”  I give You the glory for each and every day.  Thank You, Lord.  In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , ,

Welcoming People

September 16, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise You.
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalms 51:15-17

My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin
and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:17 AMP

I have yet to meet a person that Christ has rejected.  There is no such thing as too sinful, too perfect, too young, or too old.  Not one person who comes to Christ broken and humble is turned away.  He never said, “Oh…that’s too much for me to handle.”  He has never turned His back saying, “Not today…I’m too busy.  Try again tomorrow.”  He is never off limits.  He has never said, “Ha! You puny human. I am God. You are too beneath Me to help.”  And He is always emotionally available.  He has never said, “I’m too bored or tired or angry.”

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
Romans 15:7

Jesus is always available to the willing heart.  He was even available to those who didn’t know they needed Him.  So, why aren’t we the same way?  The easy response to this question is: ‘He was God and I am only human.’   Even though this is very true, I think there are other reasons why we aren’t as accepting or available as Christ, and it all comes down to motives.

We can never truly know a person’s heart.  We can see their actions and listen to what they say, but even so, there is no way for us to know what is going through their minds or the motives they have or what they do behind closed doors.  How could we possibly know the internal struggles another goes through?  For example, you encounter a rude person and it’s easy to assume that person is just rude; but is that really true?  What’s happening on the surface is not always an adequate overall summary of the situation.  This is what the Holy Spirit is for!  (As well as it helps to remember to view situations in a “this is not about me” manner.)

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Lord, help me to welcome those around me the way You welcomed those to Yourself, so that I may be a light for others.  Please, help me to remember the big picture, and stay focused on You, so I can love people like You did.  Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Healing Begins

September 16, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do so we think that you’re good
And you can’t believe it’s not enough
All the walls you built up are just glass on the outside

So let ’em fall down
There’s freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We’re here now

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you’re broken within
The light meets the dark, the light meets the dark

Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find that the shame won’t disappear

So let it fall down
There’s freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We’re here now, we’re here now

Sparks will fly as grace collides with the dark inside of us
So please don’t fight this coming light
Let this Blood come cover us
His Blood can cover us

Songwriters: Jason Ingram, Mike Donehey, Jeff Owen
Performed by Tenth Avenue North
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This song is about not trusting in your ‘works’ to get to Heaven and to be with Jesus.  Our faith in God and His power will get us to Him.  Believing that His Son Jesus was born of a virgin, lived 33 years on our earth without sin, became sin for us and then was crucified…all so that we might have a place in Heaven with God.  That is what we need to believe and share with others.  That is our purpose on the earth.

For those of us who are parents, we are to bring up our children with the fear of the Lord in their heart.  Although we may try to teach this, it is often best learned by example.  Just as a child learns about gravity from falling, or about what hot or cold feels like from experience.  There are some children who naturally trust and there are others who have to test it to see for themselves.  Which child are we, for we are all children of God?  I am the one who will sometimes test it to see, other times I will learn from seeing others’ mistakes to trust in what I see or what I hear.  Blessed are those who trust just from hearing and knowing.

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him.
Jeremiah 17:7

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Father, help us to seek You first.  Help us to not become dependent on ourselves or in men.  Let the Holy Spirit direct us, when we ask, to those people whom You have empowered with Your wisdom.  There are those who have already walked  the path You have laid out focusing on You and only on You.  May we be those people—seeking Your will…not ours.  May we become the light in this barren, fear-filled land.  In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

God and the Broken Spirit

September 15, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo
Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart, You, God, will not despise.
Psalms 51:15-17

It is hard to believe that thirteen years have passed since our nation was attacked and brought almost to its knees by people who did not agree with our religious, political, or social values and culture.  Those same people, now members of different groups, are striving to bring us down once again.  It may or may not happen.  We must be aware and prayerful every day.  Our world changed thirteen years ago, and it is never going to be the way it was before.

I remember where I was on that fateful day. I was away at college, and I called my mother to tell her about the first tower. We were both thinking it was an accident. Then I saw the second plane hit. I knew things were going to be different. Later that evening, pictures of people helping others began to emerge. People were rushing to volunteer at all three sites of the attack. It was amazing to see people helping others. It was also amazing that so many people also returned to church for a while afterward.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

Thirteen years ago, we were in trouble. The nation was grieving the loss of thousands of people. The unimaginable had happened. The people of this nation started to turn to the one thing that has always been solid in this country—God. Many people turned to Him because they were in shock and disbelief, and were hurting. He was with us. He never left us. Many saw the attacks as a wake-up call from God that anything could happen at any time and anywhere.

Job dealt with pain and hurt as the devil tried to tempt him to turn from God. He lost everything. He lost his wealth and his family in just an instant. Yet his faith never wavered. He relied on God to pull him through the bad times. In Job 1:20-22, Job still worshipped the Lord. He acknowledged that God can give and God can take away. Job did not question God about what had happened. He continued to worship God and maintain his righteousness.

Once the events of 9/11 ended that day, the grief and questions did not end. They are forever ingrained in the memories of those who lived it or witnessed it from far away. As a nation we sought solace in God. Many people still do—in good and bad times. God holds us up. Our spirits may have been broken…but God was there to comfort and heal our nation.

 

Dear Heavenly Father: We thank You for healing our nation back on 9/11/01. Now we ask that You heal our nation again as people begin to turn from You again. We pray that those who have turned away would return to You with swiftness before Your return. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

I Love You, Lord

September 15, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
I love You, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
Oh, my soul, rejoice!
Take joy, my King
In what You hear
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound
In Your ear

Songwriter: Laurie Klein / Performed by Petra

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My daughter and I used to sing this song to my grandson when we were rocking him to sleep.  As I was remembering this, a thought came to mind—it is easy to make a sweet sound when I sing praise songs and worship my God.  But are my thoughts and words a sweet sound in His ear as well?  Ouch!

Laurie Klein, who wrote this song, said, “We must be prepared to meet Him no matter who we’re talking to or what we’re doing, whether we’re worshipping in church or worshipping with all the tasks that make up our day.”

I am afraid I do not guard my words, my thoughts or my intentions as closely as I should.  Deuteronomy 1:45 (NASB) warns of what can happen if we don’t.

Then you returned and wept before the Lord;
but the Lord did not listen to your voice nor give ear to you.

How horrible would that be?!?  Instead, I want Him to put a “new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;” Psalm 40:2 (NASB).  I want “the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart (to) be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” Psalm 19:14 (NASB).

1 Chronicles 28:9 says we are to “serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.”  I would do well to remember that He alone understands EVERY intent of my thoughts.  I can hide nothing from Him.

I do love Him.  I want to lift not only my voice, but my words, my thoughts, and my intentions in worship to Him.  And I pray they are a sweet, sweet sound to His ear.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Brokenness

September 14, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.
Psalm 51:17

Brokenness – stricken, wounded, dismayed, to be grieved, to make sad

In Psalms 51:15-17, David is consumed with guilt.  He is in anguish and would do almost anything to escape from it.  What God really desires from David (and from us!) is only that we are truly broken over our sin.  David would have offered sacrifices. Sometimes we try to take the easy way.  We try to negotiate with God—offer a sacrifice of sorts.  But God looks at the heart.  He looks for true repentance, a deep sorrow.  God wants a heart pliable to His Word, one that trembles at His Word, tender and obedient.  In other words, God seeks a broken and contrite heart.  Man may despise what is broken but God does not.  Instead, He looks with favor upon a broken and humble attitude.

But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble
and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands.
Isaiah 66:2b AMP

God chooses to dwell among the humble because they have a reverent attitude. All of our wrong doing comes to a climax at the foot of the Throne.  Our faith and repentance glorify God.

The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart
and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin
and are humbly and thoroughly penitent.
Psalm 34:18 AMP

Brokenness—to be stricken, wounded, grieved by our sin—that is what God desires.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

September 13, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Psalms 103:1-5

The sun comes up; it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, oh my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
10,000 reasons for my heart to find
Bless the Lord, oh my soul

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
10,000 years and then forever more
Bless the Lord

Songwriters: Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin / Performed by The Rend Collective

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

You Reign Alone

September 13, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

There is no one greater than You
All our praise belongs to You
Holy in power
Faithful and true
There is none like You

There is no one stronger than You
Sin forever conquered by You
Fearless in life
Faithful in death
There is none like You

Lord, You reign
You reign alone
Exalted over all the earth enthroned
The majesty and greatness of Your name
Let all creation say ‘Lord, You reign’

There is none more loving than You
Near to all who call out to You
Your mercies anew
You’re faithful and true
There is none like You

No One is higher than
The King above all nations
No one is like You God
The name of Jesus is
Higher than any other
No one is like You God

Written by Wade Joye and London Gatch / Elevation Worship

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I love singing Scripture and this song is full of Scripture!   The writers used Psalm 96 as their inspiration, and here are just a few other verses that declare the character and greatness of God.

There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your name in might.
Jeremiah 10:6

Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God?
Psalm 77:3

The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth.
Psalm 47:2

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Matthew 28:18

They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them
because He is Lord of lords and King of kings—
and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.
Revelation 17:14

As I sang this song and meditated on it, I kept coming back to the words “You reign alone.” As a verb, ‘reign’ refers to holding a royal office, to be sovereign, to rule.  As a noun, ‘reign’ refers to the period of time during which a sovereign rules.

The Lord reigns; He is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; He has put on strength as His belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.
Psalms 93:1-2

In this Scripture (one of many), it is confirmed both that our Lord is reigning now, He is sovereign, AND His reign is forever.  For me (and I hope for you) that establishes an assurance in my heart that I am safe, cared for, and secure.  In a home where neither parent assumes responsibility to be head of the household, the children feel insecure and even unloved.  For us, as children of God, we never have to feel that way.  God reigns, He has always reigned, and He has taken responsibility to make sure that we are secure and loved through the sacrifice of His one and only Son, Jesus, for our salvation. Ladies, we don’t need to look to anyone else or anything else for this security and love.

For You are great and do wondrous things; You alone are God.
Psalm 86:10

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this:
‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD.
Mark 12:29

God alone (Who needs no help from anyone or anything else) rules and reigns.  He is quite capable of and wanting very much to take care of us.  Our God is faithful and true, loving and merciful, holy and just, strong and majestic!  This great God, Who reigns alone in all the universe, loves you and me.  There is definitely no one like our God.  Please join me today in singing to and worshiping our Sovereign Lord and King!

And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea.
They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong
to the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
Revelation 5:13

AMEN!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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