Category Archives: Healing

March 12, 2020

Refuse To Sink

By Christina

“It’s amazing what we can do if we simply refuse to give up.”
Octavia Butler

Being in such a time of chaos would get anyone of us to be so fearful. But we have to be strong, be positive and be focused. Many times we get challenged in moments such as this –COVID19 running rampant –aggressive and savaging through the lives of many.

It is a scary time. But we have to fight hard –follow the protocol — and keep believing and trusting that we are going to be okay! We pray through this too! Just like any other day and every other periods of testing in our lives.

As I go back to the scriptures and reflect upon the cry of the disciples when they were in the eye of the unbidden storm. That was a dark and pivotal moment for them. They had to act. They had to respond. They had to seek out help. They called to the One that could help.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Matthew 25:23-27 NKJV

In The Passion Translation it reads this content much more profoundly in verses 24-25, “Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. The disciples woke him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die!”

As this story of the COVID-19 is developing profoundly and the waves of case after case is causing us to also feel swamped –we have to rely on a place of peace and give this to the One that is in control of all things. Wake up faith.  Wake up encouragement. Wake up a life of prayer and intercession. 

Refuse to sink! Don’t allow your heart to get so weighed down by the constant crash of disturbing news. Just lend a hand when you need to, keep praying for you, your family, places of business and community. Keep positive and strong. Don’t sink in mentally, spiritually and physically to the doubt, discouragement and fear.

We have to hope for the very best –even NOW! This will get better! We will overcome! Lives will be healed! Jesus calms the storms of life! ❤ We can’t give up now but work harder at believing and encouraging the people around us to stick together. Share the love and support. We will rise above this. We have to refuse to sink!

Stay safe all.

With love,

Christina ❤

 

Leave a comment | posted in Encouragement, Faith, Healing, Inspiration, Peace, Prayer

October 11, 2019

AHHH HOME SWEET HOME

By Christina

Isn’t it so so wonderful to kick your feet up after a long week on a Friday!! I just love that Friday feeling. And I am sure that you all do too!

What to do????

1) REST

2) READ

3) WRITE

4) SLEEP

Those are great things to do for me and I don’t expect everyone else to love those things, I am just done with packing my weekend up after so many work years! Weekends are to recoup.

We work so hard and time flies by so fast. There is nothing like being able to enjoy your own home, couch, bed, table, furniture. All these things you acquired over time to create a welcoming environment. That’s my home! My own peaceful Starbucks environment!

So today I pray that you REST! Enjoy your home, enjoy the people in it and enjoy what you built. There cant be nothing worse that not being able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Live in this moment because you deserve not wasting it all away when life moves so fast.

On the right path…. excerpt from “Attention Pays” by Neen James:

“What would happen if we set some boundaries? As organizations, as leaders, and as individuals, we need to make it OK to have rest and recovery. And to recharge our batteries. We need to make it OK to pay attention to what really matters at work when we are there and to what really matters at home when we are there. How much more productive could we be if we focused and paid attention to who and what was important at the appropriate time?”

Take the time, the weekend, the evenings that you come home and make it SWEET! ♥️

You are worth it, even if you have to say NO to plans because you plan to rest. Be watchful and wise with your time because you cant get it back any other way.

With love,

Chrizzy

2 Comments | posted in Family, Healing, Health, Inspiration, Love, Rest, Restoration

December 14, 2018

The Winter Trees

By Christina

““At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant.” Job 14:7-9 NIV

Today I looked out, stopped. Took a pic. Love the winter SOMETIMES! Saw the flurries coming down and it looked magical. Even through the glass staring out at the bare trees, they spoke. Deep. So deep.

Skies the limit!

I love trees, its more than a logo for me;

Or a ministry. It’s something God created.

They grow together.

They are beautiful, expressive;

Maybe like sisters :-/

Sometimes that can hurt;

One and another;

But mostly an expression of sincere love.

Something lasting. Wonderful.

Love that took time.

Love that has depth.

Deep, deep roots.

Because of the authenticity,

There is a reason they never look fake.

There is no pretend.

They could never know how not to be trees.

In every season they display its true nature.

They wilt up in summer.

Blossom in spring.

Change colors in autumn.

Only to prepare for the stripping that winter will cause. It can be brutal. It’s a season to pass through for trees.

But truth be told,

Even when the conditions change around the trees

It still has strong roots, so they go through each season again and again.

Always remained.

Whoever said the life of the trees would be easy.

That’s how I have to believe about sisterhood.

We’ll get through this season and the next.

And always be the most expressive, unique and strongest trees.

With love,

A sister forever ♥️

Sharing a simple poem.

~Chrizzy

Leave a comment | posted in Emerging, Family, Healing, Health, Hope, Inspiration, Love, Loved Letters, Recovery, Relationships, Rest, Restoration

November 27, 2018

Dear Family

By Christina

Dear Family,

A big week has arrived for us and we have been experiencing big issues at the same time. The best thing that we have that is bigger than all of that is a big God that we all serve.

This is the moment where we get to all live that out and put it into practice.

Over the course of weeks and months this has been such a trying time for us all. We lost life. We lost family. We lost love and some of us even lost hope.

However, we also can say that others have gained life, gained family, gained love and some gaining more hope.

In the midst of transitional heights such as this –we experience a lot of raw emotions. This is okay. This is normal but we can’t stay in this place at all. All this is passing. Even this time may cause us to say and do things we never thought that we would do before. What do we do now? How do we embrace such great transitions? Just thinking about that as we are still healing and helping is some kind of anguish. It is never that easy for any one of us.

A pillar of our family was tragically stripped from us. Another pillar was tragically struck with illness. Others have transitioned away into their next season as this is a normal thing we embrace. Others are moving out or moving away. Some are wretched tears and others are with great celebrating. We cried, yelled, screamed, laughed, hugged…. Nevertheless, we have also said things that we probably should not have or done things we should not have. Much of what we regret but we cannot take back.

I am sorry for the things I said and done.

We can all attest to that. What can I say?  This is not going to be an easy season especially approaching the holidays.  In these next four days, perhaps we can do all that we can in the midst of our past, our pain, our purpose or any other priorities and make two people a HUGE priority this week and that is Cassandra and Matthew.

Let us love on them. Embrace them. Celebrate them. Encourage them. And help them as much as we could—but what I think they want to see more than anything else. Is that we do that together—in LOVE as a family.  A real family. Pushing aside all of our personal feelings, opinions, convictions and beliefs and work to do ONE THING ONLY THIS WEEK.

As my dear friend would always shout from the pulpit –“It’s not about you!”

It is really not.

It is about the LOVE of God and the love that He wants us to demonstrate more so even now. With all these moving parts.

I love you.

I really do.

Moreover, I hate that the enemy is using this for fuel to try and separate.  WE SHOULD KNOW BETTER!

LAY ASIDE YOUR SELF!!!! AND focus on the two that God is telling us to focus on in this moment.  We cannot give the enemy a foothold –because he is making it a stronghold and we know those are hard to tear down. Here is a recipe that I will say has been given to us.

Start with love. Start with hope. Let us follow the golden rule of Romans 12:12 and overcome this thing. It is our nature to act up –yes even as Christians! However, it is the Holy Spirits nature in us to make us press right through the natural into the supernatural and put on some SUPER LOVE.

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Colossians 3:14 NKJV

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, WEAR LOVE. It’s your basic, all- purpose garment. NEVER BE WITHOUT IT.
Colossians 3:14 MSG

As I think about this precious moment of my only daughter walking down that aisle I am in such an unexplainable state. I leave those thoughts with God. But one thing we will remember is that garment she is wearing. The beautiful white gown on this bride. Symbolic of a pure love. That is the garment God wants us to put on. Just like that and that we never take this specific gown off, not for a moment.

We conquer. We rise above. We find a way.

With love,

Christina

4 Comments | posted in Celebration, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Healing, Hope, Love, Loved Letters, Relationships, Restoration, Transition, Trust