Keep your promises.

How upset do you get when someone makes a promise to you and then breaks it?

If you’re anything like me, you can’t stand it.

How could they?

Why would they say it if they didn’t mean It?

What’s so hard about keeping your word?

We can go on and on and on about the things that go on in our head when others don’t follow through.

Can I ask you a question? When’s the last time you let you down? When’s the last time you told yourself you were going to do something, but , you never followed through?

Whether it’s spending more time with God.

Whether it’s drinking more water.

Whether it’s treating your body like a temple.

Whether it’s ending the situation or relationship that you know is not God sent.

Whether it’s waking up early enough to get to work on time.

WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL CONVICTIONS THAT YOU KEEP RUNNING AWAY FROM?

What’s God calling you to do that you keep putting off?

Do you not know that we are being made into the image of Christ? That’s an on going process until the day we leave these earthly bodies.

Do you also not know that the reason why most of us stay stagnant is because we keep pushing off what we know we need to do?

Why are we so hard on other people , but yet walk around very nonchalant about our own lives?

Why do we go out of our way for others but can’t even do what we need to do to be better for the people we are called to pour into.

It’s so much easier to pour out when you’re obedient. It’s so much easier to give back when you’re fully confident in who God created you to be. What if the confidence you need is tied to your obedience? What if everything you need is tied to keeping your promises to yourself?

Only you know what you and God talk about every single day. When I’m frustrated and I’m focused on myself , most of my prayers sound the same. It’s all about what I want . When I stop thinking about myself and ask God ,

“what do you want me to do?”

I have two options, ignore or obey.

God knows what’s best for us. Jesus was tempted in every way possible , still obeyed . Jesus was not liked , still obeyed. What if the life you keep praying about is tied to you doing those things you keep running from?

I believe somewhere along the way, people forgot to tell us that we need to work hard for what we want. Whether it’s a better relationship with Christ or whether it’s taking care of your body, ITS ALL GOING TO REQUIRE A DYING TO SELF.

As I was driving home today and praying out loud, the Holy Spirit revealed something to me ,

If you’re tired of being where you are , you’re going to have to get used to saying no to what makes the flesh feel good.

In that very moment, every single thing that I was worried about , disappeared. My problems were my problems because I wasn’t following the Shepherd. I wasn’t following Jesus. I was trying to control every single aspect of my life. Jesus said lose your life and you will find it. Oh, how badly do we try to cling to our own destructive ways.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but, I know that a lot of us are fighting battles because we can’t tell ourselves no to what’s killing us. Say no to yourself and yes to God. Whatever he keeps talking to you about , just do it . Stop putting it off. Do it scared. Keep praying. KEEP SEEKING. HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU.

Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Whatever you do, don’t give up.

Be kind to yourself and know this, the same Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead lives in you. You are equipped to do what the Lord wants you to do. One day at a time.

Wake up every day and ask the Lord what he wants you to do today? You have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

Put your faith and trust back into the only one who can keep you, sustain you, and push you forward.

Grace yourself .

Extend grace.

Hurt people, hurt people.

Forgiveness is for you, not them.

We all fall short of the glory of God.

When we hear messages on forgiveness and grace , we always talk about others.

TODAY, I want to talk about giving yourself grace!

Why is it so much easier to extend grace?

Deep down, I don’t think most of us really extend grace. How can you extend grace when you’re having a difficult time receiving it for yourself?

How do you know you’re having a hard time accepting Gods grace? YOU JUDGE YOURSELF WAY TOO MUCH. YOU ARE WAY TOO HARD ON YOURSELF!!

Do you not know that GRACE IS FREELY GIVEN?

Nothing you do can ever seperate you from the Lord! So instead of repenting and returning back to the Father, we bask in our mess. Do you not know that when God created you he factored in the things you can’t stand about you?

God is so faithful that he knows the exact thing or things that will keep you close to him. That thorn in the flesh is what keeps bringing you to your knees.

I catch myself slipping away , asking God, why this and why that? Why does it have to be like this ? Why can’t you just change it ? Why can’t it look different?

Can you trust me? Can you REALLY TRUST ME?

I know you believe in me , BUT , CAN YOU TRUST ME?

Stop being so hard on yourself . I STILL DIED FOR YOU! I Died for your flawed self , not the perfect you. MY Grace is sufficient , ACCEPT IT!

The thing about grace is that it’s UNBELIEVABLE!

Like, can it really be that easy? You’re telling me that I don’t have to do anything to be loved and reveived by the creator of the WHOLE WORLD??????

See, when you know who created you and why Jesus died on the cross , YOU RECEIVE THE GRACE . In receiving that grace , your life changes. It changes because you know it’s not about you.

In an overly self observed culture , the gospel is the complete opposite. I can’t rely on myself, I NEED A SAVIOR. When you come to the realization of how bad you actually need a savior, receiving grace becomes a lot easier.

Once you receive it , you can be kind to yourself and others . We are all jacked up , it’s how we continue to grow in Christ that matters.

Who cares if you messed up, come back to the Father. Before he formed you he knew you.

Fear of greatness !

Why do we fear being great?

We don’t really say we don’t want to be great, but, our actions say otherwise. Or maybe the words we speak to ourselves say so. Or maybe even the thoughts no one else knows of say so.

Have you ever caught yourself saying ,

Who am I kidding?

I can’t do that .

Who do I think I am?

That can’t happen for me.

Let me stop dreaming and get back to reality.

Can it be that you really do fear being great? How can we fear being great you might say, easy. We stop ourselves before we even begin.

WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO BE GREAT.

WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO BE AT PEACE MENTALLY , SPIRITUALLY, and EMOTIONALLy.

WE KNOW! the problem is that most of us procrastinate and make excuses. We make excuses because it’s hard to rewire your brain. You have to make an effort to retrain your mind. For 30 years you thought one way , so now that you want to change you’re faced with A LOT of resistance . Why? Your brain is used to doing things one way.

We don’t think to walk, drive , eat, make excuses , gossip, pick up our phones, type , text, talk, go to work, we just do it.

We don’t think about habits we already put in place to protect us from pain. If I don’t want to have a confrontation, I ignore the person. If I don’t want to feel, I get a drink or go have sex . These are habits we pick up along the way. This is everything we have to unlearn.

We all want to be great. We all want to produce fruit. But do we really want to pay the cost?

That’s the question.

If we truly get real with ourselves , we will find out that most of us are scared of being great. Being great requires a different you! The you now and the GREAT you is not the same person, THAT IS WHAT WE FEAR.

We fear changing . We fear a different language . We fear a different thought process. We fear a workout regimen . We fear getting up early . We fear greatness because we’ve never done it !

I want to encourage you tonight, to do it scared!

You have everything that it takes because Jesus Christ lives on the inside of you! Greater is he that is in you than he that’s in the world!!

Do it until the fear goes away, because IT WILL.

Kobe Bryant .

The whole world is mourning the death of a basketball legend.

You know what I see?

I see a man that gave it his all.

I see a man that conquered a lot in 41 years.

41 years is not old.

You’ve only been an adult for 23 years.

In 23 years this man showed us what it truly means to work hard.

Kobe showed us to show up even when you don’t feel like it .

Kobe showed us what discipline looks like.

One time he said , if you aren’t here to win then what are we playing for ?

Y’all, that’s a whole sermon right there!

Sometimes , I feel like we walk around like zombies. We walk around in our pain. We own our baggage. We keep our emotional baggage because it’s safe. It’s all we know. We hold on to grudges. We hold on to bitterness. We hold on to anger. We hold on to toxic. We hold on because at least we know what we have . Letting go means you’re opening up to the unknown. Faith is literally walking out and saying if God is for me who can be against me. I don’t know where I’m going but God you got me, lead me.

Oh Lord, May you give us the strength to just let it all go and put you first. To give life our best shot . We don’t know when it’s our time. We assume we will live long. We live like we have all the time in the world , but , life is but a vapor. Here today , gone tomorrow .

I celebrate the man that Kobe was. I celebrate his legacy. I celebrate his hard work and dedication. I celebrate his commitment. I celebrate him for being an example. I celebrate him for being more than a basketball player. I celebrate him for retiring and still making an impact on people instead of checking out and chillen on a yacht. I celebrate him for showing us that when you love what you do , you make no excuses. You get it done. You do it with all you have.

Will you keep making excuses?

Or , will you finally stay committed to that thing even when you don’t ” feel ” like it?

Someone somewhere needs your story. Your wisdom. Your boldness. Your strength. Your commitment. Your example.

Let’s take the focus off of us and focus on ,

How can I do my part and make this world better ?

I’m tired of waiting !

Hey girl!

I know you’re tired.

I know you’re sick of doing it all alone.

I know you want a man.

I know you want the masculine energy around.

I know you want to meet your best friend.

I know you’re tired of dating apps.

I know you’re tired of being disappointed.

I know you’re tired of telling men how to treat you.

I know you’re tired of leading.

I know you’re TIRED.

Listen.

God sees you. REST. Take a break.

One thing that I often see within us single women is that we get caught up in ” dating “. Dating can be a major distraction , especially if you haven’t been completely delivered and set free in Jesus name.

If you know you struggle with lust, you need Jesus.

If you know you’re feeling lonely, you need Jesus.

If you’re tired of being rejected, you need Jesus.

One thing doing it my own way has taught me is that all I need is Jesus. Every time I fall I hear , ” wake up Cristal , you know this way doesn’t work ” . So I repent. Let go of whatever I need to let go of and go back to the feet of Jesus.

You know what happens when we have no distractions? We have to deal with us. We can’t run away from what God wants to do in and through us. we choose to date to distract ourselves from ourselves. I get it , I really do.

But guess what? A double minded man is unstable in all of his ways. This is why you can’t think straight , because you have one foot in and one foot out. We live like we don’t believe God is going to come through. He is !! Surrender. Give it all to him. Let him prune you . Obey his instructions. Life is bigger than having a man.

I know your desire to be married is real but please understand this one thing, life is not stopping for you. Seek Jesus, surrender , and obey. That’s what’s going to get you through .

God bless! You’re never alone 💗

Stop marrying men with no vision.

You know what makes me shake my head? The way we glorify marriage but don’t prepare for it.

I’ve had my share of relationships and you know what I know? I know everything that does not work.

Ladies. STOP GETTING CAUGHT UP WITH MEN THAT HAVE NO VISION AND PURPOSE FOR THEIR LIVES.

We assume that just because men work and pay bills that he has done his share of being a man/husband. No.

There is more.

Think about the rest of your life? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life clocking in and clocking out , coming home, watching tv , eating and going to bed ?

What drives you? What drives him? What are you guys passionate about ? What makes you excited? These are very important things to know. Two people that have a vision know they are going somewhere, not guessing.

Yes, he looks good but can he pray?

Yes , he looks good but does he know what God created him for ?

I don’t believe we were all created for super big assignments, but, I do believe we were all created on purpose for a purpose. Every single person is on the earth for a reason. We are not a mistake ! So , why are we living our lives with no vision? We perish because we have no vision.

We get depressed because we have no vision.

We lose hope because we have no vision.

We get anxious because we have no vision.

All vision is a plan. A plan that we must execute. Not day dream about but execute.

God put us on here to work and meet each other’s needs. We are here to love and add value to each other’s lives . The reason I believe the divorce rate is so high is because people are unequally yoked. We think ” love” is enough to sustain. Love is a choice , yes. But, I also believe that the reason people are so quick to leave is because they don’t have a solid foundation.

I recall all my failed relationships and none of them were solid. They were all built on lust and materialism. None of them were built on purpose for a purpose. This is why it’s so easy for us to walk away. It’s not deep enough. It has no meaning.

If you know you’re building something for the kingdom of God,

If you know you’re building something for future generations,

you will not give up. You know it’s bigger than you. You know this is for Gods glory and not yours.

We must really think when we date and marry. We need to have a clear vision. I believe that God will send you someone that matches your vision and purpose. A helpmate. Not someone you have to drag along.

Let this be the year we put God above relationships and seek him so he can add what he needs to, accordingly. You have a vision with or without a spouse. You don’t have to wait . Pursue God. He will never fail you. God will not send you a project . Guard your heart at all times.

No one is perfect but it won’t be forced. You will know it’s for you. Peace that surpasses all understanding is your portion when you are in the will of God.

God bless and happy new year! 🎊