Walk for Life!

Howdy Folks,

This year my brother Jeremiah and I are collecting pledges for the Walk for Life, a fund raiser for Care Net Resource Pregnancy Center. It is a Christian pro-life organization that helps women in unplanned pregnancies to see that life is the best and only option. Funds from last year's walk helped to add ultrasound as an available option and they have seen an increase in those choosing life! Please consider donating to this worthy ministry.

The walk is THIS Saturday, May 11. If you would like to sponsor Jeremiah & I you can do so by going to this link: http://www.ministrysync.com/event/website/?m=1395573#0

Thank you for considering sponsoring us!

In Christ,

Crystal & Jeremiah Thompson

Lack Vision? The Unexpected Answer

"Where there is no vision, the people perish: 

but he that keepeth the law, 

happy is he." 

Proverbs 29:18

"The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley 

shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it." Proverbs 30:17

Proverbs 29:18 is a well known and often quoted verse. Sermons and countless articles have pointed out this verse and the direness of individuals who have no vision, no life purpose. But why? Why do they not have a life purpose? I believe the answer is contained in the second part of that verse along with Proverbs 30:17. What does the law say? "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." (Ex. 20:12). See also Matthew 15:4 and Proverbs 23:22. Could it be that the root behind a lack of life purpose stems from disregarding parents? God often gives parents special insight and guidance for their children, including adult "children". Unfortunately, there is a natural  tendency (sin nature/pride) to disregard this. There is also spiritual warfare. If the enemy can get you off track from doing what God has called you to do then there is victory in the enemy camp.

When I was growing from time to time my mom would tell me that God had given me a gift to write and that God wanted me to write. She even got specific - she said He wanted me to write children's books. Sadly, I rejected that. I ran from it for many, many years. I have tried different pursuits only to experience God closing the door! For some reason the Lord would not bless my endeavors of studying to be a doula/midwife, trying to sell Pampered Chef, or starting up a home business to teach sewing. These were not bad things in and of themselves, in fact, some of them are very good things! However, none of them were what God wanted specifically for me to do as a life calling/purpose. Eventually after many years the Lord finally got through to me. I speak this to my shame for I have wasted years of my life of doing my own thing when I could have been fulfilling God's plan for me by writing children's books. If only I had not disregarded my mother's counsel. 

Oh, but praise God for His grace and forgiveness! Since submitting this area of my life to the Lord and truly pursuing it I have watched the Lord open doors and truly blessed it in incredible ways. It is not always easy, but it is wonderful to know that no matter how hard it might be I know 100% beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am doing exactly what the Lord wants me to do. There is nothing in the world that beats that.

This is a time of year that many are trying to make major life decisions that will make a huge impact upon their future. If you lack life purpose let me encourage you to seek your parents counsel. Don't wait years! The "eagles" are famished to eat up your vision by wasting your time, thus destroying your life purpose. Seek the Lord and your parents counsel. Don't disregard it. One of the greatest tragedies is time misspent trying to run your own life.

Mountain Wedding

I did something that I thought I would never do in my entire life: I *"crashed" a wedding, that is I showed up at a wedding for which I had not received an invitation. In fact, I didn't even really know the bride or groom. Yet, the Lord was directing it in an amazing way and I was a witness to seeing His mighty hand work.

On my way home from Indianapolis, Indiana on a recent trip I was to stay with my great aunt in West Virginia. On the day of my arrival at her house there was to be a very small wedding at her church. Originally, I had planned to arrive after the wedding would have been over. However, the Lord woke me up quite early that morning and I just could not sleep! What else could I do but get up and prepare for departure? The wedding was at 2 p.m. and I had a 5 hour drive. I arrived at just after 1 p.m. and quickly changed into clothing more suitable for a wedding. Gratefully, I had met the bride to be two weeks previous on my way to Indy.

It was a very small and simple wedding yet it holds priceless life lessons. The wedding was so small that there were only about 25-30 guests. The couple had been living in sin but when they both recently got saved a few weeks ago the Lord convicted them of their sin and that they should get married. Originally they were just going to go to a justice of the peace but that little baptist church decided they would give them a wedding and they came together and did just that! This couple is very poor, so poor that they don't even own a car, yet the Lord provided a dress, a suite, rings, cake, and decorations. And all in three weeks time!

My dear sisters in Christ could definitely learn a lesson from this bride on modesty. This bride was 100% committed to modesty. First of all, modesty IS inconvenient and not always fashionable. All too often Christian brides do their best to find modest wedding gowns in a world committed to just the opposite. They are committed to it until it is inconvenient, and rarely do you find a bride who sacrifices on fashion. They would rather bow to the world than suffer anything unfashionable. Here, a mere babe in Christ influenced by the Holy Spirit chose modesty even though it might look odd or unfashionable. This beautiful bride wore a gown with modifications. In addition to the gown she wore a "cape" to cover a sleeveless bridal gown. It was an improvisation, it did not originally come with the dress that could be told but it certainly complimented the dress. Before the Lord the spirit of this bride was beautiful. She had a rare jewel at her wedding that is tragically lacking in many weddings of "mature" Christians. I wish I had a picture to post, but alas I had forgotten the camera at home that trip! 

I wish you could have seen the soft glow on the brides face as she said her wedding vows for the first time. The glow and joy of one who had sinned, but now was obeying and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now for the icing on the cake, for that's not all. The next day was Sunday and during the evening service the brides mother also attended, became convicted, and got right with God!!

That was one amazing weekend and I was blessed to see God's hand work in incredible ways.

*Please note: I do not recommend "crashing weddings" on a regular basis, with extremely rare exceptions it is very rude.