A "Little" Thing Called Respect

The more I am demanded the less I am given. 

Yet the more I am given the more people give me. 

I'm vastly needed and the results are devastating where I am lacking.

Some think I must be "earned" but I'm really a need.

I'm not love, yet some feel loved when people give me. 

What am I?

Hopefully, after reading the title of this post you guessed that the answer to the above riddle is respect! :-)

Let me take you back to 2007... I was very upset with my brother. As a family we were serving at a certain ministry for short term when he had been asked to leave for negative reasons, which meant all of us would have to leave, too. I shall spare you the gory details on that, since it is his story to tell. Although I will leave you with the knowledge that since that time he has sought and received forgiveness from many of those he wronged. A certain young lady, with an understanding of the situation tried desperately to share with me a vital truth that could make a major impact for good if I followed her wise advice. What did she try to encourage me to do? Respect him no matter what! Sadly, it didn't quite sink in at the time. One thing she failed to do was answer my silent question, no doubt asked by many:

"How can I respect him when he doesn't deserve it?!"

Now for the answer. Let's jump to 2014. I was visiting friends and one night a Divine Appointment happened when again, I was encouraged (this time by a very dear friend) to respect my brother. This time I was a bit more receptive. This time I heard something about brothers/men needing respect and needing it desperately. I still had that same silent unanswered question. After sleeping on it, the Lord gave me the answer the next day and the days following as I pondered the things I had heard. Respect... IS a valid need, even if it is not "deserved". Furthermore, men need respect just as I need God's grace and mercy yet, do not deserve them. Can I in my own strength "earn" God's mercy? Nope, not one single drop of it! Yet God gives it to me although I do not deserve it and even when I do not ask for it. If I demanded for God to bestow mercy upon me, would He give it? That is actually when He would withhold His mercy. It demonstrates a spirit of pride, and God hates pride (Proverbs 8:13, 13:10, Matthew 5:7)! 

As I drove home from my friends the Lord continued to speak to me concerning respect. It is important for sisters to realize the need to respect their brothers and give it to them, whether younger or older. Respect does not necessarily mean obey. Respect is an attitude that displays honor, deference, admiration, thoughtfulness, and being considerate of another. Now I wonder how much greater impact the lessons Mom so desperately tried to impart and the troubles that could have been avoided if my brother had received the respect from Mom and me that he needed upon reaching manhood (age 13). Perhaps Mom would have been able to win his heart and our sibling relationship during our growing up years would have been best friends. A lesson for parents and siblings alike, you will not win that brother or son if you do not respect him.

It would not take anyone long to learn that my brother Jeremiah has a major interest in guns (and that's an understatement). Mr. Second-amendment-rights, out of true concern for her safety was greatly desirous of instructing a certain older sister in the art of operating a handgun. The said older sister was greatly resistant to the idea. Part of it was his attitude. Part of it was my attitude. Regardless, it made sense to learn, yet for some reason I could not humble myself to receive instruction from my younger brother. Part of me wondered why in the world I could not humble myself, not even for an afternoon. Enter the lesson on respect. First, I sought forgiveness for not respecting Jeremiah. Then the Lord spoke to me, "You need to let Jeremiah teach you how to operate a handgun". It was a great shock to him when I asked him to teach me. I seem to remember him asking me if I felt okay. :-) What happened? It is hard to receive instruction from someone you do not respect. Once I gave him respect I was able to humble myself and receive instruction.

"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." Pr. 8:13

"Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom" Proverbs 13:10

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" Matthew 5:7

Soul Winning Survey

Howdy Folks,

Please take this survey that I put together. Mostly the intent is to help in fulfilling another project I have going on currently. The results, I am hoping will be helpful. If you have already taken it, please do NOT take it a second time!

Click here to take survey

Thanks!
Crystal

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. 

Encouragement for Singles

If you are single and waiting for the Lord to bring the right marriage partner into your life then you are probably also wondering "when". "When will that happen?" The older you get the more it might cause you to worry: (Gasp) "What if I never get married!". :-) Let me share with you a few things the Lord taught me that have been helpful.

First ask yourself, what is the purpose of life? The answer is to glorify God. A few year's ago I finally realized that God will bring the right man for me to marry when my life will bring greater glory to Him as a married woman than a single one. This helped in that it comforted me that if I never get married then I  have fulfilled my life purpose by bringing glory to the Lord.

The next question to ask, "What am I doing to seek first God's kingdom?". Are you sincerely seeking first God's kingdom (Matthew 6:33)? Is it a true priority in your life with absolutely no strings attached? What are your competing affections? Let me encourage you to seek the Lord and ask Him to reveal the things in your life that are keeping you back from being more effective for Him. Then repent of those things and cry out to the Lord to make you more effective for Him.

This article may appear incomplete, perhaps it is. This is all I have for now. Prayerfully, this will be help and encourage to others.

May the Lord bless you with seeking first His kingdom and keeping your eyes on Christ.

Election Disappointment? by Crystal

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." Psalm 42:5

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." James 1:2-3

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Many are no doubt disappointed in the election outcome, some may even be devastated. When I first heard the news I was disappointed, then the Lord reminded me of an *audio message I listened to recently on the spiritual weapon of rejoicing. So today I am rejoicing in the re-election of President Obama. Rejoice that God is still on His throne and in control. Yes, the enemy won... but if you go around in a depressed state just because our guy lost, our spiritual foe is given cause to rejoice thus giving him victory. However, if you rejoice then it may very well provide an opportunity to let your light shine by sharing Christ - especially with those who knew your political stance and were of the opposite party.

Some may attribute the election outcome to not praying hard enough, fasting more, campaigning more, giving more financially, etc... I present to you, that is not the case. The fact that President Obama was re-elected is merely a symptom of the woeful state of our nation on a spiritual level. The root cause is the heart of a people who has not made Jesus Christ Lord of their life. Perhaps the re-election is also a punishment on Christians for not being more active in soul winning. Perhaps if Romney had won Christians would have said 'hooray, our guy won!' and then gone back to sleep until the next election.

I could say more, but I would like to encourage you to obey Scripture by rejoicing in the outcome of this election and to become active in soul winning. Get on fire for Christ!

*The audio message was from an audio series by Otto Koning titled "The Pineapple Story". I highly recommend this audio series.