A Wise Friend . . .

What a great time we had last night! I am so excited that our time of fellowship and prayer requests went so long. I really look forward to watching the second half of the video with you next week.

I can tell that next week is going to hit hard for me. I tend to have a lot of surface level friendships, but I have a hard time letting people in. I've been hurt in the past and sometimes it's just easier to put up a wall. The funny part for me is that my wall is almost invisible. I'd tell a complete stranger almost everything about me - I don't believe in secrets - I believe in who I am so very much of the time, I think even my surface level friends would have no idea that I'm not "letting them in". I'm excited to learn how I can put my guard down so bring on the conviction! =0)

Here are the prayer requests for the week:

Denise - please pray for John and Kelsey as they are not feeling well

Natalalija - please pray that she recovers from her cold quickly.

Tracie - Please pray for Gabriel, he is teething and his teeth seem to be bothering him a lot. She is looking for a church this week, please pray that things go well. Also, please pray for her husband Chris - he is significantly overweight and she is concerned that he will get sick like his mom due to his weight gain. Chris also has a side business and he is working a lot to get that up and running. Please pray that his side business would prosper so that he can quit his full time job. Please also pray for her sister, Trisha, who has recently started a business making cakes and decorating letters. She's had quite a few new customers, please pray that he business will continue to grow

Tiffani - she and mom are transferring their college credits to another college - please pray that everything goes well and that there's no issue with her financial aid.

Connie - please pray for strength for her daughter who is going through a separation from her husband. Please also pray for an improved financial situation for their family.

Crystal - praise report for my beautiful sister's positive attitude; just being around her last night was so encouraging to me. I also pray for a hedge of protection around her this week. I pray that people are loving and accepting of her as she looks for a church and also as she tries to launch her pampered chef business. please pray that we follow God when it comes to our family, church, and business. And ugh . . . I hate to ask for this or even admit it, but I am experiencing some overwhelming feelings of depression this afternoon. I KNOW that I will be able to do so, but I have an especially hard week coming up in two weeks and I don't even want to face it. It makes me physically sick to even think about trying to get out of it, but my attitude isn't even close to what it should be. Please pray for me.

Luisa - her brother-in-law's friend has eczema and the treatments are hurting her more than the actual eczema. Please pray that she is healed quickly and that they are able to discover if something like a food allergy is causing her issue.

Lynn - please pray for her friend Julio's salvation and also that he would be released from his addictions to alcohol and pornography

Kelly Jo - please continue to pray that the nightmares go away. They are lessening but they are still there. Please also pray for safe travel this week =0)

We are also planning to get together at the pool at my house on Sunday if any of you are interested in coming. Also, bible study will be on Tuesday for the next two weeks.

in His love,
crystal

Prayer Request

Please keep my Aunt Carolyn in your prayers. She was taken by ambulance to Methodist Hospital last night. We were hoping that she just needed a battery for her pacemaker, but unfortunately she has pneumonia.

The Heart of Wisdom

Well I don't know about you ladies, but I am enjoying the bible study so far. This week, Beth Moore said 'Sometimes we can't change our circumstances, but we can put our hope in God and change our attitude'. That is particularly relevant for me as I go through a transition period in my life. I need to confess my sin of sitting around and griping about my situation. I need to focus my efforts toward working out this issue with my God, my Savior, my friend. I don't need to vent to those around me, I need to spend focused time in prayer, crying out to God, and trusting Him to handle my situation. There is no one on earth like God, no one who knows me so well, no one who understands how and why I hurt. My prayer for all of us is that we will learn to trust God when our circumstances are less than ideal. This weekend, and especially Monday, please keep all of us ladies in your prayers. Remember those of us who struggle with coming. Our enemy seeks to destroy us and I believe that he would want nothing more than for our group to fall apart. The fellowship and encouragement is such an important part of my week and I love each of you dearly. I look forward to seeing you Monday! Here are the prayer requests . . . sorry for the delay!

Connie seeks guidance with what she's supposed to be doing with her business

Denise asks for prayer for her husband who is getting over an infection

Tiffani asks for prayer for her husband because he seems to be coming around; please ask that God delivers him from his addiction to drugs

Please pray that Tracie will get over her fears and learn to enjoy bible study

Please pray that Luisa can keep trusting God with her family and that she will rely on the fact that Jesus came to give us life more abundantly. Please pray that she will rest in God and trust Him totally

Nat asks for prayer for her sister who has been a long time drug addict and also for prayers that she's successful in her substance abuse program. Please also keep her parents in your prayers as they struggle with feelings of guilt and failure.

Please pray that Mark and I will be obedient to God and His desire for our life. Please pray that we will work as though working for the Lord and not for man. Pray that we will be faithful with what God has called us to do. Pray that we will be loving and forgiving when people behave differently than we expect. Help us remember that God is in control. Please also pray for Mark as he has had a very tough time this week. He is discouraged and I absolutely abhor seeing him like this. Please pray that our church finds a worship leader quickly or that God works miraculously in our midst. Please pray for those in our congregation who are struggling with our lack of being able to commit to this church for the next two years, help them remember that God's plan is way better than our plan.

Kelly Jo asks for her nightmares to go away. She also asks for prayer for her mom and for safe travel as they come back to town next weekend! =0)

Lynn - please pray for her husband Brooke - he has been having chest pains.

Thanks ladies!!! I look forward to seeing you very soon =0)

in His love,
crystal

New Bible Study . . . Yay!

Hi ladies!!! I'm so excited to be starting a new study with all of you. Wising Up by Beth Moore seems like it's going to be really cool. I'm looking forward to studying the book of Proverbs in depth over the next 14 weeks. Reading "So Long Insecurity You've Been a Bad Friend" with you was really awesome. I feel like I walked away from that book with tools I can use to help me recognize and overcome my insecurities and I hope that each of you feel the same. If you haven't finished it, you need to! I promise that you won't regret it! =0)

Our bible study is amazing! Thank you so much for being part of this journey. I can't believe that we've taken it to the internet!!! If any of you have friends from far away who are interested in joining us via Skype, feel free to let me know =0)

Here are the prayer requests for 5.9.11

Nat asks for success for the personal issues her sister is dealing with.

Luisa asks that her husband would listen to God to know what His will is for their future.

Tiffani asks for discipline with food

Connie asks for favor with finances and to be healed of her cough

Tanvir asks for a less hectic work schedule over the next year

Crystal asks for peace and comfort for her family and her church as they transition out of the praise and worship leader position, and also that they will be able to discern God's will over the next few weeks

Kelly Jo asks for safe travel plans as they come back and visit at the end of this month

Lynn asks that God reveals His will and direction for our lives and also that her husband learns to rely on God in difficult situations

Ladies, thank you so much for being part of my life. I love each and everyone of you and I'm so glad that God put me in your path. May your week be blessed beyond measure.

in His love,
crystal

Prayer Request

Prayer Request for a friend of a friend, Larry, and his children Adlee 6, Taylor 4, and Garren 1 - they lost their wife and mommy today. Ladies, please pray for this sweet family =(

Prayer Requests - March 21, 2011

Hello ladies!!! It's been forever since I've posted. Last night was such a sweet time of prayer and fellowship. I am really looking forward to studying James with all of you over the next two weeks. I pray that God gives us wisdom and knowledge and the ability to apply all that we read.

Here are the prayer requests:

Kelly - please pray that the Lord will heal her from the inside out and help her realize that she is fearfully and wonderfully made. Help her learn to love herself and not fear who she could become, but instead see who she is and who she can be in You. Help her realize that with you it is completely possible that she never turn out like her mother. Pray that the next two and a half weeks are a de-stressed as possible and that everything goes smoothly as the wedding approaches. Pray for grace to be extended where things don't flow smoothly.

Kelly's mom - please pray that she is healed of her unforgiveness and whatever causes her so much pain.

Lynn's mom - please pray that she also is healed of everything going on in her life.

Lynn - please pray for Brooke as he is dealing with a sickness while away from home. Please pray that God brings him comfort and heals him quickly.

Tiffani - please pray for her friend Haley - she's 7 months pregnant and has signs of pre-term labor

Luisa - please pray for the pain in Cassandra's eye to stay away

Tracie - please pray that her pampered chef party goes well and that God supernaturally intervenes to make it all that she needs it to be (big or small)

Connie - please pray for her family members as they go through some rough times. Please also pray for her grandson as he learns to potty train and also for her business.

Crystal - please pray for my business, that I will have time to focus on being patient with others and not easily angered. Please pray that Kelly Jo's bridal shower goes well and that she has a good time.

in His love,
crystal

Ladies. Please pray for kristi's gma-unresponsive-life flighted to St. Lukes