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Adjusting to Change

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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Whew! These last few weeks and months have had sudden changes with me and things I’m involved with. Many of these changes has challenged me and reminded me once again that I’m not in control and never was meant to be in control of how my life should go and how things concerning me should go.

All these changes that recently took place were beyond my control, which sometimes tempted me to become hasty and impatient. Some things that happened was from a change that was forced on me with no previous notice at my first Resilient book event to an allergic reaction form prescribed medication from the doctor that developed a rash on my body and my throat tightening. Below are some points to consider on adjusting to change.

 

1) Outward unpleasant changes are meant to bring a pleasant change on the inside of us. As an author I know that if I have done my part and followed up in advance with the other experienced adult person who was supposed to do their part or at least contact me in advance if they couldn’t – then I need to not internalize the situation and just use it to cause me to respond in a calm, peaceful and merciful way. And to remember there are times I’ve messed up and yet God doesn’t push me away and say it’s over with you.

 

2) God knows that it will happen and has something already worked out for good. What was changed beyond my control at the first Resilient book event has worked out for something better for a future event. God knew all along! I love how He’s just got me and everything concerning me like He does. 🙂

 

3) Nothing  will always go perfect, there’s a least something that could happen. It’s an opportunity to bring improvements into the picture next time around. The only way for something to go better next time is through things not going the way it could have.

 

4) Change can later on channel us to something that we can cherish. Most times later on we can see how the changes were really good for us and led to greater things.

 

What ways do you adjust to change? How has change helped you along the way?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Lessons Through Intergenerational Friendships

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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As a younger adult I now have a few older adult friends with a large age gap difference. These relationships came at the right time when we both needed a human friend and fellowship. The friendships just happened without my seeking and took place in a situational type of way.

I’m more open to them now than I was a few years ago when I found them to be a little odd. Who says age matters in friendship? It really doesn’t, we just all have to learn that not everything always has to be in the exact same way when it comes to certain situations. That’s where newness and freshness gives its savor. Below are some highlighted lessons to consider on these unique friendships.

 

1) The quality of friendship is what’s more important. Age difference doesn’t necessarily mean good or bad. It’s what the persons bring in the friendship and how they operate in relationships.

2) There are special qualities that my intergenerational friendships have than those of my peer group and age category . While I’m appreciative of friends of all ages, I do recognize the distinctiveness between the different kinds. These friends have been around much longer and have had more experiences. They bring qualities including double wise advice and sometimes greater perspective.

3) Having a variety of kinds in friendships bring a fun mix and flavor. A positive mix gives a person a chance to evolve in their own way.

4) Sometimes the intergenerational friends have shared experiences and relate in some connecting way. As I talk and spend time with friends of these kinds, I’ve learned that we relate more than I think and can have a wonderful time with our connection. It’s great to have someone who understands and is there for you. Somehow the connection helps both in the friendship.

5) Give the connection a chance, its healthy to have the balance. With certain things we really don’t know if it’s meant to be or can work well unless we give it a chance.

 

  What lessons have you learned through/about intergenerational friendships?

 

 

5 Lessons Through Introversion

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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Sometimes it was hard for me to accept my introversion as apart of my life. We often look around and see what is happening around us and wonder where are we in the midst of it all. After all most introverted people are observers. As we go about each day we often notice things that others may notice, but may not pay as much attention to. Below are some highlighted lessons to consider about introversion.

 

1) Introverted people enjoy the company of others, but need time to refill and replenish.  There’s no truth to the perception that all introverts want to always be alone and never around others to socialize and communicate.

 

2) Reserved individuals want to connect, but on a deeper level. Some introverts may feel like loners and outsiders because they are not connecting with others on a deeper and meaningful level. Even when we as the introverted don’t always have this in our lives, we must be appreciative of the deeper level connection when it does happen and take full advantage of it.

 

3) Introverts are not always quiet when they are around those they are familiar with and feel most comfortable and free around. You may just be surprised to learn what’s really in an introvert .

 

4) What appears to be reticent may just need one on one connection. Smaller groups and one on one connection is often enjoyed in introversion.

 

5) Introversion is not a bad or negative personality, it actually has its goodness and splendor of its own. Differences are unique which make them something worth to explore or consider.

 

  What lessons have you learned through and/or about introversion?

8 Lessons Through Evangelism

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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As believers and disciples of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to evangelize the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are effective ways to share the good news of the Gospel with other unbelievers. The bible is our tool when we go out fishing for the lost and love is our bait in drawing people to Christ. Below are some highlighted lessons through evangelism.

 

1) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. According to Mark 16: 15 we are to preach the gospel to everyone that we have an opportunity to do so. It doesn’t have to be fancy or huge in any way. It could be the simplest statement of words that causes someone to consider and/or question what you said that could potentially have impact that leads them to Jesus.

 

2) Compassion towards unbelievers is vital to reach them. It is important that we allow people to share with us what’s on their heart. We don’t always have to reply to everything, but sometimes just listening with compassion and care makes much of a difference. As we listen God will allow opportunities for us to plant a seed in them in whatever way He directs us.

 

3) There is plenty of work to do for the Kingdom of God, but few workers who have a willing heart to do the work. (Matthew 9: 37 – 38) Do we have a willing heart that will go out and win souls for Jesus Christ? A willing heart will do just that.

 

4) Through the power of God we must become set apart and dedicate our lives for serving. (1 Peter 3: 15) Disciples are to walk in the way of Jesus Christ and holy living. They must become a servant.

 

5) We need the power of the Holy Ghost when going out to evangelize. The power of the Holy Ghost moves differently in each believer. There can be many blockages in someone that can quench or hinder the power of the Holy Ghost from operating in their life. Every Christ follower can boldly ask to be filled and refilled with the Holy Ghost. Don’t be discouraged if you have not yet seen the manifestation. Keep asking and seeking the Lord.

 

6) Every believer must stay watchful and don’t give in when we face afflictions.(2 Timothy 4: 5) The devil doesn’t stop his work of wickedness and evil so we must always keep watch and stay faithful to God even when we go through.

 

7) Keep praying and always give thanks.(Colossians 4: 2 -6) We must never stop praying in our service and must always have thanks in our hearts.

 

8) In order to effectively share the good news we must be students of God’s Word.(2 Timothy 2: 15) Studying the bible is extremely important as disciples. Sometimes tiredness, busyness and other distractions will try to creep in, but we have to learn to refocus as students. We don’t have to be the smartest, be the best verbal speaker or have the highest intellect in order to work for the Lord. Remember God can use that which seems foolish!

 

5 Lessons From Prayer

/ Crystal Holdipp / 2 Comments

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Prayer is a spiritual discipline that all believers and Christ followers must exercise and operate in. There are many kinds of prayers including  warfare, declaration, intercession, confession, and thanksgiving. There are various lessons and instructions in the bible teaching us how to pray.

We must keep our connection with God and one of the most effective ways of doing so is through talking with Him and sitting to listen to what He is saying to us. Interceding on behalf of others is something that needs to be a priority in our lives and it must become a godly habit to look out for the next person. Below are some highlighted lessons from prayer to consider.

 

1) Passionate prayers from the righteous are of great advantage(James 5:16). Do you take pleasure in talking to the Lord? Are you enthusiastic about coming before the Lord in prayer? It’s not about what we show outwardly, but more with what’s truly taking place inwardly.

2) To obtain the mercy and grace we need, we must come boldly before God(Hebrews 4:16). Boldness displays our courage and confidence in God. When we come boldly before God we step up in the midst of whatever is going on and believe in God to do what He promised He will do.

3) We must make every effort to get our heart right with God. There are hindrances that become road blocks  in our prayer life and become barriers from us seeing the manifestation of what God desires to manifest amongst His creation. Any sin, holding on to offense, disobedience and nursing of wounds(instead of allowing God’s healing to flow) can cause delays and interruptions along the way.

4) Praying God’s will which is in His word will accomplish much(Isaiah 55: 11). Nothing beats praying the will of God. During our prayer time we must get rid of or throw out  any unscriptural opinions or ungodly requests.

5) Be specific in your requests, expressions and petitions. It’s ok to tell God exactly what’s on your heart and mind. Yes, He already knows, but He wants us to give Him our all and that includes our cares and concerns.

 

How has the power of prayer impacted your life? What are some lessons that you have learned through praying?

 

5 Lessons From Health

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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I’m no expert and neither am I a perfect example in health, but our health covers many areas and parts of our lives. Physical, spiritual, emotional and relational aspects all need our attention, effort and care. When we make an effort to practice healthier habits and choices for our minds, bodies and spirit we begin and continue on the journey of wholeness. Below are some highlighted points to consider about health.

 

1) Our health is not about being perfect in everything we do, but making better choices when we learn to and know better to. As human beings we will mess up  in one area or another concerning all aspects of health, but it’s not too late or too bad to make a better choice the next time around.

 

2) Discipline is developed over time and with persistence. This doesn’t necessarily mean if you are having difficulty or lack of discipline that you should give up or that you’re not able to do it. You may just need to balance it out and find different ways to have good health in various areas.

 

3) Having a lifestyle that works on being healthier is for everyone. Waiting to something goes wrong or to a later time will keep us always pushing it back and can lead to negative consequences later on.

 

4) Little makes much difference! When we take at least small efforts that may grow later on, we keep on moving in our journey to living  an effective life that operates in wellness, calling and purpose.

 

5) There will always be room for improvement concerning health. As we grow, learn, make mistakes and even sometimes do the wrong thing ,that shows us that we have space for improving.

 

The Gifts In Longsuffering

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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Can you recall something you had to deal with for a long time? Maybe you thought it would take less time or it wouldn’t go the way it went. What about the times when we think we get through something only to find ourselves going through it for an extended period.

Think about receiving gifts during your longsuffering? Can you? How can there be gifts in suffering for a long time? Well you see it’s all in our perspective and the way we choose to live our lives. Below are some points to consider on the gifts in longsuffering.

 

1) Love Developed In Us: Most if not all, don’t like going through something difficult, unpleasant and opposing for a long time. We would take the relief as soon as it could come and hope it comes as fast as it could. Love is a gift that needs to be developed in us and displayed through us in longsuffering. When we can suffer and endure something that God has allowed for us to bear for a long time in the right attitude and perception, we can walk out and live out the love that God wants us to operate in.

 

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2) Fruit Growing In Us: As believers we are called to bear fruit and walk in the Spirit of God and to be led by the Holy Spirit. God dwells in every Christ follower and bearing fruit is the evidence that we are growing in the Lord. Longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit. Some may question, how can suffering for a long time bring out something good in us? When we are yielded to the Lord, longsuffering will help bring forth patience and self- control in our behavior, actions, interactions and other areas in our lifestyles.

 

 

3) Living In Forgiveness: Just as Christ is longsuffering towards us in our mess and sin,  as  Christ followers we must learn to be longsuffering towards others. Forgiveness is really freedom for our minds, hearts and souls.

 

4) Humbling Ourselves: When we humble ourselves in suffering for a long time, God can raise us up at the right time. We must let go of our will to have a smoother path in life and to attempt to avoid adversity. For every believer, the suffering we face in this world will be wiped away one day.

 

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Called Out For His Glory

/ Crystal Holdipp / 2 Comments

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Ever struggled with the reality of being the ‘different’ one? Have you ever wished that the unpleasant and awkward feelings and experiences of being different around others(even other believers) would disappear?

In my transparency I find myself in a place of constantly being called out by God. Now I’m getting used to it, yet it’s very uncomfortable. All humans have longings to be deeply connected and have a sense of belonging and closeness.

Yet you can notice the ones who often stand out, stand apart and carry around the stigmas that come with it. We don’t need pity or sympathy it’s actually something we have to learn to embrace, accept and thank God for. Dwelling on all we have to face and endure is a camp ground for Satan to get a hold of and use for his advantage.

I can relate very much to other outsiders, misfits, underdogs, introverts and outcasts. In fact sometimes those are the types I tend to easily connect with and occasionally click with. More often now, I hear and see others express their observations of these kind of things and the loneliness they experience. When I see or hear a person express it I often want to tell them they are not alone, I understand and pour encouragement on them and support. We are in a world that puts a lot of attention on friendships and relationships and that’s where we have to remember that whatever God allows for us to experience and not to experience is the best thing that can happen. God has the best for us and we must not settle for less. Sometimes the best is not always pretty and acceptable to us or others. God’s ways are higher!

When we are called out by God for His glory these are the situations we need to allow God to mold us and work through us. No we are not better than anyone and we are not less than anyone either. Those in the crowd and other forms of intimate groups  at some point will have to learn how to be separate and possibly in the past have been through the same thing. No need to envy it. Appearances are not always the details of everything. When we feel like we are being pulled away, I believe that’s where we should be drawn more to the Lord. Yes, those feelings of loneliness and isolation will sometimes linger, but God gets the glory for the results that come with yielding in to being called out.

Here are some highlighted points to consider about being called out.

1) You’re being called out to be called in. We need community and fellowship, but sometimes we need to be away from the noise and distractions that come with being mixed in the crowd. How can God work through us if we put people before God and relationships become idols or crutches?

2) God wants to be our everything. The One that is the priority. Friendships with a certain amount of distance don’t  compete with God who  deserves the position and place of being our everything.

3) You stand out as a flame to be on fire for Jesus. There are some things that will cause us to lose our fire if we try to go off the path that God has chosen for us to travel. That fire is not for us, but for the glory of God.

 

 

More Than A Start

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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The other day I was temping for 5 days in the office of my former college. When I’m there it reminds me of the years I was there getting my pre college, college and post secondary education. How I started off in one direction, the many changes that happened along the way and now I’m coming back to temp. I’ve completed my post secondary education there in 2011 and wasn’t planning to come back. Ha! When I think about it I’ve come back many times and not in a way that I ever thought I would.

One of the ladies that work there came over to the area where I was working and started talking with me about my writing. I had mentioned to her what I was currently doing with my writing and then said ‘It’s a start.’ She replied ‘It’s more than start. Some people are not writing at all.’ After she said that it clicked. Writing on my blog and for a magazine is more than a start.

How many times we think of what we are doing less than what it really is? When we step out in faith and use our gifts and talents to glorify God that’s indeed more than a start! What’s happening and what we are doing may not be what is yet to come, but we have to learn to embrace, appreciate and enjoy where we are now.

See the gifts and treasures of the present! Give thanks and trust that the tests are not for you to already know and be at a place of arrival, but for you to let the Savior work in and through with the only special touch He can. More than a start!

5 Ways to Reduce Stress & Anxiety

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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Stress and anxiety can have an effect on anyone. It doesn’t matter how optimistic or well intention (these are great practices) we are, our bodies, minds and souls need attention, care  and renewal. Stress and anxiety at high levels interfere in all areas including relationships, performance/efficiency, health, energy/alertness and more.

When I’m at high levels of stress and/or anxiety, I find it difficult to cope and continue on. The wonderful news is that stress and anxiety can be reduced and relieved in how we live in our daily lifestyle.

1) Rest & Relax: When we are buzzing around as if we have a never-ending boost, we soon notice the oncoming burnout breaking through our way. Sometimes a simple lay down can work wonders. Burnout can be experienced at any age or life stage. When enough is enough is just that…. enough!

2) Feed Your Soul: Just like our natural bodies need to be fed to function properly, our souls need nourishment, substance and nurturing. What we feed our souls with matters 100%. The Word of God, devotionals, music, declarations, prayer, meditation and more are ways we can spiritually feed our souls.

3) Leave It Alone!: There are some things we just have to learn to leave alone. I find it difficult to do just that when I just care and think about so much. When we take on what God needs to take on and handle, we find ourselves weighted down. Let’s leave it to the Father.

4) Watch it!: The things we need to watch and look for are very important in our growth, development and stability. What are we putting in? What is coming out? If it doesn’t belong, we simply just need to be more careful and attentive.

5) Take Your Time!: My generation of young adults and the young children and teens behind us are used to quickness and speed. Things don’t just always come right away and they don’t just appear out of nowhere. All of us in any life stage needs to take our time in every way.

What are some ways you reduce stress and anxiety?