experiences

5 Lessons Through Nature

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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Nature is something I enjoy spending time it. Spending time in nature helps me to continue and sharpen my observation and exploration abilities. Thoughts and reflections often come during those times that may not come at other times. The natural beauty of nature is catching to the eyes and therapy to the mind and soul.

Below are some highlighted lessons through nature.

 

1) Nature has natural art and creative tools all for free. When an artist and creative explores their outdoor surroundings, the scenery can become a toolbox. Leaves, rocks, flowers, other plants and almost anything you can find outside can be used for nature projects.

 

2) New discoveries can be found outdoors everyday. Those that have interests in nature and adventure often find and see what they have never seen before.

 

3) Nature is given to God’s creation to enjoy. Once this belief is embraced it can be experienced.

 

4) Outdoor creatures take full advantage of their environment. The creatures can often be seen gathering and hunting for what they need.

 

5) Nature isn’t always a pleasant sight or smell, but it’s real. Life is like this in the sense of not always having it all glamorous,  but you can experience the realness(if that’s a word lol) of it.

 

What lessons have you learned through nature? 

 

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6 Lessons Through Blogging

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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January 22, 2017 marks two years of me blogging on ‘Life Adventures’. I have been blogging on my previous websites and online platforms years before this 2 year mark. Blogging is another avenue for my writing and has played a huge part in my development of the craft. 

There are some lessons that I have learned through writing a blog and below are a few of the highlighted lessons for you to consider.

 

1) There is always something new to develop during the journey of blogging. When I started my blog I wanted to keep it basic and then as time passed I started adding to it until it developed into a website.

2) Your authentic voice reaches the right people who it’s meant to reach. In my blogging I’m learning to embrace my unique voice more and more.

3) Diverse ways of marketing blog posts is the best approach to reaching an audience. Researching and applying effective ways boosts your reach.

4) Your blog could be a beginning to something bigger. Sometimes when we start something we may think that’s what we will only be doing, until other things unfold from it.

5) Some topic ideas for your blog may come in unexpected ways. It is through daily encounters that ideas can come out of you.

6) Look out and be open for possible ways to grow your blog. The growth of blogging comes through openness to learn.

 

Bloggers, what are some lessons that you have learned through blogging? 

 

Prayer Points: Praying for Provision

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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There are times we are in situations that we don’t know how to get out of. Wonderings of the heart and mind saying: How did I get in this? How do I get out of this? What do I do in this? How do I continue living in this? Sometimes it seems the bigger the efforts made by us and the desire craved, the higher the odds pile up. How does daily bread manifest in our lives when we are running on low of the very life we have and we are in need of life support? Below are some points, questions and thoughts to consider on when we are in need of provision when we feel powerless.

 

Prayer Point: ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’

Our daily bread is the provision of our daily needs. What are the necessities that we need daily, in a world that showcases the tasty, sweet and overflowing with glamour? Where our wants are advertised confusing us with what we really need.

What are your daily needs?

What are the daily needs of your family?

What are the daily needs of our community?

What are the daily needs of the strangers, friends and acquaintances around us?

What are the daily needs of the nation?

What are the daily needs of the world?

 

Luke 18:1 encourages us “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

That simply lets us know even when the odds are piling up and seems to get bigger than our desire and tries to threaten our needs of ever getting met – we are to continue in prayer for the needs.

What do we do when adversity seems to advance further than the outcome of our continual efforts? Prayer is what we have to hold on to when everything else seems to go away.

Sometimes fainting may lie and say that is the only thing we have left to do.

Fainting into despair.

Fainting into disbelief.

Fainting into desperation.

There’s something that needs to be revived in us again.

Revival of prayer, faith, walking in God’s will, declaring and decreeing specifically the needs and being relentless in the part we are responsible for.

Jehovah Jireh: God our Provider,

Reveal who you are in our daily lives. We give you praise and thanks for all the past and present revelations and provisions that you have been to us. Lord revive in us the faith that lives on and rescue us from fainting when we are overwhelmed, exhausted and dehydrated within. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

 

5 Lessons From Ruth

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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The book of Ruth is an amazing story of redemption and love. In the bible, Kinsman – Redeemer was a protection law that was in place for the welfare of the poor from being taken advantage of and from the wealthy taking away property that came from a people(community). The Kinsman – Redeemer is a reflection that God will redeem Israel from their suffering and the injustices and that Jesus is a Savior for humankind and will come back to conquer every evil deed . Below are some highlighted lessons on the book of Ruth to consider.

 

1) It’s better to be in a famine and under God’s protection, then to have a feast and step outside of God’s direction. When Elimelech and his wife Naomi(along with two sons) left Judah to stay in Moab,  they stepped outside of God’s direction. Moab was a land in the bible where people worshipped false gods and idols.

 

2) Running from trouble brings added trouble when we are outside the will of God. In Ruth 1, it mentions that Elimelech(Naomi’s husband) died and later on  Mahlon and Chilion(Naomi’s sons) died. There are always negative consequences from making a choice to be outside the will of God.

 

3) Faithfulness always ignites breakthrough. Ruth went into the field to gather from the harvest. God used Boaz to protect, provide and be generous to Ruth. Ruth stayed with her mother – in – law Naomi and went in the field and miraculous things erupted from that.

 

4) When you look out for someone else and allow God to work through you for their blessing, bitterness will dissipate. Naomi who was bitter decided to let go of the bitterness and  she guided Ruth in how to go to Boaz.

 

5) To travel from grief to restoration it requires trust, faith and obedience. Ruth had to trust that after the death of her husband that this was not the end of her story. In addition, she had to believe that God would turn her situation around and she had to follow the instructions she was given from her mother – in – law and take action from her trust and faith.

 

 

 

 

5 Lessons Through Identity Theft

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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I’ve experienced identity theft on more than one occasion. The first time it happened it was scary cause I didn’t know who and how the person was able to pretend to be me and get access to what money I did have. What else would they do with my private information? I don’t give my private information to people so how did this even happen?

Thankfully I got what they stole back and more. Not long after I got a blessing greater than what they took. Below are some highlighted lessons to consider on identity theft.

 

1) Satan is the chief thief behind identity theft. The devil is the deceiver that wants to take away everything valuable on the inside of us, bring to an end any form of life and destroy that which he can get access to. In whatever way he does it, he is seeking his way to gain entry.

2) Even the slightest information can leak online and offline for someone to use for corrupt reasons. Be extra careful in managing your private information. Keep alert of your online and offline activity.

3) We must practice to be led by the Holy Spirit in whatever we get involved with. When something seems not right, don’t be hasty and desperate to do it anyway.

4) Identity deception is rooted in insecurity and discontentment. Everyone has insecurities and have experienced dissatisfaction at some time, but  trying to steal a person’s identity is  one of the ways that show it has gotten out of control.

5) Our spiritual identity is secure in Christ. When we are in Christ, there’s nothing and no one that can take away who we are in Him.

 

Have you experienced identity theft? What lessons have you learned through or about identity theft?

 

5 Lessons From Mental Health

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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Mental Health affects everyone in some way. On this World Mental Health Day, I reflect on the mental difficulties and suffering that many encounter each day and how they still matter and are still needed and important.

There’s all sorts of things that can trigger or cause people to struggle with their mental health. Mental Illness is not limited to a certain status of people, because there are many people who both publicly and privately deal with these situations whether they are wealthy or living in poverty. Even the very successful or underdog can be touched in these areas. Below are some highlighted lessons to consider on mental health.

 

1) Our mental health will either positively or negatively influence other parts of our health. Often times people with a mental challenge are overwhelmed with  physical fatigue.

 

2) Natural and spiritual cures do exist for mental illness. I tend not to say much when it comes to whether or not a person should take antidepressants or other prescribed medication. I believe it all depends on what’s best and would work well for the individual. Just because a person doesn’t take the prescribed doesn’t mean they are superior or foolish and just because someone does that they are wrong or better off. The natural cures such as herbs and spiritual cures through a continual connection with Jesus do bring great results for many.

 

3) Mental Illness doesn’t define a person. You don’t know who a person truly is, by looking solely at their mental challenge. There are some very wonderful, gifted  and anointed people who may publicly and privately face depression and/or anxiety attacks.

 

4) Awareness and positively sharing your story matters. There’s always someone out there that needs to either be more aware or hear that story that can impact lives.

 

5) Getting the support and help you need doesn’t make you inferior. We all need help and support with any challenge we face in life. Got to do what needs to be done.

 

  What lessons have you learned from mental health?

 

5 Lessons Through Compassion

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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One of the virtues that originates from Christ is that trait of compassion. Jesus has shown the greatest example of being compassionate to others. Christ saw the sins, issues and faults of people yet extends all that He is in splendor.

 

The gift of compassion is meant for all of us to put into action towards others. This means that it needs to be displayed no matter how the other person or people act or what they say. Yes, even to those that you have experienced hurt, disappointment and mistreatment from. That flow of goodness should spread not just to those we like and feel the most comfortable around. Below are some highlighted points to consider on compassion.

 

1) Compassion focuses outwardly and is not self centered.
 What do you see around you or that comes across you that you may not necessarily benefit from that you can make a difference in? How about that sincerity of heart towards others in tenderness?

 

 

2) There’s a difference between weakness and knowing what’s worth putting our attention to and in. Sometimes having a nice and soft – hearted nature can appear to be weakness or others will try to use it as weakness to get an upper hand with us. And other times it’s not that the person is weak, they just don’t waste time on stuff that is petty or something that won’t bring anything meaningful from it.

 

 

 

3) Compassion will uplift those that are down and lost. A natural human reaction to something that a person doesn’t like or understand is to act out to the person in a negative response. However, the most effective tool to deal with the matter or express a concern is in a compassionate attitude. Somehow it moves people to do better and get better. And where we don’t understand, understanding has a better chance to come into place.

 

 

4)  The chain connection of compassion brings joy and truth that cannot be broken with commitment. When we make a commitment to operate with a compassionate lifestyle no matter what the circumstances are we encourage it to grow to another level.

 

5) Compassion promotes love and will demote hatred. A promoter of love operates in compassion.

 

       

       What are some lessons have you learned through compassion?

 

 

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 Publishing

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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The publishing and writing industry has great creative times and it also has challenges that comes with being a part of it. As a published author and writer, I’ve experienced both sides and have learned and am learning through the process of writing and publishing. Below are some highlighted lessons to consider on publishing.

 

1) Always have a detailed plan that includes a marketing strategy. Whether you write books, articles or blog posts – the message and information can reach its audience when its targeted to readers effectively.

 

2) Give yourself extra time for the planning and preparation stages. Sometimes delays happen beyond a person’s control and things go wrong. Having extra time allows enough time to make changes and be organized.

 

3) Don’t look for major results in the beginning of something new. The little results eventually build up over time. Give it time.

 

4) Don’t place the value of yourself and your work based on sales and approval of people. Money and popularity doesn’t determine the quality, it may just show how well liked and well received a person is. Even ones that are well  liked and well received have people who don’t approve of them and what they are doing.

 

5) There’s always something new to learn and try in the publishing and writing industry. Always be open to learn and try new ways to grow as a writer and/or author.

 

What are some lessons have you learned through/about publishing?

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?