lessons

5 Lessons Through Summer 

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment


Sun, heat, water, outdoor beauty and cold treats all relate to what we identify as a part of summer. Throughout these summer weeks and months I have been taught some lessons in various ways and have learned some lessons. Below are some lessons to consider through summer. 
1) Improve your health habits now while you’re still in young adulthood. 

I have been told previously that I don’t need to be healthy while I’m young. The statement most likely came from a well meaning place, but wasn’t balanced advice. 

This summer has moderately challenged me physically. As a younger adult I have seen the differences and results in the health choices I’ve made an effort toward. Our bodies, minds and souls need to be taken care of well and when we neglect them they will let us know. 
2) Stop rushing through moments that are meant to be enjoyed. 

It is ok to take your time to enjoy what’s happening around you. 
3) Follow when God leads in places that are uncertain to us. 

 Even if God leads  you to something where as a result  a resource is drying up and you may have little to nothing, God’s guiding will never lead you off His path for you. 
4) Be kind and merciful to yourself. 

I can be a critic to myself and be harsh on me at times. This summer I practiced not beating up myself over mistakes and imperfections. 
5) Embrace who you’re becoming. 

This summer has challenged me to look past a lot of things and trust in God for who I’m becoming through Him. 
What lessons have you been learning throughout summer? 

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5 Lessons From 1 Samuel

/ Crystal Holdipp / 2 Comments

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Samuel is the writer of the majority of 1 Samuel. Gifted as a prophet, Samuel gives a warning to the Israelites about their desire for him to choose an earthly king to lead them and the disaster it will bring. The Israelites didn’t pay attention to the warning and experienced much mourning because of their desire.

Below are some highlighted lessons to consider from 1 Samuel.

 

1) A persistent petition from a mother births a powerful legacy of seeking the Lord. Hannah who continued in prayer during barrenness eventually gives birth to a son(Samuel) who develops a lifestyle of prayer and worship unto the Lord during his leadership.

 

2) Outside of God’s presence is death and grief. When the glory of the Lord departs from a people, there is no victory during the battle – which brings much loss. After Eli’s sons(Hophni & Phinehas) were killed in battle and Eli died when he heard all that happened, Phinehas’ wife gave birth to a boy and named him Inchabod which means “The glory is departed from Israel”.

 

3) Human leadership has the ability to mislead and rely on self, but the Holy Spirit will never lead you outside of God’s covering. Saul walked in disobedience to God and thought he could do things all on his own and still reign.

 

4) Never give place to the devil in avenging yourself. God will take care of the mockery and deprivation in His timing.

 

5) Surround yourself with those who operate in wisdom. In our times of haste, their words can save us from taking foolish action. Abigail encouraged David in who he was in God and in leaving the situation(when her husband at the time mocked David and David’s request for payment of his men’s service was rejected) for God to handle.

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 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?

 

 

5 Lessons Through Literacy

/ Crystal Holdipp / Leave a comment

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Literacy has an important position and role in our communities and world. When I think of literacy I think of books and reading. Growing up reading was one of my favorite activities to do, especially reading creative stories. I still enjoy reading even up to this present time. There are many ways in which literature functions in life. Whether it’s in a classroom, library, house, workplace or any other location, it still remains information and knowledge. Below are some highlighted lessons to consider on literacy.

 

1) Communication and the comprehension of it can be developed through many kinds of reading and  different kinds of writing. We communicate in various ways including talking, listening and the way we act. Language is a strong part in how we communicate. What we say, how we listen and what we write all has a part in the process.

 

2) Writing promotes literacy. Every time a writer writes and shares their writing they encourage others to read, communicate and connect in some form.

 

3) Literacy is for everyone. Whether a person likes/dislikes to read and write and/or is strong/not strong in reading and writing, we all need it for everyday life and while it doesn’t have to be everyone’s favorite thing to do we can make it interesting in creative ways.

 

4) Literacy can be in the form of pictures and music. Images and music communicates a message, sound or information when we view and listen closely and thoroughly.

 

5) Literacy affects every area of living on earth and  the quality of life. The attention we give literacy in whatever form can bring the change and increase we need in earthly living.

 

    What lessons have you learned through/about literacy?

 

 

 

 

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?