Misunderstandings and hope
Frequently, when you hear an advertisement for an auto dealership on the radio, you have the announcer speaking at 2000 WPM in a hushed voice at the end of the ad trying to cram all of the dealership's disclaimers into the final 5 seconds of the spot. It sounds ridiculous, and it serves no purpose other than to protect the dealership from the legal ramifications of his ad. Nobody can hear, understand, or process what that guy is saying, but to protect himself from claims of false advertising, the dealer crams it in.
I don't do that here. The old principle applies, "You can't say everything all the time, because if you try to say everything all the time, you wind up saying nothing at all." Of course, whether I say anything useful when I do talk is another matter entirely.
I agree.
When you start blogging, you quickly discover that no matter what you say, someone will read it into wrongly, misunderstand, or completely miss the point altogether. I wish it weren't the case, but it's the nature of opening up yourself to the world on a computer screen. And it's the reason that I occasionally want to chuck the whole blog thing altogether. There is never enough time to fully explain everything and it's often more harmful than helpful to engage in self-defense. Sometimes it's better to just be silent, sometimes it is good to answer. I'm still learning on that one, though.
This week there has been a more-than-usual number of personal attacks aimed at myself and our family and our beliefs from blog readers (not sure why they read since they seem to dislike me so much, but that is neither here nor there). I wish I could open up my home to these people who seem so vehemently opposed to what I try to share on here. I wish they could know me outside of words on a computer screen. I wish I knew more how to show them Christ's love.
The personal attacks do not bother me at all like those who comment mocking Christianity and the Creator of the Universe Himself. You are free to disagree with me, you are free to call me names, you are free to say whatever you want about me on your blogs, but you are treading on dangerous ground when you mock the Lord.
As I prayed for these people this week and asked the Lord to bring them to a saving knowledge of Himself, the Lord brought the verse to mind how someday every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Someday, those who laugh and jeer and mock will be on their faces proclaiming that Christ is Lord.
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, do not wait until the day of Judgment to recognize Him as Lord. Seek the Lord while He may be found. He is your only hope.
posted by Crystal Paine at 1:29 PM
26 Comments:
((Crystal)), thank you for doing all you do for the Christian women out here who need to hear what you have to say. May God richly bless you! Hang in there, girly!
Amen, sister! Keep on keeping on...the Bible tells us we won't be without persecution and strife on this earth...Personally, I'd rather let folks think what they want of me. All that matters is what my Heavenly Father and Jesus think of me...I'll rejoice when I see everyone I've met on this blog and others in Heaven, worshipping together.
And its really great to know that NO MATTER WHAT, regardless of thought, action, or deed, Christ loves us and wants us to come to Him, to trust in Him, to love Him, believe in Him, and worship Him. For this, we'll gain eternity...no matter when we accept HIS lordship over our lives. To those who don't believe, I challenge them to be able to live and control their lives as THEY want to AND be happy. I'm much happier with the Lord calling the shots and writing my book; He's so much more capable than I ever could dream or aspire to be. EVER.
:)
Oh, Crystal. I don't know what has been said to you, but I am sorry if it was unkind. You are doing so much at such a young age, and I just want to encourage you and affirm ALL that you are doing! I sometimes wonder if there are "degrees of heat" in hell, and sadly, I wonder it in regards to my father who is an absolute God mocker and has influenced my mother in this direction. There are so many women and young ladies who need your firm stand and Godly words....have courage and stand firm! Nancy Guenther ~ Roses and Teacups http://roses-and-teacups.com
Crystal, I don't know that I've ever commented on your blog, but I've been reading for a while now. Guess it's time to introduce myself and let you know that I think you're doing a great job. I enjoy hearing about how you and your husband are working together to do what you believe God has called you to. It is encouraging to me as I have struggled in the past to support my husband's desire to run his own business (I like security and all that ;) ) But during the last few months, through various methods, including your blog, God has been speaking to me and helping me to understand that I needn't worry about anything really. Seems a simple concept, but difficult at the same time.
Thank you for taking the time to blog, despite some of the negative feedback you might get.
Crystal,
I have recently been reading your blog also. I wish I had been on The LORD's path at your age. I am greatly encouraged by your blog and are raising my daughters to follow GOD'S ways. Reading your blog gives me hope they do not have to experience what the world calls "life"(I call death) before they will rely on our Savior. Thank you for blogging on. I am a VERY blessed wife and mom and would not change the path the LORD has put me on. 3sofar
I admire your willingness to stand up to such negativity and to still be positive in spite of it all. You are just a fellow beggar trying to share your bread with other beggars who need it as well. No exaltation of you here, Crystal! I'm a fellow beggar too. :)
Prayerfully, the naysayers who are judging you will not be judged against their judgments one day. It's not too late to stop while you are living and breathing. Life's too precious to spew such anger and bitterness.
I just found this blog and spent the last 30 minutes reading through it and your site. What a blessing!
I am so glad that you blog regardless of the negativity you have recieved.
Crystal, as I've said on here before, your website and blog are just wonderful! Since finding them, I have shared them with other friends and I have heard wonderful compliments from all of them!! As someone else on here mentioned you are doing SO much for the Lord at a young age. Satan would love to frustrate you now (he knows you have a lifetime of service for the Lord), unfortunately he always seems to know what buttons to push with us!! I don't know what other blogs you read or which ones have been negative regarding you, but maybe it would help if you quit checking them (you could possibly be running into them on accident, I guess). I heard one time that someone asked George Bush how he dealt with all of the negative criticism he got and he said he does his best to not be confronted with it. He said if he knows there is a magazine article about him or a talk show talking about him, he turns the other way and doesn't even listen. You KNOW you are doing the right thing when you are getting criticism...the TRUTH is not easy for some to hear! If everyone agreed with you it would probably mean you were being "politically correct" and it is obvious that that isn't what you (nor the Lord)intends. Thank you for taking a stand! There is a battle out there, keep fighting girl!!
Crystal,
It makes me so sad that people are so cruel to you(and to each other for that matter). The condition of our world is not getting any better, and because of this we need places like this all the more. You have so many sisters in Christ that pray for you and your family, and I know that you are probably aware of this. Your rewards are not here, but in heaven and remember that this is all only temporary. God has reached so many young women through this blog, I can't even begin to tell you how much He has shown me through your blog!
Is there any way you can block some of these e-mails? Your sister in Christ,
Samantha
You all are so kind! Although I did not post this seeking encouragement, God knew that I needed it. My husband and I both felt that there was a lot of spiritual attack coming from a lot of directions this week seeking to distract us and unsettle us at this time when we really need to be focused and strong as Jesse takes the bar in just a few days. Your words have uplifted me tonight and I am thanking God for you all.
Momma to 4: I have found that it is best not to often read those blogs that like to mock Christians and myself in particular. However, I am unable to completely remove myself from negative comments as the majority of them come in the form of comments left on this blog which I don't post. There are quite a number of trolls who are constantly around trying to pick a fight. Most of the time, I just delete and don't pay attention to them, but there were many this week which were mocking and jeering Christ and Christianity and it breaks my heart to see those kind.
I am new to blogging so I hadn't even thought about people trying to post negative things on YOUR blog. How disheartening! You have such a compassion and heart for the Lord, I thank the Lord for you!! I am SURE one day you will hear the words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"!!
Think of it this way - if you weren't doing something very beneficial for Christ and his kingdom, Satan wouldn't have a reason to attack so much, would he? I think your blog is a tremendous blessing, not only to myself, but to many people far and wide. Hugs and prayers to you, my friend! ~ Ruth V
Thanks, Ruth!
You know, it's such a tiny, tiny thing in comparison to the many Christians worldwide who are being dismembered for their faith. But yet, it's exciting to me to be ridiculed for what I believe. If everyone were telling me how great I was and how great my blog was, something would be wrong. For as many people who are out there saying they appreciate this blog, there is always a large number of people who are telling me otherwise. It helps me from feeling in anyway proud of anything.
Momma to 4: Yes, that's why I have moderated comments. :) In the beginning, I didn't and it was a lot of work to always have to be monitering who posted what. By moderating comments, it helps tremendously so that I don't have to go in and manually delete the many distasteful comments.
Respectful disagreeing or thoughtful discussion is always appreciated, but mocking God or Christianity, calling me an ugly old woman, using profanity, taunting women who post on here as dumb and brainless, saying my husband is going to get tired of me and run off with another woman, saying I'm brainwashed and in the process of brainwashing other women, sorry, I don't usually post those types of comments (and yep, those things have all been said and lots more I won't repeat). We're about encouraging women here - not tearing people down.
Most of the time, I just delete the 10-20% of the comments which are of the above type and not mention it, but every once in a while, I feel compelled to say something, especially when the mocking is directed at the Lord.
Crystal-
Thank you so much for your blog and everything in your store and all that you do! I LOVE coming to see what new every day and I get encouraged, inspired, and uplifted every day! I'm looking forward to seeing what sewing projets you're working on. Can you post some pictures? I love getting ideas. I have some pics of my projects on my blog.
Kepp doing what you're doing. You are called to be set apart from the world. The persecution is just confirmation that you are doing just that.
God Bless You and your family.
Let's all be praying especially towards Jesse and Crystal the next few weeks......for their focus on what God puts in front of them, for clear heads and peaceful hearts and most of all for the perseverance in doing the Lord's work.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph keep you and protect you in all that you do!!!
Love to you both and of course Miss Kathrynne Elizabeth......
Wow. I'm not surprised that you get those kinds of emails, Crystal, but it actually shocks me to the core to hear the details. My heart breaks for those people who are so hollow and lost and don't even realize it. Satan is angry and prideful, and he has infused them with the same bitterness that consumes him.
God, show them mercy. We have already forgiven them for the evils they speak, but it is Your forgiveness that matters . .
. . offer them the strength to love You . .
One of the things I have learned - and seen - is that living and walking in His Truth is the best example we can give. Anything else cannot even be called living - it's as simple as that. What a blessing it is to be secure in the knowledge of this.
I must be off now to shower, as I spent my Saturday night working out at the gym. I have yet another reason to take care of myself, now that I will soon have a husband to honor - a brave and loving man of faith who calls me beautiful no matter what. How very brainwashed I must be . .
PS: "Ugly and old?" That's severely amusing, considering Crystal manages to be pretty even in an apron. Talk about biblical, feminine beauty shining through!
Crystal, this isn't related to your original post, but I was hoping you could let us know when your husband is taking the bar exam. I know there are many people, myself included, who would like to pray for him.
Good article here, dearie! Don't let it bother you too much...I find after almost 34 years of marriage that I am unable to please even my husband 100% of the time. So if you are pleasing the LORD, that is all one can expect!
Just for the record, we are in the Hebrew month of Tammuz...and in a few days we reach the 9th of Av (which I think will be Aug. 3rd this year)...which is when many bad events have happened in history to Israel as well as to other nations. We also have seen terrific spiritual attacks in many places recently...and others we have heard also think as we do...for many reasons satanic attack is on the move right now. It seems that prophecy is being played out in front of us, say those who watch what happens to Israel and the place where God says he will have his place forever (Jerusalem, etc).
"Blessed are you when men persecute you falsely for MY name's sake!! Great is your reward!!" You must be earning jewels for your crown!
I think with a sort of popularity, more attacks come! You just have to keep doing what is right......
Crystal~
I'm so sorry that you have had to endure such a tough week. Satan does seem to like to attack us right in the middle of stressful or exciting times.
I pray that the Lord will bring peace to both of you tonight and the rest of this week. Let us know when Jesse is taking his exams. I'd love to be able to lift you all up in prayer.
You are such a blessing to so many out here...thanks!
Sommer
I meant "Jacob". I have been up too late. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......................
Thank you for all you do, Crystal. I did not come to this site agreeing with all you say, and I'm still not sure that what you believe in is right for everyone... but I hope that being a Mom and a homemaker is what God has in store for me.
Sometimes, even in the name of Christianity, people feel so free to be critical of others thus directly violating God's Word. Keep encouraged there are many of us who read and enjoy your blog immensely. My husband completed his Ph.D a year a ago, so I can understand the stress that you must be feeling for Jesse right now! I will be praying for your family.
Amy
It surprises me that people take the time not only to keep up with reading blogs they so violently disagree with but then have time to make negative comments too. I guess I am too busy being a "brainwashed homemaker" to spend a lot of time reading liberal commentary on the internet! Your response to these critics truly reflects Christ.
Kristen: I took some pictures of my cross-stitch and will try to get those up soon. I'm also going to try and finish my skirt this week. Nothing spectacular, but I'll try to share photos if others want to see them!
Thanks, Cheryl!
Interesting thoughts, Elizabeth, thanks for sharing!
Jessica in NYC: Yes, it breaks my heart that people have such bitterness inside of them, that they do not know the peace, the love, the joy, the forgiveness, that the Lord can give them.
AnnieOaklie: Loved your response. :) Just keep being a so-called brainwashed homemaker. I stand up and applaud you!
To everyone else who wrote such kind words - I praise the Lord that this blog is a blessing. It's only through Christ that anything good comes from me. I praise Him!
"But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.-- 2 Timothy 2:23-26
When I read this verse I thought of this post. Hope it encourages you to keep blogging!
Lydia
Post a Comment
<< Home