over the edge
jumping off of a cliff is not my idea of fun. whether it is a not-so-high height or the ‘Cliffs of Insanity’ from Princess Bride, jumping from any elevation brings nothing but a sense of panic and pressure. for me, simply standing close to the edge inspires anxiety and alarm, so unless my life depended on it, i’d rather just remain safely on the ground, thank you. therefore, when i read James 1:2 this past week, the visual that came to mind was of nothing less than a ledge.
James 1:2 ”….consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…”
wait…what??? trials and joy seem like polar opposites at first glance! i mean, what could bring less joy into your life than a trial? right??? when i think of the trials i’ve encountered over the years i remember the hurt and the pain, the frustration and confusion, the anxiety and the fear that typically accompanied them. i remember one year in particular, we were going thru a situation that seemed impossible. our hands were tied. we couldn’t fix the problem…it wasn’t like there was a decision that we could easily make and therefore ease the stress of the thing. we simply had to wait it out. later, when we could look back on it, i found myself describing my experience as one where i felt like God had led us to the edge…our toes hanging over… our footing unsteady…. but he brought us back just in time.
here in Montana there is a great big lake that we love to take friends and family out on when they come to visit. we know of a spot on the lake where there are some rocks that are just perfect for jumping off of and into the glacial water…if you’re into that sort of thing. the nice thing about these rocks is that once you climb up out of the water you can choose from what height you’d like to jump. there is a nice low spot (perfect for you know who) and a crazy high spot for all the dare-devils. i’ve taken part in this tomfoolery a handful of times, each time vowing i will never again engage in such madness. but i must admit, confess really, that there is a moment …albeit a fleeting one… whereby i am truly engaged. that moment when i count to 3 (for the umpteenth time) and i finally fight my fear off long enough to actually force my brain to tell my legs to ‘GO’! i am swept up in the split second between breathing and falling and preparing to hold my breath and i’m thrilled. then i hit the water and it hurts. but there was that flash of fun…
did you notice that in James 1:2 he said pure joy? not just plain joy, but pure joy. what does that even mean? i’m still figuring that out, and perhaps i will be working on it all along my life’s journey home, but as of now what i believe it to mean is this: when we encounter trials and difficulties in our lives, and we most definitely will, we need to look at them as something that God can/will use to grow us into the men and women that he desires for us to be. (beauty out of the ashes, you know) that ultimate outcome, as we trust that God has the entirety of our lives perfectly planned and carefully calculated, is our goal. getting there isn’t always easy, but it is worth it. and that should bring into being JOY! as much as it might hurt. as difficult as it might be. as scary as it might seem. we can trust in his perfect plan 100%. do you believe that he knows? do you believe that he cares? then we should be able to envision ourselves on a cliff. standing with toes over the edge, the thrill of what we know will be all at once scary and exhilarating pounding in our hearts. then throwing ourselves off with reckless abandon, knowing that we’ll land in the arms of our father who loves us more than anything.
September 27th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
wooooww Crystal… q experiencia…!!! gracias x compartirla…
realmente eres super Important para mi vida,,,, y para Dios pues eres sU hija Adorada…
Soy de Venezuela,,, y tengo casi todos tus CD´s, Diosito me ministra muchisimo a travez de ellas…
Muchas Gracias Crystal…
BENDIGO TU HERMOSA VIDA, y a tus seres queridooos…
I love you so much…
besos xD
September 27th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Thank you Crystal, for a very meaningful topic. This is something that for me, as someone fairly new to walking with God, only six years, truly delights me. It is so awesome to have the opportunity to look adversity and doom in the face and feel at ease. To have the chance to rest in our faith is truly something that brings pure joy. To know God will see us through. To know our salvation is always secure, gives us in a sense, the ability to beat the odds. For me it is pure joy to know whatever life puts before me, it always provides an opportunity to draw closer to God. What a testimony to God’s unfailing love and the sacrifice of his son that we can be unafraid no matter what may be happening in the natural. Praise God. God bless you and your family always. Crystal, you are always a blessing to me.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Hello Crystal,
First I want to say that you are an inspiration. You are one of the most anointed, powerful singers of all time. I absolutely love your voice and music.
Now I have to be a dork! I have to get out my star struckedness (if that is a word)! I am star struck knowing that you might read this! Since I was a little girl I wanted to sound like Crystal Lewis. I wanted to have that thing that Crystal Lewis has. People all have that one celebrity that they are star struck over for me that has been you! Ok I think I am done!
I have found myself relating to many of your songs. Many times even when they are not yours you make them yours. I am going through that process right now. The one where you have to jump and know that God will catch you. Like you mentioned I am counting to three for like the thousandth time. God is waiting for me like when will you let go child?! I feel like I am living in the song for such a time as this. Do I go and follow my dreams and God’s plan or do I stay and follow the safe trail? Reading this I know that I shouild just let go and learn to fly. ‘For such a time as this. Isn’t it much too great a risk… But if I turned away how would I know what I have missed? Have I waited all of my life for such a time as this.’ It is terrifying just the thought of letting go. So many doubts come to mind, as if God would forget to catch his child. I know He will be there but I am still fearful and then I remember the verse that God has not given us the spirit of fear but power, love and sound mind.
Thank you for your words, for sharing with us. These words help us to remember that we are not alone and that people jump into God’s complete will everyday and come out with the I made it out alive T-Shirt. Many times I find myself like Jeremiah saying but God I am only 21 and I am too young. But God just wants our faith and he will take care of the rest. Thank you so much for what you do. For jumping off the cliff spiritually and battling through along with your huisband and children. You inspire multitudes and always remember that music never dies. You are truly blessed and anointed and God has not given you the spirit of Fear but of Power, Love and Sound mind. He has taught you to be fearless all around. You have sung that yourself. God Bless! -D.R.
October 1st, 2009 at 8:42 am
I can not describe how this reflection has touched my life, when just last night I was facing one of this situations where you have to go deep looking for the ‘joy’ of trusting that God has the control of everything that’s going on in one’s life.
It is comforting to know that, as the Word says all our brothers in the whole world are going trough the same situation, and we can share how we find peace and rest in the Lord’s word, in the prayer and in the trust in Him.
Thanks for introducing your homepage conecting with God’s word, when the Christian world is so falling apart from our basic goul and our reason to be.
I love you my sister and love your job.
Hope to see you soon here in the Dominican Republic!
Many blessings,
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Dear Sister in Christ,
Your songs have been a source of comfort for me the last couple days. I’ve been resting under the “healing balm of Gilead” and the radio station has played many of your songs. Yesterday it was “I Will Never Leave You” and then today was “Remember”. I want to get that CD….just looked up the playlist on it….I need words of healing in my life right now.
You see, two weeks ago today they found our “baby” boy (23 yrs old) sitting in a car, dead. Alcohol poisoning they say. It doesn’t matter….he’s gone. My heart aches like I never knew it could.
However, through the pain, my husband of 30 years and I are praying that God will turn our ashes into something beautiful! We don’t understand it….never will this side of heaven. When you believe, with everything in your being, that God, in His sovereignty doesn’t allow us to go through ANYTHING that first goes to His thrown for His approval….then you take a time like this in your life to lean on his strength, healing and plan!!
I just felt that I needed to write this as His Word tells us that we need to share with one another to help someone else that is going through something similar. Thank you again, dear sister, for your words in song and most importantly your positive influence on so many and the message you proclaim!
If I never see you this side of heaven, I am looking forward to singing in your choir up there!!!
God Bless,
Cate
October 5th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
My three girls who are now women, 25, 28, 20 and my sister and I have enjoyed Crystal Lewis since before she started with Greg Laurie at the Harvest Crusade. I live in Southern Orange County, Originally from Long Beach. When I read the last posting on the 27th of September about trials and count it all joy? And that she was in Montana, I just had to leave this thought with you all……………April 17, 2009 my 6 1/2 year old niece Hanna May Cini- aka-Hanna Banana from Montana- was killed in Columbia Falls, Montana on a highway in the morning on her way to school. My sister, Robin, the beautiful inside and out mother to Hanna and Bayden was taking them to school when she was rear ended and spun around and then t-boned right on Hanna’s side. My sister picked her up out of her seat and Hanna made one whimper and never regained consciousness again. She went on to donate her heart, liver, eyes, skin, kidneys and whatever else someone in medical need needed. I was there when my sister received the call from the hospital, they must have said Hanna’s organs were donated because my sister was so happy and the sweetest cry I ever heard came from her. I thought….whoa my sis is strong. My sister has Bayden still, he’s 4, before the accident, my sister had begun a divorce from their father and the worst still….just 2 months before Hanna passed, her father was suspected of foul play. Hanna was being treated by a therapist. My family wanted to kill him at Hanna’s funeral. But my sister who just wants to forgive and let the memory of her beautiful butterfly Hanna live, would not even let us speak negative. She is such an inspiration to me. She is my younger sister. She had kids around the age of 30. I had kids by 18 so she was the best aunty Robin in the world. My sister moved to Montana 10 years ago and it is a beautiful place. She has been thru so much and she never has questioned the Lord. Me-I am mad. I don’t get it. But I know it’s not right for me to behave in such a way. My sister still loves me. Here’s the big finish……..Hanna May Cini– when she was 5 she saw a commercial about the hungry children and she was crying it really disturbed her. Next morning she comes to me and says ” mom I had a dream, I know what to do!” Do about what Hanna? “She says, the kids mom the kids on TV. If we get them some art supplies and they paint it will make them happy and if they are happy they will paint pretty pictures and then we can sell them and buy them shoes and food.” A true girl to heart! Never forget the SHOES! Well from that sprang the foundation called Hannas-dream.com and we became a non-profit charity and Hanna donated art supplies to children in Fiji before she died. Since Hanna’s death everyone is so captivated by her sweet genuine love for others and her appreciation for art that my sister has made a few more donations locally in Montana and she has been interviewed by numerous TV stations and radio stations in Montana. Woman’s Day magazine did a huge spread on them. So just keep believing in Jesus on day at a time and he will see you through. All the way………………
October 6th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Wow! Im blessed by the comments that are being sent back!!! God Bless you all!! Great Devotion Crystal!
October 21st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
MAN ON LEAN ON ME I THOUGHT U WAS BLACK FOR A WHITE
WOMAN U CAN SING BETTER THEN ANY WOMAN I KNOW
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:31 am
Hi Crystal. This morning I popped a few older albums in my CD player, including your ‘Beauty for Ashes’. I used to listen to it all the time in college, and this morning it was like listening to it for the first time. Refreshing, amazing, worshipful, anointed. I’m glad to see you are still at it, and I plan to get some of your more recent albums. And that joy in trials thing…I too have had a lot of experience with this. It’s hard to explain, but the refining fire that you experience in the trial, brings much good that you could not have received otherwise. I think that’s the joy in the midst of it. Be blessed, you’re a blessing to many.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:18 am
Hi Crystal, Dios te bendiga mucho te esperamos con ancias aqui Dominican Republic , we love you, tus canciones ministran a nuestras vidas de manera en especial, Dios te sigan usando, Amen.
God Bless you so much.
October 25th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
cool site, nice post
October 28th, 2009 at 7:40 am
It is amazing to see the stories here and how God has taken care of his children. My heart goes out to you, but so happy that our creator has got our backs! Crystal, thank you for being a vessel for Christ, and using his gift he has given…funny story, I was on a tram in the Miami airport , while I was waiting for my husband’s delayed flight, singing “Gods been good to me”…at the top of my lungs (It was late at night, and I was the only one on). Hope they had cameras….maybe an inspiration to someone, anywho….love the songs, glad to listen to music with meaning, see you in heaven!
October 28th, 2009 at 7:42 am
correction, Tampa airport, I know I am a dork!
October 30th, 2009 at 8:26 am
hi
friend you
April 11th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Hello Crystal,
I’m a long time fan. Some time ago I discovered your song, For Such a Time as This and have always wondered about the backstory. Would mind sharing how this song came about?
Thank you and may you continue to share your GOD given talents with the world! You and we, are truly blessed by them.
Always a fan,
dfsharpe