accumulation
first off, i apologize for letting so much time go by between blogs. it has not been my intent to be so lax. i assure you i’m not asleep on the job, on the contrary… life has been moving at a light-speed-to-Endor-pace and i finally have a momentary gap in the time/space continuum to catch my breath. (sorry, i have a sci-fi loving son and it tends to rub off.) secondly, we just moved. (no, not out of Montana! we’re staying put!) now, for those of you that have ever packed up house and home and pulled up roots just me saying…”we moved” is all you need to hear to feel my pain. right?!! i’ve read that moving is often referred to as one of the most stressful life events you’ll encounter. i’ve done it somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 times in the 20 years i’ve been married. we just moved this past May, as in 5-months-ago-May and then moved again 2 weeks ago. crazy, i know. i think the fact that moving must take place while life still goes on at a normal pace (kids still have school, family must eat, parents still have to work etc…) is one of the things that makes it cause SO much stress physically, mentally and emotionally. anyway, yes, it’s been a stressful few months… specifically the last couple weeks. however, as i mentioned early on, i have a little breathing room for the moment and the pause has given me some time to think.
as i have been packing and unpacking for what seems like endless hours…. trying to find the proper and most efficient place for all of our books and bedding, shoes and socks, coats and cowboy boots, kitchen utensils and cleaning supplies, the thought, ‘i have a lot of stuff’, has crossed my mind more than once. i spent a great deal of time during our last move weeding out the things we don’t use, can’t wear, or aren’t playing with anymore and that was a huge help this time around. the previous move took us to a much smaller house and the act of downsizing, though difficult, was long over due. so the fact that i’d done a lot of the difficult, dirty work before was definitely in my favor as i packed up recently. however, as i’ve been unpacking things over the last few days, even just today, it still seems like there is no end in sight! there is no denying it… no getting around the fact….we’ve got a lot of stuff!! i guess when you’ve been married for 20 years and have a couple of kids, things accumulate. although, i must say, i’m the opposite of a pack rat to a fault. i love throwing things away, giving things away, finding new homes for things….however you want to say it, i don’t like clutter therefore i don’t like keeping things around that i don’t intend to use. at least that’s how i’ve always thought of myself. but i’m currently being reminded that we have most absolutely been accumulating. there are clothes that i can’t bear to part with…dresses that carry with them special memories of special moments…, toys my kids played with that hold precious memories, paintings my husband painted that, while they may not be my favorites of all time, i could never toss. (my favorites are all hanging in the house). so as i take advantage of the opportunity to take inventory of all i own, i’m reminded…painfully, obviously… of Matthew 6:19-21
“do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. but store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. for wherever your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
last week as i went thru our garage where we’ve kept some things stored over the summer, i came across a box of clothes that i’ve loved over the years. i don’t wear most of them anymore, but i’m excited to pass them on to my daughter, and perhaps a granddaughter, someday. i found mouse droppings in the bottom of the box. gross. thankfully not on the clothes themselves, but close enough! however, one of the jackets was destroyed. it was stripped of some of the fur on it’s sleeves, and the mice ate thru several different places, leaving wholes and tears in the fabric. i might be able to salvage it…turn it in to something else maybe…but i thought of this verse above. it wasn’t rust and it wasn’t moths, but mice can be just as destructive.
the things i’ve accumulated on this earth, while not evil, not even bad, can still cloud my vision of purpose. my focus can so easily be diverted. i truly believe that we fight an enemy that ultimately wants to see our destruction (1 Peter 5:8), but happily settles for our distraction. my goal, as i (hopefully) finish up putting things away this week, is to make the effort, to purpose in my heart, to put the important things first. to store up for myself more in Heaven than i have stored up on earth. thank you Jesus for being my treasure.
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:37 am
Hi Crystal. I understand the moving thing. I have moved 5 times during my 5 years of marriage. Each time we weed through stuff and I also love to discard things. If I haven’t used it in the last year, it goes to someone else who could be using it. The problem I am finding now, is that family members are asking for stuff I used to have, but it’s mostly gone. My philosophy on that is, “If I provide for the needy today, God will provide for me when I need it.” And, He always has.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 am
Crystal,
Your post and scripture bring to my mind, what for me is one of my daily endeavors. As I go along in my day, it is a struggle not to get caught up in the flesh. To keep ever thoughtful of how I can be a blessing to those around me, and especially when I need to go out of my way to do so. In my line of work, drug and alcohol counselor, it is ever prevalent that much of what I do is to plant seeds. And as someone delivered from my addictions, praise Jesus, I know that the behaviors I model are seen by everyone around me. Our Father is so awesome, seven years ago I was a down and out Meth Addict, alcoholic, pot head, and today I walk hand in hand with those in darkness into the light, praise Jesus. I want to say thank you Crystal your music was with me in my journey out of darkness and it is still with me today, in the light. Blessings to you and your family, you are in my daily prayers. Love in Christ, Hardy
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:23 am
Woow Crystaall…
MINISTRAS AUN MAS MI VIDA…
Eres la Mejor…
Dios esta con Ustedes SIEMPRE,,,
LOS AMO<3<3<3
BENDECIDOOOSsss…
xD
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
WOW! I just want to begin by saying I’ve been such a fan of yours for years (ever since like when i was a little boy watching “round house” on nickelodeon). Your voice is so beautifully anointed and although you are a vessel of God, sometimes we “fans” forget that you are “human” too
May God continually bless you (hopefully, I’ll be able to see you in concert!
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Hi Crystal,
Wow that is A LOT of moving! My family is smaller, just me, my husband, and my dog Hershey:) But, even though it’s just the 3 of us, I’m always amazed at how much stuff we accumulate. That is the 2nd time I’ve heard that verse from Matthew this week…hmmmm..definitely something to think about! Thanks for taking the time to blog! I’m so excited to download Peace on Earth tonight:)
November 4th, 2009 at 8:20 am
Moving? Yep, just did it 7 weeks ago, and have moved 5 times in the last 5 years, with our biggest move from a lifetime in Southern California to our new home state of Texas in 2006. With our most recent move just across city lines, I had to pack up a home where accumulation hadn’t been touched for six years [due to divorce and remarriage] AND move all within one weeks time, because of unexpected time issues. Freecycle, Goodwill and trash days were my constant companions. I, too, was amazed at the amass that can be accumulated in such a [relatively] short amount of time, forget the long-haul of 20 years!
[this is my paragraph of empathy, although I do not knowing moving on your scale.]
“i truly believe that we fight an enemy that ultimately wants to see our destruction (1 Peter 5:8), but happily settles for our distraction.”
I am a full-time wife, mother and home school teacher of two, and although I am blessed to call my home my work, I am amazed at the constant distractions that keep me off my knees and out of the Word…even though I don’t have to deal with alarm clocks, commutes and a job outside of my home.
“…but happily settles for distraction.” So aptly put, Crystal.
November 5th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
HEY!! LOVE THE SCRIPTURES!! LOVE THE NEW EP ALBUM!!!
November 8th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Hello Crystal,
Thank you for being such a blessing in my life! I would like to know when will you be in NYC area or Connecticut? Thanks and God Bless!
November 10th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Crystal, I just wanted to drop by and say hello, God put you on my heart today I use to be a youth counsler at Heartland in Missouri and some of your family memebers live in that small city. God changed my life and I was able to help others including John your cousin I believe…Just wanted to send you a not of encouragement…I love everything your doing and I have moved ALOT and I enjoy new beginings…and the ability to meet and help new people! God Bless
November 14th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Hi Crystal. I’ve been a fan for years. Love all your music. I’m glad I found this tonight. We don’t have much, but I know others have less and I help out when I can. The last few weeks I’ve spent way too much time…late at night…trying to win ‘things’ on line. Mostly for Christmas presents, but still. I need to get my sleep at night (especially with all my conditions) and let the contests go. If I happen to catch one in the day time, fine, but not waste hours just on contests. Thanks for the reminder and the verse. I’m sharing this blog on twitter.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Hi!
Paz hermanos!!
Queria saber si habria una posibilidad de que Cristal Lewis y Steve Green cantaran juntos en un mismo CD. Creo que harian un duo genial!!!
Dios los bendiga!!!
November 28th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Thank you so much Crystal for this word! It is sooo easy to follow purpose but still get distracted by things that are not necesarily evil as you said, but nevertheless not the essential or important things that we should be focusing on. This world and the things, the glitters of this world can cloud your vision and sidetrack you if you let it. But it is refreshing to be reminded, even in the simplest of examples, that the things we “cherish” and count as “valuable” on this earth will not last. What forever remains is the footsteps we’ve made that are alligned with God’s holy and pure purpose for our lives. Again thank you! You are an inspiration