Note to Self....

Do nothing half way... dive in head first. Be all in or all out.

Talk to the guy that you can't get out of your head... he just might be worth the risk.

Choose the career path that seems the least practical but fills you with the most passion. So much so that it makes your heart beat faster when you think about it.

Talk to and befriend interesting people even when your inner introvert is cringing and just wants to run away.

Carve out your own path, go against the grain, and dance to the beat of your own drum.

Dance as much as you can whenever you can... even with two really left feet.

Know that taking care of the body that God gave you is more worth it and more rewarding than the chocolate cake. But don't forget to have the chocolate cake every now and again... that way you don't end up hurting anyone.

Listen to all the music all day if it brings you joy and makes your world feel even the slightest bit more magical.

Explore and discover all the beautiful places that happen to be right in your own back yard.... that you often take for granted.

Get your cute little behind off the computer and out of the house. Because no filtered photo on Instagram or Pinterest can compete with the way the sun dances over water right before your very own eyes.

Sit in the café and sip the coffee just because it makes you happy.

Pour your heart out to God but don't forget to sit and be silent enough to hear Him speak.

Let your creativity run free and don't discredit your ideas no matter how big or crazy they may seem.

Let the naysayers tell you that ordinary people don't actually do what you want to do. Smile to yourself knowing that you are anything but ordinary.

Don't live as though you have to impress or prove anything to anyone. This is not a race. Find the joy in surprising yourself with just how capable you really are.

Bloom where you are planted and be where your feet are. But sometimes have the courage to just burn it down and walk away. Shed a few tears for the places and people who loved you well that you are leaving behind. They deserve it. When you need to leave, then leave.

Don't worry if you make a mistake... it's better than doing nothing at all. You will learn from it and it won't be in vain.

Never forget that your dreams and God's plans are often two very different things. But God's plans are always better than anything you could ever dream up.

And when the way looks impossible and all seems lost, know that God can make a way in the wilderness and streams in the dessert.

Yours

(Video from: http://splatexperience.com)

In light of Easter weekend I thought I’d repost a blog and poem I wrote a couple years ago for my other blog, The Waking. Hope you guys enjoy and are reminded of the amazing sacrifice our Savior made for us. Happy Easter, friends! :)

I feel like I’ve been a little more reflective this year of the sacrifice that Jesus made for me … for us. It’s amazing to think that the sinless, blameless Son of God would take my sin and shame on himself.

I think of my life thus far, all of 26 years, and I can’t help but think of all that has been forgiven. I look ahead and I’m sure there will be many more things that need to be forgiven. I think of the times that I’ve asked for forgiveness and still felt guilty… so I would ask again, and again. As if He couldn’t or didn’t hear me the first time. There have just been times I haven’t trusted his forgiveness enough to forgive myself. But he paid it all. My debt has been paid in full and there is nothing I did or could ever do to deserve it. It’s a gift Jesus offers with open arms and all I have to do is accept it and trust in it.

The miracle of the cross is that Jesus not only died so we could be forgiven of our sins, but that we could also turn from them and be transformed. His grace is not there to excuse our sin but to save and free us from it. I didn’t mean to ramble on this much… I just feel thankful.
 
This Easter I hope you reflect on all Jesus has done for you, I pray that you accept and trust in the gift of salvation. I pray that you experience the fullness of salvation that was purchased for you on the cross.
 
Yours
You’ve grown me up. Sculpted my skin, skin that still has the imprint of your hand. I am uniquely yours.
 
And for a time I breathed nothing in but you. For a time in my life beauty was about to begin. But I caved in, into my own sin. It was then that there was a new imprint on my skin. One that was uniquely mine.
 
But the blood that was shed to wash away my sin, the iniquity of all men. The life that was taken so I could be born again. Thorns on your head, nails in your hands left an imprint of my sin on your holy skin. Son of God, son of man the imprint of the nails on your hands has brought me back to life again.

Songs For Easter Reflection:

A Drop of Blood by The Ember Days
I Wonder by Tara Leigh Cobble
Revenge by Jon Foreman
Why by Nichole Nordeman
The Beginning by Showbread (Nervosa album)

If I Were Honest…

If I were honest I would tell you that I'm no where near where I want to be.

If I were honest I would tell you that I have a lot of crazy seemingly unrealistic dreams.

If I were honest I would tell you that I haven't the slightest clue how to make those dreams come true....but I know in my heart, they are supposed to.

If I were honest I would tell you that I won't be content doing anything else.

If I were honest I would tell you that fear is what stops me; it's my worst enemy.

If I were honest I would tell you that I'm a late bloomer.

If I were honest I would tell you that it's messy and hard to explain...and even if I tried you probably wouldn't get it anyway.

If I were honest I would tell you that I'm no where near where I want to be but by the grace of God, I'm getting there.

The Winter…

This is a little poem I wrote a few nights ago. It wasn’t really inspired by anything in particular. I was actually just playing around on Ommwriter… which is one of the very best discoveries I’ve made lately!

If you’ve never heard of it allow me to give you quick summery,  their website describes it as a “writing environment”, it’s designed to get you to write without any other online distractions. It gives you pretty fonts, backgrounds, and even plays soothing music to write along to. I’m kinda sorta in love with it! The music they play seriously makes me feel like I’m writing at a spa! Every writer should give it a shot… you won’t be sorry! :)

Now back to the poem, as I was playing around on Ommwriter, my creativity was sparked and I just started typing. This poem just kinda came out… I like it when that happens. It’s always a joy when you don’t set out to write anything in particular, you’re just writing, and all of the sudden a picture starts to take shape. :)

The Winter

(source)

On a cold winters day, I stopped at the end of a icy river bank to pray. "Come" I said, "come what may". Walking home in the silent, peaceful snow... no one but me and my thoughts as I go. I see my breath flowing in icy white circles in front of me and feel my face freeze , pink nose and rosy cheeks. Something about this snowy isolation is sweet and soothing to me. Solace, oh sweet solace, serenade me.

Oh there was a time the bitter cold threatened to ice out my soul but comfort came not a moment too late and wrapped its arms around me and walked me all the way home.

(Source)

With you I don't fear the cold winter days and nights anymore. I let them be. I let them pass right by me. I choose to see them as beauty in waiting, new life waiting to leap, spring in a deep sleep. I just have to wait ... wait silent, still, unafraid.

For in you I am unharmed as you keep me from frozenness. Your warm love and blinding light melts away all the ice.

© Krystal Celeste

Head On Collision

I’ve tried and tried to pull you back from these coal laden dark tracks but you’ve fought back. I know now that even if I wrestled you to the floor, it wouldn’t matter, you’re hell bent on knocking on that trains door. And no one can save you now! And no one can save you now!

{Chorus}
You’ve been walking on train tracks, blindfolded. You don’t hear the whistle, you don’t see the smoke. And I’m standing there, watching you, screaming my lungs out, oh I know without a doubt, it’s gonna be a head on collision. Head on collision.

Oh you and this train, baby, you’re one and the same. The stubborn freight you are, but unstoppably moving down a chaotic path won’t get you too far. You yell in an alarming whistle to all in your way to let them know you’re going to keep running and running down this dangerous path anyway. And no one can save you now! And no one can save you now!

{Chorus}
If only you had vision to see, this trains headed towards you, baby. But you say, “shut up and let me go”, yeah you and this train, you’re ready to roll. Roll into a head on collision. Head on collision.

Sometimes you’ve gotta crash and burn. Sometimes you've gotta crash and burn just to learn, you can’t go your own way. And only one can save you now! And only one can save you now!

{Repeat Chorus 2x}
You’ve been walking on train tracks, blindfolded. You don’t hear the whistle, you don’t see the smoke. And I’m standing there, watching you, screaming my lungs out, oh I know without a doubt, it’s gonna be a head on collision. Head on collision. If only you had vision to see, this trains headed towards you, baby. But you say, “shut up and let me go”, yeah you and this train, you’re ready to roll. Roll into a head on collision. Head on collision.

© Krystal Celeste

The Dream…

I knew it in my heart. It was a cold sweat, wake up in tears kind of dream from the start. There was a big gaping hole, something was missing or something was stolen. All that was left was a dead dull ache; remnants of a death I could not fake. And the question I could not shake was, what was I grieving? Even when I awoke, heart-pounding, I felt as though it would still not end. I tried to dismiss it, but deep down inside, I knew, things would never be the same again.

© Krystal Celeste

Hey Stranger

{Wrote this lyric about a year ago and came across it again last night. For some reason it just never felt like the right time to post it; but now it seems appropriate for this season of life.}

You won't let me be there, won't tell me what's going on. Won't tell me where your head and heart are at. Oh it's been too long since we had an honest conversation, since you let me in. Since we were real and not pretending, oh where do we begin? So tell me, what's the song that you've singing? What's the dream that you've been dreaming? I really do want to know. Even though I fear what I'll find is a person I don't even know.

{Chorus}
Hey stranger, how did things change so fast? Hey stranger, why can't some things last? Hey stranger, thought it would stand the test of time. Oh how I wish I didn't have to say goodbye to a person I once knew, now you're a stranger to me and I'm a stranger to you.

Why so secretive? You used to tell me everything. I'm not used to this silence and it's driving me crazy. Yeah I could try to say "I don't care" but in the end it would be a lie. But as time goes on I find myself losing the want to try. Trying to hold on to what I thought was real and tangible, but if we could let it go so quickly, then was it just disposable?

{Repeat Chorus}

I wasn't prepared for the split on this road. I wasn't prepared to have to let you go. Was hoping we could travel this journey together. But you can't travel with a person you don't even know. I looked at a photo of you today and quietly asked "Where did you go?" I'm left with a stranger who was once a friend of my soul.

{Repeat Chorus 2x}

© Krystal Celeste

The Path To Mercy’s Way

Follow me down a path. It may not be one you’re too familiar with. Follow me down a path. It may be dark but don’t be afraid. Follow me down the path to mercy’s way.

It twists and turns. The lines bleed and blur. There’s bumps and holes; make no mistake, these are rough roads. But do not worry my friend for I know them well. I’ve stumbled on them many times. Oh it’s a narrow path with dim lights. I’m not without blame, I’ve ignored the signs. So follow me, follow me down the path to mercy.

It’s a long journey and I don’t want  to walk through this alone. Trying to make my way back home but something’s always tripping me up, leading me astray. Will you shine a light for me and help me see the way?

Follow me down a path. It may not be one you’re too familiar with. Follow me down a path. It may be dark but don’t be afraid. Follow me down the path to mercy’s way.

©Krystal Celeste

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.  These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them." (Isaiah 42:16 NIV)

I am Made To Dance

   

I am made to dance, not surrender to my crippled legs. When I was young I knew what my feet where made for; to twirl, glide, and soar. But life came along and tripped me up, now I’m afraid to step back on the floor. It took away that magical spark, switched the lights off, and left me in the dark. Crying out with a broken heart, broken dreams, and broken limbs; father pick up and dust me off again.

I am made to dance, I am made to dance on your feet.

I am made to dance, though you are the one who needs to lead. Lead me in the complicated steps of this human existence. I have tried and tried to get this dance right but I keep falling, falling head first into the paralyzing stillness of fear. But this dance requires movement, free flowing from one place to another, stepping from this space to the other. Moving in time with you; I look down and realize there’s not just one pair of feet gliding, but two.

I am made to dance, I am made to dance on your feet.

I am made to dance. If my feet were made to twirl and glide, why are they anchored to the cold hard floor tonight? If who the Son sets free is free indeed, why are these dancing shoes crippling me?

I am made to dance, I am made to dance on your feet.

I am made to dance. Maybe my crippled legs are a blessing not a curse. Maybe losing my feet are the only way I’ll discover yours. Maybe someday I’ll be dressed in garments of white, meant to forever dance by your side.

I am made to dance, I am made to dance on your feet.

© Krystal Celeste