No MISTAKE

Be encouraged- you who are reading this right now -                because God makes no mistakes. 

I fell in love at an early age.

To me he was everything. So much so that I ALMOST worshipped him.

In fact, if God had not been holding me securely to himself, then he would have become as a God
to me.

I am now 74 years old and have only just come to this understanding.
I would not be the a faithful servant of the Lord that I am today, it I hadn't suffered from this man.
If I hadn't been pushed away by him.


Matthew 10:37 reads
"He that loves father or mother (man or woman) more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." 


I learned from reading this verse that God MUST come first.
Do YOU put someone or something in front of your love for God?

Lying on my bed, I asked the Lord why?
Why didn't my first husband show me the love I so needed.
In thirty five years of us being together I knew I was never that special person in his life.

A year after coming out of that marriage I got into a relationship with a colleague. A kind, gentle, intelligent man, one who I cared for very much. One day he told me that I should read the book, "Women who love too much." He said it would help me to understand myself.
We remained together - on and off for eight years until I broke away.  I was NOT that special someone to him either.

Later I married Ray. Sadly there is not the love there that I have desired.
Ray suffers from combat related P.T.S.D. and lives in a world of his own most of the time.
I go to bed alone. He may come and sleep for a few hours, but when I wake up, he is gone.

Ray and I sat at the table with two Christian friends who came to visit a couple of weeks past. Before they left my box of precious promises was handed around for each of us to receive a message from the Lord.

Manners prevailing, I took mine last.
This is what it read:

"Crystal, your maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called."  Isaiah 54:5

I had read this verse before, but never took it as a personal message for myself.
Was I shocked?   YES! I was.
My husband was sitting with us, and I saw he was also stunned.

Now I realize as you may also - the WHY of happenings in my/your life.

Time on earth is short in comparison to Eternity in Heaven.

INTERVIEWED

It can be difficult to think of an answer when interviewed.

I discovered I only answered half of my first question.

MY INTERVIEW


                                                         In The Mind of a Romance Author.

                                           DREAMS OF INSPIRATION AND HAPPINESS

AUTHOR RECOGNITION BOOST

It makes all the hard work that goes into writing finally feel like I have been rewarded.

This is what ALLAUTHOR wrote on their page.

1. It is with open arms and a skip in our step that the AllAuthor team welcomes Australian author  Crystal Mary Lindsey   into our pro-author community. She's got a knack for romance that nobody can deny, which could be because she's married to an ex U.S. Marine. Her past professional medical history and her time in Bible College has truly given her the ability to inspire with her stories. Besides being a writer, she's also a loving mother and grandmother, and we are so glad to be working with a ray of light like you, Crystal!
2. Take a look at her profile and books using the link below:-

          AllAuthor Link

                                                                   To God Be The Glory

                                                               Editors Choice Award

WHY Give-Away a Book for FREE?

For A Limited Time Only..

Does this mean the book is worthless?.......... NO!
It simply means I want to create interest in a subject that is growing in pandemic proportions.

Abuse is affecting many, not just men abusing women, but women also abusing men.

The abuse of the elderly - the abuse of children.

This is one story among very many, and this abuse went on for thirty years.

What the author hopes to achieve with her story is to:
1. Prove her story is true.
2. Tell how she escaped.
3. Encourage others that there CAN BE a future.
4. It's not where you come from that matters, it's where you're going that counts.

HURRY and GET YOU FREE copy.  The promotion finishes on the 10th March.
Read a portion & Buy Here.

Self Publishers SHOWCASE

I am thrilled to be a part of SELF PUBLISHERS SHOWCASE
http://selfpublishersshowcase.com/crystal-mary-lindsey/

It takes time to climb the ladder of commitment especially when your health is deteriorating.              I had no idea when I wrote my first book that it would lead to seven more. Did I do this?



The one greatest achievement I desire is to encourage and inspire readers along the road of self discovery and to help them in finding Jesus - the Eternal life.

Feel Happy by Reading Right.

A Book with Taste - A Beautiful Story to Warm the Heart

I love to read.
I also love to write.
What kind of book do you read?

I only read books that will uplift and encourage.

So, that's the type of books I write.

My stories have, Faith, Hope, Love, Endurance, Growth, Patience, Prayer, Family, and are wholesome. The foundation, is the Christian Faith.

If that's the type of book you enjoy to read, then read the beginning of my next book....
Forbidden Fruit Temptation Book #2. This is the sequel to Discovering Treasure.

Here is a PREVIEW. https://read.amazon.com.au/kp/embed?asin=B01JS9237G&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_zxhiybXQYZH2T&tag=crysmarylin0a-20

PREVIEW
Discovering Treasure Book #1
https://read.amazon.com.au/kp/embed?asin=B01DY8PFHM&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_BChiyb89XEEXC&tag=crysmarylin0a-20

                                                                OutbackOzzieWriter

CONSUMING FIRE - A Plastic Surgeon's Desire

My new book has been released today.

It is a Christian Romance, and if you would like a SNEAK-PEEK then you can find that here.
https://read.amazon.com.au/kp/embed?asin=B01MCYOQSM&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_4jteybHNVFKPY&tag=crysmarylin0a-20

The TWO Books in The VISION VALLEY SERIES

Like Abraham of Old.

I have been pondering and praying for different family members.
Life is not always rosey, in fact it can be far from it.
With Ray not his best and others phoning to tell me their problems, I began to feel weighed down.

I have a wonderful, God fearing nephew. 
He is an inspiration of how to LIVE the Christian faith.
Openly he will tell you, "I don't have all the answers, but Jesus does."
There are no truer words then this. And no more humbler a man, than my nephew.
 He can truthfully say, "I can't do it, but Jesus can."

His name is Lance.... and he speaks as directly as an arrow, fired to its target.
He knows there is no time like the presence, to get right with God.
Because, as we all know, there may be no tomorrow.

Lance was not brought up in a Christian Home.
He had a tough up bringing.
And he learned early in life to work hard for what he wanted.

In his younger days, he made many mistakes, and chose wrong pathways.
Then he met Jesus, and his life changed completely.
 He will openly begin to cry like a baby as he shares, the conversion in his heart.
Not a Religion, =  But a Faith, Love and a Hope in a Risen Real Savour.

Last night as this blessing from God, my nephew shared with me, it Hit home Hard.
That as Abraham trusted God completly, so must I.

I can say, "Oh But, my problems are different to Abraham's.  
But are they? Perhaps they are not as hard as his were?
We all think, our suffering is the worst, but is it?
I would not like to be put in the place of Abraham...
I would not like God to ask me to sacrifice my son.

If Abraham could trust God enough to hand over, all that his hopes and dreams were built on.
His precious son, then why can't I.
God did not let Abraham down. Rather, God provided a way out for him.
Won't God then, do the same for us? I will trust.  I will believe so...
  
 "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32.

I feel more Free, from the revelation of this Truth, than I have for years.

                         Jesus is the LIGHT of the world, in Him is no darkness....
                         With Him in your heart, your life will shine out with love for others.
                          You will let go of your fears, and trust in Him, the lover of your soul.


                         Thank you Lance.... I Love You.  Blessings Auntie Crystal xxxx

Well Behaved Kangaroo's.

You always need to take care with wild 'Roo's so if you visit here, never underestimate them.
All of these pics were taken at a wild life sanctuary for the sick or injured.

When the mothers are 'road killed' the baby known as a Joey, will die without a pouch and feeds.

These three little one's are under two pounds in weight, so in intensive care.
Look carefully on the left and you will see, the fur-less baby. It almost looks like a puppy.

Getting a bit bigger, yet still unable to find its own food.

 Loving each other.

The good life while in rehabilitation.

I think I'll stay.

We'll all stay.

All life was created by God the Father.

  NOT IN CITIES.

 YES........All life IS created by God the Father.
 We have a FREE Ticket to Heaven, when we believe in Jesus the son, and His gift to us.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, 

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me…”

Religion can make the way to Heaven so hard...

But Jesus makes it easy.

Called and Chosen

Jesus went up on a mountainside

(can you imaging the rough steep climb) 

 and called to him those he wanted, 

 (how very special they were)!!

and they came to him." Mark 3:13

 (no hesitation, they hastened)

I wonder if they realised at the time, how very honoured they were?

(I'm sure they didn't)

Jesus Christ, the son of God....The Word of God, God himself..

Choose each of these men,  from many.

YOU...  who are reading this now, are also special.

Because YOU... have been chosen.!

Do you realise?  How very special you are to Him?

It is no coincidence!!   YOU are chosen...

Because He loves you..

HOW AWESOME!

 

Dusk over the Sea of Galilee, 

where Jesus liked to sail, and to rest from the crowds.

He was choosen to come to earth and fulfil a purpose.

He chose you, and me, to be an important part in that purpose.

 SO ......

"Rejoice in the Lord always. 

I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. 

The Lord is near. 

Do not be anxious about anything, 

but in every situation,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, 

present your requests to God.  

And the peace of God, 

which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts 

and your minds

in Christ Jesus."             

Praise His name.

 

Philippians 4:4-7

Flood Update

Just to give an update on the floods here in my state of Queensland.

As previously informed. Queensland is two and a half time the size of Texas.
Yes, its a huge state!!
At this time where I live in the middle section of the state known at the Sunshine Coast, there has been no rain for two days now, BUT, we are still flooded.
And we are still cut off. No food supplies in.
Our capitol of Brisbane is now under deluge.
All in all 75% of this state is under water and approximately 100,000 homes.
It is devastating and many of the News Readers look as if they have been crying.

Before flood photo of one Pizza restaurant.

Now flooded.

Just under the window, it has risen.

Telsta Telecommunications and a Real estate Office almost under water.

Then completely under

The main Highway looks like a river. light poles are reflected in the water.

 

Rascals Restaurant and hotel.

Reflections in the water make it look pretty. It makes you cry.

Thank God it is school holidays otherwise many parents would likely be searching for children.

Last night my grandson Elyshah 16yrs rang me from New South Wales where he is holidaying to find out if we were safe.

He lives here also, so I am very glad he is away and safe.

                      Elyshah, Joel and Luke, grandsons. All six foot and over.

Elyshah informed me that many are predicting the end of the world in 2012??
I informed him, that the end comes anyhow, at the time of our death!!
whenever that may be???
(Yes I do believe, there will be an 'End of theWorld')
None of us know, the day or the hour.
When a catastrophe hits, it gives a wake-up call.

Where do you stand in relation to your belief???
My heart falls when a person answers, I believe in evolution.
I say this to them.....
If I am wrong, then I have lost nothing...
But if you are wrong you face eternity separated from God and love.


WAKE-UP!!

The Day and Hour Unknown

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 

 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;
and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.

That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 
Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 
 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.    
So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
(Matthew 24: 36-44)

None of us know the day or the hour of our death!!
AND THAT IS THE END OF THE WORLD!!
For myself, I look forward to meeting the Lord.
Being embraced and welcomed into Glorious Heaven.
No more pain or sadness. No more hurt.
I, and my family are safe. Power is off to many.
We have problems connecting to the Internet.
We have problems staying connected!!
Please forgive me not responding as much as I'd like.

Glorious New Year 'Beach Wedding'

Happy New Year to all my beloved brothers and sisters in-Christ.

A beautiful sister, who has overcome much adversity from the enemy
has been lifted higher by the Lord. HALLELUJAH!!

She has a new spiritual head in a new husband......(so perfect)
We were thrilled to attend their wedding in northern New South Wales on New Year's Eve... 
The weather rained all that week,
then dawned fine for the day before, and the day.
We journeyed seven hours to arrive at Nambucca.
Unsure if we'd have to turn back due to floods.
But God led the way.

C wasn't sure if this was a dream or real.  

Yes Princess C, daughter of the Most High King!

It is Real.

Your Prince H, has come.

Riding on the wings of God's love.. 

To sustain you both.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:2

All others in their life up until this time, are placed second, compared to each other.

The Word of God plainly speaks....

And so a covenant with God has been made.

Now for the Blessing. 

“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

And for Us....we also experienced the joy of seeing daughter Daniella in the same area, visiting with her childhood best friend Nicala.
Pictured with their chicks.

 The car is an Australian Holden Classic from the 1960's.

       "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."
         Phillipians 4:4

 

"I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever,
I will sing, I will sing.....! "
















 

Miracle Magnesium

Illness is like a Crocodile, it wants to devour!

You can't kill it, but you can capture and try to control it, with Gods help.

"He sent out his Word (Jesus) and healed them, snatching them from the door of death."
Psalms 107:20. NIV



I felt ill all day on Thursday.
Being a very sensitive person I take on board everyone else's problem..
I pray for them and pain for them.
I have to continually remind myself...
"HEY, you are not God, stop trying to do His business!!!
I am a person who, ..... Loves too Much...
I have also been the Scapegoat for others who feel life and God have dished them a raw deal.

So on Thursday it all caught up...
Plus I forgot to take my usual 25mg Lopressor (Metropolol)B.D. 
I believe very much in natural therapy and for years have taken Magnesium. 
Yet...this also had been run out of and not replaced...

Everything is for a reason and a purpose and sometimes God wants to get our attention.
How better than to make us STOP!
And stop I did... I couldn't do anything else.
My heart raced, my blood pressure rose, and I felt so very ill.
(SERVER'S ME RIGHT, I should know better)
I suffered resting for a few hours...MAD, but medical people always, assess themselves.
(PLEASE, if this ever happens to you,  get to a hospital)

Finally I remembered the blood pressure medication and took it.
Ah..that made me feel a bit better...but I still wasn't well!
Next day I hit on it!
MAGNESIUM...I needed it.
Not with calcium as we have plenty of that in our water...
Just Magnesium!
Got the tablets and took them... Now I am feeling so much better.

Still need to rest some and drink plenty of water..

Praise God.

Many people don't realise the value of Magnesium (Epsom Salts)
It is God given though minerals.

Magnesium can help those who suffer with Chronic fatigue syndrome, Heart disease, Angina, High blood pressure, Poor circulation, Stress, Depression and anxiety, Poor sleep, Constipation, Muscle cramps, Migraine headaches, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Asthma, Diabetes, Facial and eye twitching, Muscle tightness, and many other health problems.
 Can be bought from Pharmacies, Health Food shops and Walmart.
Check out for yourself.
http://www.mgwater.com/

Be Healthy.
"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."  3 John:2 

Who AM I ?

God tells me and you..

Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart."

Some of where I come from was Wales, UK.

(Left) great grandmother Charles (maternal) with her daughter and new husband, plus other family members.

I was the fourth child of five born to my Australian mother and English father.

My mother with her five children. I am in front on the right.

Looking at this photo today I realised all of our body language is tilted towards our mother. We were all very close to her.

Mum taught us a faith by example.

Our life revolved around God.

The country home we grew up in south western New South Wales.

My sister stands outside and I took this photo with her brownie camera.

This sister has always been my best encourager in my faith, she has never wavered.

 Our background can form us for better or worse.

I came from a strong Christian background and for this I am thankful.

However, ultimately it is up to us and our choices as to where we go in life.

Today it is popular to pass the blame for doing the wrong thing onto someone else.

When I grew up we made the best of our lives and if  it went wrong we shouldered our own responsibility.

There was no passing the buck.

I have made good choices and bad ones, the same as you.

Learning lessons is what has been important.

Growing in wisdom and maturity, knowing when you are wrong and admitting it, and asking and accepting forgiveness, makes for a healthy life. 

No one is perfect.. I certainly am not!!!

I get distressed sometimes when people judge.

They think I have the perfect life and it is all together,

 just because I laugh much of the time. 

Not So....!!

What I do have is a strong unwavering faith.

A faith instilled in me from a child.

Some children choose to turn away. I choose to stay.

Genesis 8:1, And God Remembered.................(Us)!!

From eight to eighteen years of age. I grew up without a father.

This was no excuse for me to do the wrong thing.

I was not forgotten. Because God remembered.

You are not forgotten either.

God Always Remembers!!!

AMAZING "FIREPROOF" TESTIMONY

Eve would like to share her testimony of what the movie FIREPROOF did for her and her marriage.

Eve, (Not Crystal,) writes this.....................................................................

When you least expect it, miracles happen.

Friday night (22 Jan 2010) was just another regular Friday night. Nothing spectacular planned or anticipated. Months ago, a friend gave me a DVD called Fireproof. I've not really had any inclination to watch it, and while having nothing to do on Friday evening, everyone else fast asleep, nothing worth watching on TV, I decided to pop it into the machine. The first 30 minutes didn't really draw me in, but I stuck it out as I really had nothing better to do. Well. By the end of the movie I was sobbing like I haven't sobbed in years. The tears were literally streaming down my face, my body was shaking uncontrollably and my heart was filled with so much sadness that I honestly thought that I could die from the unbearable heartache.

I went outside, and with my eyes filled with tears, I turned my head to the heavens and asked God to heal me, to make me whole, to take my life and make it His. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and give me life. I honestly don't know how long I was sitting outside, it could have been minutes or hours, the duration is irrelevant, what I experienced was true GLORY.

It was as if I could feel the pain Jesus felt while he was hanging on the Cross, as if I shared the loneliness when His Father deserted Him so that he could bear the burden of all my sins. The pain was unreal, it was out of this world, it was something that my words will never be able to express. And then, it became warmer in my heart and soul than it had ever been. My entire being was filled with peace, love, happiness, forgiveness and above all, God's supernatural love.

I fell to my knees and worshipped God like I have never worshipped Him before.

I cannot explain what happened, or how, or why it happened. All I can do is to thank God that I now know that I will NEVER feel that type of loneliness or hurt ever again. All the glory to God!

I have realised now, that our war is not with each other, it is not here on earth, it is in the spiritual realm, and God is calling each one of us to fight for our right to the eternal life. God is saddened by the mediocrity that has become "religion" and "Christianity". God wants each one of us to experience His unconditional love - but, for that, we have to stop living for ourselves, and start living for Him.

When I testified in church this morning, I saw people's eyes filling with tears, I could see the hunger they have for that amazing love from our Heavenly Father and I prayed that each one of them could feel what I have been feeling since Friday night.

Thank you Heavenly Father for granting me the privilege of being your child. Thank you Lord Jesus for living in my heart. Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding me and teaching me.

I am now, more than ever, a willing student of God.
From Eve http://clayingodshands.blogspot.com/ 24 th January 2010
(With permission.)

The power of Gods Love

We can never underestimate the power of Gods love and protection.
How many times do you want to go somewhere only to have your plans cancelled at the last moment?
How often do you feel sad about missing out on an occasion not realising there may be a very good reason for it?

Next time you miss out, praise God. You are in His care and His love surrounds and protects.

I have seen into the supernatural realm on occasion.
I am very aware that life is not always as we see it in the natural.

"If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”

and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91: 9-11

   

Amazing Grace

My eldest child, daughter Femia, (named after her Italian Nona) pictured here in the middle rear line of her school class.

She was a very shy child who lacked confidence. Yet with the encouragement of a wonderful teacher, Mr Maxwell, she soon realised a talent for athletics. I believe she still holds the school record for long jump, thirty three years later. She went on to become the school athletic champion, competing at state level.

On her first evening at a new church she was watched by the young man playing the piano. They went on outings with the church youth and soon became an item.

In 1985 Femia and David married in a huge Italian wedding.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

(1 John 4:7-8)

Standing on a platform, they cut the wedding cake together.

 “Love is not self seeking, it’s not easily angered,
 it keeps no record of wrong.”  
 (1 Corinthians 13:5 )

Time Goes By and they build a Firm Foundation in Jesus Christ. 

 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
(Hebrews 10:24)

Next month they celebrate twenty five years of marriage

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:"
(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

The family that prays together stays together.

With their three children and a new son-in-law, this year.