From the Blog: Flock of Grace
Faith-driven reflections from author Addison Crissone
Faith-driven reflections from author Addison Crissone
For Good
by Addison Crissone
What is Good?
How can we know that 'all things work together for good' when many things in our lives don't seem so good at all?
Everything I Do
by Addison Crissone
So often, we get caught up in what we do, in how we perform, that we forget why we even do what we do. We begin to feel empty, and you cannot pour from an empty vessel. It is at times like this when God must remind us of why we do everything we do.
Last week, I needed a reminder of why I do everything I do.
Last week, I needed a reminder of why I do everything I do.
Pour Your Heart Out to God
by Addison Crissone
We all reach points in our daily lives where it all becomes too much- times when the only thing we can do is lay down our burdens by pouring out our hearts to God. But that is precisely where he will meet us- in our brokenness, and in our tears.
Offer it All to Him
by Addison Crissone
No matter what you have to offer, give it to him. All of it. The good and the bad, the heavy and the light. The happy and the sad, all your days and even your darkest night.
He isn't afraid.
And he won't turn you away.
Because he already knows.
He isn't afraid.
And he won't turn you away.
Because he already knows.
The Decision
by Addison Crissone
We all have a decision to make- please man, or obey God?
But how would we act if we no longer followed the world's rules and instead pursued God's righteousness?
But how would we act if we no longer followed the world's rules and instead pursued God's righteousness?
His Plan
by Addison Crissone
Our plans and purpose often fade adn fail right before our eyes in this life, leaving us doubtful and questioning God why? The answer to that question is not often revealed to us, and we are asked to walk on faith alone.
This can be painful and nearly impossible.
But we must trust that His plan is better than our wildest dreams.
This can be painful and nearly impossible.
But we must trust that His plan is better than our wildest dreams.
Until the End
by Addison Crissone
We are called to fearless- fearlessy faithful, fearlessly free.
But so many times, we are left winded nad paralyed by the uncertainties of life. They seem to arise from everywhere at all times, stealing our peace and destroying our joy.
But my friend, let me tell you a secret-
Jesus loves you until the very end.
But so many times, we are left winded nad paralyed by the uncertainties of life. They seem to arise from everywhere at all times, stealing our peace and destroying our joy.
But my friend, let me tell you a secret-
Jesus loves you until the very end.
In the Hands of an Almighty God
by Addison Crissone
You are held in His hands- in the same hands that created the universe, the palms that orchestrate the midnight symphonies, and the fingertips that place breath and new life in the lungs of a baby.
His hands are all around you.
You only have to look.
His hands are all around you.
You only have to look.
Smiles in Heaven
by Addison Crissone
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things
have passed away."
- Revelation 21:3-4
With God we shall do Valiantly
by Addison Crissone
"With God we shall do valiantly." - Psalms 60:12
After the Badge
by Addison Crissone
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away: blessed be the name of the Lord."
For Such a Time as This.
by Addison Crissone
Queen Esther knew who was with her. She knew who she was, and what she needed to do- and she rose to the task.
She was bold. She spoke up in a palace that was not built for her voice. But she spoke anyway.
She did not know what God's plan was, but she knew what she needed to do. She had eyes to see what God had placed in her hands and upon her heart- and she acted accordingly.
In Spirit and Truth
by Addison Crissone
Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is a spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. The woman said, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he does, he will tell us all things."
Jesus said to her, "I who speak am he."
People-Pleasers
by Addison Crissone
"And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him,
'Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today."
So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when
they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man
who is a sinner."
Joy
by Addison Crissone
The book of Philippians is such a book of joy.
This is why it is one of the most beloved books in all the Bible- because of its joy.
But what if I told you that the circumstances of this epistle to the Philippian church were brought forth from anything joyous times?
Lambs in the midst of Wolves
by Addison Crissone
"Behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves," (Luke 10:3).
Who Am I?
by Addison Crissone
You are valuable.
You are a treasure—a reward.
Don't you believe it?
Why else would God send his one and only Son, whom he loved and valued as a father does his child, to die on a cross in exchange for you and me? Jesus swapped places with us for a time so that we might not taste the sting of death and so that we might be redeemed, restored, and redfined by His blood and the Father's love.
You are a treasure—a reward.
Don't you believe it?
Why else would God send his one and only Son, whom he loved and valued as a father does his child, to die on a cross in exchange for you and me? Jesus swapped places with us for a time so that we might not taste the sting of death and so that we might be redeemed, restored, and redfined by His blood and the Father's love.
Mistreatment
by Addison Crissone
"Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they
gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand.
And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!"
And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they
stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him."
-Matthew 27:27-31
Take Heart
by Addison Crissone
Take heart.
"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
Speak the Truth
by Addison Crissone
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into
him who is the head, into Christ."
- Ephesians 4:15
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