Krystalhope Designs & Interiors

Before/after pictures. Krystalhope Designs & Interiors Krystalhope Gee Myers

A little Wednesday before/after pictures. Krystalhope Designs & Interiors Krystalhope Gee Myers

Hey, lovely friends! This piece is now available for purchase, as I no longer have room for it. $100. obo. It was refinished by yours truly.

Before/after photos from Krystalhope Designs & Interiors

Good morning, my lovely friends!
Today's devotional will differ from my usual musings as I've received several requests to clarify the concept of prayer. Here are some common struggles:
- I'm unsure what to say when I pray.
- My prayers feel scattered.
- I find it difficult to pray. Does God perceive my prayers as genuine?

Let's delve into God's word for an understanding of prayer.
The Bible (referencing the KJV) mentions various forms of prayer, including thanksgiving, supplication (requesting help), intercession (praying for others), confession, and praise and worship. Each type serves to connect believers with God and express their faith and devotion.

Notable prayers include King David's confession in Psalms 51, where he admits his sins, seeking forgiveness and renewal. The tax collector's humble plea in Luke 18:13, acknowledging his sins and pleading for mercy, and The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:6-15, where Jesus outlines the principles of prayer.

For me, prayer is an ongoing dialogue with God. This morning, while preparing to study His word, we discussed my overly sweet coffee, the messages about people's struggles with prayer, and the words I'm writing now.

For those uncertain about what to say, here's my prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we approach You with hearts only You can fully understand. Instill in us a desire and peace so we may confidently express our needs, love, and gratitude to You. In Your precious name, Amen.

Be blessed, my friends.

You are known and not alone

When we decide to follow Jesus, we’re given a new life in Christ. But what exactly does that mean?

Jesus came and died for everyone who ever lived — that’s us — and when we give our lives to Him and make the choice to follow Him, we get a new life in Him. We get adopted into His eternal family, with all the rights that go along with that.

When we say “yes” to Jesus, we are choosing to believe everything about Him is true. We’re agreeing that He lived a perfect life, died for us, and rose from the dead. When we believe this, we are adopted into God’s family as His children.

Being God’s children means we get unlimited, constant access to God’s presence, love, and authority. And the great news? No one can separate us from God.

We don’t receive new life as God’s children from our parents or earn it from our good deeds—it’s something God freely offers us. He alone has the authority to adopt us into His eternal family, and He promises to never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

At the moment of our adoption, our old identities no longer matter. Every unkind name we were given, every mistake we’ve made, every hurt we’ve experienced (or caused)—it’s all erased. Our identity, security, and future are now rooted in the God who loves us and died for us.

Take a few moments right now and reflect on that. If you belong to Jesus, you are not alone. You are known by the Creator of the universe who calls you His child, knows you by name, and loves you unconditionally.

In my Bible study group, we are reading the book Your True Story, and I am obsessed with it. It’s a must-read. Below is a preview from day 12.

You Are Never Alone

You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
Psalm 139:5-10

A bolt of fire had just fallen from heaven, defeating the prophet Elijah's enemies. The first rain cloud after years of drought was forming in the sky. The nation of Israel was changing physically with rain and spiritually with repentance (1 Kings 18). Elijah was a wanted man; men were searching to kill him. Although Elijah had witnessed God's provision, protection, and power through years of the nation's rebellion, he was weary. He was done-or so he told God:

"I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life... I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
(1 Kings 19:4, 14 NIV)

DAY 12: YOU ARE NEVER ALONE

What a doozy this beauty was to bring back to life. Finally, found this beautiful wood hiding beneath countless coats of paint.

Nothing like a pretty little side table.

Antique Wardrobe Restoration. I love to design, refurbish, and recreate, BUT I also love bringing a piece back to its original beauty.

Pray to Hear God’s Voice

There's nothing better than hearing God's voice through His Word and responding in obedience.

The third chapter of 1 Samuel records the story of a young boy named Samuel who heard a voice calling to him in the night. The voice was God's, yet to Samuel, it sounded like his mentor, Eli. It was only after Samuel asked Eli about his experience that he considered he might be hearing God's voice. What does this mean for us?

Like Samuel, we may not recognize God's voice at first. It might take time, patience, and the counsel of others to help us discern what we're hearing. Listen for Him with eager expectation. One way to do this is to take some time of silence during prayer and ask, "God, is there anything you want to show me or bring to mind?"

If you start praying consistently each day and still find it hard to hear God's voice, don't give up. Keep pressing. Keep believing. Keep praying. Keep studying God's Word so that when He does speak, you will know it's Him! It might be a thought that drops into your mind, a Scripture that suddenly seems to leap off the page, or the "coincidental" timing of something you hear around you.

If we're listening expectantly and persevering patiently, God surprises us, helping us notice things we might have missed. May we be like Samuel, the servant, and declare to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” That's a promise worth remembering and persevering to see fulfilled!

Rainy cold days make for slow……… days for Krystalhope Designs & Interiors.

SOOOOO once boredom hit…. 🤔💡

I remember that I have 4 iron clawfoot legs, a few rolls of paintable adhesive trim, and rolls of park lane paper with a super cute map print.

Let’s go!

The Task of Evangelism

Have you ever shared the good news of Jesus with someone in your life?

When Jesus was teaching and training the twelve disciples, he often used imagery and metaphors that were part of their culture to communicate important truths to them. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus relates the work that He is doing to a farmer’s work in the field.

Jesus says that the people who do not know Jesus are like a field of grain that is ready to be harvested. But, there are not enough workers to go and harvest among the fields. Jesus says to pray that God would send more workers to gather the harvest.

Essentially, there are people that are ready and willing to hear and respond to the gospel message, the hope that Jesus brings for every person. But when Jesus says "the workers are few" (Matthew 9:38), what He really means is: there are not enough people sharing the good news with others.

As Christians, we are entrusted with the free gift of eternal life, and we’re tasked with sharing that message with others. However, many Christians keep their faith to themselves.

We are to be bold in sharing the message of the cross with other people so that they can experience new life in Jesus, too.

Take a few minutes today to consider what small step you can take to begin sharing Jesus with other people. Ask your neighbors, coworkers, or friends what their spiritual background is so that you can begin having spiritual conversations. Pray for God to give you courage, and then step out and begin sharing with others.

The Sweetness of Patience

Have you ever plucked fruit prematurely?

Perhaps you were allured by its vibrant color and sweet scent moving through the air. But when you took the first bite, you realized it lacked the ripeness you anticipated. Everything seemed right at first glance, but there was one missing ingredient…

Time.

Even the simple act of picking fruit can teach us about time and patience:
"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You, too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near."
James 5:7-8

The author, James, penned these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to a community of new Jewish converts to Christianity, dispersed throughout various regions. These early Christians faced many trials, including persecution and opposition, because of their newfound faith. James’ call to wait patiently and endure was more than mere words on a page; they were a lifeline of hope and encouragement in the midst of adversity.

And just as those early believers confronted trials, we, too, will encounter challenges and suffering in our Christian journey. And, just like those early believers, you can choose patience—allowing the fruit of the Spirit to ripen within you, no matter the season of life. And when you do, your character will mature, your faith will deepen, and your relationship with God will become sweeter than you could imagine. Patience always bears the fruit of perseverance and strength, even today and even for you!

I have just a little obsession with my new pillows…. AND what a cute find! The grateful pillows were only $10.00 from Family Dollar!! My center black velvet pillow is a cover that I found at The Bin Store in Commerce.

Don’t Lose Heart

As we start getting older, our bodies begin to change.

Muscles might ache. Hair might gradually turn gray. Vision and hearing might eventually get less sharp. And we, or someone we love, might even struggle with significant or devastating health challenges.

The apostle Paul once offered some ageless wisdom to the believers in Corinth, Greece, which can still be helpful for us today:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul knew what it was like to face hard things; he’d been beaten, shipwrecked, snake bitten, and imprisoned.

Earlier in the letter, he’d said, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭NIV)‬‬

The ripple effects of sin’s existence in the world might frustrate us physically, but it cannot touch us spiritually.

Whether you’re dealing with a serious diagnosis, physical shame, or are simply exhausted by the weight of everyday responsibilities, don’t give up. Your body might be aching, but God can still renew your spirit—day after day after day.

2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. | King James Version (KJV) | Download The Bible App Now For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

What a blessing God served up today! Beautiful weather, Dawgs football, and the opportunity to bless others. #