May 23, 2012
Prayer for a single mother

Prayer for a single Mother

Heavenly Father, please bless my single sister as she balances motherhood, work school and home so perfectly.

Lord help her to build lifelong relationships with Godly people who will lift her up and encourage her instead of tearing her down with blaming nods and looks. Let her know how much you love her!

Give my sister the strength to work hard and the determination to follow the path You have created for her.  May she be encouraged to finish school and (if it is Your will) to complete her college degree as well. Make her home comfortable and welcoming to all who visit, and allow it to be peaceful place she can retreat to after a long day.

Lord, please bless her with understanding and patient friends thatwill encourage her to always do the right thing! If marriage is what she wants for her future, surround her with married couples that will serve as examples of what a lasting and loving marriage looks like.

Lord, please help my sister to be a good steward of the income you have blessed her with. Help her to make smart financial decisions that will allow her to live comfortably, provide for her children and leave a legacy for her family.  Help her to be a joyful giver to her church and to her community.

Lord, if marriage is what she wants for her future, help my sister to prepare for the husband YOU have chosen for her and help her to be okay with being alone for now. Help her to focus on raising her children, being a community leader and serving You.

Lord, let my sister know to turn to You for her every need instead of turning to destructive habits such as alcohol, drugs, over-eating or toxic relationships. Help my sister to honor her body as a temple created by You.

And finally Lord, help my sister to have a healthy and stress-free relationship with her child’s father, even if they are no longer together. May she always be treated with respect by her child’s father and everyone she meets.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Crystal Senter Brown

10:28am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyL-DIat
(Notes: 2)
  
May 19, 2012
Nothing comes between me and… (new blog post on Romans 13:14)

If you’re my age, you probably remember that Calvin Klein commercial with the very sultry (and very young) Brooke Shields. She looks straight at the camera and declares “NOTHING” comes between me and my Calvin. I didn’t figure out until I was much older just what that meant.

Shouldn’t we feel the same way when we clothe ourselves in Christ? Once we’re wearing His garment, nothing should be able to “get” to us.

As you prepare for this day, before you reach for that cute skirt or that cool t-shirt, clothe yourself in Christ. He’ll always “fit” and He’s always in style!

God bless you!

“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Romans 13:14 NIV84)

6:59am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyLlN3Bt
April 11, 2012
The Ensemble from The Wiz- what a beautiful group! The show will run from Aug 9-12 at Charter Oak in Hartford!

The Ensemble from The Wiz- what a beautiful group! The show will run from Aug 9-12 at Charter Oak in Hartford!

11:37pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyJWXyVc
April 6, 2012
The Mower (poem)

The mower stalled, twice; kneeling, I found
A hedgehog jammed up against the blades,
Killed. It had been in the long grass.

I had seen it before, and even fed it, once.
Now I had mauled its unobtrusive world
Unmendably. Burial was no help:

Next morning I got up and it did not.
The first day after a death, the new absence
Is always the same; we should be careful

Of each other, we should be kind
While there is still time.

Philip Larkin, “The Mower” from Collected Poems. Used by permission of The Society of Authors as the Literary Representative of the Estate of Phillip Larkin.

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7:02pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyJCqkhX
April 6, 2012
Having it out with melancholy (Poem)

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April 6, 2012
#goodfriday

#goodfriday

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April 5, 2012

Does God use I-Tunes? I still have not figured out how this song ended up on my iPhone, but I have been looking for it for years and couldn’t remember what it was called. Then two weeks ago when my hubby’s aunt died, it appeared in my playlist.

11:21pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyJ9_Uz4
April 4, 2012
Starfish (new blog post)

30 poems in 30 days is officially upon us and for the first year ever, my poems are not being posted online for all to see. Instead, they are handwritten in one of my favorite journals. My handwriting is awful, but at least I can read it.

I’m also discovering new poets each day and that’s the best part. Eleanor Lerman’s “Starfish” was on today’s list and I absolutely adored it. It was all about how we sometimes get so caught up in the go go go that we don’t take time to notice the little things. We don’t listen to people when they talk to us. We hardly have time to breathe.

So here I sit, reclaiming the first hour of my day without distractions, with nothing in the background aside from a few birds and the sizzle of the coffeepot. No tv to drown it all out…at least until my beloved awakens ;)

So I hope you too will have some silence in this day- I hope you are able to steal away a half hour or so to reconnect with your peace. Let God talk to you. Talk to him. Pray. Be thankful for this day!

6:51am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyJ3bz8t
March 31, 2012
This week, for the first time, I saw the impact my life has made (and is continuing to make) on others. Amazing. (They had a slideshow tribute and everything!!)

This week, for the first time, I saw the impact my life has made (and is continuing to make) on others. Amazing. (They had a slideshow tribute and everything!!)

8:49pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyItRLM5
March 30, 2012
(blog) #B90days ends today for most of us, tomorrow for the rest. What an amazing way to spend Lent!

(blog) #B90days ends today for most of us, tomorrow for the rest. What an amazing way to spend Lent!

6:15pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyIpP-LE
March 28, 2012
Double Dutch by Gregory Pardlo : The Poetry Foundation

Poems like this make me want to write and write and write. ❤

4:47pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyIihHaM
March 22, 2012
Stop running from the collection plate. (new blog post)

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” Romans 12:1 MSG

Do we always see the “little things” as offerings to God? It’s not about the shiny brass collection plate with the velvet bottom. Sometimes our best offerings are with us all the time: the way we treat others, how we feed our bodies, how we respect one another, etc. God delights in seeing you be a good steward with what He blessed you with.

Pretty awesome, huh? :)

In other news, i have been verrrrry busy writing and preparing in this quiet season. Less contact means a clear mind and a focused spirit. God expects me to shut up from time to time so that I can hear Him. And His voice is better than anything I have ever heard. I am so thankful for this moment.

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March 14, 2012
Do you really care?

I think we all try to be good people. We want the best for others, we try to be nice and we help eachother out…as long as we don’t have to step too far outside of our comfort zone.

It’s easy to turn a blind eye when the person doesn’t come right out and say I NEED HELP, but when they ask and you still don’t help? :(

No matter how the plea comes: text message, fb status, tweet, carrier pigeon or telepathy, if you see a need and you have the means to help, HELP!!!!!!!!

I don’t wanna see anyone else leave this world (or even attempt to) because they thought there was no other way out.

I am heartbroken.

10:21pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyH-s6SB
March 14, 2012
40 days without facebook and twitter…

So far I have:
Created a new vision board
Hosted/ attended two book signings (for my own book)
Lobbied for cancer funding
Rode the subway for the first time
Visited the hometown of Zora Neale Hurston
Hung out with some pretty awesome babies and children
And started my NEXT BOOK!

Stepping away from one thing allows other things to flourish!

7:59pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyH-Jo2g
March 14, 2012
First subway/train ride ever today! #boston

First subway/train ride ever today! #boston

1:51pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/Z7BaWyH_AiZD