Flourish Church Girl. Flourish

     

     When you google flourish you find out that it means to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way. I took a step back and wondered, how does God want me to flourish? As I pondered on this question I thought about how the Bible mentions that my eyes have not see or heart or even entered into my thoughts things he has prepared for me because I love Him. 

 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him- 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV

      I want to be transparent with you guys since it has been a while since I have posted. I am the type of person that has so many ideas that God continues to bless me with. However, the fear of failure and rejection takes over and I began to stick to what is "safe" and "comfortable". I totally forget the promises that God has made. I was sitting back today and God just told me to "FLOURISH". I knew I was going to get back to blogging and have planned all of my post for the rest of the year. This was supposed to be a totally different post but God told me to FLOURISH. 

      I just want to let you know that whatever you planned for 2016 don't wait to start it in 2017 because 2016 is not over yet. Whether you were going to start your business, enroll back into college, lose weight, go for that promotion, do it girl! The creator of all things has our back. Through every trial, mountain highs and valley lows the creator guides us. He keeps us on the path of our purpose.  I know I have told you all this before but Church Girl Chic is my ministry. Church Girl Chic may never be popular or known by many but this is what God has destined for me to do in this season of my life

     I want every person that I know to flourish in life regardless of the year we are living in. God has created us with greatness and has anointed us for his purpose. 

   

2016 New Years Workout Playlist

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!
    I am so excited about 2016 and all that God has in store for not only me but all of us. One of the things that is on my list and many others is not only to continue my weight loss journey but to also have my best body yet! One way that I am going to do this is by working out. Now, I don't know about you all but I love listening to music while working out. Last year was a great year for Christian and Gospel music. I have compiled a playlist of a few of my favorites from the past few years to make your workout experience the best yet!

Warm-Up

Charles Jenkins and Fellowship- War
Brian Courtney Wilson-Worth Fighting For
Tim Bowman Jr.- I'm Good

Cardio

Tye Tribbett- He Turned It
Erica Cambell- I Luh God
Michelle Williams- Say Yes
Hillsong-Alive
Toby Mac-Beyond Me(Phenomenon Remix)

Strength Training

Lecrae-Jesus Muzik (Dubstep Remix)
Mali Music-Heavy Love
Hillsong Young & Free- This is Living
Needtobreathe-Brother

Cool Down

Mercy Me-Flawless
Tasha Cobbs- Jesus Saves
Anthony Brown & Group Therapy- Worth

  

 These songs should encourage you while in the middle of that run when you feel like you want to give up. You will be reminded that you are indeed worth fighting for! Happy workout!

Life hurts but God heals every single time

   When life continues to beat us like we are in the middle of the boxing ring with Floyd Mayweather it may seem as if no one is in our corner supporting us as the punches continue to hurt and bruise our souls round by round. You all know how life has given me my fair share of beatings but through it all God was always standing in front of me, taking those punches for me.
   We all know that we are going to go through things in life and sometimes those things may seem unbearable. I met a 75 year old woman today named Jo. She was one of the sweetest people that I have ever met. I sat down with her thinking that I was going to sale her a life insurance policy, however, I was able to give her so much more than a policy, I gave her hope. Jo was abandoned by her children, abused by her ex husband and was forced to live with her best friend with no real income. Jo was a believer so I sat and spoke to her about life. After our conversation which only lasted for about 20 minutes, Jo reached me and gave me the most heartfelt hug and kiss on the cheek. I had never met Jo before, however, we looked past our age differences, background differences, and race differences and were able to connect on a spiritual level. I prayed for Jo that she would continue to trust God throughout the hard times, throughout her family separation and the emotional pain because God is a healer!
   Speaking with Jo made me think about my life experiences and the experiences that all of you may be going through. God did not promise that life was going to be easy. If it was so easy, how would we trust him? Proverbs 3:5-6 states:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight

     You may not understand why God has allowed you to endure what you are going through today of what you have gone through in the past. However, remember that he will make it all make sense one day.

Church Girl Chic's 100 Days of Happy!

With 2015 coming to an end, I have felt myself losing some steam causing me to become a little lackadaisical (Ok, a lot).  This frame of mind has left me with a lot of unfinished business, loose ends, and loads of frustration. I find myself just wanting to be happy. I took a step back and wondered, what will make me happy? God of course. He is the strength of my life. However, after God then what?

The Bible talks about Faith without works being dead. Sometimes we have to use the strength the God has given us to get up and do some work!

Join me in the "100 Days of Happy Challenge" that I challenged myself to do. I only thought it was fitting to include you all into the mix. I don't know any of you all, however, I do know that we can pick each other up if we get down. We can provide support to each other throughout these next 100 days that will allow us to change habits, careers, our bodies, our minds and our entire lives. A great producer recently wrote a song that said " clap along if you feel that happiness is the truth". I am dancing around just thinking about it. Do you know happiness is for you? Do you fell that happiness is the truth? It's up to you.

Each day via Instagram and Facebook (which you can follow my clicking the icons on the right hand side) I am going to create a post. Grab an accountability partner and lets change our lives together!

But Is Your Soul "On Fleek"?

   A couple of months ago I heard a phrase that made me stop in my tracks and ask all of my "up to date friends" the meaning of this popular phrase. I saw it everywhere! On Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and everywhere anyone could write a comment. Everything anyone could thing of was "on fleek" their nails, their hair, their makeup, their outfit, their entire being. Even restaurant chains such as IHOP an Taco Bell used this phrases to describe how amazing their products were.
  Urban Dictionary describes on fleek as "the quality of being perfect". I thought to myself if everything on the outside is on fleek, is your soul on fleek? This is the question that I want to throw out. If you have been following me for a while, you know that I am not the type of person to get too "deep". However, would you say that your life and soul is in right standing with God? We as Christian women have to crucify our flesh daily in order to continue living a holy and acceptable life unto God. 1 Peter 1:16 states to "Be Holy, for I am holy". Holiness doesn't mean not associating yourself with the world but being set apart from the world. Being that peculiar person that stands out among the crowd.
   Now I am not saying that you can't be on fleek. Please by all means make sure that you are looking fabulous, however, spend as much time on your inner woman as your do on the outer woman.
 

Product of the Day- Walking Through Christian T-Shirts

Hello Everyone!

    I hope that everyone's day is pleasant. I recently had to pleasure of receiving a Christian T-Shirt from a up and coming company "Walking Through". I love the really comfortable yet stylish look of the shirts.  To visit Walking Through, go to their website HERE. I hope that you all enjoy their different looks! Look below for a few of their styles!

Much Love and God Bless!

~Crystal

What Made Her Strong

"What made her strong was her faith in God because despite the downs, she knew that she would soon rise."


   This quote came to me recently and I was so amazed at how powerful a strong woman of God can be. I look at all of the things going on in this world. Women are being raped and abused, have zero self esteem, and feel as if all of their strength is gone. I know how it feels because I have been in that dark and lonely place before. I had been living a life of seclusion, hurt, pain, sickness, and worthlessness. and it was not until I began to live my life for God that I completely understood that all of my help, all of my strength, my love, my health, my self esteem came from God. I think about one of my favorite scriptures:

I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help, My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

                                                                                -Psalm 121:1-2
 
    I think about this scripture because the only way you can lift your eyes to the hills is if you are below the hill. If you are in your valley moments. God can be your help! You have to want God for yourself, seek God for yourself. I was so grateful to have a praying mother and father, however, in order to be in the place that God wanted me to be, I had to learn to seek God for myself. When I talk about where God has brought be from, I just weep because God didn't have to do it but he did. God allowed me to experience the things that I did so that I may be the person that I am today trying to encourage others with my personal testimony. God doesn't care what you have done in your past and where you are in your present. God cares what you are going to do from here on out. We have all done things that we are not necessarily proud of, I raise my hand high regarding that statement. But what everyone doesn't know but should is that God can bring you out. "What made her strong was her faith in God because despite the downs she knew that she wold soon rise, She was a Church Girl and that Church Girl was me!"


If you have not heard my testimony click the link below:
My Testimony




Much Love and God Bless
~Crystal