The Chair — Crystal Olp

Micah 7:7 A Love Letter

Oct 24

Oct 24 Micah 7:7 A Love Letter

I LOVE that I have a job where I get love notes like this from students! This particular one was written by a new second grader that I had not met yet. What a joy it was to finally hug this kiddo and welcome them to my library. I hung this note up and as I have read and reread it these last few weeks, I have been struck by His anticipation of our meeting and him being able to enjoy the books I have carefully chosen for the library.

Anticipation is the feeling of confident excitement for something that is going to happen. It can also be the act of preparing for something important. I think this kiddo’s letter is such a pure, unblemished example of both types.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Oct 22

Oct 22 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Please don’t judge me, but see that bed? Yes, that bed right there in the photo above. The one with the super soft yellow blanket? This bed is one of my favorite places to cocoon. It is a place of solitude, rest, and rejuvenation. To be honest, it is also the place I run when I am weak; overwhelmed by circumstances; reeling from grief; and desperate to hear God speak to me. Where do you run when you are facing your giants? Let’s be honest, we all have them. I know, the world says not to show our weaknesses but I’m done hiding. Here is the plain and simple truth…I am weak and so are you.

Copy of Matthew 7:11 - “Service Providers” + Me = Us

Aug 4

Aug 4 Copy of Matthew 7:11 - “Service Providers” + Me = Us

The View From “My Chair” this morning - Matthew 7:11. Rounding the corner, my eyes scan the room and like a dart, hitting it’s mark, the realization overtakes my brain that these women standing in front of me are the mothers of some of the girls we have met in the girl’s home over the last few days. They are the “Service Providers” of the Red Light District. Standing in stunned silence, my ears are filled with the sound of their voices worshiping our God. I can’t understand their words, but my heart leaps at hearing their worship. It’s intense. It’s desperate. It’s beautiful. My mind can barely comprehend all of this.

Jul 31

Jul 31 Psalm 21:13

My View From “The Chair” this morning -Psalm 21:13. As we strolled the piazza a few minutes ago selecting last minute items for our trek to India, a lone musician stood playing and singing. His music was serindipitous. His worn guitar case lay open like a hand awaiting a gift for his efforts. Without a second thought, my Mr. strolls over and makes a contribution. THIS is just one of many things I love about this man. His generosity towards those in need is effortless. In our marriage, we have had little and we have had much and ALWAYS the Lord has supplied.

Psalm 32:8 What Happens When You Have No Cellphone?

Jul 29

Jul 29 Psalm 32:8 What Happens When You Have No Cellphone?

My View From “The Chair” this morning - Psalm 32:8 Being in new places is both exhilarating and petrifying all at once for me. I love adventure and new things, but there is a piece of me that also likes comfort and familiar. Anyone else like me? Landing in Perth two weeks ago, I was totally out of my comfort zone. Everything was new and I only had my phone’s WiFi to rely on (I did not have cell service) otherwise, I had to rely on old fashion printed maps and bus schedules. Honestly, I had all kinds of doubts that the printed materials and signs were “up-to-date”. Know what? They were and I got along marvelously.

Luke 6:37 Grab a Cup and Let's Really Talk

Jul 26

Jul 26 Luke 6:37 Grab a Cup and Let's Really Talk

I’ve always known these words were here. In fact, I believe I’ve even taught them a few times. Powerful. Straight-forward. These are not difficult to understand in any language. But what does one do when you have done these things to a good friend and need forgiveness? I’d like to say that at the moment of that realization I stopped and ran to this friend seeking forgiveness, but I would be lying to you. Anyone who knows me super well knows that I have a HUGE character flaw. I can be a bit “Peterish” (reactionary). You know, the disciple that cut off the guards ear with Jesus standing right there. I’m a titch reactionary. I’m working on this, but boy is it a messy process. I’m also having to learn some really hard lessons.

Genesis 1:27 - We Were Made to be Creative

Jul 24

Jul 24 Genesis 1:27 - We Were Made to be Creative

My View From “The Chair” this morning - Exodus 35:10. I LOVE that God uses artists and those that want to be artists in His Kingdom. Yesterday, I had the privilege of water coloring with these wonderful ten-year-olds. Their pictures weren’t perfect, but they took great joy and enjoyment in the process. I had forgotten just how much fun it was. I had forgotten that it was okay for it not to turn out like you expected. I had forgotten just how beautiful even the mistakes are and how you can turn them into something else.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Jul 23

Jul 23 Ecclesiastes 9:10

This morning I sat looking at my hands. All that I have in them is my love for words, music, storytelling and art. These seem like such ordinary, everyday things to me. As I read and reread this verse, the Lord continued to say, “Yes, those things! I want to use those things to bring my heart to the tired, broken, and hurting people.”

2 Corinthians 9:6,7 Comfort or Generosity? What Are You Holding Hands With?

Jul 20

Jul 20 2 Corinthians 9:6,7 Comfort or Generosity? What Are You Holding Hands With?

My View From “The Chair” this morning - 2 Corinthians 9:6,7. I am completely self-deceived at moments. I’ve said that creature comforts aren’t important to me. I’ve said that clothes, cars, my home isn’t important to me. I’ve said that my job, titles, reputations aren’t important to me. So, with only a backpack, I headed out this summer to serve (with my Mr.) at a YWAM base in Perth, Australia and in the Red Light District of Nagpur, India. We are now almost three weeks into this journey and I’m finding myself realizing how many creature comforts I usually enjoy and take for granted. Different clothes and shoes to wear each day. A LARGE wash machine, dryer, and refrigerator at my disposal whenever I want or need them. As many Q-tips as I want or need for whatever purposes. A fun sports car to get me wherever I desire to go. The ability to be generous with my resources. These are creature comforts my the Lord’s blessings and my working power have allowed me to have. They are not wrong or sinful. Up until now, I would’ve classified myself as sold out and generous. God has been exceptionally gracious to me.

John 3:16,17 - You Can’t Erase This!

Jul 17

Jul 17 John 3:16,17 - You Can’t Erase This!

My View From “The Chair” This Morning - John 15:12. Sitting with a homeschool student here on the Perth YWAM base yesterday, I was helping her with a project. I’m sure you’ll remember what it was like to be told you had to do something for school and you had no idea what or how to do it. Pretty frustrating. Suddenly, like a hummingbird seeing a source of food, she picks up her pencil and starts to write a fanciful big “L”. She is using all her might. She is pressing so hard her pencil breaks several times. I’m thinking she is frustrated. Then, she pauses, looks at me and says, “God’s Love for us is not eraseable!” Then she picks up a big eraser and tries to erase it. No matter how hard she pushes or how many times she rubs, it is still faintly on the paper. I sat in awe absorbing the truth of what I just saw and heard from this ten year old. She went back and finished the rest of the word and I sat, stunned, in silence.

Psalm 141:2 Go Ahead and Use the Vehicle of Incense

Jul 16

Jul 16 Psalm 141:2 Go Ahead and Use the Vehicle of Incense

My view from “The Chair” this morning - Psalm 141:2. When was the last time you walked into a room and the smell was simply deliciousful. Tahitian Vanilla. Fresh Lemon. Plumeria. I grew up in a home that ALWAYS smelled wonderful! My mother made sure that there was pleasant aromas placed throughout the home. Still to this day, when I encounter certain smells, I am instantly transported back to my childhood. Go ahead and pause for a moment and let your mind wander to an aroma that has pleasant memories for you. Incense is a vehicle used to bring an aroma to wherever it’s placed. Incense is a tool, it is not a particular scent or odor.

Psalm 138:3 - Joanne!!!!!

Jul 15

Jul 15 Psalm 138:3 - Joanne!!!!!

My view from “The Chair” this morning - Psalm 138:3. Standing in the presence of God on the YWAM base in Perth, Australia with 150+ hungry souls is life altering. The music starts and voices rise. Closing my eyes, I drink deeply of the symphony of voices and dialects from all over this planet. They are all focused on worshiping our God. It is marvelous. It is heaven on this side of eternity. It is something my soul longs to drink deeply of. I am carried into the ocean of His presence. That is when I hear Him. He is just repeating my name. Can I just be honest, I’m not really sure how we ended up in Perth, Australia other than we just wanted to visit the country and others had recommended this base. I’ve been asking God to really confirm some things this summer. I don’t want to be wasteful with His resources and if I’m headed in the wrong direction, then I need Him to redirect. Worship continued for an hour. As it ended, I made my way back to a table to work on some writing stuff. That was when she appeared.

1 Samuel 17:48 Are Your Thoughts a “Crazy Circus” or “Beautiful Symphony” - You pick!

Jul 10

Jul 10 1 Samuel 17:48 Are Your Thoughts a “Crazy Circus” or “Beautiful Symphony” - You pick!

Since confession is good for the soul, can I confess something to you? Every night I wake up in the dead of night with all consuming thoughts of worry and almost instantly become filled with anxiety. It seems like as soon as I am not in control of what is going on in my thoughts (in other words, I’m not conscious), my mind starts unpacking all the nice little tidy boxes that I’ve put the days worries in and allows them to run free like a clowns at a crazy carnival circus. Am I the only one attending this type of circus in the dead of night? Some how I don’t think so.

John 6:9 It Wasn’t Sushi!

Jul 7

Jul 7 John 6:9 It Wasn’t Sushi!

My view from “The Chair” this morning - John 6:9. I have a secret! As I read this passage over and over and over I realized something that is literally life changing and I believe we have missed over and over. Want to know what it is? It’s so simple it’s easy to miss. When this boy willingly handed his lunch to Jesus, he surrendered his rights and agenda with his ordinary lunch that was in his hands to Jesus. His thoughts went from self-absorbtion (I have food and they don’t. This is going to taste so good!) to outward focused (how Jesus was going to use my simple ordinary lunch to feed everyone). In other words, he surrendered the lunch that his mom had packed him and allowed Jesus to use it for His kingdom purposes. The bread wasn’t gourmet seed bread and the fish wasn’t delicious sushi. His lunch was “Ordinary”. It was his “normal” lunch. Yet, his act of surrendering what was in his hands changed EVERYTHING!

I Samuel 17:41-43 Plug Your Ears

Jul 3

Jul 3 I Samuel 17:41-43 Plug Your Ears

Ever have one of those mornings where you just want to be incognito? Yesterday was one of those mornings. My "self-talk" was not good and I was battling the doubts that anything I wrote would even be read, let alone make a difference in anyone's life. However, I also knew that this was not true and I just needed to push through and do it. I knew if I stayed home, I would find all kinds of things to do except put my butt in a chair and write. So, I slipped into my comfortable old yoga pants and scooted over to my local coffee shop. I selected a table all the way in the back corner and proceeded to get all set up. Moments into settling down, I become aware of a person standing on the other side of the table looking at me. Slowly I raised my eyes to meet hers. Then, she simply said, "I think we're Facebook friends, but I've never actually met you. I follow your writing." We chatted for a few minutes and as she left to meet someone else, I couldn't help but think God was giggling. That was the third time in just two days I've met new people who follow this webpage and are connected with me on social media. God used this encounter to poke me and help me keep going. He let me know that I just needed to keep doing what I find as "ordinary" and He will take care of the rest.

I Samuel 17:38-40 Put on Your Own Clothes

Jul 1

Jul 1 I Samuel 17:38-40 Put on Your Own Clothes

My view from "The Chair" this morning - I Samuel 17:38-40. At the start of my teaching career, I allowed a "Seasoned" kindergarten teacher to "help me'. This was fine at first, but then she started bringing me her clothes. I'm sure you've seen the appliqued "teacher" jumpers and sweatshirts with the apples, funky children with disproportionate heads, and yellow school buses. I felt obligated to wear them, so I did. Now mind you, I had a degree in clothing and textiles and LOVED the Audrey Hepburn look. I was completely as miserable as a caged cat in these denim, appliqued jumpers. Yes, just pause for a moment and have a good giggle. After a month of this, I realized what the problem really was. Even though I greatly admired her and wanted to emulate her, the clothes just made me as cranky as an ant with hemorrhoids.

Exodus 4:2 What is in Your Hand?

Jun 30

Jun 30 Exodus 4:2 What is in Your Hand?

My view from "The Chair" this morning - Exodus 4:2. Usually, my eyes glide over simple things as I'm reading, but this morning my eyes and heart have become fixated on this verse and all the implications of it. God asks a simple question of Moses, "What's in your hand?" If I had to guess, I would think Moses was thinking to himself, "A stick, really. All this shepherd's staff really is, is a glorified stick of wood." I know that's what I would've been thinking. Yet, God gives him precise directions that involve the stick. God chooses to use the menial stick in Moses's hand to demonstrate His power. Know what though?

Psalm 143:8 Listen. Trust. Walk.

Jun 29

Jun 29 Psalm 143:8 Listen. Trust. Walk.

My View from "The Chair" this morning - Psalm 143:8. Laying in bed this morning, my eyes fell across this scripture. Closing my eyes, I pondered the simplicity of this. Listen. Trust. Walk. Sounds easy. Sounds doable. Then, as if someone had given my brain a jolt of an energy drink, my consciousness woke up and sent a hurricane of convoluted thoughts and doubts exploding across my mind. This left me just wanting to pull the covers up and disappear back into sleepland. Does this ever happen to anyone else? The battle was intense.

Proverbs 4:25 - Do This!

Jun 28

Jun 28 Proverbs 4:25 - Do This!

My view from "The Chair" this morning. Prov 5:25. I don't know about you, but I can be like a squirrel on steroids, zipping this way and that. Looking at what God and others are doing and wishing it was me. Am I the only one that does this? Here's what I've realized - whatever I'm looking at is what I move towards.

Jun 28

Jun 28 Proverbs 4:25

My view from "The Chair" this morning. Prov 5:25. I don't know about you, but I can be like a squirrel on steroids, zipping this way and that. Looking at what God and others are doing and wishing it was me. Am I the only one that does this? Here's what I've realized - whatever I'm looking at is what I move towards.