Christina Speaks

Good morning friends. I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones. I enjoyed being with my family.  Because I always try to be transparent with you, I will go ahead and let you know that I’ve been struggling a bit. It’s not because of anything specific, but I’ve been dealing with depression that I didn’t even recognize until a few days ago. For those of you who have dealt with that, you know that it can sneak up on you. As a Christ-follower it can be difficult because I haven’t stopped believing or trusting in God. I still hold on to His promises, which makes it hard to understand why I feel this way. However, I do know something inside of me is just off-balance.  That’s a little hard for me to admit because I have always been a pretty balanced person. I always like to be in a position to help others. However, I am prone to the same struggles as everyone else. This has been a particularly draining year, and I need to take quiet time for God to do maintenance ...

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you are not responsible for everyone’s health and happiness.  I had to give myself that talk yesterday. As a firstborn, I think it’s pretty typical to feel the responsibility of taking care of everyone. But here’s the thing, the Savior named in the Bible is Jesus Christ. Immanuel. Not Christina Custodio, and not you. “Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” -‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:14‬ We are not responsible for that person's happiness. We are not able to save that person. We are not called to sacrifice our own lives to make that person more comfortable. We are also not called to go broke to give the ”best” gifts (someone needed to be reminded of that today). I, like many of you, want to do good for others, and of course for family. However, there comes a point when we must place boundaries in our lives. Most of us know what those are, but are not always comfortable puttin...

I don’t know how you feel during this holiday season, but I have struggled with the fact that it just doesn’t feel like Christmas. I’ve decorated, I’ve bought the gifts, I’ve made the cookies. I still feel like something is missing. I feel like I am waiting for something. I feel there’s got to be more. I know God has plans for me. I wonder if I am heading in the right direction, or have I stopped in the wrong place?  Do you ever feel like that? I can’t help but think of Mary riding on a donkey, ready to give birth, not knowing how she would reach her destination without having that baby prematurely. I mean, what a bumpy ride it must have been! Certainly not as smooth as my minivan.  I wonder if when she arrived, finding her only option for shelter was a barn if she had a meltdown. I wonder if she sat in that barn, surrounded by the stench of animals, the discomfort of scratchy hay, and a really stressed out Joseph, thinking, “This cannot be right! They said I am pregnant with ...

Last night was the first time in almost 800 years that we could see the "Star of Bethlehem.” Of course, it was… It's 2020! Not much is surprising anymore. However, I find it incredible that the time it appeared was the week of Christmas. Especially considering Jesus was not technically born in December. I believe this celestial presence could be 2020’s version of a rainbow. It’s God’s promise that He is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do. Deuteronomy 31:8 says“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” God knew what 2020 was going to be like. He came before us. Isn’t it just like our Creator to send some symbol of hope to remind us that a long time ago, He sent his Son to be with us on this earth? Immanuel. “God with us.” Jesus left a heavenly throne and chose to be with us here on earth. I don’t know about you, but I still need a reminder once in a while th...

The wise men were going to meet the most important person in history.  It may have been the most monumental thing they would do in their whole lives, yet they didn’t have all the information. They knew who they were looking for, but not all of the details on how they would find Him. They followed a star. What’s interesting is, they were called ”wise men.” I’m sure they earned that title because they were known to be wise. However, their wisdom did not come through having all of the answers, but trusting the One who did.   We can learn a big lesson from those men we know a little about. “After this interview, the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him ...

  Friends, we have entered another season of togetherness. This is a season when historically, friends and families come together. Though this year our togetherness may be experienced from behind a computer screen or 6 feet away, we will come together. When together, it is not uncommon for challenging discussions to arise along with tempers. So how do you deal with people when you know you are right and they are wrong (or something like that)? It’s not worth severing a relationship or hurting feelings to prove we are right. Let them have the “win.” Truths are revealed eventually anyway. How nice would it be to not have inflicted or receive any emotional wounds over something that in the grand scheme of things didn’t matter once the truth was revealed? This goes for the family of humans we belong to as well.  Whether we like it or not, this world, this country, our individual cities, are like families. Families are made up of various personalities, some of which can conflict wi...

“We don’t need to try to control the work God is doing in other people’s lives  -Bob Goff I can’t help but think of my mother’s words when I was a kid and so intent on tattling about something my brothers were doing instead of taking care of the things I was doing wrong. She would say, “Worry about yourself.” She didn’t mean that I should be selfish and only focus on myself. She meant, that I should handle my own issues before spending time pointing out someone else’s.  Jesus said it in Luke‬ ‭6:42. “How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First, get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” ‭‭‬ ‭ ‭‭ I have in the past, and still struggle with this at times. I think maybe it makes us feel better about ourselves if we can point out how someone is “worse” than we are.  “Well, at least I didn’t do ____...