My life- updated!

It doesn't seem like it's been that long since I've posted, but in reality... it's been over a year! And SO much has happened since then. It's crazy to think back....

Mr. and Mrs. Alex Poythress

I fell in love. I got engaged. I got MARRIED! 

Crazy, huh?

When we said "I do"

So yea.... Life is so beautiful. My God has blessed me immensely. He is good! And I don't deserve it.

Among other things, I have a job at a bakery nearby which I enjoy working at! I'm still drawing- and I still love it!

"Elizabeth Taylor" by Destiny Kruse - 14x17

 I've also recently started painting. There's a whole new world when it comes to painting. Color. Ah, it's so beautiful! I LOVE it.

"You Are Loved" by Destiny Kruse - 10x10

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But, I'm still me. Times have changed. A year has passed. But I'm still just.... me. Destiny. The Destiny you all know. Maybe I'm a little older... I'm a married woman, I mean gosh! Haha. But I'm still that quirky, young at heart, girl you all remember.

So stay tuned, I'll try and post more about my life in general in greater detail when I have a few more min to spare!

Have a great day you all! :)

-Destiny

Life is short-

3 years ago- 1/28/09- we were faced with the news that my little brother, Christian, had gone to be with Jesus...

As each year passes, I can still remember as clearly as yesterday all the things that took place that day. I was so confused... had so many questions- "Why? Why?!" "How could God let this happen?"... they filled my mind and heart.

And yet through it all, God showed Himself glorified.

We still grieve. Some days more then others. Knowing we never got to see Christian open his eyes, never got to hear the sweet sound of his laugh or watch him take his first step, cuts deep. We know Jesus has him in His arms and is treating him better then we ever could have... But the pain is still there.

However, we are thankful for the time we did get to spend with Christian. Thankful that God brought him into our lives. And thankful for the work we saw the Lord do through him.

Life is so short.

Whether we live to be 100, or die inside the womb, our life here on earth is so short in comparison to ALL of eternity. And we have one goal in life- To glorify God.


My "questions" after Christian died may not have ever been answered completely, but now I know not to ask them.. because I can see beyond just the "here" and "now". God has a bigger plan. And through His grace, we get to see Christian someday soon! :)

I will treasure your memory forever little brother... you are missed and loved. Can't wait to see you. :')

-Destiny

Jesus, You satisfy!

Jesus, only YOU satisfy. May I never forget that. :)


-Destiny ♥

What is BEAUTY?

Just a reminder for all us girls (and guys feel free to read as well!)- :)


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 Have you ever passed through a grocery line and seen the many magazines scattered on the shelves with headlines such as "Tips for bigger, brighter sexier eyes" or "131 little ways to your best body"?....


I don't know about you, but it seems to me that our culture views beauty as what you look like externally. You can't even walk through a store without passing a million posters and signs on why you should get the latest brad of "make-up" or newest trend of "fashionable clothes". Adorning yourself externally is emphasized almost everywhere in our world today.

But.... is that what Jesus finds beautiful about a woman? Just what her appearance looks like?

Proverbs 31:30 says- "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting: but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." 

1 Peter 3:3-4, "Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

God looks at the heart.  No matter how much make-up or jewelry we put on (or even if we go as far as to paint our nails), Jesus is not going to see us as truly beautiful unless we love Him and have a heart to serve Him. A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (not a pop star who has a perfect body, pretty face, and nice voice), but someone who is beautiful internally. 


I'm not saying that woman shouldn't want to be lovely on the outside. God has made us feminine and it's not a bad thing to want to look pretty. But it can become dangerous when you put that above desiring to be beautiful on the inside.


Like Prov 31 put it, beauty on the outside is fleeting.... it fades. There will come a time when you have wrinkles, and maybe aren't as slim as you hoped to be, etc., but inner beauty will always shine bright! I know several woman in my life who have impacted me greatly and have such beautiful countenance's and hearts like gold! :) The Culture may not view that as "beautiful", but I do! And more importantly, I know the Lord does!!

"'Deep beauty is the kind of beauty that shines from the inside out. It is the kind of beauty that cannot be painted on, surgically created, or purchased. It is the kind of beauty that doesn't wash off. It is spiritual attractiveness. Deep beauty springs from virtue. It is the beauty of being chaste and morally clean. It is the kind of beauty that you see in the eyes of virtuous women like your mother and grandmother. It is a beauty that is earned through faith, repentance, and honoring covenants." -Elaine S. Dalton

That is true beauty.


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So when you wake up in the morning, before you put your make-up on and get ready for the day, remember to adorn yourself internally (not just externally).... seek God first, and become beautiful in His eyes... because that's truly all that matters! :)

Blessings to all,
-Destiny ♥ 

Happy Birthday, Emma :)

Today is my little sister's 15th birthday......

The words "Happy Birthday" just don't seem to cut it though.... so I've attempted to dedicate a post to her, and begin to explain to you why I think this young lady deserves the best birthday ever. :)

Gosh, where to even start?......

Ok, well first off: Emma is an AMAZING sister! And I don't say that lightly. She's the type of sister that every girl wishes they had! She's the one that makes you smile when you feel like crying, sticks up for you when people are making fun, hits you in the face when you're being an idiot (figuratively... not literally;)), has spontaneous dance parties in the living room with you, tells you the truth when no one else will, laughs at your dumb jokes....  and, that loves the heck out of you even when you don't deserve it! Yeah, told you. She's AMAZING. :)


I must confess though, we weren't always the best of friends... growing up she was the little sister who, at times, I got annoyed by - She got all the attention cause she was super adorable (and still is, btw, but I'm sure you all already know that ;)) - She always seem to be better at everything then I am (even though I am older :P haha) - But, through thick and thin, she has stuck with me... and, to this very day, I'd call her one of the BEST FRIENDS I could ever have asked God to give me!!!


The thing is, Emma and I know each other book-cover to book-cover. There's times where we won't even be talking but have a complete conversation just by the expressions on our faces! haha.We have so many silly memories, and continue to make them every day! She knows pretty much all my faults, strengths, weakness', what makes me tick and what doesn't, etc, (and vise-versa). We get into fights sometime, the funny thing is though, 5 min later we're hugging and everything's all good. lol:)  She always seems to listen to me when no one else will and comforts me when I'm sad. I love it when she talks and shares her opinion on things! At times we'll stay up till 2-3am talking about life, God, fashion, theology, and the list goes on! We tell each other pretty much everything.





Yeah. We're sister-friends.






Truth is, I don't know where I'd be without her. I don't tell her enough how much I am grateful that she is in my life. I don't treat her half as good as she deserves..... but still, she continues to love me.

I've learned so much from her! She struggles with some of the same things I do. And she doesn't deny or hide her faults. She sees them and seeks to change. She's not perfect. But by the grace of God, she's covered by Christ and is being molded into the woman He has created her to be! It's an amazing thing to watch! She may be my little sister, but I do look up to her (literally too, she's like 2 inches taller... but I'd rather not talk about that :P lol) the point is, I've grown to view Emma not just as my sister, or even as my friend.... but as one of my role-models that I greatly admire.

I LOVE you so much Emma, and am proud to be called your older sister! :) May this birthday be the best you've ever had! And may you grow even closer to Jesus this coming year! You mean so much to me, and don't you ever forget that!! :)


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA!


-Destiny ♥

Stop and enjoy the sunsets...

Only God could create this out of NOTHING. What a spectacular artist He is! 

Do we take time to enjoy the little things in life? We may lead busy lives, have hectic times and chaotic moments, but just as a reminder....  


...Take time to stop and enjoy the sunsets. God put them there for a reason. :)




-Destiny ♥

Birthday Ball-

Emma, I love you! ♥

The whole gange... a lot of people showed up, and this isn't even everyone!

The birthday girls! So pretty :)

Caitlin, Karissa and I. Gosh I ♥ these girls :)

My sisters..... they're each amazing!

Cassie, Mercy and Esther! 

Emma's 15th and Alicia's 16th birthday party! It was a beautiful Birthday Ball. What a blessing it is to have these two girls in my life. :) 

The dancing was SO much fun, the DJ was awesome, food yummy, and fellowship fabulous! :) God is good!

Blessings,

-Destiny ♥

(pictures taken by Anne Turner and Esther Anderson)

Art of Destiny-

Hey everyone, please follow me on my art blog- Art of Destiny!

  A collage I made of all the famous people I've drawn.. :)

-Destiny ♥

Lead me to the Cross-

Do I really live as if NOTHING else matters... but Jesus? Do you REALLY live as if Christ is your ALL? Do we, as the body of Christ, live like Jesus is EVERYTHING we hold dear?

It's so easy to give that typical, Christian answer.... "Of course I do."

However, deep down inside.... we know we all fall short of this. I know I do. 


Time after time I let my flesh rule.... I give into the things I want and put other things before Christ.

But God is always faithful to whisper ever so softly (or maybe He has to shake me till I'm blue in the face), but no matter what, He always seems to say- "Destiny, I love you. Put me FIRST in your life... count everything else as LOSS, and allow ME to be the CENTER of your life." 

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I absolutely love this song "Lead Me to the Cross"- The first verse and chorus have really touched me this week, and I find myself constantly singing it :)-

"Savior I come, Quiet my soul, remember... Redemption's hill, Where Your blood was spilled, For my ransom... And everything I once held dear I count it all as loss;
Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out, Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down, Rid me of myself, I belong to You, Lead me... Lead me to the CROSS."

I'd encourage you to listen to the whole song (Francesca Battistelli does a beautiful job of singing it)- 

Philippians 3:8 "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

Blessings,
-Destiny ♥ 

Oregon FUN! ;)

Emma, mom and I! 

I love riding horses! :)

Emma and I ♥

All the moms and..... me? :P haha

I love my family so very much!

So last Sunday we went to a friends house and got to right horses... YESSS! I love horse back riding! It was so much FUN! :) Anyway, here are some of the pictures taken that day (photo credit goes to Anne Turner). Anyway, hope you like 'em! :)


-Destiny ♥

Be the Light-

In 80 ad, the Christians were being persecuted greatly in the Roman empire by Nero. Many of them lost their lives because of their faith in Christ! One of the ways Nero would torture them would be to set them up on a lamppost, drench their tunics in tar which would then begin to suffocate them as the thick heavy tunics soaked up the sun and clung tightly to their bodies.  But the worst part was yet to come. Toward the end of the day, when the sun went down, the Roman soldiers would then proceed to light their tunics on fire... they became "human torches" along the city road for those passing by.

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We live in a world where darkness is visible. Sin is evident. And everyone is destined for the same fate.

Death.

But somewhere along the lines, something miraculous happened! God's son, Jesus, came to earth and paid the penalty for us... died upon the cross, and then rose again. He set all those free from the bondage of sin who profess Him to be Lord! They are no longer in the darkness... but in the light! John 8:12 says-

"Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows ME will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of LIFE."

Now, being a new creation, we are called to imitate Christ... we are made in His image and are to be a reflection of who He is!

So what does that mean exactly? Well, by living a Christian life, and being a reflection of who Christ is, we should be noticed by the world. We should be different. We should not be the norm. We should be seen by all! And if we are, that's Christ SHINING through us! He's the Light, and now we have the privileged of shining that light to this dark world!

Jesus calls us to put away our old self (the desires of the flesh), be filled with the Spirit, and walk in His light! I love the way Ephesians 5:1-14 puts it-

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.” "

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Now to tie back to what I began with: Nero was making human torches out of the Christians... but the thing that I find most intriguing about this situation, is even though they were being persecuted because of their faith, they were still shining the LIGHT! They were the ones who- when it was dark- were beacons of light so that others might see the pathway. Though they were tortured and persecuted for their faith, they would not recant! And through much pain, being burned alive, they ENDURED! They are an example to all of us!

In the end, when all is said and done, they will be seated at the right hand of God the Father, and live for all eternity with Him!

So my challenge to you is, be a light to this world! Don't stand by and give into the desires of the flesh (forsaking godliness and fleeing your faith) because it "feels good" or you are "tired of living the Christian life". Persevere, and never give up! For in the end, you will receive the crown of everlasting life!

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

-Matthew 5:14-16 

Be the LIGHT!


Blessings,
-Destiny ♥

:)

I love these kids soooo much! And can you tell we're related? Yes, I am a very proud big sister! :)