Crystal Hornback is in full-time ministry, a mom of three, and a fabulous blogger. She’s also one of the Come With Me study leaders.
Sometimes Jesus’ invitation is to pause and embrace His words just for you.
This is Crystal’s #ComeWithMe story. ~ Suzie
Will You Come?
It captured me when I least expected it, even though moments before I had been asking (more like begging) for it.
The Come With Me retreat was going more flawlessly than I could have imagined. God was moving… powerfully.
Women were hearing Him… loudly.
Will you come?
Will you follow where I lead?
I served on the sidelines, waving my arms every so often, “Hellooooo, Lord! I have already said Yes… I will follow… just tell me where!” I was only a few chapters into Come With Me, but nearly every word of every page had resonated.
My soul was stirring. “Yes, Lord! YES!”
My family had been at a crossroads. We were willing, ready.
Where was He?
There are markers in your faith where you’re just rolling along, and suddenly you come face-to-face with the beauty of God. -Come With Me
After a beautiful riverside devotional, the women split up, each on a mission to explore the ranch. I needed a breather.
Earlier in the day, I’d overlooked a giant sign and nearly entered a restricted area of the river as I reveled in my newfound kayaking abilities. I decided to walk the riverbank to see where that destination led, had my companions not gotten my attention.
It appeared that others had missed the sign as well.
Just over the falls rested a handful of stranded canoes and kayaks, nose and bottoms up.
Sitting at the water’s edge, I asked Him to speak.
I assured him that I was listening… that I needed to hear from him. Nothing. After some time I convinced myself that the weekend hadn’t been for me, but for the women I was serving.
And that was fine. Beautiful, actually.
I ventured towards camp, focused on the rocks beneath my feet. Somewhere along the trail I heard, “Look up.”
I stopped; my eyes met the most incredible view from the valley and I felt Him.
We were face to face.
He asked me to drop the rocks I had in my hands. Tears fell from my eyes as I pondered a toddler-type conniption.
I knew He was really saying, “Trust me. Look up, not back… I got this.”
It was my sign
I almost missed Him. I almost kept the rocks. But His beauty grabbed me right in that place, when I had given up, in the moment he knew I needed it most.
I don’t want to miss Him.
I don’t want my busyness, my stubbornness, my absentmindedness, or anything else to keep my eyes off of Him. To keep me from following Him, wherever that may be.
Weeks later, we are facing an adventure that we wouldn’t have stepped toward on our own.
Fear. Doubt. Lack of self-confidence. Uncertainty. Sin. Yeah, they’ve all held us back. But, trust… faith… Jesus… that is the adventure.
To simply say, “Yes, Lord. I will come,” and to stop, listen, and follow.
Will you join me on this adventure?
If you have even an inkling that He is calling you toward something, then this study is for you. Maybe you can’t pinpoint quite what it looks like. Or, maybe you can, and it scares you big. Yep, been there. And then there are those of you who don’t feel it at all just yet.
Don’t miss the sign, friend. He’s calling all of us.
Will you drop your rocks and look ahead to whatever it is that Jesus has for you?
One of the most beautiful things about Come With Me is that we are reminded of this: Jesus doesn’t ask us to look at all the things we’re leaving behind to follow Him.
Rather, with every invitation He gave a destination, leading the disciples toward their destiny, toward their calling, toward His plan for them.
There is a beautiful invitation for each of us as we move toward the Lord.
-Come With Me 
He has something incredible for you, for me.
Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5
Join me in this study. It’s gentle. It’s powerful. And if there were ever a time that we desperately needed to move towards Jesus, it’s now, friends.
I can’t wait to see you there!
-Crystal
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This is great Crystal! What a beautiful reminder of how we need to be aware of His signs, as well as how desperately we need to join together and follow His lead!
I am so thankful for the beauty of friendships with women we have never met face to face. Only God could pull something like that off. Especially in today’s world when we may feel intimidated and a little fearful of sharing our faith! If this book has taught me anything, it is to let go of any fear and follow His lead! If we aren’t willing to follow Him and use our voices, people may hold on to those rocks and never have a chance to experience the love of Jesus!
Love this Crystal and I love your heart! So encouraging! Looking so forward to this study!
I’ve been through a lot of things over the last year and a half some things have gotten better learning how to forgive but I’m struggling with my daughters decision to move in with her boyfriend and she knows better it really upsets me and I Also believe he’s an alcoholic just by things she’s told me I’ve picked up from it. I did meet him from the first time last Sunday and he is a nice boy but I just don’t know how to act toward him I was nice to him but I want him to know how he has hurt me doing something he knows I don’t approve of but they are both adults so I just have to give it to God and let him work on her! But my hardest thing is we’re in a season of empty nesters and it is very very tough on both of us she’s in Jacksonville al. My son ins married and lives in South Carolina and he has our first grandson and it’s been a really hard season because we are so in love with our grandson! I’m disabled and I’ve really been going through a lot of depression not having our family close anymore and it’s hard! But I’m learning to forgive and asking God for wisdom daily!!
Sat Sunday
Traci, may you allow God to wrap you in his perfect peace tonight. Thank you for your vulnerability.
Lord, hold Traci and her family in your hands. Offer peace and discernment where there is fear and doubt. Be near to her hurting heart. Offer encouragement in surprising ways. Shower her with your love and blessings. In Jesus name.
Crystal,
I’m so glad you are listening, putting the rocks down, and looking up! I’m honored to have met you and excited to see what your next chapter will bring!
Hugs,
Lori
You are so SWEET! The honor is all mine in knowing you, Lori. You are incredible and I am blessed by you and your kind words!
You are amazing, Crystal! I’ve come to know you just a little through Joanna Weaver’s FB group — but I had no idea you did so much! My trouble is trying to find the time to do everything. I’m terrible with organization and focus ~ things God has been telling me to get better at handling. I’m pulled in so many directions — and everyone seems to want all that I am. It takes so much INTENTIONAL prayer and devotion – and trying to give myself enough grace along the way. Thank you for your words! I pray to follow Jesus wherever He leads me, and in whatever He calls me to do. I ordered Come With Me months ago … and I’ve been blessed every time I’ve had the chance to open its pages. I pray to have more of those times! Nothing is more important than learning to follow Him!
Oh honey, trust me…. I’m there! My worst trait? Time management (believe it or not)! I paused for yearrrrrrrrrs. I ignored whispers. Finally, I caved. And WHOA BABY! God is so incredibly faithful, and his timing is perfect. He will guide you. Right now, if you have littles, your ministry is to those babies! It’s hard to be content with that… trust me, I know…. but so very worth surrendering to. God will bless that, and then He will begin to reveal His next chapter for you. And it will feel so slow that you don’t actually realize it’s happening. All of a sudden, you’ll look back and go, “WHOA! It’s happening! It happened!” Praying that He blesses every step of your journey, sweet friend! Thank you for your [far too] kind words; you have no idea how much they mean!
Thank you I needed this reminder to keep trying in the midst of feeling overwhelmed and wanting to give up on loved ones
Oh honey, praying you feel Jesus near as you discern how to love those. Set up healthy boundaries and show them the love of Jesus. Trust that He’s got your back!
This was just what I needed to hear at this moment. Currently I’m struggling. The struggle is within me. It’s hard to trust, to let go of those “rocks”. They are in my comfort zone, but they are also jagged, rough, and weighing me down. Each step toward Him releases each binding rock I’ve held so tightly unto. “Come With Me”, He says. I say, “Yes, I will come”.
Oh honey, I feel you. I’m still struggling with the urge to go back and get those rocks! It’s a daily surrender, really. That “adventure” that I wrote about above? Yeah… didn’t quite pan out like we thought it was going to. Now, it’s an even greater adventure that I’m trying to discern whether He’s calling us to or not. It’s scary as all get out. But like you, each step toward Him is a release of ourselves. Which is exactly where He wants us to be! Praying for you, sweet friend!
The sign for me was inadvertently, literally stumbling upon a devotional or blog posting that mentioned Suzie’s book a couple months ago. All the while, I was just trying to respond to God’s nudging to “come with me” to make a prayer journal, get back into His Word and reconnect with my relationship with God. I bought Suzie’s book for my Nook. Read it every chance i had. Loved it. Was totally empowered in my walk off my life to be considered a 13th disciple. Excited for this adventure to begin and continue with you.
I’m with you, Debbie. The anointed words in Come With Me are among the most powerful I’ve ever read. I look forward to walking through the study with you!