learn to love change

School books lie stretched out before me, as does most of the day. A candle burns on the table, its wax turning into a dark pool of fragrant heat. Soup boils on the back of the stove, lending its fragrance to the air.



Outside, the wind blows restlessly; it tickles the trees, trying to make them give up the last of their leaves, and letting a hint of moisture creep throughout its invisible arms. The wind longs for winter – its playground – for it is anxious to play with the snow that is soon to come.

A chicken has escaped her pen, and is pecking at the ground in search of who-knows-what. The dogs begin to bark, shattering the silence like a piece of glass – you can almost see the pieces floating in the air…and then they settle, and you wander around, trying to find where Silence has hidden.

Another leaf releases its hold and glides down to meet its sibling on the ground. A human hand cannot stop it.

So many things happen during the day that we cannot control. Something with always disrupt the schedule. And no matter how hard we try, we can’t stop the leaves from dying and falling. Winter must come – the wind cannot hurry or slow it. And if we cannot grasp the wind, how much less control over the seasons we have!

The day is still there, unchanged. It is I who has changed. The things out of my control get in my way. But today, I will let them go, like so many leaves in the wind. I will thank God for the beauty of each imperfect, unpredictable day. And I will look forward to every change.

Silence

I slip in my earphones, and carry my camera through the woods, lost in thoughts and music. The forest is pretty, but nothing special – already the bright autumn colors are dimming and most of the leaves lie dead on the ground.



I follow Dad and my little brother on a deer trail. My hat and my jacket keep catching on briars and other plants that have thorns. Finally, I turn of my music and shove the thing in my pocket. And I just listen.

Mentally tuning out the soft chatter of my companions, I hold up my camera and – for once – make myself look through the camera’s eyes, instead of trying to make it see the world through mine. I see the sunlight falling through branches and touching them with light. I see the pine needles mixed with leaves creating a soft carpet beneath my feet. I see all the photographic values in the shapes of the nature around me, and I breath in the cool October air with a joy growing inside of me like sunshine lighting my life.



I can FEEL the silence all around me. It’s heavy and pure and makes me want to make a noise. But I don’t. I just listen to the silence, and I relax in it. Lord, please speak to me in the silence…guide me from my chaotic noise. Push out my busy thoughts. Shove off from the world that never stops making noise…and explore the quiet, misty sea of silence that exists all around us – if we know where to look for it.



I’m soon off walking again. The memory stick for my camera is full, so it goes back into my pocket. I’m feeling drowsy and ready for a nap, so I hurry to catch up with Dad and Caleb. The silence is gone for me. Already, I’ve given in to the world and shrugged off the peace in the silence.



And yet I expect God to speak to me – through the TV, music, the internet, books, tapes, and my swirl of thoughts that never stop going. Because if I stop thinking about the world and my life, I am forced to let God into my mind and heart. The water takes me away, and I am frightened. I don’t want to drown in God’s peace and quiet; I seek the comfort of noise. I’m afraid to put God in control again. God, what do you think you are doing? This is my life, I had plans. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. So I take the wheel and pilot myself back to shore.



Later I’m reminded that I’m feeling rushed and I don’t want to be. The water laps at my feet. Teach me to let me let You take me away…

26 things - a photographic scavenger hunt!

Okay, so, for the month of September, I tried a do-it-yourself photography "class" (haha), called 26 Things. It wasn't my idea, though, so don't give me any credit. What you do, is you get a list of 26 things (I got several online, but you could probably just make up your own) and you take a picture that represents that word - in your mind. And you have to do this in one month. It sounds easy, but it's not. Some of the words are harder to represent than others; but it was definitely fun! I completed September...but not with "flying colors" - I'm hoping to do better for October! We shall see =). Enjoy the photographs, though:

1. Couple (aww! lol)


2. Slope (of course that word makes me think "ski slope", but the snow isn't here yet :( )


3. Plate (microscope plate xD)


4. Going Places (oh yeah, I am SO going places ;)


5. Scrambled (a beautiful mess, eh? LOL!)


6. In The Distance


7. Underneath (can you see the word through the water bottle?)


8. Bright (there are so many definitions of this word; since I was running out of time, I just chose this one)


9. 11 pm (actually, this isn't a night picture...but it looks like one! I took a picture of a clear ruler THROUGH a microscope; right at the last second, I moved a little, so the picture turned dark. So it looks like a fence in the dark :D)


10. Today (this is really showing me how much I need to work on creative photography...)


11. Everyday (this is something I totally view every day...but I tried to make it look more creative than just a closet :P)


12. Resemble (shadows are perfect :D)


13. Childhood Memory (perhaps not in the literal sense..haha)


14. In The Water (a pond at Kingwood Center sufficed :)


15. Flower (just a simple one, in the field on the edge of our property :)


16. Button (ah, too hard to get one singular button...lol)


17. Heritage (this is one of my favs)


18. Glow (I love this candle!)


19. Clock (duh)


20. Closed (this one definitely lacks originality xD)


21. Smile (this one is random...I didn't feel like putting my smile that close to the camera, or trying to get just a plain picture of a smile...and, hey, at home, my options are limited :P)


22. Back


23. Plastic (and the perfectionist in me is crying "I wish it was at a better angle!" lol)


24. Handle


25. In My Fridge (sorry this one is not very creative...)


26. Looking Back At Me (this one was fun!)


Thanks for going on my photography journey! There will be another post for October, so check back at the end of this month...:D

What's Wrong With High School?

I have figured out what's wrong with high school: there's no playgrounds! Honestly! But don't pass it off as a joke right away; let me explain.

Have you ever seen a high school building with a playground? I don't think I ever have (not that I've been around or anything...). And it's kind of sad. Our culture has forced high schoolers to think that playing on a playground is immature and belittling. In one sense, when you're in high school, you have lots of thoughts, responsibilities, and pressures forced upon you; in another sense, there are very few people who trust teenagers to be able to excel or act like adults. These two concepts collide and it is difficult to judge just what we are, as teenagers. We're not allowed, or expected to be, adults. But we're not allowed to be kids, either - we have to keep it together, to project a self-image pleasing to our parents and our peers. Playing around isn't an option, usually.

But the way to handle all the extra responsibilities is to balance out work, school, and chores with fun time. I'm not saying you have to go play tag on the playground (although it's not a bad idea :) ); it can be anything from sports to board games. But it's the concept of a playground that is the key. You have to do something that frees you from responsibility, that let's you be who you are. To pretend to be an adult may seem mature, but it's stressful and creates a false image. So you have let your self have "playground days" - balance being mature (to gain the trust of adults around you), and also enjoying being without all the responsibilities that adulthood brings. I mean, your not gonna be a teen forever...

Living in Today - Your Last Day?

We never know when the moment will come...will you die in your sleep at a "ripe old age", after you've done all you want to do? Will you die in a car crash next year? Will you get shot tomorrow? (sorry for being so abrupt...) We don't know, do we? So, how does that affect today?

People always say to live like tomorrow is your last day, but is that really sound advice? If tomorrow WAS your last day, then would you get your fill of the world or would you do things that you can’t do in Heaven – and are they the same thing?

Things you want to do on earth
The answer is “no”. Let me explain. Getting your fill of this world would generally mean doing things that you can’t do in other places, and the only other places besides this world are Heaven and Hell (and the other planets in the universe…which are, to our knowledge, completely uninhabitable). So, generally speaking, doing everything you can in this world on your “last day”, and doing things that you can’t do in Heaven, are the same. That makes the answer to the question “yes”…but let me explain further :). If today was your last day on earth, you would probably opt for doing everything you couldn’t do when you died – spending time with family and friends, being active all the time (so that not a minute was wasted), learning, playing, and talking to people that you may never see again.

Things you can’t do in Heaven
But would you think about the really important things? Would you consider doing such things as telling your brother you love him, or hugging the friend that needs God but you’ve never taken the time to explain it to him or her? Would you share the gospel with the people that need it? That’s what I’m talking about: the things that you won’t be able to do in Heaven. Because, most likely, you spend time thinking about yourself – “this is my last day”, “I’m never going to be able to do this unless I do it now”, etc. – instead of thinking about others – “I’ll never be able to tell so-and-so I love them unless I do it now”. There are millions of people everywhere, and most of them don’t know God. Have you ever evangelized? Shared the gospel? Told someone you loved that what they are missing in their lives is Jesus? And yet the real question is, “Will you do any of this before you die?” Today may be your last chance to make sure your that friend will see you in Heaven…

If everyone you love died today, would they know that you loved and appreciated them? Today may be your last day to tell your friends and family that you love them – no matter what you’ve said when you were angry, no matter how many times you’ve fought them –and you don’t want to be separated from them.

The challenge
What I would have you do is live every day for God, and Him alone. Sometimes, though, it helps to have a picture or some sort of reminder stuck in your head. So here is my challenge to you: Live each day as Jesus would, and love others as He would, and talk to others as He would; love those around you like you’ll never see them again; work diligently at each task, as if Jesus had asked you to do it; don’t ever give up; treat others with respect, love, and every Christ-like trait that you can think of – you may never see them again; and live your life without regret – if Judgment Day was today, could you stand before God without regretting what you have done today?

This is the challenge…it’s not just me, a lowly human servant of Christ, who is saying this; it’s God’s Word. You can read all about the things that He wants you to do in His perfect Word – the Holy Bible. Don’t take my word for it…find out for yourself!!

(If you don’t have a Bible, you can read one online – for free – at www.biblegateway.com)

If Today Was Your Last Day by Nickelback (lyrics)

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

Chorus:
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had,
If today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

Chorus:
If today was your last day
And tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

If today was your last day,
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side

Chorus:
If today was your last day,
And tomorrow was too late,
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last,
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had,
And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love?

If today was your last day…

Come Save

Recently a Christian music artist, Sarah Reeves, came to my attention. I was listening to some of her songs on youtube.com, and I really like them. :) Then I watched a video of Sarah Reeves talking about her song "Come Save", and it really hit me.

She talked about 2 Chronicles 7:14 "...If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land..." Our country, America, is going downhill fast, and I know that many (including myself) are saddened to see all the wickedness that is growing. But Sarah talked about how that's what we need to do: turn from our sins and seek God. That's what the whole world needs to do! And it's our job to make them see it!!

Here's the website for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp2hesI5Tus&feature=related
And here's the website for the "explanatory" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTj2NThZntY&feature=related

Seek God's face wholeheartedly!!!

Quote #2

I've heard this quote several times, but still, I really like it...so, read on :)

"Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders & says, 'Oh no....she's (or he's) awake!!' "

Hero

Why do we always look to imperfect humans as our heroes or heroines? I used to have heroes...all the time!! They would change a lot, but hey, at least I had someone to pattern my life after. Now, that's all changed. I'm "too old" to have a hero - what a load of crap!! No I'm not! Who spreads such lies (lol)? When I had a hero (or heroine), I would look to see what they did in situations. I would dress like him or her, I would try to look and think the way that person (or animal...or group of people...lol) would. You learn as much as you can about that person. Sometimes it would be just a movie character, and not a real person at all. Sometimes it was my current favorite animal (what a hero! lol), or one of my parents. But always, no matter who or what it was, my hero/heroine would become my role model, my friend...I wanted to be that person! Most likely my heroes were good people, awesome characters - like Robin Hood, the "good thief", or Cinderella, the charming young servant, who was obedient and faithful and thus became "promoted" to princess-dome - and so, consequentially, I would become a better (although slightly delusional :P haha) person. That's a good thing, right? Now, of course, there are some pretty bad role models out there...but let's not get into that :).

Now...I don't have heroes/heroines. Now...I don't pretend to be the person that I admire. I've hidden all of that. But that doesn't mean that those mirroring tendencies are gone. No, they're still there, hidden away....what a waste! Think about it: if we applied the hero theory to our most important - the only perfect - role model ever (Jesus Christ), we would be more apt to focus on Him!

Why can't we see that the longing, the hole in our hearts, the need to imitate, can only be filled by God?! God never changes, never sins, never lies, always keeps His promises, is totally perfect, wants to save us, offers eternal life with Him, and CAN DO EVERYTHING. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!!

So today, you have a choice before you: continue living as you always have, or chang the way you think and make Jesus your hero today. He became human so that he could die for us. He said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13) And that's what He did! You will never become as perfect as Him...but every day it should be our goal! We are commanded to follow Christ! What better way than to make Him our hero?

Visit to the State Capitol

I had a lot of fun going to the State Capitol. I wasn't there very long, but long enough to enjoy the view and the buildings. =) I actually went there a couple of weeks ago, in April...so I'm a little late with the posting of them ;) Oh well! I hope you enjoy looking at them. The visit was because of an event called Teen Pact, and we went to drop off the guys at the State Capitol So I got to tag along :)(and put my camera to good use).


This is me...not the best picture, but I love the background! It's part of the skyline of Columbus, Ohio!


The guys (from left to right): Nate, Josh, Wynnslo, Adam, and Caleb. It's sunny out - their eyes are all squinty!! LOL We are at the top of the parking garage...quite high up. =)


And there they are again...


From left to right: Caleb, Josh, Nate, Wynnslo, Adam. Josh looks huge - like he has a potbelly!! LOL He's really skinny though :P (j/k Josh!!)


The younger crew: Elliott, Nate, and William. (don't they look happy?)


Church spires...ah...for some reason I really liked looking at them :)



Looking down from above (a very awesome feeling)



The Riffe Building - 32 stories high!!



The view from the 32nd floor...awe-inspiring! Man, I like being up high :)


And one of my favs...looking up at the sun :) I just like the way the pic turned out.

Random Quote

"Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain." (by Helen Keller)

I have something to add to that: consideration for others is very good! But our main purpose in life is to glorify God. And He has a plan...so even when you are feeling out and down, remember: He loves you and desires you to live for Him and to find hope and fulfillment in Him!! So don't give up!!

Um. I don't know why I put that quote up there since I just kind of refuted it XD. Ahem. Oh well...but if I just delete this post, then you will never know my "quote dilemma"! :-o Shocking!! LOL

Fulfillment and Peace vs. Discontent and Worry

I'm always seeking more, more, more! As sinful humans, we all tend to do that: not letting God be all we need in our lives, and instead seeking the things that the world offers. But the more I try to get fun, money, recognition, affection, and success according to the world's standards, the more I feel like I'm grasping for the wind! I can't get enough of anything...and so I turn to God and yell at Him for not satisfying me! Imagine that - us getting disappointed with the world, and then getting upset at God for not letting us have our "fun".

Then, on top of all of that, I start to worry about things. Things like money, events, college, driving, taking tests, getting through life (huh...my biggest worry right now...LOL), and finding fulfillment. Life is full of traps! I start running around in circles, getting absolutely nothing done that matters eternally. I start to feel like I'm just "living", without really LIVING. Does that make sense? Have you ever felt that way? Like you can't get out of your box, your routine, like you're stuck in this life without hope of something more...even though I'm still a Christian, I have moments of doubt. Not about the existence of God, who loves me - that is quite true and clear for me. But about what my purpose in this world is, and what I'm supposed to do with the lifetime that I am given here on this earth.

Sometimes I feel like a black-and-white picture, stuck in an old frame. I want some color, warmth, activity, something to show that I really am alive! But how do I get there? How do I get my color back?

Oh, Lord, Please show me how to live...

Something that really triggered my heart and soul this week was this passage in Mark 6:25-34:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Also, I listen to Adventures in Odyssey (it's free online!! :D), and this one brought some things to light. I believe it's called W-O-R-R-Y (how appropriate).

But more than just feeling like a lifeless picture, I've begun to realize how my feelings don't matter. My wants and little desires aren't important. I shouldn't be living for me! I should be living for God, and His glory. It's okay if I don't have the answers (even though not knowing bugs me to death!), it's okay if I don't feel "right" or "normal" - none of that is important! No matter what happens, no matter what I do, God still has a perfect plan, and He remains the same, and He still loves me. No matter what.

Listen to that: God loves me no matter what.

Do you really believe that? Do you really believe that God has a perfect plan for you, one that's better than yours? If you do believe that, than it's time to start living it.

My Blond Role Model

Okay, I'm a blond; but I'm not dumb. Okay...so I have my moments. But hey, we all have our "dumb blond moments" - at least those of us who are human :P hehe. So, I got this dumb blond joke email, and I really like it (note: I do not take offense at dumb blond jokes - they're funny!). So, here it is:

There was a blonde who found herself sitting next to a Lawyer on an airplane. The lawyer just kept bugging the blonde wanting her to play a game of intelligence. Finally, the lawyer offered her 10 to 1 odds, and said every time the blonde could not answer one of his questions, she owed him $5, but every time he could not answer hers, he'd give her $50. The lawyer figured he could not lose, and the blonde reluctantly accepted.
The lawyer first asked, "What is the distance between the Earth and the nearest star?"
Without saying a word the blonde handed him $5. then the blonde asked, "What goes up a hill with 3 legs and comes back down the hill with 4 legs?"
Well, the lawyer looked puzzled. He took several hours, looking up everything he could on his laptop and even placing numerous air-to-ground phone calls trying to find the answer. Finally, angry and frustrated, he gave up and paid the blonde $50.00
The blonde put the $50 into her purse without comment, but the lawyer insisted, "What is the answer to your question?"
Without saying a word, the blonde handed him $5.

Isn't that AWESOME?? She's my role model!! Haha, just kidding ;). Jesus is my role model. Anyway, hope you had a good laugh...I sure did.

Broken - the Best Place To Be

Ever heard about being brokenhearted? There can be some different meanings of that; it can mean that you loved someone and they lied to you and "broke your heart". Okay, so here's the thing: no one can break your heart (and for you technical people, I mean in a figurative sense here, not physically...I sure hope no one out there is actually going around breaking peoples' physical hearts - ew gross! and also awful! anyway, back to what I was saying...) unless you give it to them. So, your reaction should be, to realize that if you keep getting your heart broken, it's because your giving it away! If you give your heart away to a sinful human being (and all humans are sinful) and you trust that human being, chances are you're going to get hurt because we all mess up and sin and lie, etc. I'm not saying don't trust anyone...I'm just saying be careful who you trust.

Now, back to my original point (I do have a point to all of this): There is one thing that you can put your trust in completely and without reserve! Isn't that good news? Guess who it is: God! He is holy, perfect, just, righteous, loving, and omnipotent. If you give Him your heart, He will keep it safe; not only that, but He will change it (if you let Him). We are all sinful and fallen. But God promises to take our hearts and minds and mold them to His will - to change us for the better and make us more like Him!

So the whole "broken thing" - what does that have to do with anything? Well...God doesn't force Himself on us. We have to come to Him of our own free will. And before He can change us, we must become broken; broken enough to let Him in. Broken enough to rely on Him completely for all of our needs. Everything that belongs to this world (people, pleasures, possessions) will let us down eventually, at one time or another. And when this happens, where do we turn? To what can we run for comfort, healing, and truth? We can go straight to God and put our trust in Him. He will heal our broken hearts. And we can trust securely in His love - He will not break our hearts if we follow Him.

Luke 4:16-19 (in the Bible) says, “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.’ ”
(The "He" it's talking about, the man speaking, is Jesus, our Savior - God's holy and perfect Son.)

We have to surrender all to God, and come to Him humbly. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit." So come before God today, and pray as you've never prayed before; ask Him to break you until you are wholly His! And then you will be His!

Memories

Oh, how many times have I recalled doing things that I enjoyed, and thought, "Good Times!" with relish - and a small taint of regret that those good times are over...but they shall be replaced by new good times. But I can still relive events and thoughts that are gone, all by turning to my memory; there I can once more vividly experience things from my past. Of course, as time goes by, some memories fade away. And that is why living for today, and letting go of the past, is so important: we only have today! We only have this minute...the rest is either history or unknown future.

God created each of us with a wonderful mind so that we can think about, decide, create, and know many things. But one of the most special things about our minds is our memory. It is amazing all the things that are recorded there! Some of our most embarrassing and hurtful moments (which we'd rather forget...but then again, maybe that all adds to our conscience, and reminds us that we fail, and encourages us to try harder) are documented there, as are important events and actions that make us happy and remind us of our past life. We can remember sounds, sights, colors, actions, faces, places, words said to one another...So much we are able to remember! It is fantastic!

Not only events are noted by our minds, but also important information, like your friend's favorite color, your home phone number and address, what your friends and family look like (okay, so you probably take THAT for granted! LOL. But think about it: what if you had to re-acquaint yourself with all the people that you know? Well, than you really wouldn't know anyone, cause you couldn't remember who they are), what you own, what you do, what you are supposed to do (chores...blech), and just think of all the problems you would have if you couldn't remember the stuff you learn in school! hehe...yeah, well, maybe that wouldn't be so bad...just kidding! I love learning.

Anyway, my point is, God gave us one incredible gift when he endowed us with our memory. So thank Him for that today! Show your appreciation by REMEMBERING that He made you...or by MEMORIZING some scripture!!

{And as a note to all you out there who know me personally: Thank you so so much for creating memories with me! I enjoy looking back at times spent snowboarding with friends, playing cards and watching movies with my family...and just goofing off with all the crazy, AWESOME people that I know! God has truly blessed me by giving me all of you <3 Thank you! Thank you!}

Singing Lessons

Okay, so on Monday night I went to a singing class. I learned a lot, not just about singing but about doing things in general. At first I was like, "Oh great, I'm at a singing class, and the teacher is old, and most of the 'students' are old, too...man, why am I here?" But as I sat there and TRIED to listen patiently, I realized that I was judging all of the people in the room by LOOKS. And some of the older people had good voices and were actually fun to be around! I Here are some of the things I learned:

1. No one is better than you because no one can do exactly what you can do. And no one is lower or worse than you cause you can never do exactly what that person can do. Each of us is special and unique!!

2. Whatever you do, put your heart and soul into it! Be passionate about what you do: it will show, and others will enjoy watching you/doing it with you. You can be incredibly good at something, but if your heart isn't in it you might as well not do it, since people can tell and whatever you're doing will not be glorifying to God. Also, you can be terrible at something, but if you're having fun and relaxed and passionate about what you're doing, then others will enjoy it and have fun with you! I have seen many examples of this.

3. You have to put away your inhibitions, pride, and embarrassment, and just let yourself go. You don't have to go crazy...just stop sitting there pretending to be a statue!! Enjoy life!! If you relax and have fun, you will inspire others to do the same - thus creating a chain-reaction that could include a ton of people! You CAN make a difference in this world...and if you're feeling like you CAN'T, then ask God to give you courage and change your heart!! :)

4. NEVER, no NEVER judge by appearances, no matter how hard you are tempted to! It can cause you to act in a way you wouldn't normally, and it can cause you to miss out on some great friendships. It's very important to get to know the person behind the human mask before forming an opinion of them.

The Rainy Days of Life

I don’t understand people at all. They will say, “It’s such a beautiful evening” when it is warm and the sunset is gorgeous. But if it is cold or cloudy or rainy, they will say something like, “Oh, it’s so yucky out!” Don’t they understand that beauty is not always in the bright and cheerful and obvious?
I am not like most people. When it rains, I love it. I run and dance in the rain. I love to look at the shiny, wet pavement, watch the droplets fall from the sky, and stare in wonder at the dark gray melancholy clouds. The rainy day is filled with just as much beauty as the sunny summer day. I feel so full of life when I look at the rain. It washes away the dirt, the hurt, and the tears. It makes me long for a new beginning. The rain is essential for life; it brings water to the earth, feeding the plants, which in turn feed the animals, which in turn feed us…it’s called the food chain (that just ruined the whole rain idea xD oops. Anyway…).
The gray clouds that shed the rain block the sun from our view, creating the dismal feeling that makes people dislike rain. But even the melancholy-ness of the rain is only our feeling; truth is what matters. And sometimes it is nice to feel melancholy and slow and quiet, when our lives are so busy, or even too cheerful at times. Rejoice all the elements of each day, whether it’s sunny or cloudy, cold or hot, slow or fast; just enjoy it.
Don’t always look for a “silver lining” that is bright; sometimes the best things are solemn and harsh or quiet and dim, yet still beautiful. There is peace and beauty in silence. And when you open your heart and stop chattering away with worries, requests, and pleas, then God can quietly talk to you. That is what the rainy days are for.

Life: the “period of existence”

Is that all life is? A “period of existence”? Isn’t there more to life than just breathing and being alive? YES! There is more – so much more! Life isn’t about living for yourself, wallowing in all the cares of the world and letting things hit you as you walk by. Life is supposed to be lived for someone besides yourself: God. He is perfect, loving, holy, and He made you.

True life is when you put yourself and your desires away, and start caring about other people. This isn’t easy; in fact, it’s impossible! But, as is stated in the Holy Bible: “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ God can change you, and make you a new person! God can fill your life with all that it has been missing!

Rainy Days

If you’re having trouble reconciling yourself to yet another rainy day, read the lyrics below (from 3 different songs) and think how they apply. Not just to the physical storms of from the sky, but the storms of you life that you have to deal with…lay your load of problems on Jesus.

Blue Sky by Francesca Battistelli

When you’re down and you’re out
And you don’t think you have a friend
When you’re lost in the doubt
And you can’t see what’s around the bend

Just hold on
Don’t turn around
Keep on walking
Don’t lose heart
‘Cause I am here, I am here
Wherever you are, wherever you are

(Chorus)
When the rain is falling
And there’s no silver lining
And you just can’t seem to find the light
When you need a reason
To help you keep believing
Let My love be your blue sky

Don’t you know that I know
Life can be so hard it makes you wanna give up
But don’t you know over the horizon
The sunny day you’re looking for
Is waiting right here in My love

Just hold on
Don’t turn around
Keep on walking
Don’t lose heart
‘Cause I am here, I am here
Wherever you are, wherever you are

(Chorus)

Come on come on
Don’t you be afraid
Whatever comes tomorrow
My love is here to stay

(Chorus)

I Believe In Love by Barlow Girl

How long will my prayers seem unanswered?
Is there still faith in me to reach the end?
I'm feeling doubt I'm losing faith
But giving up would cost me everything
So I'll stand in the pain and silence
And I'll speak to the dark night

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I,
I believe

Though I can't see my stories ending
That doesn't mean the dark night has no end
It's only here that I find faith
And learn to trust the one who writes my days
So I'll stand in the pain and silence
And I'll speak to the dark night

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I,
I believe

No dark can consume Light
No death greater than this life
We are not forgotten
Hope is found when we say

I believe in the sun even when it's not shining
I believe in love even when I don't feel it
And I believe in God even when He is silent
And I,
I believe.

Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now,
God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus