What did you eat for dinner?

Media is a powerful tool. And I am thankful that there are people out there to create so many great resources for us!

First, watch video A.

EAT TRASH Campaign To End Food Waste from Compeller on Vimeo.

(found on>> http://stephanieeatherly.blogspot.com/2010/12/why-i-cant-stand-to-waste.html)

Now, video B.

How to feed the world ? from Denis van Waerebeke on Vimeo.

(found on >> http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1F2CQg/www.fastcompany.com/1580712/infographic-of-the-day-how-the-global-food-market-starves-the-poor)


Thoughts?

Truth: You can buy a child in 10 hours.

That sounds like a ridiculous statement! But a reporter went undercover to reveal the truth, that in fact, you CAN buy a child in 10 hours. In fact, he would have been able to buy three. Check out the article; it is shocking, sad, and obviously, terrible!

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/buy-child-10-hours/story?id=5326508&tqkw=&tqshow=NL&page=1

Please; go read it! (I realize that it was written 2 1/2 years ago, but undoubtedly the situation remains the same, especially after the earthquake that hit Haiti this January.)


Did you know that Human Trafficking is the fastest growing trade in the world? It is also the 3rd largest crime industry that after drugs and weapons.
Did you know that there are more slaves today than EVER in history before?




Human Trafficking does not stop at the U.S. borders however.
The following is taken from an article found online.

"Still, many Americans believe human trafficking to be an international phenomenon.

I, like so many others, thought that trafficking was a problem that plagued other countries like Thailand and India, but was oblivious to what was happening right here in our backyard," said Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel, who is spearheading the county's efforts to combat human trafficking and open a shelter for sexual trafficking victims."

"About 300,000 American youths are trafficked for sexual exploitation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. During a one-night national sting involving 29 cities last February, law enforcement officers picked up seven underage girls involved in prostitution in Portland -- more than any other city besides Seattle. They also picked up six adult pimps in Portland and cited 14 adult prostitutes.

Still, many at the conference said a collective national denial of the issue remains.

"What we're about in the U.S., we're willing to jump out there and save the world but we won't look under our own rocks because it's embarrassing," Bickford said after giving a presentation on the work he's doing with the task force. "
(http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/01/human_trafficking_industry_thr.html)

A church in Portland, Oregon has a ministry particularly for women who find themselves victims of sexual exploitation. http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/article/scarlet-cord/

"Within the U.S., Atlanta, Georgia has been identified as currently having the highest rate of child sex trafficking, with 200-300 exploited for the commercial sex industry every month." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking)

Last night I was SHOCKED to read that there are actually LEGAL BROTHELS within our own country.!!!!
There are nearly 30 legal brothels within the state of Nevada alone!! (http://investigation.discovery.com/investigation/prostitution/prostitution-history-05.html)
Here's one last (and kind of intense) video I want to share with you.

(http://investigation.discovery.com/tv/hookers-saved-on-strip/)

Do you want to DO something about all of this?
I know I do.

(And I'm working on putting something together to inform the community of everything that goes on. Let me know if you would want to help.)
Check out these other sites for more information on the subject, and what you can do to get involved and help support the groups fighting modern day slavery. They are very informing.

http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/
http://www.callandresponse.com/
http://areyouokaywiththat.org/

"A Prayer Blanket"

I just recieved this message from Steve Wallace through the facebook group "Grants Pass For Jesus" and I thought it would be really great to share! Check out his blog when you're done! (the link is at the bottom)
The following was the email>>

Can you change your city?

You can if you cover it with a prayer blanket. The Prayer Blanket is the continual daily prayer, by name, for every lost person in your community.

Don’t become overwhelmed with the magnitude of such a project just begin. Consider that at the moment somewhere around 3 to 5% of the lost in your community are being prayed for on a continual and regular basis, not very good. The good news is this is occurring with little provocation. Imagine what could happen if the Body of Christ in your community rallied together to do this on purpose.

Suppose you invited The Lighthouse Movement to come to your town and implement a system to mobilize the Body of Christ in united prayer. Followed by a campaign to pray for every lost person in the community.

As a result it would not be difficult to imagine the 3 to 5% that are being prayed for right now, on accident, could jump overnight to 50%, WOW!

What would happen in your community if the Body of Christ began praying for the salvation of 50% of the Lost, by name, on a daily basis?

I’m thinking citywide revival. What are you thinking?

Here’s The Lighthouse Movement's website: http://www.lighthousemovement.com/


Stop thinking and make it so. GO!

http://www.myprayercloset.net/watchmen-at-hellgate/

Peace, and how to keep from becoming ineffective and unproductive

I don't know everything there is to know in life, but I do know that God is always there for me. He's got my back. He wants the best for me. If God, the one and only who created not just the world, but the whole universe (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4 to get a little off track of where this blog is going, but it is such a GREAT video!!) cares about me-what do I have to worry about?

There is a certain passage that has been touching my heart lately. I'm even going to write it out so you don't have to get up to find your Bible. This short passage of scripture gives me that umph when I feel like I have lost all inspiration and direction. Read on:
2 Peter 1:3-4
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires."
Just gonna stop right there for a bit; when I read this, I am nearly brought to tears.
As I have briefly talked about in previous posts, one of my greatest challenges is learning how to accept things like the news and other forms of media. Guarenteed, if I watch the news or read an article, I will get upset. SOMETHING is bound to frustrate me, whether it's problems within our goverment, fear that people are so oblivious to what is coming in the future, or you can only imagine what else.
But read those verses again.
He has given us everything we need. There may be crazyness happening all around us, but our Heavenly Father (who is incomprehensibly more powerful than we can imagine[...that was a double thoght]) has got us. He's not worrying! Only by Him, we have everything we need for life and godliness! I can give up my worries and stress to Him, and thrive on His strength and power!
And I'm just going to repost that second verse, because it needs no other explanation.
"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires."

The next set of verses gives me peace. Often times I feel as if I have no direction of where to go, what to do, or how to live. But the following verses say basically ALL that we need to know in order to live the lives that He has called us to live.
2 Peter 1:5-11
"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

But there is one thing we must not forget; choosing to live out these instructions on a daily basis won't be easy. In saying that, I'm going to lift up a prayer for all who read this, that He will help you to make these ways a lifestyle. And if you wouldn't mind praying that for me as well; I could definatly use it.
:)

As spending season is upon us... how do you rate?

http://whoarethejoneses.org/

Is His grace enough for you?

Please first listen to this song>>


Have you ever recieved a gift you thought you didn't deserve? Did it make you feel uncomfortable? Honored? Blessed? How DID it make you feel?

One gift I know I don't deserve is God's grace. Time and time, again and again, He gives it me however.

This time, I didn't want to take it. I knew I was underserved of it; I wanted to refuse it. I wasn't worthy. Does this make me pridefull? I guess it does...

But that's the greatest thing about God's gift of grace: It's a gift! Gifts are a choice. They are given whether or not the recipient wants it or not. And we have the choice: to humbly and thankfully accept it, or to be proud and reject the gift. Speaking of the latter, how would that benefit us at all?

Sometimes, accepting God's gift of grace is easy. And yet other times, we need to humble ourselves before the Lord and thank Him that His grace never fails us, and that we can always come before Him and He will give it to us.

Please go back and listen to the song if you haven't already, and really think about the words.
Run into His arms of love!

And now listen to this song as well>>



Come before Jesus, lay at His feet and surrender all.

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefor come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to halp in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16

Could you give up your computer?

I could never be a business major.

Want to know what makes me cringe, guaranteed?
This happens frequently actually, as of late.
The other day, I went into that new store in GP, Rue 21, I'm sure all you GP fellers know of it. It was crowded with youngins, and mothers in their twenties with little children hanging off of them.
I cringed.
I watched the news tonight. They showed video clips of the latest car Toyota (I think it was them...) is making; some sort of hybrid. It was a speedy little car; cute and fast it was. And the reporters were so excited about this new car, almost as if we have been living in the dark ages without it.
I cringed.
Then they showed how the stock market of something or rather had gone up.
I cringed.
And yet they continued on another story of a GAP store soon to open in Brazil, like it was the newest and most exciting thing that could ever possibly happen and how did they ever live without it before.
I cringed.

Do you see a pattern in any of these things?
Materialism.
The love of money and the love of things.
Something has changed within me over the last few months.
I don't enjoy shopping as much. And I nearly hate shopping in a store that is playing the latest pop and/or autotune songs, or is selling bright and tacky clothing, or ones that sell clothing that give off the vibe of "you need me, without me you will not be good enough, this is the best thing you will ever own." Maybe I'm crazy?
Maybe it's because I didn't go shopping much over the 6 months that I was gone?
Who knows.
But am I only one who sees how materialistic our society has become, in EVERY area, in such a short time?!

And I'm not going to plead innocent always either.
I have thought about this on many other levels.
My computer; is it neccessary? Not really. Have I become dependent on it? Yes. Would I give it up? I sure wish I don't ever have to.
Are there better things I could be doing with my time and money? You sure bet there is.

If I can struggle with materialism, and I actually acknowledge it, and am not being blinded by it, how many of us out there are not even realizing our growing dependencing on money and owning things?

A lot, I can tell you that right now.

You and Me Together

Do you ever feel alone, when you're not? Or maybe, you physically are.

Do you ever feel hopeless, when you shouldn't?

Do you ever feel like something is lacking?

Do you ever feel stuck? Like you have all of these things you want to do, and you would do them in a heartbeat, but you have no idea how to get there?
Or maybe you know how, but that how is nearly impossible seeming.

Do you ever feel like there is no one there with you pushing through it all? And you're going all along the road called life by yourself, your lonely little self.

Do you ever feel like you have no answers?

Thing is, you're never alone, you shouldn't feel hopeless, or like something is lacking; you shouldn't feel your dreams or goals are impossible. And you CAN find answers, sooner or later.
There IS Someone there with you going through it all, Someone striving for the same things you are.
It's just hard to remember that always.
And even when we know it, it's hard to grasp.
And hard to understand.
And accept.

Radical Emergency

If I ever am tempted to spend my money on things of this world, things that I cannot even take with me to Heaven, please remind me of this>>

Crush Satan

Bah. I hate it. Every time. Makes me inferiorated. Every time.
The news.

Every single time I watch the news, I think to myself, "Why am I doing this?! I know that it will just make me mad!"
Some things that go through my mind...
There are so many stupid people making stupid decisions.
So much money being wasted on 'quality of life', because American's (and other's, but particularly) are so self- centered, egotistical, and selfish.
Government. Do I need to say more?

I get frustrated and angered beyond description at the pure stupidity and selfishness of the people in our country.
Frustration in the form of give-me-a-punching-bag-and-it-will-no-longer-be-in-one-piece. haha ok, maybe not sooo drastic. But you get my point.
Seriously, it gets me so frustrated, that talking about it now is getting me frustrated.

If I could just go and open their eyes to let them see what they ARE doing and how it is impacting people in negative ways, or even what they COULD be doing and how it COULD be impacting and affecting people for the better!

But God told me something today. A verse He shared with me while I was in Hong Kong while praying over the villiage filled with ancestrial worship, temples, and sacrifice alters. But the same verse applies for the U.S. as well.

2 Corinthians 4:4 says (NIV), "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

In the NLT, it says "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."

And there is my answer, right there. He revealed to me, "Jessica, don't get mad at the people. That will get you no where! Be mad at Satan. Hate the work that he is doing. Pray against his work! Prayer is more powerful than he is! Pray that the blinders will fall from the eyes of the people, and they will be able to understand My truth!"

Honestly, let's pray! Pray right now, as you read this, pray tonight-before you go to bed, pray when you get up, pray when you walk, pray when you drive, pray while you're at work (if you can). Never stop praying!

1 Thessalonians tells us that, and more, in chapter five:

14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

16 Be joyful always;

17 pray continually;

18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;

20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.

21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.

22 Avoid every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.



There is so much truth in that short passage, so much to live by!
I encourage you to take this all to heart, no matter where you live or what might be going on in your country, and ask God how it can relate to you. Test it. Test your feelings with God.

1. In I John 3:7-8 we read, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the
one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the
one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the
beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works
of the devil.”
2. When Jesus died He officially obliterated the works of the devil. There is
nothing that the devil has any authority over anymore.(Mark Hatfield)

And lastly, I promise its the end now LOL, Romans 16:20, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."

The power of Prayer; Part 3

Yeah, this one's long. Don't give up! lol

once again, by Janet L. Folger



Moses and the Whiners

Even the very people who had witnessed God part the Red Sea lost track of who God is. They got tired of waitng for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai, so they melted their jewelry and made a cow to worship. Brilliant move.



"Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."

Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me." So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." (Exodus 32:1-4)





Talk about a slap in God's face! He was the one who rescued them from slavery; He parted the Red Sea for these people, led them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, and dropped their meals down to them from the sky. And how did they show their appreciation? They worshiped a stupid handmade cow to "thank it" for delievering them out of Egypt. God was the one who gave them the jewelry they used to make a cow in the fist place--plunder from Egyptians, remember?

If I were God, I would have wiped them off the face of the earth.

But God didn't. He spared their lives.

How did they thank Him for saving them again? They grumbled and complained: "We're hungry!" "We're tired!" "Are we there yet?" Just like the family road trip. They were sick of eating manna burgers and thought that building bricks in Egypt looked better than what they were going through in the wilderness. I guess the grass is always greener--even when it comes to slavery.

We're alot like the Israelites. How many people do you know who whine about not being married--only to get married and whine about the person they married? Many whine until they get a divorce and then whine about being divorced. If you're the one listening to all that whining, it has to get old.

God got sick of it. He told Moses:



How long will these pepole treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them? I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they. (Numbers 14:11-12)



But Moses went to bat for the Israelites. He pleaded their case. And that's pretty a pretty tough case to plead--even for a criminal lawyer:



"If you put these people to death all at one time, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 'The Lord was not able to bring these people inot the land he promised them on oath; so he slaughtered them in the desert.' Now may the Lord's strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 'The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished...' In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now." The Lord replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked." (vs. 15-20)



Because of the prayers of Moses, God changed His mind and spared the Israelites. So why did He listen to Moses? "And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name" (Exodus 33:17).

What terms are you on with God? He knows your name, but how well do you know His?

You all know the scene at your school cafeteria or favorite campus restaurant. You're sitting eating lunch and people walk past. There are the acquaintances you know from class, but you're not really sure of their names. They get a "Hey! How's it going?" Or "What did you think of that test?" So they know you know what class they're from. Then there are those who names you know, but who generally sit and eat with other people. You say hello and include their name, and maybe even someting about them: "I ran into your brother this morning--he says he needs a ride home." But you aren't offended at all that they're eating with another group. They might even ask to eat with you on occasion, when their close budddies aren't around.

Then, there are your best friends--those in your inner circle. They're the ones who rush to your table, throw down their books and coat with a "You're not gonna believe what happened!" They never ask-- it's a given that they're sitting with you. They wouldn't dream of eating anywhere else. Everyone would know something was wrong if they did.

Here's the question: If Jesus came into your favorite pizza shop for lunch, where would He sit? Are there people around who know Him better? Would you get a smile and a nod as He found His way to His real friends? Maybe a "It was good to see you at Christmas" or "I'm glad everything worked out with that problem you were having."

Or would He come straignt to your table. Would you welcome Him, anxious to thank Him for His latest gift, or to seek out His counsel on a decision you hav to amek?


Jesus would sit at the table with Moses. He was definately in the inner circle. There are some incredible benefits to knwing God like that: If God is pleased with you and knows you by name, He may do the very thing that you ask too.


Prayer has the power to change even the mind of God. Even plans that are already in motion. With Hezekiah, with Nineveh, with Moses, and with you. Think you'll spend more time praying now?

The power of Prayer; Part 2

Also, by Janet L. Folger.



The Salvation of Nineveh

Then there was Nineveh. The Ninevites received pretty much the same message as Hezekiah. Jonah, after his aquatic diversion (Three nights at the "Motel Whale"), finally obeyed God and proclaimed His message to the people of Nineveh: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned" (Jonah 3:4). Again, God said "will be." He didn't say maybe. These people had just over a month, and that was it. How else do you read "will be overturned?"

God wanted Jonah to deliver His message, come hell or... high water, so to speak. Listen to what happened next:



The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh:

"By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink,. But let man and beats be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."



When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring up them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:5-10)



Scope it out: God saw how the Ninevites turned from their evil ways and did not destroy them as He said He would. Our prayers reach a compassionate God. And God's mind, it appears, can be changed. If that doesn't make you want to pray, I don't know what will.

The power of Prayer; Part 1

Alright, so I've been reading this book and it has alot of good things in it that I would love to share. This is just one out of many. So this is part one out of three or four, I'll write the other parts other days.

The author is Janet L. Folger (so none of this is mine).

And why were you tagged? I felt like I was supposed to tag you! No scientific reason or anything :)



Hezekiah: God's 180

If you look at 2 Kings 20, you'll find that God told Hezekiah he was going to die. Isaiah delivered the message at the beginning of the chapter: "In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, 'This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover'" (v. 1)

Bummer. "You are going to die; you will not recover." Not a lot of room for negotiation. What would you do? You could shoot the messenger, but that only helped in the case of false prophets. And if you get a book in the Bible named after you, like Isaiah, I'm pretty sure that you're one of the real ones. God said it. That pretty much makes it a done deal-- right? Well, Hezekiah didn't think so; he petiitioned God for mercy.



Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD, I will add fifteen years to your life.'" (vs.2-6)



Did you see that? God had mercy and changed His mind! How incredibly cool is that? Now, Hezekiah could have done a better job with his fifteen-year bonus (see 2 Kings 20-21), but that doesn't change what happened. God heard his prayer and saw his tears and healed him. That's the same God we pray to--did ya know?

Maybe it's a prayer?

Here I sit, purple headband, neon leg warmers and all.
Distraught.
Annoyed.
Baffled.
Emotional?
Frustrated, confused, and alone.

I feel like I never have enough time, money, wisdom, or knowledge; and if I ever have one, I don't have the other, and that frustrates me. I didn't have the courage to step out completely in faith. I could only go halfway. And in going halfway, it didn't leave me with any feelings of accomplishment, but rather, I wish I had gone none at all.
Did I know what to do? Possibly. Did I feel confused, unsure, frustrated, rushed, yet touched? Most definately.
Do I know what to do now? Absolutely not.
Was I looking forward to a few things? By golly, yes!
Can I do or have those things now? I do not know.

"Ah, sinful nation,
a people loaded with guilt,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the Lord
they have spurned the Holy One of
Israel
and turned their backs on him."
Isaiah 1:4

Guilt-awareness of wrongdoing: an awareness of having done wrong or committed a crime, accompanied by feelings of shame and regret
A brood (a breed, species, group, or kind)of evildoers-a person who does evil or wrong.
Corruption-dishonesty for personal gain: dishonest exploitation of power for personal gain
Spurned-To reject disdainfully or contemptuously; scorn; kick

I want to do more, but the pressing truth is that I have to take care of other things first. God knows that. Doesn't He? Well of course He does...
But somehow I can't manage to understand that, even though He has proven Himself worthy many a time. But I still am human, an human in err. I don't even know if I used that word properly.

I can still change my decision. After the fact. Just like last time. And I know everything will turn out right, it has to.!?
But I thought I was supposed to do something else with the money?
A few something else's.
Maybe this is more important.
More pressing.
I don't know.
Why me?

I of all people should have the most faith.
Wow that sounded kind of arrogant, I did NOT mean it like that way.
God has shown me in my life what it means to have faith.
Ok, well I think I know now.
I know, but will I do when it comes down to it?
God, give me the strength.
Remind me that what I have is really yours.
And I will make do.


This song was in my head while writing.

Where is the love?

I don't remember how, when, or why it came to me, but the song "Where is the Love" by the Black Eyed Peas came to mind like yesterday or the day before. I couldn't stop thinking about it and the lyrics. But I wanted to know exactly what the lyrics were; because well, you know, how sometimes you think a song is saying one thing, and there is meaning for you in the words you think they are singing, and then you look up the words and they're like completely different and then your understanding of the song is destroyed? Yeah, well I wanted to make sure I was getting the message right here. So I looked up the lyrics.
>>

What's wrong with the world mama
People livin' like ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring ya trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin' in the USA
The big CIA, the Bloods and the Crypts and the KKK
But if you only have love for ya own race
Then ya only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when ya hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what ya demonstrate
and that's exactly how ANGER works and Operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love y'all, y'all

Chorus:

People killin' people dyin'
Children hurtin and ya hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
Or would you turn the other cheek?
FATHER FATHER FATHER help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cuz people got me got me questionin'
Where is the love
Where is the love
Where is the love
Where is the love, the love, the love

It just ain't the same, old ways have changed
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace is so strong
Why are these pieces of love that don't belong
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With the ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in, people keep on givin' in,
Makin' wrong decisions only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, denyin' thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercova'
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love y'all come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth y'all come on (I don't know)
Where's the love y'all

People killin' people dyin'
Children hurt and ya hear them cryin'
practice what you preach
Or would you turn the other cheek?
FATHER FATHER FATHER help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cuz people got me got me questionin'
Where is the love (where is the love)

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder (shoulder)
As I'm getting older, y'all people gets colder (colder)
Most of us only care about money makin' (money makin')
Selfishness got us followin' the wrong direction (direction)
Wrong information always shown by the media (media)
Negative images is the main criteria (criteria)
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria (bacteria)
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinemas
Yo, whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality
Instead of spreading love we're spreading animosity
Lack of understanding leading us away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive 'til love is found
And ask yourself

People killin' people dyin'
Children hurtin and ya hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
Or would you turn the other cheek?
FATHER FATHER FATHER help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cuz people got me got me questionin'
Where is the love
Where is the love
Where is the love
Where is the love, the love, the love.



Do I need to say more?

So I have a few questions for you. Do you know the Truth? Do you know The Love?
If so, are you answering the question, "Where is the Love?"

Answer it by the way you live your life.



P.S. I remembered the reason behind me thinking of this song in the first place. I wrote it in here, but it got deleted somehow and I don't want to rewrite it...
so if you are really really curious and want to know, I will try and make it up again and tell you.


// Actually, edit in here, I just watched this video clip, and I think it fits perfectly. At around 0:50-1:30; That's the gyst of what I had written that got deleted.

No words to pen.

I do not wish to brag. That is not the goal. Lately I have been thinking of everything God has allowed me to do, and all of the opportunities He has given me; and I am AMAZED!
I feel so blessed, and undeserving. If God has allowed me to do everything that I have, in my life thus so far, and more particularly, in the last five years, I cannot even begin to guess at what is to come! I thank you Lord. No one loves me like you. No one loves me the way you do. No one loves me like you. No one loves me the way you do. (Jars of Clay)
You know, I"m just going to post the lyrics to that song actually.

Collapsing was much softer
Still falling always hurt
Only after sensing your love
For always ever burned

You justified my folly
My affluent disguise
Removed revealing nothing
Yet nothing unforgiven lies
Unforgiven lies

No one loves me like you
No one loves me the way you do
No one loves me like you
No one loves me the way, the way that you do

To touch the rose unfearful
Is to meet the thorn
And pierce the heart's emotion
And feel the emptiness no more
Emptiness no more

Took some time to realize I've fallen


With that in mind, I feel ever so much blessed and loved. I think this is the reason I have not posted in awhile. When I have the inspiration to write, I am too overwhelmed with His love that I simply have no words to pen.

// I tried to write a list of things I am thankful to God for giving me the opportunity, but I had to stop and erase it. I really can't write a list as such. It would never end!

I love. No specifics, just that. I love.

*Sigh.*
I wanted to write in my blog about three hours ago, but then I decided to start working on my outreach slideshow instead. Right now I'm deliberating over whether to write or not. I know if I choose to write I'll be up for at least another hour, and I wanted to be in bed an hour ago...

Alas. Guess what I chose.
I suppose one of the things that comes with loving people, is losing people. Everyone has lost someone. And losing someone doesn't even have to mean a heartbreak, or death, or a big fight or something. For me, I feel like I've lost so many people dear to my heart simply because they live thousands of miles away! Even those people I only knew for a week and we couldn't even speak the same language and could barely understand each other. Why is it that sometimes these people touch us the most? As consolation, even though it doesn't really make me feel better now, I can't wait to embrace these people once again in heaven! Which reminds me, and I'm going to remind you, Pray for those people who do not yet know Christ as their savior!! You're doing them and yourself a favor! Really actually, you would be doing the worst for them if you didn't. Whoa, kinda side-tracked there; Hopefully I didn't guilt trip you, because I don't like it when I feel that way, I just wanted to encourage you. :)
Ahh once again I lost what my point was going to be...
Meh, Oh well. On another note, I decided what I will be doing next fall! School, College, University, whatever it is you call it. I know this is the right choice, and I'm so happy that I know that! And I know it won't always be easy, but it's the thing I'm supposed to do and won't regret!
I've been looking through pictures of DTS and outreach so very much today, and I want to share one with you. I'm not really sure why this picture is the one, but it is. This is a little girl from the Street Kids Camp in Russia. I'm so bad with remembering all of the names from outreach :(

Do you crave sugar?

LOL.
This is kind of interesting. Has nothing to do with anything. Thanks Yahoo!

http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/PVN/10-tactics-for-overcoming-sugar-addiction

My drug of choice.

I'm going crazy. It's 1:40 in the morning and I'm starting this. I know I will regret it when the beep beep beeping of my alarm goes off in less than five hours, but at this point, writing is my only hope.
My mind feels like a racehorse right now. A racehorse on crack.
I made the mistake(unknowingly) of thinking about outreach and the people I met and the relationships I built and the feelings I have towards the people I met; good feelings, just to clarify. I began to think of all of the amazing things that God did over DTS; which got me thinking on how to tell the stories when I have people over, or when I share in chapel. And that did it. My mind won't stop going, and going, and going. Like a stupid energizer bunny. It goes from one amazing thing to the next. It goes from one story to another. It goes from one person I met, to another impacting relationship. I've lost hope of actually going to sleep anytime soon. In fact, if I let my mind just keep going while I continue to lie in bed in hopes of falling asleep, I fear it will be like putting wood on a fire, and just make it worse. So here I am. Trying to distract myself.

While I was at the mall today, I realized my drug in life. This is going to sound strange and possibly slighly creepy. My drug of choice is people. I love people. I love people watching. I love everthing about a person. I love short people and I love tall people. I love people with dark skin and I love people with light skin. I love people who are confident in themselves, and I love people who are insecure. I love people who speak English, and I love people who don't speak a lick of it. There is something about me I'm not quite sure how to describe that just indefinately loves people! I wish I could know everything about a person, their story. The girl that passes me in the store. The older man who looks fragile. The kid who looks like he knows far too much beyond his years. Even the little children who do not yet have stories, I want to know what their stories will be one day. I love people.
I know that my love for people is a gift from God. Sometimes, I think this love is overwhelming; but mostly, I believe that many people in this world do not know how to receive love, because they know not who or what True Love is. This is one of the things that saddens me the most. I want to help people understand True Love.
In short for example, the following video. Or rather, its a long one...


There is so much I wish to do for people, I don't even have a clue where to start. I guess it all begins with everyday living, and the relationships I have built and am building. But still, I desire to do something more drastic! I am rarely satisfied it seems...
To quote Natasha Bedingfield in her song "If You're Gonna Jump" (which, I want to write a whole other blog entry on some of her songs...),

"I got a short attention span
Can't sit around couch potato land
I wanna do all kinds of stuff
Talking about it's not enough
I wanna go to the extreme
I wanna stretch my limousine
I wanna take it way off road
Go where I'm not supposed to go"

Basically, she's says how I feel in those lyrics. Especially: "...I want to do all kinda of stuff, Talking about is not enough. I want to go to the extreme..."

Ya dig?

Typewriter tattoo.

I'm really bummed because I want to stay up and write tonight, but I have to report to jury duty at 8 in the morning. I have so much I would like to write here, and in my personal journals (yes, more than one, because I have journals for different things lol). I wish I would remember to set aside like two hours each night to write before the desired time to be in bed. I now better understand Danielle's typewriter tattoo...

I'm reading a book.

Yay for books! I love reading real books, or books about real things, however they are labeled, because they always inspire me. And I love quotes, and I often get alot of them from books.
Well first off, I wanted to share something that was in the book simply because I think it's funny. The author of the books is Janet L. Folger; I'm not going to say the title of the book, because it's kind of cheesy, and well, slightly embarrassing. I know I know, that's not 'proper citation' without the title, but hey, I'll even throw in the page number! It's number nine.
Here's the line from the book:
"[My friend Andy] asked a girl to meet him at a bookstore for their first date, and while she was waiting she bought I Kissed Dating Goodbye. He never saw her again. ... Maybe next time he'll show up on time."

Now onto something completely different. I'm not sure how to get this all down and flow together and make sense (maybe because its two in the morning), but it makes sense in my head.
First off, I'll be honest, for awhile there since being home I didn't keep up my regular quiet time. And really, I quite rather forgot about it for awhile. I'm really bad with that, when I move places (i.e., back home), my habits don't go with me or something. I want to thank my friend Stewart for asking me about it when we were talking online, because I really had forgotten about it and he reminded me, and I was like, "Oh yeah, that's what I've been missing!" Life just seems to flow better when you have time with God.
Also, another honest moment. Coming back home is extremely hard! Now I can't remember where I was going with this....
Oh yeah! It's like, I was doing all of this stuff, and then I come back home and it seems like life just STOPPED. Even though I have some direction as to what I'm going to be doing here, I felt like I had none. I felt like I'm just wasting time here. And I'm not saying that those feelings have completely left yet. It's difficult! But spending that time with God really has helped to inspire and encourage me for the ministry I have felt called to be doing here. (Pregnancy Care Center) But there is one passage of scripture that I God keeps reminding me of. I seem to be reading it everywhere! And let me tell you, it is so encouraging. Even my sponsor child wrote this verse in a letter she sent me!
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Every time I come across this verse lately, it's like a billboard sign to me. At this point in my life (and as you can read in my previous post), I'm not exactly sure of even what I will be doing a year from now. It's hard not knowing or having solidified plans! But I know that if I follow God's leading, everything will be alright. It will work itself out somehow. God knows the plans He has for me. Not only does he have PLANS for ME, but He KNOWS them! And they aren't just plans for my future, but plans to PROSPER me (Prosper; to flourish or thrive. to be successful), plans to not harm me, plans to give me HOPE and a future!. I don't know my future, but my future is in God's hands and His plans is to make it darn good!
And another verse. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that God causes everything to work out together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Another comfort, that if I know I'm following God's will, it'll all be OK! Even if in this world, people don't understand why I may not have set plans and I may seem irresponsible, truth is, I'm letting myself be open to God, and from what I know, I'm pretty sure that's gonna provide me with the best outcome!
And again, yet another verse. By the way, these verses (but not the commentary) were also compiled in the book I'm reading... I don't know if that really matters or not because they're originally from the Bible...
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Do you not feel utterly loved from reading that?! I know I do!
Let's break it down.

Definitions of praise (n)
1. worship: worship and thanks to God or a deity
2. express admiration for somebody or something: to express approval or admiration for somebody or something

Definitions of soul (n)
1. the complex of human attributes that manifests as consciousness, thought, feeling, and will, regarded as distinct from the physical body
2. feelings: a person's emotional and moral nature, where the most private thoughts and feelings are hidden
3. spirit surviving death: in some systems of religious belief, the spiritual part of a human being that is believed to continue to exist after the body dies.

So did you get that part? We worship God, express admiration for Him with our soul, where the most private thoughts and feelings are hidden, which we will be able to continue to worship God with in Heaven.

His benefits:
To forgive..
1. pardon somebody: to excuse somebody for a mistake, misunderstanding, wrongdoing, or inappropriate behavior
ALL our sins
1. transgression of theological principles: an act, thought, or way of behaving that goes against the law or teachings of a religion, especially when the person who commits it is aware of this
2. shameful offense: something that offends a moral or ethical principle
To redeem us from HELL
Definitions of redeem (vt)
1. make something acceptable: to make something acceptable or pleasant in spite of its negative qualities or aspects
2. restore reputation: to do something that changes a negative opinion to a positive one
3. atone for human sin: to pay for the sins of humanity with death on the Cross
He pardons us from our inappropriate behavior, our shameful offenses that we knowingly commit, and then He makes something acceptable and pleasant out of us despite our negative qualities. By dying a painful death on the cross.
He crowns us as if we were royalty with Love and Compassion.
He gives us unconditional love.
1. Compassion: sympathy for the suffering of others, often including a desire to help; kindheartedness.
He loves us no matter what we've done, and He wants to help us in every way that He can.
He satisfies our desires,
Definitions of desire (vt)
1. wish for something: to want something very strongly
3. request something: to wish for and request something
With good things
1. Good: of high quality: of a high quality or standard, either on an absolute scale or in relation to another or others
Not only does he want to satisfy our desires, but with good things; things of high quality!

I hope you feel as loved as I did from that passage!

This post took longer than I thought it would...

Two quotes.

Two random quotes I found and like.
Read.
Enjoy.


"Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking
together in the same direction."

- Antoine de Saint-Exupery


"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five
minutes longer."

- R.W. Emerson

Not very interesting to the common folk. Or any folk, most likely.

I don't have anything interesting to say, sadly.
I wanted this to be like an instantly exciting blog; it will just take some time.

This is what I feel like: gargle blarg apsldkafjpoce;p.
I want to go to college.
I want to go straight into missions.
I obviously can't do both at the same time.
Everytime I think I've decided what I want to do fall of 2011, the opposite idea pops into my head again and I'm left sitting there not having any idea which to do.

So tonight, I was researching YWAM minisitries and schools, and places in the world, etc. I decided that I really want to go on an around the world trip and visit so many places and see where feels right! But, I just got this feeling of PATIENCE, again. It's not the first time I've had this feeling from God. Along with that and the repetitive feeling that I need to go to college, I went to go fill out the application, finally. When I went to go find the application, I had the feeling that YES, this was right, for right now- because the thigns I'm going to study and learn at college are going to be vital to the rest of my life. So I was like, 'alright cool. I'll do it. I know that I want to study these things, and I know that if I don't go to college soon, I probably never will. (If I get involved with other things/ministries and have a hard time leaving, or the feeligns of being too old, whatever, etc.)" Another rant; one of THE biggest problems I have with committing to going to college is the number: 4 YEARS. I'm much of a forward thinker. When I'm doing one thing I've been looking forward to for forever, I'm not living much in the moment, but rather looking forward to what's next. My mind is always reeling with new ideas and new plans, and I have THE HARDEST time imagining myself 'locked down' to something for four years!! Especially when I love just doing things; and I want to go all over the world and do things for God!
Oh yeah, back to what I was saying.
So I get to the website, finally trying to commit, and do what I felt was right. I go to log in, and find out I already have log-in information because of the universal college application form things. I don't know if that makes any sense to you. But I cannot remember my username or password. I have them send an email to tell me what my username is, but the email account I've used to communicate with colleges, sign up for scholarships, etc has been 'deactivated because I haven't logged in in the last 4 months.' Well, Piss. I reactivate the account, but have lost all emails. So I get the message giving me my username, but now cannot for the life of me figure out what my password is. So, I also have them email me a temporary password so then I can reset it. But the temp password does nothing! It won't work for anything. So I get a second temp password. Still no luck. FRUSTRATION HAS HIT. I have no idea how I can ever again log in if this won't work! And I can't quite make another account because they need my first and last name, hence how they knew I already had an account when I DID try and make a new account- all to just start filling out a college application!!
So, here I was, trying to be responsible for once, and get something done that needs to be, and I got no where. Rather, I think I back-tracked.
And I still have no idea about next fall now.


"I throw my hands up in the air sometimes
Saying ay-oh, gotta let go."
Thank you Taio Cruz, you just made it in my blog.

So. Whatever. I think I'm gonna go have an ipod dance party.

And to finish off, a quote for the day:
"To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men." AW Tozer

Peace out girl scout. ♥

A Gaelic Blessing.

I just re-read a letter from my Compassion Child and this was in it. I've heard it before, but love it!

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

traditional gaelic blessing

Introduction. Dun dun dun.

Yay! So often have I wanted to create this blog, but never before now have I gotten around to it.
I have ideas of what this blog might look like, but no solid ground as to it being one thing and only one thing.
The reason for creating is because so very often I wish to just rant and rave, maybe show short glipses of my life as an open book, encourage people, and sometimes I wish to inspire others, the list probably goes on.
I feel like I'm just talking to myself right now, because really, that's what it kind of feels like when you're writing a blog for own desires...
or maybe its the tired-ness talking.
Whatever.

So basically, I'm really excited for this.

And probably the people who are going to visit this page the most are people who i feel stalk me on a regular basis (like my mother, and I could name others, but I won't), but I hope more than just those solid five will read on and enjoy as well.

For lack of something better to say
dot. dot. dot.

A quote I found last night that I enjoy (one of many...)

"More important than talent, strength, or knowledge is the ability to laugh at yourself and enjoy the pursuit of your dreams."
Amy Grant