The First Big Steps:Sacrifice - July 18, 2011

We always want something, whether it be a desire, a treasure, a passion, a want, a wish. Whatever you wish to call it, it is such and no one person is alone without at least one which drives them to do the many actions that build their lives. 

But is it possible that we can be so driven by these so called desires that we lose sight of what is most important and essential to our lives? Is it not possible that many become selfish, greedy, obsessed, or crazy over such "important" ideals and thoughts? I am not saying that it is wrong to have them, but to be careful as they could be another way to corrupt and manipulate us from the awesome and amazing life that God has promised us. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."-Luke 12:34 Instead of wanting something that takes away the ability to benefit others around you; why not give up that want and help to better the lives of others? Surely, that way you can be happier knowing that you probably benefited another's life who also had a wish that seemed impossible. Because our treasures are in heaven, and therefore our hearts should be there as well. 

My last blog post, if you read it, was rejoicing about how I finally confirmed that God finally answered my prayers in my life that I wanted so much. He gave me the best friend for life I had always wanted, the happiness that I had been searching years for, and the solace and peace that I struggled for knowing my friends weren't truly happy until a certain occurrence. 

With bringing it up I make this point, I took God answering my most wanted prayers for granted and thought I'd have even more answered. I didn't realize until a little while after that I was being turned into the sulky sinful person I struggled not to become yet again. I became selfish and started to lose sight of what was important. God gave me an opportunity to realize my wrongdoings, yet I didn't listen. It wasn't until yesterday when talking to my best bud's girlfriend that I had finally gotten a smack to the face and a reality check.

I spent a few hours last night battling it out with the dark thoughts that haunted me and crying out to God apologizing and asking for forgiveness of my sinful thinking and my selfish desires. Just as I was feeling myself at the pit of despair, I made a realization and finally perked up. Emily came over and surprised me and suddenly I lost all bad feelings I had before. God had come through the darkness and given me a light to look at in my struggle. Later that night, I had a changed perspective and talked it over with my best bud, but we never discussed what had sparked my dark thoughts in the first place and finally it seemed like everything in my life was returning to that remarkable happiness that God filled me with a little over a month ago. 

I woke up this morning groggy and tired from the dreams that haunted me as if I was still struggling. So I went for a run and spent that constructive hour and ten minutes to think over what I had learned and what would be the right thing to do. Then suddenly my heart tugged at me and I found myself speaking the words "Help him, God. Help him to have his desires fulfilled. If it is in your will God, I will do everything I can to help if he so wishes it. I sacrifice all I want for the benefit of helping him so that he can continue to enjoy his happiness." A silent prayer under my breath that was spontaneously spoken without any planning beforehand. And as I walked back listening to "Lucky" on my mp3 player I soon realized, that is truly what I wanted. I am to live out my first principle again: Sacrifice your wants and desires for the benefit of your loved ones. 

My faith has been held steady, I am strong and determined and courageous. No darkness can take me down; no shadow can extinguish the light of my life that is Jesus Christ. I am inspired by my burning heart that is ignited by the love and compassion and grace that is from God and Jesus. I care not for my life so long as I live out God's word and act as Jesus did. I want to be more like Jesus by helping others and that is my passion. I'd sacrifice the many things I want because I know God will create a better life for me along the way with the things He has promised me, my awesome best bud, my lovely girlfriend, and my amazing close friends who strengthen my faith everyday.  I am dead to sin, and Christ lives within me, and I shall do my best to help out my loved ones as much as my limits and God will allow. 

Thank you for reading, but keep in mind; sacrifice is just one step of many in continuing to follow God.

God Answers Prayers-July 4th, 2011

I'm long over due for a blog post! I've been inspired so many times, and yet I've forgotten to write. So here's something I felt the need to write that is also long overdue.


About a little more than two weeks ago, on one particular Wednesday, it was one that would change my life in something for the better. On that faithful day after Epic, I had to be understanding when it came to James not coming to church. I had just met this girl named Abby, who he seemed to really be fond of, and I barely knew anything about her, but strangely enough, she seemed really trustworthy even though I had only known her for a couple of days. So throughout our routinely night conversation on Wednesdays he was texting Abby and I was trying to be understanding and in the end I was getting happier by the second; even though originally I had been mad at James.

And then James pulls the ultimate card on me and says "Clark, I really like her. And you're my best friend, and I need your support on this. You're the only one who knows right now, and I must know what you think of her." My first thought was, "Wait a minute, he just called me his best friend. The very honor I've bestowed upon him and never got in return; until now. This girl, I mean Abby, must have really changed him somehow. Could it be that God has finally answered my prayers?" And then I looked into James eyes and said "I'm really your best friend? But you told me you'll never have any. When did you decide on this?" And he replied with a goofy smile on his face, "Well, I've always thought you were a good friend, but Abby convinced me about how much of a true friend you are to me. So now, you're my best friend." "You know, I think I'm really going to like this Abby girl, I owe her one."  So we said our goodbyes and we both left with a huge smile on our face. I felt as if God was with me with each step I took until I got into my bedroom and decided to go to sleep early, but not before I prayed to God and thanked him for how awesome it was the he finally answered my prayer.

I had been awaiting the answer to my prayer for many years, and it was that day it was finally answered. I haven't been any happier since the first time I met James and knew he was the one God destined me to be best buds with and since that day, it's been ultimately confirmed. But the happiness didn't stop there, my friends, now he had a girlfriend, and I had to make sure this girl was all the James had told me she was and still is to this day.

A few days later, Abby and I had begun talking a little each day since we were practically forced to meet each other. As the days passed, my acceptance of her became stronger and stronger. But then I started growing fond of her as well, but int he friendly sense. She was becoming a great person to talk to and because I trusted her so easily we talked about so many nice things, and so I decided, wow I have a new friend. The more I thought about it and seeing how happy Abby made James, it came to me in so many ways...I prayed that God keep giving me understanding and I concluded, Abby was someone that God had destined for James to meet in his life. The exact purpose, I'm not entirely sure, but I could tell another prayer was answered.

Let's not forget one more important detail in my life, Emily. I had began to be fond of Emily again and again and I was so afraid of breaking my word that I would never date her again and being heartbroken again. I prayed every night since last banquet for God to give me a sign. The fact that James kept pushing me to be with Emily was not the sign I was looking for; and then James started liking Abby. This was the sign I was looking for as Cody also got into a relationship. My two best friends who were done with dating and lived the single life philosophy found exceptions and gave in to their feelings of love. I decided to stop being so stubborn and did the same. That same Wednesday night I found out I'm James' best friend, I asked Emily as soon as we got out of Epic. I said the lyrics to Falling For You by Colbie Cailat, and she was completely dumbfounded, but then we embraced and James drove around the corner so I made a run for it and said bye, talk to you later! I'll never forget how she laughed and just kinda shoved it off.

So yes, now thanks to God, I'm now James's best friend, in a relationship with Emily, and made a new friend who is also James' girlfriend, Abby. Life is great and I'm enjoying all the happiness I receive everyday. Thank You God! Keep answering those prayers of my friends as I've no more to be fulfilled now. Now it's my turn to help my friends to be happy with their lives, and I'll gladly lay down my life to this cause.


Short blog post, dang, but it's still something, so I hope you enjoy the read! Thanks for reading, I hope to make more blog posts again!

Epic Sermon Notes: April 27, 2011-Loving & Caring

In life we care and have our priorities laid out before us in a fashion that's typical for us teenagers. There are things that, believe it or not, we really do believe we could care less about.

• Chores
• School
• Work
• "Nagging" parents
• And even God

The thing is, some of the most important things we don't care much are things we should in fact take into higher consideration. You say you could care less about school; whenever an education is required for practically most of every college and some kind of degree is required to obtain a standard job. You say you could do without your parents "nagging" you all the time; whenever they've lived longer and experienced more in twice the amount of time we have and they just wish to keep you safe and prevent you from going down a dark road with many consequences. You say you could care less about chores; whenever it gives you something productive to do and your benfiting the household's tidyness and your losing some of you laziness. You say you could care less about God; well I can't help you there. That's your decision, but if you're truly wanting to know what He can do for your life and you're willing; that I can lead you to find help with.

Sometimes we make big deals over the darndest things. Often what's important in our lives, most people don't care to even lend a helping hand or an ear to listen. You suffer and you feel alone and isolated and what do you do? Nothing, right? You probably do something, but you always have that bitterness, that scorn, that hatred, that sadness and depressed feeling that continues to haunt you no matter what you do. Can I just admit to you right now, you're not the only one. None of us are perfect, and we never will be. That's the beauty of being a human, but you don't have to do it alone.

It all starts with this: You wonder why you find it so hard to let go of all the sadness, the anger, the grudges, the betrayals. Think about it this way, we all know a person in our lives or around us who is rejected, exiled, bullied, or whatever term you wish to use to describe it.  We humans are sometimes really sick and twisted people. It's hard to accept, but it's the truth. The one that everyone gossips about, the one that does drugs or smokes and everyone knows, the one who was just created uniquely and is often rejected for somethign they can't control. That one person who stabbed you in the back, or the guy/girl who dumped you and left your heart in pieces that no one could pick up. What do you do?  

Luke 10:25-27- " On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26-"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27-"He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  (NIV)

One of the most greatest points made, and yet one of the hardest ones to keep alive and omnipresent. I always struggle with this, no matter how much I desperately wish to talk to that rejected kid or give someone I don't know a friendly greeting. My fear of awkwardness steers me in the other direction. It needs to stop. No matter if we accept it or not; we all have at one point in our lives talked bad about someone behind their back, hurt someone either purposely or unintentionally, given someone a compliment, and loved someone. We all have our quirks and knacks and histories. But we are all one through Christ and surely God does not show favor upon situations in which his children are always at each others' throats! Greet that rejected person, go out of your way to help stand up for someone you witness is being messed up and no one else is doing anything. Be an example to others by putting yourself and your schedule behind you and helping others in front or ahead of you. You have time, you honestly do, to help someone and possibly change their life. But ultimately, God changes the lives and mindsets of those we love and care about the most and the ones around us.

Bring your worry, your hate, your sadness to God. Restating, not at Him, but to Him. God really can change your life for the better if you just trust in and love Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. The Lord of our lives and the One who reigns above all else in the world. The God who loves us unconditionally no matter what we have done in the past or what we believe in. Love that is everlasting and never goes away, a God that never betrays or leaves us alone in the dust like "friends" can. It all starts with believing and trusting in Him, and putting other before yourself, and most of all,loving them. Please I encourage you to have a heart, and give a care. Lend an invitation to those who suffer every day of their lives and wonder if God really wants this for their lives when He truly doesn't wish it upon them. Lead people in the right direction, and be an example to those around by showing them how to lead others in the right direction.

Love them, don't convert them. Love them, and don't reject them. Love them, and don't spit back in anger. Love them, no matter what.

Thus concludes my notes from last night's sermon. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed sharing it. 

This is for you my blessed friends, and for the ones who we need to care about more often.

Easter and The Power of Miracles

Forgive my delaying of writing blogs for however long it has been since my last one. I've been very caught up in all this band business, but thankfully there's a short break now, and hopefully I can get back to blogging regularly again when inspiration strikes me. Let's start this thing off as so:

This past week and today have probably been part of one of the most life changing events in my life! So many positive things and so much happiness that has appeared as if out of nowhere and unexpectedly at the right time for my life. I had been praying to God over the Spring Trip in Missouri every single day for God to help me make my life a more exciting and better life to keep living, and when we came back, my prayers were answered.

The first thing that occurred was when I went to band rehearsal during my first half of the day at school, and my band director had decided to play us a new piece that she had in mind for the famous spring concert. The name of the piece, The Hounds of Spring by Alfred Reed, and no doubt the first time I heard it, I felt this immense feeling of happiness well up inside me. This sort of warm, cozy feeling that gave you the feeling of the weather on a perfect spring day, and I knew then this would be my new favorite piece. A week later and here I am, technique and playing down and ready to move on to something better, but still a huge fan of the piece. God definitely was sending me a message that day to be more positive, and possibly more "springy" in my life without any need for awkward feelings or suspicions or even worry. Little did I know about this message until later in the week.

Then came Wednesday. I wasn't expecting anything momentous to happen or take place that day really; I recall being bored and wanting some kind of energized boost and a desperate want for God that kept persisting in my thoughts the entire day until school was done. Once school got out and I went to my best bud's house like the usual Wednesday, something changed about me that I'll never forget. I felt this heaviness drop itself on me, I felt loneliness settle in my heart and start ripping it apart, and soon dark thoughts started to prevail in my mind. It wasn't long before my best bud's mom started taking notice and tried to help, and soon enough my best bud realized it too at the dinner table when I didn't say a word. "Despondent" he called it. And it was true, I felt so heavy and depressed and it was because of some dumb reason I only half remember now. I walked to church earlier than usual because for one, it was part of my duties as part of the leadership team, and second, I felt I needed to get out before I really did something I would regret (not that I had any intentions to act on these thoughts).

I went on with my day and craved for something good to happen, I begged God to take the darkness away from my heart and to help me make amends with my friend. I went inside the church, almost dropping everything at the entrance and putting on a fake smile in the lighter environment that slowly started seeping its way into my heart. I kept not responding to my best bud at the beginning of service; not because I was mad at him, but that I was afraid of saying something to only make matters worse. I sat down in a different row as there was no room for me to sit on his. Then came the unexpected event that changed my night.

An old friend of mine whom I had never really spoken to very often sat down next to me, and I almost jumped in my seat. I was told he missed that day of school because his great grandparents passed away and he was at the funeral. Somehow, my heart lifted and the first thought that came to my mind was, drop everything that happened earlier today and be there for this friend. My mind was set on changing my thoughts toward a more positive outlook in order to help the grieving process of my friend. When the time for worship came, I felt little affect me, but I did feel God's presence around me as if He were waiting for me to take notice and do something different than the usual. We sat back down, and my friend started talking to me while the sermon was going on. He started talking about his great grandparents and their deaths, and even showed me a picture of them. I wanted to cry and give him a comforting hug that would be fully intended to help him because I saw the hurt in his face and I knew the reason he came to church, to ease the pain.

The sermon gripped my attention that night. If there was one thing in my life that I needed to let go of the most, it was my thoughts about my friendships and all the worries in my life associated with them, and how I depend on my friends so much. The sermon was about putting God first in our lives, and although I had heard the sermon preached many times with different words and scriptures, this one had the greatest impact on me. It was because that night my mind had been so preoccupied with my bond I had with my best friend, and it was something I had always worried about ever since we became best buds. But I felt God put His hand on my shoulder and saying, "let go of Him. Do not worry any longer; I will keep your friendship alive". At that moment, I opened my closed hand in the air and I felt the heaviness disappear instantly and all the worries associated with it. I tried to think of one negative thought about my best friend and I, and my mind wouldn't allow it, only the good prevailed! That was when I felt the presence of God once again comforting me and my sudden realization that God really can perform miracles for anybody.

I later talked to my best bud that night with the biggest smile on my face I hadn't had since we were first friends. I could tell he realized it as well because soon it became contagious and he too began smiling like a total goofball. I said nothing that night that had any bad meaning or ill intentions. Just these words, "You're still my best friend, and I love you." And with that he seemed to beam with happiness and we did our handshake and said our goodnight farewells. I walked to the door with a kick in my step and a light in my heart, convinced that this night would mark one of the most pivotal changing points in my life.

The day after, my old friend I sat beside at church the day before messaged me on Facebook. It was totally unexpected, but I knew the reason behind him contacting me. Why me, I had no idea. He started pouring out his heart and thoughts to me, risking all he had left to lose. I took it upon myself to start talking to him about how much God loves Him and his great grandparents that passed away and that they will be happier living with God. My friend started opening up a little more, and I felt more words coming from my mouth that I didn't even realize I was speaking, but he soon told me it was as if he was hearing the words from God himself. Soon enough after a long encouraging discussion, my friend's attitude on faith and our friendship had drastically changed for the better. He soon realized how awesome God really is and how thankful he was to have friends that could support him. I felt so much joy out of helping him that night, and it gave me newfound confidence in my abilities to help people through God and also more assurance for God's calling in my life. I also gained a new friend somewhat, and I'm glad God continues to help me and my friends find new opportunities.

The week passed by quickly afterwards and nothing exciting really seemed to occur other than that my happiness was still beaming. Then after school on Friday, my distant friend in Arkansas had told me about his miracle that he had experienced. Apparently, he couldn't go on his band's trip to Florida because unfortunately he couldn't pay for it. I knew he had really wanted to go, and I felt that he should, so I had been praying for something to happen for quite a while. He told me that his band directors had told him that they wanted him to go on the trip, so he gets to go for free. Imagine! How often does this occur for high school band students? Extremely rare, as far as I know! I could feel the joyous presence of his voice emanating from the texts he kept sending in his ecstatic state. I felt like jumping for joy as well because it seemed as if miracle after miracle kept coming along and God was having a field day in not just my life, but my friends as well!

Easter Sunday. My life felt great and I immediately felt something I hadn't experienced in the Easters of the past 16 years of my life. God was there every step I took, and I knew today would be a great one. Now one comment before I go on, my dad's church is not exactly my idea of a great place to have church service but honestly you can't blame them for the surrounding ambiance of crappy high school auditorium. I didn't feel very moved when singing, but the sermon did open my eyes for me. John 19-20. Both chapters needing the other to provide us with the story behind Easter and the two chapters that really flipped my day upside down, in a good way. I was reminded of the suffering Jesus endured and my heart kept getting pulled and pinched by the compassion I felt for my Lord. Yet at the mention of His resurrection, I felt like jumping out of my seat and rejoicing the good name of the Lord for all to hear. Amen, and glory and thanks be to God and the king of all kings! For my week had been a miracle stacked upon each other every day and I knew that if it weren't for Christ I wouldn't be living such a wonderful life. I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of my today with one ending thought: Thank You God, and Thank You Jesus for dying for me and taking away my sin and now I will continue to love and worship you just as you love me.

And what do I do next now that my life has gotten so much better? I have given it much thought during the week, and I came upon this decision when reflecting back on the situations that used to be problems but were now resolved thanks to God. Now that my life has become better and I'm happier than I've been in a while, it's now someone else's turn. It's never about me, and it never was. It's about God and doing His work by sharing His love and compassion for those who are suffering that are closest to my life so that they too may experience God like I do now. God, the one who can change the lives of millions and millions on top of a million times a million people at the instant they start truly believing and trusting Him with their lives. Christ has risen indeed and He is proof of God's amazing miracles and God's awesome. For no one is greater than He. Praise be to You, God!

Thank you for reading this. God bless all of you.

Marching, Worship, and Friends

I woke up this morning and the first thought that came to my mind was, I need to find some way to be connected with God today before I do anything else. I said my morning prayers and I decided to spend most of my morning listen to worship music and I even started singing without even considering how much my throat was hurting. I didn't care, I felt so down, I needed God, and I just kept singing. Next thing you know, I'm near tears because of how much of God's love I felt right there sitting on my bed.

I'll be honest, today wasn't really my best day, but I did love it in more ways than one. Every day, I still carry the heavy burden of my friends and the situations in their lives. I love them so much, and I don't wish anything bad upon them. I really do miss talking to them like we used to, especially my best bud. But there's nothing I can do, I just have to be patient and trust in God to help them. But I'm continually grateful for all the friends who have been there to listen and help me while the rest have been busy with other things. I can't explain this overwhelming desire I have, begging God to help them, and I wish to help as well. As selflessness being a core value of my life, I try to make the most of it.

We marched at band orientation today, and I felt so great getting back to marching. I missed the feeling, and I surely will when I march the new show for the last time. When we were listening to the new show, the ballad tipped me off. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but something was definitely tugging at my heart and I almost started crying. The images of the past seniors who had already graduated spanning back from my freshman year, it all came flooding back and rushing through my mind. The music kept playing and I started feeling extremely uncomfortable, as if I was being faced with an old fear and new realization which had been haunting me for years. It's our turn now, and I'm going to be a senior. I said to myself in my head, I have to give it my all this next year; I'm going to leave my mark on this marching band's history. Next thing you know, we're playing the music and of course being the lacking sightreader I am, I fumbled through sometimes, but eventually got it around the third time through.

Yet when I looked over at one of my close senior friends, who is graduating this year, I felt this wave of sadness rush over me when she asked if I was okay. The depressing truth suddenly gripped me and shook me by the shoulders. She's leaving...And soon I'll almost have no friends to talk to and have interesting conversations with about our lives and how we are. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and ask her to not leave me. But that wouldn't have fixed anything; only make the situation worse. She is one of the few people who made an effort to always brighten my day, and I love her for that. One of my greatest friends in my life by far, and I am truly grateful to be blessed with such a friend. Thank you, if you're reading this, you know who you are.

I realized after today's orientation. I'm going to be a senior next year, and now I'm starting to feel the melancholy feelings that all seniors seem to describe. I didn't want to be around anyone that made me feel worse, but it seemed every time I pushed away, God kept putting key acquaintances and friends in my way to keep me facing my fear. Then I realize, with each passing day, I get closer to leaving my hometown and beginning to accomplish my calling for my life by helping others with God's word. I may not be ready yet, but I have a whole year to prepare myself for what I'm to experience all throughout next year.

God, I'm so tired of giving into this depression but often going back to You and loving You for Your amazing love. I don't want this hurt and worry that I'm soon to deal with. But I don't want to give up on Your plan for my life. Please, help me achieve a more optimistic and selfless mindset so that I may help others before helping myself. It's never about me, God, and you know the strong passion I have to help those in need of Your love. I hope to one day accomplish my goal of finally being able to worship you fully and trust in you completely, starting now. Change me God, and change the dark feelings of my heart. Break me and make me new. I need You, and my friends need You.

Thank you for reading this. "Above all, love each other deeply, for love covers a multitude of sins."-1 Peter 4:8. Love you guys.

New Tasks and Trials

Oh my goodness, has this been an eye opening week for me! Of course, counting Sunday as part of the past week, it has indeed been a constant push and pull on my faith and life's greatest joys. To my understanding there are some new things in my life that I'm being called to act upon and I hope I can get through this slump with God's awesome blessings. However, how do you know when you're being called to do something new and different? Perhaps I can help you out with that, or maybe I can't. It all depends on what you think, so read on if you like.

First off, I had been thinking deeply ever since last Wednesday. The worship night that quite literally ended with a bang, in a cymbal crash sense. But also a figurative sense, my heart's desires and my life's principles had been tested that night and I could feel my heart being crushed in evil's grip. Dramatic? Probably. But just to express the darkness of the situation. There are still some images of that night that continue to burn through my mind, and I'm tempted to become depressed every time they flash through my thoughts. I lost so much of my life's joy that night, as well as gaining some great qualities needed for my life. I do know this however: God answered a prayer of mine that I desperately asked for and it is usually one of the hardest things to accomplish on one's own. I almost made a rash decision that night. Just like the night so long ago, when my best bud was the only one who told me to stop because God had better plans for my life. I bawled out in front of my house, sitting on the grass with the burning desire to run away because I had been hurt so badly. God stopped me, I rediscussed things with my best bud, and all seemed fine. I still felt empty, but at least my life was saved again.

What does this have to do with the title, you ask? "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance."-James 1:2-3. I encountered one of the toughest tests of my life that night, and now I am learning how to deal with life's problems without having to depend on my friends all the time. Perhaps you've been stuck on something that happened so long ago and it hurt and burdened you so much throughout your life even if all is forgiven. You're scarred by the horrible event and your depression is an effect of that cause. God can show you what you're meant for as long as you're willing to trust in Him to show you what the first step is to take. Let's continue on the progress of the situation.

For the first time in my life, I felt like not speaking with my best bud for a while. I had the idea to purposely avoid the guy for the next two weeks, but something stopped me. The guy was hurting, and I still had to be there for him, even if he didn't want my help. I wished him a nice farewell for the weekend, and for a while, my mind had been blank. The worries of my life had disappeared as well as the joys of my life. It was like a new slate had been created in my mind; and the first thought that came to my mind when I left for Dallas during that Friday, "I wonder what God has planned for me next." I sat in the car and read my new book I had been recommended, and I enjoyed the time I spent in Dallas for the weekend as well as leaving the weight of Frisco behind.

I came back earlier today and I went to church with a hopeful and excited mindset. The message was basically saying how Jesus healed anyone and everyone no matter what their past was, what they've accomplished, and those with enough faith to believe in Jesus' miracles. It was about how every child has learned that if we don't win, we're not entitled to anything that the "winners" at life obtain. I was strongly impacted and inspired by this message today, and suddenly I felt the desire to help others who needed healing. This desire faded with time throughout the day as that wednesday night came across my mind again. I was shocked about it coming back! But then a new thought came to my mind saying, "Don't be afraid of it. Embrace it and learn from it." I went back in my mind and studied the differences of today compared to every Sunday. My best bud hadn't spoken a word to me at all this weekend. I sat behind him in church and he didn't even speak a greeting. I didn't go to his house and have lunch like I normally did, and my former girlfriend gave me a ride home. What did I interpret from all of this? A new task given to me by God's way of speaking to me. But that's for another time.

Right now, God may be calling you to do something you're not normally accustomed to, and even the oddest thoughts that flash through your mind may be a way of Him telling you what he wishes you to do. Perhaps you're doing something you're not normally used to doing. Your schedule suddenly becomes less of a routine and you take time to realize the real purpose behind the day. I found my new task just because God gave me the time to separate from all the things that burdened me. I realized it today, and now I know what my next step is. Sorry for being vague, but once again the story's for another time.

Take time to trace your unusual steps and you'll probably come to a conclusion about your next step in your life. Hopefully, you find the next step forward in God's path for your life to greatness and blessing.

Thank you.

Helping Others and Being Judgmental

Hey everyone, it's been a huge span of time between the last blog post I've made and the one I'm currently writing right now. Sorry about that, I've been real distracted lately and I've had other problems to deal with, but they should hopefully soon resolve back to normal. Either way, I'm going to try and enjoy my life with God, one step at a time.

It's real tough carrying the burden of your closest friends as well as keeping the weight of dark secrets they entrust you not to tell anyone. Under no circumstances have I honestly told anyone things I wasn't allowed to tell. But I find myself listening to the problems of my closest friends and other aquaintances and I enjoy helping them get stuff off their chest. Given I might have to deal with all the sadness and depression afterwards, it gives me great joy to be the great listener I am and carry that sadness and hurt and pain away from those who tell me their situation. In return, I don't tell a living soul about what I've been told, and I often pray for those who need it, or believe they don't. I always worry for people I know in my life that haven't accepted Christ as their Savior. I know God will show them the way one day, and that gives me hope to look forward to a better future. I always try to be as selfless as I can with my friends. If they don't wish to tell me what's wrong and I feel so desperate to help them, I have to respect their wishes and just have faith in God. All of this and carrying the burden of all the pain and sorrow; it can get to be a real tough damper on my life. I'd be lying if I said I've never let the sadness win at times, but I'd also be lying if I said it controlled my entire life.

It seems like the beginning of last month these two verses have been something to reflect on when in doubt of anything. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and He will make your paths straight."-Proverbs 3:5-6 Basically, this is saying that no matter the circumstance or the depression or hurt your going through in your life, trust in God and He will surely take care of whatever is bothering you. Quickly? Not necessarily, and not always, but given enough time, things will change for the better. These past two weeks I've been begging God to help so many people and myself as well. He's improved some situations dramatically and in other situations, I must continue to be patient for my other friends must also resort to God for their problems. This is all I can do unfortunately, and even if I don't like it, it's the honest truth. This is for you, my depressed and exasperated friends. I will keep praying for you no matter what happens.

There have been times where I have not helped others out because I have either had something against them, I strongly disliked them, or I just wasn't willing to help those who had been strongly rejected by society. How rude and incosiderate I have been! I promote the idea of loving and giving compassion to everyone whom I meet and I go and be a hypocrite behind other's backs. How can I expect to be helpful to everyone who needs God in their lives when I wasn't willing to give everybody a fair chance at leading them on the right path? There's no excuse for my rude behavior in the past and there's no excuse for anything that I hold against people. The point in case is to not be judgmental about people even through their usual mannerisms and behaviors. "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."-Matthew 7:2

If in fact we deny people the right to become right with God or deny people the right to be on good terms with one another based on our first impressions or ridiculous rumours that aren't true, we ourselves are not acting like Jesus did. Jesus would not have cast off one of his friends for lying to him about one thing sparked by a simple misunderstanding. Jesus would not shun the people who are rejects of society or not forgive those who have committed sins beyond our comprehension. Jesus would not have spread rumours about somebody behind their back just to act cool and make a false name for Himself. No, Jesus cared for everyone. Whether it was his closest friends or even the lowliest people regarded as "trash of soceity", he didn't mind and he treated them all with compassion and forgivness. And because of our human qualities, it's understandable that this is one of the most difficult things to achieve in one's lifetime. I do strive to be less judgmental even though it's been ingrained into my brain for years of my childhood. The past and what we have learned that makes up our personalities and identities during the years of our maturation can have the deepest impact of our entire lives. Please don't push someone to do something rash and unnecessary as you'll learn to regret it. Nobody wins in that type of situation. For all those who just need someone to talk to or an ear to have for somebody to listen, I'll be here. Whether you like me or not, the offer's always here, and if I shrug you off unintentionally, remind me of what I said today. 

Strive to be more like Jesus. Make yourself selfless and help others before helping yourself. Trust in God to take care of your life and he will provide for you. I'm just the messenger, and God's the one to take all the credit. I encourage everyone to pray and thank God for all the wonderful blessings He's put in our lives to make them more convienient. Without all the wonderful blessings we have, who knows where we would be right now. There is always someone doing worse than you out there, so pray for them. God will help you if you just have faith!

Thank you for reading this, and good night!

Hard Work and Labor: Rewarding

There will continue to be and always be people who complain about how hard it is to achieve something they want most in their lives. Of course, if we didn't want to achieve it with such driving motion, or we're just too lazy and not used to working so hard, it will take more than just a determined mindset. For those where hard work and labor is a natural routine in their daily lives, well they might just be one step ahead. I, for certain, am not one of those people. Yet here we wonder, what do we receive from all the effort and dedication we put into our causes we pour so much of our life into?

You may be wondering, "All I get is a thanks; anything beyond that is just an added bonus." Truly I say to you, perhaps you don't realize the other good that your actions might have caused. There will be situations where people help others and while they feel nothing in return, they get praise and good feelings in return of their selflessness. It's okay to sometimes feel nothing. This doesn't mean that you're a heartless, soulless person. Some people would claim that they do all this hard work, and soon after they fail to realize the long term benefits of their actions, (guilty). I know I';m being ambiguous when making this statement, but I'm referring to all the ways of which hard work could be referred to in a situations that calls for it.

Hard work could go anywhere from promoting a new cause that has yet to be discovered by the mass news media to, in some teenagers' opinions, washing the dishes or doing laundry. It is all interpreted differently and depends on the mind of the individual who is doing the work. However, if you don't feel any satisfaction or notice any changes in your surroundings, you're probably not working hard enough. God will surely reward those who prove to be working hard for what they believe in. For those who are naturally hardworking and expect little in return, this does not pertain to your group.

But this does: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."-Matthew 11:28. I must say I was inspired by this lesson when I heard this verse come up at last week's Sunday services. Often times, it is not the hard work that plagues us so much as the worry that controls our hearts. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, who can understand it?"-Jeremiah 17:9 I know I am guilty of this as well. I find myself worrying about every single thing in my life, and honestly that's one of the worst things to do when trusting God with your life's path. Worry, fear, depression, they all come from the same heart that produces contentment, compassion, and generosity. This is why I'm not too big a fan of the phrase, "trust in your heart" as sometimes it can't always lead to a great feeling. Trust in your heart sometimes, but trust in God more and let him take all your worry and tiredness so that you may be given rest.

You may not feel or notice the glorious effects of doing God's work, and if that's the case, you're probably not trusting in him enough. Furthermore, you perhaps put a smile on someone's face, and that is probably God's way of saying how happy He is to see you working hard to serve Him. God speaks to us in different ways and often the ways that would seem most familiar with us, so don't just try to ignore everything around you when you're not feeling so great from the laboring.

My close (but distant) friend had told me earlier today he had been working on yard work all of his Spring Break. You may be thinking, "Why do work? It's Spring Break!" But he said he enjoyed it and I would have to agree with him. I'd rather be working on something than just sitting at home all day doing absolutely nothing productive. Using my friend as an example though, he didn't complain like most people would either in their minds or out loud to others around them they trust. Be chary of your thoughts and the feelings of your heart, and maybe, just maybe, you'll start to see things through a different perspective for the better. Always trust in God with all of your heart for He will extinguish the evilness in our hearts and replace it with comfort and joy.

This post was kind of written in a half asleep stupor. If you read it all and like it, thanks.

Respecting Others

Short note this time, but only because I held it off until this late time. How foolish of me, but I couldn't find a topic to write about until now. First off though, some good news. My best bud and I got along perfectly today, and I felt the grace of God smiling upon us as we said our farewells after school. I prayed so hard and so did my other close friends, and I'm hoping it wasn't an act of hiding behind happiness, but just in case, I will keep praying for him. Now, on to the topic for today's post. Respecting others.

I have heard talk of this Rebecca Black girl even from about a week ago. People have claimed her hit single "Friday" is the 'worst song to have ever been made', so I decided to check it out. My first reaction was that of confusion and annoyance. But as I kept listening to it, (yes, I continued to listen to it), I found myself feeling sorry for this girl. She was making this song and well, she seemed like she was putting forth some really good effort. It was then that I watched the Good Morning America segment of Rebecca Black's song submitting her to tons of cyber bullying and horrible, inappropriate comments posted on her video. What people don't realize is that Rebecca Black, artist or not, is still a normal human being just like us and she was fortunate enough to become well known by many people. And for that reason, we should at least recognize that while we might not like her song, that does not mean we should slander her name or cast degrading remarks as we would behind the backs of those we also don't like.

This bringing me to this reference: "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same."-Luke 6:32-33  In a sense, have respect for those who you dislike. The Golden Rule applies here extensively well! Treat others as you would unto yourself. While we may never meet some people we dislike in person, be respectful of their efforts. Those we do meet in person who are our enemies, treat them with compassion. They might still treat you the same, but would you rather prefer to argue with your enemy or walk away knowing you probably confused them with your loving care? "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."-Luke 6:27-28. You will surely see the difference in your efforts to treat them with kindness you never believed you could exhibit.


I pray God forgives me for all the things I've ever said behind people's backs of those who I dislike. I too, have sinned and done this awful act of speaking out of anger or frustration with my evil tongue. I also pray God forgives everyone else who is repentant of talking with a loose mouth. People can seriously be affected by this and major damage can be done to their lives. You have no idea how much you can help someone by just a bit of kindness being given to them in their time of need. If not, pray for them. Yes, I know what I'm saying. Pray for them, as Jesus stated in Luke 6:28. A prayer can go a long way when you truly trust in God and His awesome power to perform miracles on others in our lives.


That is the end of my rant/ lesson of the day. Thank you for reading this note as sporadic as it seemed to be.

Selflessness and God's Everlasting Love

Today consisted of mustering up the courage to finally get to conversing with my best bud again today. I wrote him a note wishing him the best as I knew he had been going through a tough time beforehand. Church came, and I was instantly changed. I felt God telling me to do something different tonight and to not just do the same thing I do every Epic service. I did try something new, I worshiped him, and I enjoyed it. I listened to my youth pastor as he gave me new knowledge on how to truly worship God. How my mind's been changed by God!

But alas, soon after church, I learn one thing for the worst. When my best bud and I did our usual talk we do every Wednesday night, something was extremely different tonight. Most of the time, it's the only time we ever get to talk, and I try to make the most out of that time we share. But tonight when I looked into his eyes, this deep feeling like being stabbed in the heart by a steel blade tried to take hold of me, and my legs started shaking horribly. I could actually feel the hurt and suffering my best bud was experiencing, and I felt this overwhelming desire to help him and comfort and pray for him.

He denied my help again and again, but I kept trying every time he tried to shove me away and move on. He could've walked away to his car, but he listened and I was determined to keep trying. He insisted on toughing it out alone and having a strong tough resistance to help. I felt God pulling on my heart telling me, "Go. Embrace him right now. He needs comfort and I know how deeply you care for him and how much he means to you. Grab hold of his shoulders and I will help him." It kept growing stronger and stronger and I almost did, but I made the decision not to go through with it. How I regret it. We said our farewells and I felt the need to hold on just a little longer and not let go. But even as our farewell slowed more and more I felt my heart break and I started bawling as he drove off. I sat down in the grass and I cried out to God, tears coming to my eyes,  begging for Him to help my best bud because of how desperate I felt. I know God listened because I kept praying so hard and I knew He was listening. Even now as I write this, I still feel the hurt and suffering course through my body as if they were my own burden and feeling. Oh God, help him.

I recalled this verse when thinking of which verse to lead my day toward a better day; before this event occurred. "Trust in God with all your heart; do not lean on your own understanding."-Proverbs 3:5. God's everlasting love for us is something we can never comprehend and He loves us too much to let us suffer for long. Sometimes we must be patient and trust in God with all our heart and every fiber of our being and our soul. This verse still applies to me as I still feel my desperate need to help my friend. While I still have the determination to help him, all I can do is trust in God and wait for Him to take care of my beloved best bud.

I realize this entire post is all about my best bud and how much I wish to help him through this suffering. It's the main thought on my mind right now, and to my understanding a blog is to help voice your thoughts. All I can think right now is God be with him and help him. My best bud needs him so badly, and no matter what I do, I can't help him like God does. I will continue trying. No matter what, I will never give up hope. I will not lose faith in God.

Thank You God.

Acceptance and Respect for Others' Beliefs

Today started horribly as I had woken up from a nightmare that surely my fear had attempted to use to worsen my day and mood. My best bud's family had turned their backs on me and they called me annoying and they disliked me. One of my worst fears being exhibited in a nightmare that was beyond my comprehension and left me in a mortified state that I couldn't sleep well the rest of the night. I shudder every time I remembered it today, but eventually I let go of it after a few encouraging words told me not to give into the fear that sin was plaguing me with to break me down. I didn't give in, and in turn, I received a reward from God later today that I will surely not forget.

On to the main topic for today's post. I was talking with my distant friend again, seeing as I was subsiding my conversations with my best bud for another time to give us both a break. Of course, I would talk to my distant friend in either situation. We had a somewhat philosophical discussion on the topic of others religious views in our lives and of the people around us in our society. It shocked me to hear how lonely my friend was in our faith where he lives! I felt great sorrow when he told me this bit of news, but upon hearing that he did not lack having any friends, it brought me back to my normal composure. I told him I was happy that he still found friends even if they didn't agree on the same things concerning their faith. He respected their beliefs though he may disagree, yet he didn't show he disagreed. That is one of the hardest challenges of a follower of Christ. To be able to respect other people's beliefs, while they may not be your beliefs, and still treat that person with the love and compassion that Jesus did to those who even rejected him and cast him out, that is one of the greatest qualities to have as a Christian.

I have to give credit to my friend for this next reference as well. As I'm still lacking familiarity with lesser known stories in the Bible, I had not known about the story of Jesus and the woman at the well in Samaria. This short story starts in John 4:4 and ends in John 4:42. The story starts off as Jesus and His disciples arriving in the town and Jesus arriving at the well while this one woman, who was a Samaritan, sat at the well as well. Jesus engaged in conversation with the woman asking her for a drink of water, and the woman's mind was offset. It had been known that Jews and Samaritans were not well known for conversing, let alone dealing with one another. As the story progresses Jesus teaches the woman and tells her of her mistakes she has made and she had yet to mention anything. Amazed by this realization, she spreads the word throughout town asking if Jesus was truly the Christ, the Messiah. At first the citizens did not believe her tale, but as they soon learned wisdom and truth from Jesus, a majority of them had truly believed that Jesus was indeed the Savior of the world.

Jesus, being a Jew, talked to the Samaritan woman regardless of her past actions or the lack of affiliation between both belief systems. He respected her being and her beliefs until the point which she believed in Jesus as Savior. How I wish I could do the same! When people come up to me during school and ask why I carry my Bible around, I simply state that I enjoy reading it when I'm done with my schoolwork. Why not bring it to school? The idea had been given to me by my youth pastor, but he did not address the idea to me directly as it was toward the mass student audience. I took it to heart, and since then I've brought my Bible to school for the past five or more months, (I can't exactly remember how long ago I started).

Another thought that occurred to me was that often I find others being rejected just because they're not Christian or aren't a part of the same sect or denomination. How wrong this is, and I've been guilty of chastising others when I was younger as well! Our beliefs shouldn't matter so long as we all respect each other and we believe in our own beliefs. If you believe in my same beliefs, cool your my best friend forever....No I'm joking. We are all one through Jesus Christ and we should respect others looking beyond their race, religion, attitude, and other qualities they possess just as Jesus had done before us. Perhaps then, we'd save a ton of strife and violence that the world experiences each and every day while we sleep, eat, and enjoy our lives.

My encouragement to myself and to everyone else is that they respect everyone else's beliefs while we attempt to coexist with each other. I feel God would smile upon our love for one another and our slight inclination toward fellowship.

Thanks be to God and to my friend and his family as well!

Malevolent Feelings and Conquering Friendships

I'll be straightforward, I fought with my best friend today, and it sure wasn't the best feeling in the world. I spent about the next three hours afterward almost practically feeling depressed and angry as well as ashamed and guilty. I apologized to him, but only to no reply. The ultimate decision I made was to give it a day or two to settle and on Wednesday just move on and forget it. Church always seemed to make me feel better about life and it's misfortunes. I know, best friends always argue, it comes at the cost of being so close with one another.

While discussing this situation with another close friend of mine, yes the physically distant by miles away friend, I found myself recalling the story of Johnathan and David. When I had first heard the story, it was during one of the series of my youth group at my church I usually attend. The topic referred to true friendship and it recalled the story. Johnathan was the son of Saul, the current ruler of Jerusalem. Now Saul, knowing that his throne was threatened by David, disliked him for this fact. However, Johnathan didn't care as he was David's best friend and practically, in the Christian sense, his faithful brother. Johnathan would be ready to lay down his life had the circumstances ever shown that such an act would be required to save David's life. David and Johnathan were so close they'd cry, they'd embrace, and they truly acted like they understood each other's thoughts and intentions. How I never thought such a friendship could be possible! I longed for one such as this, and how convenient the timing was indeed.

I had heard this story around the time of my best friend and I actually starting to get closer as buds. We hadn't quite reached that point of friendship where we considered each other brothers, but we so close that not even the toughest metal blade could sever our bond, or so I thought. With getting closer with your God-given friends, there also comes several tests that need to be passed collectively and individually. One hit us right after the other every single day. We argued, we got over it. We argued again, we got over it again. It was a constant process until we got to the point where we stopped arguing and finally settled at that moment of peace and enjoyment. We were no longer immature teenagers trying to win over our own opinion, we were best buds for life aiming to live an awesome life with us watching out for each other every step of the way. 

When applied to the story, I felt like I was Johnathan. The one friend who constantly laid his life on the line to ensure the protection of David, who showed compassion and loyalty throughout all situations, and who often listened to David's plights and problems in his life. I felt my best bud was David. The one friend who relied on God to help him through his path in life as well as being grateful for the best friend he had. The one friend who always had something else on his mind in times of sadness or depression, but always sought out someone to sit down and talk with. The one friend who showed courage and strength as the friendship grew for a benefactor of God's real intentions of true fellowship. 

How this applies to today is this: I made a big claim and basically called my bud out for not caring and  not listening to my words when he had just done an act of kindness and generosity toward me not too long beforehand. If he never cared, he would've never committed that good deed he showed to me. If he never cared, he wouldn't take time out of his night every Wednesday after church to make sure I was fine and if I needed to talk about anything that was bothering me in my life. If he never cared, he wouldn't have showed me the light of Jesus and saved my life from a life worse than death. If he never cared, he wouldn't be there for me and embrace me when I'm breaking down and losing control. I probably hurt him more than I thought I did.

I realized the big mistake I made. I feel guilty about it, and I know he will forgive me. I know God will forgive me. But it's the hardest thing to forgive myself. He's my best friend for life, and that person hardly comes around in many people's lifetimes. I aspire our friendship to become that of Johnathan and David's friendship. Surely they had their little arguments as well, but they got over them and lived a life with a great friendship until the kingdom was overrun and Johnathan was slain along with his father. How tragic! This I know, that God gave me my best friend for life for a reason. I would believe that reason to be to fulfill that feeling of loneliness and to get me closer to Him. So far, it's turned out to be working pretty well besides the supposed "lifelong bond" starting to wear down.

All I can do is pray and trust God helps us make the right decisions to living a life of a better friendship. A word of thanks though to his good deed, and to my distant friend as well. Had I no one to go to about this situation, I'd be in one horrible slump. If physical distance weren't a boundary I would gladly lay my life down for him as well because of how he has been there for me when my best bud couldn't. I owe my life to God for giving me these two awesome friends who have strongly influenced my life, and I hope he continues to keep them throughout my life. 

Lesson for today: An argument with your best friend may feel like one of the worst feelings in the world, but trust in God and surely enough it will all be better and stronger if you just trust in Him.

Thank you.

Friendship and Impacts

I went to my dad's church today and the topic of the service was to follow Jesus by doing the actions he did. In the case servants being the highest position in the Christian sense of the hierarchy of their environment. We discussed the setting of the Last Supper in which Jesus was in one of his most humiliating scenes in the Bible. When Jesus disrobes himself, ties a towel around his waist and gets down on his knees and washes the feet of His Disciples. Every time I picture this, my eyes almost start watering. Seeing Jesus acting as a lowly servant of the world washing the feet of his most beloved and closest friends. I think to myself, how humiliating and how I feel that way about myself sometimes. But of course, when Peter questions his actions, Jesus replies telling him that if He does not was the feet of His disciples they shall not have a part of him and that they should wash each others feet as well. This presenting to us that we're all servants of the world, but honestly, we should be servants of Christ.

What I gained from this was not just that lesson, but I was suddenly recalled to the words of love and this verse: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."-John 15:13 (My life verse). It sounds arrogant to say this but in a sense of the word humility I feel the humblest of all my friends. I often feel like the lowly servant who is there to give love and listen to the troubles of whoever comes to me. I offer an opinion, but I often feel like it's not taken to heart by most people. I feel I have the potential to really find someone who needs to hear a friendly greeting from somebody; anybody in the world just to make their day better before they do something as drastic as considering to take their life. Somebody once said, you have no idea what a single act of kindness, generosity, or befriending can do to ignite one's passion in their lives. For me, my passion is to show compassion those who need it and to lead them on the right path towards a greater life.

Then you ask me, "What's so great about life? Surely, you have a hard life too?" Of course I do. I struggle with temptation everyday, I make decisions that could definitely affect me in the long run either negatively or positively, and I often argue or find myself angered by somebody at least once a day. The life of a person is hard, but the life of a Christian is even harder. Yet in my eyes, I would think the one person who doesn't know Christ and is suffering often leads the way to a cursed, sinful life. We all know these people in our society, often the stereotypical bad boys, hoodlums, gangsters, drug and sex addicts, and compulsive liars and  constant swearers. There's many more to be listed, but I don't dare go that far. We all have our names for them, but you know these people. Yet how many would dare lend a helping hand to them when they needed it? Perhaps society has taught us to leave these people alone. Leave these rejects to suffer and wallow in their pathetic lives only to suffer worse and worse each and every single day. And yes, I'm speaking to myself as well. How wrong and sick I've been! I was at one time of my life, one of those people in society.

I made the wrong decisions. No, I didn't do drugs, I'm still a virgin and engaged in no sexual acts, but I was a reject of society and often was the target for those who would find it cool and get a fix out of bringing people lower than the possible low. It makes me happy to see how some of these people actually matured nowadays in some senses, but it saddens me to hear how many of them already have slept around or experimented with wrong substances. You may be wondering, "How did you become the way you are today?" I'll gladly tell you. His name is God, who answers the prayers of those who are patient and who are desperate for His saving grace and everlasting love. He answered my prayer for salvation with a friend. That's right, just one friend.

This wasn't just any friend, he was the friend I had prayed to have after years of praying after hurt and sorrow seemed to take over my life. When I met him, it seemed like the most impossible thing int he world to be friends with this guy. He contradicted "my way of living" in so many ways that I was almost convinced he couldn't be even an acquaintance. But something made me stop and think one day. He showed me a personality that seemed to change my way of thinking. I had never experienced so much understanding, so much wisdom and great advice, and so much love and compassion. But I was still stubborn and I couldn't trust him as I didn't know him too long and I was having "friend" troubles already at that point in my life. Life was horrible and he seemed like a shining light in the dark. Little did I know one day when he told me God has a better life for me and better plans for my life; it'd change my life forever.

This friend took me to church and I eventually connected to God and gave Him my life so that I could experience the everlasting love of God and His saving grace to end the sinful decisions that seemed to rule my life. This tying back with the original point, I was but a lowly humiliated person in my life and in a way, Jesus washed away my sin. This all because of the one friend who went out of his way to lend me a helping hand and turn my life around by showing me a new life to walk with Jesus Christ.

I'm now aspiring to become a pastor and help others just as I was helped in my life. That friend who showed me the light is now my best bud for life. And my youth pastor is my teacher in which I follow his ways of teaching so that I may one day too live a life of helping others. God has been gracious enough to bless me with more than just one friend nowadays. I've become closer with one of my acquaintances who lives states away. Both these amazing close friends of mine keep my faith going through words of compassion and encouragement. I'd gladly lay my life down for these friends. And it's true; you never know how much a little act of kindness, generosity, or befriending could ignite the passion of one's life. How awesome is Our God!

New To Blogging.

I was doing some thinking for a while. I realized I have a lot of thoughts I'm meant to get out of my head and out onto whatever I can do. I used to keep a journal of memories and notes so that I could go back to it whenever I was stumped on what to do. Now, I've heard great things about blogging. I look forward to posting things as they come to me and getting some planning done after learning how to develop what I write and using it in everyday settings and situations. Well, first post here we are. Cool!