Keep Calm And Write On

For days now, an idea has been tugging at the corners of my mind, waiting to be released to the outside world. An idea that has been persistently cropping up in my thinking. An idea that could change the world. Prayer. Consistent, intercessory, passionate prayer. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:19-20 I have a heart for the lost people of the world, and in addition to that, God has placed a burden on my heart for my country. We are far from what we used to be. Being the history buff that I am, I know that many of the laws in place in our country today would make the founding fathers’ wigs’ curl. I see our country going down a path of darkness and despair. God has blessed our country with wealth and prosperity, but I disagree with the ways this wealth is being used. So, I’m asking you...

I said, "I'm not strong enough." He said, "My armor is tough." I said; "My feet are slipping," He said, "I am your Rock." "I am alone." "My presence will go with you always," "I am afraid." "You have not been given a spirit of fear." "I feel worthless." "You are my workmanship." "I can't do anything." "You can do all things in my name, I will give you strength." "But Jesus, I'm so sad." "I, even I, am He who comforts you." "I dont know where to go next." "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Several things occur to me when I think about the method I'm using to learn French. The first-I'm never going to succeed. The second-I think I've heard of this before.  The method I'm talking about is the Immersion method, meaning that you basically 'immerse' yourself in the language, surrounding yourself with almost exclusively that language, and you learn out of necessity. This is the same way that children learn their first language, by doing. It  sounded promising, so I decided to give it a shot. I switched my facebook page to french. Bold move, yes, but desperate times call for desperate measures. In addition, I found french episodes of my favorite cartoons ever in the history of the world-courtesy of the wonder known as youtube, of course.  In order to learn a language by the immersion method, you almost have to forget about thinking about anything else and only focus on the language.  This reminded me of Christianity. Why? well, think about it. In...

  A stunning revelation struck me this morning as I furrowed my brow over biology and art. I am content. Even though my reason for waking up early was because my active brain wouldn't let me sleep, I am content. I've put in a full day of school, I've done all my chores, and now I'm writing this blog-post, and its only 1pm?! I've been awake since 4:30am! If only I could be this productive every day!  I am content because I am blessed. And I am blessed because I am a child of God. And I am a child of God because I have come to the point of surrender and given my life over to Him.  The apostle Paul also was content-and his circumstances were a lot worse than mine! However, he recognized that God worked in all circumstances, and he gave thanks accordingly.  "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of...

                                                       "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4 "Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones." Isaiah 49:13 These verses are a great help to me, especially lately. My great-grandma passed away on the 13th. She was my fifth relative to pass in the month of January over the years. My Granny was a special lady. I am so blessed to have had as much time with her as I did. Lately, all of my memories of Granny have come flooding back, and it's a sort of collage of memories and images in my head. When I close my eyes I see things like playing Racko, or eating applesauce, or my frustrated face as she taught me how to crochet. I see her fingers flying as she creat...

(First published on viewshound.com)  It often disturbs me how much the world looks down on specific groups of people or expects less of them just because of their age or race. Take teenagers, for example. I understand that many teenagers are moody, disinterested in their families, and unwilling to work hard, and I apologize on behalf of them. But please, do not judge us all by a few sour examples. The lower your expectations of us as adolescents are, the lower we will sink to meet them. Your expectations of us will determine what we will become. If you expect us to be mature, intelligent, productive members of society, we will rise to the occasion. If on the other hand, you don’t expect us to be anything more than bums who get along with the lowest possible amount of effort and spend the majority of our time eating, sleeping and texting, well that’s what we will become. And as for you teenagers, you’re not off the hook either! The reason that our society as a whole...

(First published on viewshound.com)  My mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas earlier today, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. Sure, like anybody I harbor a secret list of the things I would like to have, but I don’t truly need any of those things. A thought hit me suddenly. I’m content with what I have. I have enough food to eat, I have nice clothes to wear, I have a comfortable bed to sleep in, I have a roof over my head, and I have a family who loves me. Why would I want anything else? My current mood of contentment brings to mind an early memory of mine. My mother and grandmother had brought me to the mall, and as we passed Santa Claus, I just knew I had to see him. I had to tell him what I wanted for Christmas. Now, even as a young girl, I hadn’t bought into the commercialism that surrounded Christmas, I knew that “old Saint Nick” was a fraud, but still, I just had to see him. As I stood in line, I trembled with anticipation. I was almost there! I was abou...