Taking on the 20's!

As I turn 20 I figure there is only so much life I have left before I get tied down. Why not live that life to the fullest?!

Read the original inspiration here: 21 Ways You Should Take Advantage Of Your Twenties

1. Don’t feel the need to respond to every text message, phone call, and email the second it reaches you. Once upon a time, it took longer than a minute to reach someone. People used stamps and envelopes; they had answering machines they didn’t check for hours, sometimes days. No one will die if you don’t immediately respond to every message you receive.

2. Ask for what’s owed to you. Half the time, you’re not getting your needs met because you’re not making them known. Your employers, romantic interests, and friends are not going to read your mind and give you what you need unless you speak up.

5. Take advantage of all the energy you have in your 20s. In your 30s and 40s, your body starts getting upset with you, when some 20-something babe is all, “Wanna race?” That’s not a concern when you’re in your 20s — don’t ever take it for granted.

8. Learn how to cook. Here’s an idea — instead of spending all your money on ridiculously marked-up restaurant food, save your money by buying non-processed WHOLE FOODS and LEARNING HOW TO MAKE A MEAL OF REAL FOOD. A meal of real food is not a box of Annie’s Organic Mac and Cheese — that’s PROCESSED FOOD. A meal is something like sauteed brussel sprouts with onions and pinto beans garnished with salt and pepper. You’ll thank yourself for learning how to cook when your metabolism catches up to you.

9. Keep making friends. It’s not that hard. You know yourself better than you ever have before, and your friends can finally reflect that. Don’t cling to old friends because it’s too frightening or ‘risky’ to make new ones.

13. Indulge in diner/ fast food at 4 a.m. This is considered depressing behavior once you become a real adult.

15. Do ‘unacceptable’ things to your hair. Dye it. Dread it. Shave only the left side of your head and give a crap if it grows back in a flattering manner (hint: it won’t). There’s no time but now.

17. Sit down, unplug, and read non-fiction. Do this daily. None of your peers are doing it. They’re playing video games and refreshing Facebook and Gmail chatting about nothing in particular. After a month you’ll be smarter than all of them.

18. Walk into Forever 21 and grab every single crappily-made floral dress available. Is every other girl on the street wearing it? Is it literally falling apart at the seams? Is it also actually five dollars? BUY IT IMMEDIATELY. When you get older, your clothing becomes all expensive blazers and tailored khakis and other pieces that won’t break while on your body. That will be a great day — the day when your closet starts to look respectable. Though those outfits are more expensive, they also last longer and look better on you. You will be a classy human ready to take on the future. But as long as you’re still in your 20s? You know — the demographic of Forever 21? Game on, stretchy black dress with pockets that lasts about a week. Game on.

19. Take road trips. Sitting in a car for days on end isn’t something your body was designed to do forever.

21. Go to/host theme parties. Once people age out of their 20s, no one’s trying to wear pajamas or Saran Wrap out of the house. The only theme parties that exist after your 20s are ‘Wedding,’ ‘Baby Shower,’ and ‘Funeral.’

Twenty dollars

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked. “Who would like this $20 bill?”

Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you - but first, let me do this.” 

He proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up. He then asked. “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air.

“Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He dropped it on the
ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?”

Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No
matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. 

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still
priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by …WHO WE ARE.

You are special - don’t ever forget it.”

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain!

Life isnt easy, it never will be. But its learning to embrace the pain as something that will help you grow. Its learning to move on when things are damaging. Its learning to know when you deserve better and to walk away. Its doing what you love and doing it often.
Its learning to change what you don't like, and live with what you cant change. Its learning to find victory in the little things, because they make up the big picture. Its learning to smile, not because you want to, not because you have to, but because you deserve to! Its learning that all emotion is beautiful, that its okay to cry and that its okay to be angry. Its learning that no matter how big you feel your mistake is, God loves you anyways! Its learning to be open to new people, new things, and new experiences. Its about being open to learning about others passion, and then sharing yours as well. Life is about giggling with friends. Life is about forgiving enemies. Life is about embracing every breath as a gift. Life is about taking every unforeseen moment and using it to better Gods kingdom. Life isfull of the little things which add up to the big things. Life is a gift, we must use it wisely. At the end of your life, I hope you look back and can say, I did things for people who could never pay me back, I prayed for people who didnt even ask to be prayed for, I gave of my time, energy, income, and spirit to make the world a better place, I look back and i dont see my own footprints placed on hearts, rather I see the footprints of Jesus.

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” Gandhi

Gandhi and Reverend Andrews, a Presbyterian missionary, were walking together in South Africa.  “The two suddenly find their way blocked by young thugs.  Reverend Andrews takes one look at the menacing gangsters and decides to run for it.  Gandhi stops him.  ‘Doesn’t the New Testament say if an enemy strikes you on the right cheek you should offer him the left?’  Andrews mumbles that he thought the phrase was used metaphorically.  ‘I’m not so sure,’ Gandhi replies.  ‘I suspect he meant you must show courage - be willing to take a blow, several blows, to show you will not strike back nor will you be turned aside.  And when you do that it calls on something in human nature, something that makes his hatred decrease and his respect increase.  I think Christ grasped that and I have seen it work.’”


I think somehow we as Christians are missing it. In many other religions and cultures, I see passion and dedication. Yet in many churches I've been to (which is more than a couple dozen) I see mediocre worship done by sleepy eyed people who doze off or daydream during the sermon, only to leave the church feeling like they've done their "Christian duty" and spend the rest of their week living like the world. We don't stand up for our relationship with Christ. If your facebook didn't say you were a Christian, how many people would honestly know? 


Yet another thing strikes me about this, that tends to strike me often. That is love, tolerance, and respect. How many people do you disrespect or judge because you say they are living in sin, or do something you disagree with. We yell at young girls walking into an abortion clinic, but we never offer them prayer, or a place where they can be safe. We refuse to allow gay marriage, because we don't like it. Instead we will make rude remarks because "that man loves another man," but you know its okay to be in a marriage that isn't full of love simply because it is a heterosexual marriage. We will kick the homeless man out of our church service because he hasnt had a shower nor is he wearing "church clothes," but we wont off him a warm place to rest, food for his belly, or clothes to replace the worn ones he has. 


We aren't living like Christ would. There are an estimated 2.1 billion Christians in the world. That is more than enough to rock the world with the love, grace, and power of Christ. Yet we let people go hungry, we let orphans go parentless,  and we never share the story of grace unless we are beating someone over the head with it. 


When will we become "little christs"?

Why girls focus on beauty

Have you ever wondered why a great majority of girls focus on outward beauty? I always have. As a girl, ive been surronded by other girls who are constantly worrying about being the prettiest and thinest they can be. Ive watched girls starve themselves, force themselves to throw up, and beat themselves down because they are trying to be "pretty." I am curently doing a research project on early sexualization of young girls, and I am alarmed by what I see. Its exactly what I continue to see in teenage girls and young women. Media influence is definatly at the top. We are bomnarded by different things be it tv shows, music, movies, or advertisments that provide a definition of beauty that is almost not capable for the average women to achieve. Somehow beauty has become being so thin you can count your ribs, eating nothing, fearing calories, wearing pounds of make up, and dressing in the skimpiest and most revealing way possible. Im greatly inspired by women like Marilyn Monroe. She is proof that beauty is far more than the number of inches in your waste.

Being skinny doesnt make you beautiful, being you makes you beautiful.

And being beautiful most ceartinly isnt described byu how many boys you can get. Your a lady, not a booty call! Youll find a guy worth your time.

And remeber, you dont have to fit a mold. Society makes those molds up and they are ugly, crude, and typically unacheiveable.

So hold your head high. You are beautiful <3

You mean I can stay healthy in college?

So lately Ive had people ask how it is that I stay a healthy (even dropping 15lbs since starting college 9 months ago) and such in college. Part of it is that I live at home and have access to healthier foods but there is more to it. I made this as resident student friendly as possible!

1. Get out of bed every morning. Adequate sleep is essential to be healthy, but you can overdo it.
2. Wash your towels and sheets regularly – particularly if you have been unwell. These are great hide-out places for bacteria.
3. Housework is good exercise – clean your room! If you are particularly unfit, clean somebody else’s too!
4. Stay clear of friends who are sick. Does that sound a bit mean? Show them how much you care with a germ-free telephone call. (This isnt easy for me but its important!)
5. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Many studies have found a relationship between eating breakfast and learning ability, attention span, and general well-being. (That means you have to get up before its considered lunch).  The American Dietetic Association reports that adults who eat breakfast have an easier time losing weight, think faster, clearer, solve problems more easily, and are less likely to be irritable.
6. Pack a healthy snack to take with you. If you skip meals you may have trouble concentrating, get headaches, or just lose your focus. Food is brain fuel.
7.  Don’t forget to pack plenty of water. Staying fully hydrated is important for a healthy complexion and healthy internal organs. Water is clever stuff. It fills your stomach and tells your brain that you are not hungry. You should drink 8-10 glasses of water each day.
8. Walk to class. Walking is free, keeps you active and means you won’t get stressed from sitting in that annoying traffic. (It especially helps if your like me and cant make it to the gym everyday!)
9.  Learn how to take breaks. Your time at college will be more enjoyable if you give yourself time out and a chance to relax. Just dont go over board.
10. Listen to music. Music is proven to reduce stress factors, and causes your blood vessels to relax and produce chemicals which protect the heart. So break out the Beethoven!!!
11.  Social interaction has numerous mental health benefits. Talk through any problems, and help others get through theirs. So find a good friend, and vent your little heart out!
12. Remember, it is okay to say “No”. There is a lot of peer pressure to go out/stay in/do this/do that. It is your life and you know better than anybody what time you need to yourself.
13.  Balance work, study and your social life. Plan ahead, make goals, achieve them and celebrate. Make sure you also leave some time to sleep! (Day planners are an easy way to help maintain a balanced schedule that you can handle)
14. Eat well and at regular intervals throughout the day. It is unhealthy to starve yourself and gorge food in the evening.
15. Kissing is good for the heart. When you kiss, your body releases adrenalin which helps prevent cardio-vascular disease. Kissing is an effective means of reducing stress and requires the contraction of many facial muscles which increases the blood supply to the face and makes you look healthier. Do it often enough and you will also be losing weight (kissing burns off 2-5 calories per minute, and making love (because you wanted to know this!) will burn off 50 – 100 calories depending on the intensity. (not neccesary but sure is fun ;) )
16.  Go to bed! Adequate sleep is essential to be healthy.

Think about it!

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do what is right, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Do what is right anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
...
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind.
Think big anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack if you help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you might get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

~Anonymous

A lesson on priorities

"A meteorology professor stood before his Meteorology 101 class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty glass mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fil...l it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a jar of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open spaces between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar and of course the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous yes. The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and then proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the grains of sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- your family, your partner, your health, your children, your friends, your favorite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. "The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. Play another 18. "There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."

Dont judge me because I sin differently from you!

Why do we cast so much judgement? Even worse why do we chose to judge so quickly? I pondered this as I lay on the beach today. Thats always where I do the most thinking! I began to think about one of my newer friendships. If you would have asked me a month ago how I felt about this particular woman, I would have given you a mouthful of reasons why I dislike her. One of them? Her appearance. How immature am I?! But after this weekend, and esspecially today, I would tell you that a month from now, we will probably be close friends! Its crazy what can happen when we chose to ignore the judgement we cast and get to know them before we decide if we dont like them. I regret judging, and im glad im choosing to change all that (:Many Blessings,
Cedes

Every day is a page in your book, so get to writting!

We dont embrace our moments near enough. We take for granted the idea that we will have tomorrow, when we arent even promised it! We push things off, we dont tell the people close to us how much we love them, we dont reach out to the broken, we dont do the things that we dream. Think about the person closest to you. Now imagine waking up tomorrow and finding out that they were gone, forever. What was the last thing you said to them? Do you go to bed angry, upset, arguing with them? When was the last time you told them that you love them? Hugged them? Told them that you were there for them no matter what? Think about it.
This weekend has been a serving eye opener. I spent a great majority of friday helping prepare for an easter egg hunt. I went to Chilis with a group of people and we were able to invite our waitress and her little ones. She even came to church today. That alone was enough to make the countless hours of hard work and the thousands of eggs I hand stuffed so worth it! Are you loving people around you? Ive truly been shown what happens when you reach out to others, even when youdo not know them!
Every day, write your story. Make eachday worth living. And always, always tell those you love how much they mean to you!
Always,
Mercedes

Empowerment

This week I've definately been on an empowerment streak. I'm discouraged by the fact that despite living in the 21st century, people still limit me. A statisitc was shared with me on wednesday. It was that men do significantly better than women in math and science. As a math major, I find that a disturbing fact. It has alot to do with stereotyping. Despute the time period I live in, women are still viewed as less. Its hard to teach my young girls that they can be anything they want to be, when they are exposed to a society that tells them women are always less succesful. Does that disturb anyone else? Im glad to see pbs shows, like Sid the Science Kid, promoting womens abilities. Today I went to turn the tv off, but changed my mind. Ive alwayys liked Sid the Science Kid for educational purposes, and figured it wouldnt harm the girls to let them watch 20 more minutes of tv. I was surely not dissapointed when I realized the episode was all about Women Scientists, and how girls can be anything they want to be. The girls loved it, and have been talking ever since about what kind of scientist they want to be when they grow up! I still find it awful to be under a stereotype viewed as lesser, but i'm glad that there is starting to be a change in some direction. Girls can do anything. If we were unleashed to our full potential, we could be the most powerful force in the world!

Life lessons from a toddler

Today I could hear God loud in clear, not through the Bible or Music, but through my toddlers!! I learned 2 very important lessons from 2 very sweet toddlers. My first one came through my two year old (my little ninja as I call him). Little Ninja is very active. He never stops moving, I mean never. And you can turn your back for less than 30 seconds, and he will be creating some sort of trouble. He is for sure a tornado of mass destruction! One of his favorite things to do is jump off of things. This is where the first lesson  comes into play. It was a very good reminder of an illastration many preachers use. As I stood in his room, little ninja climbed up the ladder to the top bunk (which is his older brothers bed). He proceeded to stare down at me in wonder. And thats when I knew he was going to jump. So I reached my arms up, and sure enough he lept into them. I gurantee you, that despite him being his rambuncous self, he would not have jumped if no one was there to catch him. He repeated this jump probably ten times before I had to go tend to the other kids, but all the while I ponderded his trust. Little Ninja made that jump out of trust. He trusted that I catch him and not let him hit the ground or get hurt. So many times we are like that with God. We are standing on the edge of the top bunk, wanting to jump, and God is standing there sayong "I will catch you."
The second lesson came from my 1 and1/2 year old, little monkey. Now little monkey is very attached. He absolutly loves to be held, and if he isnt being held, hes climbing on you trying to get you to hold him. Now little monkey has been walking for a signifigant amount of time, and he does not need to be held all the time. I have two other children to care for, and a hip baby adds an unnecesary amount of struggle. When I put little monkey down, he proceeds to throw himself onto the ground and scream as loud as he can. He kicks his feet, screams and wales all the while holding his arms up as if to say "PICK ME UP". How often do we do this with God? We dont get What we want When we want it, so we throw a tantrum, when God may be saying, give me a minute. See the thing with little monkey is, once he has quit his tantrum, and I have finished with what Im doing, I will pick him up again. All to often if we just quit our tantrum and listen, God will be through preparing what needs to be prepared, and He will give us the desires of our heart.

God Bless,
Mercedes

Find your sunshine in the midst of the rain.

It has been raining all day here outside. Ive also felt like its been storming on the inside of me this week. Life gets a little bit crazy sometimes, and its hard to tell whats up from whats down. The hardest thing for me is controlling my emotions. Alot easier said than done. If you didnt already know this I am in the middle of starting a non profit to fight human trafficking. I have a great team behind me, dont get me wrong, I just often feel alone and overwhelmed in this journey. As if being an 18 year old working college kid wasnt hard enough, Ive added  the adult stress of running a corparation. We havent even launched yet, and I can already hear the devil in the back of my mind going "Just give up already!" Looking at all the paperwork makes me break down, and looking at what its gonna cost me makes me want to cry. So I guess I can say what I am struggling with the most is TRUST. Thats no big suprise for people who know about my past. How does a teenager with so much hurt, learn to trust again? GOD. How does someone go from wanting to die because they feel worthless, to wanting to change the world because they feel empowered? GOD. Its the easy answer. But what do you do when you struggle to trust God with what He is doing? How do you make yourself believe that he has the power to make the dream He put inside you come true? It takes alot of work. One day Im going to change the world through the power of God, and there is no better dream than that.

Jesus didnt tell us to judge, he told us to love!

"Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours"

This song is on the new Casting Crowns cd. Ive had it on repeat for the past 3 days. It still gets to me every time. Im guilty of it, and so are you. We find it so easy to judge a sinner, but we cant judge ourselves. Ive become outraged by the number of people I see judging others. Particularly, Ive had to block many people on facebook, because they made me want to break the computer I was getting so mad. We as Christians were commanded to love others, especially sinners. No where does it say to go out and judge! (and on a side note, Christians should also vote and pray for their elected leaders, Thank you much!) It breaks my heart when a friend who isnt a believer tells me they dont want anything to do with Christianity because theyve been judged by a Christian! Judgement is never your call, leave that to God! See a need and meet it, dont judge the person who needs it!

<3

A little humor, a BIG GOD

An atheist professor of Philosophy was speaking to his class on the problem Science has with GOD. He asked one of his new Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor (P): You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?

Student (S): Yes, sir.
... ...
P: So, you believe in GOD ?

S: Absolutely, sir.

P: Is GOD good ?

S: Sure.

P: Is GOD all powerful ?

S: Yes.

P: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent.)

P: You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

S: Yes.

P: Is satan good ?

S: No.

P: Where does satan come from ?

S: From . . . GOD . . .

P: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

S: Yes.

P: Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

S: Yes.

P: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer.)

P: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don't they?

S: Yes, sir.

P: So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer.)

P: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

S: No, sir.

P: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

S: No , sir.

P: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

S: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

P: Yet you still believe in Him?

S: Yes.

P: According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

S: Nothing. I only have my faith.

P: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

S: Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

P: Yes.

S: And is there such a thing as cold?

P: Yes.

S: No, sir. There isn't.

(The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events.)

S: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don't have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

S: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

P: Yes. What is night if there isn't darkness?

S: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

P: So what is the point you are making, young man ?

S: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

P: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

S: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

P: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

S: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

S: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

S: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?

(The class broke out into laughter. )

S: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)

P: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

S: That is it sir . . . Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

A Woman and a Fork~ the best is yet to come!

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. 

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the 

Young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. 

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly.. 

'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply. 

'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.' 

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. 

That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked. 

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor. 

The young woman explained.'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!' 

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in 

my hand and I want them towonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them : 'Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come.' 

The Pastor knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming. 

So the next time you reachdown for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. 

Togetherness

"Turn your lights on real quick, take a breath of fresh air
Put your feet in brand new kicks, buy the most expensive pair
Now doesn't it sound great, now doesn't it sound fair
Oh it's how life should be, every day without a care
Now get in your car real quick and drive to the nearest business district
You've seen it a million times but I bet this time you've probably missed it
There's people that need your help that are down on luck, but truly gifted
Can you spare some change for food, but you tell them no while claiming you're christian
Ya'll sit and watch Cribs every day, talk about these stars and their pay
But when a needs right in our face, we just keep walkin' away
Do we dare just keep what we got, walk on the with life on our blocks
Don't take a little second to stop and see where the focus is dropped
'cause it's our life man, we get one chance to make it
So those in tuned to this stereo here's your chance to take it
I wanna do something good, something worth it, something true
Take some time to erase the blue, it starts with two, me and you

Look into his eyes and
Tell him that he's dyin'
'cause nobody is tryin'
Nobody's beside him
I can see him cryin'
But he's still survivin'
Why do you deny him
Why do you deny him

We make all sorts of excuses and stay so far and exclusive
We say they'll clutch and abuse it, use it on drugs or they'll lose it
But keep in mind these are people we never invite in our steeples
We need to fight off this sinning that keeps our mind from all giving
I want to be near it now, joy of God, do you hear it now
Who am I to ignore the sound of people screaming crying out
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
I want to give it all, because my God gave to me first
And when I hear that call, I'll know that God's taken my dirt
Away from me and not by actions, but by grace and love
Just give 'em something man, if not the money at least a hug
How can we see them in the gutter drinking rain water
Not feel compassion even though we're from the same Father
We lock the doors to our cars when we pull up beside 'em
We cross the street when we seem 'em instead of just passing by 'em
We turn the cheek on our brothers, why don't we speak to our brothers
It's time to change, I'm gonna be different, time to eat with our brothers

We build a church on every street you see across the nation
And every week we give our money and feel that good sensation
But then we turn and try to show off to the whole community
'cause bigger buildings and more members takes the place of unity
Meanwhile there's somebody starving on this side of town
While we cook massive meals for every congregation crowd
And then we wonder why we don't see changes in our neighbors
America's dying 'cause we won't get out and feed the strangers
Do really think this Jesus stuff is going to have an impact
To someone begging for a nickel just to get his kids back
You can't expect salvation just because you came to speak
When he's tuned out 'cause he's more focused on just trying to eat
As christians we got things mixed up and now it's time to fix it
We need to stop just talking, maybe show some actions with, get it back on the Its time to get us running back on this track
And I'm a try to feed the world before my God comes back" ~Lyrcsist



How have we gotten Gods main goal mixed up? To love each other, not judge each other.

LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT

Life can be good. Life can be bad. Your glass can be half full. Your glass can be half empty. Its all about perspective. Stay positive!!!

Negativity is so easy to get caught up in. Especially when it comes with others around you. Its easy to get caught up in what people say or do, wether they intentionally or unintentionally hurt you.  

No one can define you unless you let them. You are your own person. You have your own journey.

Let people say what they want about you, because in the end, you can conquer what they say is impossible. I mean the Bible is packed full of ordinary people who werent defined by what others said about them and instead decided to trust God and suceed.

All it takes is a little step of faith!

Dont fear failure!

And make the best out of everything!

Pop your bubble of negativity

And dont be afraid to take chances!

Take some positivity and pass it on.

Cause life is what you make it!!

Believe!!

MY GOD IS HEALER

One theme has seemed to play over and over and over tonight. I dont believe its by chance. No, in fact, its God. MY GOD IS HEALER!!!!! He heals my brokeness, my broken heart, my broken friendships. A God of second chances, is in the process of healing one of the most important relationships to me. My God Is HEALER!

Just a little positivity on a Monday

For some reason Mondays always seem to be a negative thing.

Why not make it positive?

Be BEAUTIFUL this week!!

Much love

XOXO