The Importance of Reading Your Bible

Ok, so EVERYONE knows it's important to read your Bible. Some people thinks important daily, and I would have to agree with this statement, but any reading or studying or meditating on the word is great!

I know it's weird now, because recently I have really been all about the walk with Christ and my awesome God, and well... what can I say, it's been one big step and my life has been turned upside down because of the love of my God.

I, lately, have been having this urge, or in Christian-terms, this hunger for prayer and for really digging into God's word and I love it.

It's really made my day, I guess since I have had this hunger I started reading from Ephesians and today I started reading from Galatians. Oh my goodness, ever since my prayer life and well, my relationship with God changed, I read the Word and the things that pop out are extremely crazy and amazingly awesome. I mean come on. I really started reading Acts for the second time this last semester with the organization, InterVarsity, and well my goodness, as I was reading Galatians, Paul was telling the church about his time in Jerusalem and wow. I mean wow. I totally remembered when this story happened in Acts. It was just so surprising that I would remember such a thing. I looked back at Acts and there it was, right before my eyes.

I know this theme is evident in the Bible, this little thing, oh I don't know... LOVE. It's everywhere. I have been marking in my bible with pink sticky notes about where God's love is shown, or in green I believe I mark that He has chosen us for specific purposes and for reasons before we were even born. How crazy.

It's just so amazing once you grow so close to God, how you just want to wake up in the morning and read the word, pray to God, and wait for him to intercede. Oh, it's just amazing to see how God has worked in the past and the promises that lie in this amazing book. It's not just a book that has mystery, murder, wonder, lies, denial, facades, sacrafices... it's so much more than that's it's a love letter from my God and all he has promised to me and my life, my friends, my family, and even to the people I don't know. It's amazing and it's called love and grace.

Praise God for his amazing words.

Prayer is SOOO Important

Many of you know that I go to the IHOP, Internation House of Prayer. Since then I have prayed so much more, I have learned so much from going there every week. Now our InterVarsity is having an unofficial study about prayer. It seems to be on the hearts of alot of my friends and the importance of prayer.

The book we are going through is absolutely amazing. It's so great and amazing how prayer is so evident in the Bible. It happened so frequently. It's amazing.

Well, I have learned that as I forgive people in my life that causes me distress and even anger, I forgive them for that verbally and let's just say it makes my life so much better.

I have blogged earlier about how prayer and fasting is important in a christian's lifestyle. And I will continue and always think that. But I have a story that almost proves it.

A couple days ago, I believe it was Thursday, I honestly spent very little time that day in prayer and time meditating in the Word. And come to imagine, anything that happened pretty much drove me crazy and I got mad very easily. And the couple days before that I had gone to IHOP on Tuesday and Wednesday night. It was truely amazing experiences that night. And well honestly, prayer was essential. Cause yesterday when I prayed and meditated on the Word and what God had to say to me, and well it made such a big difference and my day was amazing. And I was definitely in a great mood the rest of the day.

I want to challenge you, along with myself, to take time when you wake up in the morning to prayer to our God, and meditate on His Word.

Cause as it says in Hebrews 7:25: "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

AKA Our God is always wanting to communicate with us. Not just wanting, but YEARNING to communicate with us.

So let's start off the day communicating with him.

Every Child Deserves To Live

Today radio stations, Air1 and K-Love, are working with Jars of Clay's charity, Blood:Water Mission. Today raising money, all going to building wells in Africa. These wells would give these children and their families clean drinking water. Water that will help them live, let them go to school. Why wouldn't they be able to go to school you may ask... well because clean water in some places are as far as ten or more miles away which would take all day and they would be forced to missed school. To learn more visit bloodwatermission.com

Today also my church, Central Church of the Nazarene, has 31 people in Swaziland right now. They are working with orphans and their familes that are affected with AIDS. Giving them food, water, and any other meds needed to live. I only wish that I could be there in Swaziland giving those children some love and attention which so many probably don't get. Go to your local church to find out where they are going on the next mission trip.

A couple weeks ago, President Obama signed a bill that would finally help the children of Northern Uganda, and Eastern Africa. This bill would help rebuild Northern Uganda because of all the war torn regions that happened because of the LRA. A strategy will be brought to the air soon to apprehend the rebel leader and all the leading commanders. These child soldiers will be able to go home and play outside without any worry about being abducted. They will soon go to a place where they will be loved again. I can't wait for this day.

Invisible Children in the fall has a program called Schools for Schools. This is 100 days of hardcore fundraising for the rebuilding of schools in Northern Uganda. Giving these children an education that they desire. An education that they use to help the children that are living this new life. Sadly, these schools used to be the best schools in Uganda but because of the LRA destroyed them. So you can help and you can get your school involved this fall by going to invisiblechildren.com

TOMS Shoes. I have blogged about them multiple times. Organized by a young man named Blake. This shoes are the same design as the farmers in Argentina. When you purchase a pair of shoes, they will donate another pair of shoes to a child that needs a pair. You see when they children get a pair of these shoes, they too can go to school. Some of the schools that the children go to require shoes so before they just couldn't go and get that education they want so badly. Without shoes these children are contract diseases. TOMS does these shoe drops everywhere from South America, Africa, and even here in the US. To learn more about this organization visit TOMSshoes.com

There is so much we take for granted here in the U.S. Clean water, shoes (for most of us most likely have more than one pair of shoes), school (some even get to go to a private school), and loving people around us. While most of us have these things some of our children still aren't as lucky.

I have just recently found out about an organization called Stand Up For Kids. Every year the famous band, Switchfoot, has this benefit surf contest/ concert for this organization in Encinitas, CA. This organization is all about kids as you can guess by the theme of my blog and the name of the organization. This organization tries to make a difference of the lives of the at-risk, homeless, and street-kids. According to thier website, " StandUp For Kids helps homeless youth tackle some of their everyday obstacles and work towards a life off the streets. From basic necessities such as food, clothing, and hygiene to resources for housing, employment, and education, StandUp For Kids counselors use an open, straightforward and caring counseling approach to help kids reach their full potential." Which to me sounds great and I can't wait to get involved with this organization. To learn more visit standupforkids.org

So as you can very well see that children are children. They look the same, they grow the same way. The only really big difference is where they come from. That shouldn't keep them from getting the clean water, education, and shoes that we so desperately take for granted. I know there are many other organizations out there that help these children, but I just wanted to point out some verses in the Bible that are directed epescially for and to kids.

"And learn to live right. See that justice is done. Defend widows and orphans and help those in need." Isaiah 1:17

"Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord." Psalm 127: 3

"'Let the children come to me! Don't try to stop them. People who are like these little children belong to the kingdom of God. I promise you that you cannot get into God's kingdom, unless you accept it the way a child does."' Mark 10:14-15

"Our God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows. You find families to those who are lonely. You set prisoners free and let them prosper," Psalm 68:5-6

I challenge you to take a look at the children in your life and then look at the ones across the street or across the ocean and see how you can help. Sponsor a child, write to them or even better to them with your children with World Vision. Or sponsor a baby who has been abdandoned and can't live through Holt International. Sign up to donate monthly through the Legacy Scholarship Fund with Invisible Children, by providing them education and a mentor that will be with them and help them pursue their goals. Buy a pair of shoes and donate a pair at the same time. Maybe buy a pair from TOMS and give it to a kid in your neighborhood who needs it, then tell them that another kid has a pair just like theirs in another country. Whatever you decide to do, don't forget the children of the world.

"To all the people who are fighting for the broken,
all the people who keep holding onto love,
all the people who are reaching for the lonely,
keep changing the world"
- "Keep Changing the World" Mikeschair ft. Lecrae

Who's My Favorite Artist?

Everysince I could remember I have always loved art. I have pretty much been surrounded by art my entire life. I have friends that are great at art, like my best buddies Mintra. She is amazing at music and especially photography.

I love everything from drawing, painting, to designing shirts. I love it all.

Now, there must be a reason, a muse, a inspirtation, or even favorite artist that has inspired me. And your right. There is.

Let's just say every where I look I see His art. I see his details. His penmenship. His brush strokes. Even in every person He sculpts, there seems to be alittle piece of Him in them. I have even noticed that He's has some works of me all over His walls.

Is it creepy? Some may say yes. But to me, I feel honored. I know that He even loves me so much that He paints, and sculpts for me. It's all special.

So who is this artist?

If you haven't guessed already. He is my God. Yahweh. Jesus Christ. Everything on this Earth is His creation. No matter how hard I try, my perspective and how I perceive His works in my work, will never be as great and beautiful it is in real life.

We, too, are apart of gallery. His gallery of His people. Each of us unique in every way. None the same. He has given us talents, different talents. Which is like His signature. The signature that He has given us to help spread His kingdom. Each of us different. Each of us reaching different people with different talents.

What is His signature in your life? How and when will you use His signature for His Kingdom?

Who Are You Helping?

Yesterday was Sunday. Yesterday was church. Yesterday was the second part of Pastor Rob Prince of Central Church of the Nazarene's sermon series "Solomon Says: Who are you helping?"

It is a series based from Solomon's writings, AKA the Proverbs. This week's sermon was based from the scripture Proverbs 14:31:

"If you mistreat the poor, you insult your creator; If you are kind to them, you show Him respect."

So as I sat there listening, I heard a common theme for that day. Something that Pastor Rob said constantly,
- break my heart for what breaks Yours
- Seeing is important because it leads to compassion
- God blessed not so we can do few, but that we can do much

Then that night, we started a new book about the Beatitudes and how we can live them out.

The first one we went over was: Blessed are those who are poor in spirit.

We discussed what this meant and how we could do it. After we discuss we were to pick out something then live it out then report back to the group about it.

This whole day I had been thinking about different things I have been wanting to do for a long time. Like buying for someone else's drink at starbucks or another coffee shop. I was also reminded of getting people together to feed the homeless in KC.

So I am really going to work hard and really get people together to do this!

So ask your self the question... When you look around, what do you see?

Do you see a bunch of people and their stuff, or do you see what they need... a savior.