Death

Death...

People don't like to talk much about death. When you first think of death do you think about joy or do you think about sorrow and tears? Honestly I think about the latter more than the former. Death and dying scares me. Just recently I thought I might have come close to it.

How?

Well almost two weeks ago I decided to go to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure one last time because my family is moving to Iowa. Earlier that morning my stomach had felt a little queasy but I figured that was because of nervousness and excitement. I drove down there, rode two rides and was waiting in line for the third ride when all of a sudden my vision became hazy. For a moment I thought it was because the lights were dim but then I knew something was dreadfully wrong. My eyelids began to feel very heavy like I couldn't lift them and I became lightheaded and felt like I was going to faint. My knees started to give way. Luckily my two friends realized something was wrong and called for help. They held me up because I could not stand myself. I passed out. When I came to I was being seated in a wheel chair and my blood pressure was extremely low. Sitting helped and the nurses decided to cancel the paramedics coming to take me to the hospital. They rushed me to the nurses station and my blood pressure continued to climb back up. I'm not sure why this occurred as it wasn't like I hadn't been on the rides before. I had never had an issue like this before. I was super scared. I was brought home by my parents. I'm feeling fine now but after seeing the doctor I still have no idea why it happened or what happened exactly. Going to see a cardiologist once we get to Iowa. I pray it isn't a heart condition.

Anyways it made me think about my mortality and death in general.

On top of that my pastor in Iowa's father passed away recently and I listened to the Sunday Sermon with my family which was on the subject. He talked about how his father was ready for death. How he would tell everyone it's okay. Hearing that made me cry because I wondered if I would have said the same thing that day at Disneyland. I don't think I would have. That led me to ask myself why? Why wouldn't I? I started to doubt if I was saved. Wondering if I'm truly saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone who died on the cross to take my place at Calvary. Wondering why death and dying scares me. Why don't I have joy and peace that I would be with Christ?

I ask that you would keep me in your prayers for my health and as I ask myself these questions. I ask that you would also as yourselves the questions I mentioned above.

This Thanksgiving let us all be thanking God that he has given us another day to live. Time is short and precious. Don't waste your life. Don't wait to do anything or think you can do it a different day because eternity could just be seconds away.. Go share the Gospel- the way to eternal life with someone today.

Music

For as long as I can remember music in one form or another has always been a part of my family. My first memory of it was hearing my dad's voice singing a song he had written just special for me. I can not recall the whole song but the part I do I cherish very much and plan on it being one of the songs my dad and I dance to when I get married. I look forward to that day.

Another fond memory is when my dad would play the guitar and lead the family, my mom, 2 sisters and I in worship in the evening at our house. How I miss those days. My favorite worship song was and still is to this day "As the Deer". Something (whether it was the lyrics, or the way it was sung of a combination of both) just seemed to bring me at peace at the foot of the cross. I remember how thrilled I was when I finally learned to play that song on the piano and when I was able to play it with my dad accompanying me on his guitar. Thankfully my mom captured that moment on videotape. It was a dream of mine to one day play piano on my church's worship team. I remember I loved to sing though I was not good at it.

I remember the first concerts I attended were 4Him and Point of Grace together and then later on Michael W. Smith. My grandparents and mom instilled a deep love for musicals at an early age. Every birthday my grandparents would take me to see some sort of musical. First it was a Wild West show, then Grease, then Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, then Carousel and lastly Mamma Mia. For that I am truly grateful. My favorite musical to this day is Oklahoma.

I think my life would be truly depressing sometimes if not for all the songs that fill my heart and mind. I can't imagine what my life would be like now without music and the impact it's had on my life has been huge.

I can also remember how once playing music I brought someone to tears...

I had been taking piano lessons and about twice a year my teacher would have all of her students play a couple pieces at a recital. Well I remember I had asked my grandma what her favorite hymn was. She told me it was "Old Rugged Cross." I chose it for one of my pieces and practiced it tell I could do it well. Well the day came for the recital and my grandparents came as they normally did. My grandma had forgotten her glasses so she couldn't read what I would be playing. After bowing I took my seat on the bench and started playing "Old Rugged Cross." According to my mom who was sitting next to her at the time, she glanced over at her and saw tears streaming down her face. When the recital was done she came up to me and gave me a hug. I will never forget that look on my grandma's face of love and gratitude for as long as I live.

Even though later on I would decide to stop taking piano lessons due to being lazy and school getting harder I still have a keyboard and my music book yellowed with age and can still play Old Rugged Cross. I love that song now too. Not only for the fond memory of yesteryear but the words ring very true. I will always cherish the cross and my Savior, Jesus Christ who died for me.

Music is a beautiful gift from God.

What Is Encouragement?

When I think of encouragement, I would define it as lifting up another's spirit, giving advice, a simple act of kindness through word or deed, and serving others. All of these would be done in love.

The American Heritage Dictionary Second College Edition defines encouragement as: "The act of encouraging." Encouraging is defined as "Giving courage, confidence or hope." Encourage is defined as: "To inspire with hope, courage or confidence; hearten. To give support to; foster. To stimulate."

The Bible has several verses that mention encourage or some form of encouragement.

Encourage:

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

1 Timothy 5:1 says "Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,"

Encouraged:

Romans 1:12 says "that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine"

1 Corinthians 14:31 says "For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,"

Colossians 2:2 says "that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,"

Encouragement:

Romans 15:4 says "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Hebrews 6:18 says "so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us."

May you be encouraged by these verses tonight. I am.

Encouragement

Over the next couple of days I plan to do some blog posts on encouragement, on what it means, and various verses having to do with encouraging one another. I've always loved encouraging and helping others. It's something I like to do. I like to encourage others through my words and my actions. It is something I believe that all of us as believers in Christ should be doing every day. It is something Christ wants us to do. I hope that my blog posts and poems so far have been an encouragement to you and that they keep being an encouragement to you.

Tonight I leave you with this question: Who will you be an encouragement to before you head off to bed and for every day after that God gives you breath?

Eternity could be only a breath away. Live today as if you had no tomorrow because you aren't promised tomorrow.

Thank you God for giving me tonight to be an encouragement to someone else.

A Tribute to Robin Williams and Lauren Bacall

So this past week a couple of famous people passed away: one actor, Robin Williams, and one actress, Lauren Bacall. I loved watching Robin Williams play the merchant and the Genie in "Aladdin". He always made me laugh. Lauren Bacall was an amazing actress. I have only become acquainted with her films in the past couple years or so. Her films with Humphrey Bogart who is a favorite actor of mine are some of my favorites. My favorite films of hers are "Key Largo" and "To Have and Have Not". Since they both passed away I thought I would do a small tribute and post my favorite scenes of each of their movies that I liked.

Robin Williams:








Lauren Bacall:





What was your favorite film of theirs? They will never be forgotten.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: Becoming A Special Song

Today was a great day. I had a little girl who I mentioned before in a previous post ask me to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with her again. This is becoming a special song for the two of us and she only likes it when I hold her in my lap and sing the song with her. She is the most precious little girl. I don't know what I would do if she ever left my school. I thank God for her. She brings so much joy into my life.

I Am Thankful (Day 6)

What am I thankful for today?

I am thankful for..

1.)My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died on the cross for me.

2.)My relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It has been almost 14 years since that happened.

3.)My family. I wouldn't change my family for anyone else in the world.

What are you thankful for? Is there anything I could be praying for you about?