Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Fire-Flies

I've been feeling like there are so many people I know that are dying lately. I mean, I might not know them "know" them. I guess I should say, I know "of" them... Still, a lot of young amazing people are dying and it isn't RIGHT!

A few months ago, an amazing drummer died of cancer - Chase Lovelace was only 24 years old. I had met Chase a handful of times, he was such a happy, joyful spirit and MAN! did he play the drums wickedly. He played in a few of my favorite bands (that's how I knew him) Pillar, Stars Go Dim and Superchick.

In the beginning of last week Talia Joy Castellano died at the age of 13, from cancer. She had been fighting the good fight since she was seven! Instead of wearing wigs to cover her bald head (because of the chemo) she became a master of make-up and made tutorials on YouTube (how I found out about her) showing people how to do their make-up flawlessly.Make up was her wig.

This past weekend a Simmer (gamer) on YouTube died at the age of 25 years old. Quxxn, had had lung problems for many years. She went in for an operation, got an infection and then her body had enough and she died.

And let's not forget about Matthew Warren who was 27 years old when he took his own life a few months ago. He had been struggling with depression and suicide for years. 

This breaks my heart so much. The enemy is working over time, crushing out shinning stars before they get too bright. And it makes me so angry! How dare he do that! Taking out God's children, like it's nothing!

And then, I think about myself (cause I'm selfish like that), and how I have thoughts of suicide and how I make plans to take my own life. And that little God voice chimes in and is like: "Their life is important enough for you to get angry and upset about because it ended so short - but yours isn't?"

And I instantly feel convicted. Why is it others lives are important to me, but mine isn't? Why am I able to get angry, upset and pray for others that are getting messed with by the enemy, but I can't do that for myself? Why do I see others as shinning stars and I see myself as a black-hole? Why is it so easy for me to love others, but I can't love myself?

Yes -  I am angry. I am angry at the enemy for taking young lives too early and for messing with my mind. I'm angry at the enemy for not only killing people physically, but also emotinally and spiritually.

I'm angry at the enemy, and it's time I do something about it.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Send Pizza!

Earlier this week a photo posted on Reddit went viral and caught my eye on Yahoo! Shine.


The picture is of a home-made sign made out of tape on a hospital window that reads: "Send Pizza Rm 4112."

The sign was made by a two year old little girl that has Neuroblastoma cancer. She had been in the hospital for a few weeks and her mother & grandmother thought this would be a good and fun project to keep her distracted for a while. They never thought that pizza would actually come. But a few days later, someone posts the picture online and pizza started to rain from the sky. The parents of this adorable two year old and the hospital had to ask people to stop sending pizza because it was becoming too much.

Reading this article, made me smile and tear up a bit. My mother died from cancer, so cancer stories are really close to my heart. I can remember how important it was to my mom, my dad and me when people went out of their way to brighten our day or to do something nice for us when my mom was sick. The littlest things meant the world to us. So I can only imagine how much receiving pizza from strangers meant to this little girl.

She received so much pizza that they were able to have a pizza party with the other children on the floor and the staff. How cool is that?!

This type of out-pour of love, support and communion reminds me that God created us humans to build each other up - not tear each other down.


"Love WILL save the day."



To find out more information 
about Hazel (the little girl) and ways
 to help her and her family you can check out 
the family's blog, Facebook page and donation page.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

A Whisper & A Clamor


"A Whisper & A Clamor"
by Anberlin

Growing tired of bedside resolve
Public display of depression
Something's got to give now
Something's going to break down
I grow tired of writing songs
While people listen but never hear what's really going on now
Tell me what's so wrong now

Clap your hands all ye children
There's a clamor in your whispering
Clap your hands tonight
Hear what the silence screams
Clap your hands
Clap your hands now all ye children
Clap your hands all ye children
There's a clamor in your whispering tonight

For most who live and breathe
Hell is never knowing who they are now
Tell me who you are now
Finally safe from the outside trapped in what you know
Are you safe from yourself? Can you escape all by yourself?

Clap your hands all ye children
There's a clamor in your whispering
Clap your hands tonight
Hear what the silence screams
Clap your hands
Clap your hands now all ye children
Clap your hands all ye children
There's a clamor in your whispering tonight
Clap your hands
Clap your hands now all ye children
Clap your hands
There's a clamor in your whispering tonight

It's not the lies that you sing
But what the silence will scream
It's not the lies that you sing
But what the silence will scream
It's not the lies that you sing
But what the silence will scream

Clap your hands all ye children
There's a clamor in your whispering
Clap your hands tonight
Hear what the silence screams
Clap your hands
Clap your hands now all ye children
Clap your hands all ye children
There's a clamor in your whispering tonight