Is Christmas worth celebrating?

A while back, I was questioning the whole holiday of Christmas itself. Is it worth celebrating? Are Christians even allowed to celebrate it? I’m not looking for debates. I’m just going to share my opinions. So…just last year, I found out that Christmas actually had a pagan origin. In the past, Christmas was a holiday where people worshiped pagan gods. In reality, December 25th is actually the birthday of an Egyptian pagan god named, Nimrod. I was actually worried, thinking about this. Just last year, my dad told us that we would no longer celebrate Christmas. My heart was torn in half, because I loved Christmas since I was little. Everyone knows that there’s a big debate concerning when Jesus Christ was born. They talk about how it’s impossible for Him to be born in such a cold climate, in a manger. It’s true that in the Bible, it never said anything about celebrating His birthday. So isn’t Christmas full of quirks?

Sorry, maybe I’m thinking too much. But when something gets me confused, divided, or torn, I will keep searching and searching, until I have answers and come to a verdict. I need the truth.

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free.”

I know for sure, that when I know the truth, I will be set free. That’s how it works. The truth that comes from God, sets us free.

I’ve shared this verse before, in my question. I’ll share it again.

Jeremiah 10:2-4 “Do not follow the practices of other nations. Do not be terrified by the warnings in the sky. Do not be afraid, even though the nations are terrified by them. The practices of those nations are worthless. People cut a tree out of the forest. A skilled worker shapes the wood with a sharp tool. Others decorate it with silver and gold. They use a hammer to nail it to the floor. They want to keep it from falling down.”

Doesn’t this verse, get you pondering with questions? Well, it did for me. It reminded me of the Christmas tree. I was completely bewildered. So…these were the practices of pagan people long ago. They cut a tree down, took it to their homes, and decorated it. Basically, in Jeremiah 10, God declares that there is no other god like Him. We shouldn’t uplift any other god.

What about the warmth and joy of Christmas time? What about its encouragement in giving? Isn’t that something good?

Matthew 10:8 “….You have received freely, so give freely.”

Knowing that there’s paganism behind the history of Christmas, killed me internally for these past 2 years. It really upset me. What is the right thing to do? I wasn’t so sure.

Just a few months ago, I ran into some verses that caught my eyes. You always find something “new” when looking back into the Bible. For the past year, I cried to God for answer, concerning celebrating Christmas. I believe He gave me the answer right here.

Romans 14:2-6 “The faith of some people allows them to eat anything. But others eat only vegetables because their faith is weak. People who eat everything must not look down on those who do not. And people who don’t eat everything must not judge those who do. God accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servants? Whether they are faithful or not is their master’s concern. They will be faithful, because the Lord has power to make them faithful. Some people consider one day to be more holy than another. Others think all days are the same. Each person should be absolutely sure in his own mind. Those who think one day is special do it to honor the Lord. Those who eat meat do it to honor the Lord. They give thanks to God. Those who don’t eat meat do it to honor the Lord. They also give thanks to God.”

Seems like a confusing and vague passage, right? But of course, the Bible speaks in figurative language. But there were also words there, that directly spoke the message, concerning “special days” or holidays. Here’s what I thought. When I read this, I automatically thought of the whole situation about Christmas. This whole passage, about “diet” isn’t simply talking about what we eat, but our lifestyles and personal beliefs. Why do you think Christians are divided up and have denominations of their own? It’s because of their personal convictions. The Holy Spirit will always give us some sort of conviction. And people will always come up with their own conclusions.

Some people say that Christmas is worth celebrating, because we do it to honor Jesus Christ. They say that we should honor the fact, that God came into human form, to live among us imperfect humans, and save us through a sacrifice. So regardless, of whether Christmas had a pagan background, we only uplift God, during Christmas time. Others strongly stand on the belief of being disconnected during Christmas time. They say that we honor Jesus Christ everyday of our lives, so why make a big deal one day in a year?

Why is there so much diversity in the world? People will always have different viewpoints. That’s why debates happen. That’s why wars happen. What matters, is that we could take the time to understand and accept that we have different opinions.

This verse really struck me in the heart. It gave me a sense of joy and relief.

Romans 14:22 “No matter what you think about those things, keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who do not feel guilty for what they allow.”

So I finally came to a conclusion. It’s all up to you. I agree with those that said that God looks into the heart. That’s very true. And God knows all our intentions.

The funny thing is, my dad disregarded what he said last year. This year’s different. We’re celebrating Christmas again. :) Of course, we’re well aware of the truth now. But God knows our hearts. So…that concludes what I want to say.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! God bless you!!<3

God is soooo good!

Today, right after lab, I totally forgot my binder. I left it on top of this cabinet and forgot about it completely, when I grabbed my backpack and left. As soon as I got to the second floor, I felt like I was missing something. I started freaking out when I realized I didn’t have my binder. I rushed back over and prayed in my head: Lord, I don’t care if I’m late for my next class. Please, just let me get my binder back. I arrived to the lab room, but only to find out that the door was locked. My heart sank, looking at my binder through the little glass window. I started knocking on the door and paced around. I assumed people around me, thought I was weird. I tried knocking the door in the next room, hoping someone might have the keys to the lab room. Still, after a knock, there was no reply. Finally in desperation, I saw another teacher wearing one of those lab coats. I was hoping something could be done. So I walked over to his class asking, “Uhm..excuse me. I left my binder in the lab room. Can you please open it? Or do you know someone who has the keys?” “Oh sure, just wait a second.” The teacher replied. Right away, I saw him reaching for his pocket. The jingling sound of those keys made me so happy and relieved! And as soon as I got my binder, I promptly thanked him and made a dash for it. I noticed how some people were still walking to their classes. I walked right in to solo vocal training class, and sat down. Within a minute, the bell rang! I came right in time! I was so happy! Not only did I get my binder back, but I also came to class on time. I’m telling you, God is so amazing! <3

Mark 11:24 “So I tell you, when you pray for something, believe that you have already received it. Then it will be yours.”

“That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation & desolation, A day of darkness & gloominess, A day of clouds & thick darkness, A day of trumpet & alarm against the fortified cities & against the high towers. I will bring distress upon men, & they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, & their flesh like refuse. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land.” - Zephaniah 1:15-18

WOAH. Someone shared this verse on facebook. This completely blew my mind away. God is always giving a message to us.

I will remember 9/11

I will remember that day. I will remember all the lives that were taken. I will remember the sorrow and pain. I will also remember the miracle that happened my my family and me on that day. My parents were supposed to go to a meeting at a building not too far away from the Twin Towers. I wasn’t in school that day. They were bringing me along. But my and parents and I ran late. We took a bus, then the subway train. When we arrived at Ground Zero, a janitor was cleaning up. Bars were sealed at the exit. “What happened?” My dad asked the janitor. “You don’t know? The Twin Towers fell because of a plane! So many people died!” The janitor cried. My parents were surprised and shocked with grief. I was five years old at the time. I had no idea what was going on. My parents and I traveled back to our NJ home. Once we got a picture on the news, everything made sense. We were all in shock. I cried because so many lives were taken away. I also cried, because my parents and I were still alive. God gave us a chance.

Sweeter Love by Rebecca Woodbury

Today, be patient, small heart of mine.

Look not about, but rest in a love divine.

Tomorrow, perhaps, God may choose to bring,

Another to love - this time an earthly thing.

But today, small heart, look quick away,

From meaningful glances and men just wanting to play.

Quiet the longings that spring from within,

And turn from the ache to find rest in Him.



Though sweet may be this song of love,

Let not a flirting eye distract you from above.

You, my heart, have already been claimed,

And Jesus has your Prince been named.



So today find joy in a love superb,

Gracious, compassionate, more than what’s deserved.

Give Jesus your wantings, give Him your needs,

For He will supply, if only we believe.




(Man, I totally needed this. <3 )

“Everything is going to be okay.”

Everyone says it, I’m sure. Everyone hangs onto that hope, for some encouragement. But the statement can be rather vague to many people, especially unbelievers. “Everything is going to be okay?” How? Why?

But the best part about being children of God, is that we know WHO is in control. It is God. And as long as God is taking control of our situation, everything is really going to be okay. We don’t have to fear or worry. Having a really frustrating situation right now? Trust in God and don’t be discouraged. Don’t let all the burdens lay on your shoulders. God is willing to take that load off of you. Just put them at His feet. God is working for the good of His children. He loves us and cares for us dearly. :)

Romans 8:28 “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with His purpose.”

Psalm 55:22 “Turn your worries over to the Lord. He will keep you going. He will never let godly people fall.”

Matthew 6:34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

I was in such a bad mood

I hate it when my spirit gets defeated and everything that happens just feels wrong. I hate the frustration and anxiety. I hate my pessimism. I hate my sins, my mistakes, and my weaknesses. Today, I realized I was far from what was sane and okay. I decided to just simply read my Bible. I randomly turned to a page. There, I glanced at a verse.

Romans 5:8-11 ”But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God’s anger. Once we were God’s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives. And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself.”

I started crying like crazy. I don’t know if I’m too sensitive or what? But either way, it convicted me knowing how much Jesus Christ went through. He did it all for every being in humanity. That doesn’t leave out anyone. So no matter how bad our mistakes are, we need to remember that Jesus sacrificed himself to save us. We don’t need to surrender or give up, just because we messed up so terribly. There’s always this negative voice that tells me, I’m never good enough, I should give up, I have no purpose, I’m useless, etc. And the bad part is, if I’m having such a bad day, it’s easy for me to believe all of it. But I need to keep in mind, that Jesus didn’t die on the cross for nothing. Especially when I realize how much God loves me, I shouldn’t take that for granted. No one should. God loves us, despite of all our sins and mistakes. We may stumble a thousand times, but God is always there, welcoming a helping hand. Sometimes, it’s hard for us to see it that way. I know, it’s tough. But everyday, whether we like it or not, there is always a spiritual warfare going on. But as children of God, we have to stay strong until the very end. In Matthew 24:13 Jesus says, “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” God loves us dearly and we need to keep that in mind. We don’t need the circumstances of this world, or the little pessimistic voices in our heads to defeat us. Because God is bigger than any of the trials we face.

Most People Say....

Most people say, I'm "too nice." But there is no such thing as too nice, because God has infinitive love that's never ending. Most people say, I'm "too honest." But if I were a liar, then the truth can't live with me. Most people say, I'm "so religious." But forget religion. It's the only thing that holds people back from God. It's a personal relationship, not rituals or religion that sets you free. Most people say, I'm "very pure." But I can honestly say that I wasn't always like this. However, there was a change in me. Most people say...a lot of things. It's just awkward because they don't see the same picture that I see. What I see...is God setting me free, making me a new creation, and forming me into the person He wants me to be. Ever since I gave my life to Jesus Christ, I've always been trying my best to live a life worthy for Him. So what most people say...are just funny labels on me.

In 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 Paul says,"So from now on we don't look at anyone the way the world does. At one time we looked at Christ in that way. But we don't anymore. Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!"

In Ephesians 4:21-24 Paul says,"I'm sure you heard of him. I'm sure you were taught by him. What you learned was the truth about Jesus. You were taught not to live in the way you used to. You must get rid of your old way in life. That's because it was polluted by longing for things that lead you down the wrong path. You were taught to be made new in your thinking. You were taught to start living a new life. It is created to be good and holy, just as God is."



Found this on tumblr

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his new Christian students to stand

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, you believe in GOD?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD good?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL?
Student : Yes.
Professor : 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)

Professor : You can’t answer, can you? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from?
Student : From…GOD…
Professor : That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn’t it? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil?

(Student did not answer)

Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the World, don’t they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who created them?

(Student had no answer)

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe The World around you. Tell me, son…have you ever feen GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.
Professor : Yet you still believe in HIM?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor : Yes, Faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No, sir. There isn’t…

(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events)

Student : 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 dilence in the Lecture Theatre)

Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as
Darkness?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn’t Darkness?
Student : 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,
You would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn’t you?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student : Sir, my point is, your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor : Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student : 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?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process,
yes, of course, I do.
Student : 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)

Student : 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)

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the
Professor’s brain?

(The Class broke out into laughter)

Student : 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)


Professor : I guess you’ll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir…Exactly!
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.

That student was ALBERT EINSTEIN.

I Want To Cry...

I want to cry again. I want to lose my sane when crying. I want to lose control while lifting my hands up in the air again. I want to have that feeling again. The feeling that nothing at all in the world can offer. I want to fall on my knees. I want to cry endlessly like I did last summer in Blue Mountain. Like I did…when I was praising the Lord. Those simple songs…that stuck from my childhood. They never made me cry. But I cried like crazy on that day. I long for that experience again. Because there is no greater feeling in the world, when you’re overwhelmed by God’s love.

"Something you have to forgive yourself for" from Tumblr

So…something I have to forgive myself for?Well,with every mistake I’ve done in the past, I have to forgive myself.You know why?Because with every mistake I repent to God,He has forgiven already.So why should I hang onto it?It will just make me sad when I don’t have to be.God’s a loving God who offers many chances.If I keep holding onto the past and keep regretting,how could I have ever possibly start fresh in a new beginning.How could I ever live my life happy?

In 1 John 1:19 it says,”But God is faithful and fair.If we admit that we have sinned,he will forgive us our sins.He will forgive every wrong thing we have done.He will make us pure.” So this is definitely something to smile about.I’ve done so many things in the past that still bring me pain every time I think about it.I was a complete jerk.But ever heard of the quote,”Burn down the bridges?”

It means I should forget about the past and leave it behind.I’ve been made new as a person and nothing’s gonna tear me down now.I did so many terrible things,I thought God could never take me back.But man,God’s love is so infinite and unconditional.

Because I gave up all I used to be,I am a changed person now.People nowadays look at me and say,”Dara,you’re so pure” or “You’re so religious.” Well….for one thing,I’ve tried to narrow down to people is that my faith in Jesus Christ is none other than a personal relationship.And another thing is…not all my life,was I a ‘clean’ person like I am today.I used to be a very bitter,cold,and mean person.I used to have such a bad mouth and used to curse in every sentence.I used not care about school.During that time,I was so far away from the Lord.Worst of all,there was a time I used to hate God and I actually lost my faith in Him.I was a sick and lost person.But somehow,through it all,I felt like there was something more to look forward to in life.That somehow,in this corrupted world,there was something more out that universe.Those thoughts kept tugging on my heart.I decided to get down on my knees and surrender all I had to a God that I couldn’t see.I started seeking Him wholeheartedly.

In Jeremiah 29:13 the Lord speaks,”If you look fore you wholeheartedly,you will find me.” And that’s exactly what happened.Now,for me to change,it didn’t happen overnight or in a blink of an eye.It took months….practically a year.I told my old ‘best friend’ that I had the goal to change my mouth.She ridiculed me and said,”Haha,once you start cursing you can never stop!” I was disappointed in her because she was so pessimistic and had no faith in the possibility of change.At that time,I expected her as my ‘best friend’ to even encourage me with my goal.For many months,I struggled to change.Sometimes those ugly words would spill out my mouth over and over again.But I kept trying to change because I believed that there was nothing impossible with God.I even tried control the words in my mind.You know why?Because cursing in your mind is just as bad as cursing out loud.If God knows every word that comes out of your mouth,He knows every word that flows in your mind.He knows all your thoughts.

In the chapter of Matthew 15 the Pharisees attempt to find fault with Jesus’s disciples,pointing out how they don’t wash their hands before they eat.In Matthew 15:11 Jesus Christ says,”What goes into your mouth does not make you ‘unclean’.It’s what comes out of your mouth that make you ‘unclean.’”

Basically,Jesus was talking about a person’s speech.A.K.A. profanity.This verse meant a lot to me.And during that time,I knew there was something wrong if a Christian would curse.It’s just not right,and God doesn’t approve of it.Eventually,in 8th grade I totally stopped cursing,from my mouth and my head.That made me very happy.And because I move a lot (23 times),I meet many different new people.And these new people in my life would have never guessed the type of person I used to be.Seriously. XD It’s funny how that works.In the beginning of 2009,I thought it would be best if I started reading the Bible more.And man,it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life!I was truly moved by the Holy Spirit since then.I totally had a new perspective in my life.I learned what it was like to finally be happy and to be free from sin.And when I look at the changes in me,I can truly say God is real and He does exist.Even though I can’t see Him,I can feel Him.God is so gracious and merciful.Even after I backslid,He still came after me and gave me the chance to change.Somehow,He saw the person who I could be and turned that into reality.It was all a part of His plan.“I’m not what I’ve done,I’m what I’ve overcome.” It’s from a song called,”What I’ve Overcome” by Fireflight.Haha here I am again typing so much. X) But basically I’m just trying to say,that as a human being,I’ve done a lot of stupid mistakes.But I have forgive myself for everything wrong I’ve done.Despite my imperfections,I have to learn to love myself.Because….God loves me.I have hope.I know I’m not alone.And as I continue to get through the rest of my life here on this earth,I will hang onto the hope that God has given me.God truly changed my life.And everyday,every hour,every minute,and in every second,God is working to change another person’s life.I’m just so grateful I got to know God.Me.I was once a despicable, unworthy, and hypocritical person.Yet,God would care to look my way and guide me to change into the person He wants me to be.He broke my chains and set me free.And hallelujah!Because of how great God has been to me,I would like to show others how great He is.It’s not fair that not everyone can see things this way.

In 2 Corinthians 4:18 Paul says,”So we don’t spend all our time looking at what we can see.Instead,we look at what can’t see.What can be seen lasts only a short time.But what can’t be seen will last forever.”

So I hope I can do things worthwhile during my lifetime here on this earth.I want to share the gospel and tell everyone about God.

Not Going Through This Battle Alone

I had a long and tedious day today.I was on my way home,relieved to know it was another lovely Friday.Better yet,I got over all my finals.I rushed over hastily down Main Street,to make it to my bus.Thankfully,I reached it just in time.I slipped my card in and then retrieved it.I lethargically sat down and slouched a little in my seat.It had been a long day for me.I stared blankly into space as the bus driver began to drive.I saw this young teenager who was about 16 or 17?I really don’t know.But I saw him take out a petite little book.I thought to myself hey,what is he reading?I noticed how the sides of the pages were golden and the words were all neatly aligned into two columns in each page.It made me think wait,is he reading the Bible?My eyes constantly bounced back and forth from his book to some other place.I didn’t want him to think that I was staring at him.Because that would be awkward. o_o Honestly,I was just curious to see if he was reading the Bible or not.When it was his stop,I saw him close his book.At the side it said NLT.Turns out,that means New Living Translation.I thought cool!!It is the Bible!!! Sometimes,it feels overwhelming to know that we’re living in a world which we know isn’t our permanent home.But of course,that thought can help us to remember that we have to be strong and that God is still there to help us carry through.It really blessed me though,to see another person,at such a young age,to read the Bible in a public place,such as the bus.And from this whole freshman year,I have met tons of people,who I can say are real Christians.It makes me happy to know that I am not alone.This world is a big place full of many different people.But through the flood of crowded people,there are also many souls who are saved by Jesus Christ.It just overwhelms me,because it’s been so many months since the last time I attended church.I’m just comforted by the reminder that I’m not going through this battle alone.And I thank God for this reminder.

Lately....

I’ve been scared for a lot of thing.I’m afraid if I’ll pass all my finals.I’m scared about the Regents coming up.I’ve been very concerned about the final grades on my transcript.Has it been that way all year long in high school?I’m talking about fear.Has fear been preoccupying me all this time?I feel so ashamed.Ashamed that I would be so wrapped into these cirumcstances.Now,I’m not saying that all freshman year,I was fearing over finals and whatnot.But the thing was…almost every single day the thought in my mind was "Let’s get through this day.Let’s get though this week.Let’s through this marking period."Was I living my life day in and day out emotionless?I study hard the night before every test.(I know..not a good habit)I get squashed with piles of homework everyday.Sometimes I end up with only 3 or 4 hours of sleep.I never sleep the required 8 hours.When I look at how I’ve been living this whole freshman year,I feel so empty inside,like all along I’ve been a lifeless zombie.Yes on a weekly basis,I take out my bible for comfort.But for a the past couple of months,I’ve realized that I haven’t been praying to God necessarily every day.Well,most of the time I do pray.But there are nights when I drop dead in bed,and because I’m so tired, I forget to pray.Can I deny the truth?Not at all.And it makes me want to cry,seeing how I’ve neglected so many things.I feel like I’ve been washed out along the current of the sea and all I’ve ever been doing was going with the flow.What happened to my purpose here in this world?Surely,I’m living here for so much more.God put me in this world for a reason.And I need to fulfill that reason.I want to live and breathe life again.I want God to move me again.I want to cry out tears and lose my sane for God again.Because it feels so good when I do that.I don’t care what the world thinks.I want to be that same old Dara again who was once crazy for God and everyday I had a good reason to smile.So it’s time to pick myself up and dust myself off.It’s time that I pick up the phone from the wake up call.I’m done with sleeping.It’s time that I start living life again…no matter what the circumstances are.

God Please Help Me...

Facebook Status:
"God please help me to get through all of the stress from finals,regents,and everything else... >.< I seriously need your help.I need to remember that 'I can do all things through Christ,who strengthens me.' Philippians 4:13 Please help me Lord."

Yeah I'm sorry.I know I don't write on my blog frequently as much as I did last year.It's just that nowadays I'm always busy in high school.I might be even more busy in college three years from now.I don't want a month to pass by without me posting a blog post.I want to show that God is still moving in my life.He's moving in every one of His children's lives.

I'm feeling pretty scared and anxious for the upcoming finals and regents.I'm not the brightest students around.I may have decent grades.I do try my hardest in school.But I'm a forgetful person.I learn something new in a lesson.We have a test...have a new lesson...and I forget what I learned in the previous lesson.So yeah...I barely remember what I've learned throughout the entire school year.That's why I'm studying hard and praying that I'll make it through.I know I will...because God is here to help.

A Precious Sacrifice

You were hurt so much by the sins of man.
But instead of punishment you had a different plan.
Because of your love so infinite and great.
You carried the shame with all the weight.
As the Father you gave your most precious Son.
We became forgiven when the sacrifice was done.
You took all the lashes, the scrapes, and the pain.
You bled for a world that had no sane.
You came unto Earth from heaven above.
You were blameless yet you took all the shame for love.
There is proof that you are God because you rose from the grave.
It is written that you are mighty to save.
It brings me to my knees to know you did this all.
For us foolish humans who were bound to fall.
Lost and confused, we had no real direction.
We are nothing compared to your holy perfection.
But you changed that all when you opened up our eyes.
You made everything clear from the devil's disguise.
You gave us real life and guided us through.
And now we're set free by our faith in you.
And I want to thank you for all that you've done.
Thank you Abba Father, Holy Spirit, and Son.

Written By: Dara Jane Sy
Copyright © 2010

John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.That whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 3:24-25: The free gift of God's grace makes all of us right with him.Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free.God gave him as a sacrifice to pay for sins.So he forgives the sins of those who have faith in his blood.

Matthew 28:2-7: There was a powerful earthquake.An angel of the Lord came down from heaven.The angel went to the tomb.He rolled back the stone and sat on it.His body shone like lightning.His clothes were as white as snow.The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.The angel said to the women,"Don't be afraid.I know that you are looking for Jesus,who was crucified.He is not here!He has risen,just as he said he would!Come and see the place where he was lying.Go quickly!Tell his disciples,'He has risen from the dead.He is going ahead of you into Galilee.There you will see him.'Now I have told you."

Happy Easter everyone!!!We obviously know it's not about the dyed eggs,the bunny,or the chocolate. o.o But about God's most precious sacrifice.I know Easter is only one day in a year.But it definitely is a great reminder to us of what our God has done.It's sad to say that sometimes I get so preoccupied by my own circumstances in life,that I sometimes forget what Jesus Christ has done.Well I don't literally forget,but I don't acknowledge it at times.I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.That's why we should glorify God in every way possible.He truly does deserve it.Thank God for what he's done!The thought of this sometimes just makes me cry really hard.But anyway that's all I want to say.God bless you all!! XD

The Love And The Patience of God

I feel like I've had my heart bitter and hard for too long.I remembered how irritable I was earlier when this week started.I was having a rough Wednesday.I felt like I wanted to shut myself out from the whole world just for a little while.But of course,I didn't have that option when I still had a whole day of school ahead of me.Life has been rough for me nowadays.It especially hasn't been easy this past week.It was a miracle when I had a snow day on Friday 2/26/10.It added onto my usual two day weekend,making it a three day weekend.That made me very happy.However,it was tragedy for me when I came back to school;and all the teachers threw all these homeworks,tests,and quizzes in my face out of nowhere.I mean sure,hey,it's high school.Of course I'd have to expect a lot of work.And of course I know I have an obligation to respect my teachers as well.But it made me feel bottled up inside with so many mixed up emotions.It made me feel stressed,miserable,overwhelmed,and even angry.What provoked me the most,was my Chorus test.I barely understood the rhythm practices and stuff.It made me feel angry that I was expected to learn everything by Thursday and Friday.The teacher especially made me tense when she said that this test will be 75% of our grade for this marking period.And she was obviously not kidding.Earlier this week some person hit my in the head with a racket in gym.Of course it was accidental,but that also provoked me.The days passed by slowly and I kept hanging on.I continuously dozed off and zoned out in some classes,when I tried not too.Sometimes it's simply just hard for me as one person.Sometimes I couldn't help but burst into tears.Sometimes I couldn't help but ask why?Over and over again I asked why why why?I'd wonder if this feeling was what they called depression.But somehow...through the pain and all the tears,I feel that God tells me something very important.But He didn't just tell me this now.He's told me many times before,in many kinds of ways.Sometimes whenever my parents would correct me of my mistakes,I feel like God spoke through them to give me reminders.Sometimes the randoms acts of kindness from complete total strangers, help me to feel God's love.One time,an elderly woman on the busy street tapped my shoulder just to tell me that I dropped my wallet.Sometimes the beauty of the sun peering through white puffy clouds,or the gracefulness of rain pouring down,brings a smile to my face.Sometimes I hear the Holy Spirit gently speaking inside of me for comfort.No matter how God shows it,it certainly gives me good reminders.It makes me think of how long God has waited for the people of this world to open up their eyes and apologize.In 2 Peter 3:8-9 it says,"Dear friends,here is one thing you must not forget.With the Lord a day is like a thousand years.And a thousand years are like a day.The Lord is not slow to keep His promise.He is not slow in the way some people understand it.He is patient with you.He doesn't want anyone to be destroyed.Instead,He wants all people to turn away from their sins." With a kind of patience like that,God is truly merciful and loving.I believe that God's love is a special kind of love.It's not like the dead, plastic, temporary, and shallow "love" that comes from this world.The love that comes from God is infinite.This whole entire time,God has been hurt by the people He created.Can you imagine God giving His one only Son to the world who hurts Him so much?He does this by His grace, mercy, and love.A well known verse already shows this in John 3:16,"God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son.Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." People who take Jesus Christ in as their personal Lord and Savior,will build an intimate relationship with Him.As they get to know God they start to understand more things.I guess everyone has their bad days and rough moments.At times like these it's normal to feel like your about to fall off the edge.However,in 1 Corinthians 13:12 it says,"Now we see only a dim likeness of things.It is as if we were seeing them in a mirror.But someday we will see clearly.We will see face to face.What I know now is not complete.But someday I will know completely,just as God knows me completely." This verse goes for the times we can't help but ask questions.But we just have to be patient and hang onto God and our faith.In Matthew 24:13 it says,"But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." I know sometimes,situations in this life can shift my emotions.But I can't allow myself to give in so easily.No other child of God should either.We live with the life of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit lives in us.We are new creations so why must we act in the same way we were before we knew God?How would that make us any different from the people of this world?How would we be the salts and the lights then?All I can say is...the love and the patience of God truly brings me down to my knees.It reminds me of my true place and it humbles me.It makes me feel determined to try and live my life with that kind of love and patience.But I know I have a LONG way to go.As a human being alone,my own knowledge is already foolish.I'll just fall down without God on my side.That's why I ask for help and wisdom from God.I encourage you to do the same.Because in Proverbs 3:5-6 it says,"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.Don't rely on your own understanding.In all your ways,remember Him.Then He will make your paths smooth and straight." Life truly is tough here on this imperfect, temporal, and corrupt world.But that's why God is here to help us.He has always been here,willing to help.We just have to give up on our stubbornness.I'm so glad I can find hope and comfort whenever I cry for God's help.

Snow Day 2/10/10

Yesterday something unexpected happened.I was sitting casually in lab in a somewhat sluggish way.I was never too fond of lab.I always thought it was complicated.Everyone was talking about the possibility of a snow day.During that moment I remembered how I prayed for a snow day,even last week.I thought in my head Lord God please let there be snow.Bring a blizzard if it's your will.Suddenly out of nowhere there was an announcement.It was Mr. Athy the principal.He said that there was "depressing" news.Everyone started smiling when he said that word.Then he said that school would be cancelled the very next day.Everyone in the room started screaming for the rest of the announcement,so we didn't hear anything else he said.Even my teacher was rejoicing.I found it ironic that even teachers would want a snow day, but they are human being as well.I felt so happy.Earlier this week, when the weekend was over I felt terrible inside.I didn't want to go back to school.I asked God if I could have a fever.Yup...that's how desperate I was to get out of it.However, it's pretty foolish because I'm practically asking God to hurt me if I asked for a fever.I was a bit afraid that maybe asking for a snow day was selfish of me.I know that God hates laziness.But God knows all my thoughts and feelings.He certainly knows what's in my heart.He knows how stressed I can be from school.I guess God's just merciful like that.It truly brings a smile on my face, to know that I can count on God with everything.After all this time, I should know that God will never let me down no matter what.He is the creator of the universe after all.And because I pray with faith and I believe with all my heart in God, I know I will be answered.

In 1 John 5:14-15 it says:There is one thing we can be sure of when we come to God in prayer.If we ask anything in keeping with what He wants, He hears us.If we know that God hears what we ask for, we know we have it.

Hallelujah isn't that great?!As children of God,we have the power of prayer in our hands.All we need to do is put our faith into it, not doubt.

In Matthew 21:21-22 it says:Jesus replied,"What I'm about to tell you is true.You must have faith and not doubt.Then you can do what was done to the fig tree.And you can say to this mountain,'Go and throw yourself into the sea.' It will be done.If you believe, you will achieve what you ask for when you pray.

I know what you're thinking...Some story..talking about a snow day.Well, can I say?It's a big deal to me since it rarely happens in the area I live in.Besides,I have much more bizarre experiences than this.I pray to God for almost anything.But those moments are left for other stories here on my blog.Goodbye and enjoy your snow day!BTW 15th Happy Birthday to my friend Aubrey!! ;)

The Year I Came To Know God

It might be a little late right now.I wanted to talk about my year of 2009.Mostly people would talk about their year before or around when the clock strikes twelve. It's 11:02 AM as I'm typing this sentence.It's the first day of 2010.I'm a bit overwhelmed by the fact that I have to return to school in two days.But I'm happy to know it's a brand new year.It surprises me how emotional people can be in this phase of change.Some people are just so attached to 2009 and some people aren't ready to move on.But for some reason...I'm ready to move on.Just yesterday morning,I didn't make a big deal over the fact that it was New Year's Eve.I was just sitting sluggishly in front of the computer,continuing my tedious homework.But as the hours passed by,I noticed how people expressed their feelings about 2009 in the live feed of my facebook homepage.I thought to myself wow...I had no idea people could be so emotional about this.But now that I think about it,there's so much to be thankful for.Especially since 2009 was truly my year of change.I know that usually New Year's resolutions go downhill.(Let's get real..people neglect them...right?)But sometimes New Year's resolutions do prevail if the person is truly motivated about it.Well my New Year's resolution for 2009,was to start reading the Bible.On January 4,2009 I started reading the book of Matthew.I didn't know why I picked it.But I guess I just wanted to start fresh in the New Testament.I prayed hard to God that I could learn and memorize many verses.Little did I know that God would open up my eyes to so much more things.The Holy Spirit was definitely working inside of me.I was finally fed with the food that my spirit longed to consume all these years.I was beyond content.I felt like my days were overflowing with blessings.At every corner and aspect of my life,I always had another reason to thank God.My mentality began to broad like the horizon.I began to see the world and the universe in a whole new way.I know mentioned this before.I mentioned it several times on my blog.But I never get tired of saying these things.Because these are the experiences that turned my whole life around.I was like a brutal monster back then,with all my sinful,wicked,and foolish ways.My decisions were absurd and so I stumbled along the pathway.But God lifted up the curse in me and broke me free from these chains of sin.He only did that when I was truly seeking with a thirsty earnest heart.He only did that when I believed with all my faith.Yes...I was born into a Christian family.Yes...I was trained to believe in Him.And yes...I did believe that there was a God all my life.But I never truly got to know Him personally like I did in 2009,when I started reading the Bible.The Bible does wonders in your life that you've never even dreamed of or thought possible. That's where you'll find God.That's why I will remember 2009 and keep it close to my heart.Because 2009 is the very year that I truly came to know God."I don't know what tomorrow will hold,but I know who holds tomorrow." Quoted by a preacher whose name I don't know of.God will take good care of His children.Thats why I'm not afraid of 2010.Happy New Year everyone! :)