Battle Cry 2009

Today when you go out on the streets,what do you see?At daylight the town or city seems peaceful and harmless.But have you ever stop to think about the things that happen at night?When the sun goes down and the moon comes up?Has it ever crossed your mind in what teenagers do?They probably smoke, drink, take drugs, have premarital sex, and other things I don't have to spell out.This year 2009 holds a lost generation filled with confused teens.Sometimes they do these things because they think it could solve their problems.Sadly...these things just make their problems worse.Only a certain group of people in this world understand the solution to these issues.Jesus.Many years ago a group of people noticed these issues and decided to take a stand.They wanted to recreate the generation.They had a vision of thousands of youth shouting and crying out for God.They had a vision of the ones that held the future.They wanted to encourage us as teenage Christians to be the salts and lights of this world...to take a stand and conquer darkness.Especially if we're living in the urban area day by day passing by bad influence.Ron Luce, Adam Durso, Jentezen Franklin, Tye Tribbett, and many other people have been working together to make this all possible.They held their hope on us.Because of Battle Cry thousands of teenagers are now saved.April 17-18 the weekend that just passed has been a life changing moment for me.It opened up my eyes that every Child of God should set an example to the crippled fallen world.It made me realize that I am not alone.There are millions of Christians out there hanging onto their faith just as I am.That puts a smile on my face.Bands like Lecrae, Israel, Unhindered, and Jeremy Camp were there.I cried when a guy from Unhindered said,"Just imagine God ripping off the roof of IZOD Center and pouring down His love for you right now".I couldn't help myself.I broke into tears as I was touched by the Holy Spirit.At that very moment I knew I was loved by the Creator of this universe.It made me feel so grateful how God would care to love me.Of all people...me.Sometimes at night I'd think about that before I'd sleep and I'd get this warm feeling in my heart,knowing God truly cares for me.Speakers like Ron Luce and Jentezen Franklin really inspired me.Ron Luce talked about our NEEDS and our WANTS.He said wants are things we desire for but can live without.We might desperately long for it at some time and when we have it we eventually neglect it like last year's technology or fashion.Needs are things we seriously have to have or else we'll die without it.Like the food, air, water, clothes, and a house is something we need.We will need it in your daily lives.His question was "Do you treat Jesus like a need or a want?"If Jesus is a want you'll need Him at some point then eventually forget about Him.But if Jesus is a need you'll need Him every single day of your life and you can't live without Him.Want my honest opinion?Jesus is a NEED to me.Jesus and I are inseparable.I talk to Him everyday.I ask Him for advice and pray to Him for guidance.If I didn't have Him at my side I'd cry and be lost.I'm the stray lamb who was found and He's the shepherd.He leads me.I'd be crippled and afraid without Jesus at my side.Jentezen Franklin talked about the Spirit of the Python.He said it was mentioned in the Book of Acts in the Bible.When you go along with the crowd of this world and hang around with them,and you sin it won't feel so bad.That's when the Python starts grabbing you.Slowly by slowly the more you sin the harder the Python squeezes you.When you go too far with the sins the Python takes away your last breath that breathes life and you are dead.That's what will happen when you play along with the world...doing immoral things.You will end up killed.This is what cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol can do to you.Those two messages really inspired me.There were many other great things that happened at Battle Cry.But in order for you to know them you'll have to see it for yourself.Join our cry for this generation.You won't regret it I guarantee you.

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Be Ashamed Then God Will Be Ashamed of You

Today my class and I were painting our tile designs for our school.Here in Bleeker Middle School or J.H.S. 185,it's not the best schools around.Our building doesn't look so cool.So our school had an artist from Great Neck (where I used to live) come over.So in 7th and 8th period we painted our designs on tiles.We were going to used all our finished tiles and put it on a wall to make our school look more decent.This year we focused on social justice.Many people painted peace signs,hearts,love,the earth,and the American flag.I decided to make a cross on a hill with a sunrise peering over it.One thing the people in my school don't know is I wanted to express my love for Jesus Christ.I wanted to spread a message that God loves everyone very much.I had four tile designs.One was with the cross on a hill,another was with the word "God" inside the fish symbol(fisher of men),another was with the word "loves" in a heart,and the last was the word "you" with a flower background.Altogether it was a message that said "God loves you" with a picture of the cross.Unfortunately I never got to finish the four tiles within the two periods.But I finished one tile.It was the most important tile of all.It was the cross on the grassy hill in front of the sunrise.And when I think about it,the picture of the cross says it all.When you look at it and think about the sacrifice Jesus Christ went through you will just know how much God loves you.When the time was up and I had to give in my tile, I went to the table of crowded people staring at the students' designs.I held my tile carefully in my hands.This kid name Xiao(I don't know if I spelled his name right) looked at my tile and said,"That's racist right there!You're showing the Christian religion!"I glared at him ready to defend my King and my God.I said,"Okay this is not racist.It's not like one race can love God.Anyone can love God.And I'm just expressing my love for my God."He stood there dumbfounded and a little creeped out saying,"Okay..."Back then when I was younger and people made fun of my God I used to cry.But now I'm a little wiser and stronger not to do that.Being a born again christian does not mean having a religion.In fact once you devote your heart and your life to Jesus Christ you have no religion.You have a relationship with Jesus Christ.As a christian you don't have strict practices and rituals.You don't have to recite prayers.You live freely through Christ and as a Child of God.All you have to do is follow the Bible and trust in the Lord.One thing for sure is in Matthew 5:11 it says,"Blessed are you when people mock and hurt you because of me".So I shouldn't feel intimidated in the first place.Another thing is in Matthew 10:33 it says,"But whoever is ashamed of me before men,I will be ashamed of him(her) before my Father in heaven".So I am definitely not ashamed.I love God and that is that.I could care less if people label me a Jesus Freak or call me crazy.What about you?The choice is all yours.Be ashamed then God will be ashamed of you.

Death of Faith

Have you ever heard of the verse James 2:17?In James 2:17 Jesus said,"Faith without work is dead."I truly believe in that.Because last month God made a big miracle for me.I moved to College Point,Queens two months ago from Great Neck,Long Island.I went to Hannah's school J.H.S. 185 or as I'd like to call it Bleeker Middle School.I was a little sad about my class 802.It was a whole different environment.Most of the kids in the class were obnoxious and unfriendly.No one wanted to be friends with me in that class.I made friends with Abigail,Jasmine,Deborah,and Isabella.(Grace is another one of my friends in 803)They were all in 823 which happens to be a top class.I didn't make it to a top class because I got 3's on my state tests.During December I prayed hard to God and asked if by any chance I could move to 823.I asked if there was a possibility that if the principal did move me above all SP classes it could have been 823.One day on January 14 our class 802 had detention for misbehaving.I was punished along with all the others even though I didn't misbehave!I was infuriated and cried at detention.Later that day Mrs. Long yelled at the class and said how tired she was of their behavior.Then suddenly I felt like God spoke into my heart.Like a little whisper He told me to do something and take action.He told me to write a letter to all my teachers complaining my rights.So in the letter I mentioned about the detention and how unfair it was that I got it even though I didn't do anything wrong.I said it was the same exact thing that happened to Jesus Christ.I said that He died on the cross just for preaching about love and compassion.He never did anything wrong.He just died for the foolish sins of this world.I begged for a transfer in the letter.A week after I gave out those letters the Dean of 8th grade Ms. Davis gave me the schedule to 823.I was welling up tears of joy.I was just so happy.I didn't know how to repay God except just praise His Holy Name.God works in small ways just to help us out in life and turns it into big things.God is so amazing and yet indescribable.No one can measure what He's worth!Hallelujah!!I'm so happy to be in God's hands.I'll let Him lead the way in my life.Whatever I pray for must also include action.Faith without work is dead.If I never had the nerves to write a letter like that I'd never end up in 823.So keep faith alive by putting effort!Don't take the death of faith!

To Hear God's Voice

After a year of living in Lodi,NJ my parents and I moved to Parsons,NY.It was really a big change for me.I went into a whole new different environment.From a clean friendly environment into a place where dogs eat dogs.It was like every man for himself.Well,in my case it was every girl for herself.Parsons was a cruel place.A lot more cruel than Totowa,NJ.I was in fifth grade at the time when this happened.It was like a pattern in my life.I moved into a school called P.S. 86.There were kids in that school who cursed all the time.I got a little intimidated by that.I thought kids who were in fifth grade were too young to curse.But they didn't seem to care.P.S. 86 was a bad school.All the students there fooled around.I only had two friends at that school but they were always into a conversation that they would leave me out of it.I felt really left out.There were so many bullies at that school.These two obnoxiuos girls would tease me.There was this really mean girl named Dulce.She treated me horribly.I missed all my friends from Lodi,NJ.I was so depressed.Then one morning at breakfast,I started crying through the tears of pain that I was going through.Suddenly I heard my favorite song.It was called "Back In His Arms Again By Mark Schultz".I wasn't imagining it.No one was playing it.It just came to me.Through my pain God comforted me by singing that song.It's too hard explain but it was so beautiful.It wasn't Mark's voice either.But its just like how the Bible would explain it"It's like the voice of a thousand angels,the sound of a blowing trumpet,the sound of rushing waters".It was miraculous.You may assume I was just hearing things but I wasn't imagining it.I know deep down in my heart that God sang to me. A few months later my parents and I moved to a place called Jamaica where new obstacles and trials awaited me,just lurking as I travel this path.

In God's Hands :D

I remembered how miserable I was in fourth grade.You must be wondering why I was so sad in fourth grade.Well,let me tell you the story.My parents and I just moved from Pelham,NY to Rochelle Park,NJ to Totowa,NJ.It was affecting my education.I also had great friends in Pelham and Rochelle Park.But when I moved into Totowa,I had no friends at all.When I tried to be friendly to people,they would ignore me.When I asked a question to them like "Where's the cafeteria?" because I was a new student, they wouldn't even respond me.I was a total outcast.No one even tried talking to me except the teacher.I was so depressed.Then I thought why would the kids do this to me?Then I realized something.Totowa was a white neighborhood.There are hardly any minorities.I guess that's why they were discriminating me because of my skin color or something.One girl in art class called my drawing "stupid".The thought made me cry.I couldn't say anything back for some reason.At the point I would just break into tears,I started to turn to God.Sure...I was a born again Christian since I was a toddler.I would always sing to Jesus,but I was an immature Christian who didn't take God that seriously.I would always play with my toys,watch tv and stuff...but never pray.But during that time of depression I had to turn to God.My parents would try to comfort me but it wasn't enough.Then day by day I was happier.(singing christian songs,reading the bible,and praying)Then,one day a girl asked me to sit with her at lunch.I was so happy and thought wow I finally have a friend!But at lunch one of the snobs(who treated me badly) sat with her.It was awkward and I felt uncomfortable.Then she whispered loudly that I could hear "Ugh,Ugh,do you like Dara?"I got so hurt by those words.Then the other girl whispered so quietly I couldn't hear what she was saying back.Then afterward they both said sarcastically"Oh,you know there's this girl in this school who doesn't have any friends.Yeah,I feel so bad for her".Likely story!!!Whatever.So later that night I cried so hard and forgot to pray to God before sleeping that night.I had a dream.I was running around the backyard of where my mom works.I was minding my own business when suddenly the sky turned dark.I walked over with curiosity.Then lightning struck down close to me.I was so scared!I assumed it was the power of God.Then,the sky suddenly turned pink.White puffy clouds came.Then these giant hands came down to earth.They were white as snow and had the features of a ghost.But I wasn't scared at all.I knew exactly who it was.It was my God,my father,my rock,my savior,and my everything.I smiled and cried tears of joy.And I knew I was in good hands.=]Ever since then,I was never intimidated by those kids in school.Months later,my parents and I moved to a place called Lodi,NJ.It was an awesome place!I had a lot of friends there who respected me for who I was.So,to those who just read this story and who don't believe in Jesus,it's okay if you think I'm crazy,but I'm not.And to those who just read this story and are Christians,I hope you believe in me that this story is true.Because God can do anything,even in dreams.

8th Grade So Stressful!

*Sigh* 8th Grade can be exhausting and stressful.I have lots and lots of homework to do.There are more tests and quizes than there usually were in 7th grade.I run so many laps in gym.And not to mention...I just recently moved from Great Neck to Port Washington and then from Port Washington back to Great neck because of situations in life.But luckily because of my dad I didn't transfer schools and I'm happy about that.No matter what happens in life there is always a bright side I guess.At least I can figure out one thing for sure,through whatever is going on in life Jesus will always be at my side even through thick and thin....