Who Are We?

Who are we to judge when it's God who judges us?
Who are we to ridicule,gossip,accuse,and fuss?
Who are we to use pointing fingers and blame.
We are all Christ's children and are all the same.
We stand as one body,so why must we fight?
Why take sides,labeling "wrong" and "right"?
A house that's divided will just fall apart.
We as the people were the church from the start.
Have we forgotten our purpose that God has given us?
Or are we just hanging here waiting for it to fade to dust?
How long will we lay in our little comfort zones?
And carelessly hear the streets of cries and moans?
Where is the mercy and love God has shown?
Can it be seen through our hearts?Is it visible alone?
Can the people of this world truly see it with their eyes?
No!They are blind with deception and disguise!
The things that are unseen are more real than what is seen!
Lies are infested all over the shows of the tv screen!
Illusions always surround us here and there!
Why are we so caught up with this?Why aren't we aware?
Do statuses and amount of cash matter in heaven above?
Does God require money,when all He cares for is love?
He cares that we stay humble and trust onto Him.
He cares that we shine a light in a pathway that's dim.
He cares that we put work in our faith and strive.
And that our family is fed with what we work to survive.
He cares about the heart and our spirits within us.
He cares about our faith and that it's Him who we trust.
So with our faith we must help one another.
Because our love is like sister and brother.
With every direction and step of the way.
We must encourage each other day by day.
Rather than judging without any rights.
That's God's job.We're the salts and lights.
Like a city on a hill we can't just hide.
We have to show God's glory and be the guide.
We know that God has done so much for us.
It's time we serve Him because it is a must.
We live in a world that's corrupted and heartbroken.
It's time we fix things with the gospel that is spoken.
It's time we all wake up and serve God with full heart.
We gain nothing of this world.It would just tear our soul apart.
So let's deny ourselves and carry our cross.
Let's follow Jesus Christ and save a world that's lost.

Written By:Dara Jane Sy
Dedicated To:The Lord Jesus Christ

"I said to myself,'God will judge godly and sinful people alike.He has a time for every act.He has a time for everything that is done.'" ~ Ecclesiastes 3:17
"People will be judged on the day God appoints Jesus Christ to judge their secret thoughts.That's part of my good news." ~ Romans 2:16
"What good is it if someone gains the whole world but loses his soul?Or what can anyone trade for his soul?" ~ Matthew 16:26
"So we don't spend all our time looking at what we can see.Instead,we look at what we can't see.What can be seen lasts only a short time.But what can't be seen will last forever." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18
"There is one body.But it has many parts.Even though it has many parts,they make up one body.It is the same with Christ." ~ 1 Corinthians 12:12
"Your are the salt of the earth.But suppose the salt loses its saltiness.How can it be made salty again?It is no longer good for anything.It will be thrown out.People walk over it.Your are the light of the world.A city on a hill can't be hidden.Also,people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl.Instead,they put it on its stand.Then it gives light to everyone in the house." ~ Matthew 5:13-15
"Everyone should provide for his relatives.Most of all,everyone should take care of his own family.If he doesn't,he has left the faith.He is worse than an unbeliever." ~ 1 Timothy 5:8
"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." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6
"Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples.He said,'If anyone wants to come after me,he must deny himself.He must pick up his cross and follow me.If he wants to save his life,he will lose it.But if he loses his life for me and for the good news,he will save it.'" Mark 8:34-35

On My Side 24/7

Wow...high school is...I really don't know.I don't know how to explain it in words.There are points where it is okay.There are points where it is not okay.But I manage to keep pulling through.I've been going through many emotional phases these past three weeks.I felt that I had to cling to God even tighter than usual.And in every moment of the day,I would just pray silently in my head to Him.And of course I'd feel a lot better afterward.Every time I feel like I'm just losing my strength I would keep telling myself in my head it will be okay!God gives me strength!If I give up now I'll end up nowhere!I'll be fine!Everyday from 5:30 AM to who knows when(I sleep at random times at night depending on my homework O.o),I'm always up striving and constantly fighting while lack of sleep.I would have to take the public buses and switch on them vice versa,which could be a real pain,especially when I have my heavy backpack and several books in my arms.The loads of work is pressuring me also.The past few tests have made me tense but I'm so glad I passed them all.And I know for one thing,is that I couldn't have juggled all this without God's help.He's helped me through it all that it makes me want to cry.I know I have a long way to go,considering this is just the start of freshman year.But I'm just glad to know that God is on my side 24/7!

God Makes Me Strong

What could make a person so small?Is it fear?Is it chaos?Is it change?What?There will always be something in a person's life that brings them these feelings.There will be things that we can't hide from but forcibly face.I know that in a matter of days I have to face the one thing that I fear...high school.As I've said before,it scares me.I know that counting my numbered days until high school makes me feel so weak and small.There's this song called,"How He Loves" by David Crowder Band.There's a couple of lines that fit my situation.It goes ♫He is jealous for me.Loves like a hurricane.I am a tree,bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.♫I feel that way right now.I'm feel so helpless and vulnerable.But I know with God,everything is possible.After all I've been through,I shouldn't give into fear now.I know there are times in my life where I measure myself really small.But I have God who's big and incredible!Sometimes it may not be fear,chaos,or change alone that makes me "small", but my underestimation in myself and God!Wow!Do I feel foolish or what?!In Philippians 4:13 it says,"I can do everything by the power of Christ.He gives me strength."In Matthew 17:20-21 Jesus said,"Because your faith is much too small.What I'm about to tell you is true.If you have faith as small as a mustard seed,it is enough.You can say to this mountain,'Move from here to there.'And it will move.Nothing will be impossible for you."I should just have faith the size of a mustard seed.Its possiblities grow endlessly!I should just keep believing and trusting in God.I know that God will protect me wherever I go.I am not alone.God the Almighty Creator of the universe will help me throughout my battles in high school.Sure I have many changes and adjustments to put up with,but my God hasn't changed,and He never will.He's stuck with me through the chaos in middle school and He'll do the same in high school.I thank God for all the support and guidance.He's the only reason why I get up every morning to strive through each day.He's the only reason why I smile.He's the only reason I've finally reach my contentment in life.Nothing can be more better than that.I know high school will be scary.And I know there will be many other fears I have to face in life.But at least I don't have to face these things alone.I may be weak but God makes me strong.

He Loves Me

I have a feeling in my heart.It's usually rare that I'd feel this way.Rare that I'd cry uncontrollably and lose my sane all because of the love and mercy He has given me.This love that is so strong and precious.I don't ever want to lose it or take it for granted.It's the greatest love of all.No one else could possibly offer it.Do you know who I'm talking about?Still trying to guess?It's God!The holy,almighty,and most high God loves me...pitiful me.I'm not trying to condemn myself.But from the very beginning I was separated from Him because of sin.But He took me back.He fought just to take me back.He suffered,died,and resurrected just to take me back.I'm just a speck of His creation.I'm only human.I disappoint Him.But He went through all that because He loves me.And He went through all that also because He loves everyone else...unconditionally.All my life I had my own struggles to face.I had my ups and my downs.My faith was like a roller coaster before.When I was a little girl,I really loved Jesus so much.I'd dance,sing,and clap up to the point I lost my sane.People called me "little Jesus freak" or "God crazy".But a few years after I was up for a bumpy road.I backslid then asked for forgiveness.I was close to God at some point,then far away at another.After years until now I fully changed and turned 360° around.Back then I thought that reading the Bible was boring.But last year a pastor convicted me to read it more.He kept saying so many verses to me from the top of his head.My eyes grew big with shock.So when January came I started off with the book of Matthew.I learned so many things and was so fascinated by Jesus's beautiful words.I especially loved the figurative language.Then I read John,1 Corinthians,and so forth.Now I'm reading Acts.I believe that reading the Bible is the best decision I've ever made.It changed my life completely.Living life was more easy,that even with difficulties around I still smiled.I began to have different views of the world.And lately I've been showered with blessings,even with ones I didn't ask for.This year I've never been more close to God than now.We are inseparable.It's such an amazing experience.I just came from Blue Mountain this weekend.It brought me close to God as well.I declared my faith in Jesus publicly through water baptism for the very first time.When we were singing I felt tears streaming down my face.Uncontrollably, I cried.Word after word,lyric after lyric,the simple little songs that never made me cry,made me cry there.I felt the presence of God there and Holy Spirit dancing within me.Then I did something I never did before in public,church,or in front of people.I lifted my hands high as I sang and cried with shaky voice.Then today we had a preacher named Jeff Clark.He talked about how God WANTS us because He LOVES us."God wants you!God loves you!"He boldly declared.The words rang out into my ears.My eyes welled up with tears.I found myself crying uncontrollably once again.Just the thought of the righteous almighty God loving me just makes me cry.Jeff Clark said that we don't need to go to drastic measures or go over the top just to serve God.The light we shine for the world is already enough.We don't have to change anything for God to love us.All we have to do is let Him embrace us.We should just trust Him and let Him lead the way for what He wants us to do.It made me cry even more when he said that.These past few months I was trying so hard to do something for God.I was so weary of my every action and every step.But just today I realize that God loves me for the way I am.I don't need to change anything.I said that I wanted to be used by God for His glory.But I was wrong for being so determined in the wrong time.I should just wait and see in God's perfect time when He will use me and let me make a difference.Later on my parents brought me the the preacher.They asked him to pray for me.He asked for my name and age.And just instantly he prayed for me as if he knew me personally.I guess the Holy Spirit gave him a discernment about me.He prayed that I wouldn't be fearful.He prayed that I could be an example to my friends and family.He prayed about my future and what God has in store for me.He said that He was thankful that I knew that God loved me and that I knew God well.When He ended the prayer he smiled at me and said "God bless you Dara".His prayer blessed me and made me cry.Right now I'm back home.My experience in Blue Mountain will always be memorable.And I learned that God loves me just as I am and I don't need to go crazy in serving Him.For now I'll just go on with this life.I'll do my daily routine and do as I always do.I'll talk to God everyday.I'll be the salt and light.I'll be an oddball yet outshine the rest.I'll preserve souls with the salt that I pour.Until then I'll just live as Dara Jane Sy simply because He loves me.

A Pair of Shoes

Last night I had a dream that still overwhelms me right now.This is my dream.I was in this big mansion that I've never seen before.It was covered in darkness as if it were night but only a few rooms had some light.I was playing with my friends and I took off my old blue shoes.We were playing for a while and then suddenly my mom told me that it was almost time to go.So I looked for my shoes.For some reason I couldn't find them.Also my socks mysteriously disappeared as well.Then I started to panic because it was nowhere to be found.I prayed hard to God that I could find my shoes soon before we leave or else my dad would get annoyed.I started running barefoot everywhere in the mansion just to find my shoes.I walked outside on the sidewalk to look for my shoes.Then I went back inside to check every room and every closet.I ran passed every obstacle,twist,and turn.It began to feel like a maze.My mind was spinning.Then out of nowhere a familiar yet strange man walked towards me and asked,"What are you looking for Dara?""I'm looking for my shoes.I prayed really hard to God that I can find them soon,"I replied.He started snickering and managed to say,"Ha!You prayed to God!?There is no such thing as God!"I started to glare at him.I scolded,"How dare you say that!There is a God.I could say more if I want just to persuade you,but right now I have no time.I have to find my shoes before it's too late."I started running again.I thought to myself that this all seems...unreal.I thought am I dreaming?Then I forced myself to open up my eyes.
And there it was...reality.I woke up back to my familiar room and saw the sun shining through my window.I looked up ahead to my shoe rack and there laid my old ragged blue shoes.The one that I was looking for in my dream.Then so many questions started to pop up in my mind.What was up with that dream?Was God trying to send a message?And why did that mysterious man say such a horrible thing?I shook my head off and went back to sleep for a few minutes.Then mom knocked on my door for some breakfast.I told my parents about my dream.Then my mom gave me this book called,"Understanding the Dreams you Dream" by Ira Milligan.It had dream interpretations based on scripture.So of course everything in it is true.So I started looking up words that had to do with my dream...

Shoes:Gospel,covenant,preparation
Verse~Wear on your feet what will prepare you to tell the good news of peace. Ephesians 6:15
Dark Blue(my sneakers are blue):God's word,blessing,healing,good will
Verse~The blueness of the wound cleanse away evil. Proverbs 20:30a
Sidewalk/Path:Life,private walk with God,gospel,salvation
Verse~The Lord tells the people of Judah,"Stand where the roads cross and look around.Ask where the old paths are.Ask for the good paths and walk on it.Then your hearts will find rest in me"...
Jeremiah 6:16
Barefoot:Without preparation
Verse~Make level paths for your feet to walk on.Then those who have trouble walking won't be disabled.Instead,they will be healed.Try your best to live in peace with everyone.Without holiness no one will see the Lord.Be sure that no one misses God's grace.See to it that a bitter plant doesn't grow up.If it does,it will cause trouble.It will pollute many people. Hebrews 12:13-15
Running:Striving,working out one's salvation,faith
Verse~In a race all runners run.But only one gets the prize.You know that don't you?So run in a way that will get you the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24

From all the words I've been searching up,I began to grasp more and more ideas.I believe that God is trying to say something from all this.It's not just a coincidence.It's not just some silly, weird, random dream.It's something real based on my life.Last night I cried to God asking Him for wisdom, guidance, and help.I'm just a stray lamb and I need Him to lead me like a shepherd.I thought about all the friends I care for and love.I knew that a majority of them are unsaved.Although some of them may be surrounded in an environment of God's word in the church or at home,they don't seem to be close to Jesus Christ.Even my so called "christian" friends are being part of the world.I told God that I'll do whatever it takes to make some sort of difference in this world.I want to use my abilities for the glory of God.And I believe that after I prayed God responded to me through this dream.The shoes I was looking for represented the covenant and preparation I thirst for and the gospel I'm aching the share.The shoes' color had dark blue representing God's word, blessing, healing, and good will.When I was walking barefoot on the sidewalk it represented my life, my private walk with God, and my faith.Being barefoot was a different story.It represented my uncertainty and lack of preparation.That's why I was looking for my shoes.But the fact that I was running just to find my shoes showed my determination in pursuing God's calling for me even after that mysterious man tried to discourage me.I believe that that man who said those discouraging things came from the dark side.He represented the obstacles that will try to pull me down as I strive for God's plan.But I won't let anything take me away from what God wants me to do.I'll do whatever it takes to reach these goals.It's amazing that God would give a wake up call through a dream of a pair of shoes.