Change the lives of others. Change yours.

Like others have already done, I want to encourage everyone to help out however they're able with disaster relief. China has been on our minds because it's the most recent natural disaster to hit the news, with estimated death tolls nearing 20,000 and 70,000 injured. Last week the Myanmar cyclone killed 30,000 and there are 30,000+ still missing. There are also thousands killed or displaced by the tornadoes that have ravaged the southern United States. These are events from just the past couple weeks. Don't forget about Katrina in 2005 or the December 2004 tsunami that killed 230,000 in a dozen countries.

Every time we hear about another natural disaster most of us get a little sad, we might say a quick prayer or two for the victims, but do we actually help?

Why is it that we have no problem dropping 5 bucks on Starbucks or Jamba Juice but we can't donate a few dollars to an aid organization? We care more about the latest episode of Gossip Girl or American Idol than we do about those who don't have shelter, food, access to a bathroom, or even water.

What if your mother died in a natural disaster? What about your husband or girlfriend or child? Or even just a friend or acquaintance or teacher? Would you not feel sadness and a desire to make a difference? Those who died in Myanmar and China were people. They were fathers and grandmothers and babies not yet born. They were brothers and sisters and boyfriends and pets. They were like us.

Entire families have been killed by the recent spurt of natural disasters, yet we are so far-removed in our cozy little homes with our iPods and MySpace and everything else that we've reduced our ability to care and feel compassion.

I am guilty of this myself.

If you don't believe in the power of prayer, then don't pray with me. But at least do some research in ways you can help.

As for me, I'm going to continue to pray that God will allow goodness to come from the destruction. We don't know when we're going to leave this earth. We are not freaking invincible. We are foolish if we believe we're going to live to 75 years old and die of natural causes.

Make the most of today. Make the most of your time with others. Live with a sense of urgency and please strive to change lives, including your own.

Steph

"Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help." (Isaiah 58:7 NLT)

update

this is a new blog. there ya go, brucie. :D

steph

In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus. I've been struggling to apply that to my life. He should be the first thing on our minds when we wake up, before we even think about getting out of bed, using the bathroom, whatever. It's a simple, beautiful reminder of Him. He's giving Himself to us, but we have to want Him, we must accept Him.

everything

This is an old song that I first heard a couple years ago when I was dating an atheist. He was a huge Lifehouse fan and got me more into their music. One day we were talking about love songs and he said he couldn't stand this particular song because it was one of the "cheesiest" songs he'd ever heard.

Back then my relationship with the Creator wasn't the greatest and I didn't immediately realize that this song might not even be about a significant other, but might instead be about God. The ex-boyfriend's opinion of the song tainted my own and I tended to skip it whenever it played on my iPod.

It seems so obvious now that it's about God. It is no wonder the ex couldn't understand it. If the lyrics are applied to a signicant other, then yes, one may say it's a bit much (but still very sweet). If applied to God, however, the lyrics aren't even an adequate description of His power.

The love of a significant other could never compare to the love of God.

EVERYTHING by Lifehouse

Find me here
And speak to me
I want to feel You
I need to hear You
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place
Where I find peace again

You are the strength
That keeps me walking
You are the hope
That keeps me trusting
You are the life
To my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything

And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be
Any better than this

You calm the storms
And You give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
You steal my heart
And You take my breath away
Would You take me in
Would You take me deeper, now

And how can I stand here with You
And not be moved by You
Would You tell me how could it be
Any better than this

Cause you're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything, everything

reunion

Sitting on the floor there
Shivering from the cold air
My thoughts wander everywhere

Peace and hope that is not borrowed
Remind me of endless tomorrows
My burdens you willingly bear

Through the open window there
I let in more of the cold air
But now the shivering is spared

Thoughts turn toward your pain
Through your death we may obtain
Love that is for all to share

I close the shutters over there
Refuse to let in the cold air
And then my heart I do prepare

Ears are deaf and eyes shut tight
Now it is time to reunite
As my thoughts turn into prayer

spring

In the spring I like to walk outside through the avenues lined with cherry blossoms. Sunglasses shield my sight from the brightness, but also mute the colors of the blossoms. Magenta becomes pale pink. Pink transforms into white. I hear voices, faded and incomprehensible, I see children running to and fro. But I cannot hear them, for in my head is a personal soundtrack of wonderful melodies that has increased in intensity. I glance around me at the silence, at the energy, but only hear the crescendos of my heart.

music

you are rich dynamism
colorful and funky
and full of exquisite music
multifaceted resonance

my ears ache with joy
even the deaf can hear you
please keep playing
softly, loudly, loudly

i want to share you
love encompasses sharing
but i am human and flawed
it is difficult to share
especially something this grand