Looking for Angels

In case you don't know me very well, you should know before reading this that I have this obsession with song lyrics. I love the poetry of them, the way the music sounds behind them, and the way they can just make any situation make a little bit more sense than before. I wish I had the creativeness in me to write songs, because I would love to be able to pour my soul out into a few lines of lyrics and help someone else make sense of the world.

I've known the following song for quite some time now...it's a song in which most of the words are actually spoken and only the chorus is sang, but the lyrics are powerful and eye opening. I listened to it today and knew immediately that I had to put part of it in a blog.

Looking for Angels--Skillet

"So many nations with so many hungry people
So many homeless scrounging around for dirty needles
On the rise, teen suicide, when we will realize
we've been desensitized by the lies of the world
We're oppressed and impressed by the greedy
Whose hands squeeze the life out of the needy
When will we learn that wars, threats, and regrets are the cause and effect of living in fear
Who can help protect the innocence of our children
Stolen on the internet with images they can't forget
(We want it we want
We want a reason to live)
We represent a generation that wants to turn back a nation
To let love be our light and salvation
(We need it we need
We need more than this)
I became a savior to some kids I'll never meet
Sent a check in the mail to buy them something to eat
What will you do to make a difference, to make a change?
What will you do to help someone along the way?
Just a touch, a smile as you turn the other cheek
Pray for your enemies, humble yourself, love's staring back at me
In the midst of the most painful faces
Angels show up in the strangest of places."

I know my blogs have pretty much thus far run the same general theme of making a difference in the world, doing something to help out those in need, etc...this one will be no different, I guess it's just a huge thing in my life that I feel the need to write about.

How many people do you pass by each day that are hurting? How many of your friends are hurting? Better yet, how many of those do you actually know about? Do you know how I am hurting right now? Do I know how you're hurting? We all, myself included, could take more time than we already do to reach out and help those around us; our friends, family, and even complete strangers. If we all did what we could to help each other out I guarantee the world would be a place with a lot less pain than when we are just focused on ourselves.

So now I want to know, what is it that is causing you to hurt? What can I help you out with and pray about for you? Comment on here, send me a message on facebook, text me, call me, however you want to get up with me...we'll talk and I'll do what I can, even if it just means lending a listening ear to some venting...Just let me know and I'm down.

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"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”--Acts 20:35

Are You Stepping Up to the Challenge?

I felt the need to blog tonight, I'm not real sure why, but I think I will use this opportunity to give an update of my life. Life has been quite crazy for me the past few months and thankfully things are starting to look up. I've been down about a lot of things, being at COA and not liking my job, not really having much of a social life, etc. I've just been in this constant state of feeling stuck and really hating that. I've always had a goal that I've been working towards and moving forward with, and while I'm doing that with the intention of going back to MACU, I still can't shake the feeling. But, as I said, things are finally starting to look up and I'm starting to come out of this depression I've been in. It's starting to get close to summer time, which means finding a better suited job on the outer banks which I'm very much looking forward to. I finally joined the church choir which has impacted me greatly....singing is my passion and it really is the highlight of my week to go to practice and be able to put that talent to use. I also was asked to sing for the sunday night worship band, which I am considering. While it would be an amazing opportunity, I'm not sure if I can commit to it right now. I'm also looking into volunteer opportunities, possibly at a local women's shelter again, but hopefully through the guardian ad litem program. Doing that means that I will represent children who are going through life situations that are often times similar to what I went through. I'm really praying that will come through, but I'm unsure if it will right now simply because of my age. I also sometime in the future want to start some form of church ministry that ministers to people who have experience with bad home situations. I think it would be amazing to have an outreach program that lets them know they aren't alone.

I know it all sounds like so much and I don't plan on doing it all at once, but I have big dreams to make an impact on the world and I want to start on those NOW. God has given me this amazing outlook on my past experiences and I need to use that to better others lives. This is the thing that gives me hope and makes me push past all the disappointments of the past year and continue going. At the risk of sounding conceded, I am meant to do great things. I may not end up famous for them, nor do I really want to, but I will do great things to impact the lives of whoever I can reach and to better the kingdom of God. I'm stepping up to the challenge God is giving me, so now ask yourself....are you?