Shake Up the Happiness, it's Christmas time!

So, two posts on the same day! AH-maze-ing! :P (J... seriously? -_-)
You guys... whoever is out there, know I don't really post, and most of them are bundled up together.
Hence why the April 2010 post comes after the Dec 13th post... I had the April post made, but just published it now ... not long after publishing the one for Dec... Smart J... :)

So, I wanted to share this music video and song with everyone! I absolutely love it, and it's better with the video-- it's super cute! Love it!
How are you guys going to spend your Christmas time??
I'm excited! Aren't y'all? :P I'm going into the city with my parents and my parent's friend's daughter, who is staying with us for a while! We have Boxing Day in Canada so I'm super pumped (I shop big like once a year :P, I save it all for once).

Only a few days till Christmas, and just because I might not come back here for a while, I want to wish everyone a merry, joyful Christmas! <3

PS: Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been busy with school (I'm a student :) ).
I need to do good if I want to help people. I look at it this way. The smarter I am, the more people I will be able to help. :P Hope it actually works that way! :) haha
MERRY CHRISTMAS! <3 hohohoho

Ole Ole Ole

Finally making a post for June's quotes :D. I'm a bit late, aren't I? :)
Very late! So, in order to make it up to the people, I am uploading a lot at a time! Yay!! :)
First quote:
..Only a life lived for others is a life worth while.
Another quote about life. I really like this one. It reflects my views, who I am, and also my religion. Like Jesus, we need to serve and not be served; therefore, live for other and not for myself. That does not mean I should never have fun and make myself suffer, but it means to help others and serve others with a happy and glad heart, which I think is very important!

Second quote:
..Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.-Albert Einstein
This is also a really good quote. Every leader should know of this quote... I really don't understand the point of wars. I understand... but I don't understand why it the problems have to solved through wars, I guess, is what I'm trying to say.
I really feel that trying to solve problems through war really hurts some innocent people, but YES, I do understand that some people are really not wanting to compromise or understand and are all about me, me, me. So, I guess, in a way, I DO understand wars... I just really wish that everyone lived by this quote.

It's not that I don't like getting compliments. It's that the only person I want to get a compliment from is the one who has never given me one. Otherwise, they mean nothing to me.-Caitlin Allen
I really thought this applied to me, so I decided to save it, and put it up. I am kind of a perfectionist and I like to impress people, especially with my work through my effort and hard work. But I usually don't try hard to get more compliments from someone that already gives me a lot of compliments, yet I seek them from people that never complimented me before or rarely do, because they are harder to impress. And me, for some reason, want to impress the people that are harder to impress. Haha. Weird... :P

Time is too slow for those who wait,
too swift for those who fear,
too long for those who grieve,
too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love, time is eternity.
"FOR KATRINA'S SUN DIAL" by Henry van Dyke
I really thought I need to be reminded of this. I really like to wait, I fear, and I grieve. But I realized, why wait? Time only goes by slower. Why fear? Why grieve? This quote/excerpt, from a poem, really gave me strength and changed my ways when I needed it the most. So, I thought maybe it might do the same for someone else :).


So these are the quotes for the month of May of 2010! Yay to quotes!! Yay to inspiration and hope!! Yay! :)

PS: Don't you just love the title?! I remember this song from a commercial way back~. I was reminded of it, and of course, I had to use it! :P

Hello Jello... Halo?

So I have the quotes for August now~. These are just random quotes~~. This post is gonna be really short cause I'm tired and sleepy :).

Professor: What do you want to be in the world? I mean the whole world. What do you want to be? Close your eyes and think about that.
Orphan: Found.
This quotes is from the movie August Rush. Really nice movie, but really predictable. It was really sad though. It was about a boy orphan who was trying to find his parents, who he believed he could connect with... somehow. He believed he could find both of them, connect his parents, connect himself with his parents, all through music. He's a music genius in the movie. Really beautiful music as well! I recommend googling the soundtrack or buying the CD. Really, truly beautiful music.

What is my life if I am no longer useful to others.- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

If you believe you can make the world a better place, then you will.- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Not much explanation for the last two quotes. I really ran out of explanations. They are all the same to me. Basically, I love quotes, because they inspire me and give me hope. Some quotes describe my feelings or who I want to be. But yeah, I really don't know what to say about them. Sorry!
See you later!

PS: Sorry about the title. Yes, they are completely random. But I remembered the song Halo by Beyonce and then... for some reason jello and hello simply rhymed with it :).

Grass is Green?

These are just some of my favorite quotes of April 2010. These are just my opinions. They are nothing that I want to force onto other people. Just simply writing down my thoughts. :)


First:
"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" - Audrey Hepburn
A quote by Audrey Hepburn. This is a very common quote, but thought it was cute, so posted it on here.

Second:
..Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.-Winston Churchill
Maybe this month's quotes should be on Winston Churchill haha :P
Lots of quotes by him. I really think this quote is so true. People always tell me that standing up, debating, talking back is courage. I am not much of any of these things. I barely stand up for myself. Honestly, I think listening also takes courage. I wish people would realize that. I hate how people think that shy people or people that like to listen have no courage. I feel that listening is far more important than talking back. Only if all the leaders of the world listened to each other instead of of speaking up for themselves. Then maybe the world wouldn't be as corrupt? My opinions. :)

Third:
..Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.-Winston Churchill
Another good quote. I had a lot of school problems lately and this really helps. As a lot of you know, our world is not so perfect, happy-go-lucky. There are many corrupt things. One thing I don't like about schools is that they look at intelligence and strength, not effort. At times, effort will lead to strength and intelligence, but at times it doesn't. I wish schools looked at effort. Intelligence and strength are very important, but I also believe that some people just can't succeed at something no matter how much effort they put in. And I don't think it's their fault. Hopefully, for everyone, continuous effort will lead to strength and intelligence. "..key to unlocking our potential". What would this be? Would this mean getting better grades? Getting into a good, prestigious university? Unlocking out potential? How far does it go? This quote really depends on the person. I am confusing myself. Haha :P :D
Last thought: always remember, effort just shows how much you tried. That's all that you should really care about; how hard you tried. It doesn't matter if you succeeded or not. Success is only a word made up by this world. Have a different definition of success for yourself. Everyone's different, so your definition of success for different things should be DIFFERENT. As long as you put you fullest effort, it's all good :).

Fourth:
..You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.-Winston Churchill
See?! Churchill agrees! Having enemies doesn't mean you're just a bad, hated person. It means that you stood up for yourself, which is a good thing! Enemies are made from differences: differences in views, opinions, beliefs, faiths, and whatnot. Keeping true to your opinions, views, beliefs, etc, are all something that you should strongly keep. No matter what anyone says. Your opinions, believes, faith, etc., are all what make you up, together they made you; therefore, don't just change them or stay quiet about them because something disagrees or thinks differently! <3

As you may have noticed.... I don't really know how to respond to these quotes or how to review them. If you know what I mean??..
I mean, what more can I say other than that I liked them, that they touched me, and what else? :P
So, sorry if all the responses to the quotes seem all alike. I just didn't know what to write about it.
Have you ever had those moments in your life where you just liked something and you didn't know why? I feel like that for quotes :P. Hope you guys understand~ :).

Lose Your Cool

Credits go to Zach Hunter's book, Lose Your Cool (pg28)

Can you imagine being twelve years old and praying, “God, send me where no one else will go.”? This is a prayer that a newfound friend of mine prayed when she was only twelve. She reminds me of Amy Carmichael (featured in Lose Your Cool) in many ways.

Her name is Asha and she was born in Nagaland, India- one of the smallest states in north eastern India. Asha learned about Jesus from her mother, who she said was a devout Christian. With her father, though, it was a different story. In a conversation I had with her, she said, “My dad was an alcoholic so you can imagine my childhood was not that beautiful for me. When my other friends were playing, I remember I locked myself inside my room- crying and praying and fearing what the evening would bring. But my mother was an ardent follower of Jesus Christ. It was through my mother that I learned to get down on my knees and spend time in prayer.

Despite the hard times my father gave to us as a family, my mother never spoke ill about my father to us. She always kept reminding us that dad has a sickness and it will take some time to get healed so we have to continue praying for him. Honestly, at times I got so frustrated seeing my dad drunk all the time but I think that in so many ways that has created in me the heart and voice to speak out for those in pain and agony who are voiceless. Growing up in my family has also prepared me to understand the struggles, frustrations and the shame of those affected and infected by such problems.”

Asha knew what suffering was at an early age, but at the age of twelve she became a follower of Jesus. She was at a revival meeting at her church when she heard a voice telling her, “Come follow me.” So she got up and went to the front, with everyone watching her. She didn’t know what was happening inside of her, but when she got to the front the pastor put his hands on her and said, “Child, God has called you to be salt and light for Him.” Looking back on the experience, she says, “I didn’t understand a thing, but that very night I met God. I didn’t really know whether it was a dream or a reality but it was in this meeting that I was convinced that I’m needed for God’s service; and so then and there I surrendered my all to Him and ever since then there has been no turning back.” It was during that same year that Asha prayed that God would send her where no one else would go. When I asked her why she would pray such a radical, and pretty scary, prayer, she told me that, “I don’t know what made me utter such a prayer, but one reason is that I was just different. Different in the sense that I didn’t usually think things people of my age should be thinking. Since my childhood, I have always fought for justice and equality, and always advocated against prejudice and discrimination. People sometimes thought that I was crazy, but from a very early age I had the heart and courage to ‘speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.’ It breaks my heart when I see people been treated unjustly, and when I hear people saying nasty things about people such as alcoholics, drug addicts, prostitutes and so on. I also don’t think I prayed such a prayer because I knew that I would have the heart for these people. Honestly, it was just a very innocent prayer.” Innocent, hmmm? We shall see… Asha grew up, and felt God calling her towards a ministry to the very people she had cared about from a young age- the drug addicts, the alcoholics, the prostitutes the outcasts of society. These are the people she associates with.

Asha hangs out in a place where no one thinks that a “good girl” should hang out- the red light district. “I can identify myself with the people that I work with easily. I can go and dance in the bar with these women, I can sit along with them and enjoy their company as they drink, I can spend time with addicts and alcoholics listening and laughing around with them, I can be with the poor and be like them, I can go to the movies with these women where all men will be staring but I don’t care as long as I’m able to portray the love of Christ in and through me.” Jesus hung out with the prostitutes and the tax collectors, and the “sinners”; and all the religious leaders of his day looked down on him for that, but he didn’t care and neither does Asha. When I asked Asha if she knew about Amy Carmichael, she got really excited, saying, “Amy Carmichael is one person I admire and respect so much. Her passion, her love for God and for people and her commitment to serve Him is just outstanding. I don’t know whether I’d be able to make such a big sacrifice. [NOTE: this is coming from a woman who has given her life to minister to prostitutes.]

"Especially knowing about the living standard in the west and here in India, I don’t think many people from that side of the world would be able to sacrifice as much Amy did. I think her life has also inspired and motivated me to make bigger sacrifices and also encouraged me that no matter what people say, I should go on with what God has planned for me. Much like her, I have also complained a lot, prayed a lot for my eyes. I am from Nagaland, the North eastern States of India. Nagas are more Asian and oriental looking. Whenever I go to India, people think I’m from China because of my small eyes. But after reading Amy’s story I was so encouraged because China is one place that has always been very close to my heart. I have heard a lot about the underground churches and persecutions that Christians there face so I’ve always wanted to go there as a missionary and I certainly believe that one day I’ll get to go. So when that happens I’ll definitely let you know.”

Asha spoke at a conference that I also spoke at, and I met her there. She is a very petite woman who is full of energy. You can tell that she loves the people she works with. Like Amy Carmichael, she as working to make someone else’s life better. But when I asked who she believes is the most passionate person who has ever lived, she told me that it was Jesus. “Yesterday, today and forever the most passionate person I have known and from whom I draw courage and strength in times of doubts and fears is the Son of God. The way He passionately dealt with the Samaritan woman [John 4:1-42], and then with the woman caught in adultery [John 8:1-11] constantly keep reminding me that I am dealing with lives that are fragile and I need to pray for a heart like that of Jesus, a passionate heart with full of compassion.”

Wow, this is amazing. I can’t imagine what she does every day, and the looks she probably gets because of who she hangs out with. Asha doesn’t care what people think of her, or the looks she gets, she just cares about loving the “unlovable” the people the world sees as “sinners”.

This is something that is important. Sometimes in making a difference, in being the change we want to see, we have to do something unpopular – or appear peculiar or weird. Asha has given up her life to a cause that is widely unpopular. Many times, the people who need our attention and our love are not the popular ones, not the people that your group of friends would hang out with- but those are the people that Jesus associated with. So when you are thinking about how to make a difference in the world, trying to figure out what to get passionate about, start right where you are, with the lonely, and the brokenhearted, and the downtrodden – on your campus – in your home – in your comunity.

“To me passion simply means living out my heart, my dreams, and my visions that God has given me to live out for Him in His service.” Asha

I just felt compelled to copy and paste this on here so that everyone may have a chance to read this. I don't know if Zach Hunter is a famous guy or not, but I recently heard about it, went on his site, and read this. I liked it and was moved by it, and so yeah :P!
Hope you all liked it as much as I did. :)

J-xoxo

Facing the Giants Before Going to Haiti

So recently, I watched an inspirational and religious genre movie named Facing the Giants. It's a football movie about a football coach, the players, and their struggles and how they overcome them. It's was a pretty good movie, but it was kinda predictable and cheesy (may I say?).
So these are some of the quotes that I liked the best from the movie. They are kinda religious, so if you are not into that kind of think or will get mad later about it, I warned you! But everyone should read it, just because! :)

Have you ever thought, we're the players and God's our coach?
Can you imagine? God's beside us, screaming at us, "DONT GIVE UP! GIVE ME YOUR BEST!" Even when we have no strength left, he's beside us the whole way, encouraging us, pushing us forward. And when we're in the middle of our "death crawl", and we're on the ground crying "It hurts.", God's by us, yelling, "Dont quit on me! I want your BEST-YOUR VERY BEST!" When we scream, "I'm out of strength!", he says, "Don't you give up on me. You keep going, you hear me? Don't give up on me! You're doing good!" While we're screaming, "I CANT", he's right there saying, "YOU CAN!"
And finally, when we've reached the end of our rope and can't continue anymore, he unblindfolds us, and shows us we're in the "end zone"... It's incredible.
Amen! It is incredible. I never thought of it like that before and really... I should have! This wasn't really from the movie. A person on youtube commented this for the movie, but it wasn't actually said IN the movie. I really thought this was touching and it was a great awakening for me. Hope it was for y'all too! (lol y'all)

Jesus said the most important thing you could do with your life was to love God with everything you are and love others as yourself.
Just another one of those things you need to be reminded of.

There were two men, both praying to God for rain on their fields. One prepared his fields and the other didn't, but only the one that prepared his fields received rain.
Who do you think believed and trusted in God to provide rain for his fields?
Of course, the one that prepared his fields received the rain from God, because he believed God would provide the rain for him, so he was always preparing for that day. While the other kept praying but never prepared because he didn't fully trust in God. He had doubts and fears, and so didn't prepare his fields.
We, like the one man that prepared his fields, need to prepare ourselves if we want God to answer are prayers. If we are praying to go to university, we need to prepare ourselves for university. When we prepare ourselves, we believe and trust in God.
If one doubts their chances to go to university, why prepare? They don't prepare.
This was one of the stories this man told in the story. I thought it was like told just for me or something! In summary, it's saying, I can't just pray and pray for something and not prepare for it to come true. But I need to prepare and pray. It's like me praying for university. I pray and pray to get accepted in to Harvard, let's say... But I do know that Harvard accepts only a specific amount of people based on specific, very specific, qualifications and achievements. I can't just pray and pray to God 24/7 and expect me to get in when I'm not making straight As or studying for the SAT. I need to prepare myself for Harvard AND pray for Harvard. I think this applies to any situation, and it's really true, I think.

God gave us his one and only son so that we may live for him.
It was just one of those quotes that I needed as a reminder. Reminders are always good, because you know it, but it's not with you. Being reminded of things keeps it in our thoughts for a while.

If we win, we praise Him. If we lose, we praise Him.
This quote I thought was really important for me. It is so easy to praise God when everything goes your way, but how about when it doesn't? It's so hard, oh boy do I know! But really, this quote made me really think hard about me and what I do when something goes terribly wrong. Do I praise him when I lose too? It really made me make an effort in trying to change my ways. Very nice quote!


I hope you guys like the quotes for August of 2010!
More posts to come!!!

Wiesel and Orange Fizz

I just finished reading "Night" by Elie Wiesel. It was an amazing book. I finished it in 3 days, on and off. It is a short and easy to understand book. Had to read it for school, but whatevs. Still enjoyed it :).

I love quotes! And as this blog processes, I think you'll notice :).

So I got some quotes from the book. Here they are:

"Tell me," he asks, "what have you done with my future, what have you done with your life?"-118

And then I explain[ed] to him how naive we were, that the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.-118

There is so much injustice and suffering crying out for attention: victims of hunger, of racism and political oppression...-119

Human rights are being violated on every continent. More people are oppressed than free. How can one not be sensitive to their plight?.Human suffering anywhere concerns men and women everywhere... The refugees and their misery. The children and their fear. The uprooted and their hopelessness. Something must be done about their situation.-119

But I have faith... Without it no action would be possible. And action is the only remedy to indifference, the most insidious danger of all.-120

There is so much to be done, there is so much that can be done. One person-a Raoul Wallenberg, an Albert Schweitzer, a Martin Luther King Jr.-one person of integrity can make a difference, a difference of life and death. As long as one dissident is in prison, our freedom will not be true. As long as one child is hungry, out life will be filled with anguish and shame. What all these victims need above all is to know that they are not alone; that we are not forgetting them, that when their voices are stifled we shall lend them ours, that while their freedom depends on ours, the quality of our freedom depends on theirs.-120

We know that every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering; not to share them would mean to betray them.-120

Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately.-120

So these are some quotes. Touching, but probably isn't the most entertaining thing to read out there. I'll try to make my blog a bit more entertaining, later :). But because I just finished the book, I thought I should write something about it :P.

Lots of love.

-J