Do You Feel Valued?

I'm in the mood for a little DBA (Double Blogging Action)

And no, I don't have a 12 year old sister ... I just wanted to be Pocahontas for a day!

I am in a surprisingly chipper mood, considering the circumstances which occurred previously today. That's what a wednesday night at bible study will do to me, though. I get to see all of the people who make me really happy, in a place where positivity is just buzzing like a zillion mosquitos on a sticky summer night. (Ok, bad analogy, but you get it.)

Today bible study was actually quite interesting. Zechariah 10-11. Pastor Lloyd asked the question, "Do you feel valued?" Way to stop me in my tracks, P. Lloyd. DO I?? Good question. Putting into consideration this past month? No. I feel like the entire state of New Jersey is on a terrorist-style attack on Ali Pinho. There are airline jets taking plunges into my side left and right. Stop it, NJ. That hurts.

Other than that, I DO feel valued. Only because I know that I'm valued in Jesus' heart, and really, that's all that matters. It doesn't matter what the guy in the silver Honda next to me at the red light thinks, even if I am singing (and dancing) to Sarah Bareilles' 'Love Song' full force, with a water bottle up to my mouth, pretending to be my microphone. And it definitely doesn't matter what a stupid ex boyfriend values me as, on good terms or not. And it surely doesn't matter what my boss or my co workers think of me. All that matters is that I'm down with the Lord. He loves me, and I love Him. What a concept.

Getting caught up in life and in "worldly things", it's way too easy to forget who you really are. You let the happenings of life get to you and get into your little mind, and you forget who you are. Yea, it's that easy. Scary, right? I think back to when I didn't know the Lord. Man, life reeeally got me good. I was one sad chickie. I let everything get to me. It just drilled me down until I was in this deep little muddy hole, all alone, yet still smiling and pretending everything was totally cool. I guess when you're in your darkest hour, somethin's gotta give. That was the man upstairs. He rules. ANd he sure gave me a LOT.

Another thing I realized today? (Listen up, this will benefit you) Life happens. Deal with it, and move on. Totally easier said than done, I know. But you know what? When it comes down to it, you just have to pick yourself up and move along. Like that American Rejects song ... "When all you gotta keep is strong, move along, move along, like I know you do. And even when you're hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through." Who would have thought that you'd be taking life advice from All American Rejects? Gees. 

So, do YOU feel valued? If you do, give yourself a high five, because it takes a lot of going through life's muck to come out the other end saying, "Hey, life rules.". And if you don't feel valued, why not, and what changes can you make in your life so that you DO feel valued? 

That's your homework. Now go to your room.

Person Of Promise

I realized something huge today.

Now, I can bore you with barely fun facts about how court went today, but we're going to save all of that, because my epiphany is much, much bigger than silly laws and depressing news.

Without tooting my own horn, I have been told by many that I have a huge heart in wanting to help others. This is true, I do want to help others. I have big plans, not for myself, but to ... you guessed it ... help others. Not too long ago, I came up with a really great plan. Realizing that I am friends with way too many bands,  (I'd say about 90% of my friends are musicians) and trying to come up with a way that I can help people, I came up with what I think is a pretty neat idea.

Have concerts that will bring kids into a vicinity that will provide them with a positive, fun and hopeful environment. Music changes lives, as it has changed mine. I went to a concert that had a huge line up, and four of my friends' bands played. I noticed these kids having SO much fun. The only problem was that I felt like they were all being negatively influenced by the other kids. Imagine a room full of kids and no parents, giving them leeway to do practically whatever they wanted. Witnessing sixteen year olds smoking cigarettes and passing it off to their friends. Just overhearing what these kids talk about is beyond appalling. Not a good influence on this generation. What these kids need is a Person of Promise.

While I'm completely aware that one person can not change an entire generation, and generations to come, I am aware that one person can start change. Kids these days are so incredibly influenced by each other. If one kid does one thing that just so happens to be cool, exciting, new, and positive, the next kids will do it, and then the next. I want to be that Person of Promise, making changes that promise a better future for our little kiddies.

I think the problem today is that kids don't have anything positive to look up to. Half of the crap on MTV is exactly that, crap. It's about time someone stepped in and set an example. I know that when I was sixteen, and someone that was older and cooler than me was doing something, I would follow them. In fact I did just that, except the older, cooler kids were doing bad things.

So, the first line of order is figuring out WHERE to do this event. So if anyone has any suggestions, shout 'em out. I'm ready to get the ball rolling, and I have more then enough participants willing to get this thing started.

This can be a really exciting change, for ALL of us! Listen to some music, join an amazing cause, and save a generation.

Next I'm going to try and save the Polar Bears ... although I think I might have a bit more difficulty with that one...