Feb. 9, 2010 - Ordinary People

I heard a quote on the television yesterday. A girl said, "Can I get this so I can express my individuality? Everyone's doing it."

...wow.

Unfortunately that's a common way of thinking. We all like to be different in the same way. In my opinion that defeats the purpose. If we're honest with ourselves, even the people who say they're different have their own stereotype, their own clothing line, and their own slang. And if they don't abide by the normal laws of difference-ness, they are called "posers", "lunatics", and "fake".

Now, as Christians, God's called us to be more than ordinary. We're suppose to be in the world, not of the world.

But we're not. Think about it. We have fallen into a habit of acting just as ordinary as everyone else.

See, ordinary Christians go to church.

Ordinary Christians get mad at other drivers on the highway.

Ordinary Christians talk bad about the boss they don't like.

Ordinary Christians laugh at obscene jokes.

Ordinary Christians don't get offended when someone uses God's Name as a curse word. 

Ordinary Christians use God's Name as a curse word.

Ordinary Christians don't share their faith by their words.

Ordinary Christians rarely share their faith by their actions.

Ordinary Christians hate Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus.

I believe God is calling out Christians. It's time to be unordinary. It's time to remember that God does not just show up when it's convenient for us. HE'S GOD. We have deluded that in our lives. God is God, He is AWESOME, in the real sense of the word. Awesome, terrible, powerful, mighty, magnificent, and fearsome. Our God is a consuming fire! And for some reason, He loves us more than anything we could ever imagine. A love that is worth our lives.   

It's time to stop being afraid you'll be laughed at or shut down or excluded. You WILL be laughed at, shut down, and excluded. May I be blunt? Get over it. What matters more? - Other's eternal salvation, or your temporary comfort? Jesus did not go through a torturous death on the cross just so you could get a free ticket out of hell. He's called us to a higher standard of living, a life of purpose and miracles, a love that is intense and intimate, a grace that can cover over a multitude of sins, and an eternity where there will be no more crying, no more pain, no more hurt, and He will make all things new!

You'd think that with something as wonderful as this, people would want to do something about it! ...oh wait, they did.

.

.

They became "fans" of God on facebook.

.

.

Don't you want something more?

¹⁷So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Eph. 4:17-24 (italics added)

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Jul. 30, 2009 - If Anyone Can Tame His Tongue...

Last night in youth group, we talked about James 3 - Taming the Tongue. My youth pastor said something that really stuck with me.

    "You can start a war with one word."

It's so true. I can remember things that have been said to me from when I was really little that stuck with me all through my life. There have been stories of people who were verbally abused so much they killed themselves! And even the ones who are the leaders, the ones who are suppose to protect people, say things that can scar their reputation forever.

    It's crazy how powerful we don't realize we are.

When I was in 5th grade, my lovely cousin decided to inform me that I was a dork. Wasn't that sweet of her? Now I'll admit that as far as stereotypes go, I kinda was a dork. But that's not the point. I went through a few years of my life thinking that I actually was a dork, and no one really wanted to be my friend. Whenever that word was aimed at me, even if it was just in a joke, I would feel myself heat up all over again! Thankfully, I had a loving family that encouraged me and a loving God who brought me through that phase of my life. Now I'll willingly admit to being a dork...that is, a Daughter Of the Risen King.  Isn't it amazing how God can take something that is meant to hurt you and turn it into something wonderful?

    There's another interesting thing about our words. We can stop wars with them, too. When we tell someone they look nice, or that we enjoy being around them, or even just saying hello and asking how someone's day was can make a bigger difference than we realize! Encouraging people, making the conversation about them instead of about us, and pushing people towards their dreams are ways that we love others as we love ourselves.

    I've been thinking a lot about what I believe in. See, people say they believe in things all the time that they don't show that they believe in. For instance, if someone believes lying is wrong but lies continually, then they must not believe too strongly that it's wrong. If I believe that my words have power, I'm going to be very careful about what I say. If I don't want to cuss, I'm not going to watch movies or listen to music that have cussing in them. If I don't want to speak negatively about someone, I'm not even going to think about them negatively, for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. If I can surrender my thoughts and words to Jesus, then I can do anything. James says that if a man can tame his tongue, he can keep his whole body in check! In other words...it's hard! But if we can surrender it, we'll be amazed at what God can do in our lives. :)

    Last night, I surrendered a few different words and thoughts to Jesus. I decided not to say some things I wanted to and not to think some things I wanted to. I told Him I'd be okay with whatever happened. And as I was driving home last night...I felt more peaceful and content than I have in a long time. :)

    "Love the Lord your God with all your heart (feelings), with all your mind (thoughts), and with all your strength (actions)."

- Danya <><

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Jul. 28, 2009 - Short Blog

    I miss writing. lol. My best friend Randi sat down and read through every one of these blogs when she first met me. She got to know me very quickly. I guess I just spill out my heart when I write. I like talking, too. But that gets me into trouble a LOT! It's easier for me to sit down and think out what I want to say and how I want to say it. But don't think that I'm a quiet person. I'm not. And I'll admit there are some things I'd rather talk about. I like face to face more than anything! But there's just something about sitting in a comfy chair with a cup of tea, a laptop, and writing. :)  

    ...there is a random bug stuck between the glass part and the screen part of the window in our kitchen. HOW DO BUGS EVEN GET IN THERE????? ...oh wait...there's a hole. Ok. I feel better about it now.

    So Randi has informed me that I need to write a book.

    I dunno.

    Could be fun, I guess.

    Especially after that whole spill on how I love writing.

    We'll see.

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Jul. 21, 2009 - Big News!

The Pre-release of my new album "In a Heartbeat" is

 now on ITUNES and AMAZON.COM!

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Jan. 24, 2009 - The Most Excellent Way

    If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountians, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

    Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

    And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

- 1 Corinthians 13

...If I could speak every language in the world - not only of there, but even the languages of heaven, the ones the angels speak - but I did not speak in love... a real genuine love for the ones I was speaking to...I would only be making a lot of noise. If I really knew as much as I think I do, and I could understand the mysteries that surround the world, and if I had a faith - that real faith that Jesus said could move mountains - but I don't act in love or exercise it in how I used that knowledge, I would be no greater than I was before. If I gave away all I have to the poor and saved the starving children in Africa, or if I was martyred for what I believe in, but I didn't give in love and I didn't die in love...I would not gain anything. ...Love...unconditional, selfless love...love that Jesus pours down upon us and wants to fill us with so we can fill others...that love...

    That love is patient with the most annoying person or in the most difficult situation. That love is kind to the mean girl. That love isn't jealous when someone else gets the position you wanted, gets to go to the place you didn't, or gets to spend time with who you wanted to spend time with. That love doesn't brag when you know you did better than someone else and it doesn't rationalize away the wrong you did. That love is humble. That love doesn't backtalk the parents or snap at the little brother or ignore someone trying to talk to you. That love doesn't always look for how you can come out on top in a situation. That love doesn't blow up everytime something in your plans get changed or when someone messes up again. And it doesn't bring up the mess-up over and over again, it forgives. Even when it's hard. That love doesn't get happy when that jerk at school gets in big trouble, it prays for him. It doesn't go behind that person's back to get what it wants. It doesn't break the rules to please it's own desires. That love is so excited when someone else receives a blessing! It feels joy when it hears of someone's salvation or repentence. It loves hearing other peoples' stories. That love protects others' integrity, purity, faith, and innocence. It doesn't cause any brother to stumble. That loves trusts. That loves hopes for the promised salvation and always looks forward, knowing that even when times get complicated and hard, that there is a better way and a better place. That loves never, ever, ever gives up.

    That love will never stop, or be replaced, or fail. I can talk and preach and teach and learn but eventually everything will pass away to the next discovery, the next scientific breakthrough. We only know a little. But when perfection, completion, comes into the picture, everything we thought we knew before...just kinda fades away. When I was little, I thought pretty simply. I made decisions based on what color the toy was, how high that shelf was, and if that door was unlocked or locked. But when I got older, I made decisions based on bigger variables and I understood more. Now, we're only kids. We don't know that the reason the green ball bounces higher than the blue is because the green ball is made of rubber and the blue ball is actually a ball of yarn! We see a reflection in the mirror, but when we get older...when our great God reveals His glory to us...if we are actually able to even try to look at it!...We will see all we need to know face to face. We will understand. We will know to the boundaries of our created capabilities, just like God knows us fully.

    And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Danya <><

start.a.fire.

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Nov. 26, 2008 - Now Is The Time

WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What are you doing? Don't you get it???
Don't you see????

It's all right here. You can have everything. EVERYTHING. And it's been so far off, it's felt like He's been so far away, but don't you see what you could have? It's Jesus! It's all about Jesus, it's always been all about Jesus. He is before all things, in all things, and in Him all things hold together! He is the ONLY way, the ONLY truth, and the ONLY life - life to the fullest, life everlasting, life without hindrance. We are untouchable, we are inseparable, we are singing, flying, dancing, running, laughing, and we are FILLED TO COMPLETION only - only - only in HIM.
   
    It's so simple. It seems hard and sometimes it will be, but it's so worth it. I promise it is so worth it. I felt far from Him. But I'm running back. I'm running back with all I have. I'm making the effort, and... it's working.  IT'S WORKING.
"Test me in this," says the Lord, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven!"
    It's putting Him first, trusting Him with everything, knowing that His plan is better, and He will provide everything I need. It's knowing not to dwell on the past and not to stress about all the future details, but just going wherever He calls, whenever He calls me there. It's so simple. It's a child-like faith. You tell a little kid in Sunday School that Jesus is God's Son, He died on the cross, and He rose again because we had sinned, but He took our punishment. Tell them He loves them and He wants them to live with Him forever, and all they have to do is believe. And the little kid doesn't say "that's not scientifically possible" or "are you sure" or "how did He do that?" or "why did He do that?" or "what is this gonna cost me?" or "well i'll have to think about it" or "let me live my life then I'll get right with God", the kid simply says...

OK.

Why don't we do that? Why can't we do that? Why can't we grasp on to that child-like faith, why do we hold so tight to the world, to what we fear to lose? NOTHING IS WORTH MORE THAN JESUS. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul? NO. We have got to get that through our little, limited, brains!

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Oct. 29, 2008 - I Don't Know Where We're Going But We're Going

Haha! Danya feels like blogging. yes. Blogging is quite fun. I should fill you people in on my life right now (seeing as like 4 people read this blog) as I have been slacking in that particular area. You know, the whole "not filling you in" area. yeah. That one. I slack on that a lot.

Anyway.

So I haven't been doing many concerts since school started. It's really busy being a junior. Yes, a junior. I feel old. Except when I say that my mom looks at me with that you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me face. haha. We took a break from the band and lately I've felt like God's been calling me to take a little different direction with my music and writing. Who knows what's gonna happen? I've been writing a lot lately, and I've been really excited because of some new stuff we found out that my keyboard can do because it's just awesome like that! I've got like a 16 track recording studio programmed into it and yes, I can spend hours on it without getting bored. Although sometimes I do come out slightly deaf...lol.  I do have a concert this weekend though in Portland. It's just me and my keyboard, which I haven't done since like July, so it should be interesting. haha. But hey, it'll be fun.

I'm really excited beyond belief about church tonight. I haven't led worship for my own youth group in a really long time. I miss it a lot. But I'm either too busy or they just don't want me to, which can be annoying, but it just hasn't worked out a lot lately. So I'm super stoked for tonight. I can actually worship better when I get to play, too. It's true! I feel nearly incomplete if I don't have a keyboard or piano in front of me. Yet, the reverse is NOT true. I can play the piano forever and it doesn't matter if I'm singing or not. It's kinda strange, but at the same time, it's how I worship, so...I guess it's not that strange to God!

I LOVE THAT IT'S FALL!!! I love fall. Autumn. The colors, the wind, the COLDNESS. I love the cold. This is my favorite season. I think. Who knows. I might say the same thing next season. But I love it, I really do. The Five Project (www.thefiveproject.blogspot.com), you remember, that ministry we started in my co-op? Yeah that's going awesome. I've gotten so much closer to my friends. I mean, it's one thing to be friends and go hang out and talk about ice cream and clothes and music, but it's a whole other thing when you're with your friends having Bible Studies and praying and encouraging each other to be all you can be for Jesus. THAT is an amazing friendship.

Of course, as always, it's dramadramadrama mixed into all that. Basketball season is starting again, and I'll admit, this year it's sinking in. It's my second year away from it. And I've pretty much played ball since I can remember. I guess the withdraw was a little delayed cause I played so many shows last year around this time. But it's hitting me now. I'll get over it, for sure, because I wouldn't trade who I am for who I was. It's just a memory that is really sweet to me. :) We're also dealing with some stuff within our Tutorials and at church and all that stuff. No surprise. But as always, prayer is the most powerful weapon we have. Suffice it to say, we're using it dilligently. :)

Anyways...working on the blog template a little. Patience is nice.

Loves,

Danya <><

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Oct. 27, 2008 - WE'LL END UP IN NEXT THURSDAY

Ok, the first point that I would like to make in this blog entry is this:

The Rocket Summer and Relient K are officially the best non-Skillet bands in the world.

Now since we've gotten that taken care of, we can move on to the more enlightening subjects I shall present in such an entry as this blog. I'm reading Uncle Tom's Cabin. (I know - absolutely invigorating.) It's entertaining though, at the very least. I hate reading about slavery. It's such a black mark on our nation. Especially since Christianity was becoming so prominent at that certain time in history.
    It was soon after The Second Great Awakening at Cane Ridge that slavery became more and more popular, and was accompanied by more violence, murder; the "Christians" were in the thick of it. Honestly, I bet they got pretty chewed out by God when they got to heaven. If they got to heaven. I mean, I believe that if you believe in Jesus as Who He said He Is and what He did that you are saved. Even Jesus Himself said that the only work God required was to believe in the One He sent. But that's the whole "fire-insurance" theology and if you get me going on that, we'll end up in Thursday and you'll still be reading the same post. So moving on...
    It's especially interesting though now that we're like, what, 9 days away from the election? Something like that. You really can't expect me to remember the date seeing as how I'm not 18 yet and can't legally vote. So it doesn't matter anyway. But racism has played an incredibly large part in this election, as much as we dislike thinking that racism still exists. It does.
    Now, even though I'm not 18, I still have my favorite candidate. I'm not necessarily one of those people who don't like one but don't like the other more. I happen to support John McCain and Sarah Palin because I do like them. I do not support Obama for this reason: Not because of what he looks like, but because of who he is. As the cliche goes, I don't vote republican or democrat, I vote Christian. Now, even if Obama is a Christian, he is pro-murder. He is also not verbally on the side of Israel, and if you believe in the Bible you know that whoever is not on the side of Israel is gonna be in deep trouble. His actions demonstrate strong solicist thinking and His advisors and colleagues on the left have been involved in political scandles and unconstitutional actions. ...Not sure how I got onto this subject, but I'd better make my point or we'll end up in Thursday yet again. The thing is, this election doesn't need to be about what the candidates look like. It needs to be about who they are. It also needs to be about where they stand with God. A lot of people think that sounds cheesy and that we need to focus most on the issues and the best thing for our country and it really doesn't matter if the leaders are Christians or not. But it does. When it comes down to it, you can look at Rome, and the Egyptians, and all these other nations that have risen and fallen in Histories past and the one thing they all have in common is that their leaders were not in right standing with God. The best thing for our country is God. Period.

Anyway. So I'm also incredibly stoked about this week. Tuesdays at my co-op are amazing. The Five Project has entered what we call a "Testimony Season" where we've all been taking turns stepping up and sharing with the kids during lunch about our own personal walk with Christ. It's been really awesome to see our co-op change from a Christian SCHOOL to a CHRISTIAN school. :) It's pretty sweet. I'm also leading worship on Wednesday night and my brother's playing bass with me and my best friend is doing sign language to one of my songs. :) And on Friday I'm playing out in Portland for a Fall Festival thing. It's pretty awesome. :)

Well, now I must get back to school. I smell a math test. Ew. haha.

Danya <><
start.a.fire.

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Sep. 21, 2008 - Hear the Stories in the Footsteps

   I had a picture in my head one time last summer. I was seeing a busy city sidewalk, lots of people. It wasn't New York, it wasn't LA, it wasn't any really big city, just a normal one. Where different people walked back and forth, bumping into each other occasionally, avoiding eye contact, some on their phones, some talking to each other, some being extremely quiet. There were people who walked really fast like they knew exactly where they were going, and there were people who walked really fast because they were trying to get away. They felt unsafe. There were people walking slowly who were enjoying the scenery, and others walking slowly like they didn't really want to go where they were going. They all had their own worlds, some intertwined with others. But they weren't aware. I saw one lady stop by a trashcan near a bench along the sidewalk. She was reading a note, which she ripped up and threw away. I saw a man pass by her and refuse to notice. I saw stories walking by, I heard them as they made the sound of footsteps. It was so very much like a dance. And in that picture, I wrote a song. One of the lines was "Hear the stories in the footsteps as they carry on." That has always been something that I've noticed. Just an idea...next time you go out somewhere...take some time to listen and watch how people walk. Notice their smiles and how they do things. I think sometimes we don't realize that their stories might have an affect on ours, somehow, someway. 

    Now that we've gotten our deep, thought-provoking, different view of things out of the way...haha. So I've editted and added to my playlist. I love my playlist. Each song means something to me, each song has a story behind it. It's amazing how different songs can tell the story of my life. haha. Right about now the song Keep Holding On by Avril Laveign is my favorite. It came up in my life two years ago and has meant a lot to me. I think sometimes we just all need that encouragement. Keep holding on, cause you know we'll make it through.

   I've been really thankful for my friends lately. I have the best. But what makes them the best is not how much they make me laugh (cause they do), or how they're ready to defend me if something goes wrong (cause they will), or how they encourage me when I'm this close to quitting (cause that happens)...it's because when I'm going through something, their response is not to let me simmer on my depression or anger. They pull me back up, turn me around and say, "I'm praying for you, and you need to get this right with God. He's the One Who's gonna get you through." That's why. I pray all of you find friends who are willing to call you out and point you back up. :)

    This week has been quite interesting for me. Different things have happened, new things have come up. I'm being pushed and pulled in different directions. But it's all ok. I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to do what God is calling me to do no matter what. No one can touch me if I'm standing on the Rock. So that's where I'm standing. No matter what happens, I'm HIS, and that settles all accounts. That decides what I do.

    Thank you guys so much for all your prayers! I'm not going to be blogging on here as often, as some of you have noticed, because I'm so busy, but I am trying! I will when I can. So leave me comments and keep in touch if you can. Don't get mad if I don't respond as quickly as normally. I'm trying, once again. Love to all.

Danya <><

start.a.fire.

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Sep. 3, 2008 - Oohhh...Big Words

    It has come to my attention that since I have been thrust into a study of subjects that shall further my knowledge of the world around me, I have, in an unexpected and completely subconscious attitude, begun to use big words again. It's actually somewhat enjoyable, in a sense, and quite annoying in another. I sound as if my intelligence has been lifted up to new heights, but yet sometimes I don't exactly know the weight of the statements I use. In reading books such as The Scarlet Letter and documents such as The Declaration of Independence I have also found that I have barely kept from speaking in King James. Which, if you didn't understand, is not really a language, but simply a difference dialect of the language we commonly know as English.

Ok I'm becoming irritating now.

HELLO! How are all of you lovely people today? I hope you're enjoying you're Wednesday. I have officially started ALL of my schoolwork today. No, I did not finish it. When you have to learn 13 difference concepts of Math in one lesson, speaking in Spanish seems somewhat inferior. And considering I didn't finish Math either...yeah. haha. Hey, first day, come on now. ;)

Anyway, I thought I'd write a quick blog before my people arrive at my house. Church tonight. Always fun. But really, I just wanted to share with you my newfound knowledge of big words and deep sentences. ...yep. :) haha.

Danya <><

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