Myspace/Facebook

The other day I was talking with a friend and he asked me why I don't have a myspace or facebook anymore. My answer was that I don't really want them in my life at the moment. He said “you're a little wired sometimes”. I have been thinking about this for a while now and I thought I would blog about it and explain the reasons behind deleting my myspace and facebook.


There are many reason why I made the choice to delete my myspace and facebook. The first reason is that last semester I studied Psychology which was the best subject that I did. I learnt about a disorder called Internet addiction, which consists of spending an inordinate amount of time on the Internet and the inability to control online use. I felt that I was slipping quickly into this addiction so I decided to replace the myspace and facebook time with reading and prayer.


The second reason was that I am a procrastinator and the best thing for me to procrastinate on was myspace and facebook. Last semester all my assignments where finished a week before, if not two weeks before, they were due. This just shows that I did less procrastinating and more study. The decision to delete the two was not that easy but I think I am now a little better with my time.


The third and final reason that I deleted them both was that I was suffering from depression. I didn't want to be apart of the world, I just wanted to be on my own. Although I believe the depression is under control now, I have made the decision not to get myspace and facebook back.


I know for some people this is hard to understand but I believe that it is the best option for me. I know there are quite a few benefits to myspace and facebook but like I said to my friend, right now I don't need them in my life. I hope this has cleared some things up. I have been meaning to write this down for weeks now so I am glad I have finally blogged it. There are quite a few more blogs coming.


Blessings
Jesz

PIANO

For the people out there who don't know…I play the piano! Not very well, but I do play it. I have just recently bought a CD of piano music. There is nothing else on the CD other than a piano being played. Every time I listen to it, it's like something inside of me turns on and just draws me in.


I had a friend over the other day. I don't need to mention names because they know who they are. He really didn't like the piano music. It got me thinking, why do I like it so much? What is it about the piano that brings so much joy to my ears and my heart? I came up with this: When I listen to a good piece of piano music, I can feel the passion, I can see the passion. The music comes alive and I can see the story that it is trying to tell. You can feel the emotion, you can see the music dance. It's the most amazing feeling.


I was listening to a piece of music called 'Josh and Raya' and before I knew whom the song was about or the story behind it I could see the story that was being told. I still don't completely know what the song is about but when I listen to it my heart aches. The story that I see coming alive is one of sadness, of two lovers who are killed and the subsequent pain that goes with death, the ups and downs of trying to come to terms with it all and realizing that no matter what, it will always be there. The pain will never go away, it just becomes lighter. I see and feel this terrible pain rush over me and I cry. If you have time to listen to this piece of music its on my myspace. Please do listen to it because there are no words in the world that can explain how it makes you feel and the story that it will tell you.


How does a piece of music make you feel this way? How do a bunch of notes on a page tell a story so well, with so much emotion? I hear the music, but I feel the passion, the emotion and the pain and suffering of loss. It just amazes me that music can do this. Saying this, this piece of music was written and played by the same person, but if I were to play it, I believe it would create a completely different emotion and may not sound anything like the original, because it is telling a different story.


It's not always about the music but the ability and the emotion. The ability to be able to express the emotion through music – it is such a God given talent. I would like to thank Joshua Spiers for writing this song and for being willing to share it with the rest of the world because I know its not easy to share your music and what is close to your heart. I wish the joy that I get from listening to music to fall upon everyone because it is such a blessing.


God Bless
Jesz

So True

Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift. You might meet your soul mate, but just remember that if you meet the right one and you find it complicated, than chances are you have finally found your soul mate.

Nothing good in life is simple, but don't let your opportunities pass you by because things get tough. When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had. Or someone that you can talk to for hours on end everyday, even though nothing much has happened in between when you last spoke to them.

Its true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back! Don't expect love in return, just wait for it to grow in their heart, but if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours.

It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them form your dreams and hug them for real! Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trails to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. Creating happiness is a happy experience, creating sadness is a sad experience.

When you can, put a little sunshine into someone's life. It's something that can keep you both warm in the coldest winter. Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

LISTEN

I read this the other day and wanted to share it with everyone.

A friend of mine attended a Christian pastors' conference in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The participants, gathered from across North America, included one Native American pastor who was on his first trip to a major metropolitan city. During a lunch break the Native American pastor took a walk outside with one of his colleagues. As they stretched their legs along the busy pavement, the pastor suddenly stopped, turned to his companion and said, 'Do you hare that?' The friend paused and considered the bustling noise of the city. 'Hear what?' he replied.
Planted along the city pavement was a small row of trees. At the base of each tree was a circle of flowers. The pastor walked over to one of the trees, knelt down, reached beneath one of the floral clusters, then stood and opened his hand, revealing a small black bug. 'It's a cricket.'
Dumbfounded, his friend replied, 'How could you possibly hear that?' The Native American pastor reached into his trouser pockets, took out a handful of coins and threw them into the air. As the coins hit the cement, people from all directions stopped and looked down. The pastor turned to his companion and said, 'It depends on what you're listening for.'

This is so true. What are you listening for??

PASSION

What is passion? The dictionary defines it as strong emotion or great enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is defined as God within. My question to you is do you have a passion and what is your passion for?


I have been around a lot of passionate people in the last two terms. The deeper my relationship grows with these people the more I see what their passions are and what makes their hearts beat.


Have you ever watched a real musician play their music? It is just an amazing thing to watch. It is like they own the music. You cannot describe what you see you just feel the passion in the music. The way it makes you feel is unbelievable.


I have two passions in my life at the moment. The first is God; I am passionate about telling the world about God and how He loves them so very much. Passion is one of those life emotions that you cannot explain why you have it – you just do. Nothing can stop me from trying to succeed in fulfilling my passions.


My second passion is youth and young people. I have a heart for the young people of Adelaide and the world. I just want to help them get through their lives. I'm currently studying a BA in Youth Work so that I can achieve my passion. There are so many people out there that share that same passion to see the youth through the transition period. I still have that question – where does the passion come from? What makes me passionate about saving the world for Jesus Christ and youth? What makes others passionate about managing a restaurant or fixing cars?


I believe that passion is something that God gives you. If we were all passionate about the same things, then what would we do? I have found that a lot of people don't follow their passions because of the influences (groups of people) in there lives, such as parents, family and friends. A lot of people don't follow their passions because their parents don't agree with what they want to do; their parents want them to do something that makes a lot of money and makes them happy. But if you are following your passion, you are going to be happy and the money is not really going to matter. The other group to cause people to hold back on following their passion is friends. A lot of people are worried about what there friends are going to think of them. Are they still going to have friends at the end of the day?


Why is it so hard for us to follow our passions? Why is it so hard to follow something that brings us so much joy and happiness? Why do so many of us wait until it is almost too late to follow our passions?


I am not suggesting that following your passion is going to be easy because there may be pressures form your parents and friends. Instead, I would just like to encourage everyone to follow their passions – to hear God's voice and follow it.


I would also like to thank God for the passions that I have and the people in my life that are so passionate about life.

WHAT I LEARNT IN A WEEK

God can teach so much in just one week – it's so amazing. I was taught some really amazing stuff last week. Some of the things God taught me, I didn't realise were important but now that I look back over it all, I should have listened earlier.
The three lessons God taught me in a week (and what a week it was!)

Lesson One:

If you have a story, don't share it with everyone, just the people God wants you to share it with. For the past 3 or 4 years I have been telling my story to everyone I meet. Last week I come to the realisation that God will tell me who to share with when the time is right. This is going to take some time for me to learn but I'm sure I will get there. I decided to only talk to others about God, youth work, the weather, and other people (in a good way).

Lesson Two:

Lesson two is a hard one and it is this – don't trust everyone you meet. Take your time to get to know people before you let them into your life. How many times do you hear of people being hurt because they let someone into their life and didn't really know them? I know this lesson sounds terrible because as Christians we should be able to trust each other but I just want to recommend to be careful. Guard your heart and take your time to get to know people.

Lesson Three:

Now this lesson everyone should know about, but it was shown to me last week (and now I think I get it) – Don't worry about things that are out of your control. There is nothing you can do about them and God has it all sorted out. I know that this lesson is easier said than done but it is true. I know that God has a plan for me and that everything has a purpose and that He will never leave me. It doesn't change the fact that you worry. I know I spent a ridiculous amount of time in prayer last week, which is a good thing. I found that prayer is a great way just to give it all to God and to move on as best as you can.

Notes from the week:

The week was hard but I did learn a lot. Don't you wish that God could teach you these sorts of things in a less hurtful way? I got really hurt by what happened and I reckon that there must have been a better way of teaching me these three very important lessons. But I guess God knows what He is doing more than I do.

I found out whom my real friends were and that they really do care for me. The one quote that got me through came to me on Thursday night and it was this: "How important will this situation be to me in 5 years time?" It's a very real and true statement and it had a very large impact on me.

So these are the three lessons I learned last week. I'm sure there are more but right now I can't think of them and some of them I still need to think about. There are a few really important people that got me through last week and I would just like to thank them – God, Kim, Carly, Lisa, Ran, Bec, Krystal, Chad, and Wilby. Thanks so much guys you all mean the world to me. I'm sure there is a heap of other people out there and I am so very grateful for all your help last week.

Just remember God is great even when life is crap.
God Bless Jesz

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

These are just some ideas of things you can do. If you have anymore that I haven't thought of let me know and I will add them to the list.

• Buy a meal for a couple or family sitting next to you at a restaurant.
• Bake cookies for a neighbour or teacher.
• Leave an extra large tip for your service at a restaurant
• Buy a meal for the person behind you at the fast food drive through
• Leave a bunch of flowers at someone's front door
• Bake goodies and take them to a police or fire station.
• Pay someone's parking fine.
• Leave change in a pay phone or coke machine.
• Buy coffee for the person standing behind you in line.
• Open doors and give up seats.
• Buy a toy for a child in the store and ask the clerk to deliver it once you have left.
• Send a nice card to people from the phone book
• Write a letter to the mailman
• When it's hot if there are workmen around take them out some ice water. If it's cold hot coffe, chocolate or tea.
• Clean graffiti off windows.