Photo Wednesdays

Pardon the tardiness; with a burgeoning school schedule and university documents, I feel as though there are truly not enough hours in a day to accomplish all of one's tasks.

World Changer

What is your purpose in life? Whatever it may be, I assume it has something to do with making a difference. Making a difference in your community, in your school, in your home, but nonetheless, making a change. That is why I want to be a world changer--a person who dedicates much time and effort in changing the world one person and one soul at a time. That may come in the form of sponsoring an orphan through World Vision or Compassion, volunteering at a church soup kitchen to feed the homeless or the hungry in your town, volunteering at hospitals to feed encouraging words who are whispered negative comments all day long, or spending time with someone at your school--someone is labelled the outcast, the loner, the lonely people who don't have a voice. We are all created to change the world and whether we are oblivious to our potential, the truth is that we simply don't employ the potential we to change and rather, we shift our focus to less imperative matters, such as faking your hair and teeth so the school quarterback (who impregnated a girl last fall but you don't believe that) finds interest in you or ruin people's lives because the sadness and disappointments and anger of others somehow quiets and mutes your own tumultuous life. Rather than paying attention to trivial things like fitting in or finding the right words to fit in, think of other people. You are just one of the several billion people on this planet who have needs. If you give up part of your time and open your heart to those who are in greater need, you may be surprised to learn that you are impacting someone's life simply by not only being involved in that person's life but also by spending quality time with him/her, laughing, sharing, and preparing food. If you are volunteering at a church soup kitchen, look around and gaze at the people who come. Do you wonder how they came to be without a home, without food or water, or without a purpose? Perhaps that person suffered unimaginable loss and refused to live. Perhaps that person came from an abusive environment and the only exit was to live as a nomad. It doesn't matter how they came to this place; all that matters is that you have the opportunity to change that person's life. If you sit down beside, let's say, a seventeen-year-old girl or a young mother with her children, greet them with a smile. Then, after spending more time with them and familiarizing yourself with her or her children, you are in their hearts. Through your generosity and thoughtfulness, you find a place, a safe haven, for the girl or single mother. You provide a safe, warm shelter for them to grow. It may be your basement, an abandoned hospital, or whatever, but you seized the opportunity and you gave a hopeless person a future. Then, after talking with them afterward, they share that if it weren't for you and your help, they wouldn't have made it. Perhaps they contemplated suicide, or worse, trafficking to make ends meet. You gave someone a purpose to live, a reason to smile, the decision to live life. If you remained in your comfort zone and that person would have gone under your radar, who knows where they would be, but the fact that their change in circumstance is on account of you, the sense of hope you had given is immeasurable. Perhaps you see someone in your school with her head down, who doesn't speak, and is often seen alone. You sit down at her table (where she would otherwise be unaccompanied) and smile genuinely at her. Maybe your first interaction seems like it's lacking progress, but the second, third, or fourth time you sit at her table and start talking with her, she begins to open up. Then she becomes your friend. Then, she attends all your social gathering. Afterward, she is seen laughing and smiling. Years go by and she confides deeply in you that had you not befriended her, she would not be alive today. You are adding years to a person's life simply by just being her friend. Say that you sponsor a child in Africa or Asia by giving $30 a month (that's the price of 6 coffees at Starbucks). You sponsor him or her for a year, then 5 years, then 10 years. In an unprecedented affair, you meet face-to-face with your sponsored child and he or she tells you that if it weren't for you, that grown up child wouldn't be alive today or if alive, barely living in the streets, involved in gangs, etc. It is because of you that that person has hope, a purpose, and a future. Do you marvel at the repercussions of an act of kindness? Don't, because a simple act of kindness can change the world. Perhaps not the total world's population overnight, but through that person that you helped, counselled, and befriended, that person goes on and does the same to someone else, and so on and so on and so on. The cycle continues until it reaches hundreds of millions of people. Never question the power of a single act of kindness; it has the ability to change the world. And never question whether or not a single person can make a difference because it only takes one to start a change. I certainly aspire and want to make a change, thus pursuing opportunities that are too costly to give up. I want to make a change in this world. How about you?

Top 5: Minimizing Lengths!

In light of Spring, the end of April, the beginning of May, the temperatures continues to grow steadily (slowly but surely!). In lieu of jeans, boots, and leather bomber jackets, shorter and shorter dress lengths inaugurates its appearance with the escalating weather. Wise advice: Unless you are Carrie Underwood and are monikered as having the nicest and most toned legs in Hollywood, perhaps these minimal hemlines may prove more horrific memories than lauding laughter.

1.

A reference to Carrie Underwood would not be complete without a photographic documentation of this aforementioned reference. This Stella McCartney sheath is very, very simple; however, it exudes an airy vibe as well as simplistic sophistication. The simple cut gives your legs the major headlines. 

2.

Lauren Conrad's dress is very cool. The detailed design, the greenish colour, as well as her tan makes this an appealing view. The long sleeves keeps the hemlines clean. With no accessory in sight, this allows the dress to be to the main attraction. The heel length is nice; although a different colour may be preferred. 

3.

Hayden's turquoise dress is very clean: clean lines, clean cut, and clean length. The vibrant colour gives a nice pop (as well as contrasting the weary Canadian "spring" weather). The piece de resistance? Her peach-hued wedges. 

4. 

No explanation necessary. Everything about her outfit is divine.

5.

Okay, Kate Mara's outfit is fun! Her baby blue dress, her crimson heels, and her creme-coloured clutch makes this an excellent outfit. Wonderful; I cannot amass the words to express how awesome this outfit is.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! Today is Good Friday and while I'm not sure what Easter or Good Friday means to you, I'll tell you what it means to me: It means everything. Although there is nothing that can adequately suffice in representing Christ's sacrifice, the movie The Passion of Christ comes close in allowing us to comprehend the unimaginable torture Jesus went through to redeem us from our unrighteousness, unholiness, and suffering. That movie is an absolute masterpiece; I can't watch it without having to cry my eyes out. When I view it, I see Jesus willingly suffering for me, so that I may live, not lack, and have everything. Even if it had to be longer than it was or more gruesome that it was, He would have done it without hesitance because He loves me that much. The Cross accomplished everything. When His Blood was spilled, all hell trembled at the sight of the Blood of the Lamb of God. The Cross and the Blood invested in my healing; in wholeness of spirit, mind, emotions, and body; in holiness and righteousness; and most importantly, in giving me worth and value that I would not otherwise have. Without His Blood, I would not even be worthy of serving such a wonderful and holy God but because His Son shed that Blood for me, I have the extraordinary and privileged honor of serving Him. When I see the whippings, my heart cries out because He did that for me. There is nothing that the Blood cannot accomplish--the enemy leaves, sickness departs, and supernatural miracles occur at the sound of His Great Name. Here are the lyrics to a powerful song--O The Blood by Gateway Worship--and while you read the lyrics, ponder on the sacrifice of Jesus and what it means to you.

O the blood

Crimson love

Price of life's demand

Shameful sin

Placed on Him

The Hope of every man

CHORUS

O the blood of Jesus washes me

O the blood of Jesus shed for me

What a sacrifice that saved my life

Yes, the blood, it is my victory

VERSE 2

Savior Son

Holy One

Slain so I can live

See the Lamb

The great I Am

Who takes away my sin

BRIDGE

O the blood of the Lamb

O the blood of the Lamb

O the blood of the Lamb

The precious blood of the Lamb

What a sacrifice

That saved my life

Yes, the blood, it is my victory

VERSE 3

O what love

No greater love

Grace, how can it be

That in my sin

Yes, even then

He shed His blood for me

Isn't it wonderful to serve a King that would gladly die for us that we wouldn't be left in the dark, live with sickness, poverty, and lack, and because He loves us that much? On this Easter season, be blessed in the Blood of the Lamb and rejoice that He has accomplished everything! There is nothing more greater than His Blood and that is the wonderful reality of Jesus Christ.

Soul Surfer

I had just recently saw Soul Surfer and I am enamoured with its uplifting, determined-minded message: Never give up. After Bethany Hamilton suffered unimaginable trauma--losing her arm to a shark attack--rather than losing hope, floating through life, and having ambivalence and apathy, she summoned her faith and courage and continued doing exactly what fuels her passion: surfing. Bethany is a real-life Christian (as well as the actress who portrays her, AnnaSophia Robb) and while this circumstance could have greatly rattled her faith and turn her back on the Lord, she did what many saw impossible. She returned to surfing. That is the mindset of a champion. Rather than losing heart when things fail or things didn't work out for the best, it's the fact that you went out there, gave your best, put your heart in front of the battle zone, and did it. Bethany didn't place first at the National Surfing competition the first, but the fact that she tried and refused to give up inspired many not to lose heart either. What I particularly admired about the film is the Christian message. It was real. Everyone has problems and just because we're Christian doesn't mean we're immune to life's challenges; it's how you react to them. She fell down, regained her strength, and continued walking. When you can't continue, lean on the One who gives you strength. It was a very powerful and moving movie. For all the critics who claim that is a maudlin movie pouncing on weak sentiments, they fail to realize just how difficult it was for Bethany to get back up. What is of greater importance is that she often accomplishes more with one arm that most of us do with two arms. That is not to say that having one arm is best; it's just that in the big picture, our problems are not so significant. We have oxygen in our lungs, food on the table, water in the house, electricity, shelter, clothing, safety, and heating, so sometimes we shouldn't complain when we don't get to the Facebook page in the usual time of half a millisecond. Soul Surfer inspires its audience by reminding us that we have strength from Someone else and He gives us a strength that assists us in accomplishing what would otherwise be incomprehensible things. Don't give up. Don't lose faith. 

What Does P-R-O-M Spell?

It seems that everywhere I go, prom is on the mind. The new Disney movie Prom, countless magazines assisting you to make the best of this big day, and a slew of prom dresses in every department store window. I understand that high school is only part of the life experience and that graduation from high school is marginally important compared to university/college graduation, but, come on! There has to be a reason why this hype is so exponentially build up only to have girls dreaming of this days since the seventh grade or immediately after elementary school graduation. Now, for practical reasons, let's pretend that I was invited to someone's prom, that I am being escorting with someone to prom, that I have a reason to get all glammed up, spend money on hair, makeup, and extra prep time to ensue that every detail is of prime stability. Everything about me on prom night--my dress, my hair, my makeup, my shoes, my clutch--would epitome Old Hollywood. Definitely one-shouldered. Something that would nicely contrast my olive complexion. I can already picture it in my mind. And if you could read my mind, the possible dress options would be as following:

The dress is the pinnacle, the zenith of prom glamour. However, the makeup and hair cinches it all in. I would decide on something classy, something understated yet still visible and defining one feature. Essentially, the makeup and hair will be subtle yet there for everyone to see...

Shoes and clutches require no thinking; I already know exactly what I would get had I be invited to this massive event. Notwithstanding, I can perhaps imagine what prom might have been like, experience through wistful thinking, let my imagination soar and write a novel about the perfect prom night (I probably won't; too cliche). Sigh. Well, you can't experience everything. I suppose imagining or viewing from a television set will have to suffice.