Pray

Okay guys, I'm in need of some serious prayer. I've been in kind of a funk lately, for lack of a better way to put it. I've just had these really weird emotions. And I don't like it, at all. I've been having a very hard time focusing on anything, I've been very, very happy lately (which is strange for me), but at the same time I feel very, very sad or upset about something. I have no idea what's bringing this on!
I think that satan knows that God's going to use me, and that he is using me, and that I'm changing, and he hates that. I LOVE that satan hates me! If he hates what I'm doing and who I am, that's a mission accomplished. It's definitely a mutual hate though. I could never ever begin to describe the hate I feel for satan. Just like I could never describe the feeling of love I have for God. It's just crazy. Think about this: God designed you before you were born. He knew who you were going to be, and he made you exactly how he wanted you. I wish that I knew what God wanted me to do. I wish we could hear an audible voice telling us what the heck we're supposed to do. Would make life much easier, eh? I just find it so awesome that God designed every single thing about me. And that he loves me, even when I feel like no one else does. Ah! Can't even begin to describe the happiness I feel when I think about Him.
But anyways, please pray that in the name of Jesus Christ, satan will leave me alone. He has no place in my life. He has no right to bring me down.
Thanks guys!
Blessings,
Ariel

The Plan

Ok guys, big, BIG plans for this coming year! First, I want to thank all of you who read my blog. I figured out that facebook groups is a really cool way to get my blog out there, and now more people are connecting with me, which is really cool. But, I want to make it very clear that I'm not trying to become some type of mini celebrity by having people 'like' my blog on facebook. Honestly, I was simply curious who all read it, and this way people will be more connected with my blog instead of having to read all of my statuses (I know there's a lot) to find out when there's a new one.
Okay, drum roll please! (Not joking, hit your desk, tap a pencil, something! This is supposed to be dramatic, people! :) ) I have HUGE plans for this year! I'm definitely trying to raise the bar for young people. Kendra Penner (Kendra Dawn on facebook) and I have a one year plan. Our ultimate goal is to put on a concert with possibly The Letter Black or a different band, all depending on research and time, we want to make and sell t-shirts supporting our cause, and have other stuff to sell too.
Now, I know you're wondering what this cause is, and I'm glad :) Kendra and I are really passionate about helping end human trafficking. Have you ever heard of drug trafficking? Selling drugs. Human trafficking is just that, but selling humans for sex.
Some quick facts:
27 MILLION (not 270, 2700, or 27000, that's 27,000,000!) people are held in slavery worldwide
Human trafficking is growing faster than drugs or weapons
Every 30 SECONDS another person becomes a victim of human trafficking
Children as young as 4 are sex slaves
Girls are forced to service up to 40 men a day
This is crazy. It has to stop. No one should have to go through this, I wouldn't wish this upon my worst enemy. Think about this, kids as young as 4 years old are having sex with 40 men a day, no choice what so ever. If a girl becomes pregnant and has a baby, they take it away from her so that when they're older, they can be used for sex too. This isn't right, you guys. Not even maybe.
Mine and Kendra's mission is to raise awareness for this. I've talked about living under a rock, once we're done, no one will be under a rock when it comes to human trafficking.
I invite everyone who reads this blog to help, if you feel called to. You can email me at xo_arial_xo@hotmail.com or facebook me. We're going to do a bunch of fundraisers for one year to raise money for the big event. I'd love to hear your ideas for what we could do for fundraisers! Also, if you have any ideas for what types of things we could put on the t-shirts (besides Lyle's picture ;) Lyle, I hope you read this post) give me a shout! I'm open to anything.
The costs are going to be pretty big for two 15 year old girls who don't have jobs. The Letter Black costs an average of $2500 to bring out, plus flights. T-shirts and other accessories I haven't looked up yet, but will soon. The cost of renting the Rec Center would likely be around $500. So we're probably looking at a minimum of $3500 for this event.
Please don't be afraid to contact me!
Blessings,

Ariel

Voice

I've been putting off writing again. My thoughts are a big mess. I have no idea what I want to say, but I'm just going to write and hope that the words come out the way they're supposed to. I've thought a lot about what to write in the past little while. But I kept putting off actually doing it. Don't know why. I can't even explain the feeling that I have right now.
I've been thinking, this blog is the only way I have a voice. At school I can talk, but no one cares. No one listens. If I tried getting up in front of a crowd and speaking with such passion that I imagine myself speaking with, it wouldn't work. I'd stutter, and be embarrassed and completely forget what I was going to say. But, oh I can imagine speaking in front of a crowd. With passion. Burning passion. No mistakes, and people just listening. Taking it all in. I wish I could do that. I know that I could make a difference with my words. But yet, this is the only way I have a voice. Honestly, I feel trapped inside myself. I have a million thoughts just screaming to get out when I'm around people, and I know what I want to say, but I can't find the words to say it. This is a problem. It has been for a while.
I feel like shrinking and hiding from the rest of the world because I feel that my words aren't being heard. That's why I like talking to God. When I talk to him I feel like he's actually listening to me. And when he asks me how I'm doing, he's actually asking me how I'm doing. He's not just trying to start a conversation, he actually wants to know. What happened?! Why is it, that when we ask someone "How are you?" that we expect them to say "Good." no matter what? What if they're not good? What if they're hurting, and we just brush by them? Unaware. Not caring. What if all that person wants is to be heard and loved? It's so simple! If we can't listen to them, and show them love, then what can we do? Those are two of the most simple things on earth! All you have to do, is shut your mouth, and open your heart.
You know, it's not all the time, but sometimes when I pray, when I'm really hurting, I can feel God's presence. He's there, with me. He wants to be there for me. He's the only one that would come be with me at the drop of a hat when I need him. Why do we search and search and search for people who will listen and be with us when we're hurting, when we already have it. Man, God's just waiting there, with his arms wide open, just wanting to hug you and comfort you and tell you, with all honesty, It's going to be okay.
It is going to be okay. People don't realize the power their words have. Physical and emotional pain are all brought on by people. NOT GOD. Listen to me: GOD DOES NOT WANT TO HURT YOU. That is all humans hurting you. It makes me so sad, that people think it's God hurting them. When a little boy gets hit by his daddy, was that God hitting him? No, that was human. When a girl gets teased by her friends, being told that she's not pretty enough, she's not smart enough, she's not good enough, is that God telling her that she's not good enough? No, that's human.
I struggle with this a lot. Self worth. I hate it, with a passion, when people tell me that I'm beautiful. By all means, tell me that my hair looks nice or that you like my shirt. But don't you dare tell me that I'm beautiful. Because it's not true. You're lying.
People get mad at me for thinking that. But honestly, I've spent my whole life telling myself that I'm not good enough. It's my comfort zone. When people tell me that I'm beautiful, or that I'm worth it, it makes me so uncomfortable.
So why am I sharing all this? Honestly, I don't know. I don't know why I'm typing all of this or why I'm letting anyone into my personal thoughts, but I am. I'm just hoping that by doing this, by writing, that I'll have a voice. Maybe I'll help someone? I don't know. I don't know why you read this. I don't know who reads this. I don't know. I don't know...
Please, if you get anything out of this blog, out of what I'm saying, please, please, contact me. I don't want to be aimlessly writing. Inbox me on facebook. Email me (xo_arial_xo@hotmail.com). Tell me why you read this. Because I want to have a voice. I don't want to quit.
Blessings, Ariel
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtEHU5bFbb4 watch this video, you are a treasure!]

Mattie Montgomery (Vocalist Of For Today) - Joshua

*This sermon is by Mattie Montgomery of For Today. I always listen to the sermons, but I find it easier to focus on them when the words are right there in front of me. Please listen to the voice while you read the words, and really take it to heart.


ARISE! WAKE UP! BROTHERS AND SISTERS! IT IS TIME FOR OUR GENERATION TO WAKE UP AND STEP INTO DESTINY!
Our generation has been wandering in the desert for far too long. For too long we have had the leadership and the vision necessary to enter into our true destiny, but our inaction has kept us stranded. Or our deception of self sufficiency has kept us stranded. I believe that just like Moses in the Bible there has been a few people in our father's generation that have laboured and toiled in a place of prayer and fasting. People who have walked with God and talked with God. People who have truly confronted the established order of this world and declared that we will have freedom no matter what the cost. And because of that, we as a generation are standing at the threshold of a great awakening in the church that will electrify our spirits and will ignite a fire that will consume our planet. But now God has spoken to me, and he has said, It's time to enter in, it's time for new leaders, who will rise up under Joshua anointing and who will come into a place of leadership and say, 'We have been waiting for too long.' Now is the time to come into destiny in God's promise. I don't know what it is, but there's something in our DNA, our generational DNA that sets our eyes on eternity and the divine that says, I'm coming for it. I'm coming for all of it. And nothing and no one can stop me. There's a new sort of aggression in our generation, a new desperation. Something that God has built into us that forces us to run after Him. And to abandon everything that hinders us because we know it's how we were made. We know that He is all we need for real. And we value Him above all else. God is calling forth leaders like Caleb who will silence the groaning and fearful weeping of the assembly and declare, this ? is exceedingly good. Do not fear the giants in the land. Do not fear a billion dollar pornography empire that has been built in our nation. Do not fear the highest suicide rate in the history of man kind, claiming one life every 16 minutes. There are giants in the land, but the Lord is with us. And we declare victory in the name of Jesus. I declare freedom from the bondage of pornography for the young men in our church. I believe there are Joshua generation leaders who have been called by God to lead these people into their destiny. Who are being crippled by this addiction to sexual sin. And to you, I say, NO MORE! NO MORE! If the son who's made you free, then you are free indeed. I see your purity setting a new standard for our generation. Rise up. I declare freedom from the spirit of suicide over our generation. I speak out, the prophets will arise, people who have established a true sort of intimacy with God, such that, when they speak, His words come out.This is what is means to be a prophet. There are people who have surrendered their own voice to take on his. That are sanctified and because of them, when they speak, God speaks. And I declare that they will speak to the walking dead in our streets, and they will see them come to life again. I declare that they will speak to the walking dead in our streets and they will see them come to life again. Oh, brothers and sisters, we've been in the wilderness for too long. Silence the assembly, call the masses, and declare that they may have fortified walls, armor and weapons, but their walls will crumble before us because the Lord God is with us.The whole world may seem to be standing against the advancement of the Kingdom, but greater is he who is in You, than he who is in the world. We may be crippled with sin, or blinded with fear but He's called Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our healer. A refuge in strength. And ever present help in times of trouble, He is our victorious warrior, and we stand behind him, Father God, and declare to a generation, Arise! Take heart, it's time to step into destiny!

Out From Under

I'm mad. That's all that could describe my feelings right now, mad. I'm mad that there's people starving, and we can do something about it, there's young girls being sold into prostitution, and we can do something about it, there's innocent people being killed, and we can do something about it. But we don't. The first thing that comes to mind is "Why doesn't God do something about it, if he's so mighty?" He DID do something about it!!! He put US on this earth to be his hands and feet. We can end depression, we can end suicide, we can end prostitution, we can end rape, we can end murder, we can end all of this. But no one's willing to pull together and do what they can. And that makes me mad. My blood is boiling right now. At the thought of little 7 or 8 year old girls being forced to have sex with 20 different guys every day of the week so that her family can have food. At the thought of innocent people just living their lives being held at gun point just because. At the thought of a girl in her room crying, cutting her wrist, and just watching the blood drip down, all to try to get away from the pain of her reality. At the thought that WE CAN DO SOMETHING, but we don't. Admit it, we all  live under a rock. We see what we want to, and what we don't want to know, we convince ourselves that it isn't happening. But there is still war and hunger and rape and suicide and slaves and prostitution and depression and murder and self injury and a million other things I could name. Why don't we do our part?? We could do so much. Just like that little boy that only had 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread, he gave them to Jesus, trusted him, said This is all I have, and he fed over 5000 people. We can take our "2 fish and five loaves of bread" and "feed 5000 people". In other words, we can take what we have right now, and do something big with it. God performs miracles. Nothing is impossible. Nothing. We need to crawl out from under that sheltered rock that we all live under, and face reality. It's never going to get better until we start doing something. Now don't look at me and call me a hypocrite. I'm researching, I'm brainstorming up ideas to help people around the world and in my own community. I want to change the world!!! I'm only 15, but I am going to do it, with the help of Jesus. It's the only way I can. I'm gonna do big things, I just know it :)
Blessings,
Ariel

Gobble Gobble

Ahh, Turkey Day. And look at that, we actually had turkey this year! :) I've never understood how people can eat that. It looks good, but then you eat it, and even if there's gravy on it, it's still dry as a desert. Meh, you guys can enjoy your turkey, I'll stick with chicken. (P.S. I just realized that it's actually not thanksgiving for another 2 and a half hours, but we celebrated today.)
Lots of people love thanksgiving. I guess it's the food. I, am not one of those people. Not this year anyways. The turkey was yuck, dishes were even more yuck, my family was getting on my last nerve, and I was completely stressed out all day for no reason. Not such a thankful person today, needless to say.
Now, I'm no Scrooge, don't get me wrong. And now, I'll list off the things I am thankful for:
-Family (when we get along)
-Friends (when we get along)
-TIGGER!!! (my cat, he's my best friend <3 :) )
-Damien (kid I babysit) and Charline (mom)
-All of the nice things I'm fortunate enough to have
-Canada, we are so free
-Rain!! (it RAINED today! In OCTOBER! And I wasn't allowed to go outside :( I was so pumped!!)
-GOD!!!! Where would we be without him?!
I could list off so many more, but you know how people tend to have brain farts when they actually try to think of something? Yeah, that's me right about now. I am thankful!!! (Just cranky ;) )
Oh! I almost forgot, happy 10/10/10! I never realize that it's a day like that until I see it all over facebook...
Any who, I hope you guys had some awesome food, great company, and a good weekend.
Blessings, Ariel

Why?

Have you ever thought, if God is who he says he is, then why is there poverty? Why is there war? Why is there sadness? Well, he could ask you the exact same thing. There's poverty because we're selfish. There's war because we thought that violence was the answer. There's sadness because we're all so wrapped up in our own feelings. God chose not to control us. He chose not to make us love him. We have a choice.
I'm actually very mad right now. I was at youth group tonight, and I saw and felt hypocrisy. It's like, no one cares. I care, but I have a hard time coming out of my shell if I'm not supported. I love just reading my bible and spending time with God. I never used to do that. I WAS A HYPOCRITE. I hate thinking about that, but I was. I was terrible. BUT, I'm not waiting anymore. It just makes me so mad to see people who don't believe in God. It makes me mad at myself because I don't know what to do about it. I can help. If only I knew how. I don't want to wait anymore! And it makes me so mad that I don't have anyone to guide me with this! I just wish that God spoke to us specifically. It would be so much easier. I find it hard to focus on and decode the stories in the bible that Jesus tells, so that's really no help to me. I need the real stuff. Wow, I'm rambling today. Oh well, I don't know if anyone actually reads this, but to those of you who do, please pray that I find peace. And that I can live how God wants me to. Because I'm tired of living this B.S. life. I'm done with it. I want to get onto the real stuff that God's planned.
Blessings,
Ariel