Halloween, why I "celebrate"

So I've had a lot of people be surprised that I "celebrate" Halloween. Well the thing is, I don't but I enjoy the day for a few reasons.

It's a great excuse to wear a costume or two all day with no one questioning it. Seriously, if had the funds and it was socially acceptable I would wear a costume once a week. Truth be told I might eventually incorporate "Everyday cosplay" into my wardrobe once a week anyway. (For more on Everyday Cosplay click this link to a great Tumblr page about it)

But the another reason is the evangelism opportunities. On a night associated mainly with the pagan and the demonic, I see it as prime time to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I mean when you rock a great costume people come to you eagerly, wanting to talk to you anyway so why not? All the while, simultaneously shattering the stereotypes of "women have to wear sexy costumes" and "black people don't do that".

So yeah I'm excited. Now I realize costumes aren't for everyone but I hope that my fellow believers would consider the evangelism aspect a bit more than just brushing if off. Because let's be real. If we avoided every holiday associated with paganism, we wouldn't do holidays at all. 

10 Things Christianity is NOT

This article from http://www.churchleaders.com/  just encouraged my heart and brightened my day.

Read and enjoy or if you're not save, learn a few things

 10 THings Christianity is NOT

Art Inspired Story: Changes

So I've been on Wattpad for over a year now and I finally posted a story: Changes

It's the first time in a long time that I've made a story I've written public. I just wanted to "announce" it (I usually keep these kinds of things to myself). I'm not going to talk about Wattpad itself because it will probably be included in the post I'm working on about reading fanfiction. Anywho, check out the short description below.

Ralph lived a quite and routine life. He wanted for nothing and believed he had everything. Then one thing after another started to change.

Inspired by the sculpture Dawn created by Ken Little, 1999

P.S. If you're just browsing around check out the writer PokeBroncoFan

TD Jakes... The Pursuit Of Purpose

 

In this season of my life, in searching and seeking to be closer to God and to walk in my purpose, this is a right on time word. If you find yourself in the same place or somewhere close, I recommend you watch it. This is good for those you are feeling like you're stuck as well.

I love my Aunt Nita, I miss her dearly, and that's ok

It started yesterday. After I went to help a friend I decided to stop at Eastbrook Flea Market. I had planned on doing so since school got out but hadn't quite made it yet. I wanted to stop at the Kynard Korner Vintage Boutique booth and also see if I could hunt down a set of the original 6 volumes of Addy American Girl. I ended up just casually wandering around for hours and purchasing a few books and comics. I would have stayed even longer but I was getting hungry and I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to call my fantabolous sister before work.

She picked up fairly quickly giving her usual warm greeting so of course instead of giving my own, I yelled happy birthday in reply. Did I mention it was her birthday? It was totally her birthday. We talked about new things and how she's excited about the Lord using her and how He will in the future. I'm excited as well and grateful for what God has done for her. I always feel so proud and so blessed that God would place in my life such a wonderfully encouraging, confident, and loving sister. She hasn't always been that way (You can see why I said that here) but you better believe God changes things. Of course He's changed me too but that's another post for another time.

After our talk, I got ready for work. I'm a server at a restaurant and frankly things just haven't been the same as when I started. Not in a good way either. But I was feeling encouraged. Lol you can't talk to my sister and not feel encouraged or at least that's how I feel. Anyway, so I was thinking about the issues and realized that I've probably been praying about the situation incorrectly. I felt new things and new words being impressed upon my heart so I prayed them. Of course since pray never stopped working things were different when I got ther. Even though we were still slow it was a good night. It was actually a peaceful night, something a bit rare for us lately. I didn't get many tables but they were all nice, enjoyed there time with us, enjoyed the food, and they tipped pretty well. That's like the ultimate win.

I ordered some food and took it go. Even though I was super hungry during my shift, I wanted to get home. I came in, turned off the outside lights, and spoke to my parents. When I spoke to my Dad he told me he had bad news. I though something had happened to my Aunt Nita again. She's been on hospice for a while now but this week was one of her rough weeks. They happened every so often then she's right back to her sassy lovable self. I was right, something did happen to her. She went home to the Lord.

It seems like I went through shock, denial, and acceptance all in under a minute then I burst into tears. I wanted to drop my food, lay on the floor and cry but I tried to pull it together because I was in front of Dad. I mean she was his sister. His flesh and blood sister so stupidly I felt like who am I to cry like that. He ended up taking the food out of my hand and holding on to me. I pulled it together enough to say I was ok, leave the room, and go eat my food.

I was not ok. I was not ok at all. I started eating and watching tv as if it didn't happen. I was trying to escape the fact that it happened. When Mom saw that I knew, she patted the seat next to her for me to sit but I told her I was fine too. Still wasn't but I've never been a let's cry together person. I like to be left alone. I always end up trying to "be strong" for people or putting on a "brave face" and hanging around. It felt so fake and I hated it. I haven't hated my behavior in a good while so I knew I needed to pray and ask God for help. Not the halfway kind where I try to figure it out in the middle but totally utter "God I have no idea what I'm doing or how to interact with other people on the matter."

So today I woke up with my to do list, wait....... I woke up and thanked God for many things then started on my to do list. One being to wash and condition my hair. While sitting under the dryer for the conditioner, I decided to read Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul. I had long forgotten about Chicken Soup books and definitely didn't know about a Christian based one. But there it was yesterday, siting in the Loved Again booth at the Flea market. I read two stories while under the dryer. TWO! Then turned into a grateful ball of feels. I felt better and of course since I felt better there are only two things to do: write or make art.

So here I am writing this post while hair air dries. Laughing at myself for always trying to think my way life, in the bad way. Instead of just thinking about the good things and leaning into God. You know good things:

• Like the fact that the last time I talked to my Aunt we had a great heart to heart.
• More importantly we talked about salvation and she was assured of her faith and where she was going once it was over.
• Or the fact that no one actually expects me to hold it together, just to let it out and move on.
• And definitely the fact that if she was here, how she would totally raz me about my behavior then somehow turn it into a conversation about how I need to hurry up and get married. (She had a knack for that)
• Of course how, The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit -Psalm 34:18 ESV
• And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose - Romans 8:28 KJV

So everything will be ok.

Rant: Naruto Ships

 Yes this is a post about Naruto ships.  So if you haven't finished reading Naruto don't read this because there will be spoilers. Now let's start with the basics.

Naruto

Masashi Kishimoto drew his first drawing of Naruto in 1997 as a one-shot about fox spirits. His final version debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999. Naruto is a young shinobi with a knack for mischief. He's go a wild sense of humor, but is completely serious about becoming the world's greatest ninja. From cool fights showing what it really means to be a ninja to fights for things they believe in to hairbrained fun and jokes Naruto's adventures have got it all. I pulled this description from various area of the manga (Japanese comic book) which I have been reading since 2006. (If you want to know more about Naruto, the story or the characters that will be mentioned below go to http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Naruto_Uzumaki and click around)

Shipping

The type of shipping I'll be talking about is defined as the desire to see two fictional people in a romantic relationship with one another.

Naruto ships

From day one there were two things made known: Naruto was in love with Sakura and Sakura was in love with Sasuke. The ship with Naruto and Sakura is usually referred to as NaruSaku and the ship with Sasuke and Sakura is called SasuSaku. These were the main ships. The most popular reference I can give would be Twilight fans and they Team Edward vs Team Jacob thing (no I am not a Twilight fan but that's another blog for another day.) But then Hinata came along. Of course this brought about the Naruto and Hinata ship (NaruHina) and the Sasuke and Hinata ship (SasuHina). After 700 chapters of great characters, awesome fights, and a whole lot of funny we got our canon. NaruHina and SasuSake won the day.

The Problem

Some people went nuts about this! Some NaruSaku fans even went so far as to start a petition to get the next Naruto series, one following the lives Naruto and the others' children, banned from America. Seriously? Being angry because the two FICTIONAL characters you like didn't get together makes no sense. Boycotting an amazing manga because of it is also ridiculous.

The Real Problem or at least part of it

People have let Naruto consume their lives or have turned it into an idol. Really. Now I'm not saying you have to be happy about it. If had went to other way I would've been a bit annoyed myself but I would have gotten over it fairly quickly and I certainly wouldn't give up on the entire series. (It's happened to me in other fandoms) This was not a romance series so ships weren't the end all be all. But even then, no ship in any fandom should send someone into such emotional distress. This kind of thing is not healthy. If you happen to be one of those people, I seriously encourage you to reprioritize what you're into.

The Courageous Lady Saturday Experience

It's almost here, it's almost here, hear me now, it's almost here. I'm excited about the launching of Courageous Lady founded by one of the most courageous women I've ever meet Christine Thomas. The first event, the Courageous Lady Saturday Experience isn't one to be missed. There will be an afternoon tea and meal, a meet and greet, then an evening explosion. All events are free and open to the public. More information about the Saturday Experience and Courageous Lady currently can be found on it's gofundeme page. The Courageous Lady website will launch June 1, 2015. Courageous Lady itself was created to build a network of women from diverse cultures and backgrounds and to help women move into being confident, creative, committed and celebrated, change agents. It will become a community that helps women leave fear behind and experience a life of purpose and passion without shame or fear of what others will think. Something that all women need in there lives. It takes courage to be yourself and it's often not easy. We've become so accustomed to fitting in that we often forgot we were born to stand out and be different. So far @CourageousLadyChristine has personally sown over $8,000 into this event.
But hey we need some help. We're raising $3,000 to defray some of the cost. Any donation would be appreciated. You can find more information on what we're trying to achieve and make a donation by clicked this link -> Support the Courageous Lady Saturday Experience Check out, spread the word, and if not anything else "Be Bold. Be Strong. Be Courageous. Be You!"

The Maker by Chris August (Lyric Video)

This is a beautiful song. I had heard it many times before and even purchased it on iTunes. But the first time I truly sat still in a quite place a really listened to it, I cried. I encourage you to really pay attention to what it says and not just how it sounds or the chorus. Actually I encourage that with any song you listen to because too often we hear them but don't listen to what they're really saying.

Wigtime: An Introduction

So I finally did it. I ordered some colorful wigs to wear. For the longest time I yearned to change my hair color to non-natural colors but didn't because of other people's expectations and comfort. However this is the year that I finally submitted and asked God to show me how to be myself. The me that He created me to be. Yes, part of that me enjoys odd color hair and I was finally brave enough to follow through. But I didn't dye my hair. I didn't want to damage my glorious fro that I've been blessed with soooooo, I ordered WIGS! (^o^) I brought three but one didn't turn out the way I thought it would and the other has super extra long bangs that I need to have cut. The "conservative" one actually came out well. It's gray and blue even though it looks different colors in different lighting, check it out.



Day 1 out

Studying and drinking coffee



Sketching a design to paint

Me projecting my sinuses (and being a ninja)



Same day as above just outside

 ...Yeah so that's that, plus this (*-*)

 



People disliking the Dove Hair: Love Your Curls Video

Listen there are a lot of negative things that could be said about this ad. I just don't see the point in pointing them out. Let's focus on the good. Let's focus on the fact that this is a positive message that has helped a lot of women and girls learn to embrace a part of themselves. Something that is rarely seen these days and when you do it's usually only available to those of us who believe in Jesus Christ. Just be happy about it, seriously. Be excited that this even exists because when I was growing up it didn't and the whole idea was laughable. Long story short: Let go of the hate. Embrace the Love. Seriously.

 

 

Fashion Bucket List: Shorts in Winter

So the focus on this year is to be who God has called me to be, all eccentrism included, instead of being who people expect me to be or assume they want me to be. This includes experimentation with who I dress and style my hair. Today I fulfilled a long time fashion bucket list item: wearing shorts in winter.

 

 

I enjoyed this and I was totally comfortable. Next time though I'll wear some more colorful leggings or at least black ones. Lol some people thought I was bare legged.  



Sunday Morning: Going versus Streaming

It's Sunday. You just woke up and you feel blah. You look at the at time and see you're up later than you thought. But not so late that you don't still have time to go to church. So do you stream or do you go?

Most of us have had this moment at one point or another. I did this morning. I haven't been feeling well and I probably should be sleeping right now but I know the Word going forth this morning is going to change my life/thinking. So here I am, staying up (laying down next to my laptop)  to stream it with pencil and paper ready. Why you ask? Because I want what God has for me. In fact if I thought I wouldn't take it with serious toll on my body I'd go to the late service. So at this point at least one person is thinking, " if it's the same service why even bother going?" A few important reasons actually, to me anyway.

1. I feel that if you can go to a service go. The sermon is only one part of service. Corporate praise and worship are definitely different than praise and worship by yourself. But there is something you can't get streaming at home by yourself all the time: community. Hebrew 10:23-25 "²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." <- em="">You can't do that by yourself. We're a body for a reason.
2. If you're not disciplined it could lead to being complacent or fan the complacency already dwelling within. With today's technology we have more access to the Gospel than any generation before us. Because it's always there it can give a "I can watch anytime" mentality. But many of us, myself included, still have moments were we try a fit God in instead of constantly putting our time with Him first. Truthfully even more people live by trying and usually failing to fit God into there schedules. So forsaking the one time you know for sure that you'll have isn't the best idea.
3. If you're stressed, depressed, or just in a rut staying at home isn't going to help. Get up, get dressed. A walk or drive can do wonders and seeing what's at the end (time with God and other believers) is always for the better.

 Now there are other reasons I'm sure. Just like there are some reasons why someone might need to be at home or wherever you stream from. Deeper reasons too but these are the ones I wanted to bring up. SO take some time and think about this area in you're life. Talk to God about it. See what you might need to change or be more involved in. Be open minded, open hearted, and have a fantastic day.