Behind Desire

Behind Desire



Behind every desire is a deeper desire. Behind the deepest of desires, you'll find the true identity of the person you are...

If you follow only the desires on the surface, without ever looking beneath them, you'll likely come up empty. For knowing why is a key part of accomplishment. If your desires are ever to be realized, you must question them. Know that beneath each and every desire is a more profound, more fundamental purpose...

Perhaps you are a slave to your desires, or perhaps you are shocked by your desires, and maybe you're even fearful of them. Have you ever considered stepping back and really examining them? They all exist for a reason. Knowing and following those reasons can lead you to an undeniable sense of real and lasting fulfillment...

Behind your desires you'll find something even more compelling -- purpose. The more often you bring that purpose to the surface, the more successfully your life will proceed...


-- Ralph Marston

Graceful Intervention

Even though our family has recently faced a setback; I am grateful for divine intervention. I do believe that the Lord goes before us & closes the door on circumstances that will eventually
harm us. (See: Jeremiah 29:11)

Very recently-- my husband interviewed for a position in Texas. We were all set to go forward with our plans to sell our house since we thought that he would begin his new position in June. It was crushing to hear that the company abruptly decided to go in an alternate direction. But, after picking up the pieces, I now know that the Lord closed that door for a reason.

One of those reasons is that the townhomes in our community aren't selling as rapidly as we thought & there are 6 townhomes for sale in our little townhome complex alone. We could have faced financial hardship having to pay our mortgage plus additional housing expenses for my husband in Texas until our townhome was sold.

Today I will rejoice in that revelation while still knowing that there are bigger and better plans in store for our family in the near future. :) I take great comfort in knowing that there are still better days ahead.

I plan to remain hopeful, cause I know that the Lord will honor my positive attitude & reward that kind of faith eventually. I'd rather keep a positive attitude than being negative; which will only only pull me in the other direction and further away from the Lord eventually bringing our dreams to come to pass.

I heard it once said that God never gives us rainbows without the rain! :)

Its all how you look at it! :) :)



Graceful Guidance


At some point in our lives, we are likely to find ourselves asking for help, perhaps from no one in particular, and without knowing where help could possibly come from. We may have raised our eyes skyward or whispered our need under our breath only to find that somehow we were heard, and the help we needed arrived. It might have come in the form of a person who appeared at the right time, or perhaps it came in the form of luck, chance, or divine intervention.

However assistance appears, these are times when we can be sure that there are angels watching over us. We may find ourselves asking for their help with simple things—like finding a parking spot or to watch over loved ones—but then we forgot to call on them when we found ourselves alone or in pain.


We don’t need to be aware of them to receive their assistance, but there is comfort in the knowledge that they are there for us when we need them. And when we remain open to their presence, we can call on them whenever we need them to connect and be nurtured by their ethereal and heavenly energy.


As symbols of grace and gentle encouragement, they can offer us comfort as they enfold us in their wings or lift our spirit as they take flight. We may be warmed by their glow, guided by their gentle nudges or inspired by their whispers in our ears. We may hear the name of our angel and feel a personal connection, but it isn’t necessary.


All they need is to be heard, to see us benefit from their guidance and perhaps to hear a word of thanks sent their way every now and then. Whether they appear in the guise of a helpful stranger, or as a thought that suddenly occurs to us, angels are our loving guides from the spiritual realm, who with a brush of their angelic wings help us to make the most of our human experience by balancing it with the spiritual awareness that all things are possible and that we are not alone

Serenity

Even When...

Even When



Even when you have failed before, there is still every possibility of success. Even when one door is closed, another door will open. Even when the situation appears to be hopeless, there is indeed hope. Even when your options and your resources seem to be exhausted, there is still something more you can do...

Why is this so? Because the past does not equal the future. Because you are endlessly adaptable, resourceful and determined to go where you know you must go, to do what you know you must do. Because in this moment, you can move beyond anything at all that may have previously held you back...

Even when defeat appears certain, victory is well within reach. Even when the night is at its darkest, dawn is already on the way...

Never give up, never give in, even when everything before has been a disappointment or a disaster. Because everything ahead can be just as you decide to make it...


-- Ralph Marston

Be Who You Are

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who
mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind...
--Dr Seuss

There are a lot of people who spend a lot of time worrying about what other people are doing with their lives. When I say or do something that comes from my heart and someone criticizes me for my thoughts or actions, I have to remind myself that as long as I wasn't hurting anyone else, there was nothing wrong with what I said or did. The people who concern themselves with what I do or say because they want to exert some sort of control over me for some reason really don't matter--or at least, their reactions to my actions must not be important to me...

I am who I am, and I must be true to that.

If someone criticizes me or my actions in an effort to get me to act some other way, then I should be suspicious of their motives: are they trying to get me to change because they have my best interests in mind? And do they truly know what my best interests are?

The more of us who say what we feel and who be who we are, the more diverse and unique this world will be. The more of us who adopt the "safe" and the "ordinary" things to say and ways to be, the less truly unique input into the world we'll be able to give...

We can contribute to the diversity and uniqueness in this world, or we can contribute to the uniformity and conformity. When I think of the image I would like to present to a young person in order to help that person to grow into a truly unique individual, I know that I need to be truly me, truly myself. Otherwise, I'm simply teaching them to conform, and that really leads nowhere new or special...

The more we let each voice sing out with its own true tone,
the richer will be the diversity of the chant in unison...
--Angelus Silesius


- Living Life Fully -

Wii Fit: How Will It Move You??

Yahoo! I've been waiting for something like this! It is going to be released on May 21rst! :)

Nintendo Hopes Its 'Wii Fit' Works Out

New Exercise Games Are Targeted at Women; Alienating Core Gamers?
By SUZANNE VRANICA
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120889895144235997.html

Nintendo's Wii gaming console introduced sedentary gamers to the idea of moving off the couch. Now Nintendo is coming out with the Wii Fit, an add-on to the gaming system designed to appeal to women looking to lose weight.

Nintendo is branching out to target women with its new ads for the Wii Fit.

The $90 attachment, dubbed the "Balance Board," expands the range of games that can be played on the Wii to include activities such as yoga and push-ups. The Balance Board -- which resembles bathroom scales -- also tracks a user's weight and body-mass index.

The Wii Fit is a daring move for Nintendo, aimed at broadening the gaming market -- dominated by younger men -- to women. To get their attention, the company plans a massive marketing campaign ahead of the product's release in the U.S. May 19, including a public-relations effort under way. Television, outdoor and print ads begin the week the product becomes available. Ads via Omnicom Group's Goodby Silverstein & Partners will carry the tagline: "How will it move you?"

As part of the PR push, "Good Morning America" host Diane Sawyer tested the exercise game on the air last week. "It really does make you work," Ms. Sawyer told viewers. Since its release about 18 months ago, the Wii has been a smash hit -- so much so that it's still difficult to buy in the U.S. In Japan, where the Wii Fit is on the market, it has also proved hugely popular. Still, the new product is something of a gamble, moving Nintendo away from core young-male gamers, who could be turned off by the fact that Mom and girls think the Wii Fit is cool.

Below, Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing, talks about challenges posed by the marketing of the Wii Fit.

The Wall Street Journal: When Nintendo introduced the Wii console it began moving away from the male-dominated target. Now Wii Fit is going even more to a female skew by targeting moms.

Aren't you going to alienate young boys who aren't going to be thrilled that mom likes their videogames?

Ms. Dunaway: I don't think so at all. The experiences are so much fun on Wii Fit. The soccer is fun, and the strength training is hard to do. There is nothing wimpy about the product. It will challenge everyone in the household, and that will help keep the product's appeal really strong and broad. So you won't see pink advertising that says: "Hey mom, buy a Wii Fit."

WSJ: Typically in the videogame category, companies roll out the mass-media advertising before the product is launched to whet people's appetites and drum up excitement. Why are you holding most of your ads until the product is on the shelves? Is the holdup because of a lack of supplies with the Wii Fit?

Ms. Dunaway: No. It's really about us thinking about our expanded audience: women and moms. We believe that they are not waiting around to see the latest and greatest news from Nintendo like a core gamer might be. So when she hears about Wii Fit or is interested, she goes and buys it. She doesn't necessarily want to wait for two weeks or stand in line. We felt like it was more appropriate to have less time between the start of the advertising and the product being available. It doesn't have anything to do with product supply.

WSJ: There has been so much talk about the shortages of Wii in the U.S. Advertising 101 is 'don't disappoint the consumer.' Has the issue hurt the Wii brand? Will the same issues arise with Wii Fit?

Ms. Dunaway: No. We definitely want everybody who wants a Wii or a Wii Fit to be able to have access to it.

WSJ: Has it damaged the brand at all?
Ms. Dunaway: Not in any measurable way.

WSJ: Videogame advertising has long been dominated by glitzy TV ads, yet the largest part of this advertising and marketing campaign will be the public-relations effort. Why?

Ms. Dunaway: What we see is consumers are increasingly turning to friends, family and news articles as credible sources of information about products, more so than in the past.

WSJ: Why?

Ms. Dunaway: It is because consumers are getting much smarter, because they have better access to information and they are able to share information online. They are bombarded with advertising messages -- so they have more tools to avoid that advertising today.

WSJ: It's no secret that many women jump into buying gym memberships or the latest weight-loss devices -- only to have them end up collecting dust under the bed. Could that mentality hurt future sales of Wii Fit games?

Ms. Dunaway: Hopefully not. One of the things I like about Wii Fit is it tracks your progress over time ... Seeing your progress is motivating. So I think Wii Fit will keep people involved because they will be excited about tracking their progress and their family's progress. The families will egg each other on.

Rolling With The Punches

How Well do You Roll with the Punches?



Whatever is flexible and flowing will tend to grow; whatever is rigid and blocked will wither and die...
-- Tao Te Ching, Lao Tsu's teachings

Change is the natural order of the world. When something tries to stand against the force of change, it's eventually destroyed. Cliffs are eroded, trees are uprooted, granite cracks.

People can crack too. For us to grow and live--to flourish--it takes adaptation and learning. Stubborn attachment to a single set of "knowledge" or way of doing things leads to stagnation of the mind and spirit.

Remember to keep an open mind to new people and new ideas. Challenge yourself to always be learning something new. Focus on the possibilities of a fresh start, instead of hanging on to old frustrations. Sails are made with cloth for a reason. When they're stiff, winds beat against them until they tear. But if the sails are relaxed and workable, the wind can take you to places you've never been before..

~ Healthy Reflections ~

::100 Years From Now::

This is one of my favorite poems when the days are long , but the years are short. :)

Life's little moments are totally worth it-- especially when my husband asked our 6 year old son, Noah the other day what he was reading. Without missing a beat, he replied, "Words"! LOL!

Now, if that doesnt make a parent smile, then I dont know what does.

100 Years from Now

One hundred years from now
It will not matter what kind of car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
How much money I had in my bank account,
Nor what my clothes looked like.

But one hundred years from now
The world may be a little better
Because I was important
In the life of a child.

~Dr. Forest E. Witcraft

God Wants the Church To Prosper

I think that this is a great article that explains prosperity "with a purpose". The purpose being for us Christians "to be blessed to be a blessing" to others & spreading the Gospel. :)

God Wants the Church To Prosper
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price

Prosperity comes in many different forms. There is social prosperity and mental prosperity, and there is professional prosperity. Once you marry, you can also experience marital prosperity.

There is parental prosperity in terms of raising your children, and physical prosperity in terms of your health. No Christian has a problem with any of these ways through which God can prosper us. No minister, theologian, or church denomination will tell you that any of these areas of prosperity are bad, or of the devil.

When it comes to financial and material prosperity, however, that is an entirely different ballgame. When you begin to talk about those two forms of prosperity, you become a target. All the worms come out of the woodwork, and you might even have some people talk about you.

But I know the true reason these attacks come. Satan knows that if he can keep Christians poor, he can hinder the proclamation of the gospel. And he has done a good job of keeping Christians poor up to the present time.

It costs money to proclaim the gospel. It costs money to build or rent a church building, to provide a pastor for a congregation, to equip a church sanctuary. Christians need an environment in which they can hear the Word, fellowship with one another, and grow in the knowledge of God.

Satan knows that if he can keep us poor, keep us barely making it, keep us struggling to provide for our own individual households, then we will have limited resources to give to the Church. By our poverty, he can prevent us from sending out those who need to carry the message of Jesus Christ to others. It's a conspiracy! A person cannot give what he or she does not have, especially when the person does not know how to get it.

The world's system is not designed to aid your financial independence - not when you are a child of God. It will allow a few of Satan's kids to get wealth, so that others will think they are going to become wealthy too, but the enemy certainly does not want the Church to become financially prosperous. That is why he has so cleverly infiltrated theology.

The very people who should be supporting one another are attacking one another. We have enough opposition coming from Satan, so we don't need any coming from our brothers and sisters in Christ. When a minister or another Christian starts talking about money, non-Christians and Christians alike get on the person's case. They automatically think the minister is a crook or charlatan.

I can handle what the world says, but it becomes a bitter pill to swallow when your Christian brethren criticize you for talking about prosperity. Nevertheless, we have to talk about money. This is especially true if you have a television ministry. It costs the same amounts of money to be in Christian media as it does to be in secular media.

However, it would take me years to go around the world and physically teach the Word to as many people as I can reach in one hour via television. Television is the least expensive way to reach the greatest number of people in the shortest length of time, although it costs megabucks to do so.

The bottom line is, no matter what medium a person uses, spreading the gospel quickly boils down to dollars and cents. Therefore, if anyone ought to be sympathetic to the idea of material and financial prosperity, it ought to be Christians. Christians need to learn how to prosper, so that the Church can bring glory to God.

God wants you to prosper. Until you are convinced of this, you will never prosper. When you realize that Jesus and His disciples were not poor, but rather had wealth, you will begin to understand that you don't need to be poor to serve Him.

Joshua 1:8:
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

You can see it in the Word: God wants you prosper. There was a time when I did not think God liked me too well because I am Black. It looked like all the Black folk I knew did not have very much. I thought that God just arbitrarily decided that He was going to prosper a particular man or woman, and put another man or woman on welfare.

When I discovered what the Word of God says in scriptures like Joshua 1:8, I got happy. I found out at last that it was up to me whether I prospered, and that it had nothing to do with the color of my skin.

It was up to me to meditate on His Word day and night. It was my responsibility to never let that Word depart from my mouth, and to observe to do it. After I did that, He said I would make my way prosperous.

When I discovered what God said in Joshua 1:8, I decided that I was going to be prosperous. I was going all the way.

If you are willing to do it God's way, you can prosper.

Green The Vaccines Rally w/ Jenny & Jim

McCafe-- the Unsnobby Coffee :)

McDonalds definately has a winner! You can buy a small, medium or large espresso drink much cheaper than Starbucks. Their small drink goes for 2.29, medium 2.89 and large for 3.29.

I was surprised on how good their version of a Mocha and Iced Mocha tasted. Deliciously topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder. It definately had that gourmet taste.....Mmmmm!

Not that I am planning to boycott Starbucks anytime soon. But--I'm a Mom on the go; so I think this is definately a great choice for those of us parents who want to feed their children & get a grown up drink for themselves. Why have to go through two drive thru's; when you can get your java fix and your childs Happy meal all in one trip??? LOL

For a limited time, you can print a coupon on http://www.unsnobbycoffee.com/ to get a free small espresso drink until 5/02/08. :) :)

So--- try one for yourself & you be the judge. :)


McDonald's challenging Starbucks with cheaper coffee drinks

By CHRIS BURRITT
BLOOMBERG NEWS

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/331318_coffeechallenge12.html

When Charles Ruppert has a yen for a white-chocolate latte, he doesn't head to a Starbucks shop. He goes to a McCafe located in a McDonald's restaurant and pays 26 percent less.
"McDonald's got a real winner," said Ruppert, 55, a car-repair shop owner in Greensboro, N.C.

Analysts think so, too: McDonald's shares will rise 18 percent in the coming year, UBS Securities estimates.

McDonald's, the world's biggest restaurant chain, has added the frothy drinks at two-thirds of its 13,794 U.S. stores since introducing a stronger brew in 2006.

Shares of Starbucks are down 24 percent in 2007, on track for their worst annual performance amid the slowest sales growth in more than five years at stores open at least 13 months.

McDonald's is "being extremely aggressive," said Peter Kwiatkowski, who helps manage $21.9 billion, including 1.3 million McDonald's shares, at Fifth Third Asset Management in Cincinnati. "They're a lot cheaper than Starbucks coffee in general, and they have the high quality to go with it."

Ruppert paid $3.31 for a 20- ounce cup of latte at the McDonald's in Oak Ridge, N.C., compared with the $4.48 cost for the same size at Starbucks.

McDonald's coffee is drawing new customers and spurring food sales, especially at breakfast, President Ralph Alvarez said.

"Coffee, by itself, is a very high-margin business," said Alvarez, 52. "But it doesn't compare to what we get selling a full meal."

McDonald's said Tuesday that August same-store sales climbed 8.1 percent, helped by coffee and breakfast items. Sales on that basis have advanced 7 percent in the first eight months of the year. Alvarez declined to disclose breakfast results.

The chain offers lattes, cappuccinos and iced brews in 9,000 U.S. restaurants where consumers order coffee primarily at drive-through windows, Alvarez said.

U.S. coffee sales through restaurants, cafes and other outlets may reach $29 billion by 2011, 50 percent more than last year, according to New York-based National Coffee Association. About six in 10 adults drink coffee, making it the second most popular beverage after water.

Starbucks controls 52 percent of the global specialty coffee market, Euromonitor International Plc said. McCafe is the fifth-largest, with 1.7 percent.

Word is getting out about McDonald's coffee. In March, Consumer Reports magazine reported a taste test of basic black coffee found McDonald's stronger blend beat brew from Starbucks, Burger King and Dunkin' Donuts.

Consumer Reports' "trained tasters" visited two stores of each company. McDonald's coffee was "decent and moderately strong," whereas Starbucks was "strong, but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water," the magazine said.

In the U.S., McDonald's coffee sales climbed 20 percent through June from the February 2006 debut of the stronger blend. Sales that include hot, iced and specialty blends are up 34 percent this year, it said.

Sales at Starbucks stores open at least 13 months rose 4 percent in both the second and third quarters this year, the slowest growth rates since 2002. Total revenue jumped 20 percent to $4.61 billion from January through June of this year.

Rising sales of McDonald's coffee prompted Marc Greenberg, a Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. analyst in New York, in June to reduce his Starbucks stock-target price by 14 percent to $32.
"The golden arches are doing coffee better," Greenberg wrote in an investors' note. He rates Starbucks as "hold."

Starbucks has set a goal of 40,000 locations. The company had 14,396 outlets as of July 1. In the U.S., it has 10,295, compared with almost 13,800 for McDonald's.

Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz has acknowledged the threat of fast-food chains, even though his company has 87 percent of the U.S. specialty coffee-shop market, whereas McCafe has less than 1 percent, according to Euromonitor.

Fast expansion and similar designs made Starbucks cafes lose the "warm feeling of a neighborhood store," Schultz wrote in a memorandum to top executives in February.

Starbucks now sells warm breakfast sandwiches such as eggs Florentine with spinach and Havarti cheese. It offers gourmet salads, including Asian sesame-noodle that cost $6.

Alvarez said McDonald's has no plans to offer the breadth of Starbucks beverages such as raspberry latte with soy milk and half the caffeine.

"If your only business is coffee, you better have all those options," Alvarez said.

"But we don't need 31 flavors, just enough variety to be considered a destination for coffee."

The Gospel According to Shrek??

I ran across this while surfing the web the other day-- It has a great perspective!

The Gospel According to Shrek?
by Rick Pidcock

http://rickpidcock.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/the-gospel-according-to-shrek/


This past weekend, our church had our second movie night. If you haven’t read the other articles, each month we watch a different movie. And then I lead a discussion of it in light of the gospel.

This month, we watched the movie Shrek. I must admit that I was made fun of on more than one occasion for choosing this movie. “What could Shrek have to do with the gospel? It’s just a stupid teenager movie!” But those of us who were there had a blast.

My friend Tony even brought his Shrek 3-D glasses. Talk about serious discipleship! I might get in trouble though if I post the picture of us adults gathering around the T.V. with our Shrek 3-D glasses.

In the end, however, everyone who attended was drawn closer to their Savior. And I hope that through this review, you will be as well.

1. What are the overall messages of the movie?

There are three main messages of the movie. The first is that our identity comes from within, not from externals. Towards the beginning of the movie, when Donkey first meets Shrek, he comes across as quite the pest. Finally, in an attempt to get rid of Donkey, Shrek cries out, “I’m an ogre! Doesn’t that bother you?”

Later, when discussing the stories told in the stars, Shrek says, “Sometimes things are more than they appear.” He was clearly drawing a connection between what they were discussing and the fact that he is more than what he appears to be on the outside.

Finally, in the end of the movie when Princess Fiona is changed into “Love’s true form,” she officially becomes a full-time stay-at-home ogre. In dismay, she says, “I thought I was supposed to be beautiful.” To which Shrek responds, “You are beautiful.”

The second message of the movie is that freedom from bondage can only be found through true love. As the movie opens up, Shrek is sitting in his out-house reading a fairy tale about a cursed princess, locked away in a castle, who can only be rescued by her true love. This idea sets the context for Shrek’s eventual quest to rescue her.

The third message of the movie is that we all need community. As an ogre who is despised by the culture, Shrek isolates himself into his own house, with no connection to the outside world. He refuses to allow Donkey into his house. And later, he says that as soon as he returns home, he is going to build a wall to keep people out.

Donkey confronts Shrek by asking, “Who are you trying to keep out?”

Then Shrek yells, “Everybody! I’m not the one with the problem! They have the problem because they judge me before they even know me!” The more Shrek isolates himself from the community of people who love him, the more miserable and hurt everybody becomes.

2. How do these messages point us to the gospel?

Our identity is found in the fact that Christ is in us.

Just as in Shrek, external conformity to any standard is irrelevant and useless. We are not defined by the way we look, how wealthy we are, or even how moral we can be in our own strength. We are defined by what is inside of us. If we are without Christ, then the Bible says that we are a disgusting corpse whose righteousness is as good as rags full of leprosy pus.

However, if we have Christ, we have become a new, complete, beautiful creation of God.
Freedom from our prisons can only be found through our true love—Christ, not through the imposters.

As I said earlier, the movie begins by saying that only the princess’s true love can save her. Later, when Shrek is rescuing Princess Fiona from her prison, he notices that many other imposters had tried to save her, only to be incinerated by the dragon.

In the same way, we all are bound in prisons of different kinds. And many imposters in this world offer escape. But only our true love Jesus Christ can give us freedom.

At one point in the movie, Shrek says, “How could she love me? She’s a princess. And I’m just an ogre.” In our culture, beautiful people are not supposed to love ugly people. Rich people are not supposed to hang out in the ghetto. And yet, Christ is much more beautiful than a princess. And we are much more ugly than an ogre. It doesn’t make sense that He would love us and call us His bride. But He does.

We need a community of friends—the church.

When Shrek isolates himself from everybody else, his seclusion hurts everybody. It deprives him of healthy friendships and of the help that he needs. It also robs others of the edification that Shrek could offer to them. And it hinders opportunities that Shrek and his friends could have to help those around them.

Unfortunately, many of us do the same thing. God has given us a community in which we can be built up, serve others, and join to reach the world. But we often isolate ourselves from this community of friends called the church.

In my church, we have around 125-150 people who come. But only around 60-70 show up each week. And while in most cases, I do not believe that people are purposefully saying, “I’m going to live an isolated life and shut everybody else out,” in effect, they are doing just that. By only having a casual view of church, small groups opportunities, and other get-togethers, we disconnect ourselves from the body. And as a result, we are not able to be helped, we are not able to help others, and the church loses opportunities to minister to and make disciples of its community.

At the end of the movie, when Donkey confronts Shrek about his seclusion, he tells Shrek, “Friends forgive each other.” Then, as Shrek apologizes, all of the relationships are joyfully restored. Healing begins with humility. And if the body of Christ is to be healed of its sickness, we all need to humble ourselves by forgiving, opening up, and becoming transparent with one another.

After our discussion, everyone in the room said that they never would have thought that they could have grown so much from simply watching Shrek in a gospel-centered perspective. Aspects of the gospel were pointed out to each of us that had a profound impact on the way we viewed our own identity, freedom, and community.

I pray that these movie reviews will also spur you onto viewing your entertainment life as opportunity for real worship and growth, rather than merely a few hours of escaping reality.

You Are What You Speak

I subscribe via email to Streaming Faith Devotionals. This weeks topic focus is on our words that we speak. I thought this was a very good one to think about! What are we really saying anyway-- are we speaking life or death into our relationships & the people around us???


You Are What You Speak
Dr. John E. Guns

It has been stated that "you are what you eat" and honestly that is true. Yet I believe that it is also true that "you are what you speak". Words are so powerful and the content of our conversations are so impactful.

Recently while traveling I begin to deal very openly with this area in my personal life. The Holy Spirit began to open of the Word of God to regarding my use of words and the tone, tenor, and intent of them. Out of it came a challenge to live in a more disciplined manner in this area. The truth is that if we want to see God do the amazing we must speak with confidence of who God is. If we want to have healthy and affirming relationships, we must choose to speak that with consistency.

You will be amazed at how God partners with power with your conversations. For there is life and death in the content of your words and out of your mouth flow the issues of life. God wants so much for us and it is not his will that we struggle in our relationships. So we must make our words our ally and with intention speak life and love!

Over the next several days, track your conversations and pay attention to how you say what you say. You will find that you have greater impact over your day than you thought.

Enjoy the journey!

Read Proverbs 10:20, 32, 11:9, 12:6, 13:3, 15:1

10 Tips on Scoring Hotel Upgrades

I saw this article and it brought back memories of past travel adventures. As a seasoned traveler that has taken 6 trips in the last 4 years; myself-- I think these tips are pretty handy info. :)

I remember the first hotel upgrade was on our honeymoon in 2000, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico when we stayed at the Pueblo Bonito (Pictured above. Our view and patio looked very similar to the ones posted)

I remember Joel's best man praying over us the night before we left for Cabo-- that we would get blessed with an hotel upgrade & we did.. :) :) We felt like royalty, and why shouldnt we???? LOL! We've even been blessed with a couple more hotel upgrades in the last couple trips that we've taken as well. :)

Even though we don't deserve it; all of us are still are kids of the kingdom & "Every Good & Perfect Gift comes from our Father Above" (James 1:17) God is no respecter of persons, thats for sure! :)

::10 Tips on Scoring Hotel Upgrades::

Getting a better room is easier than you might think – and it never hurts to ask

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-22757474;_ylc=X3oDMTIyaW4zZHNjBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMjcxOTQ4MQRzZWMDZnAtdG9kYXltb2QEc2xrA2hvdGVsdXBncmFkZXMtMjAwOC0wNC0xMw

Most travelers never think to ask for a hotel room upgrade, which is regrettable. During the off-season, large hotels frequently run high vacancy rates, and moving a guest into a nicer room doesn't cost anything except for some extra laundry expenses. As with so many other things in life, there is simply no harm in asking politely.

An upgrade doesn't have to mean a larger room. Perhaps it's an ocean view, a king-size bed, or a room in an especially quiet wing. The important thing to remember is that hotel upgrades are mostly about personal relationships, rather than loyalty programs or special credit cards (though those can certainly be helpful).

Upgrades are given at the discretion of the hotel manager or the front desk clerk. These people tend to receive a fair amount of grief from finicky guests on a regular basis, and they appreciate being treated with respect and patience. Acting entitled or being deceitful usually won't help your case – these are professionals who have seen it all before.

Dress nicely, and be as friendly as possible, even if you're exhausted after a long flight. Inquire about an upgrade after you've given your name, but before you've been assigned your room. Do a little research on rooms beforehand, and make a specific request (e.g., "Would it be possible to be upgraded to an executive suite at no extra charge?").

Simply asking for a "better room" is not as effective as requesting a particular room using the hotel's terminology (Central Park Suite, Harbor View Suite, etc.). Don't be disappointed if an upgrade is not possible – this is a matter of availability, after all.

In large city hotels, upgrades are more likely during weekend, due to the absence of business travelers. For smaller hideaways in scenic locales, your chances are better during the week.

Frequent visitors or members of various hotel reward programs will gain preferential treatment, but more often than not, hotel management is happy to lend a favor to a calm, amiable guest. It's good for business.

Here are 10 tips for securing a hotel room upgrade.

1. Contact Management Before You Arrive: If you are celebrating a special occasion, feel free to mention this in an email. A personable and enthusiastic call to confirm your reservation also can help.

2. Book a Mid-Range Room: You're more likely to be upgraded from a mid-range room than the cheapest room in the hotel.

3. Time It Right: Large city hotels tend to be busier during the workweek. For a smaller hideaway in the country, try for a midweek booking if you have some flexibility.

4. Arrive During Mid-Afternoon: Checking in between 3 and 5 is optimal. The front desk clerk will have a better sense of the day's bookings and cancellations.

5. Look the Part: Dress appropriately. A nice jacket can make a world of difference. If you're traveling with tired children, it probably won't hurt to have someone mind them in the lobby while you're at the front desk.

6. Be Personable: Ask nicely. Mention that you'd be happy to reference the counter clerk's name in customer evaluations.

7. Be Specific: For example: "Would it be possible to be upgraded to an ocean view?" If you have a preferred room that you've stayed in before, feel free to mention it.

8. Mention Relationships: If your company does a lot of business with the hotel, feel free to mention it. If you use a travel service or a credit card that has a "special relationship" with the hotel, by all means, pipe up.

9. Take Advantage of Minor Misfortune: Laundry gone missing? Noisy neighbors? Kindly let management know that an upgrade will wipe the slate clean.

10. Leave On a Happy Note: A nice tip for the doorman. Smiles for the concierge. A note of approval to the manager. Every little bit helps, especially for the next time around.

How to Avoid GPS theft

Great advice to avoid theft of a GPS system. We always have ours in the glove compartment when not in use. Now I know to wipe those telltale suction cup rings off my window shield as well!!!! Great tip!

Portable Global Positioning Systems are among the fastest selling car accessories today. They also happen to make you a target. GPS theft continues to rise.

Because these often-expensive portable devices are impossible to trace, they've become popular among thieves, who can easily sell them on the street. GPS devices have been stolen from ambulances and FBI cars, so don't think for a minute yours is safe.

Here are a few tips that can help keep your GPS in your possession,

Hide the goods

Most reported thefts are from people who left their GPS mount and system in plain sight, so it's important to hide both pieces in your trunk or glove compartment when you get out of the car. You might also want to keep other gadgets, like iPods, out of sight to keep thieves at bay.

Wipe down the windshield

GPS devices use suction cups that leave big rings on the windshield. Even if you hide your system, you run the risk of becoming a target unless you wipe off the telltale suction marks. Pack a few wet towelettes, and when the ring becomes noticeable, wipe down your windshield.

Alternatively, mount the device on your dashboard to keep it out of direct sight and to avoid the windshield rings.

Take it with you

If you value your GPS so much, take it with you when you leave the car. It may be hugely inconvenient, but you at least get to keep your system-even if thieves break in.

Note your serial number......And keep it handy, in case your GPS does get stolen. Many times the police are able to recover stolen items, so you'll need some sort of proof that you're the owner. You might want to take a photo, too, for reference.

Mountable GPS systems are especially risky, because they're easy to spot when you don't take them down. The best thing you can do to secure your system is to buy one that's in-dash with a retractable screen.

Living Life Fully

Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed...
--Wayne Dyer

This day could be my last. I remind myself of that fact every day, not because I'm morbid or because I have a death wish, but because I want to keep in mind that's life too short for me to do things like carry around resentment or anger or other bad feelings. And if I do die this afternoon, I want to be able to tell myself that I at least did all I could to reach my goals and dreams, even if they weren't actually realized.


If I were to act as if life were a rehearsal, all of my steps would be tentative--for I'd know that the real performance, opening night, wouldn't be coming for a while. I'd know that I could make a mistake and then spend some time working on the area where I made the mistake before the real thing came along.


The fact is, though, that my mistakes of today can definitely hurt other people. I can and will make mistakes, but if I live from my conscience and from my heart, if I'm honest and loving, I'll make very few mistakes--and those that I make won't be nearly as drastic if they were coming from a different place.


If I knew that today were my last day, I would want to make amends with anyone that I needed to make amends with. I'd be kind and courteous and loving because I'd want people's last thoughts of me to be positive. I'd want them to remember my loving side, not my selfish side.


This could be my last day.

Am I treating the people in my life as if it were that day? Why not?

You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when.


You can only decide how you're going to live.

Now!
--Joan Baez

~ Living Life Fully ~

Tommorrow Is Not Certain

VIDEO CAPTURED BY TRAFFIC CAMERA !!!!

Watch the man on the left walking, crossing the road where there is no car. It is so definite that the coast on the left is clear, and safe to cross. Any person would see it is safe.... Take nothing for granted, not even for a split second! Be grateful for every living minute.

We seem to take life for granted...but Tomorrow is Not Promised...

Relax your mind and humble our heart to focus on Christ. Allow God to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer.


Dear Lord, I thank you for this day.

I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for every thing I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that t I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil.

And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God. And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- t o slip away and find a quiet place to pray.

It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it w with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households.I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..

This is my prayer. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

You Raise Me Up

I think this video speaks for itself :)

How Do I Spell A U.T.I.S.M. ????

How do I spell A.U.T.I.S.M. ????

A.

I have to say the first emotion I felt was Anger, I was angry that this
had happened to me,I had been so careful,
I made an appointment with my doctor, when I was barely a month along,
I took good care of myself, I ate well,
and didn't abuse my body with drugs or alchohol, or smoking.


I felt such rage at first, this was not fair,
some women neglected themselves, and didnt care for the child inside,
and their child was perfect.

Why not mine?

U

Unbelief..... denial...........you name it, I felt it.

This was not
happening to me, I would wake up in the night, and it would hit me, my
child has autism, and then I would plug my ears, trying to stop the
voices in my head, I would bury my head in the pillow, refusing to
believe this was happening to us.

It took me a long time to let it sink
in, and to this day, I sometimes forget, and then the realization hits
me, and it knocks me to my knees again.

It takes all my strength to get
up. But I do, because I have to, I have to be there for my child.



T

Of course the tears, tears of rage, panic, frustration.

Gut wrenching
tears in the middle of the night, somehow it always seems worse in the
night.

The house is quiet at last, and there is time to think, to
ponder, to pray.

Tears though are such a relief, without their outlet, I
would have gone crazy.

But, I have held them back so many times, in a
store when someone makes a cruel remark,
or a child who approaches mine, then backs off with that 'look' on his face.


I refuse to cry then, because I still have my pride, and it although it
is tattered, I cling to it like a security blanket.



I

Isolation, oh yes, the isolation.

Friends seemed to disapear into thin
air, when they found out.


Sometimes I wanted to scream "It's not catching, " but they wouldnt hear
me, they were too busy keeping their child away from mine.

The phone
stopped ringing too, and people would turn away at Church, avert their
eyes when my child had a tantrum.

The isolation is the hardest
thing.......... being alone hurts.

At the time in my life when I needed
friends and family the most, the pain of them looking the other way, was
indescribable.

But I have found friends, people who know the path I
take, for it is their journey too. For this blessing I am so grateful.


These are the true friends, the ones who are there for me, when life is
unbearable.



S

Sadness and Solace, I have felt the sadness of knowing my child will not
be like other children, I have wept many tears for him.

I have spent my
waking hours, and sleepless nights worrying about his future, who will
care for him, what kind of adult will he be? Will someone be there for
him, when I am gone? There is such pain in not knowing, there is nothing
so hard for a parent, than realizing that one day, you will not be there
to take care of your child.

And knowing that this child will always need
your care.

But there is Solace too, and I have felt this peace,
I have learned to accept this Autism, I cannot erase it,
nor will I embrace it. But I have come to a feeling of peace, and I go on.



M

Mercy and Magic, Have mercy on me, It's so hard to raise a child when
others look on, and instead of holding out a hand to help, they stand in
judgement.

Don't judge me, when my child acts out, when he screams
because something has changed in his environment, he doesnt do it
purposefully, he is only reacting to his feelings.

I am a good mother, I
love my child like you love yours, I want the best for him, yet I cannot
give in to him.

He looks to me and I must teach him,
just as you teach your child.

I may do it differently,
because my child is different.

He learns in his own way,
and I have to teach him in a way that to others may seem odd, or unusual.



Magic? Oh yes, there is magic.

I have seen my child blossom, I have
seen him learn, I have watched his wonder, and rejoiced in his small
steps. His smile is magic, and his heart is gold.


I did not choose this journey, but somehow it is mine, and I must see the
roses, as I walk upon the rocky pathway.

I did not ask for this, but it
was given to me, and I must be strong enough to bear it.

If I cannot,
then I am lost, if I give up, who will take my place?
There is enough joy, if I look for it....... it will find me.



c.

Sally Meyer 1999

Monday Musings as big as the Texas sky! LOL

(click to expand)

Well after another busy weekend, it is Monday again. So many changes going on at our house lately. If I don't stop to take things one day at a time, one step at a time.. I could easily find myself in a downward tailspin.

The biggest thing that has happened is that after several phone interviews; My husband, Joel has been invited to for an interview on the 11th for a position as a compensations analyst for a software company in Austin, TX. The company has even offered to fly him in on the 10th and reimburse his expenses while he is there. With that said, we think that there might be a 80% chance of him actually getting hired.

We are quite excited about the fact that we could be relocating there very soon & we might be putting our townhome on the market as early as the end of this month.

Just for fun... looking at a lot of housing options. :) I mentioned to Joel the other night that I remember telling him in 2006 that we were going to move in 2008. Its amazing that my thoughts/faith might be now bringing this to fruitation. God is creative!

I've always dreamt of living in Texas, but when I first mentioned it to Joel back in 2004... he just wasnt interested. But, I kept on dreaming/visioning/praying anyway.... and voila.... The law of attraction works, and very biblical (See Matthew 9:29 & Proverbs 23:7) too! :) :)

The saga continues....... so stay tuned! :)

Count Your Blessings

God said:

What keeps you back from accepting your full measure? What resistance is this that would keep you from collecting all the gifts of the universe that are strewn before you? Do you know how sometimes you don't see something that is squarely in front of you? When your eyes do alight on it, you think, "Oh, was that there all the time?"
Sometimes you put something down just for a minute, and then the next minute, you don't know where you put it. It doesn't matter what it is. You put something down on your way to somewhere, but where? You really have to hunt for where you left it. And maybe you don't spot it until later when you are looking for something else altogether.


Sometimes you don't notice something because you have gotten so used to it. You are so accustomed to stepping around it or over it, that you give no thought to it. It could be a beautiful chair or it could be a stain on the carpet. It is so familiar to you that you overlook it. It's like it no longer exists. Your mind skips over it. It has become just an object and no longer really in your vision.


Will you admit that sometimes you don't see what is right in front of you?
This is how it has been when it comes to your blessings. You are so accustomed to them, you no longer see them. And some your eyes have never lit on. The blessings are right in front of you, but somehow you have blocked them from your view. And yet, you are always on the lookout for new blessings. The one you noticed last week is no longer front center for you. It has lost its shine.


You abound in blessings, beloveds. And yet you are buried in time and space, and sometimes you can't get out from under.


There is a need to simplify, beloveds, to have time and space cleared from the horizon of your life so you can be more aware of the blessings. Oh, I know, every now and then, you notice a blessing or two, and yet too often you are distracted by the bulk of items in your space and the list of matters on your calendar and on your mind.


Will you consider letting the idea of blessing come before the lesser things? I don't mean for you to abandon the little things, yet, still, cannot you in your busy day and life put a circle around blessings on your calendar?
You have a long list of things to do and people to see. Please add: "See blessings" to your to-do list.


When you keep track of your checkbook, will you then also keep track of your blessings?
You would like more blessings, wouldn't you? The way to have blessings swim to you more and more is to count the ones you have. Even if they are the same blessings as yesterday, accept them again today. Put your hand on the shoulder of your blessings, so to speak.


It doesn't matter if you don't notice a chair or a spot on your rug. It is of no great significance. But to miss even one blessing a year is too much to pass by.


Not a minute goes by that I am not shipping you blessings. I have a standard order of blessings for you, beloveds. They are constantly on their way to you.

Will you please accept them? How well can you accept them unless you see them?

~ Heavenletters ~

Green Our Vaccines Rally w/ Jenny McCarthy & Jim Carrey

Green Our Vaccines Rally With Jenny McCarthy & Jim Carrey

RALLY INTRODUCTION & GENERAL INFORMATION

Please join Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey for the most historical event of 2008, the Green Our Vaccines Rally. Jenny and Jim are working hard to eliminate all toxins from our children’s vaccines and have our national health agencies reassess the mandatory vaccine schedule, as our children are receiving TOO MANY, TOO SOON.

While Jenny and Jim support the vaccine program, like many, they feel vaccines are too toxic.This country has the ability to provide a safer vaccine supply and schedule to our children and they ask you to join them to demand this for our country’s greatest asset, to our children!

Is this date & location confirmed: YES. Permits and policy participation for this important event have been secured. This venue is safe for parents and children to attend. Register online.Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey, sponsored by Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), Generation Rescue and HEALA March and Rally to give everyone who loves a child with Autism a day for their voices to be heard.

June 4, 2008 9:00 a.m.– Gather in DC (see March info below)

10:00 a.m.– March (PROMPT START TIME)

12:30 p.m.– RALLY CONCLUSION Washington, DC

Demand Congress take action to Green Our Vaccine Supply while reassessing our current vaccine schedule. Ask Congress to reenact legislation that would eliminate mercury and other toxins from our children’s vaccines, study the instance of Autism and other neurological disorders in vaccinated versus unvaccinated children, and to extend the statute of limitations to allow all children affected by vaccine induced Autism to file in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP).

You must register online to attend the Rally.We will start lining up for the March at 9 a.m. at the corner of 4th Street SW, and C Street SW, just past the Holiday Inn Parking (Colonial Parking)

.There will be a large number of people, so it is very important for all marchers to be on time so we can assemble and go over instructions. We will be in motion at 10 a.m.For those who cannot march, you can meet us at the rally site in front of the of the Capitol Building, West Capitol Grounds.

There will be a team of rally staff, that will be easily identifiable, to guide you and inform you of all marching rules and regulations.

It is vital that you register for the March and Rally. Special thanks and appreciation to the team of volunteers & family participation to make this event happen beyond words.

Thank you.Let’s show our gratitude to this courageous couple, Jenny & Jim, who are working so hard to support our cause in honor of our children, by attending the Green Our Vaccines Rally.

This is the day our voices will be heard.

So let’s join together and be LOUDER THAN WORDS.

Click on this or copy and paste link to your search engine to register:

http://www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/jenny/dc-rally/green-our-vaccines-rally.htm

In Honor Of Autism Awareness Month.. a Montage of my son, Noah

The soundtrack was done by my friend Glenda's husband, Jake, who was so sweet to take the time to personalize this song for us--since Noah's nickname is Noah-bear.
BTW--Jake is a very talented and aspiring country singer! The link to his website is www.myspace.com/jakelbrock

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

April is Autism Awareness Month!

For more info: http://www.autismspeaks.org/
Learn about World Autism Awareness Day:
http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org/site/c.egLMI2ODKpF/b.3917065/

PB&J For Autism Awareness Day!

PB&J for Autism Awareness Day is April 2nd. Join us for a sandwich!

April is Autism Awareness Month

PB&J for Autism Awareness

Click the links below to donate

The purpose of PB and J for Autism Awareness came about by accident as two friends (Odd THomas and Laurie Filsinger) were discussing April 2nd being both World Autism Awareness Day and National Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Day. Within the conversation an idea started brewing . . . what if we could honor BOTH of these causes within the same lunch hour??

What we are asking is that on April 2nd, instead of buying fast food or spending money in the cafeteria or the vending machine, bring a delicious Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich with you to work and donate the money you would normally spend for lunch to autism research and causes.Simple as that - lunch money for ONE day, and together we can help change the world for families touched by autism.

Oh, and if you really don't like PB and J, or if you have a peanut butter or some other type of allergy, we're betting that the PB and J people would still be thrilled if you made your favorite sandwich and donated your lunch funds to Autism.

Click to donate to the autism organizations
http://www.autismspeaks.org/

Learn more about Autism Awareness:
http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org/site/c.egLMI2ODKpF/b.3917065/