FREEDOM ADVENTURE

Jesus is Completely Irresistible!

2011-09-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

Song of Solomon 1

The Message (MSG)

¹The Song—best of all songs—Solomon's song! The Woman

^2-3 Kiss me—full on the mouth!
Yes! For your love is better than wine,
headier than your aromatic oils.
The syllables of your name murmur like a meadow brook.
No wonder everyone loves to say your name!

⁴ Take me away with you! Let's run off together!
An elopement with my King-Lover!
We'll celebrate, we'll sing,
we'll make great music.
Yes! For your love is better than vintage wine.
Everyone loves you—of course! And why not?

^5-6 I am weathered but still elegant,
oh, dear sisters in Jerusalem,
Weather-darkened like Kedar desert tents,
time-softened like Solomon's Temple hangings.
Don't look down on me because I'm dark,
darkened by the sun's harsh rays.
My brothers ridiculed me and sent me to work in the fields.
They made me care for the face of the earth,
but I had no time to care for my own face.

⁷ Tell me where you're working
—I love you so much—
Tell me where you're tending your flocks,
where you let them rest at noontime.
Why should I be the one left out,
outside the orbit of your tender care?

The Man

⁸ If you can't find me, loveliest of all women,
it's all right. Stay with your flocks.
Lead your lambs to good pasture.
Stay with your shepherd neighbors.

^9-11 You remind me of Pharaoh's
well-groomed and satiny mares.
Pendant earrings line the elegance of your cheeks;
strands of jewels illumine the curve of your throat.
I'm making jewelry for you, gold and silver jewelry
that will mark and accent your beauty.

The Woman

^12-14 When my King-Lover lay down beside me,
my fragrance filled the room.
His head resting between my breasts—
the head of my lover was a sachet of sweet myrrh.
My beloved is a bouquet of wildflowers
picked just for me from the fields of Engedi.

The Man

¹⁵ Oh, my dear friend! You're so beautiful!
And your eyes so beautiful—like doves!

The Woman

^16-17 And you, my dear lover—you're so handsome!
And the bed we share is like a forest glen.
We enjoy a canopy of cedars
enclosed by cypresses, fragrant and green.

I Am A Temple- John Mark McMillan

2011-07-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

Deep inside me there's this burning that just won't let me go

You are my fire, You are my rightesnous, You are my rock and roll
I wish I could fit you down inside my chest, God
I wish that I could swallow you whole
I'd wrap you up in a blanket of my skin and you could call my body home

Cause I am a temple
I am temple
My body is a temple
I am a temple
I am a temple
I am a temple
My body is a temple
I am a temple
So what if I'm not worthy?
So what if I'm not worthy?
You have made me clean!

Well, I can't get over how quickly you recover the pieces of my heart as they shatter
Cause in your hands I am more than just a brand new man
And all my falling down now, well, it just don't matter

I am a temple
I am a temple
My body is a temple
I am a temple
I am a temple
I am a temple
My body is a temple
I am a temple
So what if I'm not worthy?
So what if I'm not worthy?
So what if I'm not worth?
You have made me clean

City of Black & White- Mat Kearney

2011-07-28T14:38:00.000-07:00

This whole city's black and white

Tell me what is your color
'Cause it'd be the same as mine

Faded greens and blue street lights
There's a red fire burning from the sea up to the sky

'Cause I don't want to wait until tomorrow
Tell you how I'll feel, the rest of my life
You don't want to waste another minute when you realize
Walking on the dark side of the evening
Maybe it was you that opened my eyes
Burning like a fire on the water
In the city of black and white
Won't you just stay
Won't you just stay

I'm on the top stair looking down
If you're climbing up to me
It's where the whole world wants to be found
Golden rings and coffee brown
There's a white flag waving
Where my heart is on the ground

'Cause I don't want to wait until tomorrow
Tell you how I feel, the rest of my life
You don't want to waste another minute when you realize
Walking on the dark side of the evening
Maybe it was you who opened my eyes
Burning like a fire on the water
In the city of black and white
Won't you just stay
Won't you just stay

Won't you just stay now where the light goes
Under a dark street, no one else knows
Take my hand I'll carry you, you can carry me

'Cause I don't want to wait until tomorrow
Tell you how I feel, the rest of my life
You don't want to waste another minute when you realize
Walking on the dark side of the evening
Maybe it was you who opened my eyes
Burning like a fire on the water
In the city of black and white
Won't you just stay
Won't you just stay

Won't you just stay now, stay now, stay now when light goes
Won't you just stay
Won't you just stay...

Touch- Natasha Bedingfield

2011-07-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

I was tryin' to cross the street
When I tripped and spilled my coffee
On a man who yelled at me
And then walked off in a hurry

Now he's gonna be late for work
So he called his secretary
Said to cancel his appointment with the guy in the lobby

Who's been waiting for a while
And talking on the phone
Got invited to a party and thought he couldn't go

But he's here right now
Standing in my house
And someone turns the music loud

So we dance
And we laugh
And we touch (touch touch)

Yeah we dance
And we laugh
And we touch (touch touch)

Gonna party all night till the sun comes up
Cuz it feels like the world dissapears around us

When we dance
When we laugh
When we touch

I was planning out my party
Running errands 'round the city
Gorcery bags full of alcohol
And chocolate chip cookies

Saw a dress that was amazing
In the window of a boutique
So I went across the street
Then my heel broke and it threw me

I tried to catch my balance
But I was 'sposed to fall
It seems that spilling coffee
Was no accident at all

Cuz you're here right now
Sitting on my couch
Funny how it all works out

When we dance
And we laugh
And we touch (touch touch)
Yeah we dance
And we laugh
And we touch (touch touch)

Gonna party all night till the sun comes up
Cuz it feels like the world dissapears around us

When we dance
When we laugh
When we touch

Every choice we make
And every road we take
Every interaction
Starts a chain reaction
We're noth affected when we least expect it
And ten when we touched
And it all connected

Every choice we make
And every road we take
Every interaction
Starts a chain reaction
We're noth affected when we least expect it
And ten when we touched
And it all connected

When we dance
And we laugh
And we touch (touch touch)

Yeah we dance
And we laugh
And we touch (touch touch)

Gonna party all night till the sun comes up
Cuz it feels like the world dissapears around us

When we dance
When we laugh
When we touch

Ooo oo oo ooo
We touch

Ooo oo oo ooo
We touch

Ooo oo oo ooo
We touch

Ooo oo oo ooo
We touch

O Tapeceiro

2011-07-24T17:40:00.000-07:00

Tapeceiro

Tapeceiro
Grande artista
Vai fazendo o seu trabalho
Incansável, paciente
No seu tear

Tapeceiro
Não se engana
Sabe o fim desde o começo
Trança voltas, mil desvios
Sem perder o fio

Minha vida é obra de tapeçaria
É tecida de cores alergres e vivas
Que fazem contraste no meio das cores
Nubladas e tristes

Se você olha do avesso
Nem imagina o desfecho
No fim das contas
Tudo se explica
Tudo se encaixa
Tudo coopera pro meu bem

Quando se vê pelo lado certo
Muda-se logo a expressão do rosto
Obra de arte pra honra e glória
Do Tapeceiro

Quando se vê pelo lado certo
Todas as cores da minha vida
Dignificam a Jesus Cristo
O Tapeceiro.

Something In The Water- Brooke Fraser

2011-07-15T11:39:00.001-07:00

Do do do do do do do do do do

I wear a demeanor made of bright pretty things
What she wears, what she wears, what she wears.
Birds singing on my shoulder, in harmony it seems
How they sing, how they sing how they sing.

Give me nights of solitude,
Red wine just a glass or two,
Reclined in a hammock on a balmy evening.

I'll pretend that it's no thing
There's a skip in my heart when I think
Of you thinking of me babe I'm crazy over you.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah
There's something in the water, something in the water
Ah ah ah ah ah ah
There's something in the water, that makes me love you like

I've got haloes made of summer, ribbons made of spring
What she wears, what she wears, what she wears.
I've got crowns of words a'woven, each one a song to sing
Oh I sing, oh I sing, oh I sing.

Give me long days in the sun
Preludes to the nights to come
Previews of the mornings layin' in all lazy.

Give me something fun to do
Like a life of loving you
Kiss me quick now baby I'm still crazy over you.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah
There's something in the water, something in the water.
Ah ah ah ah ah ah
There's something in the water, that makes me love you like I do.

(Whistling)

Give me nights of solitude
Red wine just a glass or two
Give me something fun to do.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah
There's something in the water, something in the water.
Ah ah ah ah ah ah
There's something in the water, that makes me love you like I do.
Ah ah ah ah ah ah
There's something in the water, something in the water.
Ah ah ah ah ah ah
There's something in the water, that makes me love you like I do do do do do do do do do do.

Jonathan David Helser - Endless Ocean

2011-07-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

ENDLESS OCEAN

(verse 1)

D F#m

In the beginning you were singing

Bm G D

In the end you'll still be singing over me

D F#m

In this moment you're right beside me

Bm G D

You're everywhere, you're in the air that I breathe

(chorus)

G A D

You are an endless ocean, a bottomless sea

(verse 2)

In my sin you kept loving

There!s no end to your forgiveness and mercy

Every morning you keep coming

The waves of your affection keep washing over me

(verse 3)

All those angels, they are swimming

In this ocean and they still can ﬁnd no shore

Day and night, night and day

They keep seeing new sides of your face

(bridge) progression begins right after third chorus

G A D

There!s no end to the affection you have for me

I love Your Presence!

2011-07-11T02:46:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI82-Hi4stE

DEEP TRUTH

2011-07-08T23:39:00.000-07:00

you'll gain more friends in 2 months by becoming interested in other people than you will in 2 years trying to get people interested in you

MEDICAL ALERT (to the body and mind!)

2011-06-07T11:10:00.001-07:00

If you don't speak Portuguese, you might want to do a quick google translate of this because it is AMAZING information about why we get sick. Wow :)

ALERTA MÉDICO (do corpo e da mente!)

Aviso afixado na porta de um consultório médico:

O resfriado escorre quando o corpo não chora.

A dor de garganta entope quando não é possível comunicar as aflições.

O estômago arde quando as raivas não conseguem sair.

O diabetes invade quando a solidão dói.

O corpo engorda quando a insatisfação aperta.

A dor de cabeça deprime quando as duvidas aumentam.

O coração desiste quando o sentido da vida parece terminar.

A alergia aparece quando o perfeccionismo fica intolerável.

As unhas quebram quando as defesas ficam ameaçadas.

O peito aperta quando o orgulho escraviza.

O coração infarta quando chega a ingratidão.

A pressão sobe quando o medo aprisiona.

As neuroses paralisam quando a"criança interna" tiraniza.

A febre esquenta quando as defesas detonam as fronteiras da imunidade.

P.S: Normalmente, os sintomas aparecem 3 dias após o "acontecido". Descubra o que te prejudicou e coloque para fora, em conversa com amigos ou com um profissional, que aí vc se cura !!!

Assim sendo, desejo que você se cuide ... porque sua saúde e sua vida dependem de suas escolhas !

Por Antônio Carlos Moreno

I'm back!!!

2011-06-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

I'm back and ready to give this blog another try! Here's the word of the day:

“God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel. God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love. He doesn't endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of mud. Men and women don't live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom, But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here. God's love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, Making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways and remember to do whatever he said.” - Psalm 103:17-18 from the The Message.

So good!

2010-11-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

The Heart Lamp

Isaiah 60:2 ...the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. KJV

Darkness covers the earth and deep darkness covers My people. But My light will light up your life. The Lamp in your heart is My sign of love to you. Although many of your friends turn away from Me and run toward the sirens of the world, reintroducing themselves to the masked demons masquerading as fun, happiness, and joy, they will clash on the rocks, shipwrecked, broken, and betrayed. I want you to keep your eye on them and watch out for the ship. Keep your boat anchored near by.

You see, the Lamp in your heart shall be a lighthouse to them though it's invisible to you. Because of your heart lamp, many of them will not crash. They will abandon their ships just in time and jump onto yours. When they do, hand them a lamp so they can live safely, protected from the sirens of yesterday's pleasures. You are a light. You are clarity. You're a clear vision. You're a visible path to life. You are My path lighter. Shine so the world can

The Heart Lamp

We love God's heart for His people, and this ministry is a ministry of faith and conviction. God's heart is to see every prophetic word come to pass, however, we as His children must do our part to be faithful with His promises as well as His instructions. All prophetic words are given from a throne room of Grace but cannot come to pass without our faithfulness to listen and obey God. May you all be blessed above and beyond anything you have ever dreamed. We know that is God's heart and intention for you.

Ivan Tait
What Matters Ministries and Missions

see Me.

What Matters Ministries and Missions

My DISC test results... high I :P

2010-10-12T07:48:00.001-07:00

I (Influence)

General Characteristics:

Enthusiastic. Trusting; Optimistic. Persuasive; Talkative. Impulsive; Emotional

Value to Team:

Creative problem solver. Great encourager. Motivates others to achieve. Positive sense of humor. Negotiates conflicts; peace maker.

Possible Weaknesses:

More concerned with popularity than tangible results. Inattentive to detail. Overuses gestures and facial expressions. Tends to listen only when it's convenient.

Greatest Fear:

Rejection.

Motivated By:

Flattery, praise, popularity, and acceptance. A friendly environment. Freedom from many rules and regulations. Other people available to handle details.

Ideal Environment:

Practical procedures. Few conflicts and arguments. Freedom from controls and details. A forum to express ideas. Group activities in professional and social environments

Remember a High I May Want:

Social esteem and acceptance, freedom from details and control, people to talk to, positive working conditions, recognition for abilities, opportunity to motivate and influence others.

DO:

Build a favorable, friendly environment. Give opportunity for them to verbalize about ideas, people and their intuition. Assist them in developing ways to transfer talk into action. Share testimonials from others relating to proposed ideas. Allow time for stimulating, sociable activities. Submit details in writing, but don't dwell on them. Develop a participative relationship. Create incentives for following through on tasks.

DON'T:

Eliminate social time. Do all the talking. Ignore their ideas or accomplishments. Tell them what to do.

While analyzing information, a High I may:

Lose concentration. Miss important facts and details. Interrupt. Be creative in problem solving.

I's possess these positive characteristics in teams:

Instinctive communicators. Participative managers - influence and inspire. Motivate the team. Spontaneous and agreeable. Respond well to the unexpected. Create an atmosphere of well being. Enthusiastic. Provide direction and leadership. Express ideas well. Work well with other people. Make good spokespersons. Will offer opinions. Persuasive. Have a positive attitude. Accomplish goals through people. Good sense of humor. Accepting of others. Strong in brainstorming sessions.

Personal Growth Areas for I's:

Weigh the pros and cons before making a decision; be less impulsive. Be more results oriented. Exercise control over your actions, words, and emotions. Focus more on details and facts. Remember to slow down your pace for other team members. Talk less; listen more. Consider and evaluate ideas from other team members. Concentrate on following through with tasks.

Master Tonic- "how to have an immunity of steel!"

2010-09-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

Master Tonic

- A Natural Antibiotic: antiviral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitical.

1 part fresh chopped garlic

1 part fresh chopped Onion

1 part fresh grated Ginger Root

1 part fresh grated Horseradish Root

1 part fresh chopped Cayenne Peppers or any peppers available.

Apple Cider Vinegar (Raw Unfiltered Unbleached Non-distilled)

Fill a glass jar 3/4 of the way full with equal parts by volume of the above fresh chopped and grated herbs. Then fill jar to the top with raw apple cider vinegar. Close and shake vigorously

Shake at least once a day for two weeks, and then filter the mixture through a clean piece of cloth or filter, bottle and label. Make sure that when you make this tonic that you shake it every time you walk by it, a minimum of once per day. Remember that all the herbs and vegetables should be fresh (and organically grown if possible) and use dried herbs only in an emergency.

This tonic is extremely powerful because all the ingredients are fresh. Its power should not be underestimated. This formula is a modern day plague tonic and when added to an incurable routine it can cure the most chronic conditions and stubborn diseases. It stimulates maximum blood circulation, while putting the best detoxifying herbs into the blood. This formula is not just for the sniffles, it has helped to turn around the deadliest infections like some of the new mutated killer viruses that defy conventional antibiotics.

The dosage is 1 or 2 ounce, two or more times daily. Swish and swallow. (Don’t dilute with water.)

For ordinary infections, a dose taken 5-6 times a day will deal with most conditions. It can be used during pregnancies, is safe for children (use smaller doses and as a food is completely non-toxic. Make up plenty as it does not need refrigeration and lasts indefinitely without any special storage conditions.

The Director- Ella Marcum

2010-08-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

Ella Marcum
Originally wrote this on April 18, 2010.

About a year ago the Lord started speaking to me how He moves and works when we don't see and today He spoke to me again about the same thing. Not just for me but for the Body. While at a worship set He said He was the great strategist. Like in the game of chess. In the Kingdom of God He moves everything. He knows what He's doing and He sets the pieces of our lives where they need to be to accomplish His best win for us and the enemy is overtaken.

Today He showed me a stage and the curtain was closed. Behind the curtain the players were getting into place to act out the great play of God's kingdom in our lives. When the players were all in their places the curtain was opened and we could see the stage of our lives had been perfectly directed by God. And we were sitting in the audience watching our lives unfold on the stage and we rose to give God a standing ovation and praise Him for what He had done. How beautiful the play was.

Rejoice and be glad in the story of your life. Though it didn't seem like you were a willing participant at times while God was trying to direct, your story came out with beautiful scars that were perfected and healed by the scars of Jesus.

The Invitation

2010-08-12T12:18:00.001-07:00

The Invitation
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Canadian Teacher and Author

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dreams
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your
fingers and toes
without cautioning us to
be careful
be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes."

It doesn't interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after a night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the center of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.

© 1995 by Oriah House, From "Dreams Of Desire"
Published by Mountain Dreaming, 300 Coxwell Avenue, Box 22546, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4L 2A0

A bigger splash- Alex Bellos

2010-08-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

A bigger splash
America is often blamed for the deterioration of the English language. Such a claim is never levelled at its Latin American neighbours Brazil, which has only improved its mother tongue, Portuguese.

First, there is how it sounds. Brazil gave the world bossa nova, a lilting, sensual musical style that could only have been invented in a language as correspondingly lilting and sensual. The consonants are all softened, to sound like waves crashing on the beach; the intonation is syncopated and seductive. Brazilian Portuguese has been described as sounding like "Sean Connery speaking Italian"; this is true, but only when he is wearing swimming trunks.

Brazilian culture reshaped Portuguese in its own image, introducing an informality, warmth and inclusiveness that I am not aware exists in any other major language. Everyone is known by their first names, even the president. Actually, he is known by his nickname, Lula. As are many other Brazilians, like Pelé, Robinho and Kaká, too. Speaking Portuguese makes you feel instantly among friends.

Brazil is one of the world's great melting pots, consisting mainly of Europeans, Africans and indigenous Indians, as well as a fair amount of Japanese. Brazilian Portuguese isn't fussy about taking words from other languages and making them its own. It's a very international, non-judgemental tongue. Yet no attempt is made to pronounce foreign words correctly; the local rules for softening consonants always applies. So "rush hour" is hora do rush, pronounced "hush", which I think is particularly appropriate, and the word for billboard is "outdoor", pronounced ouch-door.

At first Portuguese seems difficult, but this is almost entirely because of the unexpected pronunciation and intonation. Yet there are very clear rules and once these are mastered the language is no harder to learn than Spanish or French. True, the grammar and spelling is more complicated than French or Spanish (newspapers have columns on grammar every week, and new spelling rules were announced last year), but most people make lots of mistakes and it doesn't matter. What I loved about learning Brazilian Portuguese is that the spoken language is more fundamental than the written language, partly since a large number of people are effectively illiterate, and, as such, is tailored to oral communication and old-fashioned story-telling. (If something is written down, this does not make it more true or reliable, as we tend to think in Europe). What is true and what is not true is very fluid.

But my favourite aspect of Brazilian Portuguese, and an important breakthrough in becoming fluent, was to grasp the fundamental role of the suffixes -inho, and -ão, meaning 'little' and 'big'. Never knowingly underuse one of these suffixes. The diminutive -inho can also indicate love, intimacy, beauty, irrelevance and affection and the augmentative -ão can indicate fear, ugliness or wonder. A true Brazilian will find it difficult to say a sentence without incorporating an -inho or an -ão, which means that conversations tend to be full of passion and exaggeration, humour and colour. The country is a land of extremes in so many ways (in terms of geography and wealth, for instance) — and the language encourages its inhabitants to talk in extremes.

Rather than requiring an extensive vocabulary, Brazilian Portuguese is richly idiomatic and also versatile because of the creativity it allows. After all, this is the language whose greatest contribution to international vernacular is the exclamation: "goooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaal."
(Alex Bellos - Quardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 February 2010 - Photograph: David Oziel/AP)

Engaged Idealist - ENFJ

2010-08-05T12:44:00.001-07:00

Cris Kerr's personality type: "Engaged Idealist"
Popular and sensitive, with outstanding people skills. Externally focused, with real concern for how others think and feel. Usually dislike being alone. They see everything from the human angle and dislike impersonal analysis. Very effective at managing people issues and leading group discussions. Interested in serving others and probably place the needs of others over their own needs.

Careers that could fit Cris Kerr include:
Teachers, consultants, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, clergy, sales representatives, human resources, managers, events coordinators, politicians, diplomats, writers, actors, designers, homemakers, musicians, religious workers.

Engaged Idealist

Engaged Idealists are extroverted and helpful. Others find them to be very congenial and inspiring - especially as they are always willing to see the best in the other person. Their humour, their energy and their optimism attract other people. Engaged Idealists are very good at communicating and are good at convincing and firing on others. That is why it is a matter of course that they often take over the leading role in groups. This personality type often produces very charismatic persons.

Engaged Idealists have an unusually strong ability to empathise. They are tolerant and generous towards others; they sometimes tend to idealise their friends. They always try to suit everybody and want their relationships to be harmonious and satisfactory. To achieve this, they are prepared to invest a great deal and to put their requirements last. As Engaged Idealists are very considerate, there is the danger of them sacrificing and overexerting themselves for others. In their job, they therefore have to be very careful not to develop a burnout syndrome.
→ Get career advice for the Engaged Idealist

Engaged Idealists are reliable, well organised and love structuring complicated situations. They have difficulty accepting criticism; they quickly feel hurt and misunderstood. Their perfectionism also influences their love life - they look for the perfect relationship for life. Once they have made their decision, they are faithful, well-balanced and loving partners. However, should they get involved with the wrong person, it can happen that they allow themselves to be exploited for a long time before they end the relationship.
→ Get relationship advice for the Engaged Idealists

Adjectives which describe your type: extroverted, theoretical, emotional, planning, idealistic, committed, likable, enthusiastic, responsible, helpful, loyal, diplomatic, friendly, inspiring, caring, solicitous, optimistic, effusive, adaptable, communicative, articulate, convincing, energetic, optimistic, open, vulnerable

Engaged Idealist: Career

As an Engaged Idealist you are one of the extroverted personality types. You enjoy working in a colorfully diverse group of people who interest and inspire you. Working in a “secluded room” is not your thing. You enjoy emphasizing with those around you and soon everybody senses the high priority and importance people represent to you. Therefore a team-oriented project is just right for you.

Your insight into human nature, your feel for your colleague’s and/or subordinate’s positive sides and potentials and your preparedness to encourage and support everyone around you to the best of your ability quickly brings them closer to you. People like to ask you for advice, appreciate your caring ways and appreciate to be taken under your wings. Within your means you are always available to others who need you because you yourself enjoy the ultimate gratification of being able to help others to make the best of themselves and to be successful mediating conflicts among people.

You are well suited to be an executive: It is difficult to resist your charisma, your enthusiasm and your ability to excite and motivate others. Authoritarian management attitudes are not your thing; it is your way to convince others of a project’s reason and significance who will then look forward to follow you voluntarily. You place a lot of value on creating the willingness to cooperate in others and with your gift to motivate that usually comes easy to you. You do not enjoy conflicts, need harmony and invest lots of energy and time in a good working climate and a harmonic relationship of your colleagues among each other.

Engaged Idealist: Love

For you, love is the Alpha and Omega in life - you simply can’t be happy without it. No other type falls in love as quickly, strongly, and passionately. That has a lot to do with your limitless enthusiasm, and that does not only apply to things, but to people as well. When you love someone, you put him/her on a pedestal, surround him/her in a blaze of glory, and idealize him/her to the point that the people around you occasionally begin to doubt your soundness of mind.

Interestingly enough, you are normally blessed with excellent antennas for nuances. However, when you are in love, some systems appear to be defective: You won’t see a single spot on the white shining armor of your dream prince/princess, because you are convinced that he/she is a pure angel who fell from the clouds and landed right at your feet.

For the “target” of your affection, this passion is simply overwhelming. Who would not love to be raised into heaven, to be showered with your unconditional adoration and admiration? You court the partner of your choice with infinite imagination, empathy, and charm giving him/her no chance to resist. If you chose well, this can end in a long and happy relationship because you are a faithful and dedicate person who is willing to invest a lot into the partnership. In the long run, it is always given the most important priority in your life. As far as you are concerned, you entered a union for life, and you take nothing more seriously than the obliga-tion you took on out of love. Dedicated, you try tirelessly to divine your partner’s wishes before he/she is aware of them him/herself, and if at all possible, immediately satisfy them.

Source: iPersonic Typology

I'm an ENFJ

2010-08-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

The 16 Myers-Briggs Personality Types

"The Teachers" Extraverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Judging

ENFJs are the benevolent 'pedagogues' of humanity. They have tremendous charisma by which many are drawn into their nurturant tutelage and/or grand schemes. Many ENFJs have tremendous power to manipulate others with their phenomenal interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship. But it's usually not meant as manipulation -- ENFJs generally believe in their dreams, and see themselves as helpers and enablers, which they usually are.

ENFJs are global learners. They see the big picture. The ENFJs focus is expansive. Some can juggle an amazing number of responsibilities or projects simultaneously. Many ENFJs have tremendous entrepreneurial ability.

ENFJ's are outstanding leaders of groups, both task groups and growth groups. They have the charming characteristic seeming to take for granted that they will be followed, never doubting that people will want to do what they suggest. And more often than not, people do, because this type has unusually charisma. ENFJ's place a high value on cooperation from others and are most willing to cooperate themselves.

ENFJs know and appreciate people. Like most NFs, (and Feelers in general), they are apt to neglect themselves and their own needs for the needs of others. They have thinner psychological boundaries than most, and are at risk for being hurt or even abused by less sensitive people. ENFJs often take on more of the burdens of others than they can bear.

ENFJ's place people as being of highest importance and priority. As a result, ENFJ's may find find themselves feeling responsible for the feelings of others to an extent which places a burden on the relationship. An ENFJ communicates caring, concern, and a willingness to become involved. Thus people turn to ENFJ's for nuture and support, which an ENFJ is usually able to deliver. At times, however, these kinds of demands can overwhelm ENFJ's, who find at this point that they lack the skills to dissociate. ENFJ's do not seem able to turn away from these demands even when they become unreasonable. Or, if forced to, let go of the burden through sheer unavailability of time or energy, ENFJ's experience a guilt all out of proportion to the realities of the commitment made to the relationship.

ENFJ's are especially vulnerable to idealizing interpersonal relationships, raising these relationships to a plane which seldom can sustain the realities of human nature. Because of this tendancy to raise interpersonal relations to the ideal, ENFJ's may unwittingly overpower their friends, who believe that they cannot possibly live up to an ENFJ's prescription of them. The fact is, ENFJ's are extraordinarily tolerant of others, seldom critical, and always trustworthy.

ENFJs are, by definition, Js, with whom we associate organization and decisiveness. But they don't resemble the SJs or even the NTJs in organization of the environment nor occasional recalcitrance. ENFJs are organized in the arena of interpersonal affairs. Their offices may or may not be cluttered, but their conclusions (reached through feelings) about people and motives are drawn much more quickly and are more resilient than those of their NFP counterparts.

ENFJ's like to have things settled and organized. They prefer to plan both work and social engagements ahead and tend to be absolutely reliable at honoring these commitments. ENFJ's are very much at home in complex situations which require the juggling of much data. At the same time, they can handle people with charm and concern. ENFJ's are usually popular wherever they are. Their ability to be comfortable either leading or following makes them easy to have around, whatever the situation.

TRADEMARK: "The first shall be last"
This refers to the open-door policy of ENFJs.

Extraverted Feeling rules the ENFJ's psyche. In the sway of this rational function, these folks are predisposed to closure in matters pertaining to people, and especially on behalf of their beloved. As extraverts, their contacts are wide ranging. Face-to-face relationships are intense, personable and warm, though they may be so infrequently achieved that intimate friendships are rare.

Like their INFJ cousins, ENFJs are blessed through introverted intuition with clarity of perception in the inner, unconscious world. Dominant Feeling prefers to find the silver lining in even the most beggarly perceptions of those in their expanding circle of friends and, of course, in themselves. In less balanced individuals, such mitigation of the unseemly eventually undermines the ENFJ's integrity and frequently their good name. In healthier individuals, deft use of this awareness of the inner needs and desires of others enables this astute type to win friends, influence people, and avoid compromising entanglements.

ENFJ's, just like the ESFJ's, value harmonious human relations above all else; but ENFJ's are not so easily crushed by indefference as are the ESFJ's and are more independent of other's valuations.

ENFJ's have an unusual ability to relate to others with empathy. Taking into themselves the characteristics, emotions, and beliefs of others. This can pose a danger for ENFJ's, because they can unconsciously over-identify with others and pick up their burdens as if they were their own. In the process, ENFJ's may risk their own sense of dignity. They have a natural ability to mimic because of this highly developed ability to empathize by interjection. They are likely to be very concerned about the problems of those close to them, but they also may get as deeply involved in their problems of those not so close and may find themselves over-extended emotionally.

ENFJ's would do well to follow their hunches, for their intuition tends to be well developed. Decisions made purely on the basis of logic may not be so sound, and checking with a person who has a strong "T" preference might be at times advisable for the ENFJ. In the framework of values, however, the ENFJ is on certain ground. Generally, they know what they prefer and can read other people with outstanding accuracy. Seldom is an ENFJ wrong about the motivations or intent of another, hidden or not.

ENFJ's are socially adept and make excellent companions and mates. They are also deeply devoted to their children, yet tend not to be domineering to either the children or a mate. In fact, the ENFJ is so even-tempered that she or she can be victimized by a mate who might have become more and more demanding. ENFJ mates always try to please and feel personally responsible when home life does not go smoothly. They are tireless in their efforts to see that it does, providing generously from available income, time, and energy. This dedication often exists, however, side by side, with an ENFJ's dream of the perfect relationship, a characteristic of all NF's, but one which is particularly strong in ENFJ. Thus an ENFJ has that longing for the ideal that results in a vague dissatisfaction with whatever is in the way of relationships, mating, as well as friendship.

This longing for the perfect carries over into the careers of ENFJ's, who experience some degree of restlessness whatever their jobs. And, as with ENFP's, ENFJ's have a wide range of occupations which offer success. Being verbally adept, ENFJ's contribute to an unusual level dealing with people, particularly face to face; the media, the ministry, and stage and screen are populated successful ENFJ's. They make superior therapists, charismatic teachers, excellent executives, personalized salespersons. Areas that would not permit utilization of the intereactional talents of the ENFJ's, for example, accounting, should be avoided, otherwise, almost any people to people occupation where personal, sustained contact is involved capitalizes on the personality of the ENFJ.

Famous ENFJs:
• David, King of Israel
• U.S. Presidents:
• Abraham Lincoln
• Ronald Reagan
• William Cullen Bryant, poet
• Abraham Maslow, psychologist and proponent of self-actualization
• Ross Perot
• Sean Connery
• Elizabeth Dole
• Francois Mitterand
• Bob Saget, America's Funniest Home Videos, Full House
• Dick Van Dyke
• Andy Griffith
• James Garner
• William Aramony, former president of United Way
• Gene Hackman, actor (Superman, Antz)
• Brenda Vaccaro
• Randy Quaid, actor (Bye Bye, Love; Independence Day)
• Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts quarterback
• Tyra Banks
• Gisele Bundchen
• Anne Curry
• Vivica A. Fox
• Star Jones
• Eva La Rue
• Leighton Meester
• Eva Mendes
• David Hasselhoff
• Peter Facinelli
• Chris Brown
• Vanessa Williams
• Kelly Ripa
• Rebecca Romjin
• Denise Richards
• Judy Reyes
• Jennifer Lopez
• Lea Michelle
• Lea Ramini
• Vanessa Minillo

____________________

ENFJ Relationships

ENFJs put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into their relationships. To some extent, the ENFJ defines themself by the closeness and authenticity of their personal relationships, and are therefore highly invested in the business of relationships. They have very good people skills, and are affectionate and considerate. They are warmly affirming and nurturing. The excel at bringing out the best in others, and warmly supporting them. They want responding affirmation from their relationships, although they have a problem asking for it. When a situation calls for it, the ENFJ will become very sharp and critical. After having made their point, they will return to their natural, warm selves. They may have a tendency to "smother" their loved ones, but are generally highly valued for their genuine warmth and caring natures.

ENFJ Strengths

Most ENFJs will exhibit the following strengths with regards to relationship issues:

Good verbal communication skills
Very perceptive about people's thoughts and motives
Motivational, inspirational; bring out the best in others
Warmly affectionate and affirming
Fun to be with - lively sense of humor, dramatic, energetic, optimistic
Good money skills
Able to "move on" after a love relationship has failed (although they blame themselves)
Loyal and committed - they want lifelong relationships
Strive for "win-win" situations
Driven to meet other's needs
ENFJ Weaknesses

Most ENFJs will exhibit the following weaknesses with regards to relationships issues:

Tendency to be smothering and over-protective
Tendency to be controling and/or manipulative
Don't pay enough attention to their own needs
Tend to be critical of opinions and attitudes which don't match their own
Sometimes unaware of social appropriateness or protocol
Extremely sensitive to conflict, with a tendency to sweep things under the rug as an avoidance tactic
Tendency to blame themselves when things go wrong, and not give themselves credit when things go right
Their sharply defined value systems make them unbending in some areas
They may be so attuned to what is socially accepted or expected that they're unable to assess whether something is "right" or "wrong" outside of what their social circle expects.
ENFJs as Lovers

"To love means to open ourselves to the negative as well as the positive - to grief, sorrow, and disappointment as well as to joy, fulfillment, and an intensity of consciousness we did not know was possible before." -- Rollo May

ENFJs make warm, committed lovers who are willing to go to great lengths for the sake of "The Relationship". They're totally dedicated to the relationship, and to their partner, and have a special skill for warmth and affirmation which brings out the best in their mates. They take their commitments seriously, and are likely to put forth a lot of effort into making a relationship work once they have commited themselves to it. In the event that a relationship fails, the ENFJ will feel a lot of guilt, and take on blame for the failure, but they will move on with their lives with relative ease, without looking backwards.
Since relationships are central to the ENFJ's life, they will be very "hands on" and involved with their intimate relationships. They may be in the habit of constantly asking their partner how they're doing, what they're feeling, etc. This behavior may be a bit smothering, but it also supports a strong awareness of the health (or illness) of the relationship.

Sexually, the ENFJ looks forward to intimacy as an opportunity to express love and caring. The ENFJ is generally very interested in the happiness and satisfaction of their partner. Because they achieve much of their personal satisfaction from making others happy, they're likely to be skilled lovers. Like other Judgers, the ENFJ is likely to follow a schedule for intimacy, and may be prone to becoming routinized. For the ENFJ, the most important aspect of a sexual encounter is the affirmation of love and affection.

Although the ENFJ will probably not ask for it, they need to be given sweet words and loving affirmation. Since they are so externally focused on serving people, they do not always pay attention to their own needs. Since much of their personal satisfaction comes from bringing happiness to others, they're able to ignore their own needs and still be happy much more easily than other types. However, if they focus entirely on giving without doing some taking, they may find themselves in an unhealthy, unbalanced relationship. They need to work on being aware of their needs, and being OK with verbalizing those needs to their partners.

A problem area for ENFJs in relationships is their very serious dislike of conflict. ENFJs will prefer to brush issues under the rug rather than confront them head-on, if there is likely to be a conflict. They are also likely to "give in" easily in conflict situations, just to end the conflict. They might agree to something which goes against their values just to end the uncomfortable situation. In such cases, the problem is extended and will return at a later time. The ENFJ needs to realize that the world will not end if there is a disagreement, and that dealing with things immediately initiates closure. Ignoring issues will not make them go away.

In general, the ENFJ is intensely and enthusiastically involved in their personal relationships. They bring fun and warmth into the equation, and are willing to work hard to make things work.

Although two well-developed individuals of any type can enjoy a healthy relationship, ENFJ's natural partner is the INFP, or the ISFP. ENFJ's dominant function of Extraverted Feeling is best matched with a partner whose dominant function is Introverted Feeling. An ENFJ and INFP are ideally matched, because they share the Intuitive way of looking at the world, but the ENFJ and ISFP are also a very good match. How did we arrive at this?

ENFJs as Parents

"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth...
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable." -- Kahlil Gibran

ENFJs take their parenting role very seriously. They consider the task of passing on values and goals to their children as paramount, and will strive to consistently be a good role model to their children. The ENFJ considers it their responsibility to make sure that their children turn out well. This characteristic, combined with the ENFJ's definite values and ideas about the way things should be, usually results in the ENFJ parent being rather strict, and having high expectations for the behavior of their children. On the other hand, the ENFJ is also warm and affectionate with their children, and very supportive and affirming. The ENFJ can also be counted on to take care of day-to-day necessities for their children.

It is not usually easy to be the child of an ENFJ. The ENFJ's life focus is centered in the sphere of relationships. They take their relationship roles very seriously. They are very "hands-on" in relationships, always monitoring it's progress. This behavior may be smothering to some individuals. ENFJs have very definite value systems, and well-defined ideas about what is right and what is wrong. Since they believe that part of their parental role involves passing their values and ideas to their children, and since they are so concerned and involved with their children, the ENFJ has a tendency to be a strict, controling parent, who is very aware of their children's actions. The ENFJ needs to remember to allow their children the room for growth which is necessary if they are to evolve into healthy, well-adjusted adults. With a bit of effort, it will be possible for the ENFJ to balance their need to pass their values and ideals down to their children with their children's need to develop as individuals.

The ENFJ will put forth a good amount of effort to make their children's home environment warm, comforting and cheerful. They will be ready with a kiss and a baid-aid for any hurt. Their normal attitude towards their children will be loyal, proud, warm, and affirming.

As is the case with most types, ENFJ parents may have problems with their children as they reach puberty. Their children will need more space at that age, and will begin to resent the over-protective tendencies of the ENFJ. This problem will be magnified in situations where the ENFJ is very manipulative. Since ENFJs are gifted with exceptional people skills and personal presence, some ENFJ individuals who are not supported by life's circumstances get into the habit of using these skills for personal gain to get what they want or need out of situations. As they grow older, their children will inevitably see the manipulative tendencies for what they are, and will begin to question their parents' value systems, and strongly resent being forced to comply with a set of values which may be somewhat hippocritical. The manipulative ENFJ, who still has strongly-held values which they are driven to pass to their children, may then find themselves "a day late and a dollar short". As an ENFJ, your best bet is to be aware of your type's manipulative tendancies and to make every effort that you are not using them in a negative way.

Usually, the ENFJ has nothing but the best intentions with regards to their children. They are remembered by their children as very warm and supportive (although strict), and are valued for passing on their goals and ideals.

ENFJs as Friends

ENFJs are warm, sociable people who are keenly in tune with other people's feelings and perspectives. They enjoy supporting and bringing out the best in others. They are energetic and fun to be with. They seek authenticity in their close relationships, and are very sensitive to the needs of others. All of these characteristics make the ENFJ valued by their peers as a warm, supportive and giving friend.

ENFJs are interested in all sorts of people, and are likely to be able to understand and relate to all of the personality types. The will excel at getting along with all sorts of people when the situation demands that they do so. However, they will not choose to spend their personal time around all of the types. They may resist spending a lot of time with Sensing Perceiving types, whose carefree "live for the moment" attitude may conflict with the ENFJ's strongly held value system. When seeking companionship that is not romantic, ENFJs will be drawn to other Feelers who have similar values and ideas. Since they live in a people-oriented world, they are not comfortable with objective judgments which do not consider people issues. Consequently, ENFJs are not likely to have close friendships with strong Thinking types. They will be likely to especially enjoy the company of other iNtuitive Feelers, as well as Sensing Judgers.

1 Year Healing Anniversary

2010-07-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow- Saturday, July 3, 2010 I am celebrating ONE YEAR of being completely healed of endometriosis.

One year ago tomorrow I walked into the Bethel Healing Rooms and was touched by the power of God and healed of an incurable disease!!! Since then I have stopped all medication and barely had anymore pain.

This journey of healing is still very new to me. I'm learning to walk it out and live it without necessarily having to understand it all the time. Last year it was the first time I felt the physical touch of Heaven on my body and right away knew in my spirit that I would not hurt from this sickness anymore. DONE. FINISHED. FREE!

Tomorrow is a very special day. A very special anniversary. AND I WILL CELEBRATE!!!

The Bests Are On!! :o)

2010-06-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 29:7

2010-06-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

"Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

Jeremiah 29:7

Sonhos

2010-06-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

Sonhos

Posted on 03 / junho / 2010 by Renato Kerr

Abriu os olhos. A manhã era de sol, dava pra sentir. Lembrou-se do sonho daquela noite e saiu. Nas ruas, o trânsito de sonhos era intenso. Havia sonhos em cada rosto e nas mãos estendidas revelavam-se sonhos. Viu crianças assustadas com os próprios sonhos e velhos que insistiam em continuar sonhando. Deparou-se com sonhos impossíveis, sonhos perdidos, sonhos fraudados e anti-sonhos. Percebeu que alguns não sonhavam, enquanto outros chegariam à morte por seus sonhos. Naquele dia, deixou a porta aberta e acolheu sonhos e mais sonhos no ar rarefeito de seu quarto.

Psalm 91

2010-05-06T07:11:00.001-07:00

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

For Brazil, It's Finally Tomorrow

2010-05-05T09:56:00.001-07:00

MARCH 29, 2010
For Brazil, It's Finally Tomorrow
How the country of the future has at last made it—and what remains to be done

By PAULO PRADA

(See Corrections & Amplifications item below.)

For the past century, Brazil has been a land of great potential—but few results. With runaway inflation and stratospheric national debt, the country was too much of a mess for anyone to take it seriously on the world stage.

The Journal Report

See the complete Brazil report.

How times have changed.

Consider this: In the face of the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression, Brazil's economic output dipped a tiny 0.2% last year, and is expected to grow as much as 6% this year. Everyday Brazilians have been too busy buying washing machines, cars and flat-screen televisions to even notice the downturn.

Brazil is already the biggest economy in Latin America and the 10th-biggest in the world. By 2050, it will likely move into fourth place, leapfrogging countries including Germany, Japan and the U.K., according to a study by Goldman Sachs.

Clearly, Brazil has turned a corner—and is now a nation with the heft, ambition and economic fundamentals to become a world power. But the country has enormous challenges it must overcome before it can fully live up to its potential.

Edel Rodriguez

Its public sector is bloated and riddled with corruption. Crime is rampant. Its infrastructure is badly in need of repair and expansion. The business environment is restrictive, with a labor code ripped from the pages of Benito Mussolini's economic playbook. Brazil also risks patting itself on the back so much that it fails to see the colossal work that remains to be done.

"There's too much good happening at the moment for the country not to take advantage of it," says Ricardo Amorim, a well-known financial consultant in São Paulo. "Brazil has never had as much opportunity as it will have in the years ahead."

Big Promise

Brazil has always had a lot to live up to, simply because of its size. The country is bigger than the contiguous U.S. and has almost as many people as Germany, France and the U.K. combined. Yet except when it came to soccer and music, many Brazilians themselves tended to believe the notion—apocryphally attributed to Charles de Gaulle—that "Brazil is not a serious country."

Things started changing in the 1990s. The government adopted strict monetary policies and a laser-like focus on balancing the books. That fiscal prudence has given the country remarkable cash reserves—and breathing room during crises.

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Agencia Estad0/Associated Press

Getting an education.

For instance, when the big downturn hit in 2008, private lending began to dry up. So the government, flush with cash reserves and the keys to an aggressive development bank, ordered state-run lenders to open the credit taps. The banks complied, lending out record amounts last year to Brazilians eager to join the country's quickly growing consumer class. Internal demand soared, softening the blow of the slowdown.

"This is a different Brazil than 10 years ago," President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva boasted recently. Back then, he said, "the crisis in Greece would have already bankrupted Brazil."

What's more, there's now a political consensus to avoid the mistakes of the past. Until recently, elections in Brazil were considered make-or-break contests between irresponsible, populist proposals and the voices of investment, stability and growth. Now neither leading candidate from the right or left in October's election is expected to stray far from current economic policies, a functional blend of pro-business market rules and social-welfare programs.

Even a pledge for a bigger state role in the economy by Dilma Rousseff, Mr. da Silva's outgoing chief of staff and his hand-chosen successor as the party's candidate, isn't scaring off the business community. "It's refreshing to have an election and see there's no fuss about either outcome," says Andrew Béla Jánszky, a Brazilian investment lawyer in the São Paulo office of Shearman & Sterling LLP. "For once, stability is almost a given."

The hard work has also enabled Brazil—already a leading exporter of iron ore, steel, coffee, soybeans, sugar and beef—to soar in sectors it once only dreamed about. After decades of research and investment, Brazil in 2007 discovered mammoth new oil beds beneath the Atlantic that are expected to double output in the coming years—generating billions of dollars in new revenue annually.

Cleaning House

The results of all these changes have been dramatic. The economic turnaround has pulled millions out of poverty and is creating a thriving middle class. For instance, Brazil's northeast, long the source of internal migration to more-prosperous cities down south, now outpaces the rest of the country in growth. Companies there are scrambling to train workers, many experienced only as field hands, to build cars, appliances and computer parts.

The country's promise is such that events that once rattled the faith of local and foreign investors are now taken largely in stride—be it the global financial meltdown or Mr. da Silva's bear hugs and backslaps with leaders of regimes in Havana, Tehran and Caracas.

View Full Image

Reuters

Looking for a washing machine in São Paulo.

But before Brazil can achieve its first-world ambitions, it must tackle big economic, legal and social deficiencies that have hobbled its development.

For one thing, even after sweeping reforms, the government's role in the economy remains relatively big. Government spending totals more than 20% of the country's gross domestic product, compared with about 15% in the U.S., 13% in China and 7% in Indonesia, another fast-growing emerging market, according to data compiled by Mosaico Economia Política, a Brazilian consultancy. The government trimmed as many as 150,000 jobs in the 1990s, but since then has taken on twice that number, according to research at Banco Santander, the Spanish bank that is one of Brazil's biggest foreign investors. Even with greater leeway to spend than ever before, government debt has begun to creep back up.

To help finance the growth in the size of government—and onerous pension and benefit plans—"the trend is likely to be in the direction of higher taxes, lower investments, and, thus, lower long-term growth," Santander said in the report. The spending growth comes as consumer demand is also surging, spurred on by state lending. That has caused inflation to rear its head once more—forcing the central bank to consider raising interest rates again.

"The government can't have it all," warns Eduardo Giannetti da Fonseca, an economist and professor at Insper Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, a business school in São Paulo. "You can't increase spending, private consumption and invest all at the same time, because something will eventually give."

Another problem is the restrictive business environment, especially strict labor laws that date back to the 1940s and were originally modeled on the statist policies of Mussolini. Because it costs so much to start companies and hire workers, many entrepreneurs and businesses stay in the black market and pay workers informally. That creates a massive underground economy that, according to a 2005 study by McKinsey & Co., accounts for up to 40% of Brazil's gross domestic product, takes about half of all urban jobs and drags overall economic growth by as much as 1.5% annually.

The problem is palpable across Brazil, where underground commerce is on open display from city sidewalks to public buses to the festive beaches of Rio de Janeiro. "I'd rather have a real job, but it's a lot easier to get hired to do something like this," says Milton, a 28-year-old vendor of pirate software and DVDs in central São Paulo, who declined to give his last name. "There's plenty of this kind of work to go around."

Bad Connections

Yet another obstacle to growth is a lack of infrastructure—from roads, railways and bridges to docks, airports and pipelines. Like most everything else in the country, infrastructure investment fluctuated with the booms and busts of the past. Projects were launched when times were flush, only to sit neglected for decades.

Not only is much of it old and in disrepair, but Brazil's existing infrastructure is too small to handle the volume of people and goods currently using it—let alone accommodate new growth. The government this week is expected to announce the second phase of an ambitious "growth acceleration program" that it launched in 2007. The original plan foresaw infrastructure investments of some $342 billion, but many projects remain mired in bureaucracy. Contas Abertas, a not-for-profit research group that studies public spending, in a study this month said that only 11% of the projects outlined in the plan have been completed, while just over half have yet to be launched.

To casual observers, things will look better as Brazil gears up for hosting soccer's World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. New roads and airport terminals will be christened along with modernized stadiums and scenic, well-policed promenades. But manufacturers, exporters and shippers—who regularly wait days or weeks for backlogs in ports and customs facilities to clear—know Brazil needs more than just cosmetic changes.

Progress in other areas falls short, too. Crime is still a big problem in most cities and in lawless rural areas where ruthless prospectors, loggers and landowners at times ride roughshod over their neighbors. Those charged with enforcing the law are so underpaid that police routinely look the other way in exchange for a little extra money or commit serious human-rights abuses in efforts to solve problems that overburdened courts rarely can. Using the government's own statistics, a December report by Human Rights Watch disclosed that police in Rio and São Paulo together killed more than 1,000 people annually in recent years, many of them in execution-style "extrajudicial" killings.

Brazil's politicians and legislators often run afoul of the law, as well. The country's Federal Police, its most respected law-enforcement body and the agency charged with fighting corruption, currently has nearly 30,000 active investigations related to public corruption and fraud, according to a recent report. The deposed governor of Brasília, Brazil's capital, at the moment sits in jail awaiting trial over alleged kickbacks from public construction projects.

Then there's public education. Brazil has a popular welfare program that helps needy children by paying parents to keep them in school rather than send them out to help put food on the table. But schools themselves remain underfunded and the quality of education remains poor. Outdated university statutes mean that the best colleges, which are public and free, get filled by wealthy students from private high schools, while poorer students, the products of public schools, get stuck paying for second-rate degrees at costly classrooms in strip malls and fly-by-night academies.

Mr. da Silva and his ministers, including Ms. Rousseff, admit that much still needs to be done. The work so far, they insist, has been about laying the groundwork for stability and thereby facilitating investment and growth in the future. Now that popular social programs have helped ease suffering for the critically poor—and disastrous fallout from the financial crisis was averted—the government can begin focusing on ways to ensure it builds upon more solid economic foundations.

"If the past year was about measures to stimulate consumption," Mr. da Silva said in a television address at the end of December, "now our emphasis is on reinforcing investments and thereby making the wheel of the economy roll in a healthy and sustainable way."

—Mr. Prada is a staff reporter for The Wall Street Journal in São Paulo. He can be reached atpaulo.prada@wsj.com .

Corrections & Amplifications:
Brazil is larger than the contiguous U.S. A previous version of this article referred to the country as being larger than the continental U.S., a description that could incorrectly imply that Brazil is larger than the lower 48 U.S. states and Alaska combined.

A menina e o pássaro encantado – Ruben Alves

2010-05-04T11:31:00.001-07:00

A menina e o pássaro encantado

Era uma vez uma menina que tinha um pássaro como seu melhor amigo.
Ele era um pássaro diferente de todos os demais: era encantado.
Os pássaros comuns, se a porta da gaiola ficar aberta, vão-se embora para nunca mais voltar. Mas o pássaro da menina voava livre e vinha quando sentia saudades… As suas penas também eram diferentes. Mudavam de cor. Eram sempre pintadas pelas cores dos lugares estranhos e longínquos por onde voava. Certa vez voltou totalmente branco, cauda enorme de plumas fofas como o algodão…
— Menina, eu venho das montanhas frias e cobertas de neve, tudo maravilhosamente branco e puro, brilhando sob a luz da lua, nada se ouvindo a não ser o barulho do vento que faz estalar o gelo que cobre os galhos das árvores. Trouxe, nas minhas penas, um pouco do encanto que vi, como presente para ti…
E, assim, ele começava a cantar as canções e as histórias daquele mundo que a menina nunca vira. Até que ela adormecia, e sonhava que voava nas asas do pássaro.
Outra vez voltou vermelho como o fogo, penacho dourado na cabeça.
— Venho de uma terra queimada pela seca, terra quente e sem água, onde os grandes, os pequenos e os bichos sofrem a tristeza do sol que não se apaga. As minhas penas ficaram como aquele sol, e eu trago as canções tristes daqueles que gostariam de ouvir o barulho das cachoeiras e ver a beleza dos campos verdes.
E de novo começavam as histórias. A menina amava aquele pássaro e podia ouvi-lo sem parar, dia após dia. E o pássaro amava a menina, e por isto voltava sempre.
Mas chegava a hora da tristeza.
— Tenho de ir — dizia.
— Por favor, não vás. Fico tão triste. Terei saudades. E vou chorar…— E a menina fazia beicinho…
— Eu também terei saudades — dizia o pássaro. — Eu também vou chorar. Mas vou contar-te um segredo: as plantas precisam da água, nós precisamos do ar, os peixes precisam dos rios… E o meu encanto precisa da saudade. É aquela tristeza, na espera do regresso, que faz com que as minhas penas fiquem bonitas. Se eu não for, não haverá saudade. Eu deixarei de ser um pássaro encantado. E tu deixarás de me amar.
Assim, ele partiu. A menina, sozinha, chorava à noite de tristeza, imaginando se o pássaro voltaria. E foi numa dessas noites que ela teve uma ideia malvada: “Se eu o prender numa gaiola, ele nunca mais partirá. Será meu para sempre. Não mais terei saudades. E ficarei feliz…”
Com estes pensamentos, comprou uma linda gaiola, de prata, própria para um pássaro que se ama muito. E ficou à espera. Ele chegou finalmente, maravilhoso nas suas novas cores, com histórias diferentes para contar. Cansado da viagem, adormeceu. Foi então que a menina, cuidadosamente, para que ele não acordasse, o prendeu na gaiola, para que ele nunca mais a abandonasse. E adormeceu feliz.
Acordou de madrugada, com um gemido do pássaro…
— Ah! menina… O que é que fizeste? Quebrou-se o encanto. As minhas penas ficarão feias e eu esquecer-me-ei das histórias… Sem a saudade, o amor ir-se-á embora…
A menina não acreditou. Pensou que ele acabaria por se acostumar. Mas não foi isto que aconteceu. O tempo ia passando, e o pássaro ficando diferente. Caíram as plumas e o penacho. Os vermelhos, os verdes e os azuis das penas transformaram-se num cinzento triste. E veio o silêncio: deixou de cantar.
Também a menina se entristeceu. Não, aquele não era o pássaro que ela amava. E de noite ela chorava, pensando naquilo que havia feito ao seu amigo…
Até que não aguentou mais.
Abriu a porta da gaiola.
— Podes ir, pássaro. Volta quando quiseres…
— Obrigado, menina. Tenho de partir. E preciso de partir para que a saudade chegue e eu tenha vontade de voltar. Longe, na saudade, muitas coisas boas começam a crescer dentro de nós. Sempre que ficares com saudade, eu ficarei mais bonito. Sempre que eu ficar com saudade, tu ficarás mais bonita. E enfeitar-te-ás, para me esperar…
E partiu. Voou que voou, para lugares distantes. A menina contava os dias, e a cada dia que passava a saudade crescia.
— Que bom — pensava ela — o meu pássaro está a ficar encantado de novo…
E ela ia ao guarda-roupa, escolher os vestidos, e penteava os cabelos e colocava uma flor na jarra.
— Nunca se sabe. Pode ser que ele volte hoje…
Sem que ela se apercebesse, o mundo inteiro foi ficando encantado, como o pássaro. Porque ele deveria estar a voar de qualquer lado e de qualquer lado haveria de voltar. Ah!
Mundo maravilhoso, que guarda em algum lugar secreto o pássaro encantado que se ama…
E foi assim que ela, cada noite, ia para a cama, triste de saudade, mas feliz com o pensamento: “Quem sabe se ele voltará amanhã….”
E assim dormia e sonhava com a alegria do reencontro.

* * *

Para o adulto que for ler esta história para uma criança:
Esta é uma história sobre a separação: quando duas pessoas que se amam têm de dizer adeus…
Depois do adeus, fica aquele vazio imenso: a saudade.
Tudo se enche com a presença de uma ausência.
Ah! Como seria bom se não houvesse despedidas…
Alguns chegam a pensar em trancar em gaiolas aqueles a quem amam. Para que sejam deles, para sempre… Para que não haja mais partidas…
Poucos sabem, entretanto, que é a saudade que torna encantadas as pessoas. A saudade faz crescer o desejo. E quando o desejo cresce, preparam-se os abraços.
Esta história, eu não a inventei.
Fiquei triste, vendo a tristeza de uma criança que chorava uma despedida… E a história simplesmente apareceu dentro de mim, quase pronta.
Para quê uma história? Quem não compreende pensa que é para divertir. Mas não é isso.
É que elas têm o poder de transfigurar o quotidiano.
Elas chamam as angústias pelos seus nomes e dizem o medo em canções. Com isto, angústias e medos ficam mais mansos.
Claro que são para crianças.
Especialmente aquelas que moram dentro de nós, e têm medo da solidão…

As mais belas histórias de Rubem Alves
Lisboa, Edições Asa, 2003

I loved this article... Share your thoughts please!

2010-04-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

Beyond Passion: The Science of Loving What You Do

Features: Becoming a Superstar, Features: Life After CollegeStudy HacksJanuary 23rd. 2010, 7:12pm

The Great Career

Laura loves what she does. To many people, myself included (I’ve known her for the past five years), she represents the Platonic ideal of a great career.

Laura is a database whiz. Companies hire her to wrangle their most gnarly data into streamlined structures. If you’re lucky enough to engage Laura, she’ll assemble a handpicked team of programmers and descend on your office for up to six months. She’ll then take your generous check back to her charming Jamaica Plain bungalow and set about finding novel ways to spend it.

She allows months to pass between projects — the paydays being ample enough to buy her as much downtime as she wants. She has used this time, among other pursuits, to earn a pilots license, learn to scuba dive, and travel through Asia.

In several earlier posts, I argued that mastering a rare and valuable skill is the key to generating a remarkable life — much more important than following your “passions” or matching your career (or academic major) to your personality. It occurred to me, however, that to continue this discussion, we need to better understand our goal; that is, we need to figure out what exactly makes a remarkable life remarkable.

In this post, I’m going to tackle this question, using Laura as our running example of someone who has achieved the end result we have in mind…

The Introspection Principle

If you want to quickly assess how Americans think about the search for the “right” job, spend a few minutes browsing the career guide bestseller list at Amazon.com. For example, when I last checked…

The number two bestselling guide was a book titled Career Fitness Program. The first step of its three step program was a “personal assessment.”
The number three bestselling guide was Nicholas Lore’s Pathfinder, which “leads readers though the process of deciding exactly what they want to do for a living and finding a way to make it happen.”
The book in the number five slot, Career Match, notes in its description that those “whose careers fit their passions and personalities” find them to be a “source of great satisfaction and success.”

Sense a pattern?

These bestsellers are founded on the belief that matching your work to personality traits and interests is the key to finding a job you love. I call this the introspection principle because it elevates the act of self-reflection to be the important for making big life decisions.

This principle extends beyond career issues. It’s also at the core of popular advice for new college students. For example:

The description for Patrick Combs’ ubiquitous Major in Success (he’s sold over 120,000 copies) emphasizes that students should choose a major that “suits their interests.”
The cover of Lind Andrew’s canonical How to Choose a College Major instructs students to “use your own interests and talents to find the perfect major.”

The introspection principle is so ingrained that we forget to think of it as a hypothesis that needs to be tested. If you’ll indulge my heretical-side, however, I think it’s worth taking this idea out for a spin.

My question is simple: when we study people like Laura who love what they do, is an introspection-driven match between their work and their personality the explanation for their happiness? And if it’s not, what is?

To answer this question, we can turn to 30 years of cutting-edge scientific research…

The Surprising Science of Human Motivation

As Dan Pink recounts in the introduction to Drive, his new book about workplace motivation, our understanding of what compels people to action was upended in the late 1940s. Before this point, conventional wisdom said that we’re motivated by rewards (think B.F. Skinner and his rats). The more we are rewarded, the more fired up we get about our work.

Then Harry Harlow, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, began giving puzzles to the rhesus monkeys in his primate laboratory. He noticed a curious effect: when he rewarded the monkeys for solving the puzzle, they became slower at the task.

Twenty years later, Edward Deci, then a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon, tested this effect in humans, and found a similar result: the presence of cash made them worse at solving creative puzzles.

This kicked off three decades of intense research into the sources of human motivation.

Eventually, Deci, working with his longtime collaborator Richard Ryan, corralled the diversity of (sometimes contradictory) research on the topic into a single, over-arching model called Self-Determination Theory (SDT). This model has been extensively validated and summarizes, to the best of our current understanding, what can make someone love what they do. (See this 2000 paper by Ryan and Deci, from the journal Psychological Inquiry, for a good overview).

At a high level, SDT makes a simple claim:

To be happy, your work must fulfill three universal psychological needs: autonomy,competence, and relatedness.

In more detail…

Autonomy refers to control over how you fill your time. As Deci puts it, if you have a high degree of autonomy, then “you endorse [your] actions at the highest level of reflection.”
Competence refers to mastering unambiguously useful things. As the psychologist Robert White opines, in the wonderfully formal speak of the 1950s academic, humans have a “propensity to have an effect on the environment as well as to attain valued outcomes within it.”
Relatedness refers to a feeling of connection to others. As Deci pithily summarizes: “to love and care, and to be loved and cared for.”

SDT explains why Laura’s career resonates with us. She clearly has autonomy (she handpicks projects and runs them on her own schedule) and competence (she’s highly regarded and compensated for her expert ability). She also has relatedness, both from her close-knit teams and her ability to build a schedule that dedicates extended amounts of time to friends and family.

Falsifying the Introspection Principle

SDT answers our original question: Is the introspection principle correct? They key feature of the three SDT need are their universality — they span both differing career fields and cultures. Put another way: three decades of research has shown that the traits that make us happy with our work have little to do with our personality or so-called “passions.”

Similar conclusions apply to related decisions, such as choosing your college major. Forget trying to divine some perfect match, and instead choose a major for your own reasons — not pressure from your parents or a misguided view on what’s “practical” — and then strive tobecome excellent at it. As I argued before, your love of the subject will grow with your sense of autonomy and competence.

For those who sweat this style of decision, this research should provide relief. There’s no reason to lose sleep over whether you’re “passionate” about your major, or if your job is what you really want to be doing with your life. Working right trumps finding the right work.

It’s to this new goal, “working right,” that we turn our attention next…

Working Right

Research reveals that autonomy, competence, and relatedness are the key to loving what you do. So how do you get them? There are different answers to this question, but the strategy that I keep emphasizing on Study Hacks has two clear steps:

Master a skill that is rare and valuable.
Cash in the career capital this generates for the right rewards.

The world doesn’t owe you happiness. Your boss has no reason to let you choose your own projects, or spend one week out of every four writing a novel at your beach house. These rewards are valuable. To earn them, you must accumulate your own career capital by mastering a skill that’s equally rare and valuable.

It’s important, however, that you cash in this capital, once accumulated, for the right rewards. The word “right,” in this context, is defined by the traits of SDT. In other words, once you have something valuable to offer, use it to gain as much autonomy, competence, and relatedness as you can possibly cram into your life.

This explains, for example, why there are so many CEOs in the world who are excellent at what they do, but also stressed, anxious, and unhappy. They generated career capital by becoming excellent at management, but instead of cashing it in to satisfy the needs that we know would make them happy, they instead bartered for increased prestige and income. The strict demands of the job sap their felling of autonomy, while their sense of relatedness dissipates with the late night work binges.

When we return to Laura, we see that she’s a perfect example of the Study Hacks system in action. In the 1990s, she started working for a major technology company. She noticed that the giant databases at the core of the company’s business were increasingly crucial to its success. She focused on mastering these systems. As the technology boom continued, her skill became increasingly rare and valuable. Instead of cashing in the capital this generated to become an overworked VP, she instead exchanged it for her freelance venture — an approach designed to maximize the autonomy, competence, and relatedness in her life.

Back to the Grandmasters

Now that we’ve established how a rare and valuable skill can be used to generate a remarkable life, we can return, in the next articles in this series, to the topic promised at the end of my recent post on deliberate practice: the details of building this mastery.

Stay tuned…

"20 things I wanna do in my lifetime"

2010-04-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

ok, so... I thought they were just my own dreams and goals for my life- but I have come to realize that He loves me so much that He was always giving me my dreams... His dreams, my dreams... are one in the same :o)

"20 things I wanna do in my lifetime"

1. speak 10 languages fluently
2. be a great-great grandma
3. live in Greece for 1 year
4. feed multitudes
5. live in a solar powered house
6. jump off of a skyscraper
7. honeymoon in Fiji island
8. sail across the world
9. clean and rebuild slums in Brasil
10. make a million dollars
11. share my home with international students
12. walk on water
13. own a coffee house where everything is free
14. sing to presidents and kings
15. get a tattoo as my wedding ring
16. pay off my nephews education- all 8 of them
17. birth girl triplets
18. give girls who feel ugly amazing makeovers
19. graduate from a culinary school
20. meet and influence Gisele Bundchen, John Mayer, Kaka and Queen Elizabeth

The iPad

2010-04-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

You and Your Heart- Jack Johnson

2010-04-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

You and Your Heart- Jack Johnson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T8-Jlw4s
9k

Watch you when you say

What you are and when you blame
Everyone, You broken king
Watch you change the frame or
Watch you when you take your aim
At the sum of everything

Cause you and your heart

shouldn't feel so far apart

You can choose what you take

Why you gotta break and make it feel so hard

You lay there in the street

Like broken glass reflecting pieces of the sun

But you're not the flame

You got the people passing by

Because you know what you don't like

It's just so easy, it's just so easy

But you and your heart

Shouldn't feel so far apart

You can choose what you take

Why you gotta break and make it feel so hard

Oh and you and your heart

Shouldn't feel so far apart

You can choose what you take

Why you gotta break and make it feel so hard

You draw so many lines in the sand

Lost the fingernails on your hands

How you're gonna scratch any backs?

Better hope that time will take our lines away

Take all our lines and

Hope that time will take our lines and

Hope that time will take our lines away

Take all our lines away

God says, "I write the songs AND books the whole world sings & reads!" by Joni Ames

2010-04-14T11:35:00.001-07:00

God says, "I write the songs AND books the whole world sings & reads!"
JONIAMES@aol.com
Apr 14, 2010

God says, "I write the songs AND books the whole world sings & reads!"

by Joni Ames

Dear Friends,

I felt prompted by the Lord to send this email out to those of you God has called to write in this time and season - you know who you are! Many of you have had prophecy on top of prophecy about it - have started writing from time to time and not finished yet - and some (like me) may even have SEVERAL books started, with none completed yet!

The Lord spoke to me through an old song by Barry Manilow called "I Write The Songs," and He says to us: "I DO write the songs AND books the whole world sings & reads! - But I use people like YOU to do it through! If you will just be obedient to spend time with me, I will use you to reach the masses through the written word, and through psalms, songs, and poems in this season."

He then handed me a basket with a quill pen, tablet of paper, and what looked like a hand held digital recorder in it and gave this verse to me in Psalm 45:1:

^"My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer."

It is interesting that it says "My TONGUE is the pen of a ready writer." - I meet many people who say they don't have time to "sit" and write. But you don't need to! You can use a digital recorder to speak into it what the Lord would have you to write, and then later transfer it to your computer - or even get someone else to do it for you!

Very often when talking to others or speaking at a church, new revelation begins to come forth as we speak. "Catch" those things, because your very TONGUE is that pen that God will use to pour forth revelatory messages to His people.

Another thing in this is that it isn't just religious books and songs God wants us to write. He has many stories to be told, and many things to be written. Do not put yourself or God in a box. He may want you to write country or rock songs that reach the world! He may want you to do children's albums or books, cook books, teaching manuals, a biography, a history book, a math book, poetry, a photo book, or a collection of beautiful art you've drawn or painted - only you and He know what He has spoken to you to write! So just do it! Or He may want you to simply write letters to your family or friends! - Imagine that! - Picking up a pen and sending an actual note through the U.S. Mail system!!! What a blessing that is to the one who receives it on the other end! - Or even in the email.

But truly, grasp this kairos time of anointing and do not let it slip by you if you are one He has spoken to about writing.

I'm NOT talking about "automatic writing" by the power of some demon spirit. And I am NOT saying we will be writing new scripture! Let's not get any crazy here! - However, I am talking about hearing the Lord's heart, and listening to your own, regarding the passion He gives to you to write on the topic(s) He gives to you. - And, by the way, let's do the best job at it that we can. We need to do research on our topics, get expert advise that we may need, and have several qualified people help to edit.

My good friend Debbie Joyner-Johnson has written an awesome book for potential writers called "Write To Ignite." Rick Joyner endorsed it and says that this book can be used as a manual for all writers. - Even if it is written by his sister! You can see more about it or purchase it at this link:
http://www.morningstarministries.org/Store/Products/1000014000/MorningStar_Store/Bookstore/Friends_of_MorningStar/Christian_Living/Write_to_Ignite.aspx

We are stepping into a time of "suddenlies," Let that book God has spoken to you be yours!

=======
PRAYER
=======
Lord, forgive us for procrastinating on writing what you've given to us to do. Thank you for this kairos time and season of anointing and redemption to get it done. May we be found faithful!
In Jesus' name, amen.

- Joni Ames

Just what I need:

2010-04-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

Watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life. Prov. 4:23

HOPE ANTHEM- Will Matthews & Christa Black

2010-04-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

He's awakening the hope in me

By calling forth my destiny

He's breathing life into my soul

I thirst for Him and Him alone

He has come like the rain

That showers on a barren land

So my heart and tongue confess

Jesus Christ hope of man

MY HOPE IN IN YOU GOD

I AM STEADFAST I WILL NOT BE MOVED

I'M ANCHORED NEVER SHAKEN

ALL MY HOPE IS IN YOU

He's bringing hope to the hopeless

Giving His heart to the broken

Sharing His home with the orphan

He is the joy, He is my joy!

He is the hope of the nations

The father's heart we're embracing

He is the song we're declaring

He is the joy, He is my joy!

Those who wait on the Lord

Will not be put to shame

Those who sow in tears

We will reap in joy

Joy comes in the morning light

There's joy in the waiting

There's hope in the waiting

Do you believe it?

He's awakening the hope in me

By calling forth my destiny

New Songs

2010-03-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

My Lover and My Friend- Cris Kerr

Come into this room

My Lover and My Friend

Come into my world

My Lover and My Friend

Cuz I just wanna be with You

There’s nothing else I’d rather do

I just wanna be where You are

Cuz I just wanna be with You

There’s nowhere else I’d rather be

I just wanna be where You are

Tell me what’s in Your heart

My Lover and My Friend

Show me secrets of Your love

My Lover and My Friend

Take me close to where You are

My Lover and My Friend

Take me into Your strong arms

My Lover and My Friend

Come light up my night

My Lover and My Friend

Search deep within my heart

My Lover and My Friend

Bring Your Truth, Your Love, Your Light

My Lover and My Friend

To my deepest, darkest parts

My Lover and My Friend

For You are my portion

My rescue and hope

You are my Healer

My Lover and Friend

Only in You- Cris Kerr

Chorus: Only in You

I find rest

Like a ship in the night

Longs to find its way home

Lord come to my rescue

My soul longs to find You

Like a wave crashing down

My heart turns inside me

Please come to my rescue

My soul longs to find You

And at last I come home

Safely in Your arms

You’ve come to my rescue

My soul has found rest in You

Cuz you are my Healer

My Rescue and Hope

You are my Portion

My comfort and rest

Higher- Quel Kerr Borin

Higher! Higher!

Take me higher

Where I can soar above my life

Take me deeper

Where I can know the way you love

Higher! Higher!

Higher, take me!

I wanna know how high

I really wanna know how wide

I wanna know how long

How deep is Your love for me

Higher! Higher!

Higher, take me!

You’ve said Your thoughts are not my thoughts

You’ve said Your thoughts are higher

His Banner- Cris Kerr & Shaila Kerr

Chorus: In the midst of my pain I will sing

His banner over me is love

My heart is hurting

I feel it hollow

Can't stop this feeling

Of no tomorrow

I need to run

Away and far

Get it all out

From deep inside

I will walk through this

Process every thought

Until they lose their steam

And I'm no longer caught

The very thing that broke me

Makes me well

The very thing that hurt me

Heals me well

His banner over me is love

The pain inside will stop

His banner over me is love

Bloom- Cris Kerr & Heather Ridnour

Chorus: And I bloom for You, oh my Lord

I bloom for You, my God!

I thought I was empty and broken

But You filled me up with you love

Like a vase cracked and damaged

But that was just the outlet

To release all the beauty inside

Brokenness opened the flowers

Each bloom holds worlds within

Cracks are the freedom I walk in

And I bloom for You, oh my Lord

I bloom for you, my God!

You have restored my soul

Back to the place I belong

You have restored all the things

I thought were lost

And I bloom for You, oh my Lord

I bloom for you, my God!

Enough...! From Mayer to the Peridot.

2010-03-29T13:55:00.001-07:00

Ok, that was enough of John Mayer! Thanks for listening and I still hope and pray he chooses to step into his royal calling and identity as an amazing worship leader with the chance to raise up a generation of worshipers all over the globe. John Clayton Mayer- you are a SON of the most High God and He loves you so, so much He gave His Son to die in your place so you could live FOREVER! He wants to see you free from panic attacks, and completely free to sing, dance, compose, love and enjoy life and freedom to the max. So, hurry up and meet Him cuz He's crazy about you! :o)

Now, back to my freedom adventure...

I've been learning a lot about myself lately. Spending time alone can do that to you... Beware! haha. No, but really I am struggling through it but trying really hard to practice the simple art of taking care of Cris. Its a real roller coaster ride to love Cris :o)

So, in the midst of it last week I found a great article that I totally related to and feel like it has a lot to say about me, so here it is:

August Birthstone : Peridot

Birthstone Color: Yellow Green

If fire appears to leap from the vibrant green surface of the Peridot, this may be because this gem is formed as a result of volcanic activity. Many years ago, natives discovered Peridot crystals in the black sands of Hawaii, explaining their presence as tears shed by Pele, the volcano goddess. Throughout history, August's birthstone has been used as a means to connect with nature. Early Egyptian priests drank a stimulating beverage called Soma from cups made of Peridot, believing this practice to draw them closer to Isis, the goddess of nature.

The name Peridot comes from the Arabic word "faridat," meaning gem. Ancient Egyptians called them the "gem of the sun," because of their dazzling brilliance when seen in the desert sun. It was believed that the Peridot glowed with light even as darkness fell, which is why miners were said to have scouted for these gems during the night, marking their location, and returning in the light of day to retrieve them. Perhaps this legendary mining method is the reason that the Peridot is sometimes called "evening emerald."

Peridot is a mineral named Olivine, which is found in a variety of greens, ranging from light yellowish green to a dark olive. Early mining for this gem was done on Saint John's Island near Egypt around 1500 BC. The green crystal was considered protective against evil and when set in gold, especially helpful against night terrors. It was ground to powder and used as a remedy for asthma and as a cure for thirst brought on by fever. Today, Peridot is mined in Burma, Norway, Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, the Congo, and in Arizona.

The force of nature is alive within a Peridot, making a gift of this gemstone symbolic of vitality. It signifies strength, both individual and within a relationship, as well as the promise of new growth in years ahead.

Alternate August Birthstone
An alternate birthstone for August, Sardonyx is a type of translucent or opaque quartz with alternating parallel bands of brownish red and white. This stone was worn as a talisman by the Egyptians to protect against infections and evil. Today it is highly polished and carved into beautiful beads and cameos. Sardonyx is mined in India, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Brazil and Uruguay. A gift of this stone is considered symbolic of happiness within a relationship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JejgGwJ7Wc

2010-03-29T10:16:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uw1eropB7Y

2010-03-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

2010-03-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

2010-03-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

Victoria - John Mayer

2010-03-25T07:20:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDeA0MxNXCo

Don't know why
Tori came by
But I could see
By the look in her eyes
Tori'd been driving around the town for a while
Playing with the thought of leaving
Don't know why
Tori just smiled
Mentioned something
Bout how you arrived
Must have been hard to see through the tears she was hiding

She said I might not be seeing him soon
Got a few things I've been waiting to do
Hey, Tori came by
Tori came by tonight
Hey, Tori came by
She says to say goodbye

Looked outside
At the car in the drive
And the suitcase
On the backseat inside
Sure its so she can't look out behind at the road

She said I might not be seeing him soon
Got a few things I've been waiting to do
Hey, Tori came by
Tori came by tonight
Hey, Tori came by
She says to say goodbye

Don't look down
She seemed alright
You might be asking
Where is Tori tonight
Somewhere out on the highway I'm sure she's fine...

Not Myself- John Mayer

2010-03-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

this one is not very popular, but its such a good song. I think it really speaks of times when we do not feel like ourselves in our own skin, and then being in a relationship while you feel that way makes you wonder if the person you are with can stick through it even though you know that you are not acting like yourself. Kinda deep, but such a real issue to think about...

Suppose I said
I am on my best behavior
And there are times
I lose my worried mind

Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?

Suppose I said
Colors change for no good reason
And words will go
From poetry to prose

Would you want me when I'm not myself?
Wait it out while I am someone else?

And I, in time, will come around
I always do for you

Suppose I said
You're my saving grace?

Would you want me when I'm not myself?

Wait it out while I am someone else?

Friends, Lovers Or Nothing - John Mayer

2010-03-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

Aw... this song kills me!

Now that we are over
As the loving kind
We'll be dreaming ways
To keep the good alive

Only when we want is not
A compromise
I'll be pouring tears
Into your drying eyes

Friends, lovers, or nothing
There can only be one
Friends, lovers, or nothing
We'll never be an in-between
So give it up

You whisper "Come on over"
Cause you're two drinks in
But in the morning I will say
Good-bye again

Think we'll never fall into
The jealous game
The streets will flood
With blood of those who felt the same

Friends, lovers, or nothing
There can only be one
Friends, lovers, or nothing
We'll never be an in-between
So give it up

Friends, lovers, or nothing
We can really only ever be one
Friends, lovers, or nothing
Don't you know
We'll never be the in-between
So give it up

We'll never the in-between
So give it up

Anything other than 'yes' is 'no'
Anything other than 'stay' is 'go'
Anything less than 'I love you' is lying... (fade out)

Love Song For No One - John Mayer

2010-03-22T06:12:00.000-07:00

I think this was the first JM song I ever heard and definitely made such an strong impression on my heart that it made me want more. But this one has a real special place because its so sincere and vulnerable... I absolutely love it.

Love Song For No One Lyrics

Staying home alone on a Friday

Flat on the floor looking back
On old love
Or lack thereof
After all the crushes are faded
And all my wishful thinking was wrong
I'm jaded
I hate it

I'm tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here

Searching all my days just to find you
I'm not sure who I'm looking for
I'll know it
When I see you
Until then, I'll hide in my bedroom
Staying up all night just to write
A love song for no one

I'm tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here

I could have met you in a sandbox
I could have passed you on the sidewalk
Could I have missed my chance
And watched you walk away?

I'm tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
You'll be so good
You'll be so good for me

Neon- John Mayer

2010-03-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

today I chose this song cuz I think it speaks from a Hosea heart and I just love it:

When sky blue gets dark enough

To see the colors of the city lights

A trail of ruby red and diamond white

Hits her like a sunrise

She comes and goes and comes and goes

Like no one can

Tonight she's out to lose herself

And find a high on Peachtree Street

From mixed drinks to techno beats it's always

Heavy into everything

She comes and goes and comes and goes

Like no one can

She comes and goes and no one knows

She's slipping through my hands

She's always buzzing just like

Neon, neon Neon, neon

Who knows how long, how long, how long

She can go before she burns away, away

I can't be her angel now

You know it's not my place to hold her down

And it's hard for me to take a stand

When I would take her anyway

 I can  She comes and she goes

Like no one can

She comes and she goes

She's slipping through my hands

She's always buzzing just like

Neon, neon Neon, neon

But who knows how long, how long, how long

She can go before she burns away

She comes and she goes

Like no one can

She comes and she goes

She's slipping through my hands

She's always buzzing just like

Neon, neon Neon, neon

But who knows how long, how long, how long

She can go before she burns away

No Such Thing- John Mayer

2010-03-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
That something's better
On the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
just a lie you've got to rise above

So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
And all of our parents
They're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better
While in their memories
Tiny tragedies

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you got to rise above

I am invincible (x3)
As long as I'm alive

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above

I just can't wait til my 10 year reunion
I'm gonna bust down the double doors
And when I stand on these tables before you
You will know what all this time was for

All we ever do is say goodbye- John Mayer

2010-03-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

Another one of my favs from his new album... good song for a Friday :o)

Just when I had you off my head
Your voice comes thrashing wildly through my quiet bed
You say you wanna try again
But I've tried everything but giving in

Why you wanna break my heart again
Why am I gonna let you try

When all we ever do is say goodbye
All we ever do is say goodbye
All we ever do is say goodbye
All we ever do is say goodbye

I bought a ticket on a plane
And by the time it landed you had gone again

I love you more than songs can say
But I can't keep running after yesterday

Why you wanna break my heart again
Why am I gonna let you try

When all we ever do is say goodbye
All we ever do is say goodbye
All we ever do is say goodbye
All we ever do is say goodbye

We say goodbye
We say goodbye
We say goodbye

All we ever do is say goodbye
All we ever do is say goodbye
All we ever do is say goodbye
All we ever do is say goodbye

All we ever do is say goodbye
(to fade..)

War Of My Life - John Mayer

2010-03-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

My fav from his newest album, Battle Studies.

Come out Angels
Come out Ghosts
Come out Darkness
Bring everyone you know

I'm not running
I'm not scared
I am waiting and well prepared

I'm in the war of my life
At the door of my life
Out of Time and there's no where to run away

I've got a hammer
And a heart of glass
I got to know right now
Which walls to smash

I got a pocket
Got no pills
If fear hasn't killed me yet
Than nothing will

All the suffering
And all the pain
Never left a name
Ohhh...

I'm in the war of my life
At the door of my life
Out of time and there's nowhere to run

I'm in the war of my life
At the core of my life
Got no choice but to fight 'til it's done

No more suffering
No more pain
Never again

I'm in the war of my life
At the door of my life
Out of time and there's no where to run

I'm in the war of my life
I'm at the core of my life
Got no choice but to fight 'til it's done

So Fight on (I wont give up), fight on everyone, so fight on
Got no choice but to fight 'til it's done

City Love- John Mayer

2010-03-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

So, this morning I couldn't think of a song and asked a friend... here's what I got. (I know I can't add it to my top 3, but this one def makes it to the top 5!!!!)

I never liked this apple much
it always seemed too big to touch
I can't remember how I found
My way before she came around

I tell everyone
I smile just because
I got a city love
I found it in Lydia
and I can't remember life before her name

she keeps a toothbrush at my place
as if I had the extra space
she steals my clothes to wear to work
I know her hairs are on my shirts

I tell everyone
I smile just because
I got a city love
I found it in Lydia
and I can't remember life before

the day she called up and came to me
covered in rain
dinnertime shadowing
and as the clothes spun
we spooned and I knew I was through
when I said, "I love you"

Friday evening we've been drinking
2 AM I swear I might propose
but we close the tab
split a cab
and call each other up when we get home
falling asleep
to the sound of sirens

I got a city love
I found it in Lydia
from the battery to the gallery
its the kind of thing you only see
in scented glossy magazines
and I can't remember life before her name

Stop This Train - John Mayer

2010-03-16T06:17:00.001-07:00

Ok, seriously... this is my ultimate favorite John Mayer song!

No I'm not color blind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind but...
I just can't sleep on this tonight
Stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly won't someone stop this train

Don't know how else to say it, don't want to see my parents go
One generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own

Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't but honestly won't someone stop this train

So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game to find away to say that life has just begun
Had a talk with my old man
Said help me understand
He said turn 68, you'll renegotiate
Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
Don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train

See once in a while when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
'til you cry when you're driving away in the dark.

Singing stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can't take this speed it's moving in
I know I can't
Cause now I see I'll never stop this train

Comfortable- John Mayer

2010-03-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

I know I said top 3... but this one cannot be left out of my top 3! :P

... and it doesn't need an intro, it speaks for itself...

I just remembered that time at the market
snuck up behind me and jumped on my shopping cart
and rolled down aisle five
you looked behind you to smile back at me
crashed into a rack full of magazines
they asked us if we could leave

I can't remember what went wrong last September
though I'm sure you'd remind me if you had to

our love was comfortable and so broken in

I sleep with this new girl I'm still getting used to
my friends all approve,
say "she's gonna be good for you"
they throw me high fives
she says the Bible is all that she reads
and prefers that I not use profanity
your mouth was so dirty

life of the party and she swears that she's artsy
but you could distinguish Miles from Coltrane

our love was comfortable and so broken in
she's perfect
so flawless
or so they say

she thinks I can't see the smile that she's faking
and poses for pictures that aren't being taken
I loved you
grey sweatpants
no makeup
so perfect

our love was comfortable and so broken in
she's perfect
so flawless
I'm not impressed
I want you back

Daughters- John Mayer

2010-03-14T16:25:00.000-07:00

This one definitely has to be in my top 3... I remember showing this song to my dad at a time in my life where we weren't very close, and the fact that he liked it so much and could identify to it made us connect in a real special way at a real special time... Just sooooooo good!

"Daughters"

I know a girl
She puts the color inside of my world
But she's just like a maze
Where all of the walls all continually change
And I've done all I can
To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands
Now I'm starting to see
Maybe it's got nothing to do with me

Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

Oh, you see that skin?
It's the same she's been standing in
Since the day she saw him walking away
Now she's left
Cleaning up the mess he made

So fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

Boys, you can break
You'll find out how much they can take
Boys will be strong
And boys soldier on
But boys would be gone without the warmth from
A womans good, good heart

On behalf of every man
Looking out for every girl
You are the god and the weight of her world

So fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too [x3]

In Repair- John Mayer

2010-03-13T10:10:00.000-08:00

This is probably my very favorite... In a live show he said: "this is a song about being screwed up but coming out of it! When you're a kid and you get a tennis ball in the nuts, its one of the worst feelings in the world, but all men will tell you there's no better feeling than when it stops hurting" lol

In Repair lyrics

Too many shadows in my room
Too many hours in this midnight
Too many corners in my mind
So much to do to set my heart right
Oh it's taking so long i could be wrong, i could be ready
Oh but if i take my heart's advice
I should assume it's still unsteady
I am in repair, i am in repair

Stood on the corner for a while
To wait for the wind to blow down on me
Hoping it takes with it my old ways
And brings some brand new look upon me
Oh it's taking so long i could be wrong, i could be ready
Oh but if i take my heart's advice
I should assume it's still unsteady
I am in repair, i am in repair

And now i'm walking in a park
All of the birds they dance below me
Maybe when things turn green again
It will be good to say you know me

Oh it's taking so long i could be wrong, i could be ready
Oh but if i take my heart's advice
I should assume it's still unready
Oh i'm never really ready, i'm never really ready
I'm in repair, i'm not together but i'm getting there
I'm in repair, i'm not together but i'm getting there

ITS ALL ABOUT JOHN MAYER TIL MARCH 25th!!!

2010-03-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

I'm really excited to go to my first John Mayer concert in less than 2 weeks!!! So, until then I will be sharing a bit of my fav songs... I'll try to post one every day. So, here we go:

"The Heart Of Life" is def in my top 3. I have a sweet live recording of it and in it John explains a little of how this song was born, and he says:

"I had the melody come up when I was thinking about death in the natural, like when somebody dies a natural death, like a slow fade out-- literally they are like a leaf in water... its kind of beautiful. Its like a leaf curling up, like in nature where its just the kind of thing that loses its life and turns in. It was beautiful, and compelling and strange. I remember when that happened I felt like I couldn't even blink for a long time, and I wondered if at the end of the game do you go like "ya, I'm glad I did that, that was actually kinda fun!" or at the end of the game do you go like "you know what? I just remember being cold a lot..." idk... like what do you take with you...?
And then maybe, or more likely, it just completely balances out. They give you a pad and a pen and say something like- go figure it out. And you come back and you're like "I can't... every time I come up with one for the left column, I come up with one for the right column..." And so this idea of I know the heart of life is good came when I was sitting around for a while and I was lucky enough to have my hands on the guitar ... and its called "The Heart Of Life"...

"The Heart Of Life"

I hate to see you cry
Lying there in that position
There's things you need to hear
So turn off your tears
And listen

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good

You know, it's nothing new
Bad news never had good timing
Then, circle of your friends
Will defend the silver lining

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
Fear is a friend who's misunderstood
But I know the heart of life is good
I know it's good

Good Word

2010-03-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 11, 2010:

You have turned a corner, and will now be led in a direction that will be a departure spiritually and perhaps naturally from where you have been in the recent past. This is a path that will lead to greater wisdom, insight, and maturity. Many of the problems that you experienced in the past few years will suddenly vanish, almost without a trace. That is not to say that the next season will be trouble-free, but for the most part it is a time when you can enjoy the journey, says the Lord.

Psalms 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

Lyrics to Sequence #3 by: Cool Hand Luke

2010-03-10T09:19:00.000-08:00

I never truly lived until I died with You
I never truly lived until I died with You

You came and changed my life
You came to save my life
You turned Your ear and You heard me (Psalm 116:1,2)
Why can’t I feel what I believe?

Veni sancte Spirtus
Veni sancte Spirtus (Come Holy Spirit)

You came and changed my life
You came and saved my life
What can I sing to give you my heart
To give up the things that tear us apart

Who am I that You died for me
Touched my lips and let me sing
Simple words for simple truth
I never lived till I died with You
I almost forgot

You’re my one,
You’re my one good thing (Psalm 16:2)
You’re my reason,
My reason to sing
I never really lived until I died with You

BLACK MONDAY by: christa black

2010-03-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

well, it looks like rain, so they say
but i don't care if blue turns grey
cause i decided it's gonna be a beautiful day

my umbrella broke, i'm getting soaked
so i might as well lay back and float
cause i decided it's gonna be a beautiful day

and though i can't change the weather, i can change whether or not
i'm gonna smile

CHORUS:
black monday you can't get me down
no no no
black monday turn yourself around
whoa, whoa, whoa
stop, cause i won't let you win
you won't defeat my week again
cause i'm convinced
that black monday
you won't get me down this time

looks like my car won't start
i'm late for work
oops, i just spilled coffee on my shirt
but i decided it's gonna be a beautiful day

and when the traffic is stuck i'll turn the radio up
and just enjoy the ride
and though i can't change the forecast i predict
today's my day to shine

Elevation - U2

2010-03-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

High, higher than the sun
You shoot me from a gun
I need you to elevate me here
At the corner of your lips
As the orbit of your hips
Eclipse
You elevate my soul

I've got no self control
Been living like a mole now
Going down, excavation
I and I in the sky
You make me feel like I can fly
So high
Elevation

A star
Lit up like a cigar
Strung out like a guitar
Maybe you can educate my mind

Explain all these controls
Can't sing but I've got soul
The goal is elevation

A mole
Digging in a hole
Digging up my soul now
Going down, excavation

I and I in the sky
You make me feel like I can fly
So high
Elevation

Love
Lift me up from out of these blues
Won't you tell me something true
I believe in you

A mole
Digging in a hole
Digging up my soul now
Going down, excavation

High and high in the sky
You make me feel like I can fly
So high
Elevation

Elevation
Elevation
Elevation

Elevaaation

Only in You- Cris Kerr

2010-03-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

Only in You

I find rest

Like a ship in the night

Longs to find its way home

Lord come to my rescue

My soul longs to find You

Like a wave crashing down

My heart turns inside me

Please come to my rescue

My soul longs to find You

And at last I come home

Safely in Your arms

You’ve come to my rescue

My soul has found rest in You

Cuz you are my Healer

My Rescue and Hope

You are my Portion

My comfort and rest

"Through Heaven's Eyes"

2010-02-25T11:39:00.001-08:00

"Through Heaven's Eyes"

Jethro:

A single thread in a tapestry-
Though its color brightly shine-
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design.

And the stone that sits on the very top
Of the mountain's mighty face-
Does it think it's more important
Than the stones that form the base?

So how can you see what your life is worth
Or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man
You must look at your life,
Look at your life through heaven's eyes.
Lai-la-lai...

A lake of gold in the desert sand
Is less than a cool fresh spring-
And to one lost sheep, a shepherd boy
Is greater than the richest king.
If a man lose ev'rything he owns,
Has he truly lost his worth?
Or is it the beginning
Of a new and brighter birth?

So how do you measure the worth of a man-
In wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave?
The answer will come,
The answer will come to him who tries
To look at his life through heaven's eyes.

And that's why we share all we have with you,
Though there's little to be found.
When all you've got is nothing,
There's a lot to go around.

No life can escape being blown about
By the winds of change and chance,

And though you never know all the steps,
You must learn to join the dance-
You must learn to join the dance.

Lai-la-lai...

So how do you judge what a man is worth?
By what he builds or buys?

You can never see with your eyes on earth-
Look through heaven's eyes.
Look at your life,
Look at your life,
Look at your life through heaven's eyes!

When It Rains, it Pours!! (another prophetic word)

2010-02-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

word...

Nathan Noble

to me

show details 8:20 AM

Here is the sense of it:

You are someone who is called to and lives with the tension of being a bridge between worlds - called to the border lands - the fence line - not to sit on the fence but to broker between worlds. You can enter and leave each one...comfortable and able to live in each yet seemingly without a place in either one. That is the beauty and pain of your call/gift.

There is a also a place that is separate from either of these worlds - a secret place of peace and tranquility - a garden of delight if you will to which you may steal away with God and where there is the peace, stability, etc. to be able to come with confidence into these other places. I feel like the "wood between the worlds" is a good picture in some way of this secret place/garden.

Your effectiveness in ministering as a liaison between worlds is related to your ability to remain rooted/grounded in the secret garden, the secret place of His love and affection. You will not find the stability you seek in the 2 worlds you are called to - that is your mission field, where you are called to give/bless. You must find it in the secret garden of His love.

Prophetic Word

2010-02-24T08:19:00.000-08:00

Bethel – Worship Track – Prophetic Word 2/23/2010

Jen Johnson: “I have a word for you in the sweater right there (me), come here:

Extend your hands toward her, and pray… We say fresh, fresh, fresh fire! There’s such sensitivity with you, like you just have such sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. And I just saw you holding hands with the Holy Spirit and you were one... He would laugh and you would be laughing, He would cry and you would be crying. It felt like an emotional roller coaster, but He was like “No, you’re just following me! Just doing everything that I do” and you were like “But I’m an emotional roller coaster” and he was like a mirror back to you “I’m an emotional roller coaster!!!” (laugh), and I feel like there’s just this season that God’s taking you in and it’s like a mirror situation where He’s really showing you how He feels through His eyes. And some people will look at something and see joy; you’ll look through it with Holy Spirit eyes and see sadness… and vice-versa. I feel like it’s a call to pray, and I feel like I just want to break off of you depression, or heaviness and I feel like you need to know that you are a prayer. You have such an authority and a power. And I saw you like Joan of Arc and I saw you on this horse and I saw you like commanding things, but then the next scene it changed and you were this little mouse running around, and I felt like the Lord said “You may see yourself as this little mouse that is scampering around and small, but I see you as Joan of Arc on this horse and so I want you to position yourself as the person that you are” So God I just pray for fresh authority and fire, and character, and passion and all the things that you’ve called her to do in prayer and the rest of the things in her life, Lord. I pray for a grace and an understanding to know You and to know Your heart and Your ways. I thank you that her sensitivity arrows and antennas are going in both directions – she’s receiving and she is praying, God. And I pray that You would show her the authority that she carries having to do specifically with worship and prayer. I just bless her in Jesus’ name.”

Erica: “God we release the breakthrough that You’ve prepared for her, God! I release the breakthrough in this room. I release the breakthrough of Your presence, the breakthrough of Your grace. I release the breakthrough of understanding, God. I release the season of understanding, God. Let it come right now, let it come like a wave. Let the answers come, let the revelation come! Let the thoughts come! Let the thoughts flow right now, God! Let your presence bubble up! Father God I just release the answers. I release the answers. I release the answers that come with a surrendered heart. Lord I ask right now, that you would take her away with You. Take her away to the secret place. Take her away to that bench in heaven where you give us the answers and we find out how we delight in You – and how You delight in us. Holy Spirit come!

There are places where people have hurt you that are like bleeding wounds… like you were hemorrhaging, you were hemorrhaging, you were hemorrhaging, you were hemorrhaging… and I saw that in that very place that the wound had come, that the Lord reached His fingers in and He pulled out a DIAMOND! He said “you didn’t understand. You thought this was a place of hurt, but you didn’t understand that in this very place of hurt I was making diamonds! It was like pressures – it was pressures like the coal that turns into the diamond. And that very thing that was causing the wound was the very thing that was bringing the breakthrough. The very place where there is that pain, where there is that betrayal – He was making those very things Christ like. And I saw your heart on the potter’s wheel and He was forming it because you said “God form me” and He was shaping you because you said “God shape me” and He was making you come into your destiny because you said “God, I want to be the one who sees! I want to be the one who sees You! I want to be the one who goes!” And you’ve given yourself fully to Him and He said “This is the way. This is the way. You’re on the path. You’re on the path. This is the way.” And I saw Him release signs to you. I felt like in that very place of pain, there is encouragement coming! That even this week, I felt like the Lord said that in these next 3 weeks that you are going to see breakthrough – that you would understand all the places where you are on the right path. And I saw that you were planning to leave, even for this summer and not coming back. And I saw the Lord shut doors. I saw Him sovereignly shut doors in your life. And He said let me show you where I’ve called you to be. Let me show you! And I saw phone calls coming, and saw answers coming, and I saw finances coming. Because there is a thing of a surrendered heart of trust that when you moved into that place, everything began to line up and it was a right alignment.

So Father God, I release right alignment in this room. I release the right order. The heavenly order that she wouldn’t take things out of season and she wouldn’t try to do things in her own work, but that instead that she would lean on You and she would trust you and rest in You. And that in that place that You would speak to her right to her heart, right to her heart, right to her heart. So Father God I declare Isaiah 22:22 over her: “That You would shut doors that no man can open, and open doors that no man can shut” And that You would move sovereignly in her life. God I release Your sovereignty right now. That you would give her the eyes to see Your sovereignty in her life. That You would give her grace to see where You’re moving, where You’re hiding, what You’re doing. That You would give her grace and understanding to know the times and seasons that she’s in.

Cris, the first thing that I saw in you when I put my hands on you before, is I saw that the Lord was healing your heart! This is a deep, deep season of healing! God has brought you to this place that you would begin to see and understand the true identity that He has for you. I saw Him holding before you a mirror. And you thought that the mirror was just 2-dimentional, but really that mirror was a deep, deep, deep pool. It was a clear and clean pool, and I felt that the Lord said that the work that He was going to do was going to become so strong in you that people were going to be able to ice skate upon your identity. I felt like what that meant is that there is going to be such a deep, deep healing and grace that took place in you, that the wounds would become frozen over like they never were, and people were going to be able to enjoy, and to live, and to dance, and to thrive upon the very work that you have said “God, I will do this in my life, God I will move into the depths of that healing”. And I felt like literally you are going to become that place where other people are going to be able to thrive even in their winter seasons. That God was going to bring people to you in their winter seasons. I felt like there is an anointing on you to bring people out of massive spiritual abuse. Even witchcraft abuse, satanically ritually abused, even people who are spiritually abused through religion and leaders who had come against them. Bring this anointing God, that there would be an anointing that would yield hearts, God. That it would fall upon her with an authority to break people out of spiritual darkness and bondage.

And I felt like the Lord was even going to give you a ministry of releasing contacts to people. Contact lenses. That there would actually be healing that would come to their eyes and they would begin to understand where God was at and what He was doing. And I felt like the reason that the Lord said that He was bringing you through many of these things is because you are actually going to release identity. An identity releasing call. And it really starts with you. Like Jacob, fighting God. And I feel like you just in that season of just wrestling with God for your identity and I feel like He’s saying “Daughter, I’m here with you. Daughter, I sent the angel to wrestle you. I’m in this with you because I am making you the overcomer. It’s this whole thing of the overcomer and the victor. And He’s fighting it with you and He’s getting dirty with you. And He’s wrestling down everything with you. He’s doing it that you would see your strength, that you would see. And He says “you will overcome. You will walk through. You will be victorious because I have called YOU into a place of victory!” So Father God, I just want everyone in this room to just yell VICTORY! 1-2-3: “VICTORY”!!! We release the victory of Jesus Christ and Him crucified over you. And we release that overcoming grace that you would move out with authority.

I saw over you, the Lord said “you are a queen with queen size problems!” And sometimes they say you can tell the size of a man by the size of his problems and what it takes to shake him. And I saw the Lord is bringing you through this place of you working out these problems because He’s going to give you queen-size solutions! So God, we just thank you for that!

Love Came Down- by Brian Johnson

2010-02-23T10:36:00.000-08:00

If my heart is overwhelmed and I cannot hear your voice

I hold onto what is true, though I cannot see
If the storms of life they come, and the road ahead gets steep
I will lift these hands in faith, I will believe

I remind myself of all that you’ve done
And the life I have because of your son

Love came down and rescued me
Love came down and set me free
I am yours
I am forever yours
Mountain high or valley low
I sing out and remind my soul
I am yours
I am forever yours
  
When my heart is filled with hope, and every promise comes my way
When I feel your hands of grace, rest upon me
Staying desperate for you God, Staying humbled at your feet
I will lift these hands and praise, I will believe

Unbroken Fellowship by Ivan Tait

2010-02-16T11:30:00.000-08:00

Unbroken Fellowship

1 John 1:7 If you walk in the Light of My truth as I am in the Light, we have unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses you from all sin and guilt. Author's Paraphrase

How good it feels to be clean and forgiven. You are not guilty! Say that to yourself. Relish the light on your shining heart. Enjoy a clear conscience and bathe yourself in the healing power of being right with Me. This is your spiritual sauna. When you dwell there your stress leaves, your muscles relax, and your headaches never return.

I have made you and designed you to live in light with no dark secrets and no buried memories. Everything tormenting has to go. You are a light bringer. You will chase away people ghosts. You will never break rank with Me. Always ask Me questions. Don't leap before you know I told you to. Your fellowship with Me will make you great. Your free-flowing wisdom will open many impossible doors and your sincere love will win you many friends. Live long in My blessing and give it all away.

Connected in Purpose,

Ivan Tait

He Will Come For You- Jason Vallotton

2010-02-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

12 years and 14 days

Led me here to this place

Away from you

In the lonesome night I cry

Memories falling from my eyes

I will pray for you

I know you tried so hard

I know you gave your all

I know you were afraid

But I still know who you are

I know You'll take it all away

Say I'm right and you were wrong

I stood still when you walked on

I don't care

Now you're somewhere in between

Make believe and broken dreams

That lie on the floor

He will come for you

He will come

He will come like the rain

He will come for you

He will pull you through

And heal the pain

Through the dark and broken night

He will come and give His life

For your love

Wipe the tears that were your stains

Heal the memories of your pain

He will never let you go

He will come for you

He will come

He will come like the rain

He will come for you

He will pull you through

And heal the pain

Little one to Him belong

You are weak but He is strong

Close your eyes and He will come for you

He will come for you

He will come

He will come like the rain

He will come for you

He will pull you through

And heal the pain

Closer- John Mark McMillan

2010-01-29T06:27:00.000-08:00

Come closer, closer to me.
Find me broken, find me bleedin'
cause I need more now than a fairy tale,
a god who lives in a book.
I need someone real.

So would you come?
Would you come?
If i begged you, would you come closer to me now?

Come closer, closer to me.
Find me broken, find me on my knees,
cause I need more now than philosophy.
Some god in outer space doesn't mean anything to me.

So would you come?
Would you come?
If I begged you, would you come closer to me now?
Would you come?
Would you come?
If i begged you, would you come closer to me now?

Son of David, do not pass me by,
cause I am naked,
I'm poor and I'm blind.
Son of david, don't pass me by,
cause I am naked,
I'm poor and I'm blind.

Rolling on a River - Nathan Noble

2010-01-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

This is from my awesome co-worker and BSSM classmate Nathan Noble who sometimes has the ability to put words to some of the music inside my heart... here it goes:

Rolling on a river

Away from striving and unrest

I come to lean upon Your chest

From the shallows into the deep.

My movements slowed

By the deepening swell

I waver, looking back

To the shore and the firmer track

The solid ground and quicker step.

But it's too late now

The hold is strong

My quivering hands

No longer strive

To go back or to even try

To reach the other side.

My eyes are turned as they strain

To see what will be coming then

Round the bend

But all I see is more the same

The current rolling down and down

An endless path I travel on.

My feet lose hold

Of the muddy ground

It's as if I've died

Or just begun

To slip into Jacob's dream

And climbing find the real thing

As I fall asleep

I open my eyes

And look to see

As for the very first time.

Today is the day!

2010-01-09T19:33:00.000-08:00

I haven't been here in a long time, and I'm starting to think writing is probably not my thing, but I think I can still use it as a tool for sharing the music that touches me or random articles I come across and I identify with... so here is one I'm still processing and just absolutely loved! Ready?

Jason Vallotton: Today is the day!

Here is a letter that I wrote a while ago. Enjoy. Today is the day, there will never be another today and each one of these is a gift that will never be given again. Wake up from slumber, wipe the sleep from your eyes and live. Go on and live. Today is the day to start, there is not a good enough reason not to!
This life is not mine, I am merely a renter if you will, borrowing this body to steward what He has given me. I am a dream that a body has been wrapped around, accountable for each decision I carefully make. I am fully aware that in each day lies the opportunity for eternity to be touched, if I will only seize the day.
My life will be measured by what it cost me to get to where I am, if I really learned to love and how much I sacrificed for another’s gain. When I am gone, when my life is spent, I will be boiled down to these things that I have left behind. I will not care about how much I was hurt, how angry I became or how depressed I was. These are true emotions but they are not foundations to a healthy life. We must all pass through these times and respect them, but don’t make depression or anger a roommate; misery is his only friends.
Life is short, life is unpredictable. I only get one shot at it and for the most part, there are no re-do’s. Don’t get me wrong, I may go around the mountain more than once but I can’t turn the clock back. Seize the day, take advantage of each moment, even if it is not the moment that you wanted or expected, this is the moment that you are in. Steward each one and you can be sure that growth will be the fruit of your labor.
There was once a man born with great promise. The Lord told him that he would be blessed and that his family would serve him because he was favored. Joseph the young man was careless with his promises and in his zeal he provoked his brothers to jealousy. The long and short of it is that his brothers did not really like the idea of serving him; they plotted to ruin his life, selling him into slavery. Joseph found himself in a precarious situation. He was sold to a very prominent man in the government; over time he became a man of influence and he gained favor with his master. For the young man, life was looking promising again, he had made it through betrayal, through the fear of the unknown and last, he gained influence with powerful men. Seems as though the story should end here but it doesn’t, Joseph was unjustly accused of sleeping with his master’s wife and once again he found himself in a helpless situation, he was in prison.
Through a series of events, Joseph, while still in prison interprets a dream for the king that no one else could interpret. He gains favor with the king once again and soon finds himself overseeing the king’s land and taking care of the people in that land. Eventually the promise that the Lord gave to him as a young man came to pass. He miraculously saves his family from starvation. Great reconciliation happened that day for the whole family and the young man was restored to his father.
Like Joseph, often times we do not get to choose the moments that we are in, we just get the opportunity to choose what happens through us. I said it before and I will say it again. I am a dream that a body is wrapped around. I have been created for a purpose, specially made, one of a kind. I won’t stay here long for I am only a visitor sowing into eternity.
Place vision on like Raybans, keep destiny in sight knowing that it is much grater than you, much larger than what you can handle. You are like Noah called to build something that you have never built before and never seen. It will take crazy blind faith and the ability to imagine way beyond your minds capacity.
Where do you start? Today. There is no better time than today, the grass is always greener and tomorrow always looks more promising. But you will never have today again. Start now and you will never be sorry that today was the first step toward your dreams. How do you start? Steward the little things that the Lord has brought into your life, be faithful with them and you will be given more. Dream big, and take risk. You will never be sorry at the end of your days for taking risk and trying. Just make sure that you are not the only decision maker in your life. But by all means, today is the day…
Today is your day; it is the first step in the long walk toward you dreams. Life will not come to you, you must go after it and grab it, knowing that it is much greater than what it seems. Skip today and it will be gone forever, to never return. Listen to my words and follow my lead, don’t worry about what you don’t know because on the way you will learn. Life is so much so much greater than I could even say. So wake up from your sleep and wipe off the tears because today is your day…

Into the Light- Laura Woodley

2009-11-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

You saw me broken
You saw me battered
You saw me filthy
You saw me shattered
You saw me wicked
You saw me lying
You saw me failing
You saw me trying
You saw me angry
You saw me jealous
You saw me prideful
You saw me selfish
You saw me wonder
You saw me lustful
You saw me striving
Worshipping idols

You said:
I want her
I love her
She's the one for me
I choose her
I know her
My blood has made her clean
She is my true love

Bring her to me
Put a ring on her finger
Cloth her in my righteousness
Shine my light all around her
Place a crown upon her head
Keep her tears in a bottle
See her name upon my hands
When she says: I don’t deserve it
Tell her: I took the nails instead
I took the nails instead

Now she's always by his side
She stays in his arms day and night
Out of the cage
Out of the shame
Into the light
Into the light

She's finding her beauty
She's finding her grace
She's finding her whole heart
She's showing her face

In the light
In the light
She's pure in the light
She's home in the light

You rescued me, Lord
You rescued me
You set me free
When I thought that I could never escape
You came for me
You found me
In the prison I made for myself
You broke down the bars
You opened the door
You took me by the hand
And when I couldn't get out
You carried me
You lifted me with your own strength
You walked me right out of the jail
Right out of the prison
And you dealt with all of my enemies
You dealt with all of my shame
And all of my embarrassment
Oh Jesus, you took it upon yourself
You took it upon yourself

Never the Same

2009-10-07T13:46:00.000-07:00

I'm home in bed with a cold and on lots of Sudafed, so if my words don't make a lot of sense we can blame it on that! I feel like since school has started God has been completely rocking my world!! I've been streched to my core and encouraged to dive into the things of the Spirit in a deeper and more real way than I've ever done before. I've been learning to not only understand but actually experience simple concepts such as joy and peace and faith. I've been looking into the deep things from the deep inside of me and realizing there is nothing more important in life than to simply connect my spirit to God's Spirit. Nothing else matters.
I've been getting some amazing prophetic words over my life that have really been confirming so much inside of me and helping me understand my true identity. Who I really am is coming out and from here I will never be the same.

Control

2009-09-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

Wow, I have not been here in a long time... I had no Internet for almost a month here at the house and then got a terrible virus on the laptop that Pete lent me so then it was no Internet and no computer! Terrible.
But now I'm back and had a lot of time to process. Its amazing how much time we actually have when we don't have TV or computers... life is very different. I did a lot of thinking and soaking. I read a lot... in the Bible as well as one book that is an assignment before school starts. Speaking of school, classes start this Tuesday! I can't wait... just getting my feet wet by being in the environment of revival has already been so amazing, I can only imagine what will happen once I actually dive in!
God is speaking to me a lot about who is in control of my life. I have noticed that many times I tell myself that He is, but in reality I am. And recently He has brought my circumstances to a place where I have absolutely no control-- when I've done all I could, and there is nothing else I can do to change things-- and that has been a very scary place to be, but at the same time SO liberating. To be more specific, I have been in Redding now for a bit over a month, and in my mind when I thought of moving here I thought of finding a job as soon as I got settled in... so within like a week I would be working... well, that didn't happen. Redding is a very small town and its not easy to find a job here. After weeks went by I started getting discouraged and thinking "maybe I wasn't supposed to come here", or "maybe I heard wrong"... and at one point I even thought "maybe I'm gonna have to go back to Florida". But suddenly, on the exact day that I started to think this, Jeremy (Jen's husband and our houseparents that take care of this property I'm living in with 12 girls) came in and asked me if I spoke Portuguese and said that the company he worked at was looking for someone who could do tech support for them to their customers in Brasil! They said they had been looking for someone in Redding for a long time and no one here spoke Portuguese, they were even gonna try to bring in someone directly from Brasil because they couldn't find anyone... And here I am! Isn't that just amazing?! So, when that happened I thought, "well, this is perfect! I can start Monday!" and once again it was like I was right back in control of things. But no! It has taken now almost three weeks from my first interview to have them approve the position and actually hire me. This period of waiting was so hard but at the same time so critical in teaching me to TRUST. So, just yesterday I heard from them that they finally had an offer letter for me and asked me to go in on Monday at 10am. Isn't it just like God to provide a job for me one day before school starts! He is never late. He is always on time. And I choose to trust Him more and more everyday and surrender control-- I give Him full control over my life.

"Mercy"

2009-09-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

-Kristine Mueller

What shall I do with you my love?
What shall I do with you?
For Your loyalty to me is like the morning clouds
Like the dew that goes away so early
What shall I do with You my love?

You keep bringing me sacrifices
To ease your mind
But it's your heart that I want

Hasn't it been a long road
With disappointments
Chasing after lovers
That just throw you away

Are you done fighting now
All the love it takes to lighten you
Shame was never meant to be your portion

You keep bringing me sacrifices
To ease your mind
But it's your heart that I want

Though these sins are red as scarlet
I will wash them white in my mercy
Those these sins are red as scarlet
I will wash them white in my mercy

Faith cannot grow under certainty.

2009-08-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

So, I think its pretty safe to say that this is the first time in my life where I have had to really put my faith into action. Part of it is probably because it is the first time I make a major move in my life alone- no guys, no family, not even one single person I know here. I remember trying to plan and prepare for this when I was still in Florida and feeling butterflies of excitement! Now the butterflies have really come alive. I have been having to face my fears. Do things that are completely out of my comfort zone. But what truly amazes me in all of this is that God has been giving me a peace to trust Him in every detail. He keeps His promises. Every one of them. He will never leave me, never ignore me, never forget about me. He is always good. He will always take care of me. He is always generous. He is always in control. Someone once said "Faith cannot grow under certainty" and that is exactly what I am experiencing. I am so uncertain about so many things, and its making my faith grow. It is stretching me to depend less on myself and my own efforts and to completely surrender and believe in the amazing LOVE that Jesus has for me. I am His princess. WOOHOO!!!!

"Breaking Down"

2009-08-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

-John Mark McMillan

I'm making plans to waste my life on You
I'm making plans to waste my life on You
Cause New York City and Hollywood combined
They ain't got enough lights
To make me want change my mind about You

Cause I'm breaking down
I don't even care if there's anyone else around
Cause I'm breaking down
I always fall to pieces whenever You're around

I'm Mary Magdalene and tonight is a bottle of perfume
I'm Mary Magdalene and tonight is a bottle of perfume
There's not enough dignity to hold me now
When I know Your going to meet me here
There's not enough gravity
To keep me away from You

Cause I'm breaking down
I don't even care if there's anyone else around
Cause I'm breaking down
I always fall to pieces whenever You're around

So meet me here
Where we shine like gold
Like the light beneath the embers
Of the burning coals
And I will spill my bottle
Like in days of old
On the song that bleeds from the breaking down

Road Trip

2009-08-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

Ok, so its super late and I'm exhausted but I had to at least tell a little bit about how amazing this road trip has been! We drove across Florida and Georgia, then Tennesse which was where we slept last night. Tennessee was so beautiful, full of hills and montains, lakes and rivers. I loved seeing all the bridges they have built there, they were beautiful. Today we crossed over Illinois and Missouri and got to stop at IHOP just to see the prayer room and enjoy a little worship. It was so amazing to see how full the prayer room was and the cultural diversity- its crazy to think that it doensn't stop. They pray and worship 24 hours a day there.

I had saved this as a draft yesterday, so today I can continue and tell a bit about our 3rd day on the road. We woke up at the Four Points in Kansas City, Missouri and began our jorney west on I-80 all day long crossing Nebraska. All there is to see in Nebraska are fields of corn. Thats it. Hours and hours of corn! Needless to say I got pretty bored in the car today- but thankfully when my it was my turn to drive I got to add Jack and Ray to my ride and that made it a whole lot better! I am so excited about tomorrow when we will finally get to the mountains and through Colorado, Utah and Nevada! Can't wait!!!

Tree of Life

2009-07-31T17:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, so yesterday I told my spiritual mom about my move to Redding, CA and she was so excited for me and said she had been praying for me and for this move for a couple of years. She remembered hours in the furnace praying for me when I was still a prodigal. Her words about the move "Go for God, girl! I've seen this coming in you for a long time! Love and hugs! Cheri" It was awesome to tell her the details of how God has given me specific words and confirmations to go. After hearing me out and after we cried together over the phone, she asked to pray for me. As she prayed, the Lord gave her a picture of a TREE OF LIFE. She said it was a large tree, like those in Africa over sunsets. She said He was taking me to that tree and that all of my needs would be met there. If I am in financial stress and need money, I can just go right up to it and pick the fruit of provision that I need. If I feel lonely and sad, I can pick from it joy and comfort. If I feel lost and confused I can pick from it wisdom and discernment. If I am sick or hurting I can pick from it healing and relief. If I am overwhelmed and scared I can pick from it peace and trust... and so on. Anything that I need I can go straight to the tree of life and find the answers for it all. Isn't that just mind blowing??? God is so awesome... How much He cares for every detail of me is just amazing.

Making Memories

2009-07-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

Today I realized that I'm really enjoying these last days in Florida without work. It feels better than a vacation, cuz when you go on vacation you are aware of the fact that you will have to return to work. I don't. So, technically, this is not a vacation. I would like to think of this time as a special gift, or a bonus, and instead of money, I have time. Minutes, hours, days. It is quickly counting down though, so I have to decide how I spend this "bonus" quick. So, this week I've made it a point to spend time with people I love. I am trying as hard as I can to fill my schedule with breakfasts, lunches, dinners, time at the beach, playing games, watching a movie, making dinner, going out for coffee... all with as many friends and family members as I can! And so far it has been wonderful! I am making special memories that I will take with me on my Freedom Adventure. So right now life is good. Really good.

FREEDOM ADVENTURE

Jesus is Completely Irresistible!

Song of Solomon 1

The Man

The Woman

The Man

The Woman

I Am A Temple- John Mark McMillan

City of Black & White- Mat Kearney

Touch- Natasha Bedingfield

O Tapeceiro

Something In The Water- Brooke Fraser

Jonathan David Helser - Endless Ocean

I love Your Presence!

DEEP TRUTH

MEDICAL ALERT (to the body and mind!)

I'm back!!!

So good!

My DISC test results... high I :P

Master Tonic- "how to have an immunity of steel!"

The Director- Ella Marcum

The Invitation

A bigger splash- Alex Bellos

Engaged Idealist - ENFJ

I'm an ENFJ

1 Year Healing Anniversary

The Bests Are On!! :o)

Jeremiah 29:7

Sonhos

Psalm 91

For Brazil, It's Finally Tomorrow

MARCH 29, 2010For Brazil, It's Finally TomorrowHow the country of the future has at last made it—and what remains to be done

For Brazil, It's Finally Tomorrow

How the country of the future has at last made it—and what remains to be done

By PAULO PRADA

The Journal Report

Brazil: Economic Giant

Big Promise

Cleaning House

Bad Connections

A menina e o pássaro encantado – Ruben Alves

I loved this article... Share your thoughts please!

Beyond Passion: The Science of Loving What You Do

"20 things I wanna do in my lifetime"

The iPad

You and Your Heart- Jack Johnson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T8-Jlw4s9k

God says, "I write the songs AND books the whole world sings & reads!" by Joni Ames

Just what I need:

HOPE ANTHEM- Will Matthews & Christa Black

New Songs

Enough...! From Mayer to the Peridot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JejgGwJ7Wc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uw1eropB7Y

Victoria - John Mayer

Not Myself- John Mayer

Friends, Lovers Or Nothing - John Mayer

Love Song For No One - John Mayer

Neon- John Mayer

No Such Thing- John Mayer

All we ever do is say goodbye- John Mayer

War Of My Life - John Mayer

City Love- John Mayer

Stop This Train - John Mayer

Comfortable- John Mayer

Daughters- John Mayer

In Repair- John Mayer

ITS ALL ABOUT JOHN MAYER TIL MARCH 25th!!!

Good Word

Lyrics to Sequence #3 by: Cool Hand Luke

BLACK MONDAY by: christa black

Elevation - U2

Only in You- Cris Kerr

"Through Heaven's Eyes"

When It Rains, it Pours!! (another prophetic word)

word...

Nathan Noble

Prophetic Word

Love Came Down- by Brian Johnson

Unbroken Fellowship by Ivan Tait

MARCH 29, 2010
For Brazil, It's Finally Tomorrow
How the country of the future has at last made it—and what remains to be done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T8-Jlw4s
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