It is better to be alone than in the wrong company.

Tell me who your best friends are and I will tell you who you are.

If you run with wolves, you will learn to howl, but if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.

A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kinds of friends he chooses. The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate, for the good and for the bad. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.

As you grow, your associates will change. Some of you friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you to climb will want you to crawl. Your freinds will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.



Consider this:

Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone unable of contributing to the solution, because those that never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how to.

Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.

You are certain to get the worst bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.

Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere.

With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.

Be careful when you stop to inquire directions along the road of life.

Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.



Happy moments, praise God
Difficult moments, seek God
Quiet moments, worship God
Painful moments, trust God
Every moment, thank God

If you see people without a smile today, give them one of yours.
Choose to rise...don't settle...and go for your dreams.
And most of all, let God lead you in everything you do!

Song Lyrics by: Monika Bourgeois
From the Album " From the Mind of a Christian Girl"


Hey, Where'd you get your Patience?

Cuz' I lost mine the other day

and at the store I heard them say,

that they don't have my size no more

and "No Return" sign's on the door...



Mm, where'd you find that virtue?

I used to have the prettiest Lot..

Now where I left it, I forgot

I must remember to stock up

along the way and save some for a Rainy Day...

(OHs)



Ooh, where'd you get that fire?

Been awhile since I fanned my flame

It's a good thing that you came,

I might'a just've fizzled

and there would be some kind of drought



Wow, where'd you find those standards?

Now see, mine used to be that high

they're lower now, I don't know why

the race is on to build the view back from the sky



(OHs)



Now I guess I should say thank you



Your shining light it shines so bright

that it has inspired me

to be an even better me

thanks for the opportunity

to see and be all I can be

and thank you for this CUP OF TEA...



Now, If I could only find my Keys....

copyright 2006
used by permission

Lord, I created this place I'm in
I laid its foundations with bad decisions
I built its walls with misguided hope
I stood afar and viewed my workmanship
No pleasure came from my labor
Struggling, I stood with my face against the wind
With tears I watched as everythng fell
The foundation began to shake
The walls cracked and crumbled
Fragments are now all that remain
Fragments of my broken heart

O.k., I'm going to "Flip-Modes" on you.

Tea time this week was inspired by Bigelows "I Love Lemon" tea.

Before I even tried it, I selected it as this edition's winner, not because of its flavor, but because of its name.

You see, this week, my daughter began behaving a little differently. My usual "sweet as equal" six year old was taken over by a strange sour-puss.

Requests to pick up toys, study spelling words or pick up after a crafting project were responded to with complaints, sighs of aggravation and occasionally a deaf ear.

I was tempted to buy a book on "Sign Language" and whack her with it. "Can you Hear me Now?"

The little girl who is usually "the reason why I SING!" was becoming "the reason why I SCREAM!". She was feeling a bit brave, testing her limits to see how far she could go before reaching troubled waters.

Funny thing is, there's a very tiny part of me that's actually enjoying this. If she's going to put someone to the test, I'd rather she be comfortable enough to try it with me. I don't take it personally.

Maybe because I know I put my husband through this routine at least once a month. Or maybe because I'm confident that no matter how "unfair" she says it is, I'm giving her the best that I've got, which will probably never include a $500 tree house mansion. She better call "Paul Bunion" and "Get to Choppin'!"

It's one of those 'When life gives you Lemons' scenarios. Which is why I picked "I Love Lemons" tea.

Tart enough to make you twitch, sweet enough to forgive and power through to the end.

You gotta try this one.
-singer-songwriter

Monika Bourgeois

by Monika Bourgeois

Lyrics from the story "I Love Lemons" and
the title Album " Line Upon Line"




Sometimes/ Right after a battle
I"ll swim in the shallow
Just to get my bearings/
Before I jump back in
Back into the ocean
Where faith proceeds emotion
I'll wade until you come and take my hand & lead me back

(chorus)

Back to the DEEP END

Where nobody finds

an easy way to win



Where hope is the only way

To keep myself afloat

in the DEEP END



(v2)

Sometimes/I come out the water
Footprints leaving puddles
Just to feel the warmth of your sun
Shine on my skin

I shiver in the breeze that
brings me to my knees
Im praying that your strength will keep me safe
as I go back

(Chorus)



(vamp)

When I look in the water
My foolishness & fodder
All seem to disappear in your reflection
and you have no recollection
of what I've done/ or where I've been

In the DEEP END.......


copyright 2008/Monika Bourgeois/BMI

by Nori Joaquin

How my heart was so entangled
My mind so consumed
In the night I cried out to you
Free, free you declared
The chains were broken off
Out of bondage I came
The light consumed the darkness
The truth consumed the lies
Rejoice, rejoice my heart sings
My feet are dancing to a new song
A song of freedom everlasting

by Marie Mabry
This creation of mine is a song as well as a poem.



O LORD
I COME TO PRAISE YOUR NAME.
O LORD
I WANT TO PRAISE YOUR NAME,
BECAUSE YOUR NAME IS SWEET
AND IT BLESSES ME.
I HAVE TO PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME.

O LORD
I COME TO PRAISE YOUR NAME.
O LORD
I WANT TO PRAISE YOUR NAME,
BECAUSE YOUR NAME IS HOLY
AND IT IS RIGHTEOUS.
I HAVE TO PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME.

O LORD
I COME TO PRAISE YOUR NAME.
O LORD
I WANT TO PRAISE YOUR NAME,
BECAUSE YOUR NAME IS SPECIAL
AND IS WORTHY.
I HAVE TO PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME

O LORD
I COME TO PRAISE YOUR NAME
O LORD
I WANT TO PRAISE YOUR NAME,
BECAUSE YOUR NAME REFRESHES
AND EXCITES ME.
I HAVE TO PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME.

I HAVE TO PRAISE YOUR NAME.
A NAME THAT RIGHTS ALL WRONG,
A NAME THAT DELIVERS FROM SIN,
A NAME THAT FREES ALL MEN.
I HAVE TO PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME.

by Nori Joaquin

My spirit rejoices
Although I cannot see beyond this moment
Deliverance is just ahead of me
My God has heard my cries
My pleas have reached His throne
His mighty hand is being extended
His love for me has bared enough
With an outstretched arm He will save me
With the might of His hand He will pick me up
Traps lie in wait for the enemy
Like he once lay in wait for me
Destruction awaits him who schemes against the anointed
His defeat will be proclaimed
while I will be exalted
Though guilt and shame once covered my heart
Joy and redemption are now my song
The eyes of my mind now see the victory
I will run towards it and take hold of it
My heavenly Father has been true to His word
He is my ever present help in time of trouble

by Nori Joaquin

Where is she?
She who once was vivacious and zealous,
the woman who was filled with joy and gladness,
the one who lived with enthusiasm?
I hear her cries,
but I cannot reach her
She aches in places I've never known,
her tears rise up from deep broken places
I grieve for her
My heart is filled with sorrow
Restore her Lord
Let the power of your healing hand burn within her
Revive the dead places
Do not delay because I miss who I once was

by Nori Joaquin

Naked, silent and mute she stood
Away in the darkness unaware
Pain clothed her
Silent were her tears
No voice could be heard
But God heard the pain in her silence
He understood her moaning
With loving words of life
He brings forth the light
The darkness breaks
Never again will she return
She will not be silent
But with a loud voice she will cry out
Declaring freedom to the captives
Living, loving, giving
Because triumph is now her story