URGENT!!!

Hello, everyone! URGENT NEWS: I am moving my blog! I feel that I would get more out of Wordpress, and not Blogger. More options with blogging, layout, video... You know, stuff like that. I would love for everyone to keep following my blog!

My new site is: my13thsummer.wordpress.com

Thank you so much!
-V

Change your confession, Taylor Swift!

I was listening to the radio today and Taylor Swift's song, "White Horse" came on... Here are some of the lyrics to the song:

stupid girl,
I should have known, I should have known
I am not a princes, this ain’t a fairy tale


I’m not a princess, this ain’t a fairy tale
I’m not the one to sweep off her feet,
Lead her up the stairwell
This ain’t Hollywood, this is a small town,
I was a dreamer before you went and let me down
Now it too late for you and your white horse, to come around

When it comes to relationships how often have we spoken this over ourselves. THAT NEGATIVE CONFESSION IS A LIE! You know what?!?! I am a princess, I deserve a fairytale! I am Gods princess and He only wants the best for me AND YOU, so as a woman of God it’s about time to start changing my confession about everything in my life.

I will have blessed relationships.

I will stand strong and rooted in the Word of God.

I am a passionate woman of God.

I am a patient woman of God.

I desire God above all else.

I will be uplifting to those around me.

I am a pure and holy woman of God.

I will love like God loves.

Knowing Your Place (Luke 3)

By Pastor Steve Caronna
February 17, 2010

"Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Luke 3:15-16

Nothing pulls us to the right or the left more than public opinion. What everyone thinks of us influences us quite a bit, and that's just human nature. Actually, most of the time, it's even good for us. But we need to know in our heart of hearts what our place is, and stick with that.

John knew he wasn't the Messiah, but everyone else didn't know that. So, whose job was it to convince who? Instead of the people convincing John that he was the Messiah, John very quickly tells them, "Nope, I am simply the voice crying out in the wilderness to make way for the REAL Messiah! The One coming after me, He's the guy your looking for!"

We live in a day where most people are convinced that in order to be REALLY successful, YOU have to be THE BOSS. Now before I make this next statement, please don't misunderstand me...I am all for business ownership, moving up the ladder, getting that promotion, or raise. I believe that God intends for all of His Children to fulfil a great calling and purpose for their lives. But let's think about this...if EVERYBODY is THE BOSS, then who is going to be the supportive team? Who is going to execute the plans of the BOSS with excellence and finesse, and enjoy it?

I love working with people who know that their life's calling is a supportive role, and love it. God has blessed me by surrounding me with those people. Yes, there are those who may one day be THE BOSS in some capacity, but most have found, and are flourishing in their place.

Don't let people flatter you right out of what you're really called to do. Many years ago, I was the associate pastor of a Church, and a large faction of leadership decided to leave and start their own Church across town. They came to me, telling me how I was a better teacher and leader than the Sr. pastor, and that if I would leave with them, they would make me the pastor of the new "church" and pay me a LARGE salary. I didn't leave, because I knew my place. Guess what? I not only kept my integrity intact, but the Church I pastor now is TWENTY TIMES larger than that "church" ever got.

What position has God called you to? I mean really...at least in this season of your life? Do your best. enjoy it. Relish it. Be faithful. Remember, what's important is God's plan for you, NOT your plan for God.

Out with the old, In with the new

By Brent Lang
TheWrap.com

Miley Cyrus' "Hannah Montana" is winding down, one of the Jonas Brothers got married, and Zac Efron has graduated "High School Musical" for big-screen stardom.

But the Disney Channel's not worried. As one crop grows up and moves on, another one sprouts up right behind.

Jason Dolley, Doc Shaw and Hutch Dano may not be household names yet, but they probably will be. The Disney publicity machine is poised to make them as famous as the stars who preceded them: Dano and Adam Hicks will co-star in the XD series "Zeke and Luther," Shaw will star in the XD series "Pair of Kings" and Dolley will star in the Disney Channel's "Good Luck Charlie."

More from TheWrap: The Next Generation of Disney Stars

In a modern-day throwback to the system the studio developed in the original '50s "Mickey Mouse Club" era, Disney now regularly uses its hit cable channel as a breeding ground for new performers they then launch through the media empire's many other divisions.

It's no secret why. The channel's teen stars have meant big money for the company. Shows like "Hannah Montana" and "The Suite Life on Deck," and original movies such as "Camp Rock" helped make Disney the No. 2-rated cable channel.

Last year also stands as the channel's most-watched on record. In prime time, Disney was TV's top network in kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14.

Plus, network stars such as Cyrus and the Jonases have headlined movies and albums that further add to Disney's coffers.

"Hannah Montana: The Movie" brought in $155 million at the box office in 2009, 2008's "High School Musical 3" grossed $252 million, Cyrus' 2009 album "The Time of Our Lives" sold 1.6 million copies, and even the underperforming Jonas Brothers album "Lines, Vines and Trying Times" moved 247,000 copies.

The Jonases still have a little Disney life left in them; a new season of their sitcom "JONAS" will premiere next summer and "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam," the sequel to the group's Disney Channel film, will air this year. And "Hannah Montana" is contracted through 2011.

But the channel's star-making factory isn't resting. In fact, it's amping up production to churn out a bumper crop of interchangeable fresh-faced boys and girls to take up the mantle.

As the channel is quick to note, it's been in this position before. Shia LaBeouf and Hilary Duff also climbed up the channel's rungs before taking off for bigger and better things.

Beginning under the stewardship of Rich Ross, who has since moved from the channel to head the company's feature film division, Disney began an unprecedented run of scouting young actors and matching them with projects that perfectly appealed to a pre-teen fan base.

"We look for diversity in every sense of word," Judy Taylor, the channel's vice president of casting and talent relations, said. "We're always searching for that less traditional face, all across the country, even globally."

The search for new stars to replenish the well has become vital to the channel's survival and the company's bottom line.

And the process they employ to find and train these discoveries seems unique to Disney among the major media companies.

Taylor and her team traditionally have gone on the road once per year, holding open auditions in multiple cities over the course of two to three weeks. In addition, the network sometimes sends a casting director out into the field for a specific character search for projects in pilot development.

This year, perhaps in an effort to goose up its search for the next flaxen-haired, golden-voiced teenage sensation, the channel has been conducting more frequent searches with at least three open auditions already scheduled.

"You're not looking at something polished, you're seeing it in its rawest form," Taylor said.

"We watch tape over and over before we decide if it's something we're willing to make an investment in."

If Taylor senses early on that a talent can evolve over time, the channel may sign them up for dancing or acting lessons and try to match them with pilots or projects. "Working at the Disney Channel is a lot like going to high school here," said Jason Dolley, star of the channel's upcoming "Good Luck Charlie," describing an atmosphere that parallels the "Mickey Mouse Club" of yore.

Part of the collegial feeling that Dolley depicts is attributable to the network's penchant for keeping things in the family. Once a new star is discovered, they work hard to find synergies within the sprawling Disney Company that will help broaden their appeal.

It's no accident that Selena Gomez recently released her first album on Disney's Hollywood Records, for instance, just as the most famous "Mickey Mouse Club" member Annette Funicello once released hit recordings like "Tall Paul" on the company's Buena Vista label in the '50s.

As it did during the Eisenhower era, this coordination helps the young actors who appear on the channel to be in a sense branded with the Disney tag. Miley Cyrus or the Jonas Brothers bear the imprimatur of the Walt Disney Company in the same manner that, say, Funicello and Tommy Kirk always remained inextricably linked to the studio from their work as Mouseketeers or "Shaggy Dog" foils.

"We have talks with all of our talent and ask them what their dreams and aspirations are," Taylor said. "We also ask them if they have any skills or a flair for something they haven't tried. We then encourage them to meet other people in other parts of the company and collaborate with them or audition."

This kind of careful coordination, "Wizards of Waverly Place" executives said, has helped Gomez break out big.

"Tickets to the show have become much harder to get, we get more requests to do publicity -- it's on a whole other level," said Peter Murrieta, the executive producer of "Wizards."

The studio also has high hopes for a collection of other young stars. Though their names aren't in lights yet, in true Disney fashion they've all mastered the art of conveying the kind of wholesome appeal befitting the channel's family friendliness.

"We've had talks about making the right decisions and smart choices," Hutch Dano, one of the new stars, said, "I'm just going to keep my nose clean and stay grounded."

Disney is particularly enthused about a series of young male performers like Dolley, Dano, Hicks, and Doc Shaw that it feels can help it broaden its appeal to boys, whom the company has already begun courting heavily through the recently launched Disney XD channel. Each falls within the 13-to-18 age range that Taylor said is ideal for handling the pressure of carrying a show. Taylor says that the boys, as well as Bridgit Mendler, who stars on "Charlie," and Debby Ryan, one of the stars of "Suite Life on Deck," all are "dynamos" with "big personalities, you don't want them to leave the room."

Like Gomez, the upcoming set of teen talent will be appearing in several different projects across the Disney corporate landscape. Dano and Dolley have original movies in the works with the channel and Shaw and Mendler have recurring roles on the "Suite Life on Deck" and "Wizards of Waverly Place."

Taylor said that she doesn't see the relationship ending when stars like Cyrus eventually move on: "Organically we know at some point our actors will outgrow our programming. It is important for us to create a collaborative relationship, so that when they get older or reach superstar status they'll consider making movies or records with the Walt Disney Company."

I know the voices in my head aren't real, but sometimes they have pretty good ideas. :)

To Live

Hello. This is a very difficult blog for me to write. Our family has been undergoing a lot of stress, and anxiety. Financial-wise, (and who hasn't?) and now, Physically. Today we went to the vet because Darla, my golden retriever, had these bumps on her body... On here back, on her belly, by her ear, and 1 HUGE one by her tail. Long story short= The facts are, that she has Skin Cancer. BUT, we are seriously praying against any negative words that have been spoken against her! IN JESUS'S NAME DARLA WAS HEALED!!!

Matthew 12:15- "Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick."

1 Peter 2:24- "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."

Please pray for healing and restoration... and a long, healthy life for my Darla. I will be walking her lots and more than usual. I will also be blogging about Darla and giving some more updates about her health and such. I am not going to worry about this, because everything works out good for those who love Him. I will provide everything necessary for Darla to be comfortable while she is here on earth with us. And I know that Darla is going to a much better place in Heaven... much better, that is, compared to Earth. Darla will be much, much happier when she gets to heaven. Thank you to everyone who is praying for her... Thank you.

-V

Costa Rica

Hey guys, would anyone be interested in sponsoring me for my Costa Rica mission trip in June? If so please let me know, so that I can send you a letter telling you more about my trip. I need $1148 to go... and I need $50 by the end of the month to send in with my application fee. Please! I really need y'alls help with this! I can't do this alone.

Help me get to Costa Rica. They are hurting. Every dollar counts.

-V