For those who are following (or were following) Beautiful Self – that site, though still available to view, is no longer in use.

Please visit (and follow if you’d like!) Grow Up! — the Lord has been using this site to reach many! What a wonderful Savior we have! Within this site, you’ll find a few “old” articles, but many new ones. I am constantly updating this site with new information. There are also many helpful links and several suggested blogs that the Lord has used to touch my life.

Also, you can find Grow Up! on facebook! There is an e-mail address available on the facebook page where you can send any questions, comments, or article suggestions!

I hope that you will visit Grow Up!

“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” ~ Isaiah 55:6

~ Heather Joy

Words and Music are written by myself.
[copywrite 2008]

I am playing the piano and my friend Jessica is singing.
This was on Easter Sunday 2009.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” ~ Isaiah 53:5 ♥

There are SO many things I *could* add to this, but I won’t. I’ll just say this for now (just to clarify a few things on the matter).

1) Capitol Punishment is NOT murder. It’s the “punishment” that some criminals recieve who have COMMITTED murder.

2) War is NOT murder. Consider Ecclesiastes 3:8 – “A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

That’s all I really wanna say on this for now.

Wow. Just wow. Wow. There are no other words. Watch. Be still. Listen. *NOTHING* that we lay at the feet of the Father will go unreedemed. I’m claiming this song as my lifesong. ♪♪

Amazing. The Gaither Vocal Band is simply amazing. Check out who’s in the audiance. ♪

Obama was apparently weighing in on an interruption that occurred the night before during the MTV Video Music Awards where West grabbed the microphone from teen country singer Taylor Swift during her award acceptance speech to announce his belief that Beyonce had a better music video.

“Pres. Obama just called Kanye West a ‘jackass’ for his outburst at VMAs when Taylor Swift won. Now THAT’S presidential,” “Nightline” co-anchor Terry Moran wrote Monday evening to his more than 1 million followers.

The tweet forced the network to issue an apology after the Internet quickly became abuzz over the stunning remark published on the microblogging site.

An ABC spokesperson said, “In the process of reporting on remarks by President Obama that were made during a CNBC interview, ABC News employees prematurely tweeted a portion of those remarks that turned out to be from an off-the-record portion of the interview,” Politico reported. “This was done before our editorial process had been completed. That was wrong. We apologize to the White House and CNBC and are taking steps to ensure that it will not happen again.”

Moran’s tweet has since been deleted, but can still be accessed.

West, who is no stranger to controversy, apologized for the incident after Sunday night’s MTV broadcast and again Monday night during an interview on the premiere of NBC’s “Jay Leno Show.”

West told Leno he’s going to take some time off to reflect and that “it was rude, period.”

“I need to, after this, take some time off and just analyze how I’m going to make it through the rest of this life, how I’m going to improve. If there’s anything I could do to help Taylor in the future or help anyone, I’d like to,” he said.

The White House had no immediate comment on the matter, Politico reported.

I am not condoning what Kanye did at all. I think it was rude and extremely immature of him. However, for the President of the United States of America to sit there and say such a thing is not exactly professional either. And *off the record*…? Reputation is who people believe you to be. Character is who you are when no one is watching. Although… it seems to be a re-occurring trend in Washington… *cough* Clinton. Such a *classy* president we have. How our hearts must swell with pride…! O_o

<original article taken from Here.>

Witness footage from earlier Tuesday when Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Obama’s former presidential rival, addressed a town hall meeting in Sun City, Ariz. Asked by a woman whether Obama was even aware that “we still live under a Constitution,” McCain rose to the president’s defense. That didn’t go over too well with the crowd.

For what it’s worth, the U.S. Constitution can be easily accessed online, if anyone is wondering whether the stimulus package or the proposed health care legislation violate that sacred document.

McCain needs to grow a backbone. Obviously, the people of America do not agree with him on his taking Obama’s side. For someone who was lied about by his oponent on his stands all throughout the presidential campaign and the election, he sure is quite willing to be buddy-buddy with him now. Really? don’t be so naive. This is not a game in which you’ll eventually get your back scratched as long as you scratch his. Sorry to burst your bubble, but you will never be best friends with Mr. President, McCain.

<original article take from Here.>

Honduras teaches President Obama about how a Democracy should work!

Is the future of the United States democratic system being played out in Central America today? I hope so.

You may or may not have heard what has happened in Honduras during the past couple of months. Here’s the story in a nut shell.

Honduran President Manual Zelaya has been at odds with the Honduran Congress and Courts for many months, seeking to increase his power and authority to levels similar to those wielded by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela . But according to the Honduran Constitution, its president can only serve a single four year term. With his Presidency coming to an end in January, Zelaya wasn’t happy with that situation, so he decided to try an end around play.

He decided to sponsor a constitutional referendum to allow him to continue to serve as president. The only problem is the Honduran Constitution doesn’t give him the right to do that. Any constitution referendum must be called by the Honduran Congress. Not bothered by that minor detail, Zelaya contacted his buddy, Hugo Chavez, and had ballots printed and ballot boxes prepared in Venezuela and flown to Honduras . The Honduran Supreme Court declared Zelaya’s actions unconstitutional, but again, he was not deterred.

A couple of weeks ago, when Zelaya directed the military to distribute the ballots and boxes, the top military commander refused, citing the orders of the Supreme Court. President Zelaya promptly fired him. The Supreme Court ordered him reinstated. Zelaya refused.

Still undeterred, last Thursday Zelaya led a group of his supporters to break into the military installation where the ballots from Venezuela were being stored and then had his people distribute them in defiance of the Supreme Court’s order. By the way, elections in Honduras are supposed to be managed and overseen by the Honduran Election Tribunal, which was not involved in any of Zelaya’s efforts.

Sunday morning, acting under orders of the Supreme Court, the Honduran military dragged Zelaya out of bed at 6 AM, arrested him, put him on a plane in his pajamas, flew him to Costa Rica , and released him. They literally threw him out of the country.

The Honduran Congress immediately met in emergency session and designated its president as the interim executive as stipulated in Honduran law. It also said that presidential elections set for November will go forward.

Honduras has one of the strongest democracies in the world. When Presidential elections are held, typically 80-90% of the eligible population votes (compared to only 50% in the U.S. ). This situation clearly shows how democratic checks and balances are supposed to work.

When the President tried to overstep his bounds, the legislative and judicial branches stepped in and did not allow it. You might make a case that Zelaya should have been arrested and held in Honduras , but I understand he was exiled in order to minimize the probability of violence. Obviously, he will have an even better opportunity to state his case while not in confinement. In fact, he has already been invited to address the U.N. General Assembly.

So where does the U.S. government stand on this situation? Well, Obama stands shoulder to shoulder with Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro and Daniel Ortega in calling for Zelaya to be re-instated as President! PresidentObama said the U.S. government believed the takeover was “not legal” and that Zelaya remained the country’s leader! U.S. press secretary Robert Gibbs said “We’re seeking to restore that democratic norm in Honduras , and haven’t changed the recognition of who we believe is the president of that country”!

So much for the United States being the world’s biggest supporter of democracy! Even worse than the situation in Iran , where Obama remained silent while protesters were slaughtered in the streets by an oppressive government, in Honduras Obama has gone on record as calling for the re-instatement of a leader who has been ousted by his country’s legislative and judicial processes!

One might ask WHY?

Well, consider this;

No where in the U.S. Constitution does it give the government the power to fire private company employees. But how many bank and automotive executives have been forced out by Obama’s administration since January 20th?

No where in the U.S. Constitution does it give the government the power to own private companies. So how did the government end up owning 70% of General Motors Corporation?

No where in the U.S. Constitution does it give the government the power to set salaries in the private sector, as Obama’s administration is currently doing in banks that have taken TARP money.

No where in the U.S. Constitution does it give the executive branch the power to appoint Czars to make rules governing private industry, that role is reserved for the legislative branch of our government.

No where in the U.S. Constitution does it give the President the power to set aside contracts. So how did GM bond holders end up getting the shaft while the unions profited?

In fact, all of these things are prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.

Like Zelaya, Chavez, Castro, and Ortega, President Obama does not believe a country’s Constitution should limit his power.

Unfortunately, our Congress and our Courts have yet to show the courage and determination that the Honduran Legislators and Supreme Court have shown.

Isn’t it amazing that we have to look to a small country in Central America to see how democracy is supposed to work, while our President sides with the likes of Zelaya, Chavez, Castro, and Ortega!

Wake Up America !

“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.” – USA Declaration of Independence

Month Two
Mommy, today I learned how to suck my thumb. If you could see me, you could definitely tell that I am a baby. I’m not big enough to survive outside my home though. It is so nice and warm in here.

Month Three
You know what Mommy, I’m a girl!! I hope that makes you happy. I always want you to be happy. I don’t like it when you cry. You sound so sad. It makes me sad too, and I cry with you even though you can’t hear me.

Month Four
Mommy, my hair is starting to grow. It is very short and fine, but I will have a lot of it. I spend a lot of my time exercising. I can turn my head and curl my fingers and toes, and stretch my arms and legs. I am becoming quite good at it too.

Month Five
You went to the doctor today. Mommy, he lied to you. He said that I’m not a baby. I am a baby Mommy, your baby. I think and feel. Mommy, what’s abortion?

Month Six
I can hear that doctor again. I don’t like him. He seems cold and heartless. Something is intruding my home. The doctor called it a needle. Mommy what is it? It burns! Please make him stop! I can’t get away from it! Mommy!! HELP me!! No…

Month Seven
Mommy, I am okay. I am in Jesus’s arms. He is holding me. He told me about abortion. Why didn’t you want me Mommy?

Every Abortion Is Just…
One more heart that was stopped. Two more eyes that will never see. Two more hands that will never touch. Two more legs that will never run. One more mouth that will never speak.

Abortion. Yes, it is your choice… but why?
As a mother, if you wouldn’t let anyone kill your child why would you…
Think about it, you are taking a life and he/she does feel the pain!

Your mother chose life… think about it.