Empty Me
I had a hard week last week spiritually. I know that my circumstances should not affect my hunger for God and His Word, but in the craziness, and emotional weight of last week, I just let that slip. I did not pursue God as much as I needed to and wanted to, thus my hunger was surpressed. This week I have been actively trying to change that with the Holy Spirit's help. The scripture reading plan that I have been doing has us going through Hebrews together. Yesterday I read Hebrews 10 and today 11. Both were convicting and exhorting. I had read both before, but in the aftermath of last week, I was reminded of two things:

Hebrews 10:22-24
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

We believers NEED each other to 'provoke' each other 'unto love and to good works'. That way when we get discouraged and we fall there are people there that are willing to encourage and even carry us. I am thankful that I have believers/friends in my life that are that kind of an encouragement to me. Those that encourage me with their words and their actions. That care for me, but also for my soul.

Hebrews 11:13-16
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

That even when I am discouraged, I need to press into God with more vigor than before, and cry out to the Holy Spirit for help. The faithful in Chapter 11 'died in faith, not having received the promises', but they still held tightly to God b/c 'they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly.'

I borrowed the new Jeremy Camp worship Cd from the Hoppers last night. I listened to it all the way home and then to school this morning. This song was refreshing to me, and a prayer that I needed to pray.


Empty Me
Jeremy Camp
Holy fire burn away
My desire for anything
That is not of you and is of me
I want more of you
And less of me

Empty me, empty me, fill me
With you, with you

May Is Not Just MY Birthday Month
Man! I forgot! It was May 1, 2001 that I first started a website journal with these opening words... Hello to whoever has found this page and is now reading the very first words that I am entering into this web journal.... Ok, so there were no deep words of wisdom! None the less, that means I've been web journaling for 3 years now! It was LAST May that I moved all of my old website journal entries over to blogger and May 15 will be one year with BLOGSPOT! Wow! Time flies when your having fun!
Anyway, I have thought about this for a long time, and to celebrate mine and my blogs Birthday, I wanted to encourage everyone to do the following:

ADOPT a Compassion Child
Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, releasing them from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enabling them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.

I have been blessed by the letters that Isabel (the little girl from Columbia that I sponsor) has sent me. She is learning about Jesus, and she is eager to tell me about Him, herself, and her family. She also prays for me, and has expressed that to me.

The financial integrity of Compassion has been recognized by secular financial magazines and you can read more about that here. Compassion is also supported by MANY Christian musicians.

To Choose a Child to Sponsor
CLICK HERE and Click any photo to learn more about a child and to request a child sponsorship packet. Begin a wonderful relationship of love with a child in need today. If you choose to sponsor a child, the cost is just $28 per month.

Good Perspective
In this season of Weddings (I know about 8-10 people getting married this spring/summer), everyone has an opinion about what should be. Sometimes there is so much hype about the wedding, that it becomes more about the flowers and the dresses than what is actually HAPPENING. Anyway, I started thinking about this more this morning after reading Kim's Blog entry about planning their wedding (Adam and Kim's). She has a good perspective!

Check out Kim's Entry - It's Not About Me

Prayin' for you guys! :)

So Much Beauty
Did anyone see the moon tonight around 8:30? It was HUGE, and it was close to the horizon, and it was a peachy color! Just an incredible awesome picture of the beauty that God gives us to enjoy!

Reminded me of the illustration that Louie Giglio gave... He said, Be the moon! The moon doesn't produce light of it's own, it only reflects the light of the sun! Just like the moon we do not produce light of our own, but we should reflect the light of the SON!

And there's so much beauty around us for just two eyes to see
But everywhere I go I'm looking.
-Here in America by Rich Mullins

Spring 04 Family Photos
Alright, all the pictures are in. Some of these were posted before, but some are new. (The new ones were taken by Amy, the others are the ones I took.) THANKS, AIMES!