Michael's Birthday

Its my Birthday...enjoy this clip from my favorite show.

LEts remember to pray for the families who lost their daughters in this bus crash in huntsville, Alabama. If you havent heard about this story here the link: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/21/bus.crash/index.html

Well, sadly, the summer is over for me. It can be a good thing though, just for the fact that I dont have to work at Dorothy Lane Market anymore and I get to go back to college. These past three months have been a real growing experience for me. IT's been a journey with ups and downs, but most of all I learned alot about myself. Thats kind of what I was going for this whole summer. God has definitely showed me alot in my life, the good and the bad. I thank Him for that and I am so excited to know that every day He pursues me.
I have had alot of fun hanging out with friends and family. It's great to know that i'm one year closer to graduating college, I really never thought i'd say that. I really enjoy Lee University. There are so many different kinds of people there and so many things that have opened my eyes more and more. Before You know it, ill be saying "im ready to come home"...I guess thats the cycle that God made it to be. I'm hoping to learn more about my beautiful girlfriend, Kristen, as we both venture back to Lee as well as finding out more about myself.
I'm excited to see what kind of plans God has for our lives as we all go back to school. It's really cool to see all my friends who are seeking God and how they change every year more differently. I'm really anticipating to see what this year holds for me and all the others close to me. Im excited. Ill try to post more in the future. (Which probably wont be too soon.. :)

Camp was amazing! IT always is. To be able to see hundreds of teenagers passionately worshipping Jesus changes you. God starts to change you. When we first got there we thought we were going to change these Jr. Highers lives, but God had something else in store. HE changed their lives, yes, but he also changed my life. I remember when I used to be a camper there and how much I wanted to stay. Every night the worship was so full of excitement and God was right there with us just soaking it all in. I was amazed at these kids and their understanding. I saw kids being baptized in the Spirit, I saw kids shaking on the ground, I saw a God who wrecked our lives for the better.
I have been changed so much every year I go to Heartland. Since it has changed me so much I want to give something back to it for the rest of my life. God willing, I will be there every year and watch God rock these teenagers lives. I wouldnt give it up for anything. I am so excited to know this is what I will be doing for the rest of my life. I want to be apart of turning generations around from loving the things of the world to passionately loving God. It's awesome when you get home from camp to have vision of what God's going to do in all of our lives. My biggest prayer is for that vision to stick with us not just for a week at camp but for the rest of our lives. God is so good to us and He gave me a glimpse of what He wants for the next generation.

This weekend has so far been very hectic. Ive been trying to pack for my upcoming camping trip. Im going to be a junior high camp counselor at the church camp I always went to when I was younger. Ive worked almost five days in a row and I havent done that in a while. IT seems like when I need the hours I cant get them but when I dont need them they come flowing in. I guess thats just how the universe unfolds.

I went to Apex Community Church tonight as always and loved it. I dont mean to be cliche or anything, but God really seems to speak through Rob Turner (the minister) in a powerful way. IT's so exciting to go there every saturday night and see him present the Message in an interesting and powerful way. I always seem to feel like im in one huge family when i'm there. Thats the way it's really supposed to be. Anyway, I kind of wish I could go to my house church tomorrow. Ive missed it twice now. I'm leaving tomorrow around 1 ish to go to the camp site. IT's a huge place. The camp usually had around 500 to 700 campers. They have all kinds of activities they do for the kids each day and they always have a pretty good speaker for the week. IM going to miss my girlfreind a bunch while im gone...( I know....its only five days, but thats how I am).
I feel really bad for my parents. This summer they have been trying to work so hard on this new house we have and nothing seems to be getting done. They are the most hardworking paretns i've ever seen and I love them so much. Especially today they had a rough day. They were at the hospital with my Grandma because she had shoulder replacement surgery, well they were there for 3 hours. Then they came home to a halfway flooded basement which was supposedly fixed by "professional" sump pump workers. Keep them in your prayers.
So ill be driving to 35 miles north of Columbus tomorrow. Im not sure what the city name is, but all I know is that it takes 2 -3 hours to get there and im not too excited about that. I know it will be worth it though. To be able to make an impact on these kids lives is a great honor for me and I thank God for the opportunity. I miss my brother...hes still in Mexico. I think my Mom is worried because he hasnt called in a couple of days. I trust God to keep him safe and plus hes with a very nice host family.
Ill miss everyone while im gone, but pray that I can make my mark on these young teens lives throughout this week and help pray that this experience will change me also. I hope everyone has a great week:)

MY heart burns for you Lord....but when will I stop being so foolish and repent? The depths of my heart groan for something more than mediocrity in my walk with you. I am sorry Jesus, truly sorry for being foolish. I long to worship you in the fullness of my heart. I yearn to hear your voice speak to my soul. Your whispers refresh my mind and my body. How long will I have to wait until I hear them again. My love for you will never grow weary but will stay strong because of your unfailing love for me and because of the ssacrifice you have made.

This is how I feel right now...I want to grow so much. God has said its up to me to make the decision. I have to go to the next level with Christ. He will take me there.
I went to house church tonight and it was fun as usual. Anthony went with me and it seemed like he liked it which was cool. I miss Kristen already. I am happy though because I know theyre having fun. She brightens every day of my life when I see her face. Ever since I met her, my joy has grown more and more everyday. This week I'm off a couple days so it will be nice. Im already wanting to go back to school. I have just grown to love it there. I bet people are wondering why i;m saying that because the first semester I hated it. It's true when people say that you really have to get involved. You wont have fun unless you do. I like being with my family though, its nice that were all together. We are rarely ever all home at the same time though, we all have different things going on in our lives, but all is well and I am blessed.


1 Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint;lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah Psalm 61:1-4

I have been pretty busy lately. Getting home from college was an adjustment in itself, but the new house is awesome and I love it. Its too far away for me from my job and other things, but I think it's well worth it for my parents. They love it there too.
I went to third thursday yesterday with Kristen and we went to these apartments by the mall. It just warmed my heart when I heard the lady grumble a sentence to us with her smoky voice. She said: You guys really dont understand what these groceries mean to me. I thought to myself that this was such a small thing for me...jump into the car, go to Apex, and gather groceries for a family. Its really not taking much of me to do this one thursday a month. But what would happen if it was inconvenient for me. If I had previous plans? Would I still serve the families groceries? I hope I can say yes when the time comes. Thats one thing that is very hard for me. To get out of MY plans to serve someone else. I think that when it's inconvenient for us, and it takes more of a self sacrifice, that puts a smile on Gods face, because we put someone else before ourself.
God is gracious yet again in my life in which I am very thankful for. HE has also provided me with an awesome job at Dorothy Lane Market, which is so much fun ( man, I never thought id be saying that). I am enjoying the summer one day at a time and I absolutely love getting up in the morning early and looking out my bedroom window and gazing at the glorious sunrise, that is, whenever it is sunny here in Ohio.
Its a beautiful Friday and im not going to waste any more of it on the computer. Let's all enjoy it.Im really excited to also go to Apex church this weekend and hear Jason Wing talk about the Da Vinci code. There has been alot of controversy about it and im interested in what he has to say. Honestly, no matter what people say about it, whether you should see it or not, I am pretty close minded about it and dont like what the movie is about.