Hey, heres one thats a little harder to share, it really reveals how, well, lame I am sometimes. maybe some single people out there can relate to this a bit. Well, I am constantly surrounded by girls. there is about 1 guy for every 10 girls in my program. When I see beautiful girls, I automatically kinda yearn for a wife, or at least a girlfriend. One thing that God has really put on my heart is, instead of choosing to think about how beautiful my wife will be one day (which isn't necessarily bad, but can have negative consequences), think about how beautiful God is. I know this sounds kinda wierd, but God is so beautiful in so many ways, and He laid this little Chorus on my heart.

You are beautiful,
Like a promise never broken,
Like long hidden love, out; spoken
Like the prison gates flung open,
You are beautiful,
Like the only real safe place, to put my hope in.

Its not the cure to lonelyness, but I found these thoughts encourage me often. Hope someone else finds them encouraging.

Just wanted everyone to know that even though it wasn't the point of my post, I had some friends come over Sunday night after all, it was kinda spontaneous... I guess your supposed to tell everyone it your birthday... anyway the point is, God really blessed me through some friends I have here, and some that are not usually here. Don't want to sound like too much of a downer!

Wow! I got another one already! so its my birthday tomorrow, and as usual, there's really nothing happening. I was thinking about it and I was also watching Big Daddy yesterday, and in particular the part at the very end when his friends drag him out of his office for a little birthday celebration. It struck me that the reason that doesn't happen is because I don't have any close, lasting relationships like Adam Sandler's character had in the movie. So what if someone did throw me a party anyway? Or what if I made a really big effort to remember one persons birthday? Well, that would be going through the motions without actually having the relationship.

This whole thing turned out to be a great metaphor for Chrisitanity. the acts of kindness and caring come out of a close relationship where that person is often on your mind. However, sometimes, throwing a surprise birthday party for someone can be the first step to a closer realtionship. Most people know all this in someway already, but it really illustrated it for me... lets not get too focused on how we act, but aslo work on our relationship with Christ, balance the faith and the works.

Tawmis.

So I was in Vancouver this summer, and I was wandering the streets, and of course I came across some beggars. This got me thinking... This beggar probably has more money than I do, considering all my student loans. Seriously, if I sold everything I owned, I'd probably still be in the hole. So what is the difference between us?

I decided there is only one thing... Hope.

When I spend that money on my education, I am trusting in the promises of the school and the testimony of others, that I graduate, I will have the means to make enought money to live, and to pay off my debts. So even though financially, I am worse off than the beggar, I have hope in a promise.

If I put so much trust in this school system, which could crumble tomorrow, how much more trust should I put in God and His promises? And secondly, look at how much more valuable it is to give hope, rather than to just give money. Alot of thoughts could come our of this.