Empty Out My Heart - Oregon 1999

Empty out my heart Lord fill it with You Empty out my mind Lord fill it with You Empty out my life Lord fill it with You My heart is filled with corrupt, and wicked ways with every beat it cries out the need for your grace So take my heart & squeeze out every last drop purify & cleanse it get out all the dirty spots! Empty out my heart Lord fill it with You Empty out my mind Lord fill it with You Empty out my life Lord fill it with You I cannot control my mind it runs rapid in my head I try to stop the spinning I fear I'll end up dead without my wretched mind for my life to ponder I feel my poor soul will be doomed forever to wander, so . . . Empty out my heart Lord fill it with You Empty out my mind Lord fill it with You Empty out my life Lord fill it with You My life travels down this small & wondrous path All the while trying not to incur God's wrath It's hard for me to stay on the narrow & straight So I guess for now my destiny is to wait . . . for you to. . . Empty out my heart Lord fill it with You Empty out my mind Lord fill it with You Empty out my life Lord fill it with You!

Lonliness - Oregon 1999

In the beginning You said, "It is not good for man to be alone" But in the middle You said, It is better to remain unmarried What will You say in the end? What is my destiny? I've been alone thus far, shall I continue down this path? But I've always wanted more shall I prepare for the future? No matter what I want to worship You God You are all that I need and I want to realize that to the fullest extent! But my heart years, aches for the love of another The chance to love someone back wholly & completely I praise You for protecting me this far I know of Your grace and mercy For You know the plans You have for me But do they include someone who loves me like You do?

Knowing My Lord - Oregon 1999

If life is about learning & loving & getting to know You What is heaven about isn't that it too? *Inspired by the song "Getting to Know You"*

His Loving Arms - Oregon 1999

Oh Daddy Have I told you how much . . . I love You I need You I want You I desire You I long for You I ache for You Come put Your arms around me and never let me go!! *Inspired by Emmy Lou Harris' song "Daddy's Hands"*

Dreams - Oregon 1999

I've lived my life trying to please everyone else and I put my dreams up on a shelf But now I've learned to follow my heart something I should've known right from the start How did I get wrapped up in these lies when I tell my folks they'll be very surprised Because I've always done what I was told but now I know that I have to be bold, and stand up for my rights or I'll regret it all my life Lord, show me your will & way So that I can start fresh today, following my heart, my dreams, my desires knowing the limits of your grace never expire! *This poem was inspired by the Song "Dream... dream,dream,dream"*

He is my Praise! - Oregon 1999

He is my praise, He is my God, He has done awesome things right before my eyes! Oh Lord, I doubt Oh Lord, I'm weak I've heard, I've seen but I take time to think about me about You and all those things I've gone through Why can't I just trust Why can't I just live Why do I have to mess it up instead of just learning to give My tithe, my life my love my all Oh how many times will I trip & fall * Inspired by Deut. 10:21*

What's Wrong With Me? - Oregon 1999

Lord, what's wrong with me? Why can't they see The contagious laugh The genuine smile The heart of gold That makes it all worth while All they can see is the flesh & fat that covers this body Don't they know that I love you so! And that's all that counts Sharing my love in equal amounts Underneath there's a heart that's true one that is trying hard to live for You! Can't they see me instead of this body! I know that the only one that counts is You And that for You my heart should beat true You love me no matter what so I should quit sitting in this rut I should focus more on you instead of trying to get through . . . to the opposite sex!

April Showers Bring May Flowers - Oregon 1999

Dedicated to Howard Salisbury These tears keep pouring out of me Why can't they just see and let me be I want this time to contemplate On God I need to concentrate. Somehow I know these tears will help Something good will come of this I don't just cry for myself but for those things that I miss "April Showers Bring May Flowers" that's what he told me as he wiped the tears from my eyes "April Showers Bring May Flowers" "There is a reason that you cry and God knows why!" Something good will come from these tears Maybe they will wash away all my fears Maybe they will cleanse my soul So God can come in and make me whole I know I'm clay in the potter's hands He's constantly shaping and molding me but my question to Him is "Why are you using so much water, because it's flowing out of me!" Right now all you see is Showers but God can see the flowers, and He will reveal them to You in His own time!

Butterfly - Oregon 1999

I've spent all these years wandering this earth searching for the one thing I thought I needed. But there really wasn't anything that could satisfy, but the realization that I was to be a butterfly. I was a little caterpillar living out my daily life doing what I thought was right. I played every role, I wore every mask, but no one appreciated or recognized what I was doing for them. Then I realized that I needed to take some time for me. So I moved out of the nest and found a place to rest where I could gather my thoughts and unload my tears and take the time to sort through all my fears. So here I am in my little cocoon, waiting for God to give me a sign that now it is the time to spread open my wings and break out of this shell and bring forth that beautiful butterfly that's always been inside, but needed to go through His transforming love to be all that He intended for her to be!

*Inspired by Mariah Carey's "Someday"