I'm Here to Stay!

Well, at least for the time being! :) It's been a while since I've updated, so I figured I'd update now. Not too much has been happening since I last updated, honestly. My life is busy...but not too exciting. Christmas break is well underway. I've been home for a full week now(actually a little over!!). Man...it is flying! Christmas is tomorrow...UNBELIEVABLE!!! I'm ready though. I'm excited to give my presents to my family. I'm sure they'll love them. Today at church was great. I got to sleep in for the first Sunday home in a long time. The bus route I'm on always leaves around 8 every Sunday morning, so not much time to sleep in. But today we didn't run the buses so I got to sleep in. It was nice! :) Church was great. Pastor Crockett did an excellent job. It was a great Christmas message. Tonight's Christmas Eve service was good too. Then tonight after church, my family went over to my Dad's mom's house to eat pizza and spend some time with her. Well, my cousin was there with his wife and 2 kids. We spent some unexpected time with them. But it opened up my eyes to something God had shown me Tuesday. God has saved me from so much and has allowed me to life a much better life than most of the people in my graduating class and family even. Much (I won't say all...I do have hope) of my family on my dad's side are unsaved. They are relatively good people, just unsaved and living sinful lives. My graduating class...almost half of them haven't gone to any sort of college to make anything of themselves. Two of them already have babies (one is married), one had a miscarriage (unmarried), one is married and in the military, the last is married with a decent job she enjoys, but could've made much more for herself. All of these people have made me realize that God has truly blessed me beyond imagination with where He has me in my life right now. My friends, my family...everything. It's amazing how just when I think that I need something more or wish I had something different happening in my life, God shows me that if I did have the things I wanted, I wouldn't be happier. All I truly do need is Him. And I'm glad. I'm praising Him for His wonderful goodness to me.

Have you ever woke up in the morning and thought of living another day sinning? Let me explain. We all have sins that we commit every day. And the thought of doing that sin AGAIN comes to your mind, and you just don't want to get up? A while ago in Dorm Devos we talked a little about this. I know God will forgive. That's just Who He is. But the thought of failing Him AGAIN is one that's hard to deal with. But just thinking of the fact that God is gracious and so merciful...literally brings me to tears. Just to think that He loves me so much that He'll forgive me again and again and again...wow. I'm so thankful for this. Tonight in the service I was reminded of just Who Christ is. How much suffering He went through...for me. He was sent to earth, knowing He would one day bear the sins of the world. And He still did it. He still came. He still lived a perfect life. He still DIED for us. I know I've written about this often. But this thought, to me, gets better every time. I know we're human and we fall. But knowing God is faithful to forgive us of our sins is a thought that I love to think about.

So, while I'm thinking of this Christmas...I also think of Christ coming to be born and grow up one day to die for my sins. How great He is...and joy to the world that He came. He came to earth for me.

It's almost 11:30 on Christmas Eve. I hope each of you have a great Christmas Day tomorrow! Enjoy spending time with your family and friends. Merry Christmas!