So close but not yet

I have a mere 11 days left until i go back to school. it feels like this summer lasted a lifetime, but at the same time flew by! My summer classes are almost over--Thank God. but with that, my volunteering is ending too. I've spent 13 days over the summer and 4-5 hours a day with the wonderful people at childrens hospital. i loved every minute of it no matter how stressful or boring it got at times. I think that is definitely the highlight of my summer. Hopefully i'll be able to volunteer again next summer or even somewhere in nashville once i get back.

Well, sunday i went to church for the first time in a looonnnggg time. you know you just start making those excuses of "i'm too tired," "I didn't read what we're learning about today so i'll be behind," "i just got back from vacation," etc. In reality, i just talk myself out of it and i'm being really lazy. Going this weekend was great. The message really spoke to me and made me regret being so lazy. He talked about how Jesus' stripes redeemed us. He said that the cross was not for our sake alone, it was for God's sake. I am a guilty, ugly, mean sinner, but because God sent his Son to die on the cross for me, I am saved. God hates sin. He HATES it. The Bible talks about His loathing of sin. If i sin, and God hates sin, then God hates me because of my sin. But because Jesus died on the cross, took my sin, and paid for it, God does not see me as a ugly, nasty sinner. He sees me as His precious daughter. How marvelous is this thought? How beautiful is God's mercy?

Thank you Lord for everything you have given me. I definitely could not do anything on my own. Through YOU i can do all things.

Love your daughter.