Remembering God's Promises On the Journey
Back to Africa

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

It's Christmas time! This year I am really about putting the "Christ" back into Christmas. I want to embrace that this time of year is a celebration of Jesus Christ's birth into the world. It is not about me, and it is not about presents or anyone else. I think that is so important to remember today. I have almost all of my shopping finished, and I am ready to relax and spend the holiday in a meaningful way this year. Family will be coming over on Christmas Eve to have dinner, exchange gifts, and hang out. I look forward to it. Tomorrow night is my work Christmas party for the group home I work in. This job and the opportunity I have had to get to know these girls who have various developmental disorders has been such a blessing to me. Their joy and their struggles encourage me and often times uplift me. I have been working on finishing my application essay for graduate schools tonight. I know it is nowhere near perfect, but I hope it works. I am sending the application packets off tomorrow. I know it will feel great to have that out of the way! I want to include the lyrics to this new song that really speaks of the gift God gives us through His Son - His grace which allows us to freely come to God anytime.

Only Grace
by Matthew West

There is no guilt here
There is no shame
No pointing fingers
There is no blame
What happened yesterday
has disappeared
The dirt has washed away
And now it's clear

There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy
And believe me it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
There's nothing left now
There's only grace

You're starting over now
Under the sun
You're stepping forward now
A new life has begun
Your new life has begun

There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy
And believe me it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
There's nothing left now
There's only grace

And if you should fall again
Get back up, get back up
Reach out and take my hand
Get back up, get back up
Get back up again
Get back up again

There's only grace
There's only love
There's only mercy
And believe me it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
There's nothing left now
There's only grace

There's only mercy
And believe me it's enough
Your sins are gone
Without a trace
There's nothing left now
There's only grace

So get back up, get back up again