Going Home

I love going home. I never thought I would be "that" adult that loves going home. I enjoy seeing the stages of life come out in me. In college, I loved being independant. When I was single, I liked going home, but always wanted to the opportunity to be at my church for holidays. Now that I'm married, I really love walking in my parents' house...the smell, the decorations, the warmth, and I just love my home town.

We give my mom a hard time about her perfectionism, but I love that she makes the home so warm and Christmasy....I know my dad helps too. :) I love going home because its surrounded in love and the true meaning of Christmas....Christ's Birth. While we have a Santa Claus or two up for decoration, you can't walk into my parents' home and not see CHRIST! He is the only thing to truly celebrate at this time of year. All the other things I just absolutely LOVE about Christmas...family, food, music, decorations, finding the perfect gifts for the people we love, sharing baked goodies with friends and family....all fall short of the BIRTH OF CHRIST! While some still celebrate all the other things I love about Christmas and leave Christ out, Christmas is just another day....lonely for some, depressing for others, empty, completely selfish, and many still simply seeking for anything to fill that void inside. Ironically, the only thing that can fill that void is Christ! The one thing that can fill their void and give people peace, is the one thing they are so desperately trying to avoid and pretend doesn't exist.

The Holy God, became human....and not just human, but came as a baby! He had to learn to walk and talk...all while He is 100% MAN, He was STILL 100% GOD!!! He was born to save the lost! A verse that so many know is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave is only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." Most people don't read the next verse...which is my favorite...John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

I wish more people would let go of their pride and truly KNOW Him! Know His character! Know His love! Know His faithfulness! Know His salvation!

All of this, I learned growing up at home. And by grace alone I have clung to Him for dear life!!! He is completely sufficient! He is my perfect Friend and Father! I could not do life without Him!!

My prayer is that my friends, my family and you believe in Him and trust that the only way you can spend eternal life with Him is through faith that Christ was born a human (while still God...not giving up any part of His diety), lived a perfect life, died for your sins, AND rose again on the 3rd day!!! He paid the price for our sins that we each deserve to pay! Christ was God's perfect gift, given by grace, so that we can be reconciled to Him.

One day, because I've trusted Christ as my Lord and Savior, I will get to truly go HOME! As much I love going home now, I can't imagine the glorious COMING HOME we will all have, as believers, entering God's Home! The food, family, fellowship, singing, giving, and serving that will take place is beyond anything we can comprehend!

May God and his gracious gift of salvation become more real to you this Christmas!!! And I pray that I will see you AT HOME one day!