so its a brand new year... been that way for a week actually lol. it couldnt have started off any better. Gods started this year off with a bang in my life. my xanga entries of '06 will be different from '05 i think. Life is about so much more than i have let it be about. so less ranting, venting, complaining, or just meaningless writing. more stories of how great God is, more lessons learned in Christ, more rejoicing in the life God has allowed me to have.

God is an amazing God.... so much greater, holier, humongouser, beautifuler, and awesomer than you could ever imagine (yes i realize alot of those arent actual words lol). He has done so much for us. The God of the universe, the Creator, the Beginning and the End of all things, who controls everything that happens and will or ever has happened.... stepped down from the glory and power of heaven to become a man like us.... going through our normal hardships and struggles, yet never sinning. even more, He, in His innocence, died the worst death imaginable to take away the penalty for our sin... defeating sin altogether and rising again to allow us to not have to be bound by it... and, of course, to allow us the opportunity to spend eternity with God in heaven. without Him and His death and ressurection we would be completely hopeless. He rescued us from our hopelessness and continues to rescue us from the sin that we constantly fall into by offering never ending forgiveness, grace, and mercy. and we completely dont deserve it.... and... more than that.. we take advantage of it. i always seem to forget the price Jesus Christ paid for us on the cross. He gave up everything so we could gain everything. yet i continue to push Him aside in my life...becoming complacent and apathetic in my walk with Him and beginning to make the other aspects of my life so much more important than seeking after Him and His will.

Its time for that to change. God calls us as Christians to follow after Him in everything we do. we cant take the kind of love Christ has bestowed on us for granted. its too great for that. He has given us the best gift we could ever recieve. He deserves everything we have. God doesnt want to be at the top of your priority list. He wants to be in every part your priority list. He wants to be in every aspect of your life...from school to work to friendships to family to dating... everything. and thats the least we can do for all He has done for us. its time to stop seeking after the other things that the world has to offer and start seeking after the One thing that matters and the Only thing that will last.

We serve an awesome God! an awesome, but jealous God. He wants all of you, not just a part of your life. He is Life. There is nothing on earth as satisfying as He is... if you are thirsty for Him he WILL fill you up.

wrapping all this up--> God is beautiful and loves you more than you could ever know or even comprehend. without Him, we truly are nothing.

so guys....i know youve more than likely heard this stuff so many times.... but its so incredibly true! know this.. that in whatever is going on in your life, that Almighty God is in control and we have already won the battle in this life cuz Jesus won it for us!!! Happy New Year!!!!

"Praise the Lord, O my Soul; all my inmost being praise His holy name. Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not His benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles." -- Psalm 103:1-5

YAY!! finals are FINALLY over!!! ive made it through my first semester in college in one piece!! haha.... *sigh of relief*. im so glad finals week is over... im pretty sure i could not study another day... my brain couldnt hold anymore!! now i have a day or 2 in college station just to hang out before i head back to lufkin. fun. tommorow im going out to the site of extreme makeover home edition and watch them work on the house for their newest episode :)!! maybe ill get a couple of nice pics of ty ;) haha! after that, im gonna pack up and head out on friday back to good ole l-town for a month or so! it will be nice to be home and to not have to worry about studying.im ready. 10 days till christmas!!! i love christmas!! its so fun. so... home is good but im gonna miss aggieland and alll my friends here! i miss them already! i might be able to see a few of my houstonian friends over the break but thats probably it :(. im super excited about hanging with my awesome lufkin friends again alot at the same time tho :) i love yall and miss yall! anyway, i better cut it short today.... im tired! catch yall later! God Bless!!