Not me! Monday

Oh, yes! It's Not Me! Monday courtesy of MckMama and all the rest of us who celebrate Monday by sharing all the activities that we were NOT involved in this week. I of course did none of the following this week. Seriously.

I DID NOT take on too many responsibilities this past week. So much so, that my pregnant self only slept 5/6 hours a night.

I was NOT amazed by God's provision this past week in reliving me of some of those responsibilities after I committed.

I DID NOT go to a church small group meeting in full Lancome Spring make-up, Pink Irreverence after a full day of training. I DID NOT look like a clown because I didn't get to choose the colors and the bright pink lipstick didn't go as well with my "I've been up since 5:30AM skin" as one might have liked. (the new look is cool, but not so much for a small group meeting!)

I DID NOT bribe my children with a treat for behaving well in Lowe's. My children always follow directions with no need of candy/chocolate to entice them into obedience.

I DID NOT sit in the silence of my house after we had pictures taken for selling the house. I was NOT amazed at the grace of God in this place and at the same time I am NOT so ready to go, I would leave tonight if I could.

I DID NOT lock our bedroom door and stay in bed until 9AM on Saturday because we were so tired!

This past week has not been so busy, I have NOT forgotten all things I thought of for this post.



On a serious note, this week a sweet, little, 8-year-old boy name Grant has gone to be with Jesus. His family is grieving, but their walk through this is amazing. Please pray for his parents and his older brother & sister. They have only started the grieving process.

Fear

I've been thinking a lot about fear recently. Fear in my life usually comes in the form of "what if?"
"What if something is wrong with the baby?"
"What if something happens to Michael or the other children?"
"What if our house doesn't sell?"
"What if we can't afford a new house?"

All these questions are rooted in fear. Not that we can't ask or don't ask questions, but I have the tendency to spin out scenarios based on the questions. Then my focus becomes on me and the solutions and options, rather than God. It's so easy; I slip into it before I even realize it. And then hope dissipates and escapes me.

Yesterday, a dear old friend experienced a tragedy in her life that was expected, but still so difficult. Her 8 year old son died after fighting for so long. How Emily, Shawn, and their son Grant have handled this suffering has reminded me where my hope is found. Nothing on this earth compares to knowing Jesus. Really, nothing.

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
(Stuart Townsend)

As they grieve for Grant, they and I remember that he is singing with His Savior in heaven, and that one day He will wipe away every tear.

So when the questions, the 'what ifs' come, I will remember that nothing can ever take me from my life in Christ. That is where my hope is found.