known and not alone

known and not alone

He has more thoughts of me, of us, than anyone.

Not only does he think of me more than anyone else, he thinks thoughts and plans plans that are beyond my imagination.

Putting hope in something or someone else will lead to great disappointment.

Where to find strength in times of weakness?

Where to find hope in times of great hopelessness?

When all looks impossible to the human eye, if the laws of physics and this earth conclude that a situation is impossible, is all deemed hopeless?

If physical resources are at risk of depletion, whether they be financial, emotional, physical health, etc., then what is left?

It is the spiritual.

A realm exists beyond the spiritual eye, beyond the physical limitations and vision of this world.

When we speak of the spiritual, we are speaking of this world that eyes cannot see. It is the realm of the unseen.

It is a Person in whom to hope, where the impossible happens.

It is where healing begins, where hopelessness ends… where death is overcome.

It is in Christ.

I love this song we sing sometimes in church:

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
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every 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 of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
’til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

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I’m standing in this hope.

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Sharing with Jen at Finding Heaven

Laura at The Wellspring

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And counting the gifts with Ann at A Holy Experience – #646-660:

646. J’s tooth extraction went well; he healed fast.

647. Two birthday parties that my youngest attended with boys his age.

648. Finding materials for an interesting, unusual science project. (If it works, I’ll write more about it later!)

649. Laughing hysterically at a funny movie. About once a week or so, we have a family movie night. We’ve watched some good ones, serious ones, funny ones. Last weekend was a funny one.

650. Listening to my daughter practice her humorous speeches. We’ve been practicing accents for different characters for her speeches, to the point that at any given moment around the house, someone is walking around speaking in a different accent. It is hilarious. We’re having so much fun with it.

651. I realized just this week that in the past year, I’ve written about one poem per week, and about 2-3 blog entries most weeks.  That’s at least 40-50 new poems I’ve written, and many articles and blog entries that wouldn’t have otherwise been written. I feel good about that. My writing has improved, I’ve made new blogging friends, and I’ve loved every moment of it. I’m so thankful for this.

652.  Reading books to discuss with my teen daughter. A new level of discussion! I like it!

653. Reading a report on Kenya that my J wrote, and his display board. He did such a good job; proud of him.

654. Having coffee with a friend.

655. Laughing at my kids for making “snow cream”… which is basically eating snow, mixed with maple syrup and some other ingredients of which I’m not too sure of.

656. Homemade no-bake chocolate-oat drop cookies which turned out well!

657. Attending a Lent activity with my youngest, we played a game, talked about the meaning of Easter, made a cross out of sticks, and planted a pot of grass (which has just started to grow!)

658. A cold that my youngest didn’t seem to get… he woke up with symptoms one day, I gave him Vitamin C, and the next day he was better. I thought I was getting a sinus infection again, too, but that has also not happened! Yay, and so thankful!

659. My hair straightener. I’m not sure where I got my naturally curly hair, and I’ve fought it most of my life. But now, I appreciate it and work with it. I use mousse and a diffuser attachment on my hair dryer to help control the frizzies that happen with curly hair. But some days it can be so frizzy. Sorry if this sounds shallow. But I do like that hair straightener when my hair needs a chill pill. 🙂

660. Life is far from perfect. But today I am thankful for the sweet moments that dot the days with joy and beauty.

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