Hope, because its all we can do

HOPE. I've been talking, thinking, typing, hearing about this word a lot lately, so I think that God is trying to open my eyes to something. I've already talked about having false hope covered with fears and doubts, but I didn't even put the verse that goes with that. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18 For those of us who have perfect love through Jesus Christ, there is no room for fear.... that statement blows my mind, because my personality is that of a very fearful girl. I try to stay positive on the outside and let things roll off my back, but inside there is a struggle with fear, a battle actually is a better word. Bad things happen all around, so I guess its only natural to expect them to happen to me. And in truth, they do because we live in a fallen world and I am a sinner, but I have been covered by Christ to live this new life without fear. The offer is there, and God is there with His hand open telling me to come with him, but I just sit in my fear... This is getting pretty deep, which it is, but this "fear" that I'm talking about can be about dumb little things. If I open myself up to that friend, what if she rejects me. That would be devastating so I'll just keep my distance. If I put all my hope into moving into this new house that is practically perfect for us, then something will happen to pull the rug out from under me and I'll be devastated. If I pay all my bills on time this week that will only leave us with barely enough money for gas and groceries, so I'll just make this bill a little late.... This is real, this is me. These are my thoughts and feelings, and I'm sure most of you can relate to them all too well. Where the hope comes in, is that there is only hope in God. He is the only one you can put your hope and trust in. But here I am trying to control every situation, and if I can't control the outcome, I just stay away. In reality, God is controlling every situation. I have no control over what happens to me. If I did, I'd be in trouble. I would have never married my husband, never had my children, would have gone off to school somewhere else, married the first boy I fell "in love" with. Probably would have stopped going to church, wouldn't have all my wonderful friends that I so chersih... I would just be, well LOST. The perfect word for life with God, lost. But here is the good news, that was repeated to me over and over on Sunday morning. Through what ever circumstance, issues, problems you get yourself into or you are in, there is always hope. We are studying Eve in my Sunday school class right now. The mother of all living, and the one who gave her husband the fruit which caused the whole world to change. That's a lot to be responsible for, and when God begins to give her His curse, he also gives her great hope. He tells her that she will have pain in childbearing, which means she will have children! He tells her she will have to obey her husband even though she'll have this inner struggle to be over him, which tells her she still gets to stay with Adam. God doesn't kill her, but gives her hope for her future. He also tells her that her offspring will be the one to defeat Satan. So she lives her whole life expecting her child to be the one to defeat Satan. That's pretty hopeful if you ask me. God takes her consequence and punishes her for disobedience, but still tells her, I'm still going to take care of you. You are my creation and I love you. Wow, wonderful :) Then it was my Sunday to give the children's sermon, and it was about Fanny Crosby. For those of you who don't know, she wrote a lot of the popular hymns we sing in church. "Blessed Assurance" "To God be the Glory." And it told her story about how when she was like 7 weeks old I think, she got eye infection, and her family took her to what they thought was a doctor, but it was someone posing as one and whatever they did to her made her lose sight in both of her eyes, blind. And the lesson told the kids that most of us in this circumstance would be bitter and upset about their life without sight, but Fanny went on to write beautiful songs and poems about how much she loved God and gave him glory for all He has done in her life. Hope no matter what the circumstance. So, why shouldn't I have hope? Even if I do put all my hope into something and things don't work out the way I want them to, they are working out the way GOD wants them to, and that's al I need. "Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee." Day Fifteen: A picture of something you want to do before you die. Again, I don't have a picture of this because it hasn't happened yet, but I want to watch my children come to know Christ and see them get baptized! For sure, that is at the top of my life list. But there are lots of things on the list! Drive along Rt. 66, family vacation to the Grand Canyon, take my kids to Disney World, live on the beach, have twins, and some things I've been able to check off! Be a Mommy, be a wife, have Christmas at my house.... ~Candi