Attitude Adjustment

Nothing like reflecting on what Christ did for us on the cross to cause a shift in perspective. Several times today I have had words from songs or hymns pop into my head, and each time I paused to thank God for giving up His son so that I might live. Here are a few of my favorites:

• He's alive! He's alive! He's alive and I'm forgiven; heaven's gates are open wide. He's alive!
  

• Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, he holds the future. And life is worth the living, just because He lives.
  

• Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er His foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
  

• Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering. Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King. But He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me. Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

So today I have been reflecting on what Christ did for me and how blessed I am. It is so easy to to pull out the "poor me" card and get bogged down in daily stresses and complain about how tough life is. But the truth of the matter, in my case anyway, is that life is GOOD. God is GREAT. And I have been blessed beyond measure.

Sure, I am away from my husband. But we are still together after 12 years (today is our anniversary, in fact), and I would say that our marriage gets better and better all the time. We have had some amazing experiences together. We have had our share of struggles and doubts, but God has done a mighty work in our hearts and lives, and we recognize that without him we would not have stayed together anywhere near this long.

Yes, I have 3 kids to care for without having their daddy around. But we are living with my parents, and that has allowed me to work on the house to get it ready to sell, and it STAYS clean. They go above and beyond EVERY SINGLE DAY to help me out. They let me sleep in most mornings, and they watch the kids so I can run errands or make it to various appointments. They have essentially allowed us to take over their lives so that we could have a smoother process. Without them I would be a wreck! And so would the house, and the kids...I shudder to think.

We have yet to find a home in Tennessee. But I believe that God is trying to teach us something through this piece of the journey. And I was reminded the other day that God is more interested in our character than in our comfort. He is more interested in knowing that I am trusting in Him to provide for our needs (not necessarily our wants) than He is in making things easy or quick. When he closes a door to something that I REALLY think that I want/need, He is interested in how I'm going to respond. Will I still praise Him and trust in Him? The answer is, yes. Well, if I'm being entirely honest, the answer is, I'm coming around. He is giving me peace that He will provide. Are there obstacles? Sure. But because He lives, I can face tomorrow, and all fear is gone. He knows the future, and life is good because He lives.

Thank you, Lord, for constantly showing me grace, mercy and love. Thank you for forgiving me, even though I make some mistakes again and again. Help me to focus on you consistently and continually. Thank you for blessing me with this life, and for suffering and dying on the cross so that I may be forgiven.