No Scheme of Man....

I hope I can be "authentic" with you. ("Authentic" is one of our life group leader's favorite words... He's always telling us that we should be authentic.) And I feel that I can be with you.

I feel like I can tell you that I'm terrified right now, that I don't know what tomorrow will hold for us. I feel like I'm being cryptic, because unfortunately, I'm not allowed to share exactly what's going on with us, so I can't make you understand what my fear's founded on. Once everything's said and done, I'll share a little more.

For now, please be praying for me and sweet husband, and for all other parties involved.

Yesterday, we had an awesome praise and worship time at church. The choir sang a song that I just stood and wept to, tears streaming down my face as I looked heavenward and had a sweet conversation with God.

"In Christ Alone"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

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.

My favorite part of this whole song is a line in the very last verse:

"No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns of calls me home- Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

No matter what evils plot against me, nothing can change that fact that God's arms are permanently wrapped around me. Till my dying day, or when Christ comes back to Earth, I can stand firm in that knowledge.

It look me a while to realize that just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean that I won't have to face hard times. In fact, the opposite is true. Because I'm a Christian, God guarantees that I will face hard times. That Satan will be a presence fighting for a hold in my life. But nothing, nothing, can change the fact that God will walk through this fire with me. Amen to that.