Whats in your hand?

Waking to a downed tree on top of my barn (shed) in my backyard....not cool 😫 This is the kind of thing that normally would send me into a downward spiral of sadness and despair. He's not here and AGAIN I have to take care of that which was never my responsibility. I never desired a wholly independent life....EVER. But that's what I've been given. ..that's what's in my hand.

I was challenged by a simple sticker I placed in my planner this morning. It says:

THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL REASONS TO BE HAPPY!

Beside it I wrote:

HELP ME TO SEE THEM JESUS!

Sometimes it's hard to look at Miss Happy when Miss Crazy Life is in my face. Sigh....

I cannot remember, but a handful of times through these last seven years, that I have not buckled under circumstances which I have had to step in and handle.

Thankfully that buckling did not happen today. There may have been a severe eye rolling and perhaps an, "Are you kidding me Lord?" But there were no tears...no sadness...just a task at hand that needed attention.

Am I growing up? 😳

Is the Lord growing me up? Maybe.....hmmmmm....if I stop kicking and screaming long enough I might just learn something.🙄

I love this scripture:

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
2 Peter 3:18

Is THAT the key? Is God growing me up by giving me over to quiet and aloneness in this season of my life? Is that the HOW? Growing in grace and knowledge of Him IN the quiet? I've fought, in my own power, to overcome deeply rooted strongholds my entire life. I'm tired and honestly, I no longer know exactly what I'm fighting for......

This truly has been a season of growth. It's been a rollercoaster.....many ups and downs.....could this possibly be the exciting "I did it" end and I finally get off the ride? Please Lord let it be so.....my ticket expired a long time ago.

So what is my "strongest" stronghold? A stronghold is defined as a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack.

My "strongest" stronghold has been self protection. Arrows hurt but not so much if I'm in my fortress.

I've always been called an optimist. Some described me as looking through rose colored glasses....naive. I've been called overly emotional, a storyteller, a social butterfly. I've been told I talk too much...... I'm a goody two shoes...... I'm "such" a rule follower, a scaredy cat.....Some might look at these "traits"....I'm not exactly sure what to call them.....and not see them as bad things. Delivery is important. I've spent a good deal of my life trying to shake off these labels. Labels imposed on me by those that don't live in a body that finds those "attributes" so natural.

I've been walking with Jesus for nearly 40 years. I asked myself, "Have I yet to truly grasp that it is no longer I that lives but Christ who lives in me?"

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20

If it's true that I am now in Christ....who am I?

"Many of us waste time worrying about what other people think of us. We want to be valued, loved, respected, and admired. But why base our identity and sense of self-worth on the opinions of other flawed beings when God’s view of us is the only one that truly matters? The most important question we can ask concerning our identity is this: Who does God say I am?"
gotquestions.org

So.....

Who does GOD say I am?

•His -1John 3:1
•Loved - John 3:16
•Chosen - Ephesians 4:1
•Valuable - Ephesians 2:10
•Redeemed -1 Peter 1:18
•Worthy - Zephaniah 3:17
•Purposed - Jeremiah 29:11
•Made in His Image-Genesis1:27
•Friend - James 2:23
•Secure - Psalm 122:7
•Holy - 1 Peter 1:15-16
•Blameless - Jude 1:24
•Temple - 1 Corinthians 6:19
•Branch - John 15:15
•Shield - Psalm 18:30

This is definitely the short list - there are SO many more. I couldn't find a single mention of any of those labels that have been placed on me or that I've placed on myself.

Wow God!

I think today is a true testament to the sovereignty of God. Why? Because only God could show me my true identity through a tree falling on my barn.

I'm so thankful. ❤️

Never underestimate the power of God. Boldly ask him to show you and teach you....and he will. I'm so incredibly thankful for my relationship with Him, who is able to do immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine.

Have a beautiful day.