It's going to be hard, but hard is not impossible

This is a running quote I like. Hard. Not impossible.

There are so many scriptures that talk about the impossible being possible. About our strength in Christ.

"For nothing is impossible with God" Luke 1:37

"I can do all things through Christ because he gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9

One of the hardest things I ever did was watch my son drive down the road when he moved out and two and half hours away. (you can click here to read the post)

(for those of you who've been with me from my blog beginning, you remember the post above, and a few sad ones after)

A dear friend of mine is taking her son to college tomorrow. Google shows it to be 11 hours. If my son lived there, I know it wouldn't take me that long. My heart is tender for her. My Nate was 19 when he left. He's 26 now. And still owns my heart. I've said it many times that he didn't steal my heart, I handed it to him when he came out of the womb and he's had it ever since. I know that just as my boy is special and I love him, her boy is special too, I can see it, and I know she loves him fiercely, (I can see that too).

I just wasn't expecting it to bring up so much emotion for me, remembering. It's part of life, children grow up and become adults and embark on their own lives, and no matter what we do, we can't stop it. And we shouldn't. Today's parents should do better at kicking them out of the nest.

When I was "remembering" tonight, the verse below came to mind.

“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” Luke 2:19

Another version says she "treasured" them. This is something mothers understand. How you can hold on to a memory. Treasure a memory. The first time you held them. The smile that would make you do anything. The feel of baby hair between your in fingers as they nap in your lap. The hurts you couldn't fix.

So tonight and tomorrow and as often as it comes to mind, my heart and prayers are with Cindy (and Meredith and Sonya) as their babies leave for college.

There will be some hard moments. But not impossible. God will be with mama, and he'll take care of the boy.

Free

I got a letter in the mail a couple weeks ago. It filled me with fear. It's not a big deal, either. Just part of life. But there it was, fear, staring me in the face. I can't change the situation. It's not a situation that needs changing. It's (probably) not anything to fear. Yet..FEAR

Then, Steve sent out the list of music for the worship set 7/22/18. No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music.

Slavery. Slaves. Enslaved.

The original Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic that the Bible was written in used the word slaves (and forms of) much more than we see in our current versions. Apparently the word "Slave" had a negative connotation and was replaced by the word "servant" or "serve" as much as possible. American history and all.

See the difference, here though? Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else. he will hold to the one, and despise the other, Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

You can serve two masters. I could conceivably be a servant in a household during the week and another one on the weekend. However, I cannot be a SLAVE to two masters. When you are a slave, the master owns you.

With God as my master, I am owned by him. 1 John 4:8 "there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."

God's perfect love casts out my fear.

I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.