In Christ Alone

Here are the words to one of my favorite songs:

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
Fulness 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 every 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 power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

I first heard this modern hymn at Grace Community Church in California. I loved the powerful, worshipful words right away and it quickly became a favorite because it so clearly defines our faith and reminds us of the beauty of Christ. I've even had the pleasure to hear the writers (the Getty's) sing that song in person twice! A year a half later, Darren and I drove to Grace commenting that it was our last Sunday before we left for our new adventure in Alabama (which we have been on for 5 years now:) That Sunday morning we sang this song and a typically unemotional me broke down in tears. We were meant for community. To build strong relationships and to have an unexplainable love for "the brethren". Now it felt as if there WAS truly nothing certain, but Christ. There was something bittersweet about that day, even as we knew God would provide a new community of much-loved brothers and sisters. That morning I remember feeling so much human uncertainty mixed with Christ's strength.

This past Sunday, Darren, Josie, and I drove to church together and commented about how this would be our last Sunday at Morningview as a family of three, and We weren't too dramatic about it especially as we know we are coming home to this same church even after our long trek to Zambia. And guess what song we sang? Yep...In Christ Alone. As soon as we started singing I felt tears. I felt weak, but I felt His strength all at the same time. I felt anxious about the unknowns ahead and yet certain of our great future hope...Heaven! I felt like screaming "But this is too much! I changed my mind. I like these people and I'd rather spend Christmas with THEM" and at the same time praising God for such clear direction that we KNOW that no matter what comes our way He led us to Zambia. Y'all we're down to 5 days. I'm so stinkin' excited I can't contain it sometimes. Like seriously I can't sleep and I want to talk and think about it all the time. I'm also all the time having to tell myself not to be anxious, but "with prayer and supplication let my requests be made known to God." So...that's where I am right now. Pray for me!

So here's my little Robot as promised:

And the Family:

So I was Padme and Josie was C3PO. Darren decided to pretend he wasn't with us nerdy folk and instead of wearing his "cheesy" Jedi costume he went as a cowboy. He's purdy handsome. He made a hot Jedi, too though;)