Tuesday, May 22, 2012

~A Sound Mind~




Last week I had to face one of my worst fears...worse than facing

  my worst bear fear two weeks ago,



one of my girlies had to be admitted into the hospital.

The littlest girlie.


I didn't share this last week, because by the time I could catch my breath ...it was over and she was home again.



When I saw this week's Word Art Wednesday Challenge #28 verse,


I knew that I had to tell all:


 how GOOD AND MERCIFUL GOD IS;


and how HE was there with us last week.




When I read 2 Timothy 1 up to verse 1:9 ...


I recognize that Paul is encouraging Timothy with these words.


Timothy needed to hear how powerful God is, and that HE GIVES US this spirit of power, love, and sound mind...
just like we need to hear it now.


We don't just FEEL IT because we are God's children.

We shouldn't even ACT AS IF we feel it, if we don't.

Honestly, we have a natural tendency to fear..at least I do.

I freely admit that I am a fragile being...not brave or strong.
I couldn't pretend to be... even if I wanted to.

 
So, to have my daughter at church, ringing bells with our handbell choir, singing on Sunday morning a mother's day song...healthy as can be...



then have her laying in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV and receiving breathing treatments two days later...too sick to be at home...


well, it was one of those things that I imagined would have SHUT ME DOWN.



She had a slight cold last Monday and the next day, she was grabbing her throat, saying she couldn't breathe.


She had croup.


Odd for an eleven year old.


Odd, because she didn't have a cough.


Odd enough for them to admit her into the hospital and keep her for over a day.


My husband stayed the night with her...

I took the day shift.



Throughout all this...God gave me peace.


He gave me a sound mind.


He continuously let me know,



it was going to be ok.


To me, that was the WORLD.

It was EVERYTHING.

When I became a Christian, I didn't become a braver soul...ready to take on anything that came my way.


Instead, I have a great God who I can lean on, talk to, and confide in. A God who truly can handle anything that comes my way~including my fears.

I have peace and a sound mind.

Not because of who I am now,

but because of who HE is, and where He stands in my life.



I thank Him for meeting my fears, every time,


and renewing my faith and sound mind.


Thanks for letting me share this personal situation with you~I trust your mind is sound.


If not, you know where to go, don't you?

________

As for technical card details:












Sentiment: Word Art Wednesday
Stamp:  I Heart Papers Mint Motif Beyond Borders
Ink:Papertrey Ink true black,Ranger Tim Holtz Distress ink mustard seed
Dies: Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Maple Leaves dies
Paper: Georgia Pacific white
Paints:Adirondack Acrylics butterscotch and espresso
Other:stapler

9 comments:

Karen Letchworth said...

Marlena: Thanks for sharing this. You are so right about what you said. God really is wonderful to love us and take care of us the way He does. I never like it when my kids are hurt or sick. I'd rather go through it myself, so I know how worried you must have been. But what a blessing to have His constant love and care. Thanks for sharing this post, and for making this beautiful card to play along in this week's challenge at Word Art Wednesday. You made my morning better by sharing. Thanks for being an encouragement, and for praising Him along with me. I just prayed for you and your family.
Hugs,
Karen L
Word Art Wednesday

Donna B. said...

Great card! Love yellow on the leaf. Thanks for playing this week at The Play Date Cafe.

Colleen Dietrich said...

Aww, Marlena, I'm so sorry to hear your DD was sick and in the hospital. :( Glad to hear she is better, and that God was there for you throughout. It must've been scary at times, with your child in such dire straits.

Love the card, the negative and positive die cuts. So pretty. Thanks so much for playing with us at The Play Date Cafe this week. :)

Jinny Newlin said...

I LOVE this scripture! I quote it to my little ones over and over and pray it over them when they wake up from bad dreams, and I LOVE the way you've highlighted portions of it and etched it upon a leaf! Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks so much for playing along with us this week at The Play Date Cafe! And I'm so glad to hear that your daughter is safe and sound, healthy and whole, at home, once again. Hugs!

Karen B. said...

What a scary situations, but I am so glad to hear that she is doing better! Your card is beautiful, your post is beautiful.

Wendy Swenne said...

What a beautiful card. Love the simplicity in it. And how you printed the scripture on a leaf. Loe that.

Thanks for playing along with us at WAW.

Wendy

Kelly Griglione said...

Wow Marlena, so sorry to hear about your daughter's serious sickness! It's so great that she's better, and that you are able to reflect back on the experience in a positive way. Beautiful card and verse!

Annette Allen said...

wow I love this verse...such an amazing card...I love it

Jennifer Scull said...

it's months later as I read this post for the first time. I'm sure every time you re-read this, you feel those exact same emotions overcome you. and then God wraps you in His arms of love and reminds you once again that His love for both you and your daughter are more than you can possibly fathom. You feel His peace once again enfold you and you can rest easy. Isn't He so good to us?! :)

this is my life verse and when I saw it over at Moxie Fab today, I knew I had to race right over. I remember the phone call I received telling me that my oldest son had been hit by a car while he was out riding a bike with a friend. I remember my then 3 year old middle son being rushed to the hospital because he, too, had the croup and wasn't breathing. I remember the doctor telling me a few months ago that I have cancer. and all along this verse has sustained me letting me know that I do not walk through this life alone. We have a most faithful Father who will never ever leave our side.

sending hugs your way for a most amazing week! :)