The Door’s Open…but Nobody’s Home.

So far, in the past seven days, I’ve….

*Accidentally left something very important at home when I left for church. Hubby had gone to church on time and I was coming (oddly enough) late in my car, and was supposed to bring something very important with me and I forgot.

*Left to go to Hobby Lobby (no one else was home) and left the back door open. Not unlocked…..open. Standing there…..Wide. Open.

*Left to go to Hobby Lobby — the same trip when I left the back door open — and left a candle burning on the entry table. I was gone for, hmmmm, three hours with the back door open and a candle burning.

*Bounced a check because I forgot to make a deposit.

*Told my sister the same story four times. I know this because she said, “I’m stopping you right here. You’re about to tell me a story you’ve already told me at least four other times.” Nobody tells you the truth like your sister….

*Forgot to eat lunch. Forgot to return a library book. Forgot to return a movie. Forgot to turn on the crock pot and let a cold pot of spaghetti sauce sit on the counter all day, then when I cooked it, I burned it. Forgot to wash my hair. Forgot to send Annie’s lunch to school. Forgot to buy groceries. Ran out of toilet paper for the first time ever. And that’s serious business, because due to traumatic events in my childhood I’m usually completely OCD about making sure we never run out of toilet paper.

The scary thing is, those are only the blunders I know about. What else have I done that I didn’t even realize? Have I left a trail of destruction and mass casualties in my wake?

If I accidentally forget an obligation/forget to answer your email/or, say, burn a house down ……please forgive me and know that its not me because I’m not here.

Not that I ever really am…..in the BEST of circumstances I suffer from a debilitating learning disability…. A.D.D., you know….

I am more aware than ever of my shortcomings….my many failings…..the sheer stupiditiy of the things I do….I do something to remind myself of my own idiocy at least once a day. And its frightening.

Thankfully, the Lord is my Shepherd.

Shepherds lovingly care for their sheep….leading them to green pastures….making them lie down in safety, providing for their every need.

Sheep can’t survive without a shepherd.

Sheep, from what I hear, are slow, dumb animals.

They’re probably more vulnerable to predators because they don’t have the brain capacity to close the pasture gate.

Thankfully, God is the Good Shepherd who lovingly cares for the dumbest of sheep…..and thankfully, he doesn’t let the little lambs go hungry even when the momma sheep forgets to pack a sandwich or burns the spaghetti sauce.

The Shepherd loves his Sheep….He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart….He gently leads those who have young.

Thankfully, God has given me the best of the best of friends who would never let my children spend the night in a dark school building or go hungry, and would probably bring toilet paper if I asked.

I’m totally undeserving of them all.

A wise friend used to tell me that God wants to keep us at a point of need. He wants us to need Him, to be on our knees crying out to Him.

Which is about the only thing I don’t forget to do lately.

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I got a new CD this week called Girls of Grace, and I have almost worn out song #2 by Point of Grace. The lyrics are not new: I sang this song millions of time at Church camp and Bible studies through the years, but I had forgotten this chorus until I heard it on the radio the other day. Simple words, but true and powerful:

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name

Thank God that He is who He is…..