Surrendering is so difficult for us in so many different ways. Surrendering to God's will, God's timing...and the toughest one, surrendering ourselves to God, especially not knowing how He is going to move and work with it. We have things we want to hang on to. Thing we believe can give us happiness, pleasure and love. In the Old Testament, it was their idols...today we have our own idols. Money, media, drugs, alcohol, relationships, careers....and we hold them tightly, believing our life is better with these things. We think we know best.
We constantly want to keep our hands in feet in. We want that control. Not just of our own lives...but the lives of those we love as well. It is so hard to let go, to put our hands in the air, and just surrender. We have the fight within us, we won't allow that feeling of release, feeling as if it is a sign of weakness. We hang tightly to these things, and we are fooled by deceit and momentary pleasure.
And yet, when we do, when we let go, release and surrender, that is freedom. It is amazing, empowering, and comforting...if we are surrendering to God. And it doesn't matter what the struggle is...no matter how big, or how small. We need to let go of everything, and allow God to have that control. If He is asking for our time, our talents, our money, careers and habits...our idols, we need to let go, hand it over, and watch the blessing that comes in return.
What are you trying to control? What are you trying to handle? What is it that you are hanging on to? Are you ready....lift your hands, turn it over, allow Him to take control? Experience your freedom. Watch what happens, watch it enfold. In His perfect timing and His perfect way, allow Him to be first in your life. He who is truth, justice and righteousness.
Let us learn from those who came before;
"O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord...." Jeremiah 4: 4
May my words always be salt and light to you.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Who Reigns?
I wish when I gave my life over to Christ that I could have "left the building".
I wish I no longer was there to try and slide myself into the place of leadership and bump him out of the way.
I wish I could no longer could fall prey to temptations or give in to sin.
I wish that when others looked at my life, my actions, my decisions...they only saw Christ. His choices. His decisions. His reactions.
Then, when others who see me often, watched me over the years, they wouldn't question his existence in my life. I see it in their eyes. I hear it in their words and their questions.
And if it isn't my life their examining, then it is another. We speak of this Christ who entered our lives, our hearts, we gave our lives over to His reign....and yet our lives so often look just like their own.
We make bad decisions. We move away from commitments. We get angry. We lie and gossip. We hurt others. We become full of pride. We spend wasted hours on our own pleasures, looking away from others and their needs. We judge. We have bad habits.
We look so much like so many other humans.
Those times...we have tried to take over the throne. We decide to try and reign again. And when we do...we sin.
So, the difference? We will not stay stuck in sin. We can not keep sinning. We have the spirit of God residing in our hearts. If we are staying there, then we should be examining our lives and hearts. Not everyone who calls themselves Christians are. There are some who confess with their mouths, but not believe and commit with their hearts.
God is still there...He is still in control. We may think we have control...but no way. He allows us to make these choices, and he also allows the consequences. But, in his wisdom and love....He moves us out of the way, and reminds us..."I AM IN CONTROL". He grabs our hearts and convicts us, not allowing us to wallow in sin.
It is here where we grow, where we see God. We learn how powerless we are, how weak, and we cling to him. And for us, He is right there. Ready to clean up and use it to glorify Him.
Without him...you stay stuck there. You continue in sin, and you can't pull yourself from its grip. You may try...and you will attempt to control it. But, you will never do it alone. You have no where to turn, no promise to hang on to. There is only you. But I am here to tell you...He is right there. His hand is held out. He is waiting for you. He just wants you to call out, recognize that is is just you...and that you need Him. He wants to sit on the throne, He wants to reign.
And he reigns with wisdom, love, and forgiveness. He reigns with mercy and grace.
So...please don't look at me...or at him. Look to the King. We still struggle with the same things you do. We will still disappoint. But watch, watch when we put Him where He belongs. Watch as we move from the throne. Look at what He has done in our lives. It is his power, glory and kingdom we wish for you to see. We still stand in awe of Him, not in ourselves.
"Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. " 1 John 3:9
May you find salt and light in my words.
I wish I no longer was there to try and slide myself into the place of leadership and bump him out of the way.
I wish I could no longer could fall prey to temptations or give in to sin.
I wish that when others looked at my life, my actions, my decisions...they only saw Christ. His choices. His decisions. His reactions.
Then, when others who see me often, watched me over the years, they wouldn't question his existence in my life. I see it in their eyes. I hear it in their words and their questions.
And if it isn't my life their examining, then it is another. We speak of this Christ who entered our lives, our hearts, we gave our lives over to His reign....and yet our lives so often look just like their own.
We make bad decisions. We move away from commitments. We get angry. We lie and gossip. We hurt others. We become full of pride. We spend wasted hours on our own pleasures, looking away from others and their needs. We judge. We have bad habits.
We look so much like so many other humans.
Those times...we have tried to take over the throne. We decide to try and reign again. And when we do...we sin.
So, the difference? We will not stay stuck in sin. We can not keep sinning. We have the spirit of God residing in our hearts. If we are staying there, then we should be examining our lives and hearts. Not everyone who calls themselves Christians are. There are some who confess with their mouths, but not believe and commit with their hearts.
God is still there...He is still in control. We may think we have control...but no way. He allows us to make these choices, and he also allows the consequences. But, in his wisdom and love....He moves us out of the way, and reminds us..."I AM IN CONTROL". He grabs our hearts and convicts us, not allowing us to wallow in sin.
It is here where we grow, where we see God. We learn how powerless we are, how weak, and we cling to him. And for us, He is right there. Ready to clean up and use it to glorify Him.
Without him...you stay stuck there. You continue in sin, and you can't pull yourself from its grip. You may try...and you will attempt to control it. But, you will never do it alone. You have no where to turn, no promise to hang on to. There is only you. But I am here to tell you...He is right there. His hand is held out. He is waiting for you. He just wants you to call out, recognize that is is just you...and that you need Him. He wants to sit on the throne, He wants to reign.
And he reigns with wisdom, love, and forgiveness. He reigns with mercy and grace.
So...please don't look at me...or at him. Look to the King. We still struggle with the same things you do. We will still disappoint. But watch, watch when we put Him where He belongs. Watch as we move from the throne. Look at what He has done in our lives. It is his power, glory and kingdom we wish for you to see. We still stand in awe of Him, not in ourselves.
"Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. " 1 John 3:9
May you find salt and light in my words.
Monday, July 18, 2011
How Small is Your World?
God has really been dealing with this summer about how small my world is. I have really kept some boundaries on it and have done little to reach out.
He first started to deal with me with the internet, and my writing. He allowed me to see how big of an audience is out there, and that I had something to share. So that is how I started blogging. But typed words is not enough.
God is now calling me to more. To action. I love how God works. He first puts these little curious desires, or wonderings in your heart. He grows them. He spoke to me in my summer reading. And He always backs his thoughts and desires for me with scripture, his word. Then he shares experiences. He gives you glimpses.
He lays it out your feet and asks you to take the steps. He is always prepared for our doubts and questions. He knows us. Knows our fears.
And this morning, He answered those.
"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down th the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me." Psalm 139:7-10 (NLT)
So, as he makes my world bigger, and he calls me beyond this little circle, whether it is here in typing, or at the pregnancy center in town...or in the Domincan Republic, he will be there with me. This morning that image was so clear in my mind. What can I fear? Seeing God walk beside me, guiding, supporting and strengthening leaves me asking, Where can't I go? What can't I do? How empowering, the omnipresence of God, and his love that guides, strengthens and supports.
May my word be salt and light to you.
He first started to deal with me with the internet, and my writing. He allowed me to see how big of an audience is out there, and that I had something to share. So that is how I started blogging. But typed words is not enough.
God is now calling me to more. To action. I love how God works. He first puts these little curious desires, or wonderings in your heart. He grows them. He spoke to me in my summer reading. And He always backs his thoughts and desires for me with scripture, his word. Then he shares experiences. He gives you glimpses.
He lays it out your feet and asks you to take the steps. He is always prepared for our doubts and questions. He knows us. Knows our fears.
And this morning, He answered those.
"I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down th the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me." Psalm 139:7-10 (NLT)
So, as he makes my world bigger, and he calls me beyond this little circle, whether it is here in typing, or at the pregnancy center in town...or in the Domincan Republic, he will be there with me. This morning that image was so clear in my mind. What can I fear? Seeing God walk beside me, guiding, supporting and strengthening leaves me asking, Where can't I go? What can't I do? How empowering, the omnipresence of God, and his love that guides, strengthens and supports.
May my word be salt and light to you.
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