Surrender

I read my favorite blog tonight and read there a story that I have read before, but its truth cuts me thru and convicts me anew: read it here because Ann says it better than I can.


"Whatever You may do, I will thank You.
I am ready for all; I accept all.
Let only Your will be done in me...
and I'll ask for nothing else, my Lord."
~Charles de Foucauld


I wept as I read these words, and even now the tears sting my eyes as I write them because they are what I want to be true in my life; they are words of surrender. I weep as I lay it all down before my Lord. These words are more than I can even say on my own--I must depend on His grace alone to live them out. It is His grace that even grants me the desire to follow Him. It is His grace that gives me the faith to believe. It is His grace that gives me the daily strength to follow after Him. All is grace. 


 "All of my ambitions hopes and plans, I surrender these into Your hands. For its only in Your will that I am free."


O, that I would live in the reality of this freedom. To understand that His yoke is easy and His burden is light and that only in true submission and obedience is true freedom found. And this is grace...

A thankfulness tree from a few year ago. This is the key to Joy-full surrender: Give Thanks in all things

Tapestry of Grace

I am thankful tonight for the Lord's hand in my day. 

For His leading in the moment by moment details--

phone conversations,

"chance" meetings,

conversations in the car,

 opportunities to spend time with friends,

 and heart-to-heart discussions that are honest and real. 

Lord I thank You that You orchestrate the rhythm of my days. I thank You that You hold each moment in Your hands and weave my days into Your tapestry of grace. 

A thankful heart

Thankful for a wonderful evening with friends
For a God who answers prayers before I even pray them
For seeing His guiding hand in conversation, in friendships
For hearing His name proclaimed in public events
For the wonder of music and the joy that it brings

open hands

I read this sentence from Emily, who writes @ chatting at the sky, and was rebuked: 

"May you resist the urge to compare yourself to those who seem to have it easy, and may you learn the peace that comes from thankful hands in the midst of things that are hard. "

Sometimes I am not very good at resisting that urge. I look around me and the grass looks green everywhere but here. I sing song #9 and focus on the beginning of the song (I'm losing everyone) instead of the end (I know I can't lose You). I look at myself and say "what a mess." And I whine. Instead of thankful hands I have clenched fists. Instead of hands open to receive whatever the Good Giver sees fit to give me I cover my face with my hands and fret and fear. 

Father forgive me for clenched hands, ungrateful sighs, and a fearful heart. May I learn to be thankful in all things. May I learn to rest in Your wisdom and trust in Your grace. 

Thank-full now for these things:

1. That all things are grace!
2. That He holds my hand
3. that His grace is sufficient for me
4. For perfectly timed phone calls reminding me of the God who loves
5. For sharing in joy this weekend!
6. For friends far and near
7. for the courage to be real
8. For my family close by
9. For spending time with my youth group kids
10. for my friend's eerily perfect mimicry of my laugh--if nothing else it keeps me humble :)
11. For questions I do not have answers to that cause me to seek the Lord
12. For people in my life who are willing to say hard things (Lord give me a heart to hear)
13. For the connectedness that modern technology allows
14. For the sweetness of meeting together around the bread and the cup with the Lord's people
15. For having a Sunday with all my "kids" back home
16. For new friends and old.

Sharing in Joy

I am so thankful that the Lord calls us to share in each other's joy "to rejoice with those who rejoice." (Romans 12:15)

I love seeing what God is doing in other people's lives and rejoicing in that with them! 

This weekend is going to be full of sharing in joy and I thank God for giving me this time, allowing me to be in this place!

His love endures forever

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!
For His love endures forever

To Him who brought my godly parents together
For His love endures forever
To Him who formed me in my mother's womb
For His love endures forever
To him who brought me safe and whole into this world
For His love endures forever
To him who drew me to Himself when I was still a young child
for His love endures forever
To Him who blessed me with siblings who love and follow Him
for His love ensures forever
To Him who carried me through my childhood in health and safety
For His love endures forever
To Him who gave me grace to enjoy His creation
For his love endures forever
To Him who teaches me daily about Himself
For His love endures forever
To Him who gave me freedom to run and play
For His love endures forever
To Him who granted that I should live in the prettiest corner of the world
For His love endures forever
To Him who surrounded me with those who are striving after Him
For His love endures forever
To Him who gave us the gift of laughter
For His love endures forever
To Him who gave me years to serve and learn at Camp
For His love endures forever
To Him who gave up His own Son
For His love endures forever
To Him who has saved my soul and keeps it still
For His love endures forever
To Him who guides my steps and hold my hand
For His love endures forever
To Him who is the Resurrection and the Life
For His love endures forever
To Him who carries us through the valley of the shadow.
For His love endures forever
To Him who is my comfort in the sorrows of this life
For His love endures forever
To Him to who is my peace and taught me to pray believing
For His love endures forever
To Him who "hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock"
For His love endures forever






What are your thanksgivings to the One whose love endures forever?

Growing in Him

I planted some flowers yesterday---

the air was thick and heavy

the dampness made even my stick straight hair friz out all over my head

the wind was blowing in that eerie way it does right before it storms

I love working in the dirt--I had no shovel or spade and potted all my pretty flowers by hand (my hands were filthy,but boy was it fun!)

Yellow marigolds, blue lobelia, purple allysum and some pretty white vine-y thing that is beautiful

I crammed them in close in little pots for my front porch

I was a little worried that I squished them in too close but my mom says it is fine--and that is the thing about flowers--they have shallow root systems

this made me think of Sunday School this past week

we are studying James and in chapter 5 there is a reference to "how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it,until it receives the early and the late rains."

Some really cool thoughts (not all my own) came out of our discussion of that verse--

• Growth comes between the rains; we need those dry times to grow in out faith
• Plants that get water all the time have really shallow root systems, plants that endure more arid conditions have deep root systems--Lord, I want to have a deep root system-firmly rooted in You!
• Plants need the warmth and the light of the sun, likewise we need the light of the Son.
• The phrase " early and late rains" is often used in Scripture in connection with the Sovereignty and faithfulness of God. In an agricultural society they needed the rains, they were dependent on them but more so they needed to be dependent on God, as do we. Deuteronomy 11:13-17

Hosea 6:3 "Let us know, Let us press on to know the Lord; His going out is as sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."

Resurrection

The words seem so empty "I am sorry for your loss"

They hang in the air, they fill the room

the place is full of darkness and gloom

The sorrow could choke you, if you breath in to deep

the pain is palpable, the still-reeling loved ones don't weep

On another such day these words ring out 

"I heard a thousand trumpets..."

The voices sing and shout

 With faces upturned 

 their hearts full of joy

Joy swells above the sorrow below

the love of the Lord doth overflow

The loved ones are comforted

He knows our pain,

Sorrow may last for this earthly night

With the morn cometh joy at last

each week we will gather

to remember the One who lives and was dead

Our Lord Jesus risen, 

the church's living head

together we remember, our Lord we glorify

Tears roll down my cheeks

In Him I live because for me He did die

 My sorrow mingles with my joy

the sorrow of repentance draws me close to Him

there is no loss, there is only gain

My soul is saved by Jesus' Name

 

How can I keep from singing

My life flows on in endless song;

Above earth's lamentation,

I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn

That hails a new creation;

Thro' all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing;

It finds an echo in my soul--

How can I keep from singing?

What tho' my joys and comforts die?

The Lord my Saviour liveth;

What tho' the darkness gather round?

Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm

While to that refuge clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;

I see the blue above it;

And day by day this pathway smooths,

Since first I learned to love it;

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

A fountain ever springing;

All things are mine since I am his--

How can I keep from singing?

~ Robert Wadworth Lowry

I heard this sung tonight and had to look it up--what a beautiful song what an awesome truth!

One life

I recently watched National Treasure 2; and while I know that posting this will probably cause my family to say that I really overthink movies; it brought an interesting point to view and I thought I would share. 

At one point the "bad guy" in the movie states "A man has only one lifetime, but history can remember you forever." And so I wondered, is that true?

I also just finished a book by Max Lucado called "Outlive your Life." 

I was thinking about that idea--what does it mean to outlive your life? Does it mean, as the man in National Treasure 2 believes, that you will be remembered after you die? If so, who do you want to remember you? And how do you want to be remembered? 

I don't believe that history can remember you forever--maybe if you are very, very wicked or may be if you are very, very kind then history might remember you for hundreds, even thousands of years. But if memory is left up to the human race--I think eventually most people will be forgotten. So if you are leaving your wish to be remembered to the human race you are placing your hope in the wrong place.

But memory is not left up to the human race: there is One who sits as Judge, and in the book of Daniel He is called "the Ancient of Days." He has always been and always will be---He sees the good and the evil and One day all men will answer for the deeds that they have done. And so I am thankful that when it comes to "outliving" my life--the end is already sure. I will outlive my life on this earth because I believe these words "And this is eternal life that they may know You the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." And I pray that I may outlive myself to the glory and praise of God. That when my works are burned in the fire that there will be gold that remains. 

And so I place my trust each day in the Lord Jesus who will never forget me, and pray that I will live to honor Him.

I will leave you with the lyrics to this old Southern Gospel song:

"I'm gonna live forever."

I know my name will never be written down in history 

but Jesus wrote my name in the Book of Life and that's enough for me....

I'm gonna live forever

I'm gonna die no never

Jesus died on the tree for me

and I'm gonna live forever.

Near to God

The past two weeks during the worship time at church the Lord has woven together some beautiful thoughts and I thought I would share what I have gleaned. (The way the Spirit moves is amazing!)


Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to those who have a broken-heart." 
(Thankful for this--may the Lord continue to break my heart before Him; in repentance, in joy, and in godly sorrow for the needs of this world.)

                       Guatemala, La Limonad 2007


"No longer far from Him but now by precious blood made nigh, Accepted in the Well-Beloved near to God's heart we lie." (Behold What Love, Robert Boswell)


1 Peter 2:10 "Who were once not a people but are now the people of God."

Psalm 145:18 "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him."



"So near so very near to God, I cannot nearer be, for in the person of His Son I am as near as He." (A Mind at Perfect Peace with God, Catesby Paget)


Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present not things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."



"What have I to dread? what have I to fear? leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms." (Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Elisha Hoffman, check out this you-tube video for a priceless rendition

I thought this picture went with the song above, 

because the memory I have of this day is that the Lord used His people,

 my dear brothers & sisters in Christ, 

to reach down & give me a much needed hug. 

Thank you Lord For being near to me!

Ephesians 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."


James 4:8 "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

Almost grown-up

    Today I was eating one of my favorite childhood snacks--a Cow Tale: soft, chewy caramel with a creme center. Yum! whenever I eat one of those I am transported back to my days at Iroquoina's Family Camp when the Trading Post was this rickety old one room building. Cow Tales were my favorite treat and only cost about 25 cents. 

    Anyways I was eating one of those and I commented to my brother that they remind me of being a kid. Matthew said that if my hair was longer that I would look like a teenager from behind. I asked "only from behind?" and he said "well you don't have a teenager face. your face is too parent-like to be mistaken for a teenager!" He said, "you know, like no-don't-do-that, instead of who-cares-whatever." 

So I guess I am almost grown-up, but only if I am not eating Cow Tales.

Thank you Mom

They say that children are a treasure from the Lord,

Thank you for treasuring us.

Thank you for walking with us in this journey here on earth. 

For laughing with us,& weeping with us,& praying & praising in joy or pain. 

Thank you for the sleepless nights--

when we were small and when we were grown.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for talking

Thank you for giving up your career to raise a family

Thank you for driving us here and there and everywhere

Thank you for holding our hands

And thank you for letting us go

Thank you for loving God and for loving Dad and loving us. 

That love brought stability to our home. 

Thank you for teaching us to serve

and that service to the Lord is life and we do life together. 

Thank you for pointing us to Jesus and 

entrusting us to Him. 

Happy Mother's Day. 

All is grace

Thanking the Lord tonight for His amazing answers to prayer. I am so grateful to serve a God who cares about all the details of our lives.

I was extremely anxious about the start up of a new computer system at work and so I brought this to the Ladies Prayer Group last night. This morning I received an email that a crucial piece that was not expected to be in place would be in place in time to go live! To God be the glory!

I had to have a medical procedure on Tuesday and normally this is the sort of thing that would make me very anxious. However I had been praying about it a lot and committed it to the Lord; to my amazement I went through the whole ordeal without ever once giving in to fear! What a mighty God we serve!

In the midst of a crazy day at work last week I got a text message from my cousin Elena that she "accidentally" sent to my phone instead of my email. There are no accidents in God's economy. 

I received a note today from a friend, outlining the mighty work of God at the Rochester Youth Conference last weekend. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that we ask or think!

To say that His grace is sufficient seems like an understatement! He is "more than enough!"

This too is grace... a weekend in Chicago with two dear friends! What a gift :)

These two shots are testimonies of grace, the grace that brought 4 different people, born of the same 2 parents, to the One saving Grace, and taught us to love one another. This indeed is grace!

Letting go

                    "Do not let the sun go down upon your anger"

Answer me this: do you hold grudges? "No" you say...well then consider when was the last time someone hurt you or someone you love? Can you think of that incident without getting angry? Can you love and pray for the person who hurt you?

 So, do you hold any grudges?

I ask those questions to myself as much as to anyone out there who may be reading this, and to my shame I answer yes. I find it hard to forgive. I find it hard not to hold on to anger. I have been wrestling with this for a while. And by the grace of God I am learning to let go. I am letting go of my rights, my control, and submitting to His sovereignty.

Tonight I read something written by someone else who is dealing with this issue of anger. He has every right to be angry but he expresses that reacting in anger toward the situation and the people that have injured him  is really his sinful flesh telling him that he could have done better than God and that God's plan wasn't best.(Missions Magazine, pg 16)

That struck a chord with me because I often focus my anger on how wrong someone else was or how much better I could have dealt with a particular situation. By holding on to my anger I am in fact saying that God didn't have things under control or that He allowed something that I think He shouldn't have. 

And so Lord, I give up. I let go of my anger and I surrender to You. I ask Lord that You would forgive me and that I would forgive with that same forgiveness. Thank you for the reminder that You are the Blessed Controller of All things. In Jesus Name,

Thankful tonight for All things!

This Sara Groves song 

A day at home to relax

Good results from my test today

The Leading of the Lord

The prayers of His people

Beautiful, Christ-centered graduation this weekend for my sister

Getting to visit with old friends

Seeing the work of God in the lives around me

The un-contained joy of my small silly dog when I come home

Being able to laugh at myself

The incredible peace that the Lord granted me today and thru the night

Having my family so close

trials of this life because they cause me to seek Him more

The way it is supposed to be

Acts 4:33 "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common."
Acts 2: 42-47 "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.  And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved"


Unity in the body,
this is our call
together we stand
in Him we can't fall


Called to love one another
speaking out, reaching out
Called to serve your brother
This is what our life is about


Working in harmony
His light will shine
the fragrance will rise
Living for His glory divine!




The needs of this dying world are so great. I am often burdened by the overwhelming poverty, and desperate need for the gospel to go out in our world. In this global community we cannot be ignorant about the needs of those around us---a circle which used to reach maybe 20 miles and now stretches around the globe. 


I think that we all need to prayerful ask the Lord: How would you have me serve in Your body? What part do I play?  
This includes, but is not limited to, the local church--His body is composed of the church universal and we need to consider what that means in our lives. Lord,when faced with the desperate needs of those around me what do I do? 


Here are a few places that are doing a great work: If the Lord does not call you to go, perhaps He calls you to partner with those who are "over there"


Kalene Mission Hospital


Mercy Ships

Christian Missions in Many Lands


OM




Tonight I give thanks to the Lord who is my comfort. For friends and loved ones. For people who remember the weak and the sick. For the healing power of laughter. For the importance of quiet and learning to listen. For strength when I am weak. For the truth that I am not perfect--and He doesn't expect me to be. For grace. "He doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

it's not always easy...

Today was not an easy day.

Grumbling and complaining surrounded me, negativity seemed to dog my steps, and just when I think that I am "so good" self-righteousness rears it's ugly head. 

You see the problem is in my own flesh I don't want to do unto others as I would have them do unto me. No, the reality is that I want others to do unto me as they would have me do unto them. It is easy to do unto others when they are doing unto you, right? But when they are not it suddenly becomes a whole lot harder. And that is where the rubber meets the road. Ephesians 6:5-7 says 

"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,"

When I serve the people around me with sincerity, treating them as I want to be treated, then my work becomes an act of worship to the Lord. When I am obedient to Him in esteeming others better than myself He is pleased. 

Unfortunately, it is not easy. I write this post tonight as a sermon as much to myself as anyone else. I care too much for the opinions of this world. Too often the world's thinking creeps into my mind and I fail to obey my Lord.

Father, make me faithful to serve You alone! That everything I do would be to Your glory and praise. Lord I submit my will to Yours; exchange my heart of stone for Your heart; and my weak mind for Your strength. Father transform me that I may be the aroma of Christ, among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. In Jesus' Name. Amen.