The Other Side of Surrender

"All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give." ~ Justin W. Van DeVenter

It feels like a dirty word. Some hear it and think they heard "quit." They assume that, by default, they must wear the "Loser" T-shirt. 

That's how the world sees surrender. 

For the growing Christian, surrender is an invitation, not an insult. It calls in a still, small, yet authoritative voice, "Take up your cross daily. Deny yourself. Follow me." 

Although the love in His voice pulls you closer, it doesn't quite bring you over the line in this tug-of-war. Fear, which seems stronger and calls louder, yanks at you from the other side of the rope.  It's voice is not tender. It's clingy and suffocating, and it tells you all you will lose if you surrender to God. The arguments are persuasive and full of accusations similar to what Eve heard. 

For all of God's power and strength, He will not pull you over the line. 

That would not be surrender. 

Surrender is when you drop the rope altogether and step over the line by choice. 

Oh, but when you do! 

Like Dorothy saw in Munchkin Land, surrender changes the color of everything! The future looks brighter though you still can't see it. Knowing God sees it is enough. 

Frightening things have to tangle with God before they get to you. Shamelessly, you get to pass the buck to Him. That's one of the perks under the Surrender Contract. 

Fear, with all of it's lies and what-if's, turns out to be nothing but a big bully melted by douses of faith in God.  

My favorite part of surrender has been the peace. It's not all riding on me anymore. His yoke truly is easy! 

What about you?

Will you allow Him to take your belief while helping your unbelief? Isn't it worth the fight to enter the secret place of the Most High and the Shadow of the Almighty? 

I know surrender is hard. I struggle with it too. By God's grace, I'm determined to live on the other side...the other side of surrender.

Lord, Make Me Beautiful!

A Timeless Prayer for Every. Christian. Woman

 by Georgia Pointer

Lord, this body of mine will not always be young. Grays and wrinkles will eventually win out over creams and dyes. The firms will flab and my heart muscles will eventually find the cardio workout a price too high to pay for the building upkeep. So, Lord, give me a timeless beauty…one that shines through the lines and wrinkles. Give me strength through the hard times that result in a muscular faith. Help me to have a prayer life that creates the kinds of curves that remind one of a smile from heaven. May the hidden person of the heart be so radiant, that it doesn't matter what  the lampshade of age looks like. Clothe me with an attractiveness whose designer tag points back to  You.  My feet, Lord, make them the kind of   beautiful recognized by the poor who receive the Good News they bring. Lord, Make me beautiful! Amen.

The Christmas Wig

"But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

Christmas time is over and the world will soon get back to normal. 

Not you. 

For a few short weeks, the world smiles and sings and goes out of its way to be unusually kind because it's Christmastime. 

Not you.

Folks play the part to the fullest on the Christmas stage because at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, the wig must go back in the box and a full year must pass before this opportunity rolls around again. 

You know better. 

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you know that joy and kindness and holiday cheer is not an annual event but a daily joy. Because the baby Jesus grew up, died, and rose up, you have lifetime season tickets to the beautiful drama of "Christ in You, the Hope of Glory!"

 While the world puts its Christmas wig back in the box, remember that Christmas cheer is not an act for you. You don't have a Jesus wig, no, you have His very life in you! 

The rest of the this year and all of the next is your time to shine. Be a puppet on His string and let Him show the world what Christmas looks like on the off-season. 

God's Refrigerator

"When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty." Jeremiah 15:16

You can't help but smile as you predict the look on the faces of those for whom you've Christmas shopped. 

I know you're enjoying too much of the wonderful foods you only eat during the holidays. 

Warm fuzzy feelings flood your heart as you watch Christmas shows and movies you watched as a child. You relive the excitement you felt when you first saw them. Double that pleasure if the joy is reflected in the faces of your own children or grandchildren. 

Relatives you don't see near enough come to town, and you are thankful to make another happy deposit into your memory bank. You realize time will inevitably change the family picture, so you drink deeply of these precious gatherings. 

But.

Something is missing. As good as all of the above is, there's a growling in your spirit that refuses, no, CAN'T be satisfied with all these emotional sweets and savories. No.

What you need is a trip to God's fridge: His Word! 

Nothing satisfies your soul like a happy hour visit to the Scriptures. 1Peter 2:2 says to earnestly crave the pure milk of the Word. A few verses before that, Apostle Peter described God's Word as a seed that never perishes . This seed will make you love the unlovely.  (I'll take mine roasted, please!) Wise is the woman who partakes of that seed what with visits with challenging family members, long lines, and holiday traffic!

King David declared God's Word  as sweeter than honey from the honeycomb.(Psalm 19:10) No calories, either! 

The Christmas rush is fun and exciting, but it can run you down physically and emotionally. Make regular pit stops to the well-stocked fridge of the Word. It'll rejoice your heart, enlighten your eyes,  and most of all, restore your soul. Why? It's because these visits are really divine dining with your Wonderful Counselor, your Might God, your Precious Prince of Peace.

Bon appetit and Merry Christmas!

Sunrise at Christmas

 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 

TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79

Sunrise. It is a daily invitation to begin again, to view life with fresh eyes...to try again. 

 When God pressed the button to unmute Zechariah's mouth, this priest spoke about the Sunrise from on high who would shine on us and light the roadway that leads to peace. 

  Don't miss the Sunrise this Christmas season. Let Him guide you as you shop, bake, give, and visit. 

We are children of the light! We are not like those who walk in darkness, who stumble around and are overwhelmed. 

No more confusion about handling difficult family relationships. The Sunrise has shown us clearly what is good and what the Lord requires of us. Simply yield and agree, with His help, to do what we've been told. This way, the Sunrise not only lights our path, but He warms our hearts and emits the fragrance of what Christmas is all about: hope and redemption . 

    

   Merry Christmas!

Get Off the Bench

"Holding on to faith and a good conscience.  Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith." 1Timothy 1:19

"No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:27

Few verses make my blood run cold like the two above. My heart's cry is, "Oh God, don't let that be me!"

Aside from missing salvation altogether, what could be more tragic than being permanently benched by God--never to be called upon as a vessel worthy to be used to do great things for Him? For the enemy never to hear the Father say, "Have you considered my servant Georgia?"

Lord, don't let us get flabby and jiggly with cellulite in our soul! Save us from ourselves! Fan the flame of passion for You in our hearts. Forgive us for being too lazy to spend time with You daily when all is going well, and then having You on speed-dial when things go bad. Pardon us for prostituting our energies on everything else and throwing you the leftovers after all you have done for us.

God, we call you Lord, Lord! Help us to do what you say.

How do we keep from being spiritual lightweights?

The 1 Timothy verse says to hold on to faith and a good conscience. Have you been taking your faith to the gym of God's Word everyday? What about your conscience? Are you drowning out that still, small voice that gently tries to pry away the deep-fried gristle of compromise? Ignore the Voice long enough and you won't hear it at all.

The 1 Corinthians verse suggests it's possible to be busy helping everybody else to the neglect of our own spiritual health and be disqualified. What area of your life needs to be adjusted so the scales are balanced with self-care and care for others? Running on fumes works for only a short time before you crash.

Notice also that Paul has to show his flesh who's boss. Like a fat lazy child, the flesh wants everything to come easy with no effort on its part. Self-control ( a fruit of the Spirit) drags the flesh off its bed and makes it do what's needed until it becomes what's wanted. Can you relate?

We all get off track sometimes, but we should never be content to stay there. Are you ready to get off the sidelines?  You know what you need to do.

It's time to get off the bench!

Talk About It: How can YOU tell you are getting away from God's best? I can tell something is wrong when my patience starts getting short with people,  and I lose the spirit of gentleness.

Let's Do It Right This Time

"Be still and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3


You have a choice in how you will respond to this trial.

 You can freak out.

You can stand up in your going-every-way boat and make emotional decisions doused in out-of-control emotions. You can behave like the heathens do who have no concept of a loving  God whose heart of compassion is as big as His ability to come to your aid.

Or

You can give God (not always yourself) time to calm you ( not necessarily your storm). You can position yourself under the umbrella of supernatural wisdom about how to do this trial right this time.

It's time to put all those promises you believed so sincerely on the sunny days to the test now.  Acknowledge God's right to do whatever He wills. Then trust Him to do what is best. This is part of being still and knowing He is God.

Being still also involves listening for His guidance, and not moving until He says.

I know everything in you is advising the exact opposite, but you've obeyed those voices long enough. Weather this storm God's way, and see what a difference it makes.

Pray With Me: Yes, Lord, I need you to help me do this trial right this time. Remind me Who You are, what You can do, and what You promised. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. Help me to cooperate with what You're doing in my  life through this difficulty. You said Your strength is made perfect in weakness. I sure am weak! Thank you that in You I am strong. Allow Your Spirit to flood my soul, my mind, and my heart with Your peace as I fix my thoughts on You. Lord, help me to go through this storm in a way that pleases You this time. Amen.