Surrendering All…

 

I have been thinking a lot about God’s calling on my life. Perhaps that is because of the time of life I am in right now. All around me people are going to University, working part time/full time jobs, graduating, getting married and even having babies. Everyone around me is on such different paths and following their calling so differently. Some are taking longer, some seem to be moving rather quickly. For some of us it seems unbearably slow to the point that we wonder if we are really going anywhere at all. It’s then I  remind myself, yes God does have a plan, yes I am apart of it, and yes there is a reason I am walking the road that I am. Yes I do try to speed up the process more than I should, but then God reminds me to slow down and take notice of the things He is trying to teach me along the way. I realize these lessons are helping me get to the dreams I have but that doesn’t make it any easier because I just want to reach my dreams NOW! One lesson God and I are working on right now is simply this: surrendering it all to Him. And this is one lesson that just keeps getting implemented over and over and over again in my life. It’s probably one lesson I will never be able to grasp fully but will have to keep exploring through out my life.

Why? because I like to consider myself a dreamer. For the most part I find myself a silent dreamer. I don’t tell too many people my dreams simply because I enjoy dreaming. That and there is always this constant fear of what people would think of my dreams. Yes, I think some of them are that out there. Nonetheless though, they are my dreams. They are the things I am passionate about, and they are things that scare me a little. I heard once that “If Your dreams don’t scare you they aren’t big enough.” So that at least brings me a little comfort at least that I am possibly on the right track. These are the things I think about before going to sleep at night. The thoughts that come to mind randomly as I go about my day. Thoughts that never really seem to go away. Thoughts that make me wonder “what if…” and “how can I get there when I am only here?” That’s when I hear God whisper in to my ear,

“Keep dreaming, daughter, never give up on your dreams. For I have given them to you and I have a way planned out already. Nothing is impossible with me, in fact the impossibilities are endless. Keep dreaming but remember to surrender those dreams to me. We will work hard to accomplish them together.”

Oh it is definitely not easy. Especially when I thought I had my life all planned out. Silly me, right? I know I am not alone though. Towards the end of High School that’s all I remember hearing. Have a plan, make sure more School is in that plan, you must do this and that and…AHHHHHH!!!! It just about made me go crazy. Some people may know exactly what God has in store for them right away, but I also know God only gives us as much as we can handle. What if He knows we wouldn’t be able to hand much more? What then?

I was talking to a friend of mine about this. Both of us were thinking back to our graduating year and the life we have lived between then and now. And both of us could honestly say we had planned to be in a totally different place by now then we actually are. We had not planned for it to be hard. We both had plans to be living a life of ease by now. I know that sounds silly and naive but who hasn’t thought that before?

I heard this quote a few days ago, “God hasn’t called us to a life of ease and happiness, He has called us to serve and obey Him.” (Chris, AIO, The Chosen One)

and…

“Maybe God’s plan for us is different than our plan. Maybe He wants us to go down a more challenging road.” (Elaine, AIO, The Chosen One)

Boy did that not set me straight or what!?!?! A little kick  to knock some sense in to me. God may not have an easy map ahead for me as I follow my dreams, and no I do not have all the answers. (I wish) but I do have God on my side and He has promised to not give me more than I can handle at any given time. And what He has given me, He gives me with one request. That I take it, keep dreaming, then give it back to Him so He can grow it, use it, and make it far better then I could of if I had kept it to myself. It’s about surrendering it all daily and continuing to serve, trust, and obey the One that makes it al possible in the end.

Before I end, God gave me this picture a while ago, but it’s a picture that I have never forgotten:

I saw a parent and a child standing face to face. The child had stuffed his pockets full of candies and looked quite pleased with Himself for He loved candy a lot. The parent stood in front of him holding a jar, telling the child to put all of his precious candies in to the jar. The child starts pulling candy out of his pockets and throwing them in the jar. Once he got to the last few he pretended that was all hoping to hold on to at least a few of them, for he wasn’t sure if He’d ever see them again. Not fooling his Dad, His Dad looked at him and asked "Are you sure that is all" Guiltily the boy pulled out the remaining candies and reluctantly threw them in the now full jar. The Dad puts the lid on and screws it on so it is sealed tightly before putting it on a high shelf safe from little eager hands.
"I will keep this safe for you. You may have one at a time, when I say. Trust me that I know what I am doing. Trust me that my timing is right. If I gave these all to you now, you would surely get sick."
Of course the little child was still not too sure what he had done, but he listened to his father anyways and in time, when He asked for a candy, His father gave Him one or two at a time. Now the boy had something to look forward to, and at the same time, could enjoy each candy that much more.

Moral of the story: God only gives us what we can handle, no more no less, simply so we won’t get overwhelmed. This way, we still have room to keep dreaming and to live out lives with hope.

God has been using this song to speak to me so much lately. He is so good!

Out of Our Hands

I was browsing YouTube one evening before crawling in to bed and I literally stumbled across this song. I had never heard it and it was written by someone I had really grown to like so I clicked on it and…WOW! It was an amazing song! I could write more but to be honest I am at a loss for words. With everything that I have been thinking about and praying about…this song was the answer for so many of those things.

There are four things that have been the subjects of my prayers lately:

1) Healing for Jessica, she is recovering, but she still needs lots of prayer and we need to persevere and keep praying until we see her rise and walk out of that hospital. This situation may be out of our hands but she is in God’s hands and that is the best place for her to be. That is why we pray!

Ephesians 3:20

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen!” (NLT)

2) My cousin Sheleta and my entire family. I won’t go in to too many details but I have been praying intensely for divine wisdom and revelation. Jesus, I pray for my family that even when we can do nothing else that we would be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, against all assumptions others are spreading against us, and against anything the devil continues to throw our way. Help us to STAND!

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” (NLT)

3) I have really been praying for my friend Chelsey that she would know her creator and redeemer and that she would come to accept the free gift that he has offered her. That she would live up to all he has called her to be. I know that calling is higher than what she is living right now because of this verse, God has given me, to speak and pray over her life. She is chosen by God and I pray earnestly for the day she finally comes to accept all that God has given her…AMEN!

“Go, for Saul is my chosen vessel to take my message to all the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

4) Lastly, I have really been praying and seeking God over my future. In some ways I think I have it all figured out, but I also know that God has so much more planned. He has given me dreams and desires I can’t even begin to explain. I went to a conference in March and one of the speakers said something that I can’t get out of my mind. He said, “If your dreams don’t scare you, you aren’t dreaming big enough” The dreams he has given me…they scare me. They scare me ALOT! This really confirmed a lot and this really confirmed that these things were from God. Now I pray that he shows me how to move forward with these dreams and that he shows me how to see these things happen. I’m scared…but it is really out of my hands. It’s his calling for my life…I’m not about to stand in the way of what he wants to see happen no matter if I’m scared and no matter if I think I wouldn’t be good at these things. There probably is a better person out there to do the things he wants me to do but he wants me. This is my life verse, it seems to fit no matter what I am going through, praying for, or thinking about.

Philippians 4:4-9

^“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (NIV)

 

Join with me and pray for these people. They may be out of our hands but they are in God’s hands…and that is the best place for them to be!

Song For A Friend

(How Do I Tell Her?)

Searching in all the wrong places

Searching long and hard

Longing for something different

Something so much more

She’s my lost sister

Lost to the world

And I pray for the day

She desperately cries out

How she was wrong

That its forgiveness she wants

Forgiveness and Her Father’s Love

 

Until then I wait

Praying every night:

“God invade her dreams

Invade her heart

Show her the way to life”

 

How do I tell her of the saviour I love?

Of the love He showed as He died for the world

How do I tell her of the Father above?

How he watches and listens to all we have to say

Never tiring of spending time with His children

Each and every day

How do I tell her that she is never alone?

Through the rough times and joyous times

When she is near and far from home

His presence goes with her wherever she goes

 

How do I tell her

How I dream of the day

She walks in this freedom

And accepts all that Jesus gave…

 

God desires that all may be saved. Why wouldn’t he? He made us all. So why is that not our utmost desire. Why are we not striving to live to see people saved?

Jesus break our heart for what breaks yours. Let everything we do bring Glory to You! We lift our friends to you, our family members to you, our co workers for you, our fellow students to you. May they come to find and experience the amazing grace you give…Amen!

FEAR…OR…FAITH

 

Acts 2:42-47

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.  And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.  They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

I have thought about these verses for months and it was this weekend that I began thinking about them again because God brought this issue back to my attention as if to say… “This topic is not finished yet, we have lots more to discuss.”

How cool would it be to see people getting saved every day? To lead friends to Christ daily? And just what is stopping us? These verses basically lay out the things to do to see this. Why don’t we see it happening in our lives? It’s frustrating! Maddening! And yet this is what God had to say to me about it…

FEAR…or FAITH!

And He gave me a list…

We can either have FEAR: of rejection, of not having enough, of no one showing up, of being wrong, or of what others will think of us…

OR

We can have FAITH: that God knows what he is talking about, that the impossible can happen, that Miracles can happen, that there is hope, that God can change hearts…

It’s our choice, He says, Which one will we choose? Which one sounds more appealing to you?

Let’s share what we have. God has given us so much! Why should we get to keep it all to ourselves when there are so many in need of God’s grace and love…

Jesus, I pray boldness over the church. Boldness that will shine bright. That we can bring our church experience to our community in need of you. Take our fear away! Replace it with boldness and passion! A boldness that will lead us to begin to lay hands on people in our work and schools. A boldness that would make miracles apart of our lives every day. A boldness that would bring people to their knees in surrender to you every day…AMEN!

The Following is my last few thoughts for now…

From Fear To Faith

A Woman begging in the streets

Tattered shoes on her feet

Two children attached to her side

Wearing Shabby attire and tears in their eyes

I stop to watch with a compassionate heart

Before passing on by without any more thought

 

As I turn the corner I see an old classmate

Sitting in his car unsure of his fate

Suffering with every breath

As life holds him captive

How I long to go and lay hands on him

But once again fear wins

As my feet move me in the opposite direction

 

I see people like this all the time

Suffering and hurting and ready to cry

How many times I wish I had just tried…

What harm would come with a simple spoken prayer,

And yet every time fear paralyzes me

From being able to share

I hear them calling from a deep, dark place…

God, what can I do?

I need you to give me strength

To help make a difference in those lost lives

You came to save

Your Will Be Done

 

I recently finished a story. It’s the story about a girl named Mary. A story of impossibilities. One girl who was living for God. Her eyes were focused on her maker and because of this God chose her for a divine purpose. Although most people don’t see it this way, it’s true. I like to think that this could be my story too.

Right now I am in that place of trying to figure out God’s will for my life. I have dreams and goals, but the trick is to discern my dreams from God’s dreams and then match my dreams to His cause He has a plan for my life. It is the ultimate plan and the best plan.

Yes I want God to use me. I want to be used by Him in big ways. I wonder if Mary ever thought about this. Chances are she did cause I like to think she was not that much different from me. I’m sure she had dreams and goals for her life as well. Sometimes when we dream God invades our life and focuses us on an entire new path. He knows what our dreams are and what we want so we don’t have to worry that he will put us somewhere we would hate. He knows what I would like better than I do. Even when I feel all mixed up and lost I can look to Him cause I know that my God is never lost or confused.

This is the ending to the short story I have just completed. It is part of a collection of short stories I am writing based on Ecclesiastes 3. This particular one is written to describe the verse “A time to be born and a time to die”  and it is entitled “Impossibilities”

As you read this, put yourself in her shoes. A young girl that God used. God changed her plans drastically and she was still able to say “Your will be done, my Lord"

She thought back to the night her precious son was born. She had held his tiny fingers. Such tiny hands they were…she had no idea what those tiny hands she held would be capable of. She had no idea that those tiny hands held power to heal the sick and lame; That those tiny little feet would carry her son so far, on water and land, to teach of His father’s ways; that his beautiful eyes would see beyond a person’s outward appearance straight in to their heart. And every time she heard her son’s cries she never knew the tears he would shed as he died for the world that he so loved.

So much power Her Lord has power enough to conquer death. Power so great, that nothing, absolutely nothing, was impossible for Him, no matter what.

I Will Follow You…

 

I haven’t posted anything for at least a month because until now I just couldn’t describe what God has been speaking to me. It is a lot to think about, but he brings it up in everything I do and everywhere I go. Even this post won’t say it all.  Everything from Giving to serving, to living in faith, to believing God really does know what is best.

                                             

  Jesus is good. His ways are better than my ways. Sometimes he closes one door without opening another. Sometimes he doesn’t  tell you his plans before he does something.  Sometimes all he wants us to do is to learn to wait on him. Yes we make our plans and we dream wonderful dreams. But how much bigger and better are His dreams for us?

Perhaps the following will explain for me what has been burning on my heart:

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart bless Your name, bless Your name Jesus. And the deeds of my day and the truth in my ways speak of You speak of You Jesus.

Lord will You be my vision, Lord will You be my guide, Be my hope, be my life, and the way. And I’ll look not for riches nor for praises on earth, only You’ll be the first of my heart.

For this is what I’m glad to do

It’s time to live a life of love that pleases You

And I will give my all to You

Surrender everything I have and follow You

…I will follow, I will follow You…

                                                   

“When you know what you want in life, May Flower Dawn, go after it. Sometimes it doesn’t end up the way you planned. Trust God and it’ll turn out better. “ (Marta, Her Daughter’s Dream, Francine Rivers)

 

“Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done, On earth as it is in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Jesus Is...

Describing My Indescribable Saviour...
This is only the surface...My Jesus is so much, much more...So Indescribable and so so so wonderful!

Awesome Provider
Healing Protector
Humbling Saviour
Loving Redeemer

Powerful Jesus
Forgiving Messiah
Inspiring Teacher
Discipling Shepherd

Faithful Father
My Living Water
Rock of Ages
Mighty, Mighty General

Ready for Battle
Ready to Fight
I'm Ready to Conquer
I'm Ready To Stand for What is Right


Willing Servant
Compassionate Friend
He's Crowned in Glory
He's Dressed in Light
Giver of Grace
Full of Delight
My Beautiful King
My Lord and My God
His Powerful Hand
Is Out Stretched Over All