Since the last post (figured I better post something and move that one further down the page!), we've had Labor Day and school has started. Time continues to go by too fast. There seems to be lots of "stuff" happening to lots of people. It's easy to lose ground and feel frustrated and confused, etc.
Bible Gateway had Psalm 143:10 as the verse of the day. I liked the "lead me on level ground". I could use a little level ground after the ups and downs of the past month(s). My/our issues aren't even that bad when compared to what some are going through. Some days it doesn't take much to make me feel far from God...which is my fault. He's there, but I need to remember to talk to Him and include Him in my plans....not going it on my own (which, honestly, I do a lot). I read a little further. It's a Psalm by David, as in King David. That man had a lot of issues especially for the time period he was in.
Psalm 143 (NIV) 8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
So, how do we get to level ground? Put trust in God, request God to show us the way, hide ourselves in him, let God be our teacher and let the good Spirit lead. Will life always be easy? Unfortunately, never this side of heaven. Can we take things a little more in stride? We can try. The following verses come before those above. Sheds some clues on how to get to level ground.
Psalm 143 (NIV) 4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. 5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. 6 I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
When we're feeling those bumps along the way, we remember and meditate on the ways God has done for us before....even when we didn't see the whole picture until we look back. We continue to praise God because our soul is thirsty and God is the everlasting drink.
I'm feeling like a rah rah cheerleader girl. I guess part of that is because it's easier to talk about depending on God when we're coming out of the darkness instead of being in the midst of it.
PS The word has been surrender, surgery definitely made me do more of that...including asking for help, which I'm not good at. The word for now? HOPE I heard it many times today!
Showing posts with label surrender. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surrender. Show all posts
Monday, September 08, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Gethsemane - Place of surrender
OK, honestly, I should have written about this around Good Friday time, but as I've warned you before: I procrastinate....and I didn't think of this until today when the word surrender came up yet again!
I'm also thinking of Easter a little differently this year. You know how at Christmas you kind of promise yourself to keep that giving spirit going into the new year or to really be "in the moment"? And then right around January 2 or 3 when everybody heads back to school and time gets short, you stop having that Christmas feeling. (If not, maybe it's just me!) ;) I would like to think of Easter that way this year. Not just a one day/weekend thing, but reminding myself throughout the coming weeks that Jesus rose from the dead and we serve a risen, living King!
While I was thinking about surrender, I got to thinking about Jesus in Gethsemane. He went there to pray before the mob came to get him. He knew what was coming. He'd been preparing for it for about 33 years. He took some of his buddies, presumably to keep watch and maybe even pray for him...yeah, they fell asleep....not once, but three times! Meanwhile, Jesus is going through some serious agony.
Matthew 26:36-46 (NIV) 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Even Jesus had to surrender his will and let God's will be done. I take comfort in these verses. It shows a very human side to Jesus. He felt troubled and overwhelmed with sorrow. Mark 14:33 says in part he was deeply distressed. He asked for the burden to be taken away, but asked that God's will be done. If it is possible, take it away. "Not as I will, but as you will" "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" If it is not possible, unless I do it "May your will be done". Jesus surrendered His own will so we would have the right to choose to surrender to God as well. Jesus knows how hard that is.
He knows the overwhelmed troubled feelings. Given a choice, we'd probably all ask for our paths to be a little (or maybe a lot!) smoother. However, knowing Jesus came out victorious should give us comfort that even as Jesus hung on the cross, God was waiting for him to come home. Same as He is for us....waiting....and watching us grow in the process.
Praying for Easter blessings that continue on throughout the year. May you feel God's arms around you when you're at your worst...and God's arms raised in victory when you're at your best! May you feel valuable because Jesus has paid the ultimate price for you. Easter blessings!
I'm also thinking of Easter a little differently this year. You know how at Christmas you kind of promise yourself to keep that giving spirit going into the new year or to really be "in the moment"? And then right around January 2 or 3 when everybody heads back to school and time gets short, you stop having that Christmas feeling. (If not, maybe it's just me!) ;) I would like to think of Easter that way this year. Not just a one day/weekend thing, but reminding myself throughout the coming weeks that Jesus rose from the dead and we serve a risen, living King!
While I was thinking about surrender, I got to thinking about Jesus in Gethsemane. He went there to pray before the mob came to get him. He knew what was coming. He'd been preparing for it for about 33 years. He took some of his buddies, presumably to keep watch and maybe even pray for him...yeah, they fell asleep....not once, but three times! Meanwhile, Jesus is going through some serious agony.
Matthew 26:36-46 (NIV) 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Even Jesus had to surrender his will and let God's will be done. I take comfort in these verses. It shows a very human side to Jesus. He felt troubled and overwhelmed with sorrow. Mark 14:33 says in part he was deeply distressed. He asked for the burden to be taken away, but asked that God's will be done. If it is possible, take it away. "Not as I will, but as you will" "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" If it is not possible, unless I do it "May your will be done". Jesus surrendered His own will so we would have the right to choose to surrender to God as well. Jesus knows how hard that is.
He knows the overwhelmed troubled feelings. Given a choice, we'd probably all ask for our paths to be a little (or maybe a lot!) smoother. However, knowing Jesus came out victorious should give us comfort that even as Jesus hung on the cross, God was waiting for him to come home. Same as He is for us....waiting....and watching us grow in the process.
Praying for Easter blessings that continue on throughout the year. May you feel God's arms around you when you're at your worst...and God's arms raised in victory when you're at your best! May you feel valuable because Jesus has paid the ultimate price for you. Easter blessings!
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Listen Up!
Last night, I went to bed grumpy and early. Both kind of unusual. Did you ever get the feeling God wants you to figure something out? I have been focusing on how I want things to turn out in some situations we're dealing with. I think God's been trying to get my attention to remind me that He's got it covered.....but it may not be the answer or timeline I want or expect. I'm still working on surrender.
I read a devotional before I went to bed about "What's right with this picture?" instead of focusing on the negative. Example, the daughter got in a car accident. The "what's right": it wasn't her fault and she learned to be a more careful, watchful driver.
A favorite line from Apollo 13 movie is: "What do we have on the spacecraft that's good?" as everything is going wrong. I know I need to look for the positive and listen and watch for the good things going on.
This morning my radio alarm went off with a song by Third Day with the chorus: "There's a light at the end of this tunnel for you". Yeah, right I thought as I turned it off after a few seconds. My response used to be: yup, a train! Still grumpy....AND not a morning person....AND not listening.
Shortly after, I heard the song "Hold Me Jesus" by Rich Mullins. The version I heard had kids singing softly in the background during part of it "I surrender all, I surrender all". I found the following video of it. The words were right on for the way things have been going.
I started getting the hint that God wants it all.....the good, the bad and the ugly. I have an OK time overall with the good. I struggle with taking His word for it that he wants the messy too.
Many times I forget that I want God to make it obvious that it's Him working things out. I forget, He doesn't work that way usually.
1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT)
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
SURRENDER = to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand; to give (oneself) up into the power of another; AND MY personal favorite....implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist
I'm beginning to realize maybe it's not such a small voice after all once I start to tune in to WGOD and listen! ;)
I read a devotional before I went to bed about "What's right with this picture?" instead of focusing on the negative. Example, the daughter got in a car accident. The "what's right": it wasn't her fault and she learned to be a more careful, watchful driver.
A favorite line from Apollo 13 movie is: "What do we have on the spacecraft that's good?" as everything is going wrong. I know I need to look for the positive and listen and watch for the good things going on.
This morning my radio alarm went off with a song by Third Day with the chorus: "There's a light at the end of this tunnel for you". Yeah, right I thought as I turned it off after a few seconds. My response used to be: yup, a train! Still grumpy....AND not a morning person....AND not listening.
Shortly after, I heard the song "Hold Me Jesus" by Rich Mullins. The version I heard had kids singing softly in the background during part of it "I surrender all, I surrender all". I found the following video of it. The words were right on for the way things have been going.
I started getting the hint that God wants it all.....the good, the bad and the ugly. I have an OK time overall with the good. I struggle with taking His word for it that he wants the messy too.
Many times I forget that I want God to make it obvious that it's Him working things out. I forget, He doesn't work that way usually.
1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT)
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
SURRENDER = to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand; to give (oneself) up into the power of another; AND MY personal favorite....implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist
I'm beginning to realize maybe it's not such a small voice after all once I start to tune in to WGOD and listen! ;)
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tradin' in my S....
Tonight, I had to realize that once again I have been trying to be Superwoman. I need to be in control, know what's going on, FIX IT! I don't literally have that S on my shirt like Superman. However, some time alone in the phone booth where he'd go to change doesn't sound like a bad idea! In my head and the decisions I've been making, I've been running my life like I can handle it all. I turn my life over to God, but when He doesn't work on my timetable, I take the problem back and try to fix it on my own.
I don't put much stock in New Year's resolutions. In the past, mine have only lasted a day or 2 anyway. So I'm not calling this a resolution. More like a solution to my problem. I'm trading my Superwoman S that signifies ME running everything. My new S is for surrender. Daily, minute by minute if necessary. I'm going to let God have my S and be my Superman for 2008.
Romans 8:5-8 (The Message)
Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.
I don't put much stock in New Year's resolutions. In the past, mine have only lasted a day or 2 anyway. So I'm not calling this a resolution. More like a solution to my problem. I'm trading my Superwoman S that signifies ME running everything. My new S is for surrender. Daily, minute by minute if necessary. I'm going to let God have my S and be my Superman for 2008.
Romans 8:5-8 (The Message)
Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.
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