not my will

For I have come down from heaven, 

not to do my own will, 

but the will of him who sent me

John 6:38 RSV

To see examples of true surrender, 

we need only look to Jesus

He gave up His divinity to walk the earth

submitted His will to His Father

choosing to surrender all

Day 6 of 31 Days of Surrender 

 

surrender to stillness

The emptiness of an open heart creates a cavity for God to fill

T. D. Jakes

in the busy

in the rush

in the midst of the world's call to do more

here, now

I must surrender

to His whispered command

rest

this is day 5 of 31 Days of Surrender

and into the stillness 

 

open hands

I want to live

with open hands

preparing to release 

whatever, whenever 

He asks

yet fingers curl

clench stubborn

staking a claim they

do not own

so that pain surges

through what could be

should be

a seamless surrender

Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.

Corrie ten Boom

this is day 4 of 31 Days of Surrender
 

my spirit yearns

this Vineyard song has never once left me dry eyed
surrender is what my spirit yearns for
even when my flesh fights to have its way

day 3 of 31 Days of Surrender
 

accept the blessing

Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! 

Come to the waters; 

and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! 

Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk 

without money and without price 

[simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. 

Isaiah 55:1 Amplified

This is the first time I really read this verse in the Amplified version, or perhaps it leaped off the page at me because I am focused on surrender this month.

I would not have thought that it takes surrender to accept blessings, but I recently walked through an example of such.  Rick and I spent a weekend in Winnipeg to meet with someone about plans for long term mission work.  Our usual mode of operation would have been to book a hotel room but the person who arranged our meetings also knows how costs can quickly accumulate when you're on the road building a support team.  He found a couple from his church who were willing to provide us a place to shelter.

Before we headed to the city various conversations occurred in my head:

Me:  Guess I don't need to pack a swimsuit, no hotel whirlpool to relax in
Me:  This trip isn't about luxury, but what life will be like without such things.
Me:  I know, I know, but....

Me:  Oh well, we have to stay with strangers but it will save money.
Me:  Yes, but this could be a divine appointment.  God knows what He's doing.  

Me:  I don't like to impose on others... I'm used to paying my own way.
Me:  Get used to it.

The weekend was a delight.  Not only did our hosts provide delicious breakfasts but also warm fellowship around the table.  Strangers became friends, and certainly God smiled.

All of our other meals were prepared and shared at no cost to us, at the home of the couple who hosted the visitors we were meeting with, giving us much more time for conversation than we had expected.

I remember whispering to Rick that we have to get used to accepting and receiving hospitality. We needed to clothe ourselves in humility. We needed to surrender false pride. We needed to surrender self-sufficiency.

In that surrender, blessing followed blessing followed blessing.

this is Day 2 of 31 days of surrender









also joining Emily and the broken but redeemed






and at Beth's with my 3 words

 

All His

All that I am

all I will be

is His

my silence and my songs

 

tenacious cling

winds are gusting fierce this morning

blowing the nighttime 
clouds of darkness 

across the morning sky

the yard 
mowed yesterday 

before the rain

is covered 
with foliage curling up 
to die in brown, gold
screaming yellow

yet there are leaves

that cling hard 
to branches both tenacious 
and stubborn they tremble 

in the storm

willing themselves to live 
for moments longer

every bit of them focused 
on the fight

how much easier to let go

surrendered 
to the wind

take me, then

I whisper

wherever You will

this is Day 1 of 31 days of surrender

also linking with the poets, hanging out at the pub today