Choice and Surrender

I have been raised to respect God and others, to keep in mind the importance of checking my heart condition alongside having a name with a good connotation when I’m not in the room.  I have also learned to respect myself.  I have learned to love the way God has made me.  This is a lesson that only God could teach me and it is not to say that I accept the parts of myself that are sinful or even just slightly compromising to the righteousness God has called us to.  I deeply want to let him continue shaping and molding me for the rest of my life into the woman he wants me to be.  I appreciate the uniqueness of myself and that of others.  I celebrate it.  It’s been a time and a half to get to the point where I’m comfortable in my own skin and comfortable with the vulnerability of addressing my issues.  Let me be the first, in the words of Paul, to say that I am the chief among sinners.  I choose to be open and honest about my mistakes and the lessons I know God wants to work out in me.  I want others to avoid making the same mistakes and I’m open to help if called upon.  But, the appropriate boundaries are necessary.  I am committed to working on me, not the person next to me.  This should be something everyone recognizes as a truth in their own lives.  My fence encloses my yard and does not engulf someone else’s.  I encourage people to seek scripture and God’s will for their lives, not an abridged version or what the world says is politically correct.  I am committed to seeking his kingdom and righteousness.  I am committed to letting this be a work that God does in me because only he can move the parts of me that I am desperate to see changed.  However, the responsibility of pulling the weight of change is off my shoulders as I have given it to God to lead me in.  It’s no longer mine to pull alone.  He only desires that I come away with him.  I’m lucky to know this awesome person who loves me enough to inspire, in one chapter alone, thirty lines of scripture in Song of Solomon describing his desire for MY presence (WHOA) and only one line in that chapter pointing out that I have flaws to work out.  He desires my PRESENCE over my PERFECTION, and, by being in HIS presence, I’m changed to more closely align with HIS perfection.  Sometimes, I think we know this with head knowledge but we don’t know AND believe it fully.  It’s always good to have a reminder of where our growth stems from and how to get the nutrients we need.
Jesus, this is another day of surrender– another day of choice.  I surrender to you alone. There is no person who can fathom what you had in mind when you intricately created me, when you carefully created every person on this earth.  My banner goes up for no one else.  I choose you.  I’ve seen your ceaseless and persistent pursuit of me.  I’ve felt your presence when I thought what I needed was to be alone.  You are the constant in my ever-changing equation.  Thank you for never forgetting me.  Thank you for having me in mind and pointing out the uniqueness you call lovely.  Thank you for choosing to love me at my worst so that you could call me to your best.  Today is a simple day.  I just ask that you go with me.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.”
Hebrews 12:1-13 NLT

Note: Thank you, Sarah Ann, for the lesson yesterday.  It hit home and inspired much of this.

News and Prayer Requests: I hit $5,000 last week!!!  Praise Jesus!!!  Now, it’s onward at full speed to the $10k and all the necessities.  Before July 20th, I need my flights for training camp August 8-18th.  Before leaving for training camp, I must have most of my equipment.  Lastly, I’ll need vaccinations and to hit $10k before launch in October.  Please be in prayer with me over this and please let me know if you can help with any of these pressing goals!

Love to all! — Ré