Harnessing Power or Submitting to It?

"Too often our agenda is to fix the world until it can properly take care of us. God's agenda is to bring all things together in Christ until every knee bows before Him…Notice the purpose driving my search for God: finding Him had more to do with using Him to get what I valued than enjoying Him for who He is. I wanted to harness His power rather than submit to it." (Larry Crabb, Finding God, pp. 35, 70)

Ouch! I am guilty of this at times! There have been times that I just wanted Him to do what I wanted Him to do...and not just love Him for who He is. My spirit does want to submit to His power, knowing that it would be His fruit that would emerge. My flesh wants to harness His power and wield it like some flashy sword.

Forgive my self-centeredness, Father. In my weakness, you are strong. Teach me to hear You and submit. I know You are doing that already and I am grateful. I am sorry that I sometimes complain during the process. Thank you for being slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. Amen.

The End of Ourselves...Completely

"All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to 'receive the Holy Spirit"….the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, January 5 entry).

As I travel on my own journey with the Lord in this new year, how might more of the Spirit be evident in and through me because of the ways in which I relinquish control and let God be God?

Are there some situations or relationships in your life that you would like to hand over to God and let Him be honored?

Be

Be...
by Gem Fadling

Let it go...
Let it go...
Let it go...

Be with Me...
Grace...
Grace...

You are shedding the old way - compulsion
And are coming in a new way

Grace...
Freedom to be...
Grace...
Grace...

You are free to do or think...be...
There are no formulas for time with Me

Freedom...
Ahhhh...freedom...

The old measuring sticks are gone

So here I am
Giving You me
And receiving You
Ahhhh...

No right or wrong
Just be...
Be with Me...

I can feel You transforming me
As my thoughts race frantically

Be...
Be...
Be...

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages
(Augustus M. Toplady, 1776)

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

Love is Patient

"Love is patient..." (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Isn't it interesting that "patience" is the first description in the long list of "what is love?" I find that often, in my own life, patience is the first thing to leave the building.

I find myself muttering, under my breath (more often than I'd like to admit) this little phrase:

"I don't have time for this!"

Whether it is waiting for my son to tie his shoes or waiting on hold on the phone or waiting as the person driving in front of me decides where they are going. I have begun to catch myself when this happens and I ask myself (and anyone within earshot), "Are you going to miss an appointment with the President or something?" Obvious answer, "no."

If I don't have time for all of the parts of life, what is it I do have time for?

Love is patient.

That means that I take a deep breath, come down from the center of my universe and look out for those around me. Is it more important that I am efficient or that the people in my proximity are loved?

By the grace of God, today I will watch my impatience meter and seek to enjoy more moments in time.

Anywhere With Jesus

Anywhere with Jesus
(Jesse Brown Pounds, 1887)

Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go
Anywhere He leads me in this world below
Anywhere without Him dearest joys would fade
Anywhere with Jesus I am not afraid

Anywhere, anywhere
Any little fear I'll never know
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go
Anywhere with Jesus, I am not alone

Soul Simplicity

Soul simplicity seems to be the theme so far in this New Year. It's nice to have a fresh start, isn't it? I have found myself drawn to old hymns, poetry and the King James version of the bible. My soul is crying out to engage in simple, solid truth.

We visited a church a couple of months ago and we sang the old hymn "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder." I was struck deeply by the truth that some day I will be in Heaven and my name will be read from the Book of Life. My name will be there because of Jesus.

May you be wholly lost in the sweet will of God this week…

Sweet Will of God
(Leila N. Morris, 1900)

Sweet will of God
Still fold me closer '
Til I am wholly lost in Thee

Thy precious will, O conqu'ring Savior
Doth now embrace and compass me
The storms have ceased, my peace a river
My soul a prisoned bird set free.

Sweet will of God
Still fold me closer '
Til I am wholly lost in Thee

"For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God."
(The Apostle Paul in the Book of Acts).

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." (Psalm 13:5)

Let's start the New Year off with a bang. I am going to share with you a very personal image that God gave me today. As I have shared before, I have been seeking to meet with Jesus in silence each day, with no agenda. Today, during a prayer time with my husband, Jesus graced me with an image that led me directly into His presence and I was able to leave all my cares behind and just be with Him.

I share this with you, hoping you will also be inspired to be with the One who loves tenderly and unconditionally.

I was on the shore of the ocean. As I looked out to the horizon there was a golden glow on the water where the sky met the ocean. I lingered on the shore as I gazed at the bright sight in the distance.

Then I began to "fly" swiftly out and over the ocean. As I grew further away from the shore, I literally felt the cares of my day-to-day existence leave me. They were far behind and I could not access them. I soared until I was enveloped by the golden light. I came to a stop and remained in the golden light for a while.

The golden light melted away and I found myself in an unearthly wood. The ground was uneven with little moss covered mounds, rocks, tree roots, tiny ponds of clear water…yet it was easy to walk on. There were tall, beautiful trees, just enough to make me feel enclosed, but few enough to let the light in. Leaves and flower petals fell from above. My daily cares were gone.

I was wearing a long, off-white, Shakespearean festival type dress. I had a wreath of flowers in my hair. Jesus was there. He took my hand and had me sit next to a tree with dark brown bark. I leaned my head back and took deep, cleansing breaths.

Jesus stayed near, just walking slowly. As I looked again, I noticed a blank journal in my lap. At first I thought, "Cool! Now I can write down everything He says." Then it quickly began to feel like a burden (I was pulled momentarily back to my room - I'd have to get the computer to be sure it was saved for posterity and I can type much faster than write, etc.)

Jesus gently chuckled. He took the empty journal from my lap. Without words, He let me know that he would write in it Himself. I saw the image of a little red heart, like a valentine. He would write on my heart. He continued to walk slowly near where I was resting up against the tree. I could hear no sounds, yet we were communicating. Every once in a while I would giggle. It was a very warm and relaxing time.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
(George Matheson, 1882)

O Love that will not let me go
I rest my weary soul in Thee
I give Thee back the life I owe
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be