Let Go, and Let God

Good morning!

I hope your Monday has started off well!  I was reminded (with God's help) over the weekend that I can't do everything on my own.  We all know this.  We all also know that "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength" (Phil 4:13)  Unfortunately, I think we focus on the wrong part of that verse...the part that says, "I can do all things..."  We want to think that we can do it all.  Every assignment, every lunch date, every presentation, every scheduled (and un-schedualed) thing, carry everyone's burdens...and at the end of the day still have more left to give at home...but that's not where our focus SHOULD be (nor is this possible).  The focus and power of that verse is "THROUGH Christ, who gives me strength."  I tend to over look that part.  NOTHING can be acomplished without the help of God.

Do you believe that?

I admit, I struggle to keep this in mind (and believe it) through out my whole day.  If we are in Christ and Christ is in us then we have the power of the Holy Spirit to help and guide us through the difficult and the easy moments of life...yet we ignore Him, and try to do it all on our own.  We think that in our own strength we can do that diet, or meet all of those deadlines, or carry the burdens of all our family members and friends, or bring ourselves joy, or all of the above, or insert your own...  the truth is friends, it is through Christ that we can do all things.  And, I am comforted in that.  I don't need to try so hard.  I can give it up to God, and He'll take care of the rest...

That's the hardest part.

I struggle to give it all to God and then let him keep it...I tend to take back all the things I just gave Him...and I forget that sometimes, we need to give it up over and over and over again...  And that's all that God asks.  Give him your busy burdeded day...or your busy burdened moment...so He can comfort you and WORK through you (because you gave up your cares to Him) instead of work on you (because you're stubornly holding on to something that was never meant to burden you).

Jeremiah 29:11

How often are you reminded that God really is in control of everything?  Lately, it seems, I am reminded every day...and yet He still allows me to have a choice.  It's a blessing I can not even begin to understand (or describe) AND one that causes me to stand in awe and wonder in the light of His mercy and the glory of His grace!  The greatness of God is far bigger than I can comprehend...still, He cares for me more than I can imagine.  Each intricacy of my day and life are in the palm of His hand.  He has the power to change my heart and turn my head...BUT...he allows me to choose...He doesn't force me...He waits.  He knows the end result, but I get to choose...

It's something we can not venture to speculate...a miracle SO BIG it can not be contained within the finite matter of our brains...  The coolest thing, though (I think), is that this same power is ALIVE and AT WORK IN ME!!!  When we accept the gift of Jesus into our lives and begin to follow Him with our whole being, His Spirit moves into the house of our heart and begins to clean and rearrange to make our hearts more inhabitable (for Him and for us).  I am such a better person since allowing Jesus to take hold of my heart...changed in so many ways.  And, it's all thanks to God.

Every time that I am reminded that God is in control, I remember the miracle He has done in me, and I let go.  (It sounds easier than it is...and I struggle and whine each time...but the peace and joy that follows CAN NOT be surpassed!)  SO...when everything's going right, or it all comes crashing down...He's got it under control.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Indescribable

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God
-Chris Tomlin

I Will Praise Him Still!

Fernando Ortega sings:

"When the morning falls on the farthest hill,
I will sing His name, I will praise Him still.
When dark trials come and my heart is filled
With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him still.

For the Lord our God, He is strong to save
From the arms of death, from the deepest grave.
And He gave us life in His perfect will,
And by His good grace, I will praise Him still."
This song, on this day, seems to say so much.  Weather in the trials of life or the trials of attack...or the joys of prosperity, the words and depth and feeling of this song ring so true.  That through everything we will PRAISE him still!!!  God is perfect and God is good and he never changes...therefore, everything he allows in His plan is ultimately PERFECT.  No contest.  So, as they say, 'when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.' ...I don't like lemonade very much...BUT, (the point is) God makes ALL things GOOD.

Bearing Fruit

I read this today:

 "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have served, and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us —  what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete." 1John 1:1

God makes our joy complete.  Not our job.  Not our wallet.  Not our relationships.  Not our deeds... nor any number of things we are told to value.  No.  God makes our JOY complete.  In EVERY circumstance.  Though it is so hard to find and hold on to that joy.  To escape is so much easier, in fact, it doesn't take much at all to get lost in work, lost in a relationship, lost in our sadness and fear, lost in a book, lost in the television, etc, etc...

But, brothers and sisters, we have been found!  All we need to do is ACCEPT that finding, accept the one who calls after us through EVERY moment of EVERY DAY!  And our joy will be made complete in Him.

Joy is not happiness, I have found.  I don't know if we can be truly happy this side of heaven.  Truly Joyful.  Now THAT is attainable. To be joyful and content is not to be without worry.  Worry finds it's way in like a cockroach.  Like a snake looking for a warm place to hide.  The ONLY hope of escaping worry is turning to God.  I admit, I have not turned to Him like I should recently, and I see the fruit of that...  How revealing it is to take a step back and look at the fruit your souls bears...how good is it really?  Do you polish the outside to make it appear better than it is?  Do the branches of your souls need tending?  Do your roots need to be healed of the Sin Disease?

Take an inventory with God today.  Do you only allow the good to come in?  Or do you take the good with the bad?  Do we think we can give the good with the bad also?  With Christ comes good fruit and with good fruit comes Joy.