Choose Life - SurrenderDecember

The power of choice we don't surrender is the power to choose who or what we surrender to. So let's make it a good choice... Choose Life!

But make sure you know what 'life' means, and where it comes from... it's always good to make informed choices :)
 

This song by Big Tent Revival speaks of where I have found Life...

A choice is set before you now
Living or dying, blessing or cursing
You know, the time has come around
To turn from your fighting
And rest in his mercy
Choose life, that you might live
The life that He gives
He gives you forever
Choose life, the way that it's true
From the one who chose you
Your father in Heaven
Choose life

Trust the Lord with all your heart
All of your soul and all of your being
Hold on, listen and obey
Surrender your life into His keeping

Choose life, that you might live
The life that He gives
He gives you forever
Choose life, the way that it's true
From the one who chose you
Your father in Heaven
Choose life

And the weight you're under
Will be lifted away
And the world will wonder
What happened here today
Then you'll stand right here and say

Choose life, that you might live
The life that He gives
He gives you forever
Choose life, the way that it's true
From the one who chose you
Your father in Heaven
Choose life

"I'll never Surrender!"

Surrender...
blender, tender, Fender, pretender, big spender... um yep, thinking of anything else but surrender is probably the normal response to that word!

Let's face it, Surrender is one of those 'I don't like it' words, one that puts us on the defensive immediately. The images I have of surrender usually include the bad guys who've taken hostage some poor innocent people finally coming out with their weapons down and their hands in the air to ensure they don't get shot as they surrender to the police...

It's always got something to do with showing your face as a bad guy and giving in to the law, or surrendering to your enemy because you have been rendered powerless before them. They win, you lose, give up. And so the resounding cry "I'll never surrender!" becomes either the line of stubborn villians, or valiant displays of strength and sacrifice of heroes.

Ok so surrender IS about that we have something to give up. But what is that something? It could be anything from an object to and idea, or your very self. Power, ownership and control  are usually entwined with those things.

My dictionary app agrees with me in its own words:

There is an underlying assumption or premise when we talk of surrender that we have complete control of ourself, our life and outcomes in our life. Thus, surrender sounds like we have to give up those things and by force. The fear is that we'll lose our self if we surrender.

What if the premise is wrong? What if we don't have complete power, ownership and control of our own lives?

What if the reality is that we all surrender something of our self to another thing or another someone on a regular basis and we don't even realise it?

What if by the very act of voluntarily surrendering our life to the One who made us we will actually FIND our complete self?

Fortified heart

I've been getting into poetry as a way of processing some things. Here's my latest writing. 

Seeping in; through the eyes and ears and skin

Words of stealth; that undermine all kinds of health

"Not enough!"; it deceitful bluff

Untrue; with a dash of truth to fool you

Rejection; pierces your heart with a lethal injection

Betrayal; stings like the fire of a scorpion's tail

'Not chosen'; leaves you lost and frozen

Heart spent; leads you only to lament

Poison reigns; running through your veins

Your history; beckons you to believe

Flowing lies; the end goal: your demise

Battle rages; deep within through many stages.

FLOODING IN; through the eyes and ears and skin

WORDS OF LIFE; they overcome all kinds of strife

"YOU'RE FREE; from the lies that keep you from me 

COMPLETELY TRUE; I have made you completely new

Rejection; I bore all the sting of sin's infection

ACCEPTED; now you are God's Child adopted

Betrayal; this rained on me like piercing hail

COMFORT IS YOURS; I've forgive your sins for sure

'CHOSEN BY ME'; when I carried your cross to Calvary

STRENGTHENED HEART; fortified with my cross-shaped love, it won't fall apart

LIFE REIGNS; my blood now runs through your veins

ETERNITY; together now and into the new is your security

POWER SOURCE; my Holy Spirit is your daily resource

BATTLE DONE; it's over. Peace is yours. I WON!"

The Squeeze Temptation v Comparison to none

Early morning wake up with plenty on mind. Things I feel must be miraculously squeezed into my day somehow. Logical conclusion - start working now at 7am... THE SQUEEZE TEMPTATION... Exactly what I've been trying NOT to do with my life this year! [except the rare occasion of absolute necessity - which this is not such a time].

Still small voice says: "start with me, just take 5"

So I open up to Today's page and am directed to this passage:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." [John 14v27]

"I DO NOT GIVE TO YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES"

How often we judge Jesus by the standards of what the world gives... when it comes to the peace the world gives we find it fleeting and shallow, not quite able to quiet our souls. Yet here Jesus offers Peace - a Peace that is COMPARISON TO NONE, for it is the deepest and richest of peace which comes from

no longer being condemned
no longer being detached from the source of life and love and meaning
no longer without a clear identity and purpose
no longer slaving away to be good enough

Peace with God our Maker, Lover, Saviour, Redeemer, Judge, King [and much more] OVERFLOWS into every area of our life for we have no need to fear the outcome of our weakness, our work, our circumstances beyond our control. Being at peace with God means He is with us in all things and working for our good, our eternal good.

"I do not give as the world gives" says Jesus. And he means this in everything that he offers us. This is the Onle One to whom we would really want to say: "I want more please. Give me what you offer, for none compares to you"

Here is a song that Zac Young was learning before he died. It was played at his funeral by his close friend Kye - it was beautiful Kye. It's simple and yet a profound response to Jesus' gifts. "I want more of you God"

'Set A Fire' by Will Reagan and United Pursuit Band

Jesus' Peace be with you today!