Surrender

This week was the final week of a wonderful Bible study, with a group of wonderful sisters, in the book of James. What an amazing and convicting book. We were given much instruction on Godly living. Be slow to speak, lay aside wickedness, be doers of the Word, keep oneself unspotted from the world, do not show partiality, and the list goes on. Sometimes the "to do" list as a Christian seems so overwhelming and even impossible. But, PRAISE GOD, HE has made it possible. All He asks of us is to choose to surrender to Him. At each moment of our surrender, He equips us with all we need to accomplish His "to do" list. No, not OUR "to do" list! HIS "to do" list. (That would be His Word, the Bible, our instructions from Him.) James tells us that as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (2:26) We have the body, but He gives the Spirit, which is life. We have the faith, but He gives us evidence of life, called works. Works are evidence that He lives within us, for without the equipping power of His Spirit such works are impossible. But by surrender of self, we are filled with His power to fulfill His commands. So when James exhorts us to live a life of works, what does that really look like? It looks like women who surrender and a God who works. When we are taught to be slow to speak, this means we surrender our tounge to be bridled by Him. (He is able to bridle the whole body, which we are a part of, for He was a perfect man. -3:2) When we are instructed to be doers of the Word, this means we surrender our minds and bodies to Him, and He does His Word through us and in us. When we are warned not to show partiality, this means we surrender our tendancies toward judgement to His powerful control. HE IS ABLE to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine... And we are able to do all things THROUGH HIM, we need only surrender. How grateful I am to have only the restful requirement of continual surrender.

Adoption

Our boys will be home soon. It's finally beginning to hit me how close it is. We have a court date.... February 13th!! Which means that if all goes well, we should be able to travel to Ethiopia and bring them home by the end of March. That's only 2 months away! So much to do.. and yet, if we could travel today, I'd be ready! Their sweet faces have been in my dreams twice now, and I held them in my arms. What an amazing feeling to wake up with.

Beginning 2009 With Rest

Sometimes it seems like time passes by so quickly!! December came and went... My husbands birthday... Christmas.... A lot of company... New Years eve and my son's birthday.... New years day... and back to school...already!! I pray that in the whirlwind you all had time to sit at our Father's feet and spend time basking in His glorious presence! I pray that the rush rush of the "season" was not able to distract you from the wonderful purpose of our celebration. The birth of our amazing savior!! And I pray that 2009 finds all of us sitting humbly at His side, ready and willing to go wherever He takes us this year!! What amazing journeys He has planned for each and every one of us... His children... who He fashioned in the womb... specifically for the good works He planned ahead of time for us to do. We were each individually created for His specific, individual plans and purposes. What comfort I find in that truth. I was not designed for your task, nor you for mine. Comparisons creep into our hearts some days. Then we can find ourselves wishing. God's Word calls it covetousness. It's opposite is contentment. "... I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,... I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12,13) Contentment is found when we put our trust in Christ and rely on His strength and KNOW in our hearts that He is in control of all things and His plans are absolutely perfect!! The best way to KNOW this truth is to renew our minds with this truth each and every day by spending time with our Lord in his Word. If you are a New year's resolution kind of person...(and even if you're not..)... I pray that this year you would resolve to love your Lord with all your heart, mind and soul.... to crave intimacy with Him..... to desire nothing more than time spent in His presence... and to trust Him so thoroughly with your life that His will would be utmost in your heart.... There you will find rest.