Repost: When afraid to surrender

Posted on January 19, 2009 by Barbara Harper

This was originally posted August 15, 2006. I am reposting it today because I needed to go over these thoughts again. I couldn’t sing “I Surrender All” last night in church — there was just a hesitancy to once again declare a relinquishment of everything, even though I have before.

Sometimes we wrestle with the thought, “If I really surrender all to God, what will He do to me?” Even if we have made that surrender before, that thought can come at odd moments. After all, Joni Eareckson Tada was paralyzed as a teen-ager and has been in a wheelchair for, I think, 30-some years. Elisabeth Elliot lost not one, but two husbands. A dear professor at BJU has had Lou Gehrig’s disease for 20 years before passing away. The apostle Paul’s ministry was certainly not all roses ands sunshine.….our minds can go on and on with other examples we know.

There have been whole books written about reasons for suffering, and we hear testimonies of God’s grace through those times. Yet that lurking fear or reluctance can still snake into our thoughts.

As I was pondering these things this morning, the thought came, “What’s the alternative, really?” Suffering will come to most of us in some form or another. We live in a fallen world and deal with its effects; we’re not in heaven yet, where there are no tears, sorrow, pain. We’re not going to stop these things from coming into our lives if we don’t surrender to God. We can’t somehow insulate ourselves or protect ourselves from any pain or trial.

But if we are the Lord’s, we can trust that He has a purpose in what He has allowed. We can trust Him for His presence, peace, grace, and help. If we’re surrendered to Him, we can face these things in a way that we can’t otherwise.

One comment that stayed with me from a forgotten article about a trial a lady faced was this: “I was glad, when this happened, that He was not a stranger to me.” It’s certainly better to face a trial with Him rather than apart from Him. Sometimes He does work through the trials of life to bring people to Himself from their position as a stranger to Him, or to bring His children back from a backslidden position, or draw His children closer. But after that, we can “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).

We need not hold back our wills from the Lord for fear of what might happen. It’s futile to do so, really. But even aside from that, we can face whatever He sees fit to allow into our lives knowing that He will work all things together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:2) and by relying on His promises:

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II Corinthians 12:8-10).

As I was going over this again, I thought sometimes the issue isn’t so much what He might do to me, but what He might ask me to give up. But, really, is anything worth holding onto if He wants us to relinquish it? When this life is over and we get to eternity, will we look back with regret over the petty things we let keep us from being fully and completely yielded?

Things to be left behind

Posted on January 17, 2009 by Barbara Harper

From the January 15 reading of Our Daily Walk by F. B. Meyer:

“Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.”– Heb 12:1-2.

LEAVE BEHIND your past sins. They have been many and great, more than you can count. But if you have confessed and forsaken them, they have been put away, “as far as the east is from the west.'” Nothing could be more explicit than 1Jo 1:9. It is useless to brood over the past. God has buried it in the grave of Christ. Go and sin no more!

Leave behind your bad habits that encumber you (R.V. marg.). You know what they are, and how they cling–ill-temper, jealousy, pride, evil-speaking, and many another! You have fallen again and again, overtaken by them, tripped up, your robes stained and torn. There should be some finality in your life, a mark on the grass from which you start to run the race. The command to put off the old man is in the definite tense (Col 3:8-9). It be-speaks one sudden strong act of the will, God-nerved and God-empowered. This, then, is the hour when you must strike for liberty “Ye have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

Leave behind your accomplished ideals. They were once far in front and above you. As you climbed they seemed almost inaccessible, and mocking voices rang out their defiance of your attempt. But by the grace of God things that once you dreamt of are now realised, and you are sitting on the peak that once seemed to laugh you to scorn. But you must leave it behind! Look up! look forward! Are there not fresh ideals calling to you? Leave behind your attainments and strike your tents. One battle is fought, but a yet stronger foe bars the way immediately in front. It is suicidal to rest on your oars; to do so will expose you to the inevitable backward drift.

The best way to leave behind is to press forward. The Spirit of God bids us “run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus.” He is our Forerunner, always before us, always leading us on. His crest, like the plume of Henry of Navarre, is always in the very thick of the fight. Let the soul follow hard after Him, and it will become almost oblivious to what it leaves behind. The boy who is running for the goal, in his eagerness to win the prize, strips himself of one and another article of clothing. He will not count their worth, so long as he may win the prize. So run that ye may attain! Apprehend that for which you were apprehended! Lay hold on the outstretched crown of life!

PRAYER

Most gracious God, quicken me by Thy Holy Spirit, that I may run in the way Thou hast marked out for me. May I ever be kept looking off unto Jesus. AMEN.

My Jesus Fair

Posted on January 11, 2009 by Barbara Harper

“My Jesus Fair” is a new hymn written by Pastor Chris Anderson. I had read the words on his site some time back, and I don’t remember what my reaction was — positive, I’m sure — but this morning a young man sang it as a solo at our church, and, my, what a blessing. The first verse says:

My Jesus, fair, was pierced by thorns,
By thorns grown from the fall.
Thus He who gave the curse was torn
To end that curse for all.

Though of course I knew that Jesus took the penalty for our sin on Himself, it just struck me in a new way to think that the very thorns that grew as a result of sin coming into the world pierced the One who gave that curse “to end that curse for all.”

Then the refrain says:

O love divine, O matchless grace-
That God should die for men!
With joyful grief I lift my praise,
Abhorring all my sin,
Adoring only Him.

I love the poetry and rhythm as well as the truth of it, especially the last two lines. The whole hymn is filled the paradoxical juxtapositions: joyful grief (I have often wrestled between those two emotions in thinking about salvation: joy at what He did for me, grief that it cost Him so much); in subsequent verses, He meekly took abuse and forgave men acting most unmeekly; though kind, He was cruelly torn; though pure, crushed by judgment for sin.

You can find the full text of the hymn here and hear a sound clip here. I was thinking as I listened this morning that this sounded like something the Petit or Galkin Evangelistic teams would do, and I was delighted to discover that the Galkins have it on their latest CD, Christ Only, Always (and I was reminded that was something on my Christmas list I didn’t receive, but I hope to remedy that this week!)

Thank you, Pastor Anderson, for this beautiful and thoughtful hymn that turns our hearts and focus again to Him.

Whose life is it, anyway?

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Barbara Harper

It’s interesting how God brings something to my attention just as I need it. I had just been chafing under an area of service to another, a particularly minor service, when Michelle’s post about serving the Lord with gladness convicted me. That led me to thinking about serving one another in love. Then last night in Joy and Strength I read the following:

Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good.
ROMANS 15:2

Let us consider one another.
HEBREWS 10:24

LOOK around you, first in your own family, then among your friends and neighbors, and see whether there be not some one whose little burden you can lighten, whose little cares you may lessen, whose little pleasures you can promote, whose little wants and wishes you can gratify. Giving up cheerfully our own occupations to attend to others, is one of the little kindnesses and self-denials. Doing little things that nobody likes to do, but which must be done by some one, is another. It may seem to many, that if they avoid little unkindnesses, they must necessarily be doing all that is right to their family and friends; but it is not enough to abstain from sharp words, sneering tones, petty contradiction, or daily little selfish cares; we must be active and earnest in kindness, not merely passive and inoffensive.

There is no author listed for the quote: under it is just “LITTLE THINGS, 1852.”

Selfish as I am, I have to be frequently reminded my life is not my own. It’s His, and often serving others is serving Him.

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Ephesians 5:1-2.

New Year’s Prayer

Posted on January 3, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Another year is dawning
With the chance to start anew.
May I be kinder, wiser, Lord,
In all I say and do.

Not so caught up in selfish gain
That I would fail to see
The things in life that mean the most
Cost not a fancy fee.

The warm, kind word that I can give,
The outstretched hand to help,
The prayers I pray for those in need–
More precious these than wealth.

I know not what may lie ahead
Of laughter or of tears;
I only need to know each day
That You are walking near.

I’m thankful for this brand new year
As now I humbly pray,
My hand secure in Yours, dear Lord,
Each step along the way.

-Author unknown

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt: Hope

Posted on January 3, 2009 by Barbara Harper

PhotoHunt

Theme: Hope| Become a Photo Hunter

The verse on this plaque is Romans 12:12: “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing steadfastly in prayer.”

I’m glad my hope is in the Lord.

My hope is in the Lord Who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.

Refrain:
For me He died, For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

No merit of my own His anger to suppress.
My only hope is found in Jesus’ righteousness.

And now for me He stands Before the Father’s throne.
He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.

His grace has planned it all, ‘Tis mine but to believe,
And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.

(Words and music by Norman J. Clayton)

The Christian’s Bell

Posted on December 29, 2008 by Barbara Harper

I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's  child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the  Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint  (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ.  (Acts  1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member  of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation (  Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)
I am  free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of  reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy  Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph.  2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am  established, anointed, sealed by God  (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all  things work together for good  (Rom. 8:28  )
I have been chosen and appointed  to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence  (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil.  4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15:  1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16).   I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I  am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans  5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship  (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be  perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven  (Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to  God
Do you know
Who you are?

Seen at Strength for Today

Retrospectives

Posted on December 27, 2008 by Barbara Harper

I like end-of-the year retrospectives. The Today Show on NBC had a prime-time hour-long look back at 2008 a few nights ago. Time Magazine has a list of the Top 10 of Everything. I am sure there will be more of that type of thing in the next few days.

My family experienced many firsts this year: My husband’s first trips to China and Brazil; Jeremy’s first trip out of the country accompanying his dad to Brazil; Jesse’s first time to make the JV basketball team; Jason’s engagement, the first of our children to take that important step. My mother-in-law moved to SC from ID, the first time we’ve ever had one of our parents living so near us.

At the end of the past two years I’ve taken a look back at my blog, reposting the first sentence of the first post of each month. So let’s see what ushered in each new month of Stray Thoughts:

January:

Biblical Resolutions: “I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions any more — not the kind you forget about by March.”

February:

A Winner!: “I used the Random.Org Integer Generator to determine the winner of my Bloggy Carnival Giveaway of the book The Greatest Love Stories Ever Told.”

March:

Whom God Has Joined: “Next to reading the Bible, reading missionary books has had the greatest impact on my Christian life. Isobel Kuhn’s books have been among the greatest of those to me.”

April:

Thanks!: “Thanks so much for your kind words and prayers concerning my earlier post. I saw the doctor today. She said I did still have cellulitis, but did not prescribe another round of antibiotics.”

May:

“You can’t say ‘No’ until you pray about it“: “I am “rerunning” this post because…I need it!”

June:

Prayer Request: “Heather’s daughter, Emma Grace. whom many of you know, appears to be in heart failure or rejection of her transplanted heart.”

July:

Caring for elderly parents: “I mentioned a while back that my mother-in-law is moving here to SC from Idaho.”

August:

Show and Tell: Paula Vaughan Collection: “Kelli at There’s No Place Like Home hosts ‘Show and Tell Friday.'”

September:

A Laborious Meme: “Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer is hosting a meme for Labor Day about labor — the kind that results in delivering a child.”

October:

Peace Child: “I first encountered Peace Child by Don Richardson several years ago in the Reader’s Digest Book Section.”

November:

A winner!: “The winner of the Christian Victorian Christmas novels via Random.Org is Katelyn.”

December:

Blue Monday & etc.: “We had a bit of drama this morning when Jim’s mom called about 7:30 a.m. saying her hearing aid was broken.”

Contests, memes, book reviews, thoughts from Scripture, prayer requests, family happenings, and assorted other stray thoughts — yep, that just about sums up my blog. 🙂

Updated to add: Kelli at There’s No Place Like Home is hostessing a Mr. Linky where those who do this exercise can link and enjoy looking back through the year together here.

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 24, 2008 by Barbara Harper

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with those you love remembering the birth of our Savior and Lord, who came from everything familiar, comfortable, right, and glorious to live among sinful people who would misunderstand and reject Him, in order to provide salvation for us.