“I Surrender! I Surrender!”

Lately I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what God requires of us. Or maybe, what God requires of me.  Because lately, God’s really been putting me through it, to the point that I’m now down in the trenches and waving the white flag of mercy, “I surrender! I surrender!”  And this can be a tough place to be, at least for me, because, I thought I had already gone through all my surrender issues.  Apparently though, there are still some areas of my life I’ve been hanging on to, (namely, trust issues) which God not so gently pointed out to me.

Yeah, God can be tough on us sometimes, it’s true.  The longer you hang with Him and really get to know Him, you’ll see.  He’s pretty much a  stickler about everything.  Oh, sometimes He’ll go gentle on us (especially if you’re a newbie), but if you got some serious weeds, (with deep roots) He won’t hesitate to pull out a bulldozer – whatever it takes.  Unfortunately for me with this last ordeal that I’ve been through, (and I’m sorry to say am still in the midst of) God plowed me.

Now, with most of these “God plowings” God usually gives us ample opportunity to avoid them, but in this case, such as not listening to Him in the first place, (think of Jonah here) He has no choice but to amp it up, “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”  Me: “I think so.”  Because literally, I just took it on the chin and am now down for the count,  “1… 2…”  Well, you get my drift and the last place you want to be, is in a boxing match with God.

Now don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t outright defiance, (okay, maybe it was to some degree, the more I think about it) but it was just a little thing, really.  Kind of like Jonah and Nineveh, (okay, maybe not quite that big) but still, God was calling me on a mission, only… I kept hesitating, God kept calling, and again… I kept hesitating.  Yeah, the thing about a mission is, when God calls you, it’s going to require of you two things: something called sacrifice, and something else: faith, and lots of it.

Me: “But…”

God:  “No, no buts…”

Me:  But…”

And then this is the part where God gets really annoyed and I land flat on my back with two bad knees.

God: “I kept telling you.”

Me: “I know.  If only I had listened.”

Yeah, if only I had listened, but the thing about God is, He still has a mission, for each and every one of us.  And the thing about God is, even if we do screw it up by not trusting Him in the first place, (and yeah, those orders will self destruct in 30 seconds) He’ll send another one, until we finally do get it.

And how do I know this? Because when you’re laid up, it has a really big way of getting your attention.  Not to mention that when I walked, (and yeah, thankfully I can still walk) into the doctor’s office the other day and took a seat in the waiting room, there just so happened to be a story on the news about some guy who wrote a book on faith, (yeah, talk about divine appointment).

Now, don’t ask me to recall who the author was or even the name of the book, because that’s not what I remember.  The only thing I remember is that it followed the story of a man who was sent to prison, and once there he told God, “God, if you’ll just get me out of this mess, then you can have my life.” Or in other words: surrender.  Oh, and that man is now a pastor in an inner city somewhere making a difference in the lives of people, who really need the hope that he brings them.

God:  “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?”

Me:  “Yes, God.  I’m going.”

Send Me Out!

And wanting to go but thinking, “how will I ever get there?” and to where? “Where am I going?” Makes me think of Abraham who God gave a promise to of bigger things, of a land flowing with milk and honey! And out of obedience He goes, “send me out!” And so God gives the call but when He does will he find that we are ready? I wonder and I wonder this even for myself.

“How O Lord, will you ever send me out?” A land flowing with milk and honey, and I wonder, “what is that, Lord? A land flowing with milk and honey?” And then I hear Him ask me, “What is that to you?” And I suppose it could be anything, perhaps a promise God has given to you/me. “But how will I ever ever get there?” we wonder and I wonder this too.

“How will I ever reach the promise God has given me? And how, out of all people, will He ever be able to work it out in me?” Then I think to myself, “still so much growing I need to do.”

Reminds me of last Sunday’s sermon and it was so good, it really was… “God is a God of Hope!” and He is and I know he gives pastor’s these sermons just to remind us of this. That when God gives you a promise, no matter what it is, wait for it, His perfect timing and as you wait seek Him, seek His face, read His Word, and let Him grow you. The interim time, from point A to point B. Point A (the promise He gives you). Point B (when He brings it to completion or in other words; He brings you to that land flowing with milk and honey.) But the line between the two? “Is what?” It’s the “inbetween” time and believe me, it can feel like such, such a long time, but there’s always a reason for it; and perhaps it’s because there’s still growing He needs to do.

“So what has God shown you? and what do you cling to? A promise that He’s given specifically to you?”

Along time ago God gave me a promise. He showed me a ministry and when He did I thought, “you’re crazy God! That’s the last place I’d ever want to go!” But you know what? The more time I spend here between point A and point B the more I see. I see how He continually shapes me until hopefully, finally, someday, I’ll be ready… for point B. For now, whatever it is God has shown you, that promise He’s given specifically to you, while you wait for it, that land of milk and honey, keep your eyes on Him and always remember… that He loves you! Your “God of Hope” is what He is!

Planting

“Open your hands,” the Lord said.
“But I have nothing,” she insisted for she didn’t, she sat destitute before His feet, crying, tears as they streamed down her face, fists clenched.
“Open your hands” He said again.
And so she looked down at them, her hands, and they were so dirty. She had been out working, working in soil that had produce for her nothing. Nothing now but dirty hands and tear stained cheeks.
“Open them,” He said again and so this time she did when much to her surprise there within her palm a tiny seed. With her other hand she held it up in wonder, “what is it?” she asked.
“You only need to know that you are to plant it,” He said.
“And then?” she asked.
“And that is all.”
“But how can that be?” she asked. “Surely wouldn’t I need to tend to it or water it even?”
“No” He said, “the rest… is up to me.”