My Stand

What comes to your mind when you hear the word "SURRENDER"??

Some people may think of war, or the example of someone like General Lee surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox. Others may think of someone hoisting a white flag to signal defeat. For those who are children of the late-70's and early-80's, you may think of a song by the band Cheap Trick. There are countless images or ideas that pop into our mind when we hear the term "surrender.

The idea of total surrender is something that God has been bringing to light in my life recently. This idea of surrendering to God goes hand in hand with my last post on contentment. Total surrender to God. Total surrender to His will for my life. What does that mean? What does that look like? Does that affect me now?

Before I go any further, I want to clarify one thing. Those examples and images at the beginning of this post are completely different from the idea of surrender in the sense that I'm talking about today. Those first examples of surrender occur when there is no other choice available. Lee surrendered to Grant because he was out of options. People wave the white flag and surrender because there is nowhere left to run or hide. That type of surrender is a last-ditch effort for survival. That type of surrender is a choice made out of fear for self-preservation, and and it's the absolute last choice you want to make. Do you really think that Lee wanted to surrender to Grant? Absolutely not. I guarantee you that he wanted to win that war. He surrendered because he was out of options. He surrendered because his back was against the wall. He surrendered in order to spare his life and the lives of his men. It was the absolute last choice that he would ever consider making.

Now flip it around. When we surrender to God, it should be the foremost decision we make. Surrendering to God isn't a last-ditch effort for survival. Surrendering to God is not deciding to make that choice when you've exhausted all other options and the only thing left is crying out to God. Honestly, that is a picture of a proud man being humbled, not surrender. Surrendering to God, and His will for our lives looks like this: "I wish to lie low before God, as in the dust; that I might be nothing and that God might be all." -(Jonathan Edwards). Surrendering is a conscience choice that we make. A choice to deny ourselves and do what God has called us to do because we desire to be used by Him. I think that is what Paul was getting at when he said:

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all that I may win more. To the Jews, I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not myself being under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without the law. To the weak, I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that by all means I may save some. I do ALL things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it." - 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Paul understood what it meant to surrender to God. He knew that his mission was to deny his wants and desires and spread the gospel to any and all who ears to hear. He didn't care what the situation was, or what the cultural background, or who he was talking to. All he cared about was sharing the truth of Christ. Why??? Because he had surrendered.

Surrendering to God is realizing that it is not about us, but rather it is all about Him. Surrendering to God is voluntarily taking your hands off the steering wheel of life and surrendering COMPLETE control to Him. It's humbling yourself before an Almighty God. Surrender is knowing who is control of your life, and then actually obeying Him.

To use the example of a student that I mentor: Surrendering to God is obedience to the call that He has put on your life. Surrender is obeying God by pursuing a life in ministry even when your parents want you to do something completely different. Surrendering to God is physically seen by those around you, as you TRUSTING God.

I want to end this post with a song. This song has been playing in my head for weeks as I've been digesting this topic of surrender. I love this song and I almost started crying when Matt Tillman sang this the other night at Epicenter. That's a vulnerable statement but I can honestly say it because it's the cry of my heart. I earnestly desire to abandon my own desires and completely surrender to "the One who gave it all." Pay attention to the words of this song and check out the video link for youtube at the end.

"The Stand" -Hillsong United

You stood before creation
Eternity within your hands
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
Carried the cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what can I say?
What can I do?
But offer this heart O God
COMPLETELY to you

So I'll walk upon salvation
Your spirit alive in me
This life to declare your promise
My soul now to stand

So what can I say?
What can I do?
But offer this heart O God
COMPLETELY to you

So I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I'll stand
My soul Lord, to you SURRENDERED
ALL I AM IS YOURS!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkGLbKV26zo

Contentment In Christ

Contentment. That's an interesting word. It's honestly the term that best describes my life right now, and I'll explain that later. It's a word that Paul uses in Philippians 4:10-13.

"But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

I love the wording that Paul uses here. The first thing that stands out to me is that being content is a learned trait. Paul says that he has "learned to be content." To me, logically, that suggests that there must have been a time (or times) in his life where he was faced with undesireable circumstances. We see this clearly in Paul's "resume" found in 2 Corinthians 11:16-31. Contentment isn't just a light-switch that you just turn on. It's a process. You have to go through some rough times, times of uncertainty, and times where you are on the polar opposite spectrum of contentment. But through this process, you learn what it means to be content. You learn what it means to be grateful for the things that God has blessed you with whether they are big or small. You learn to be content in whatever circumstances you are in.

Philippians 4:13 is a very popular verse, especially among athletes. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. "I can outrun everyone in this race through Christ who strengthens me. I can shoot better, jump higher, bench more, tackle better, or win more games through Christ who strengthens me." "I can ask this girl out and she will say yes because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It's almost like a mantra for immediate success in most people's mind. However, I think Paul's intention for this verse was different when you consider the context. Paul just got finished talking about how he has learned to be content even when he was suffering and then he says "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Ultimately, Paul is saying that he can "accept" anything that comes his way. Why? Because he has learned what it means to be content in Christ. He knows that God is going to take care of him and provide for him, so why should he worry? He understood contentment.

I'm at a weird place right now. What's weird is that my life is going faster than a middle school girl's heart rate at the sight of Justin Bieber, yet, I'm happy. I'm content. I see some friends starting new chapters in their life (which excites me), and I see some friends revisiting old "adventures" (which worries me) and I can barely wrap my mind around the fact that I start my last year of seminary in 10 days. Yet, I'm content. This past year has been an interesting one for me, full of whirlwind events, changes and decisions. I've had some rough times, and some great times. Within this last year, I've been at the "bottom of the barrel", on "top of my game" and just about everywhere in the middle. Yet, I've learned to be content.

Trust me, I'm not boasting or bragging. I'm just saying that I believe my God is a big God, and I've got nothing to worry about. I think Job said it best:

"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!" -Job 19

The Creator of the universe is the God I serve. Wherever He leads me, whatever circumstances I go through, I know who my Shield and Strong Tower is. Why should I worry when I can be content?

Just another example of God's faithfulness

Ok. So I realized that I promised to post something new on my blog every week...the week before I left for vacation. That is my excuse for being absent last week. Judge me all you want.

A lot has been happening in my life recently. As I just mentioned, I got a chance to go back to Lynchburg last week for a little R&R. It was a very busy week full of seeing close friends, mentors, family members, and water park rides. I've always thanked God for blessing me with awesome friends and family but I never realized how much I under-valued them until this week. You don't fully grasp how much people mean to you until you go 6 months without seeing them and then you are forced to see them all in a span of 5 days. It's tough. I wanted to see so many people, but I knew I had to choose who I got to see in those few short days. During that crazy week, I realized how much God has blessed me with in the area of relationships. Yes, I got to spend more time with certain people, but I was truly blown away with the faithfullness of my friends. I'm not downplaying the importance of other people in my life, I'm just pointing out that seeing and spending time with the people that love and care about me was a breath of fresh air in my (honestly) weary life. It was just what I needed, and God knew it. Just another example of God's faithfulness.

For those of you that have been following my blog/life recently, you know that I've been looking for a car. Well, the day has arrived. Sorta. My dad thinks he has a car lined up for me as long as all the paperwork and transfer with the DMV goes well. This is a HUGE praise. Hopefully within the next few weeks, I will be driving a car that should last me a good while. This is just another example of God's faithfulness.

Things at the church are crazy! After some downtime post-camp, things have kicked back up as public schools started back today. This is going to be a hectic week as we prepare for some changes. This upcoming weekend is our Promotion Sunday where we bump everyone up a grade, introduce new teachers, welcome the new freshman, and basically pull our hair out as we try to place around 500 kids in the right classes. On top of that, we are attempting to feed breakfast to about 400 students this week at various local schools. We are in the process of teaming up with some local Chick-Fil-A's, McDonalds, and Publix to offer breakfast this Thursday and Friday to local high school students as they finish their first week back at school. It's going to be awesome!
Sticking with the internship update, I'm very excited to announce that I have been offered an extension on my current internship. I had a meeting with Matt about 2 weeks ago where he asked me to continue my internship and stay an extra 6 months. Now, instead of ending in December, I will conclude my internship at the end of June 2011. I've prayed about it and talked with my parents about it, and we feel like this is what God wants me to do. When my internship ends, I will have my Master's Degree finished (May) and a more complete resume as I look for a full-time job in Student Ministries. Just another example of God's faithfulness.

So basically to sum it up. My life is crazy. I have no idea where I'm going to end up. But God was, is and will continue to be FAITHFUL. I'm just going to rest in that fact now...

"He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler." - Psalm 91:4

"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him." - Lamentations 3:21-24