Remember Surrender

I am getting ready for Bible Study this morning and listening to Sara Groves - a favorite artist of mine. The song Remember Surrender touched my heart. I am a first born, Type A, person who wants to always be in control. And I have to day by day, minute by minute turn that control over to the Lord Jesus - I am not in control. He is. Last night I was studying Colossians and read the following which looks at the Supremacy of Christ:

The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:15-23

¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Everything is created by Christ and for Christ. He is in control. I am not. It is my job to surrender my own desire for control - to acknowledge that it is His and His alone. I pray this song touches your heart today and that God's Word is permeating your thoughts as you are reminded to surrender to the Lord today - He is good and faithful.
I am praying for you and your baby today.

Dear God,

Thank you for your Word. Thank you that you only ask me to surrender my will, my control to you. That You see the big picture - I only see a tiny piece of this great puzzle of my life. And You have a beautiful picture for my life. I praise You for that. I know God that You have a great plan for the life of my baby, also. Please grow this precious life today. Help me to find joy in today. Help me to surrender my anxious thought to You - knowing You are in control. Help me to surrender to You today and to find joy in You today. Thank you God for Jesus' anchored hope that He secured on the cross for me - thank You for His mighty resurrection. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Remember Surrender - Sara Groves

Remember Surrender

By Sara Groves

Remember surrender
Remember the rest
Remember that weight lifting off of your chest
And realizing that it's not up to you and it never was

Remember surrender
Remember relief
Remember how tears rolled down both of your cheeks
As the warmth of a heavenly father came closing in

I want to do that again
Why can't I live there
And make my home
In sweet surrender
I want to do so much more than remember

Remember surrender
Remember peace
Remember how soundly you fell fast asleep
In the face of your troubles your future still shone like the morning sun

Remember surrender
Remember that sound
Of all of those voices inside dying down
But one who speaks clearly of helping and healing you deep within

I want to do that again
Why can't I live there
And make my home
In sweet surrender
I want to do so much more than remember
Remember
Oh surrender

But Jesus Stayed

Earlier this week I was reading the story of Jesus’ death on the cross to our four year old son. I am loving this preschool Bible entitled The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every story whispers his name by Sally Lloyd-Jones. As I was reading from this Bible, I came across the words “but Jesus stayed.” I have had difficulty this week getting that phrase out of my mind. Here was the Lord who had created the entire world – the entire universe – and He stayed and endured the cross because He loved me - He loved you.

Jesus – who was without sin – let himself be shamed and cursed and flogged and sent to the cross – He gave up His intimate relationship with God the Father while on the cross. He took my punishment for my sin – He took your punishment for your sin. He stayed.

When the Roman soldiers mocked Him and made Him a crown of thorns and put a robe on Him – He stayed. When they whipped him and cursed Him – He stayed. When they nailed Him to the cross, He stayed. He did more than just stay – He said “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) He could have rescued Himself. He could have called a legion of angels to rescue Him. He could have made it all stop. But He stayed.

What made Him stay? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. He stayed. He stayed because His love for you and for me was more than the pain. And the pain was pain that you and I cannot even imagine. And yet, He stayed.

I encourage you right now to praise the Lord Jesus for staying – He did it for you. Here is a song that touches my heart – It’s called “At the Cross” – spend some time right now at the cross – pondering that the Lord Jesus stayed on that cross for you – and give Him glory for the power He has over death. Praise Him this Good Friday.

At the Cross by Hillsong

Verse 1:

Oh Lord You’ve searched me,

You know my way;

Even when I fail You,

I know You love me.

Your holy presence

Surrounding me

In every season,

I know You love me;

I know You love me.

Chorus: 

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me,

There’s no greater love than this.

You have overcome the grave

Your glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now?

Verse 2:

You go before me,

You shield my way,

Your hand upholds me;

I know You love me.

Chorus: 

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me,

There’s no greater love than this.

You have overcome the grave

Your glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now?

Chorus: 

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me,

There’s no greater love than this.

You have overcome the grave

Your glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now?

Bridge: 

You tore-------(torn) the veil 

You made a------(the) way

When You said that it is done x2

Verse 3:

And when the earth fades,

Falls from my eyes,

And You stand before me,

I know You love me;

I know You love me.

Chorus: 

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me,

There’s no greater love than this.

You have overcome the grave

Your glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now?

Chorus: 

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me,

There’s no greater love than this.

You have overcome the grave

Your glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now?

Bridge: 

You tore-------(torn) the veil 

You made a------(the) way

When You said that it is done x4

Seek Joy Today

Psalm 126 NIV

¹ When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.

² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."

³ The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

⁴ Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.

⁵ Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.

⁶ He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.

I went to Sam’s Club last night and while checking out, I saw a beautiful new little life – she was so tiny – it’s amazing how quickly I forget how our three children started out. The dad holding the baby girl looked so proud and full of joy.

I started thinking about the joy I had when each of the kids were brand new. Then I pondered the joys of pregnancy. Here is a list of joys I remember right now (and my memory is fading – I encourage you to keep a pregnancy journal – I did not do that and really wish I had done that!). These are not in any particular order:

· The joy of telling my husband we were expecting (although usually he knew before I did just from seeing me and being around me).

· The joy of telling others about our pregnancy.

· The joy of seeing that little heartbeat early on in the pregnancy

· The joy of seeing the developing baby and learning the baby’s gender later on in the pregnancy.

· The joy of hearing a heartbeat at each appointment.

· The joy of having strangers open doors and be extra helpful when out shopping.

· The joy of wearing my first pregnancy clothes (ok – this joy was just the first time around – didn’t find as much joy in the other pregnancies with pregnancy clothes! With Klara and Adam’s pregnancies, I wanted to stay in my normal clothes as long as I could!)

· The joy of feeling that baby moving around.

· The joy of my husband and I being in awe of the moving baby as we lay in bed at night.

· The joy of sewing quilts for each little one on the way.

· The joy of dreaming and hoping for that baby.

· The joy of dreaming of that little life to teach about the Lord. The joy of reading aloud God's Word to that baby in the womb.

· The joy of seeing extended family’s excitement about this little life.

I pray today that you can find joy in the day, no matter how your body feels – no matter what anxious thoughts might enter into your mind.

I remember a friend who had experienced secondary infertility prior to her pregnancy say to me that she was enjoying each day being pregnant – that comment was such an encouragement to me. Each day with a baby in the womb should be as joyful and important as when they are out of the womb, being cared for and trained. Today is an important day in the life of your baby – think of all the things you are doing to care and grow this baby. Choose joy today. Enjoy your day with your baby.

We are looking at Psalm 126 today. The song is thought by many to have been written by God’s people who returned from their Babylonian exile. Imagine being held captive and then being able to return to your home – to that Promised Land God had given to the people. What joy they must have had.

Have you ever felt joy from God’s amazing blessing after time of “exile”? I remember the pure joy of being pregnant after our molar pregnancy and one year of healing and making sure my body was safe for a new little life. My tongue was filled with songs of joy (like verse 2). Warren & I rejoiced in what the Lord had done – those great things – we were filled with joy (v. 3).

I love verses 5 & 6 – the Lord surely did take those tears I sowed from past loss and brought me songs of joy. Even after our last two losses, we have not added any more children to our family, but the Lord has brought great joy and growth in my life because of those losses. God is faithful!

Enjoy your day carrying this precious little one today. Find joy in the day. Get a journal out and start writing daily what joys you are finding in pregnancy. Praise God for these joys. Praise Him for this precious life that is growing inside of you. Share with those around you: The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (v. 3).

Dear God,

I praise you for this little life growing inside of me. I thank you for how You are knitting this baby inside of me. Help me to find joy in today. I may be tired. I may be weary in body and/or in heart. God, I ask that you would bring to mind the many reasons I have to have joy today. When anxious thoughts come to my mind, bring Your Word to my mind to remind me that You are in control and that You have a plan for me and a plan for this baby. I praise You for bringing me the joy of this baby. I pray God that You would continue to mold and shape this baby to a healthy baby. And help me to find joy in my day today. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

I am praying for you dear ladies – for you, your baby, your husband, and any other children you are caring for. Have a blessed, joyful day.