I Surrender.....& Rhode Island Roadsters

Have you ever stopped singing when you came to a vow you just could not say. What is said with our mouths is to glorify or tear down God.......and we want to choose the first one, especially in front of others, but what if we couldn't. Like Zacheriah when he was bound by his tounge. No word could spring forth to tell his news....only blank faces and failed attempts to communicate. Yeah, like him. A mix between him and Jeremiah when he says his words in his heart are burning on his lips.....speak speak speak! Yeah, well that happened to me. I want so badly to speak....as it burns on my lips, but I can not.

I sang the song I Surrender All tonight at Tracy's church in Orange City. But I could not sing those words. Try this version----from my heart----that God is molding everyday.

Some of it to Jesus I reluctantly lend out
Some of it to Him I resistantly give
I keep all I can (for even more control)
I cant give it all (to save myself)
Some of it to Jesus I reluctantly lend out
I cant give it all

How would our praise and worship time dramatically change when people started singing to thier fallen-ness. And the way the song is written anyway is so extreme---I mean who .....who will actually be able to surrender it all? I mean really.....show me who. And who gave the church the right to be so radical---so extreme?

I am thankful that a life lived to my fallen-ness is no life lived, having taken no risks in faith....having held so tightly to what I have----fearing what might come when I give it away. So what might come? Persecution? Nothing God can't handle. So what might be the result of that? More faith. So why are we not running to get that?

I am thankful that I am invited to live a life to the fullest. Fully lived. Fully pursuaded.

Rhode Island Roadsters

I am a waitress at a local restaurant and recently some men from out of town came in for lunch. I gave them brochures of the town and told them about the place. I soon asked them why they came all the way from Rhode Island for a visit (as if Rhode Island, the smallest state, is somewhat more something that somewhere like Orange City---by default)

"What brings you here?" I ask with curiosity.

"Revival," the one gentleman softly answered. (First of all you are not allowed to say 'revival' quietly)

My face lit up, with excitement I quickly replied,
"Me too! I really think God is stirring in Orange City!"

A bit confused he expounded,
"Revival: Animal Health--I am a product representative."

A bit embarrased, I filled in my peace.
"Oh. Ok. I just thought God was sending people, just waiting for them....on them ha ha ha"

Awkward silence

"So great.......reviving animals huh? What a profound concept. Would you like some homemade bread pudding?"


God must have known that I would take the bait on that one. In the moment I heard 'Revival' it was like a breath of fresh air--then a blow to the stomach. Nope....not reviving the lost souls of Northwest Iowa, just the animals. I saw this man again today. He is doing a Revival seminar...for animals. I did not wiat on him, but he made a note to stop me and say,

"I just wanted to thank you again----I made my way back here again and I looked forward to coming to this restaurant. I hoped I would see you to tell you that the bread pudding is awesome! See ya"

I saw that man over 4 months ago and then again today. Coincidence? No

What if I began to say things like him, "I made my way back here again and looked forward to seeing you. I wanted to say that God is awesome!"

God is here
He has been
And He stirs

Now you see why I want to surrender it all? All! Oh Lord show me how. Give me the tools.

God is good
Revive us