From the very first moment we surrender our heart to God, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in ours. We are committing the rest of our lives and our whole heart to our Lord and Savior.

What does it mean to surrender our whole heart to God? The definition of surrender is when a believer gives up their will and submits their thoughts, ideas, and actions to God. That means we give full control of our lives over to God for the rest of our lives. I think that we can sometimes forget what a lifelong, life changing commitment we have made. We want to take back certain parts and only give God some control. We sometimes miss the whole point.

Surrendering our whole heart to God means to give Him EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING! Of course the first thing when we surrender is to admit to Jesus that we have sinned against Him, ask for forgiveness and turn away from our old life.

With that comes everything else we must give Him all the good in our hearts and also the bad!!! This includes our talents or calling, service, joy, happiness, love, faith, compassion, our wants and desires, our thoughts, our actions, our sins, anger, bitterness, rejection, fear, jealousy, pain, anxieties, grief, control and the list goes on and on. It’s like I said everything!!!!!

We can just lay them all, good and bad, at the feet of Jesus! Then we get to experience the love of God so much more clearly! We can actually rest and have peace because we have no control, but HE does. We have access to His guidance, wisdom, and His will for our lives. His ways are so much higher and His will so much more pleasing and perfect than we can ever imagine or think!

I imagine we all have something we need to let go of and let God be God! My prayer is for God to give each of us a clear vision of what we may not want to fully surrender to Him and that we have the hearts and minds to hear Him!!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

Sorry. Saw a typo in the first one

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”
Colossians 3:23 NKJV

I love Colossians 3. We recently did a study of it in our small groups at church and it fired me up all over again. It’s been a life chapter for me for a long time. There is a well worn path that connects me to it because it is a guide to Christian living.

It tells me who I am in Christ, who I was without Him and how I should act because of that. It ends with how to practically apply those principles. That’s where it gets dicey.
…………Dealing with others ……………..

The last thing our flesh wants is to be last in any situation. To willingly put ourselves in subjection to others just goes against the grain.
We serve in an upside down Kingdom so living in submission is exactly what I have to do and lately it has been a struggle.

I mentioned our small groups earlier and Pastor Tera shared this in a group I’m in.

“Refining our understanding and actions to align with what we know is right brings about our spiritual growth. Hopefully, that alignment occurs sooner rather than later!”

It struck such a chord in me about my reactions. The Lord is faithful to get our attention. He reminded me that I know what is right and that I was willfully following my flesh.

Colossians 3 ends with reminding us that all we do should be for the Lord. If I focus on what I know is right (according to His word) and imagine He is the one standing in front of me then that keeps my fleshly reactions in check.

I thank the Lord for His faithfulness to me. He never gives up on me and is always my perfect example to follow. Thank You Jesus 🙌🏻❤️

Last week as I was reading a book, I read a short sentence that really resonated with me. The words have been on my mind since encountering them. It read, “Why did the everyday-ness of my life sometimes feel constricting when the everyday-ness was everything?”. 

Sometimes it can feel like every day is the same. Every day I get up at the same time. I go through the same routine to get ready for my day. I go to the same office, to do the same job with the same people. I return to the same home with my same family, do the same evening routines before bed only to get up the next day and start it all again. 

As I scroll through my social media feed and see all the wonderful things that other people are doing, I can easily find myself filled with envy as I compare my ordinary days to their special ones. The thing is, we post the highlights, but we LIVE in the everyday. We may long for the next adventure, but God does His most amazing work as we serve Him in the ordinary moments of our lives.

I sure needed this reminder of the importance of our everyday-ness. It reminded me, and I hope it reminds you too, to rejoice and be grateful for all the ways God works in us and through us in the simplicity and everyday-ness of our lives. 

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

**The quote is from the book Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

Being humble under God’s mighty hand, means to know His way works better than ours. When we try to go our own way, we become selfish. Being selfish leads to being prideful. Being prideful leads to sin, and sin will separate us from God.

Pride can and will destroy us. In Daniel chapter 4, we see just how destructive pride can be. Pride keeps us from admitting when we are wrong, and it will rob us of the clarity of God’s plan for our life. You will never regret killing your pride and being soft hearted.

Pride can also block the grace that we have been extended by Jesus, and the grace that He asks us to give to others. To humble ourselves to God means to submit to His will and know we can’t solve our problems and addictions on our own. God has a plan for us and it is a perfect plan. He will cancel our plans to save our lives. His plans are always better than ours.

As Paul writes in Philippians 4:11, when we learn to be content in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, that’s when God works in our life. In verse seven, Peter tells us to cast every single worry onto the Lord because He cares for us. Verse six tells us to humble ourselves, and verse seven tells us why we should: to know we need Christ in times of struggle.

God will take whatever we are dealing with into His own hands as long as we trust in him. Give him your worries and accept His peace, and He will give you rest. He will carry you and make a way. He always does.

We have to know that we need God during the good times and the bad. If we try to go our own way, He will knock us on our backs to humble us so our hearts will become soft for Him. God will let you hit rock bottom, so you will realize He IS the rock at the bottom.

That’s what is so good about God! He is good all the time. The song comes to my mind, “He’s a good, good Father”. Even though we sin, He gives us grace upon grace, and He never leaves us, even during the hard stuff. We find the best things just sitting with Jesus. His timing is always perfect.

Let me begin with a funny story. Around 30 years ago, two friends and myself decided we were going to sunbathe on a boat that was in shallow water near the shore.  The boat belonged to one of the families we were camping with that weekend. The husbands and children were hanging out by the campers  riding bikes, snacking, playing games, etc.

 So there we were, just moms, relaxing on a boat soaking up some rays without a care in the world.  We spent time having those conversations girlfriends have and of course had all the laughs that go along with that kind of opportunity.  We settled into the warmth of the sun, the gentle swaying lulled us into a state of sluggishness until one friend lifted up her head to look around and noticed we had slowly drifted out away from the area close to the shore. Actually, quite a bit away from the shore. Easy fix right? Just start the boat. However,  it was a “Houston, we have a problem” moment because no one knew how to start, much less, drive the boat!

Our plan was to wave at boats that came anywhere close to us. We assumed someone would see and ride in closer to see what we needed. Well, that wasn’t happening. We waved to passing boats only to get waves returned as they passed by without any knowledge of the help we needed.  But then, we noticed something in the water. It was coming from the area of our campground. As it got closer, we were able to see that it was one of our husbands swimming out to us. I say swimming,  he was lying  atop of one of the kids’ giant alligator floats, paddling with arms and legs as fast as he could. What a sight! But definitely a welcomed sight. He was our hero that day bringing us back to the shore. 

I love the way God can take these events, these moments in time, and bring them to my recollection to give me a smile as I remember some great times with great friends. And oh, what lessons He can teach me through them!

When I think about what it took to get ourselves so far away from the shore, the only answer I could come up with was – it required nothing from us. The natural force of the current pushed us along away from the shore.  Now, had we made sure we were anchored securely in place or tied to something on shore …  but you probably already went there.

I thought about the daily currents in my own life that sometimes can quietly pull me away. I can get distracted with concerns and get caught up in my never ending  “things I want to accomplish” list.  If I don’t pay attention, days can go by and I’ve allowed  prayer and time in God’s Word to become distant. The next thing I know, I’m overwhelmed, dragged out into rough waters and in need of rescue. 

Psalm 107:28-30 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!

That summer memory serves as a reminder that if I stay tied to Him, I will find security in life’s currents, but even on days and times I find myself drifting too far, Jesus is always willing to rescue me. He is faithful to gently pull me back to the shore.

“Let all that you do in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).

I have always loved this verse; it is my mom’s favorite verse. As I was reading this passage, I thought to myself, “How much different would the world be if every single person did everything they did out of love?” it would look a lot different – that’s for sure! It all starts with you – if you start treating everyone around you with love, they will notice, which is like a chain reaction. So, start today. Help in your community, smile at strangers, and be a friend to the people around you. Be an example to the people around you of who Jesus is. You never know – you might be the only one they see who does.

Consider the impact this can have. When we act from a place of love, we spread kindness, compassion, and understanding. This can uplift those around us who are struggling, comfort those who are hurting, and inspire those who feel lost. Imagine the ripple effect of small acts of love: a kind word, a helping hand, or a listening ear. No matter how small, these acts can change someone else’s day and, potentially, their entire aspect of life.

Furthermore, living out this verse aligns with Jesus’ teaching “A new command I give you: love you another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Jesus sets the perfect example of love – selfless, unconditional, and transformative. By following His example, we honor His command and bring His presence into our world. This love transcends barriers, mends broken relationships, and builds stronger communities.

Acting out of love is a radical yet profoundly simple way to make a difference in a world that can often feel divided and harsh. Each day presents countless opportunities to live out this command. Whether it’s through volunteering, offering a sincere compliment, or simply listening to someone with empathy, every action rooted in love helps lead to a more compassionate world.

So, let us embrace this call to love fully. Let us become beacons of love and light in our homes, workplaces, and communities. In doing so, we not only transform the lives of those around us but also our own hearts, drawing closer to Jesus’ teachings and the heart of God.

The Unconditional Love of God

”See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children”

1 John 3:1 NLT

One morning I was sitting on the couch reading my devotional while my 14 month old played on the floor with her toys. She was in a a particularly great mood this morning, which I was grateful for because that is not always the case! At one moment she stopped playing, looked up at me and just smiled. I had two words immediately pop in my head, “Unconditional Love”. The thoughts of love from a parent to a child began to cross my mind, I know that my kids could do nothing to separate themselves from my love. One day they will disappoint me, break my heart and make me angry at times. Parents of teenagers or grown children know this better than me! But, they can never do anything to separate themselves from my love. I know I would do anything to comfort and nurture my children, and their daddy would do anything to protect them.

”So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.“

Matthew 7:11 NLT

”And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Romans 8:38-39 NLT

This feeling I had while looking at my daughter opened up my eyes to the truth and depth of the love of God! If I as a sinful person know how to love my children and give them good gifts, how much more does our Father love us? It’s a love we can’t understand and we can’t always comprehend, but I felt I was given a glimpse of revelation to the depth of “the love of God that is revealed through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:39) An unconditional love that we can’t be separated from… No matter your past mistakes, or maybe your current mistakes, He loves you! You are His creation, His masterpiece, His beloved. He knows the worries of your heart and He cares, because you are His child.

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…” 🤍