The definition of surrender is: To yield possession of or power over to another; give up because of demand or compulsion. To give up or abandon , to give up oneself over to a passion or influence.The biggest struggle that we fight is in our minds. We hear “as soon as I give things over to the Lord, I willingly take it back.” Two beings can not be in control and have total power over the same thing.They can manage and share the power..If they both will to be in full control or power- one has to eventually yield to the passion and the might of the other, or a fight for the power will eventually ensue. The moment we have the thought that we need to do this or that in our own power, we do ourselves a great disservice. Our power is no match at all for the power of the one who created us. When the thought to take control comes to us, we need to say “no”. I know I do not have the power it takes to walk through this….but I know one who does. We need to surrender, sometimes even by the moment to the one called Jesus, who has all power , Glory and Honor that we need to carry us through any thing that we may go through.

The fact that a beautiful red-feathered visitor saw the need to loiter about in my rosebush left me asking questions. How did he find those briers a welcome place to embrace? Was his visit of prime importance? Did he have something to give to me or was his stay for someone else? There were black-eyed susans that bobbed for his attention next to the geranium bloom…but this cardinal chose the hardest place to sit of all …one that brought much pain. I believe that much Glory comes from the pain that we do go through….nothing happens to us without the lesson that is meant to reap an eternal reward.

Have you ever wondered if maybe you are speaking a different language than everyone else around you? Obviously , if you have found yourself in a foreign land , that would be a silly question! But maybe you feel that way right in your own land, with people all around you but it just seems that no one really hears what you have to say. I believe that elderly people could easily feel that way and children for that matter. There is always so much chatter, business around you, that it is hard to get a word in “sideways”. What you have to say is important, and when you stop believing that it is, then something begins to die inside of you. Please don’t let that happen to you!!

I worked for the state for several years and it was always interesting how many meetings, subcommittee meetings, task-force committees etc… that I had attended over the years. It never ceased to amaze me how it took so long, so much outlining, organizing , plotting, scheming to come to a consensus-on any thing. You can never be too careful, too cynical, too unmotivated, too negative, or simply too undirected to see a plan come to fruition! I do not mean to pick on the state …I believe you may run into this in any agency, I am a proponent of defining what the need or job is, who ultimately has the power to say what the goal should be, listen to a seasoned person’s directions (or you be one directing) and just do it!!! It seemed I got so much more done with this attitude. I guess I ask the question, “What needs to be done…what are the guidelines that we go by?…So then ..let’s do it!!!!!” Who is asking for your opinion or 20 minute dissertation on what you think….just do what you are told!!! Even workers for God’s kingdom get caught up in this trap, being cynical and negative…time is a wasting… souls are being lost…..we are told to go into the world and tell others about Jesus … so let’s just do it!!!!!

The time should be NOW!! We should really be having fun right now. Life goes so quickly ….it is almost like the ‘brass ring’ on the merry go-round. Stop robbing yourself of a good time!!! Laugh …..if you want to ….live…. enjoy every moment. Today, I was watching a very dear friend playing with the sprinkler… she was like a kid again …she had so much fun….we may get older in our bodies…. but inside of each of us is a young child…desiring love, acceptance and most of all wanting -to do just what kids always have no problem doing!!!!! Having some fun!!!