Hands Up!

To most individuals in our society, surrender is a dirty word.  For the month of  August I hope to persuade you that surrender does not mean giving up.  I devote an entire chapter to this subject in 13 Decisions That Will Change Your Life.  God often uses situations, people, and yes even loss to get out attention and convince us of the need to surrender.  Even a peek into the Old and New Testament reveals Deborah's surrender to leadership, Saul's rebellion to surrender,  David's up and down attitude toward surrender.  But of course Jesus' surrender is the most magnificent of all. Anything less pales before that example.  How are you doing with surrender today?

To Begin Again

In 1982 my family suffered the lost of all our worldly goods.  We were on a move across country when our moving van was stolen.  It was devastating.  Much like a fire, the burglars stole our pictures, baby books, Christmas ornaments, even the pots and pans.  I thought it was the worst thing that could ever happen to me until I looked into the face of my children.

As I reassured them of God's provision, I found my faith grow until I reached the point that I could forgive the ones who had perpetrated the crime. As difficult as the following year would be, I know that  I was learning the first chapter of what would prove the lesson of a lifetime - the lesson of forgiveness.