Have Thine Own Way, Lord

That was the title of a classic hymn that speaks to the importance of an attitude of surrender to the Lord – allowing His Way to be the only WAY! We’ve been having to surrender many things in the last couple of months during this quarantine period. Surrendering hopes, dreams, time, gathering together in churches, schools, meeting places, gyms, restaurants, weddings, parties, and on and on.

Many of us submitted to the "surrender" while many of us held on tight like the reins of a runaway horse. We weren’t about to let go of control until there were no more options. That old hymn was a prayer of surrender. I know I need to make it my theme song and sing it with undaunted trust in my Potter.

“Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. You are the Potter. I am the clay. Mold me and make me. After Your will. While I am waiting – yielded and still.”

That hymn was written by Adelaide Pollard when she was a discouraged missionary. It became a prayer of surrender and yielding to God’s way instead of her way. Her words depict the clay – to be molded into whatever the Potter chooses to be the exact representation of His Master Potter’s hands -- yielding to His fine design, intricate details with expertise and brilliance – as the Master Craftsman.

Although it may be challenging and uncomfortable when we submit to the Potter's touch, we experience the joy of His perfect will. We’ve had to do a lot of laying down our wills during this pandemic, haven’t we? We may have willed to go to work or go out to eat in a fine restaurant or get together with friends and loved ones, but our will had to yield to the laws of our land.

Just maybe we’ve been forced to comply to yielding our wills, so that yielding to God could become easier. In fact, if we had learned to yield to God’s will before all this “forced yielding”, then maybe the forced yielding would not have been so difficult. To say “Yes, Lord” when He asks us to relax and "be" instead of always "doing" or when He asks us to surrender our time to give time to encourage someone or to gather our kiddos in our arms and realize how precious are the gifts He has given us, is surrendering our wills to Him. And, in that loving our own, we understand our Heavenly Father’s love for us – wanting the best for us – to make us vessels of honor that display His likeness in love, character and honor.

We have the opportunity and privilege to partner with God during His sculpturing process. Maybe in our surrender to Him, we can help decide the end result -- that vessel of honor, humility, faithfulness, compassion and one who bears a prayerful, peaceful spirit in the midst of chaos. Have Thine Own Way, Lord! I surrender all!

Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Lord, I'm Letting Go and Letting You Control

I'm single so I don’t have so much “need to control” any more. I have my say with the remote control, choosing what to eat and when to eat it, when to wake up and when to go to bed. But, I’ve noticed some control issues far too many times. God noticed and I feel His divine chisel out that is slicing and dicing off my rough edges. It isn’t comfortable, but I am yielding to His still small voice that often gets loud and clear. I'm letting go and letting Him control.

No doubt, all of us, in one way or the other, have some “control" issues. Recently I was trying to reorganize a group meeting AFTER the plans were settled and done. What in the world? Lord, please help me let go and let others have their way and, by all means, to let go and let YOU have YOUR way. This morning, in my daily text message to my children, I sent this scripture to them. I’m quite sure it was as much for me as them: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and LEAN NOT to your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him and He will direct your paths.” Thanks, God! I needed that reminder!

Maybe you relate to my musings this morning. Maybe you, too, have control issues. Last week, I heard a mom share how her grown, married daughter doesn’t want to communicate with her or even come to see her and spend time with her. But the back story is this mom has control issues – always advising and telling her what to do. She is one of those helicopter parents (overprotective and hovering over the every move of her daughter). Control issues are the enemy’s tactics to drive wedges in relationships.

Recently, I had a passenger with me in my car and before I could get the car started, she was already telling me how to drive, which road to turn on, which direction to go and how fast to go. I was quite proud of myself because I just let her “control”. There are just sometimes it’s best to let a controller be in control – for Pete’s sake -- and for peace sake.

Bottom line.....it's time to let go of having to control. It's time to choose "surrender" over "control". Submitting instead of controlling. Again, that scripture says it best….”in ALL your ways, submit to Him” – let Him be the controller.

Dear God, I confess I like being in control. It makes me feel safe and secure. It makes me feel like I have a purpose. But I know that being a control freak isn’t going to get me anywhere. Help me surrender control to you each and every day. Help me trust in you deeply, so that I will not fear surrendering that control. I open the cage and let the "control" birds fly away! Amen.

Jesus Take the Wheel -- Please!!!

I'm home from a quick trip to Tulsa to attend a celebration of a dear 90-year-old friend's life. I thought I knew this man who had blessed me with such kindness over the years, but not until I saw his talents all around the halls and chapel did I come to know I had not delved into WHO he really was. Little did I know he was a renown jazz musician, talented artist, and pioneer in the frozen food business. I only knew him as the developer of the beautiful 55+ Hyde Park community in Tulsa. I loved hearing the speaker say that God had "taken the wheel of his life". I learned that I need to be a friend who cares enough to want to know more about my friends before it's too late.

It was pouring rain most all the way back home yesterday. My sis-in-law, Karen, called and we talked as I drove. She prayed for me: "Jesus, please take the wheel for Donna as she drives home!" I embraced those words because the drive could have been daunting in that pouring-down-rain, but I was completely at peace as I knew Jesus was taking the wheel.

Karen is an amazing and loving care-giver of my almost 97-year-old mother-in-law who can be a hand-full. In addition to the responsibility of mom, Karen and her husband own a highly demanding business that consumes an enormous amount of their time. She remarked: "You know, I often pray 'Jesus take the wheel.'" And I reply: "Oh, yes, I do, too!" I love our relationship because we have each other to vent to when we need a listening ear. We know we are never alone and can talk to God Who is always on our side to give us the super-powers we need to carry on but sometimes we just need Jesus in the "flesh and blood" in our lives. I'm thrilled when we can be that for each other.

At the funeral, I notice a young woman standing off to herself, obviously brokenhearted and weeping. I leave my conversation with friends and go to her, put my arms around her and ask: "Are you okay?" She replies, "He was like a father to me. He always let me sit at his feet and he'd tell me stories. He was so kind to me." I remember how Jesus always had women surrounding Him. He was as a beloved father, brother, friend and great storyteller. Of course they wept when He was no longer with them. This young woman needed Jesus "in the flesh". I was able to be Him in the flesh to her. I say: "Jesus must love you so much -- that out of all the people here today, a gal from Texas shows up, sees you and is nudged by God to come and give you a hug." I ask: "Do you know Him?" She does. I tell her: "Jesus is loving you through me." We sit together at lunch and I see her eyes grow brighter and she is calm and grateful. I tell her to pay it forward now and be the hands and feet of Jesus to others.

Those are times that I know that Jesus takes the wheel from me. When I step away from my agenda and surrender to His plans, He takes control of what matters most. The nudge from God to make this trip was confirmed by so many "Jesus taking the wheel" moments. What an amazing ride it is -- when Jesus takes over and takes the wheel from us. We'll arrive safe and sound......and even have a story to tell of His amazing grace time and time again!

The Marks of a True Worshipper

The Marks of a True Worshipper
What prompts a young man to love God so much that he relentlessly serves Him and hangs out in His House? These two photos are of my grandson, Payton Wallace: the first one, at age 15, and the second (now age 18) was Sunday when he was praying for a businessman at church. The back of his shirt explains it: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6.

Payton has a true heart of worship. He is an extraordinary young man who could care less what someone thinks about his extravagant love for God. He would rather hang out at the church with his fellow musicians and crew members (the guys that set up the stage, props, and tear down) than anything else. When I hear about all the negatives in this world, I only wish that more focus would be placed on kids like this who are making a difference in their generation.

So what's the big deal about this kind of praising and worshipping God -- people of all ages raising their hands while singing songs of praise? Among the reasons are to show surrender, submission, humility, dependence on God, adoration, to give their all to God. I love the parallel of the universal act of someone surrendering by putting their arms and hands in the air. Another visual is a child reaching up for his father to carry him. Both examples apply to us as we raise our hands in surrender and ask for our Father to carry us..

The Bible says that God looks at the heart us. (1 Samuel 16:7). I honestly don't think He cares if we are standing in place, arms at our side, or raising our hands and can't stand still. He doesn't care if we are worshipping with hymns or choruses. But, He DOES care if we are TRULY worshipping Him. In defense of raising hands in worship, there are many places in the Bible that speak of it: Nehemiah 8:6, Psalm 28:2, Psalm 134:2, Psalm 63:3-4, Psalm 88:9, Luke 24:50, and more.

God looks at OUR heart in worship, and most importantly, is that He has our hearts -- surrendered and tender toward the ONE Who gave His all for us. We will NEVER experience all that God has for us until we are able to TOTALLY surrender and love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, just as Jesus said in Mark 12:30 -- "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." True worship flows from our total love and devotion to God. We will never fully know our Lord until we are able to be a true worshipper that is not just for an hour, one day a week on Sunday. True worship is a lifestyle. Dear Lord, please help us show in our words and actions, our desire to love You and worship You with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.

Time to Register for Cross Training

On New Year's Day, I heard this said:: "This is going to be your best year ever, but keep in mind, though you may be going in with a clean slate, you're still taking some of the "old" in with you. You still take YOU!"

That's a wake-up call, isn't it? It's awe-inspiring to think that the old stuff -- the negative circumstances, the mistakes and failures, the overwhelming and the underwhelming situations are over with, because we think "2017 is going to be different. Good things are coming my way this year! 2017 is going to be MY greatest year EVER!" But, once again, what has changed in you AND me, that guarantees a better year?

Bottom line...we probably need to undergo some tweaking with our attitudes, our outlooks, our overspending, our carelessness, our tempers, our giving (or the lack thereof), and our heartfelt appreciation for how blessed we really are.

The way for the most guaranteed-for-success-outcome, is to lean into the ONE who will make the most significant difference in our 2017. Rather than God being simply a casual acquaintance to us and only when we need Him that we call on Him, we should make Him the CENTER of everything...our finances, our relationships, our health, our character, and our devotion. To be fully devoted followers of Christ, makes the difference. How often do we just "sprinkle" a little Jesus into our day by a mere glance at Him. But when we understand that He is the difference maker in everything about our lives. When it really dawns on us that He lives inside us and, when we rely on Him for the best decisions to make, the kindest attitude to others, the character that does the right thing when no one is looking, and seriously consider our actions by submitting our emotions to Him, saying "I'm not responding that way any more.

Luke 2:52 says that the young Jesus "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Now that's what I'm talking about. Though we leave the past mistakes and all the negatives in the past, because we bring ME, MYSELF and I into the new year, wouldn't it be a great idea to determine that "THIS YEAR, I will do some CROSS TRAINING and grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man." We do that -- not just by sprinkling a little Jesus on our lives....but all out making Him the Lord of our lives and purposing to surrender our "old" selves to Him, obey Him and His Word, and live with all out gusto of being, not sprinkled, but FLOODED with the Great I AM!!!

Who Has Your Heart?

What prompts a 15-year old to post this to his Instagram yesterday? If I was still focusing on finding photo inspirations for each day of the year, like I did last year, this one would have surely made today's post. It made it anyway.

This is my grandson, Payton Wallace. To say "I'm smiling and rejoicing" puts it mildly. Payton is an extraordinary young man. He could care less what someone thinks about his extravagant love for God. In fact, he wakes up each day, gets his school work out of the way (he's home schooled) so that he can get to his church. He would rather hang out at the church and his fellow musicans and crew members (the guys that set up the stage, props, and tear down) than anything else. Really. You see, their youth group are in the middle of a tremendous time of refocus. They desire to center on Jesus, His love, and applying His Word in a fresh, uncompromising way. It is truly remarkable. When I hear about all the negatives in this world, I only wish that more focus would be placed on kids like this who are about making a difference in their generation.

When I see this photo, it reminds me of a true heart for worship.So what's the big deal about this kind of praising and worshipping God where people of all ages raise their hands during praise/worship songs in church or at Christian concerts? Among the reasons are: to show surrender, submission, humility, or dependence to God, to give God reverence or adoration, to give their all to God, or to be filled by God.

I always heard two great examples that I love: First, the universal act that a person is surrendering is to put both hands up in the air. Second, is the picture of a child lifting both of his arms above his head for his father to carry him.

The Bible says that God looks at the heart of each person (1 Samuel 16:7). I honestly don't think God cares one bit if a person is standing in place, arms at side, or raising hands and moving around. He doesn't care if we are worshipping with hymns or choruses. He DOES care if we are TRULY worshipping Him. In defense of hand raising in worship (and prayer), there are numerous places in the Bible that speak of this: Nehemiah 8:6 , Psalm 28:2, Psalm 134:2, Psalm 63:3-4, Psalm 88:9, Luke 24:50, and more.

God looks at OUR heart in worship, and most importantly, that He has our hearts -- surrendered, pliable, and tender toward the ONE Who gave His all for us. Acts 13:22 -- "After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’" And those are words I want God to say about me -- "Donna is a woman after my own heart; she will do everything I want her to do." How about you?