Submission; Surrender

Happy New Year! 

2015

In my neck of the woods we are holding at around 0 degrees Celsius and have a ton of snow!! I am so thankful for 4x4 and studded tires otherwise the family and I would be home bound!

I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and our New Year was brought in with two baptisms on New Years Eve. What a deep joy to see two young kids make a public declaration of their love for Jesus. Now that’s the way to start a new year!

I also learned to downhill ski. Although I was terrified at first I did it and now I am able to make it down the green hill without falling. I can hardly wait to go again! It was so much fun.

I have spent a lot of time praying asking Father if He had a new word for me this year. 2013 I had Spiritual Warfare, 2014 He gave me Obedience and 2015 He has taken obedience and brought it into two divisions. Submission; Surrender. I have mentioned before I feel like I am a spinning top going deeper and deeper into Father as I swiftly spin on top of Jesus my Centre, my Support, my Everything.

Definitions taken from Dictionary.com. (I removed some of the off track definitions to make this post shorter, although they still do apply.)

 

Submission: (n)

the quality or condition of being submissive to another

Surrender: (verb used with object)

 

1. to yield (something) to the possession or power of another; deliver up possession of on demand or under duress:

4. to give up, abandon, or relinquish (comfort, hope, etc.).

5. to yield or resign (an office, privilege, etc.) in favor of another.

(n)

7. the act or an instance of surrendering.

This past year has brought a lot of changes not only to my daily life but to who I am as a person. I am being stretched beyond what I ever thought was possible. I am doing things I couldn’t even bring myself to think about without getting sick over. The biggest challenge has been praying publicly, over a speaker, leading our church in opening prayer. I still find it very hard to do but every time I obey Him, He comes right in and fills me up with His Spirit and takes over. That really is a miracle. I am so shy and I really dislike being the center of attention but just like our faithful Daddy, He gave me a way that not only helped me do this but brings great glory to Him. When I go up to pray I kneel and ask the church to kneel with me if they are able.

I am excited to see what He has in store for this year, but I must admit, I am a bit nervous too. As He shows me how to yield even more to His will, I am sure it will be painful yet He will be glorified and that is the desire of my heart.

There are two verses that came with these words.

Submission:
 

James 4:7 ESV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Surrender:

Mark 14:35-36 ESV

And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

 
Have you asked Father for a word for this year 2015? If so please share it in a comment, I would love to hear what it is and how you feel about it. 
 
Blessings,

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