Giving God Our ALL

Though this week has been tough, I would repeat it, just to learn the lessons again. I think of the verses in James 1 that say “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Our faith is getting testing and it is requiring an immense amount of perseverance. But we are daily seeking God and He has never failed to give us wisdom. And yes, we doubted God. I hate to admit that, but we have. We have feared what the future holds. We have doubted that all this is for the good. But are learning to believe. Believe that through all the questions about whether embryo adoption is a sin or not, that we can stand firm because of God’s grace. Sometimes I feel like that wave (isn’t the Bible just so great at using analogies?) God has overwhelmed us with His comfort and peace.

So yesterday, I was having a rough morning. I started to get overwhelmed with all the decisions and then I get a wonderful email from a friend. It was so beautiful (so beautiful I started crying). Then I decided I better get ready for work and I usually listen to the radio when I get ready. I turned the radio on, but realized I had lost the connection to the Christian station I usually listen to. So I started to turn the knob to find a new one and I happened upon “Turning Point” with David Jeremiah. I have never listened to him before, but I know we sell his books at the bookstore. I thought, sure! I’ll listen. That broadcast was on Abraham and Isaac. How the faith of Abraham is an example to us today, to submit to God in obedience, even if it means sacrificing your only son.

As I was listening, I just started crying again (honestly, I really don’t cry that much, so this surprised me). That story was exactly what I needed to hear. God saw my frustration earlier that morning and knew I was struggling. I had asked God to give me strength and encouragement and boy did He act fast on that one! I was MEANT to lose that radio station! People say God has “divine appointments” set up for us at any moment – this was one of them. I quickly called Dan to tell him what God was doing and we were both so encouraged. THEN, I get a call from Brenda. It was so timely. I was so blessed by her phone call and it was God’s reminder to me on earth, that He is continually at work through His people!

So why do I tell you all this? To point out that God never sleeps. He is constantly orchestrating events around us, to fill us, to challenge us, to remind us that HE is God. That we do not control our life, but HE does.

I encourage you to listen to the broadcast about Abraham here: Abraham by David Jeremiah.

Why was this so encouraging? Because I realize how much more humbling God has to do in my life. I have SO MUCH MORE I need to be willing to give up for God. I have SO MUCH MORE I need to surrender to Him. Embryos are just a portion of our life. We don’t understand and it’s hard. I need to be willing to give God my LIFE. We have not been “asked” by humans (except by God) to give up our LIVES physically. Abraham walked with such obedience, that because of it, God blessed a whole nation. We fear sin. We do NOT want to screw this up. If we do, who will lose out on us disobeying? Sometimes I don’t think about that – that my disobedience, may cause someone else to not be blessed. That is a strong statement, but I could screw it up. We want to walk with faith as Abraham did – walking days up to a mountain, with his only son, to sacrifice what God has called him to sacrifice.

What are you holding onto, to tightly? What do you feel God is calling you to let go of? We have so much more we have to be willing to give up. We have lacked wisdom – but God has freely answered us. We are thankful for the situation God has us in because it has caused to be willing to give up what we have not expected, but we know it is for HIS glory. And we know we have a long ways to go!

I strongly encourage you to listen to that link above – let me know what you think!