JUST AS I AM... I SURRENDER ALL... IT'S GONNA HURT...

MEDITATION MONDAY

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The first song that began as you came to the blog today, starts with these words:

"Dear Lord, I’m on my knees again.

I come to You because You understand.

I’ve tried so hard, but I just can’t change myself

That’s why I know I need Your help.

So here I am

This in my plea

My only hope is Your love for me.

I’m reaching out

So desperately

Come take my hand;

take all of me.

Just as I am..

Oh Lord, You make what’s broken new.

Why can’t I just learn to follow You?

I want to know You and feel You in my soul.

I surrender all control...

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Hopefully, we've each come to the LORD in that way, making a committment to believe with all of our beings that "The LORD our God, the LORD is one." AND that each one of us can affirm that we are striving to... "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

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Yesterday, Dan's sermon was entitled, "Does God Fix That?"

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We each search for connection with God in many ways. We discussed last week at our retreat that for those who find true connection, they find it in a deep abiding, loving relationship that is totally committed, intimate, and passionate.

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The question then is: If I have given God control and I am in love with Him with my entire being and I know He loves and adores me, then things will be perfect... right?!!??!!

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Today, as you think about the question above, I'm going to share with you multiple quotes from Dan's sermon for you to ponder... sink your teeth into... meditate on... and then I'll end with a quote from the apostle Peter that will powerfully sum it up:

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1. "Wouldn't it be nice if our car tires never wore out? Nice, if we never had a flat? Nice if our clothes were always in style? Nice if every person we come in contact with was pleasant every time? Nice if we were always noticed and made to feel important? "
2. "God's point for creating us is not that we will be happy with Him here and now! As a matter of fact, He doesn't want us happy on our own without Him... He is really preparing us for eternity."
3. "Some things God does not fix here and now, because He is more interested in the Big Fix!"
4. "The truth is, "I am a lying, thieving, murdering, adulterous, blasphemous person! And, furthermore, you are, too! That is bad news! Scripture says that, 'All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!' But, there is good news..."
5. "God allows many of our problems so that we might be refined. Did you know that gold does not melt until it is 1,102 degrees Celsius? " (Note: Boiling is 212 degrees... but refining is a whole different ball game!).

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1 Peter 1:3-9
3 "Praise be to the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In His great mercy He has given us

new birth into a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

from the dead,

4 and into an inheritance that

can never perish, spoil or fade-

kept in heaven for you,

5 who through faith are shielded by God's power

until the coming of the salvation that is ready

to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice,

though now for a little while you may have had to

suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

7 These have come so that your faith-

of greater worth than gold,

which perishes even though refined by fire-

may be proved genuine and

may result in praise, glory and honor

when Jesus Christ is revealed.

8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him;

and even though you do not see Him now,

you believe in Him and are filled with an

inexpressible and glorious joy,

9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith,

the salvation of your souls."

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