sUrrENDer

Have you ever looked at that word, "surrender"?  I've looked at it a thousand times.  It actually has a special place in my heart.  It's one of the first words I clearly remember writing in big letters when I started counseling.  Recently, I thought I'd try my hand at some creative lettering.  I wrote the word in large letters and as I went to go over the vowels in a different color from the consonants, I saw the word in a whole new way.  SURRENDER.  I stopped.  In my mind, thoughts started to swirl around.  I wrote it again. . . and again and again.  Then, since I love to create digital art, I created a new visual.

All I could do was stare at the words that appeared within the word itself.    U END.  Think about it, if you are surrendering, you are giving up some kind of authority, maybe all your authority over yourself or something that belongs to you.  U End.   I've been mulling over that word for a few days.  Then, tonight in our worship service, God flooded me once again with His presence and spoke to me.

"I'll throw my weakness into your greatness."  The  words of this refrain echoed in my head and caused me to sit down, pick up my pen and write.  And again, the words just flowed:

When I surrender my weakness to Your Almighty power, I can do all things to glorify Your Name.  Surrender - "U END" - where I give up the selfish pride, the reliance on my own thinking,  my own strength, and my own belief that somehow I control any aspect of my life.  You, my Lord, are glorified and Your name is made greater through me when I surrender.  

"I am in my Father, and you in Me and I in you." (John 14:20)

There is no room for darkness with the light.  We must surrender the deepest parts of ourselves, the places that hold us in bondage.   

U END.  I END.  God is the beginning of all beginnings.  If He can breathe life into all creation, speak the light into all existence, and raise Jesus from the grave, He can begin a new thing in you.   

It is by His supernatural love that all things are possible; through the ultimate sacrifice, a love offering so great that only life could ensue once the veil of darkness has been stripped away.   

Like the sun breaking through the dawn sky, life awaits.  He's calling you to surrender. 

Don't be afraid.  There is peace on the other side of chaos.  There is life after death, on this side of Heaven.  

Come to Me, all you heavy burdened.  Come, take my yoke as it is light and full of mercy and grace and peace.  Lay it all down at the cross.  Let the redeeming flood wash over you and give you life.  My love is waiting. Arms open wide, with no condemnation or shame.  Your past is as far as the East is from the West; it has sunk to the bottom of the ocean floor.  I see your sins no more. 

The light of my Son's face, shining, gleaming, smiling; saying "they chose Me, Father," is what I see. 

Put on the new man as I have taken away the old.  I have overcome and because My Spirit lives in you, you are a conqueror. 

Take up your rightful place.  Let my love rise up within you and SHINE. 

A city on a hill cannot be hidden. So shall it be with you!  Let your light so shine before men that they see ME.  You shall be free to be who I have destined you to be.  Breathe in my life-giving breath.  Rest in me and trust that I see you!  I know you by your name. 

I am the One who has rescued your soul.  I am the One who has welcomed you home.  I am the one who is Savior of all. 

My love surrounds you.  I am the reason you came, to encounter my Love.  Let the Spirit of My love overflow in your heart, overcome you "like a tidal wave, crashing over you, rushing into to meet you, like  a hurricane that you can't escape, tearing through the atmosphere," My love is FIERCE! 

How can you be lost when I have called you found?  Pursued, chased, sought.  You are loved beyond measure. 

No more shall you hide in the dark.  I have come to bring you life, life more abundant, and in it you will find a peace everlasting, undeniable, overwhelming and complete.   

Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 96:10) and I AM your deliverance.   

The time to sUrrENDer is now.  Don't let the fear of the future hold you back from the glorious destiny that awaits you.  Life begins when you are ready to end.

I'm all in.  Are you?