Sacrifice or Surrender... revisiting a post that changed me.

This week marks the beginning of Lent which is traditionally the 40 days before Easter. In the modern version of Lent, the 40 days begin tomorrow with Ash Wednesday and culminate on Easter Sunday. I grew up in a protestant denomination that celebrated Lent. I knew what people meant when they asked what you were giving up for Lent. The answers would range from soft drinks to chocolate to eating out. As I begin to teach my girls about Lent and sacrifice, we started giving things up as a family. One year we gave up television. One year we gave up eating out. As the girls got older and began to make their own decisions and learn for themselves, we enjoyed hearing what they would give up. One year a daughter gave up all sweets. One year another daughter gave up her hair straightener. These things were a sacrifice in their little world.

Sacrifice is good to understand. It is a sign of healthy penance and a willingness to let go of worldly things that distract us from our relationship with the Lord. But in the last few years, I have really struggled with the word sacrifice. In my mind I picture sacrifice as a giving up with a price attached. It feels more like my hand being pried open rather than just simply letting go. Giving up something that I am going to take right back after the 40 days.

But I really like the word surrender. I picture that word as a raising of the hands. Not just giving up but giving in. Giving in to the Gift of the ultimate sacrifice. The gift of eternal life given by Jesus' sacrifice. We cannot give up more than was given for us. But we can surrender all so that we can receive all that was meant for us. We can surrender the fears, the guilt, the pain and the hurt. We can surrender the  chains that bind us to the person or the place or the circumstances. When we raise our hands in surrender everything is let go. Not just the things we choose to sacrifice.

Lent is a time of preparation and of reflection. It is a time to remember what was sacrificed for us. As I pray and ask God what He wants me to know about that ultimate sacrifice, I am preparing to surrender some more fears and hurts. Some of those are a sacrifice to give up. But the freedom that will come is worth it. I want to receive all that He has for me here in this life. To be Kingdom oriented not just heaven focused. Somehow the word sacrifice puts the focus on me. Surrender puts the focus on Him.

Either way, Lent is beginning. A preparation process is starting. We can choose to remember and repent and reflect. Surrender yourself to His presence. Rest in His promises. Listen for His voice. Receive the freedom that His sacrifice gives you. Prepare for the celebration of New Life.

All to Jesus I surrender; All to Him I freely give; 

I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.

 I surrender all. I surrender all. 

All to Him, my blessed Savior, 

I surrender all.

Untangling life... Revisited

I wrote the following post last December. Since then this same friend has reminded me to greet each morning with "breathless expectation". During this season of Advent and all the craziness that goes along with the commercial part of the season, I have been reminded again of just how messy life can be. But I was also reminded that God chose to send His son to be born in a "stinky barn and trough". Right in the middle of the messy. Thousands of years later we welcome Him again with breathless expectation... all we need to do is make room:

I read an Advent devotion early this morning. It reminded me that Advent is about waiting. This was my favorite line in the devotion: "Those who do not know how it feels to struggle anxiously with the deepest questions of life, of their life, and to patiently look forward with anticipation until the truth is revealed, cannot even dream of the splendor of the moment in which clarity is illuminated for them."

I have a beautiful, sweet friend who knows all about waiting. About praying for a child. For life to change. For better choices to be made. For the truth to be revealed. And for the clarity to be illuminated. After we had breakfast one morning, she looked at me with tears streaming and asked me why it all has to be so hard. Why? I didn't have an answer.

She sent me a text the other day. She shared how God had spoken to her heart while she was putting up her Christmas lights. As she cried out to Him for answers, He gently shared some comforting insight that warmed her heart and gave her a little hope and peace. The answer was just for her. The clarity that helped illuminate His presence in her situation. All while she was untangling her Christmas lights. Part of her text read: "In my spirit as I untangled the lights I felt Him say 'I know what it feels like to see my Son hurting'. He helped me know that He understands a grieving parents heart."

This season of Advent is about waiting. About waiting to see what is inside that beautifully wrapped present under the tree. About waiting for the celebration of Truth to come. All while we are untangling our lives. Struggling with the deep questions. Waiting for the clarity that will be illuminated in our spirits just like the lights on the tree. Finding a way to be still enough to just know.

Abraham waited a long time for the promise of his son. He untangled a lot of life along the way. Sarah laughed as she untangled what she heard. Jacob wrestled with God as he untangled life. David made poor choices as he untangled his lies. Jonah ran away as he untangled his calling. Peter denied as he untangled all that he had just experienced. Saul persecuted and then Paul untangled his past. But the clarity came for each of them when the promises were revealed. In the waiting, they learned about Truth.

I don't know what part of your life you are untangling during this season. Or if maybe this season is filled with illumination for you. But I do know that as you enjoy the beauty of untangled lights shining brightly around you, remember Who we are waiting for. The Light of the world. The Love that came down and lived among us. The Truth that will set you free. And in the end all the lights of life will be untangled and every eye will see. And, that my friends is worth the wait.

Merry Christmas sweet friends. May the anticipation in your waiting be realized in abounding joy and blessings!

Mary kept all these things to herself, 

holding them dear, deep within herself. 

The sheepherders returned and let loose, 

glorifying and praising God for everything 

they had heard and seen. 

It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!

Luke 2:19-20 the message