Words to Live By

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I've been thinking a lot about my current stage of life: in my 30's, 3 kids,  baby coming in February, full-time ministry family, wife, mom, friend, etc.  There are so many expectations that I can so easily create for myself apart from the Lord.  So many things that I want my life to look like---even good things---that I suddenly want to hold on to really tightly so they don't get taken away.  2012 proves to offer us some new challenges and change.  How I respond will drastically affect my family and their attitudes.  So I decided to ask this question:

what do I want to model to my family and friends during this season?  

 Surrender... to yield (something) to the possession or power of another;deliver up possession of on demand or under duress.  My life is not my own.  It belongs to the One who made me. His will far exceeds my own and I gladly submit myself to Him. It's not easy. I'm not good at it. But I'm willing.  And, by His grace alone, I'll get better at it. 

Trust...  a person on whom or thing on which one relies. What do I place my trust in? What gives me hope?  Is it my friends? my money? my kids? my husband? Or the One who knows me better than anyone else.  Am I fully relying on Jesus in the big things AND the little ones?  I want to live a life that reflects complete trust in Him and a peace that results from doing so. 

They kinda go hand-in-hand, right?  I have to trust in order to surrender.  And I have to surrender because He is trustworthy to give my life (desires, dreams, plans) to.  

I am excited to learn more about these actions and pray for strength to endure the time it takes to learn them :)