Dangerous Surrender - Chap 1 and 2

First of all. . I DIDN'T KNOW! Let me go back a bit. . .I have seen this book, Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren featured on a number of blogs recently. Even the title sounded great! I was all for it. I went to the book store and bought it and even recommended it to the girls in my small group, just saying, "I bought this book and it sounds amazing. . we should all read it together." I just thought it'd be a great book about surrender and what it means. I knew it was written by Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren of Saddleback Community Church, but I didn't really know anything about her. I open the book up and guess what it's about? Her journey of God challenging her to jump in and get involved in the HIV / AIDS Crisis starting in Africa! I swear I didn't know this book had anything to do with Africa!! ha ha. . no one will EVER believe me! This is basically what I thought the entire time I read the first chapter!

Let me start by saying, she is a really sweet writer. She uses her own stories in a most vulnerable way. Not just sharing where she has gotten it right, but where she's missed the mark as well. I really appreciate that in an author, especially a well-known figure.

Chapter 2 is entitled, "The Kingdom of ME". . .uh oh. Basically asking the question, "Who do you serve?" This is a real question that's worth investigation. . not just a quick Sunday School answer, "GOD" without another thought. She describes true surrender to our Lord. . a denying of ourselves of the like that is rarely discussed anymore. We talk about all you GET from the Lord but often leave out the die to yourself part. This is the crucial part. How can our arms be free to receive anything from the Lord without first emptying them. Surrender is a dirty and beautiful word. Dirty because it describes death. . death of ourselves, our ambition, our reputation that we hold to so closely, our plans, our rights. But even in the midst of that it is beautiful. Surrender is trust. It is peace in the hardest of circumstances. It is joy in the middle of pain. It is allowing another to be in control and not bearing the burden of it all. The key to surrender is what we believe about HIM. If He is a mean God waiting to strike us down or a careless God who doesn't give a flip or a harried God who is too busy to adequately handle all our stuff. . then HOW can we responsibly surrender? It would be a BAD decision! However. . .that's not the kind of God we serve. We often forget this as we elevate ourselves to God's position of authority. Don't worry, God. . I've got this one. Oh how we forget who HE is and who we are not. He is good, all good. He is trustworthy and faithful. He is mighty. . remember, He created the ENTIRE world (I think He can handle my 2 year old!) He is omniscient, omni-present and every other wonderful adjective that has even been used. We can trust Him because He is good and He loves us dearly. Therefore, surrender is amazing. If we realize this and live in the reality of it, we can do anything and go anywhere He leads. But, do we believe it and are we willing to live like it? It may look painful, it actually may be painful, but it will be worth it. Will we live dangerously surrendered lives to a Good God? I, for one, want to be the kind of person who can pray this puritan's prayer:

I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me
with whom you will, put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for
you or laid aside for you, exalted ofr you or brought low for you; let me be
full, let me by empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and
heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. An now, O
Glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am
yours, So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be
ratified in heaven. Amen.

PS: I read Chapter 3 as well. . then, I realized. . I've basically already blogged this concept! I'm going back to add a bit to THIS blog that I already wrote along with the words and music of Sara Groves who brought to life the concept of Gloriously Ruined!