A Piece of Gum.

So, if you know anything about me, you know that I used to have a SERIOUS gum addiction. I'm talkin' about a pack a day kind of addiction.

15 Sticks= One Day= In One Mouth, well maybe a few mouths.

Because I was notorious for always having gum, that meant everyone and their mom always knew the go to girl for a good chew.  Well, I had one particular individual that almost every day for two years would say "Do you have gum? Can I have some?" So, very frequently I would pull out a piece of gum (with a fake smile-- Yes, that's right. Don't even lie by telling me you give away gum cheerfully), and say Sure! And give one to them.
I've come a long way though, I no longer have an addiction to gum. However, one night I was really craving some. So, I saw that this person (discussed earlier) was giving out a piece to a friend, so I asked if I could have a piece. This person said "Ahh, here." And ripped a little piece off and gave me 2/3 of a stick. WHAT?! Was my first reaction. So I popped the fragment of gum in my mouth and started thinking: " I have given this person like a thousand pieces of gum, and when I ask for one, I get a little chunk! Hmmph." -.-

Oh, and we all know moments like these are all great teaching opportunities for Jesus. So here he comes with His soft whisper:
" Kaitlin, how often do you give me just a "segment" of what I have given you and blessed you with, when I have given you so much?"
---Yeah Kaitlin, why DO you do that!---
Dang it.
No longer am I disappointed in the person next to me, I'm disappointed in myself!

So often when God asks for something of ours whether it be time, money, a relationship, an opportunity, a possession, we usually do one of two things:
1. But Goooooooood, It's mine.
2. Or, we say okay "Fine." And give him just a small portion that won't compromise our comfort or cause us pain.

Romans 12:1-2 says:
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

We are beckoned to give ourselves up as a sacrifice--
The kind He will find acceptable.

Not 1/3, 1/2, or 3/4 of my life-- All of it. 

The true way to worship the Father is through surrender. 
______________________________

sur·ren·der [suh-ren-der]:

verb

1. to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield

______________________________

Most would agree that when we are told to surrender our lives to God, the first fear that comes to mind is that God is going to take all the good things away. Which He might..  to replace them with the best things. In the verse above, it talks about giving up our lives to God and letting Him transform us which, in turn, opens the doors for us to know His will for us-- Which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Surrender is usually painful because it is the very thing we don't want. Our flesh wants what our flesh wants. By surrendering, we are laying down our control over these very things and submitting it to the Lord. However, surrender is an act of forming our will to His, which in the end is an incredibly beautiful thing. And like mentioned before-- His will is good, pleasing and perfect.

It comforts me to know that God is always for our good--Especially in the times when He does take something away, and we are left waiting for what comes next. 

But we can stand firm in our surrender knowing that

"The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right."

Psalm 84:11