Your Grace Abounds in Deepest Waters

Lord Jesus, I surrender to You and in the power of Your Spirit, I will...

Go where You want me to go,

Do what You want me to do,

Say what You want me to say,

Give what You want me to give.

This is a bold prayer. Pray this, and you're going out into dark water. Pray this, and you will be challenged. Pray this, and your life is no longer your own.

In a culture of self-sufficiency, broadcasting feelings on a whim for the whole Internet to see, and being taught to "be yourself," living a life for someone or something else is not a common idea, nor may it appear appealing at first or even easy. It's not easy. But "instead of dependence on ourselves, we express radical desperation for the power of his Spirit, and we trust that Jesus stands ready to give us everything we ask for so that he might make much of our Father in the world."

Would you say that your life is marked right now by desperation for the Spirit of God?

With a desire so desperate, nothing else matters. We are in the world but not of it. We are not ice cubes in a glass of water saying "I want to be one with the water!" - we are the ice cubes that melt, the souls that cleave to the Holy Spirit. It is more than a desire or mental fixation, it is our human tendencies and sinful nature becoming less and the Spirit of the Lord becoming more.

We are not perfect. We will never be perfect. What we strive for is not perfection, but to do right. Not only do we strive for what is right, but we seek out situations that allow us greater opportunities to make His name known, to expand His kingdom, and to love with the same unending love. Where we are right now is exactly where God wants us to be, but when we pray "Go where you want me to go," we can trust that His plan for our future will unfold. He holds it in His hands.

In order to be challenged by the Holy Spirit, to accept it in our hearts as greater than ourselves, we have to let all else fall away. That is the part that isn't easy. As humans, we have desires for success, relationships, comfortable living... None of these are bad to want, but sometimes those get in the way of full surrender to Him. With a life marked by desperation for the Spirit of God, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

God provides, God loves, God endures. What sweeter words could carry you through life? It's one thing to give up living life on your own terms, but it's another to know that you have a Savior who will carry you and guide you and lead you.

As humans, we hear things and we learn things but living with the Holy Spirit in our hearts is a constant undertaking. Sometimes we need reminding. We need renewal. We dwell on the past, we live out the future before it occurs, we have desires that are not motivated by bringing glory to God. What we think about is indicative of what is on our hearts. But Jesus, living in our world and dying with nails through his body, bought our freedom. We are free from the bounds of sin, free from guilt, free from anxiety, and free from all desires other than knowing the God who loved us so much that he sent his son to begin with. All of these freedoms are available to us if we choose to accept them.

And it is the same Spirit that brought Jesus back to life after three days that lives in our hearts.

With this in mind, let's amend our prayer...

Lord Jesus, I surrender to You and in the power of Your Spirit, I will...

Leave my comfortable living and accept the challenges You present, with the knowledge that You love and You provide,

Boldly live for You and desperately seek the Spirit so that all anxieties fall away,

Accept that my reputation and my circumstances are not as important as bringing others to Your kingdom,

Give my heart, my mind, my life and my very being to better serve you, and know that when it is all finished I will come home to You.

My Favorite Movies

I'm probably forgetting a bunch of movies and typically when I watch a movie it automatically goes up the list because I'm reminded of why I liked it, but here's some movies I love and I've excluded Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings from the list not because I'm trying to be less of a nerd but on the contrary, it seems like blasphemy to compare them to other movies.

25. Fight Club

Because I can't talk about it.

24. The Departed

Because I was actually on the edge of my seat for 3 hours and Leo DiCaprio. Also noteworthy: Shutter Island and Catch Me If You Can.

23. That Thing You Do!

Because it's a delightful work of Tom Hanks and Liv Tyler is my favorite in this, and I love the song.

22. The Day After Tomorrow

Because I love world catastrophe movies and this may not have received the best ratings or reviews but, as far as world catastrophe movies go, this one doesn't suck.

21. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

Because "we thought you was a toad!"

20. Phantom of the Opera

Because the bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn! And I really don't like Gerard Butler movies but he is great in this, and so is Patrick Wilson.

19. Wanted

Because guns, cars, tats, and Morgan Freeman.

18. Finding Nemo

Because Shark Bait, hoo-ha-ha!

17. Spider-Man 2

Because I don't care what anybody else says, they were all good and Spider-Man 2 is the pinnacle of superhero movies.

16. Sense and Sensibility

Because Alan Rickman carrying Kate Winslet through the rain.

15. Two Weeks Notice

Because Hugh Grant is the most selfish person on the planet. "Well that's just silly. Have you met everybody on the planet?"

14. Sweet Home Alabama

Because "the truth is, I gave my heart away a long time ago." 

13. Cinderella Man

Because the final boxing championship and Ron Howard's brilliant directing.

12. Secondhand Lions

Because Robert Duvall and Michael Caine work so well together and there's a lion.

11. The Shawshank Redemption

Because it's classically good story telling, and it's a classically good story with an unforgettable ending.

10. Pirates of the Caribbean

Because Johnny Depp creates gold, the story is engaging, and I mean really just pirates. The first is the best but all three are good. What, there's four? No there are three.

9. The Dark Knight

Because Heath Ledger and the opening scene and the final scene and every scene in between.

8. The Prestige

Because the first time you see it is unlike any subsequent viewing. And Analyse by Thom Yorke playing during the credits.

7. Breakfast At Tiffany’s

Because Holly Golightly and Moon River!

6. Holes

Because Stanley Yelnats and his no good dirty rotten pig-stealing great great grandfather.

5. X-Men: First Class

Because Michael Fassbender and "I prefer... Magneto."

4. Flushed Away

Because Hugh Jackman as a spoiled pet rat is just too adorable. Also noteworthy: Chicken Run, all of Wallace and Gromit.

3. Silver Linings Playbook

Because this is the quintessential Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper rocks bipolarity. Excelsior!

2. Walk the Line

Because not only does this biopic portray the life of an incredible rock icon, but Joaquin delivers an astounding performance in his rise to fame, struggles with addiction, and pursuing the love of his life. Joaquin singing Cocaine Blues is my absolute favorite, and Reese is great too. 

1. Muppet Treasure Island

Because you can't beat the Muppets. I'm completely dead serious that this is my favorite movie.  Kermit makes a perfect Captain Smollett, Tim Curry makes an enticing villain, then there's Fozzie, Rizzo, Gonzo, Blind Pew... and CABIN FEVER. I will watch this movie any day and every day, just like I did when I was little.