(March 22, 2009)

Sometimes we treat God like the Trunk Monkey. We want Him to help us at certain times, but not others. We want Him to be there in an emergency, but we don't focus on Him during our daily lives. Are we totally in God's hands? Have we completely given control over to Him?

Life is like a roller coaster. Things are up, down, through tunnels, around loops, hair-pin turns. Sometimes we hit those ruts where we think we're going up, but we're actually going down. The Lord wants us to recognize that we need to continue going up and work on that constantly.

1. God has the blueprint. Surrendering to God seems so easy, but we find out that it's hard. He doesn't create you and let you fly; He's actively involved in your life.

2. We take ourselves out of His hands. We lead ourselves away from the blueprint from time-to-time: it's sin. We think that life should be a la carte: we want to pick and choose which of God's orders we obey. It must be frustrating for Him to have to deal with us daily. Praise Him that He will always forgive us and keep us if we ask. God just needs us to follow.

3. God is a fixer and finisher in our lives. God is always about restoring people. No matter where you are, God is serious about fixing, restoring and finishing our life. God promised that He would do this if you put yourself in His hands.

This is a simple message that you've probably heard before, but it's no less important than the first time we heard it. Trust in Him with everything.

- James Bruney