{HSCRC12} Hymn #9, I Surrender All

Hymn Challenge #9: I Surrender All
Words Written by: Judson W. Van de Venter
b. Dec. 5, 1855; d. July 17, 1939

Music Written by: Winfield S. Weeden
b. Mar. 29, 1847; d. July 31, 1908

Judson W. Van de Venter was born in Michigan and accepted Jesus as a teenager. He went to college and became an artist, teacher, and musician. He even learned to play 13 different musical instruments. Later in life he felt pulled to ministry but he was torn between his love for art and music and what he thought was God's call to ministry. He struggled with this decision for over 5 years. In 1896 as he was conducting a piece at a church event, he completely surrendered himself to God's will. He then became a full-time evangelist. Mr. Van de Venter was quoted as saying "At last the pivotal hour of my life came and I surrendered all. A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord, He caused me to sing." This was the decisive moment when he wrote this hymn.

While Mr. Van de Venter wrote the words to this hymn, it was Windfield S. Weeden that set the words to music. Mr. Weeden loved the words so much that "I Surrender All" was inscribed on his tombstone.

Changes. Changes can be hard. Changes can be exciting. Is God calling you to a new place in life? Maybe a new ministry, an "empty nest," the birth of a child or grandchild, a move, etc. As our girls begin to look at colleges, I find myself realizing that our family is in for a huge change. We have a new season in life ahead of us. Granted it's not for another year but I can see God preparing hearts and making some changes already. It's scary. It's exciting. It's overwhelming.

To be able to move forward as God wants us to, we need to surrender ourselves completely to Him. We should be doing this daily anyway but it seems when the changes are more difficult it becomes all too easy to clam up and push the change aside. Do you just want to avoid the change? Or do you recall what God has done in the past and move forward trusting Him with the outcome? Did you surrender to Him and allow Him to prepare you in the past or did you take matters into your own hands? If He calls (no matter what the call), we cannot be paralyzed by the fear of the unknown. We are to surrender all to Him knowing He has the plan and wants what's best for us! Will you do that? It's what we are called to do. True faith expresses itself in obeying God’s word and surrendering ourselves completely to Him in all things--big or small.  We should:

*Start with what we have.
*Surrender it to Jesus.
*Obey what He commands.
*Trust God with the rest.

Will you do that? If you truly want to follow Christ, we must take up our cross daily. Luke 9:23 says "Then He said to them all: 'If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'" This is not optional; it is necessary! Mr. Van de Venter struggled for 5 years knowing what He should do. Your decisions can always be sure if you surrender it all to Him, and trust Him will the outcome! What we have in Christ far outweighs anything else in this life!

Philippians 3:7-8 "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

Mark 10:28 "Peter said to Him, 'We have left everything to follow You!'"

How will you surrender completely to Christ this week? Or maybe you are not going through a change in your life but I bet you know someone that is. How will you support and encourage them to surrender and follow the will of God?

Below you will find the sheet music to "I Surrender All," and click here to read the words to this hymn. Also, be sure to check out the link I have below for you today.

I also found a gorgeous piano rendition of this hymn by Greg Howlett. The video is beautiful too. Click here, enlarge the video, sit back, and meditate on surrendering all to Jesus!

For my 5x7 page today, I used the ODBD set called "Never Give Up." The scripture was perfect so that I remember to surrender and press on in Him! I also love the quote which says "When once the call of God comes, begin to go, and never stop going." Perfect for today's hymn and lesson!

Papers: Memory Box boysenberry and sky, Paper Trey Ink cs
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Never Give Up
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink old paper, tumbled glass, seedless preserves; Archival Ink jet black
Embellishments: Sizzix Flower Lattice #2 embossing folder; May Arts twine; Ranger manila craft tag #5; Maya Road kraft large ticket; Tim Holtz mini paper clip; Prima wooden buttons, leaves, and flower, leaves from Wild Orchid Crafts, burlap from Save on Crafts, sewing machine

Remember to use Keyword HSCRC12 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. Blessings to each of you!