Monday, May 7, 2012

Memory Monday: Theme Day

In the blogathon, today is a theme day....what are the five movies which inspired your blogging...I thought about this for quite sometime. I pondered. Unfortunately, I could not come up with even one movie which matched the topic. 

Although I can't think of five movies which inspired my blogging, I can think of one movie which inspired my life. This was a movie I saw many...many...ok, eons ago! The title of the movie was "Hudson Taylor"

First, allow me to give you a short background of who I was when I watched this movie. I was the the type of person who not only had a five year plan....I had a 25 year plan....I went to church...was involved in a street ministry (to the homeless)...would wake up early and go for prayer meetings...but when it came to my career, my policy was "God I know better than you...so please let me handle it." 

I knew I could not be President of the United States, because I was born in Singapore....but I aspired to be as close to that as possible. History and Poli Sci were my majors and I went on to do two internships...one at the White House (during President Reagan's administration) and then another internship at a Senator's office. I knew exactly what I wanted my life to look like and I was making sure it happened just the way I wanted it. 

All it took was one Sunday evening at a church in Walteria California. They were showing the movie, "Hudson Taylor" and I had read his biography before but I was eager to see the movie. I sat through the movie and wept. When the last scene of the movie flickered across the screen...the song leader started singing, "I Surrender All"  

At that moment...I realized I had been giving God only 95 percent of my life...and holding on to 5 percent. I had not surrendered. I can tell you I wept as I sang the song. It was not an emotional weeping...in the sense of my emotions being stirred up...it was a thoughtful weeping...I knew what I had been doing and now I was so sorry for having held out on God. I asked God to forgive me for trying to be 'boss' of my life....and then I laid my life before Him and said, "Okay God...whatever you ask me to do...I will do it..." Little did I know....He would take me at my word. My life was never the same again....even now, when I think of that movie and remember the song....I tear up, because I'm so thankful to God for giving me the privilege of surrendering ALL to Him...not just part of me!!

9 comments:

  1. You hit on a word I'm not sure I've fully realized in my life. Yikes! Surrender. I keep wanting to control, when I know I can only take charge. It's why I keep slipping away from the BIKE. But I always return. It never fails. I always return. I know this is where I'm supposed to be. It's where my full passion resides. So I wonder,"Why be afraid? This is your purpose." I think I'm still fearful of the power behind the message, or that the message hasn't been fully revealed. Most likely, that's it. So what a great post for me to read today, of all days, when I'm struggling with writing a story that has nothing to do with my BIKE. And all I keep wanting to really spend time on is the BIKE message. It interrupts my thoughts constantly. I am going to pray about surrender today. Thank you for this.

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  2. Went on a walk, and started praying. The next thing I know my thoughts are once again interrupted with the BIKE theme. I thought of an ebook I need to write, and how I can adapt it into a MiniBuk for print distribution. I thought of the women's bike rides I've wanted to start. I thought of a t-shirt saying. Oh boy!

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  3. Great movie, Connie! "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man." (D.L.Moody) And may we ALL strive to be that person of total surrender!! Thanks so much for sharing this today.

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    1. Yes- a wonderful movie- and what a great quote you have reminded me of by D.L. Moody-- this is truly my prayer...to be fully consecrated to Him.

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  4. That was your "from now on" moment. And now we are in another one at ICC and all of our lives! Love you Connie

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    1. You have made me smile- indeed this was my 'from now on' moment- unfortunately I wish I could say that was my LAST-- but every once in awhile, God gives me another 'from now on' moment...ha ha!! ;)

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  5. Beautiful and inspiring post Connie!!!
    Now I want to see 'Hudson Taylor'.

    I surrender all is one my favourite hymns, I'm going to listen to it now:-)).

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    1. Now as I look at this post- I realize I should have put a picture of the movie- or posted a link to the song.

      It will always be one of my favourite hymns next to "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and "It is Well, With My Soul"

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