Before the Lord Almighty can in any great way use a man He first must teach that heart to seek the glory of God alone. The proudest heart that lusts for fame, the heart that seeks for man's appraise, when laid down at His feet in shame, will teach His grace alone. - His Alone

I think its so true. Though Im sorrowing, I thank the Lord He is prunning and taking away things from my life that hold so dear and real to me, in order that I may seek God's glory and God's face alone. Things I've been holding back, refusing to surrender, though painfully being pried open from my hands, must at last be gladly offered to Him in faith. My prayer is that before I ever enjoy any thing the Lord is ready to bless me with, I must first learn to be satisfied wholly and entirely with His presence and His presence only.

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. James 4:15,17

God spoke to me through dar's sharing and encouraged me to say "Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine" and this I must say "Not my will but Thine be done" to every single circumstance or choice. Aye, God has been encouraging me I guess. Through the testimony of James O Fraser of how his love for God made everything else pale in comparison and through scripture. Its really a step of faith, to let go of beloved things, trusting He knows the plans He think towards me, of peace and not of evil, to give me a hope and a future. I know unless I yield to the Almighty, I cannot have His peace or blessing. Think its more of an attitude and a conscious decision to fully surrender to His will, not so much something I need to execute. To let go of things dear to me, because unless I'm indepedent of them, I cannot be completely depedent on God.

Think relationships are such puzzling and confusing areas of life. But its confusing because I do not exacly know God's will. Am I too extreme in my thoughts? Or am I compromising too much. The heart is wicked and deceitful above all things. I only ask God to grant wisdom and discernment, and the faith to execute HIS plan when He graciously reveals it.