Kroner Ministries: equipping the saints for the work of the minsitry

Years ago, before I had my car accident that destroyed my beloved Honda Accord (that was a great car, if you were wondering) I had an album from Clay Crosse that was a “Greatest Hits” of sorts. Recently I downloaded it on iTunes and put it on my phone, but I haven’t got the greatest speakers in the world on my Gen2 phone, so listening to it wasn’t all that much fun.

However, for Christmas, a wonderful Aunt (I have several, so she shall remain nameless, otherwise I have to work them ALL in! gave me a speaker that plugs in like a headset. Now I have stereo quality music blasting all over the house from my favorite little phone.

What does that have to do with the new year?

Crosse may or may not appeal to today’s audience. His style isn’t like the Newsboys or Toby Mac or even Casting Crowns. But his lyrics are full of scripture and are very prayerful. Many of his songs remind me of Psalms such as David sang to the Lord. His best known is the classic “I Surrender All”.

While I may not think about it in these terms, it really is the cry of my heart to surrender all to Christ, for I know that the more of me there is, the less of Him there is. Conversely, the More of Him there is in my life, the less of me! As I give myself over to Him in my thoughts, attitudes, actions, meditations, devotion and love He changes me…but only to the degree of my surrender. The more I give Him, the more He can use me and make me into what He desires me to be.

So that is my prayer for 2011. As crazy as the world might become, as busy as things might get, as stressful… I want to “lay aside these trophies to pursue a higher crown”.

I Surrender All (Clay Crosse- lyrics after video)

I have wrestled in the darkness of this lonely pilgrim land
Raising strong and mighty fortresses that I alone command
But these castles I’ve constructed by the strength of my own hand
Are just temporary kingdoms on foundations made of sand

In the middle of the battle I believe I’ve finally found
I’ll never know the thrill of victory ’til I’m willing to lay down
All my weapons of defense and earthly strategies of war
So I’m laying down my arms and running helplessly to Yours

I surrender all my silent hopes and dreams
Though the price to follow costs me everything
I surrender all my human soul desires
If sacrifice requires
That all my kingdoms fall
I surrender all

If the source of my ambition is the treasure I obtain
If I measure my successes on a scale of earthly gain
If the focus of my vision is the status I attain
My accomplishments are worthless and my efforts are in vain

So I lay aside these trophies to pursue a higher crown
And should You choose somehow to use the life I willingly lay
down
I surrender all the triumph for it’s only by Your grace
I relinquish all the glory, I surrender all the praise

Everything I am, all I’ve done, and all I’ve known
Now belongs to You, the life I live is not my own
Just as Abraham laid Isaac on the sacrificial fire
If all I have is all that You desire
I surrender all