In the Letting Go

Letting go of treasured times, treasured people, treasured routines and traditions isn’t easy, but it’s obviously the life God designed for us during these times. Throughout the Bible we read about letting go. King Saul’s son, Jonathan, and David were best friends, but life happened and they had to go their separate ways. Moses’ mom had to put him in a basket and let him go to save his life. Jesus had to let go of His place in heaven to come to earth to rescue you and me.

Maybe those scenarios don’t provide the comfort you've needed for letting go of your routines, schedules, plans, dreams and hopes during this pandemic. It hasn’t been easy for anyone who is a planner, a doer and wants to hold on as long as they can. Status quo certainly has been disrupted, hasn’t it?

I’ve been letting go for a very long time. I can’t believe how fast time went – watching my own children grow from infants to raising their own children. I see it as a good thing. It is supposed to be that way. I’ve had to let go of friends as we’ve moved in and out of each other’s’ lives while navigating changing seasons of our own. One day, I held my husband’s hand for the last time and let go as he and I touched eternity together when he quietly went home.

It’s not easy letting go, but God gives us the fortitude and strength to conquer the “letting-goes”. My letting-goes were staged by God in a slow-methodical way. I applaud those of you who had to let go during these crazy, unplanned times and your ability to “bend and not break”.

I have witnessed those who have stood tall -- silent and strong, with arms lifted high toward heaven. I’ve seen you let go of your own ideas of how things ought to be and you’ve trusted God instead. You have let go of holding on so tightly and found the courage to look forward to what God has in store! He has a sovereign plan and we’ve resigned ourselves to trusting Him. We've made it through many seasons and we’ve come out of them braver and stronger. None of us knows what the future holds, but when we raise our hands high in the letting go, we’ll find ourselves looking upward to Jesus. He’s the One who is able to lead us through the heartaches and triumphs of the living, the loving, and the letting go.

Letting go is a daily, moment-by-moment choice. Giving it all to God is the way to come out on the other side as conquerors. I love this scripture: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) When we relinquish control, worry, doubt, fear and doing-it-my-way and give it all to God daily, we can be free to be a human-being instead of a human-doing. God is in control. We just need to recognize His authority and let Him lead. We can trust Him with all that concerns us each day. Letting go is scary at first, but the freedom in our mind and hearts will be worth it.

Isaiah 55:8-9 -- “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Being Willing to be Interrupted

It’s been a long, tiring day. You’re almost to the end of it and you just want to chill – flip on the television to escape to another world. Aw! It feels so good to get off your feet when — just like that — the phone rings. The caller ID tells you that it’s that one friend who always seems to have a pressing issue. Do you answer the phone? Or do you let it go to voicemail?

There may be good reasons to disregard the call. It may be that you need to be able to clear your mind and you had reserved this time for quiet prayer and meditation. You just want to steal away with Jesus. After all, who should take priority over Him?

I think you know where I’m going with this. If we purpose to follow Jesus’ lead, we’ll say a quick prayer -- and take the call. Isn’t that what Jesus did? “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things.” (Mark 6:34) He was always allowing needy people to interrupt His plans.

Jesus’ plan had been for the disciples to rest after returning from their preaching mission. He wanted them to get away from the crowds and recharge. But when he saw the crowd awaiting them on the shore, “He had compassion on them” and He changed plans. His “time off” became an opportunity to teach the crowd. And everytime -- there were miracles that took place.

The fact is – we are little Jesuses if His light shines brightly in us. First we read that "He is the light of the world" (John 8:12), but He boomeranged that back at us when He said "You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14). Like Jesus, we should all get in the habit of choosing compassion. Like Jesus, we should be open to the possibility that some-thing or some-one will come along and disrupt our plans. Jesus' example for us is to stay flexible and open to the Holy Spirit, no matter what we have planned or scheduled for any day. It’s this openness of heart that allowed Jesus to feed the five thousand on His day off, and it’s the same openness that will make us more available to the people around us who need our attention and care.

We all make plans. Our lives are busy, and we often feel annoyed by interruptions. But Jesus wasn’t annoyed. “His heart was moved” with compassion. Our plans should always take second place to God's plans. It can be tempting to deflect interruptions or brush people aside because we want to guard our private time or finish our to-do list. But if we do that, we could end up missing an opportunity to make a difference—even a dramatic one—in someone’s life.

So go ahead, and make your plans! Just don’t be surprised when God interrupts you with an invitation to love. “Holy Spirit, move my heart with Jesus’ compassion so that I can respond with love at any moment.”

Time for Intermission

INTERMISSION – interval, interlude, halftime, break, recess, pause, rest, respite, gap, space, lull, stop, halt, hiatus

I remember INTERMISSION when I went to a play or outdoor movie. That was the time we could visit the restrooms or get a snack or just to simply have a good ole' stretch. I had a two-day intermission from my trip to Tulsa and Oklahoma City last week, before I received an SOS message from my Austin family. The boys were sick and their Mom and Dad had to go out of town the next day (yesterday). I quickly loaded my “still warm” suitcase and clothes bag, threw cosmetics back into the bag and within 30 minutes, I was on my way to Austin. My two-days at home had been packed full of “catch-up” and around 3 pm, I thought I’d grab a little nap (an intermission) before a meeting at church. I was awakened with that “SOS” call and was thankful I had been prompted to rest before then, because I was wide awake for my 4+ hour trek to Austin.

I sent text messages to those who were expecting me at events for that night and the next day. My sister-in-law sent these words of affirmation to me: “It’s a privilege for us to be able to help our children. They are our gifts from God. So glad you are there for them. It’s all about serving.” My daughter said, “Mom, how great that God has you available for your children!” I know she means that because she is the recipient of Mom’s “freedom” schedule. Now I know what my Mom felt when she was "on call" for us. What a tremendous blessing she was to our way-too-filled schedule.

Yesterday, I took the boys to doctor appointments. I embraced being the stand-in representative for their mom. This season of my life is precious, especially when it is being "on call” for my family. Last week it was getting to go with my grandson as he registered for real estate school. Yesterday it was praying for my granddaughter as she was taking her drivers license test. She passed. Thanks be to God!

I love schedules and I also love "winging" it because when I just run with the wind and I trust that my steps are ordered of the Lord, He gives me some of the most precious moments. I felt it big time yesterday. Psalm 37:23 "The steps of a good man (good woman) are ordered by the Lord: and he (she) delights in His way." Little intermissions of pieces of heaven at home and at every stop along the way. I'm just thanking God, once again, for shining His light brightly into my world.

Intermission sounds like a come-to-halt on the main show, but I’ve determined that the “main show” is living audaciously with as much gusto as we can to celebrate those we love, do the things we enjoy that gives us pleasure and enjoyment, and when the time comes to take an INTERMISSION to gain strength for our next assignments and adventures…..we’ll be there with bells on and with hearts open wide to pour on the love to those we love when we can!

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

APPOINTMENT or DISAPPOINTMENT

CBS News Headline this morning is this: "Super Bowl 2018: Eagles pull off stunning win over Patriots". Whether you are a Patriots or an Eagles fan or not a football fan at all, if you tuned into the Super Bowl game last night and watched it for any period of time, you would agree that it was a good one to watch! Lots of drama and surprises! Along the way you may have had some feelings for which team you’d like to win. I’ll admit, I was cheering for the Eagles, so I was thrilled when they won. Tom Brady had DISAPPOINTMENT written all over his face when he couldn’t pull off his #6 Super Bowl win. I was so inspired when Nick Foles, the Eagles back-up quarterback, Doug Pederson, the Eagles coach, and several other Eagles’ players, when interviewed at the end of the game said, “First and foremost, I give all the glory to my Lord Jesus Christ.” While one team and their stunned fans were DISAPPOINTED, the other team and their fans saw their win as a Divine APPOINTMENT. I love when I hear anyone speaking about God and His goodness. They are helping to make HIM famous.

My word(s) for today are: APPOINTMENT -- a meeting set for a specific time, and,
DISAPPOINTMENT -- the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one's hopes or expectations.

Maybe you don't care one way or the other about a Super Bowl game, but maybe some-ONE or some-THING has brought you tremendous DISAPPOINTMENT. We can't stop disappointment, but we can stop staying stuck in it. I know how easy it is to dwell on something or someone that hurt me. But, wallowing in disappointment gets us nowhere. I remember times of great disappointment and as long as I remained in sadness and regret, the more miserable I would get. But, when I would refuse to stay in that place and go to my Peace-Giver, I would snap out of the doldrums and find that place of joy, gladness, comfort and peace. Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Isn’t it interesting that the word "APPOINTMENT" comes from within the word DISAPPOINTMENT? I’ve seen again and again how disappointments take something FROM us: a dream, a piece of our hearts – maybe whole chunks of it. But disappointment also GIVES us something too: a gift, an opportunity, the possibility of creating change.

God has incredible plans for us and the enemy of our souls would like to keep us from ever experiencing those plans and just stay "put" in woe and distress. God's purpose for us goes way beyond times of disappointment. In fact, that disappointment today may just be the set up for HIS APPOINTMENT where hope is found and a major comeback is on its way that produces successes and joy. That's what happened to me. My days are filled with purpose and I know that I'm walking in my destiny, getting to bring others with me on this road.

Let's remember God is in the "set-up" and APPOINTMENT business. There are many future God-appointments on the other side of whatever disappointment we may be encountering today.
God has got your name on His appointment schedule. He'll be right on time. Don't you be a minute late!