Thursday, January 7, 2010

JUST LET IT GO!

Thoughts about pressing on....

Credit: Rev. Bishop T. D. Jakes
“There are people who will walk away from you. 
And hear me when I tell you this!  When people walk away from you: 
Let them walk.  I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying
with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, and coming to see
you, staying attached to you.  I mean—hang up the phone! 
  
When people can walk away from you let them walk.  Your destiny is 
never tied to anybody who left. 
  
The Bible said, “They came out from us that it might be made 
manifest that they were not for us.  For had they been of us, no doubt 
they would have continued with us.” [1 John 2:19] 
  
People leave you because they are not meant to be joined to you. And if they are 
not joined to you, you can't make them stay.  LET THEM GO! 
  
And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person or that you are a bad person.
It just means that their part in your story is over.  And you've got to know when
certain people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to
raise the dead. You've got to know when the relationship is dead. 
  
You've got to admit when it's over.   Let me tell you something. I've got 
 the gift of good-bye.  I think it's the tenth spiritual gift. I believe in GOOD-BYE!
 It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know that whatever
God means for me to have, He'll give it to me.  And if it takes too much
sweat, I don't need it.  Stop begging people to stay. LET THEM GO!! 
  
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was 
never intended for your life, then you need to......LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains .....LET IT GO!!! 
  
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth..... 
LET IT GO!!! 
  
If someone has angered you…..LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge..... 
LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction..... 
LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or 
talents…… LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you have a bad attitude.... LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better......   
LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new 
level in Him....... LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you are struggling to heal a broken relationship..... LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you keep trying to help someone who doesn’t accept or want your help.....
LET IT GO!!! 
  
If you're feeling depressed and stressed......LET IT GO!!! 
  
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling 
yourself and God is saying 'take your hands off of it,' then you need to.....
LET IT GO!!! 
  
'The battle is the Lord's!' NOT yours! 
Stop and think and appreciate God's power in your life. 
He has been so faithful to you…now you know what you can do
to be pleasing to Him.  
  
God loves you and watches over you everyday.  
He keeps you going day and night. Without Him you are no one,
but with Him you can do everything. You CAN do this LETTING GO.
It is not too hard for you. Christ is your strength. You will be Blessed!
Take this message to heart. It is meant for YOU. Take action on it now.
Don’t delay. Don’t blow it off. God will know when you really mean it 
and He will bless you with a fresh start in a new direction. Don’t miss 
your chance!

This will be the first day of the rest of your life!”


# END
 


HOW RIPE ARE YOU?

 
The thoughts below came by e-mail from a friend.

Credit given to a Father Victor Brown:
 
“A few days ago I was reading one of the works of our Holy Father Pope

Benedict XVI and came across words that seem so applicable to me at
my advancing season of life.
 
“The Pope is talking about our mature years when we find ourselves less

able to do as much as we used to do, and we are tempted to fret and be
sad because of our inability to "pull our own weight" as the saying goes.
I can vouch for the truth of this observation, especially when one may
go from a fully active life to one of retirement fairly quickly. This is what
the Pope says on the subject: "It is precisely the time of our apparent
uselessness that can be the highest form of human ripening." That simple
statement on the part of the Holy Father speaks volumes to me, and is
no doubt the result of his own experience of aging and the observation of
many of his relatives, friends, colleagues, and others who are forced by
their health or age or other circumstances to curtail much of their activity.
 
“We are constantly saying to one another, "How are you?"  I am aware

that that question is simply a casual greeting in most cases, and the usual
response is, "Fine, thank you." We certainly don't want to become the
sort of people who, when you ask them "How are you?" they TELL you
at length! (This is sometimes referred to as “an organ recital.”)
 
“On the other hand, some of our relatives and friends are genuinely interested

in our health and well-being and know that our situation is declining. So
when they ask how we are, they deserve some information on the subject—
but not too much! I think I'll start taking my cue from the Pope and I'll say,
in response to their question, "I'm ripening, thank you!" It may sound a bit
comical and might start an interesting conversation. And I certainly hope that
it is true, that you and I are indeed ripening spiritually, emotionally, and in terms
of our personality and our mellowness. We don't want to become cranky,
self-centered or peevish in our mature years.
 
“If we were to choose some animal to symbolize gracious aging, I wouldn't

choose a porcupine or a rattlesnake, but rather a black Labrador or a cocker
spaniel or a devoted Dachshund. There are few things more pleasant than for
a friendly dog to come up and nuzzle your hand as it hangs over the arm of a
chair, wanting to be petted or fondled. Is the dog doing anything useful at that
moment? No, but affection is far greater than mere utility, and the dog has ripened
into an affectionate relationship with its master or with human beings generally.
 
“Let's ripen, my dear friends; that’s why God gives us the days, months, and years

after our “seeming” usefulness is over.”


# END

ON THE THRESHOLD OF 2010


Here I am, Lord

standing at the gate of another year

on Planet Earth.

How can it be

that You’ve favored me so generously

with fourscore and plus years?

Blessed me to see and know my children

and my children’s children

and their children?

I myself am still Your child

though gray of head

with wrinkled brow.

Why am I still here

and not rejoicing in Your presence There?

Do You still have work for me to do?

More of Your life to be lived through me?

Fruit to be borne for Your pleasure?

More treasure to send ahead?

I offer the rest of my days

as a living sacrifice to do Your will

heart and soul under Your control

until Your plan is fulfilled in me.


# END


QUITE A STORY, ISN’T IT?

(A gem from cyberspace)


Credit to: The Word for Today with Bob Gass 

 
The story reads: 'When they had come into the house, they saw

the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.
And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him:
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.' (Matthew 2:11 NKJV)

               From the Christmas story we learn that:
 
 1) God will use people you don't know to bless you. 
The wise men weren't devout Jews or committed Christians, but Persian

stargazers. Don't be selective; you'll tie God's hands. Open your heart and
you'll start seeing Him reaching out to you through the most interesting people
 
 2) God will take care of your tomorrows. 
Joseph and Mary would have to leave home and flee to Egypt. What would

they live on? Gold, frankincense and myrrh; gifts only the rich can give. When
you're in the will of God He will provide for you. He may do it through your job
or the generosity of others, but He will do it. You don't have to stay up all night
worrying, trying to figure out how to make ends meet. The Psalmist said,
'I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread' (Psalm 37:25).
 
 3) God will override the system and get you the help you need. 'The star guided

them to where the young child should be born'. In the history of the solar system
there's never been anything like it. God moved a star like we move a pawn in a
chess game. That's because He 'works all things according to the counsel of
His will' (Ephesians 1:11 NKJV).

#END