Let It Go

Your past cannot be changed. It is what it is, with everything included that has ever happened - good or bad, or somewhere in between. The past has brought you to where you are today. To exclude even one small part, you would not be in the same place.... or would you?

Some have said: "If only things had been different, then....." "If only I had more opportunities, then I would have......" "If only that person had not ruined my life by........" How do you know it would have turned out any differently at all? Why would you have made a different choice, given all the same factors at that time?

Chances are, you would have made the same choices, based on what you knew at that time. In hind sight, you may think differently, because you see a bigger picture that was concealed from you before. OR because through a painful experience you learned, "Not going down that road again. Don't like the consequences of that choice!" Failures can sometimes be devastating.... or they can be opportunities to make changes.

God gives us the gift of second chances (and third, and fourth, etc). Yes, He has a plan for your life, even if you aren't aware of it. Maybe in the past, you chose not to walk in His ways, maybe you did. Either way, HE is bigger than the circumstances in your life (then and now), and HE well able to turn any situation around for good, and back on track for His plan for you.

Not where you should be right now? Want to make a change? Then change your direction. Continuing on the same path, will only lead you to the same destination as before. Take a step in the right direction. Maybe a new direction, maybe back to the way you started long ago. Every journey begins with one step, and then another, and another...... until you arrive. Not there yet? Then keep going. A journey usually does not only involve one day, but every day can be part of that journey.

Does it look too hard, too long, too out of reach? Don't label yourself as "unfit" for the trip. Remember, your past does not define you. Let it go.... and move on to a new future. Need help to get there? Find those who are willing to walk with you (for whatever portion of the journey), but don't quit if they don't continue or turn to a different path. Stay true to your decision to go forward.

God has made a promise to us: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) 

He is the One who will guide you every step of the way, if you let Him. He is the One who gives you the strength to face each day and every trial along the way, when you ask Him. HE sees ALL that you will encounter on your journey. He already has a plan to get you through the storms and is waiting to celebrate the victories with you as you overcome each hardship.

God has so much waiting for you, if only you will step into the future He has planned for you. Put the past behind you (good & bad), and walk into the future that is waiting to be discovered. You'll wonder why you waited so long!!

Selah

Be a Candle

I love the song "Go Light Your World" by Kathy Troccoli. Our friend Tammy is in the process of recording her first CD and we were treated to a sneak preview of her recording of this song on Sunday morning. I was impacted again by these wonderful lyrics. (For full lyrics click here)

A few years ago I wrote out my response to this song and I am posting it here today. I know it is rather long, but hopefully, it's worth the time to read it.

The first part is a chorus from the song "Thrown Away" by Ray Boltz. (For full lyrics click here) My prayer is that God will touch your heart today as He touched mine.

THROWN AWAY
CAN YOU BELIEVE THE THINGS THEY TOSS ASIDE
AND LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY LAY
OH BUT THEY CAN BE SAVED
IF YOU TAKE THE TIME
AND TRY TO FIND THE GOOD ALONG THE WAY
OH WHAT THIS WORLD THROWS AWAY
(Ray Boltz)

Thrown away, tossed aside, unwanted, unloved - abandoned!! Seen as useless. No value. Not worth the effort. Too hard!!! Takes too long!! When will she ever learn? When will she get it? Wasting our time!!

NO!!! It’s NOT wasting time. Can you BELIEVE the things they toss aside and leave them where they lay? SOULS. People needing love, needing direction. They ARE lost. Oh, but they CAN be saved. So many have gone astray. Even those who started off well - on the right road. BUT the enemy came when we weren’t guarding the little ones. They were damaged. They were used and abused. They were left devastated. Unable to pick themselves up. Instead of understanding.... instead of receiving and redeeming them, they were tossed aside!!!!

How God WEEPS when each little ones’ cries go unanswered. Can your heart hear them? Has it grown cold? Don’t turn from their cries. Who else will answer them? Who else can God send to them? IF you will take the time and try to find the good along the way - You will find what GOD sees in them. Precious ones who have been crushed by sins. There is still a treasure locked inside. It is waiting to be released. Waiting for it to be safe enough to finally come out. How much longer? How long can she hang on? How much longer can she fool everyone that everything is fine? Her strength is almost gone. Is there hope? Is there an answer to her questions? Is there a Deliverer for her? The world sees her as an Outcast. Oh what this world throws away!!!

Jesus is the answer. Always was. Always will be. Doesn’t matter what the situation is. HE has paid it ALL. He has provided for it. But He needs us to carry it out. We are HIS. Will you go for Him? He is the Light. We are HIS Candles. HIS Light burning in our soul. His Holy Spirit burns within us, speaks to us, consumes us, IF we will let Him. There IS a candle in every soul. God puts it there. Some ARE Brightly burning. They love God, love His Word, love His Presence, LOVE HIM!! They want ALL they can receive. Their hearts are open and obedient. Ready to respond.

Some are dark and cold. They let their flame go out. No oil. No passion, no time for God. Too busy with their own lives, their own interests, their own pleasures. Their hearts are growing colder. They can’t hear the cries of the lost or hurting. They are drowned out by other sounds.

BUT There is a Spirit - God’s precious Holy Spirit - Who brings a fire to rekindle that flame. He ignites our candle and makes His home in us. He is here to stay. Not just for a time, but every day!! LET Him REVIVE your heart. THEN carry your candle and RUN to the Darkness. It is Urgent!! Your light will dispel the darkness. It has to flee. Darkness cannot consume the light. JESUS always overcomes.

Seek out the HOPELESS, CONFUSED & TORN. So many have NO hope. Where can they look? Who has the answers? Who will ever take the time to talk with them? They ARE confused. Who will explain until they understand? Which way to turn? Many say, "Here!! We have the answer." They are torn between Doctrines and Religions, Hypocrites and Broken Promises. False Hopes. Empty Words. Giving up too soon. The job is not finished!! They ARE torn away by the enemy again!!!!

Hold out your candle for ALL to see it. Don’t hide the Truth. Don’t withhold the answers. Are you able to make a difference? Then DO it!! Put actions to your prayers. God can only use you when you are willing to walk out the path that HE has laid out for you. Take your candle. Pick it up and Go light YOUR world. Go where GOD is leading you to go. GO!!! Don’t delay. Don’t make excuses. Shine the light that HE has given to you.

Many have tried to light their candles in their own way. It won’t work. They will burn out - either by themselves or be put out by others. Only God’s Flame is eternal. In our own strength, we are nothing. Shallow Cures that last for the moment. FRUSTRATION. Our plans will fail. Our solutions don’t heal. Jesus does. Do it HIS Way.

See your sister - she’s been robbed and lied to. Robbed of what she cannot regain. Forever stolen. She was deceived, tricked, lied to, betrayed. She believed the lie. It SOUNDED like Truth. It had pleasure for a season, But it soon turned sour. Now it is bitter. No goodness left. Her candle has no flame - no hope, no escape, no relief. Never ending pain. Tears without end. She is sitting in darkness with no one to show her the way. RUN to her. She is LONELY, TIRED & WORN. No one to comfort her, no one to stay with her until she regains her strength. It is all gone. She is worn out. Weary from crying without end. Hold out your candle to her. She WILL see it. She’s not far away. God will show you where she is.

We ARE a family. We are adopted into God’s family. Sometimes closer than our own flesh and blood. When we stand together, our hearts WILL be Blazing. What a bonfire we could make if we joined together!!!! Raise your candle up high. Don’t be ashamed. Let it be seen.

PRAY. Our Father WILL hear your prayer. Use the weapons that Jesus gave us. Use His Name to send the enemy running. Shut him OUT!!! Be a Beacon in Darkest night. Be as a lighthouse on the point. Shining into the night. Shining into the storms. Don’t shut down the light and go to sleep in the storm. ARISE & Be Alert!!! Souls are at risk. CALL to them. WARN them when you see the signs of the storm coming. Don’t let the waves crush them again. Don’t let them be swept away and drown. RESCUE THEM!!!

They are HELPLESS to survive on their own. Jesus died to save them, to heal them, to redeem them. Call to them!! Many are DECEIVED. Many are headed for destruction and don’t even see it. Many are pulled back into the mire with no strength to resist. Seek them out. They are POOR. They have nothing to pay the price with. Never enough to buy their freedom. Forever slaves to bondage. Bondages that have been placed on them. Chains too heavy to be broken. Prisoners of the Accuser. No one to defend them. No one to plead their case. Only Jesus can liberate them!!!

FORGIVENESS. The key that opens the doors. YES, there is hope for the hopeless. Dispel the confusion. Bind up the torn. God can and will. Redeem and Restore. GO and find them. Seek them out and then DO your part that God has called you to do. Don’t let them be THROW AWAYS any longer. The world has given up on them. GOD HAS NOT!!!! How can we? WE CAN’T!!! TAKE THE TIME!!!!

Hear her cries and Answer with GOD’S Love and GOD’S Power to heal her Broken Heart. Hold out your candle. Bring Jesus to those who NEED Him. Minister as He has called you to do. Be ready. Keep your flame burning. Don’t let Satan blow it out!!! Hold it high. Keep HIS Fire burning in your heart.

Let Him burn away ALL that is not of Him, ALL that would pull you back to your old life. CLOSE THAT DOOR!!!! It is the PAST. Leave it behind. Don’t reopen what God has covered. Remember why God took you out of it. RUN from it. Run TO God. Into HIS Safety. Into HIS Protection. He has given you New Life. Live it as He has called you.

Selah Y
26 Sept 1999

Be Still and LISTEN for His Voice

What are you hearing Him say to YOU today?

Still Amazing!!

Amazing Grace. How easily spoken - Do we still understand what is wrapped up in that simple phrase? Do you need to have it's impact renewed for you today?

Watch this video clip. (Il Divo singing Amazing Grace) All I can say is WOW! We are so BLESSED. Our God is truly amazing.

After watching this clip for a few times, I suddenly saw something deeper. They are singing "Amazing Grace" in the Coliseum - a place where so many Christians faced death because of their faith in God. They would rather die than deny Him - and they were martyred. It was a place that represented death and suffering, and displayed the depths of the evil men can imagine and carry out.

BUT GOD can redeem. He can bring beauty out of ashes. He can take the "ruins" of our lives and, through HIS GRACE, raise up hope and a future we could not imagine was possible. He did for John Newton (the author of the song) and He can for you.

Whether we have committed great evil or just ignored God, we are captured by His "Amazing Grace" towards each of us as He calls us home. He is our God and we are His Beloved. Amazing!!

Selah Y

Who is like our God?

His Ways are HIGHER than our ways; His thoughts are ABOVE what we can comprehend. It IS a mystery. Countless millions have tried to “figure out” why He does what He does – only to abandon their logic and simply TRUST that HE is God – the Most High God, the One who is Holy and Sovereign.

Tired of trying to figure it all out? Surrender to Him. Lay down your doubts and your fears, your worries and your striving. Allow HIM to give you HIS answers and guide you on HIS path for you. There will be many things you will not understand this side of Heaven – that’s OK – HE is in control. He still reigns the universe, He can handle your situation as well. He is God – expect no less.

Selah Y

RELAX!!

Exhausted? Relax!! The shopping is finished and most of our expectations were met. Christmas and the frenzy of the Holiday season are over – leaving many of us scrambling to recoup and get refocused. Suddenly in the midst of all of our celebrations, we were launched into 2009 - ready or not.

Do you have resolutions for the New Year? (Does anyone really make them anymore?) Do you remember yours from last year? Better question – does anyone keep them all year? I love getting my scripture for the year. It’s an encouragement rather than something to strive to maintain.

The holidays were great, but the workload didn’t go on vacation – it just piled up for our return. (I think it multiplies when left on its own!) Now it’s time to get caught up and back into some kind of routine and structure – wading through it all – prioritizing as we go. I am not complaining.

I am reminded of how truly BLESSED we are. We have so much – many times more that we could ever consume. We do not have to deal with the severities of life that bring hopelessness and despair. We don’t have to face the atrocities of war – they are far from our thoughts (unless we know someone personally connected – then we get involved). We have all the comforts we could ask for – we feel safe and satisfied.

Does it stop there? No. How sad if it did!! What about those who are in need tonight? What about the ones who have lost their job and don’t know how things will work out? Quoting the scripture, “All things work together for good” doesn’t give them instant peace!

God cares for EACH ONE of us without partiality. Our success, or apparent lack of success, is NOT an indicator of how much He loves us. He blesses us in different ways (not always financially). Whether we are healed, or not, is NOT an indicator of our faith level. He uses the natural AND the supernatural in our lives.

We CAN have peace in the midst of the storm. We CAN glorify and worship God through our difficult circumstances. Life is often unpredictable. Bad things DO happen to good people – serve God anyway. Our obedience is not a guarantee to be exempt from tragedy. We live in a fallen world. You can do everything right and still have to deal with the fallout from unwise choices others have made. Our promise is that God will never desert or forsake us.

Our society loves to be comfortable. We avoid pain – any kind of pain – at all cost. But it is not biblical. We are not promised a “pain-free” life, or a “problem-free” life. We cannot expect to never experience hardships or hurts. God gave us emotions. Some may be unpleasant, but the alternative is to be numb to everything. Not an acceptable option. A life without suffering may seem desirable, but it is sterile. God has made provision for us THROUGH our journey. Whatever we face – He will walk through it with us.

For many, January can be a very depressing time. Christmas is over and now they are overwhelmed by everything – the perfect time for a re-evaluation. What’s really important? What’s a priority and what can wait? Stress, fear, worry, etc, can consume our thoughts and wear us down until we have no strength left to face the day. This is not God’s plan for you. It will kill your joy and leave you depleted.

There’s an old song, “Don’t Worry. Be Happy!” It’s a rather annoying song, but with some elements of truth. Throw off worry and you will be happier!! Easier said than done. God has a better way (as always!!) He says worry is a waste of time. You really can’t change a thing by worrying about it. He says to “Cast your cares on Him” and that the “Joy of the Lord” is to be our STRENGTH. It really DOES work.

Does this puppy look stressed? Not at all. He’s relaxed – sleeping – even oblivious to what’s going on around him. Safe and secure if the road gets rough. Trusting that “the driver” will bring them to their destination. Peacefully enjoying the journey. Maybe we need to try TRUSTING GOD with our circumstances and relaxing IN HIS CARE. Stress levels would go down. Worry and fear would fade away.

Can you give your worries to God? He’s big enough to handle them! He has a better answer than you’ve come up with – one that will actually resolve your situation!! Trust Him. Take the plunge and make this your “New Year’s Resolution” – to TRUST GOD and follow HIS guidance for your life. Try it for yourself. You’ll enjoy the journey. Relaxed and safe in His care.

Selah Y

Stairway

Who can fathom the mysteries of Heaven? There is so much that God has planned for us that we are totally unaware of. He sees our circumstances from an entirely different point of view. We will never fully understand until we are with Him and He shows us the other side of them.

We see the black storm clouds, but God sees an opportunity to stretch and deepen our faith. Remember, we are never alone in the storm, because He has promised to be with us always – He will never forsake us. When we successfully persevere through our earthly trials, we are refining our character, developing inner strength, winning spiritual victories, and sometimes even gaining heavenly rewards.

Trust HIM in every circumstance – no matter what it is. Seek Him for direction and wisdom. He knows the path you should take. Stay above the waves and CELEBRATE His goodness in the midst of the storms. He is our God – He will see us through.

This is such an awesome photo. I see this little girl completely focused on her flowers. WE can SEE the waves, the black clouds, even the wind blowing against her. BUT behind her is the staircase - the access the heaven (and God). She is not focused on the storm. She knows she is safe. She is not isolated or forsaken, she can – at any moment - turn around and run into His arms. She is secure under HIS protection. (and so are we!!)

Selah Y

Wordless Wednesday

(Read the story & see more photos)

God NEVER Lets Go of YOU

No matter what kind of storm you are facing today, REMEMBER you are NOT alone. He is as close as the whisper of His Name. Call out to Him and He will answer. Seek Him and He promises to be found. He is Faithful and He will NEVER, NEVER forsake you.

YOU NEVER LET GO by Matt Redman

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

(Chorus:)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go

In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

(Chorus)

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Christmas in Heaven

This post is dedicated to James Michael Rusinka (my cousin, Jan's son). He passed away on November 17 after battling many years with CHF. He was only 26. There is no easy time to lose a loved one, and the first Christmas is always the hardest. This poem was written by a Mom who lost her daughter on Christmas Day. (Story behind the poem).

Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees

around the world below

with tiny lights like heaven's stars

reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular

please wipe away that tear

for I am spending Christmas

with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs

that people hold so dear

but the sounds of music can't compare

with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you

of the joy their voices bring

for it is beyond description

to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me,

I see the pain inside your heart

for I am spending Christmas

with Jesus Christ this year.

I can't tell you of the splendor

or the peace here in this place

Can you just imagine Christmas

with our Savior face to face?

I'll ask him to lift your spirit

as I tell you of your love

so then pray for one another

as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your hearts be joyful

and let your spirit sing

for I am spending Christmas in heaven

and I'm walking with the King.

Wanda Bencke

Copyright 1998