Letting Go to Take Hold

By Rosemary Flaaten –

Letting go is hard for me, especially when it is something very precious to me or has brought significance to my life. Although I’ve heard the saying that from the moment a child is born we are preparing them to leave us, the process of letting go isn’t easy. It seems like only a few sleeps ago that I chose to let go of my firstborn, who was three hours old, so the neonatal nurse could take him to the nursery. Then there was his first day of preschool, feeling like my arms were heavy in their emptiness as I walked alone to the parking lot. The stakes were even higher on his first day of middle school. The realization that this was truly the beginning of the end of my hold on him brought moisture to my eyes and tightness to my gut.

Not too long ago, tears dripped down my cheeks as I commiserated with a mother’s emotions as she described her sense of loss as she pinned her son’s corsage on his wedding tuxedo. She had to let go in order for her son to grasp onto to what lay ahead of him. She realized that no man can be held by both his mother and his wife. It was her job to let go.

This truth permeates our lives. How many times have we tried to take hold of something new without letting go of the old? We must move our belongings and leave an old house in order to move in and fully live out of our new home and neighborhood. We must let go of the emotional ties to our old job and move with conviction and perseverance into our new opportunities. When we ask Christ to be our Lord and Savior, we leave the old life that is ruled by sin and take hold of the grace and love that God offers through His Son. One stage must be left behind in order to move into the next.

The apostle Paul gives his version of this life reality when he says, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13, 14 NIV).

Has God put before you something new for 2011? Is there something that has brought you pleasure, significance or meaning this past year, last month or even yesterday but you sense that today God is saying He has a new thing. Don’t get stuck in a rut where you continue to do something simply because of tradition or comfort. Be open to change. Be alert to where God is at work and then set about to join Him. To do so you may need to let go of the old so you can take hold of the new. Change is propelled by the movement of the Holy Spirit. Be alert! Be Present!

PRAYER: God, may our hearts be open and receptive to listening and discerning the movement of Your Spirit and then may we have the courage to obediently follow You.

Verse:  “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out!  Don’t you see it” (Isaiah 43:18,19 MSG).

Today’s Devotional is by Rosemary Flaaten. Her successful book, A Woman and Her Relationships helps women process their outside-of-work relationships, so now she’s delving into these 9-5 relationships in A Woman and Her Workplace. Her Relationships book won The Word Guild Award, which is Canada’s top Christian literary honor. A dynamic speaker—Rosemary challenges women of all professions to view their work as a calling and their workplaces as opportunities to live out Christ’s love. Rosemary lives with her husband and three children in Calgary, Canada.

Because Moms Matter

By Gina Stinson –

Moms matter. For all those days you find yourself wondering if what you do really makes a difference, consider this your personal pat on the back and be assured. It does.

Whether you’re a good mom or a bad mom, what you do counts. The influence we have on the lives God trusts us with on earth is immeasurable. In fact, it’s a little frightening. The words I speak over my children on a daily basis help form their own thoughts about the world, God, their self-worth, their family and more. Let’s face it my parenting skills—good or bad—are going to be mirrored in my kids. Lord help us.

Seriously, Lord help us! In a world that is screaming out to kids about their weight, their athletic ability and their grade point average, I’m suppose to be screaming (in a good way) about the love of God, how much they are valued in God’s eyes, while at the same time instilling a Christian world-view. It’s a daunting task. Somebody’s gotta do it. Someone will.

Good parenting isn’t for the lazy. God’s Word tells me I am to be instilling God-things in my children from sunup to sundown. I have so much to do and so little time. Eighteen to twenty-two years hardly seems like enough time to get it all in. Thankfully God is on my side, helping, guiding, and giving opportunities to guide my children through this life. Christian parents don’t walk alone. With our guidebook, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit, we can make a difference in this generation. Lord help us.

PRAYER:  Father thank You for trusting me to take care of the children You gave me. They are Yours. Use them, guide them, help them, protect them. Help me to do my part to proclaim Your name and to etch Your character on our home.

“Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:19 NIV).

This devotion was written by Gina Stinson, a minister’s wife and mother of two. Gina writes from a mom’s perspective on life issues, the home, and the church. There’s never a dull moment on her blog, http://journalinggina.blogspot.com , where you can always be sure to catch a word of encouragement or a thought to ponder.

Exchange

By Cheri Cowell –

My grandfather told many stories of his early days as a country preacher. He told of the characters who made up his congregations (and some were real characters), and of the sacrifices he and his family made so he could follow God’s call.

One of my favorite stories was about a wedding he performed for an outlaw family “way back in the woods.” This couple wanted God’s blessing on their union even though they knew the rest of their life was not upstanding. My grandfather agreed because he believed their desire for God’s blessing might be His way of changing this family’s whole life around.

The groom’s brothers picked up my grandpa and took him so far into the woods he said he felt like he was being taken to the other side of the world. After he performed the ceremony they gave him a pig as payment, and then brought him back to the church. He never saw them again.

“Did you feel it was worth it, Granddaddy?” I asked, meaning was the exchange of vows for a pig worth it.

He replied, “My sacrifice was nothing compared to Christ’s.”

PRAYER: Thank You for the exchange You made when I had nothing of value to offer in exchange for the great gift you gave. Help me to follow Your example and to not be so worried about getting a fair deal when working with others, but willing to exchange something of real value with whatever others have to offer.

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV).

Today’s devotion is by Cheri Cowell, who writes and speaks on topics of Christian discipleship. In addition to her books and articles, you can learn about her speaking ministry and sign up to receive her daily devotional www.CheriCowell.com

If He Could See Me Now

By Cynthia Ruchti –

I have the distinction of sharing a birth date with four key events in history—the birth of George Washington, the funeral of my beloved maternal grandfather, the funeral of my amazing father, and the funeral weekend of my cherished mother.

I don’t know why the Lord thought I should be the one with those honors.

My father died seventeen years ago. I still catch myself wanting to tell him something I know he’d find fascinating. He found most things fascinating. He read encyclopedias (the book kind) for fun.

He would have found the accessibility of the Internet more thrilling than an amusement park. His thirst for information would have made him a cyber-soaker-upper.

He loved learning. Thanks for passing that on to me, Dad.

He loved words. Double thanks. (He was a ringer in the game of Balderdash. He knew all the real definitions!)

He was passionate about communicating the wonders tucked into God’s Word. Infinite thanks.

I wish he could have met my grandchildren, and they him. They would have adored him. He’d read them stories, never failing to include all the words on the title and copyright pages. He’d build Lego towers to rival Babel. He’d play Catapult-the-Kid in the pool and draw cartoon characters with a skill that would make us wonder how he decided between art and music for a career.

If he could see me now, I think he’d be pleased on at least three levels.

1. I love words as much as he did. I love the taste of them. Their texture. Their pulsating power.
2. My appetite to share God’s truths is never satiated.
3. Music still moves me.

One of my fondest latter years’ memories with my dad is sitting in the back of the movie theater, watching the credits roll following the viewing of “Amadeus.” We stayed, entranced, until the last frame—not for the names, but for the music.

Would my dad have been a blogger if he’d lived that long? Maybe. He had plenty to say. In some ways, he’s still speaking.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for giving me the heritage of a godly dad and a godly mom. Thank You for birthing things in me that speak of them. May I represent them—and You—with honor and grace all the days of my life.

“Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise” (Ephesians 6:2 KJV).

Today’s devotional is by Cynthia Ruchti, writer/producer of THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME radio ministry and president of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Cynthia’s debut novel—They Almost Always Come Home—released with Abingdon Press May 1 and a Christmas novella—A Door County Christmas—released in September. Cynthia writes stories of Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark (www.cynthiaruchti.com).

Homecomings

By Hally Franz –

Adoptive parents sometimes commemorate two dates each year in the life of their child. My Guatemalan-born daughter recently celebrated her ninth birthday, and, as we do each year, we recalled the details of that other special date. Her “gotcha” date is January 14, 2002. She loves to hear about the bumpy and thrilling ride we had from the Guatemala City airport to the adoption agency, the loving nanny who passed our daughter over to us, the first silly words that her older brother spoke to her, the doctor who flopped her around on the examining table like a little chicken, assuring us of her health, and the beauty of her birthplace.

Three days later we left Guatemala, arriving first in Houston, Texas. As we landed, a flight attendant spoke over the intercom and sweetly welcomed home the dozen or so children who were now new United States citizens. It was totally unexpected and very moving.

When we made it back home, family and friends were waiting to see Rosaline. After a bit, we placed Roz in her brother’s handed-down swing. She sat contentedly there, and my father said she looked like she “had the world by the tail on the down-hill pull.” She seemed to know she was where she belonged and that she’d always be taken care of and loved.

Bringing Rosaline home was a wonderful experience, a little like when someone becomes a Christian. Often, we look back on the baptisms of others in our congregation and recall those special hug-filled times. New Christians seem to gain a sense of belonging, and they recognize there is a whole family of believers who will love them and care for them as they continue their walk with Christ.

I wonder sometimes about the final homecomings Christians have had and will have. I wonder what kind of exciting journey we will make from our earthly bodies to our heavenly home, what greetings we’ll receive, and what Jesus’ first words will be to each of us. When loving families turn us over to our Father, what will His inspection of us be like? Will He declare us fit for continued service? While we don’t know the answers to all the questions, one thing is for sure. That welcome home will be the sweetest and most beautiful of all!

PRAYER: Father, I pray I’ll be a welcoming Christian to others who come to You in faith, and I thank You for the promise of a Heavenly Home.

“And, I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11 KJV).

Today’s devotion is by Hally Franz. Hally is a former teacher and high school guidance counselor, turned homemaker. She enjoys volunteering at her children’s school, teaching Bible classes at her church, leading projects in 4-H, writing, reading, scrapbooking, and rousing (though, sometimes, not pretty) zumba classes.

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