Bye Bye Cash, Hello Bag...

I needed a new bag; it wasn’t a necessity per se, more of a want.

It was easy hunting around for the bag as I knew what designer brand I wanted. It felt good walking into the luxury store knowing I wasn’t just going to waste the attendant’s time.

It was all fun until I had to bring out the cash. I counted out my dollars, and my purse felt lighter, more like empty. At that moment, it was hard to hand over the money, to release it, to accept this item that I wanted. It was hard to swallow the truth that you really can’t eat your cake and have it too. I had two choices… take my money and run, but then I’ll have all that money with no bag to show for it, and probably spend it on little things that end up meaning nothing, like a top here and another there and of course food food food…  and end up wondering what happened to all that money when the wallet eventually gets empty, because it would certainly get empty. Or I could pay for the bag. The money would go at once, my purse would be empty, but I’ll have invested in a beautiful bag, one I’ve wanted… one I’m pleased with, one that will last longer than the money would, one I’ll probably still be using when I’m doing school runs with my kids.

As hard as it was, I chose to buy the bag. I released what was in my hands to get it.

If we don’t release what’s in our hands, we would never receive the goodness waiting to be placed in our empty hands.

Either way, I would have spent the money… I’m glad I spent it in a way that I have something to show for it, rather than foolishly with nothing to show.

Release what’s in your hand to God, and He’ll move through you, and make you enjoy the benefits of whatever plans He has for you.

Let go of life to gain eternal life…. Let go of Life, as you know it, to experience more than just life. Let go of life, to experience the peace, joy, love and goodness of God.

If you don’t plant a seed, you’ll never get a harvest. Isn’t it amazing how the harvest is always greater than the seed planted or the sacrifice made? What you gain from letting go is worth more than what gets into your hands.

Let go of self condemnation for your past, present and future sins to receive the fullness of grace so amazing. You can’t enjoy the fullness of God’s grace and love if you hold on to self condemnation for what you’ve done... Condemning yourself doesn't paint a picture of remorse so good that God is manipulated to forgive you, it only separates us from enjoying grace. He's so loving that once you give Him your filth, He tosses it aside and remembers them no more even as He covers your shame with His love. Stop trying to remind Him of your sins.

What do you have to say goodbye to, to receive your blessings? Some things we hold on to, refusing to let go of hinders us from the greatness we have been given… Are you holding on to fame and popularity and missing out on what God has to bless you? Are you holding on to a failed relationship and missing out on the perfect one God has planned for you? What are you holding on to that is keeping your total surrender to God at bay?

God knew He had to let go of Jesus if He wanted to save us. It was a sacrifice worth making, hard as it was. Thus He emptied His hands and released Him to us, and allowed Him to go through death, in order to bring us to Him and to save us from the consequences of our sins. Without Jesus death, salvation would have been such a far-fetched reality.

Take a deep breath, and empty your hands... It'll be worth it.

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.” John 12:24-25