Suitcases

I know it's been a while... a long while since I have written. I can't tell you how many times that I have laid in bed and thought needed to write what was swirling around in my head. So now am.

Tonight at church the Youth Pastor spoke on patience. Endurance, patience, perseverance. All the same things. We are talking about the Fruit of the Spirit so we are using Galatians 5: 22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control" as our base verse. He referenced Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

Through Hebrews 12:1 I learned that we are not alone (surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses.) There is no ground that we cover that someone is not holding us up.

I also learned that we need to throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that entangles us. We need to get rid of our baggage. Paul uses a lot of sports metaphors in his writing (prepare for the good fight, finish the race.) How can we run the good race if we are holding on to stuff? There is a certain family that lives in Northwest Arkansas that have a LOT of children. They do not encourage their children to date because they feel it would bring baggage to the marriage. I think there is more to baggage than that. We all have baggage. The really awesome thing is that God wants it. We can give it all to him. It's like checking your bags at the gate and not having to worry about picking them up them when you get off the plane. Just thinking about it lifts a twenty pound rock from my shoulders!

He asked what kind of baggage that we had. I started running through a list in my head. I like to worry, I worry about not worrying. We are having problems with our air conditioner, my husband has two big tests tomorrow, my oldest brother is leaving the country for twelve days tomorrow, the air conditioner went out in my husbands truck this is just the list for today. All of this stuff is out of my control. I can't do anything about it. God, the creator of the Universe wants me to drop ALL of this stuff at His feet. So I did. I feel lighter.

How can we run, how can we fly if we have all this stuff that is weighing us down? How can we be all God wants us to be if we are being held down? Let go of the stuff give it to God. Everyday give it to God. He has a plan for for you. A good plan but in order to get there we have to drop all our stuff.

Guess what? There is a song called

"Suitcases!"

How can you move when they’re weighing you down
What can you do when you’re tied to the ground, yeah
You carry your burdens, heavy like gravity
Just let them go now, there’s freedom in release

You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases
It’s a new day throw away your mistakes and open up your heart
Lay down your guard, you don’t have to be afraid

Just breathe, your load can be lifted
There’s a better way when you know you’re forgiven
Open up your heart, lay down your guard
You don’t have to be afraid

Can you imagine what it’s like to be free
Well, send those bags packing, they’re not what you need
Abandon your troubles on the side of the street
Just let them go now, believe me

You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases
It’s a new day throw away your mistakes and open up your heart
Lay down your guard, you don’t have to be afraid

Just breathe, your load can be lifted
There’s a better way when you know you’re forgiven
Open up your heart, lay down your guard
You don’t have to be afraid

There’s nothing hold you back now, just run

You can’t run when you’re holding suitcases
It’s a new day throw away your mistakes and open up your heart
Lay down your guard, you don’t have to be afraid

Just breathe, your load can be lifted
There’s a better way when you know you’re forgiven
Open up your heart, lay down your guard
You don’t have to be
You don’t have to be afraid