Handling Your Baggage

Handling Your Baggage, submitted by Rev. Valerie Pearson
“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. “I cannot go in these, “he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 1 Samuel 17:37-39


HANDLING YOUR BAGGAGE

Traveling is one of the most exciting things that we can do. Even now, as we watch the snow falling during the winter months, many of us have thoughts of our spring or summer travels. There are many great things about traveling. We look forward to enjoying the breathtaking scenery, new restaurants and a superb five-star hotel. But along with all the good things, as always, there are some “not so good” things that go along with traveling. One of the bothersome things about traveling is the “baggage.” The suitcases and the garment bags and the duffel bags and the make-up bags and, oh yes, we can’t forget the laptop computer – it’s a lot to handle. Now in an attempt to make the task of handling your baggage easier we all search to find that perfect state of equilibrium in carrying your baggage from point A to point B. We try this bag on the shoulder, another bag in the right hand and yet another clutched in our fingers. And as difficult as it may seem, we are managing the load, even though it is heavy. As you are moving toward point B, though weighed down, but none the less moving, your traveling companion will ask you the “question,” - “Can you hold this for me?” You ponder for a few seconds and say, “Sure, I can take it”, knowing that you can not handle their baggage along with your own.

Life sometimes has a way of making us realize that we cannot take on other people’s baggage. If the truth is told we all have enough of our own baggage to carry and handle and balance without taking on the baggage of someone else. There are times when God will direct us to lighten the load of others and it is awesome to be able to bless others. But there are also times when God would not have us to take on someone else’s baggage because it will only be a hindrance to where we are in our spiritual walk with Him.

Before David went to fight Goliath the Philistine, he was suited in Saul’s armor. David tried walking around in someone else’s armor but he could not do it. David states in 1 Samuel 17:39b, “I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. David could not fight Goliath in Saul’s armor – it was too much for him. God had given David all that he needed: five smooth stones, his pouch and a sling. David needed no extra baggage.

Life gives each of us our own baggage. Little by little God will help us to unpack our bags and then allow us to put away that suitcase. Some baggage God does not want us to have at this point in our walk with Him. He wants us to look to Him in handling our own baggage. At the airport baggage claim area, you’ll see luggage going around and around the baggage carousel. Travelers carefully read the name tags on the bags before they remove them from the carousel being sure to carry only what belongs to them. God will give you all that you need to handle your own bags. Even with a heavy load He will bless you and keep you and He will guide you and be with you in unfamiliar places. Even with a heavy load He will turn darkness into light and He will make the rough places smooth. We serve an awesome God!

Preparing to Let it Go- the Esther Fast

Preparing To Let it Go

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days,
night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it
is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood
in the inner court…Esther 4:16, 5:1

Hello Ladies, How has your journey been thus far? I know that this is a new place for you and it may even be somewhat strange; perhaps even uncomfortable but everything is leading to
that place where you can be free and you can soar. Sometimes it is difficult to actually get going but I hope that by now you have begun your journey to see who you “really” are. I hope that you have looked in the mirror and started to see the unmasked you.. This is not an easy
part of the journey. There are some curves that you will have to negotiate. There are some flashing lights on the road. There are some traffic back-ups that you have to sit through. You can’t get to the easy exit ramp to take a back road. You just have to sit and endure. You just have to face it. Your search for your true self, your authentic self, the you God wants you to be includes this part of the journey.

The next time we get together, we will all be on the bus together traveling on the road. In order to prepare for this trip, let’s get ready spiritually. I am asking each of us to fast for three days just as Esther did. Before a critical time in her life, she prayed and fasted. It was a life or death situation for Esther and before facing the king – she fasted. We will do like Esther did – before going before the King, we will fast. For some of us, this is a life or death situation and
we face it knowing that we must be spiritually prepared for God to move some things out of our lives.

So, let’s get ready. Start your fast on Thursday and we end on Saturday after class. There will be lunch for you at the end of class.

Now you should fast the way that you normally fast. Everyone may not be able to fast from food. Do what works for you, but be intentional, serious and prayerful about the transformation that is on the way.