Friday, April 2, 2010

Catch and Release Part II (Finally Hallelujah !!)

OK I KNOW it has been a while.....


I know....


I KKKKNNNNNOOOOOWWWWW!


Things have had my full attention. Besides I have had to mull this whole idea around a bit and take care of my own releasing so here I am at long last.

Release is my new favorite word. I just like saying it and typing it for that matter.

Release. It just brings me comfort.

If you are a Mom to many than you know that you wish you had this monogrammed on your nightshirt like I do.

I went on over to the Ole' Websters 1828 to bring you some definitions for this remarkable word:


RELE'ASE, v.t.

1. To set free from restraint of any kind, either physical or moral; to liberate from prison, confinement or servitude.

Matt. 15. Mark 15.

2. To free from pain, care, trouble, grief, &c.

3. To free from obligation or penalty; as, to release one from debt, from a promise or covenant.





4. To quit; to let go, as a legal claim; as, to release a debt or forfeiture. Deut. 15.

5. To discharge or relinquish a right to lands or tenements, by conveying it to another that has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; when one co-parcener releases his right to the other; or the mortgagee releases his claim to the mortgager.





6. To relax.


Check out that last one........ I think just saying the word out loud relaxes me frankly.

Anywhoo, It is time for you to take that person whom you have in bondage somewhere in your heart and let them go. One of my favorite quotes regarding forgiveness states that, " He who fails to forgive burns a bridge that he himself must cross." We all need forgiveness and surely somewhere in the recesses of our minds we grasp the Biblical concept in Mt 6:15 "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Not powerful enough for you? Try this parable in Matt. 18 on for size:

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

These and many talks with the Holy Spirit prompted me to do my own releasing. How about you? there are some reasons why we just cannot or will not release someone. Here are a few'

1. We feel like if we release them of our anger it will make what they have done to us of none effect, forgotten, and seem of little consequence.

2. We feel like we can continually punish them by harboring anger and resentment.

3. We feel like we are the ones able to harm them and reign recompense on them for what they have done.

There are a few problems in this scenario. We are putting ourselves in the place of God. Ps 75:7 "But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." One of the greatest lessons I learned recently about resentment and this kind of anger is that not only does it harm YOU and not the person you have ought with, but when you put yourself in God's stead you are keeping Him from properly taking care of the matter entirely.

Hmmmmmm..... think about it.

Now, should we then get a Cheshire cat smile on and look at them with the one raised eyebrow that sports a "Hah! I am soo done with you and releasing you to God's judgement." look?

Nay my spiritual friends, though I will say I can sport one with the best of 'em.

I tie all this up with a quick story of my own. Joel and I were in college and had some things said and done to us that cut us to the quick. If taken to the right people we could have seen some anvils fall and some heads chopped off so to speak. Of course I was the one begging for mercy for those who had wronged us and Joel was foaming at the mouth to see them get their just desserts, just like usual.

I soooo jest.

I WANTED restitution. I wanted restitution with caramel and a cherry on top folks. But Joel reminded me of Ro 12:19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Well I saw things his way and eventually I forgot that I even had an issue with that hurt and low and behold just about the time I did forget what do you think happened?

restitution. FULL restitution. God-delivered, and God-ordained, glorious restitution between us and the meanies who are now sweet lovable wonderful friends of ours.

I can tell you in all honesty that that would NOT have happened if I had still been quenching the Holy Spirit and squeezing the life out of the thing with my own two hands.

Release them folks. Not to judgement ON THEM, but allow God to work in your heart and theirs and restore you with them.

The only catching I want to do is to receive all the blessings God is gracious enough to allow me.

Go and enjoy the death of death this weekend.

Hallelujah for the cross!