Release – Merging What Was With What Is

by Pastor Gina

So we are continuing in our journey of remembrance. Last week, we stood at what I think of as a spiritual threshold. And if you're actually going through your week and reflecting on what you read, what was the scripture saying? What was the Holy Spirit saying? And the truth of the matter is, is what is meant to be revealed throughout the week after you read a message will be revealed. And sometimes it won't get revealed because we'll be so distracted by the noise, by the things that we're letting deafen out the sound of the Spirit, the realizations that are coming through, the things that we need to progress into in our journey.

 But if you have been following along, we started off just finding that sacred pause. And I hope that you all have been taking time each week to find a sacred pause. I hope that you're taking time each day, even each portion of the day to find a sacred pause. Because some of you might be like, “Where do I have time to find a sacred pause?” Well, you just took the time to bore me with saying, where do I have time to find a sacred pause? So I bet we could find one for like five minutes or less if you just take the time to make it a priority.

Then as we move further, we invited you to tune in to who you are. We were inviting you to tune into that station that's always been playing loud and clear. It's the station of you. But like I said earlier, sometimes the noise of the world tries to turn it down or just plays so loud on top of it that it's hard to hear.

And then as we're going through this transformation, we have these fears arising. Perfect. Because if you weren't getting scared, if you weren't getting anxious, if you weren't wondering, what does it look like if I shed this outer layer when I'm in my 70s, my 80s, my 90s? What does it look like when I'm just a high schooler in my freshman year? What does it look like when I'm a young parent to shed these layers that I'm so familiar with? How do I know what comes next when I can hardly see what's right in front of me? If you didn’t have these fears, you wouldn’t be transforming. Feeling those fears is perfect because you only need to see right where you are. Ask those questions because there are none that are too big and there are none that are too stupid.

But, here's the thing. After you question everything, after you clear off that mirror, everyone remembers the mirror with all the grime on it, after you start to see who you are, then you have that moment, that “Oh, crap” moment. I can see the change in myself. I can see the transformation in me, but I keep going back to the same places. Because where else are you supposed to go? You still work at the same place. You still have the same family. You still have the same friends. Maybe there's some new connections. But what else are you supposed to do?

You're supposed to hold fast to who you are. You're supposed to embrace who you are becoming. You're supposed to let the layers fall and go back into those spaces knowing that you are new wine. And if the container can no longer hold you, then it's either time for a new container or it's time to make a shift in that container. And it's important.

So this week, we are now in the release. Okay, because last week we took a look at a container that was very special to us and still is. But we said, you know what? It's not doing what it once did. We still remember it. We still honor it. We still recognize all that it brought us in so many different ways, but we also know that it doesn't mean and it doesn't do the same things it once did and that's okay. No value is lost. We still have gratitude for all that we learned in those older spaces. But this is the space we're in now. So when you release, you merge what was with what is.

Here's an example. We talked about how when you become that new wine, you need a new container, right? But what about when you enter into that container and it's just like, man, this container just isn't going to work. And then you come to a higher recognition of saying, you know what? You are the container. And then you don't have to worry where you're entering into because you are the space. You bring the space. You fill the space. Everywhere you go, you're able to express the fullest version of you because you recognize I am not only the actor on the stage, but I am the script, I am the director, and I am the audience.

That's a high level of awareness to get to, so we can take baby steps because we can't skip any steps. And that's where we are today. We're looking at that opportunity to say, what can we release as we continue on this path?

So let’s take a moment to think about Palm Sunday. Do you remember Palm Sunday? It was a beautiful day. The crowd was shouting, “Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.” They were taking off their cloaks. They were lining the road as Jesus came down and people were waving palm branches. And the historical piece behind that is when there was a victory, those who were returning from war, those who were the leaders, those who were kings coming to town, they would be honored with these palm branches, with the laying down of their cloaks. And people were doing this for Jesus.

So they started off puzzled, confused. Wait, isn't that Joseph's son? Isn't that the carpenter from Nazareth? Who is this rabble rouser? What is he up to this time? Out of their confusion, they sought to watch him, to learn, to receive, to trip him up, to figure out if they're crazy or if he is crazy and he ended up with these followers.

Then they sought to love him, to affirm him, to build his ministry. Or did they? Because they really didn't have a clue who they were following, who they were seeking after, just bits and pieces. And I bet some were further along than others, so they caught it a little faster. But there were some that we know just in days ahead went from waving palm branches and taking off their cloaks to saying, “Crucify him, crucify him.” Because they knew that he would show the way to transcend death and give them eternal life? No, because it was the flavor of the day.

“Do we want to put this guy away or do we want to put that guy away? Now remember this guy, he's a murderer, so if we let him free, he's going to go out and probably murder your family. Or should we put him away? He just causes problems, he speaks against Caesar, he thinks he's some religious authority, he called himself the son of God. Yeah, let's just flip a coin and pick who's easiest.”

That's Holy Week, a day that started off in celebration with Palm Sunday and ended in a crucifixion on Good Friday. But Jesus knew the whole time that something different was coming. And here's the thing, he wasn't the king that they expected, but he was the king that he expected. He was the king that God expected.

He rode in humbly on a donkey, symbolizing peace and humility. And he didn't come in to raise some political agenda, he didn't come in to say, “Yeah, this is all for Caesar.” No, he came in to embody what it looks like to release, what it looks like to surrender to the truth of who he is and not who people think he should be.

Not once did Jesus cower down to who they expected him to be, he didn’t do that on Palm Sunday. He walked through the praise, which he knew was just noise. He walked through the yelling and affirmation that he knew was going to turn to rejection and confusion, but he was clear.

He was clear and he had discernment and he knew that it was time to merge into his mission. And regardless of who they thought they saw, he knew who he was and who he is. So he was giving us an invitation as he rode in on that day to know who you are, to embrace the truth of who you're becoming and don't worry about what the crowd expects of you.

Paul tells us in the verse that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. He says, no, no, they are a new creation. Not that someday it's coming, hold your breath long enough and it'll happen. Maybe if you're lucky, you're one of the people that fit into that category. He says, no, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. So the question is, can you live that way? Can you live like that is true.

There was a movie that we watched at one point in time and it had this person who just kept claiming, “This is who I am, this is who I am.” And someone called them out and said, “Then act like it.” So that went around my house for a while. If I said anything that was great, you know, here's me as a mom, my family would be all snarky, and say, “Then act like it.” And if they said anything to each other, then they'd say, “Then act like it.”

Well, here's the thing. Do you believe that you've changed? Do you believe that you're transforming? Do you believe that the truth is awakened in you, that Spirit lives through you? Then act like it, right? Because what I used to say to my church when that was popular in our house is, are we going to play church or are we going to be the church? Because the more we start being like the church, the more the room will fill with people. But the more we keep playing church, the more we keep pretending to be in the realization of who we are in Christ, the more the church will be empty. And that's not what it's supposed to look like.

Because when it looks like that, and the church isn't just in this building, that makes me wonder what does it look like out there? You know, Paul says that the old has passed and the new has come. He didn't say that the old is wrong. He didn't say that you have to get away from the old. He didn't say go and shame the old because it wasn't worthy of you. He says it's passed. All those things in the old, they were beautiful opportunities, teachers, some of them a little painful.

You guys might remember where I said sometimes the most horrific screams are the most beautiful symphonies. You don't have to throw out the old because the old brought you here. But it's complete, so now you can release it. It's time to bless it and to let it go. And that goes across the board in many ways. It goes in your faith. It goes in your education. It goes in your relationships, your home life, your work life, your church life.

It goes in ways that you can't even imagine until you start to step into those containers and see, “Wow, I am different, but this is still the same. So how can I honor this? How can I recognize this? How can I cherish this? But how can I release this as I embrace who I am?”

I have a bookshelf filled with things that I use as an example. It reminds me of our spiritual lives because for some of us, it's not that we don't want to transform. It's not that we don't recognize transformation. Just we have no room for it. And what are the things that are filling our lives that are blocking up the room?

If I were going to take those things from my bookshelf, I’d put them on my trusty table that says right, sacred release, not trash. Sacred release, not trash.

So let’s go with the metaphor. We all have to have our table. We all have to have that other location. I didn't say use a trash can because I'm not throwing anything away, but it's time to practice that sacred release, so let’s imagine I’m going to start taking things off my bookshelf and placing them on my table.

To begin I have my old identity, which was so awesome because it showed me so much of myself, but there are parts of that identity I grew out of, and that's okay. I'll always remember what it taught me.

Then there are roles I don't fit into any longer that I imagine like a cup. These are some of the hardest to get rid of, you know? Gosh, especially on that cup because every time I go to drink from it, I'm going to remember those roles I once had that I don't fit into any longer. But you know what I heard? When that door closes, it's going to open for someone else. So yeah, yeah, yeah, that role's not for me anymore, so I put it on the table.

Control is next. I don't know if I could really let this one go, guys. We'll try, though. We'll try.

False expectations. Why did I put you on the cross? Is that because so many people have told me what the cross is supposed to mean, and what Jesus is supposed to be to me, and how the Bible is supposed to be received? Yeah, I don't think I want the false expectations anymore.

Ah, fear of disappointing others. Masters of divinity, guys. The high school dropout got a masters of divinity. It sits on my shelf, collects dust. I hardly ever look at it except to remember. Curse you, student loans. But you know, it got me to where I am, right? If anyone wants to see it, it's right here.

Ah, my favorite. Outgrown theology. You guys read some of the things that I say sometimes, and maybe sometimes they make you kind of turn your head sideways. Like, what is she talking about? We're the empowerment of Christ. We are the I Am. Oh, why would she say that? That's so sacrilegious. Yes, you know, that old theology, it used to really lock me in. It used to have me kind of laying at the foot of the cross, crying and groveling, and saying, “I'm not worthy.” And then I put that theology down, and I recognize that, yeah, Jesus is my brother. He's my friend. He's my king. He's my way shower. He's my master teacher. I don't need to grovel at the cross. He said I'm going to do greater things than him, and so are all you.

Then there’s false responsibility. You know, I put this one here because it has a little lock, and I can hold on tightly to all the things that I think I'm responsible for. I'm thinking that when my kids start to grow up in life and don't make the decisions that I wish they would make, that I'll sit at home and blame myself every night. I think my parents must have done that a dozen times. There's going to be all those opportunities for me to look at people in my life and think, why didn't I do better? Why didn't I serve them more? Why didn't I be the person they expected me to be? Those false responsibilities.

As we stand here looking at a bookshelf that is nearly empty, with only a few cherished items still on it, I think that's more like it, you know, clearing out the things, the illusions that we've held on to. I still got stuff that symbolizes me, the laughter, the love. Got my little Ripple bear. But now that I have that open space, I can place a sacred space in it where I'm ready to receive. Because now that I've cleared out the things that were holding me back, now that I've released the things that were locking me into a story of who I'm not, I can open my hands.

I can stretch them out and say, “Okay, I've released. So now you can continue to fill me up. I am ready to merge with what is and let go of what was.”

A lot of times when we think of release, it's easy to think we have to release with resentment. Or we have to release with some kind of reprimanding of ourselves. This is why I got here. This is what you've done wrong.

But why can't we release with reverence? Why can't we release with respect for what was and looking forward? Because if we are transforming and we are evolving into something beautiful, how beautiful will that thing we released evolve into?

I think sometimes I'm just going to learn to really lock on to patience in those moments where you really need it, but instead, when I need patience, I have a tendency to get a little sarcastic. I have a tendency to talk a little short, add things like, “This sucks.”

And when someone tried to tell me different, I'm like, “Well, you know, it still sucks because I can say, oh, it doesn't suck.” And I play into what holds me down.

I was having one of those mornings recently. I pulled up to church and my friend says, “I'm going to be with the ladies for Sunday school.” And I respond, “Of course you are. Go be with the ladies for Sunday school.” Then, when he left, I sat in the car going through my message and I was having this kind of day.

I was like, “Gina, you cannot go in there and give a message about releasing and carry all of this in there with you.” So I sat in my car and I released. And I did it by giving gratitude. I gave that by saying, “I'm not looking for an escape. I'm not looking to erase anything. I'm looking to let go of all the tethers that continue to tell me the things that are not serving me. And I'm now ready to release so I can receive.”

Jesus never abandoned his people because he fulfilled his mission. He never abandoned his story. He never abandoned the roots. As a matter of fact, we don't even get the full picture of his story unless we study it. But he merged what was with what is when he was born in this incarnation.

And that's what he did for us. There is a scripture passage from Isaiah 43. It says:

Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing. Now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it?

See, this isn't about forgetting. It's about perceiving. It's about trusting. And it's about allowing it to fully be made new and move through.

I want to leave you with this question. What is it you need to release to allow transformation? What are you willing to release so you can fully be that person that not only God is calling you to be, but you have been created to be? Jesus walked through that crowd on Palm Sunday not to meet their expectations, not to be a worldly king, but to walk in truth. Now it's your turn.

Please pray with me. Almighty God, we come before you and we say thank you. We say thank you for the way that your spirit spoke to us in this time and place.

We say thank you for all that was as we see it transform into something new. When we say thank you for what's to come, knowing that it's been provided by your hand and your love, that its provision will be endless, that our role in it will be gigantic, and that all the love and the faith, the compassion that will flow from it will be epic. And so God, we say thank you.

We say thank you to all that's taken place in this time. May it fill us up and send us out that we can be the representation of Christ. Amen.