Oftentimes we hold on to things that really do not matter in the big picture. Sometimes it takes a little reminder to place all of our lives into perspective. Your faith in Jesus is of ultimate importance. Hold on to it daily and watch the miracles unfold.
Listen to this week’s insightful message of hope and clarity accompanied by original piano music.
Secretary/Treasurer
Janice is not only meticulous in reviewing records and requests for Scriptures, but her eyes well-up with joyful tears when you ask her about all the letters she has received from the thousands of Bible recipients over the years. She loves gardening and listening to the earth; her life is like a long stroll through an intriguing and engaging nature center.
Board Member
Grateful for an amazing group of friends and a life that has been blessed and enriched by so many, Andrea brings a deep joy and dedication to the mission of CityOfAgape. She is detail-oriented and uses her experience and foresight to proactively address the needs of those around her. When you speak with Andrea, you feel like you’re the only one in the room.
Secretary/Treasurer
Every day, for nine months, an intermittent light rain falls in Seattle, Washington. Those days are brightened by the warm smile and hopeful outlook on life that Angelyn brings to every encounter. Her financial expertise and engaging conversation has ensured great things ahead for CityOfAgape. Her life is filled with a constant welcome that is focused and friendly.
President
Jacqueline’s life epitomizes hard work, creative service and complete dedication, not only to CityOfAgape, but also to her husband, Joshua, and her beautiful children. Her smile, even when things are difficult, is refreshing and comforting. In most currently used English dictionaries, under the word “energy,” you will find Jacqueline’s picture.
Board Member
Everyone needs to have a Ray “Redfish” for a friend or at least to meet one like him before you leave the planet. He has never been known to interrupt a single person, say an unkind thing, although he did come close during the last Dallas Cowboy game, or leave any food on his plate. Ray wants to live in a world where Jesus is Lord, life is sacred, and blessings never end.
Board Member
Father David comes from the land of Iowa where you can get sunburn and frostbite all in the same week. He has the mind of an architect and the soul of a musician. Father David has given his heart to Jesus and truly lives in the Kingdom. An accomplished guitarist, drummer, phenomenal preacher, he has the voice of a baritone angel. His prayers are powerful and his humor, well… it’s Iowan.
Board Member
Father James’ priestly service has taken him to four different countries, many parish settings, and in contact with more friends that rivals most politicians. One of his favorite quotes is by G.K. Chesterton, “Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.” If there are sounds of a lively discussion, mixed with hearty laughter and the aroma of a good cigar, Father James can’t be too far way.
Founder and President Emeritus
The minute John walks through the door, your IQ goes up. He embodies the remarkable talent of grasping the bigger picture while juggling multiple points of view, in a world where many are very one-sided. Always happy, even when he is sad, John is ready to challenge and comfort all in the same breath. Where some only see problems, John sees the bright promise of tomorrow. His inspiration and memory will outlast his years on earth. John always says, “there are always miracles where there is great love.”
Thank you so much for this wonderful message and music! Very moving, and inspiring. I hope you continue to offer these audio meditations.
Absolutely, Jeannie. I am thankful that these have provided inspiration to your life. We at the Foundation are humbled by your comments and will seek to continue to provide as much hope and encouragement in the future as possible.
God bless you always!
I truly enjoyed this narrative story and the beautiful piano music took it to a higher level.
First thought after listening to this story was a saying that I’ve heard, “let go and Let God.”
Father Bob used to always asks the congregation “have you ever seen a U-Haul behind the hearse?” Everyone would laugh but he was right. It’s hard for some people to let go of earthly things. We must always have faith and trust in God. I’m constantly telling my (adult) children this…and sometimes my Facebook friends!
Lord Jesus I trust in You!
Absolutely spot on, Julie, and thank you for the time in responding to our latest Podcast. I think the challenge for many people is that they become accustomed to their surroundings and the things that they collect that these things begin to define them. I remember one day going into someone’s office and seeing a cross on the wall (very similar to the one) that I had lost years earlier. Kindly I asked if he would part with it after seeing literally hundreds of them on his wall to which he adamantly refused. Recently he was forced to move taking an absorbent amount of time packing all the things he amassed over the years. Yesterday I heard from a friend that the box containing all these art objects was lost in transit. These are my “takeaways”: I should never have even asked for something that was not mine and should have prayed for detachment, and second, eventually we all must part with our silly possessions and the older we get the better is to practice letting go as our podcast suggests. Thank you so very much, Julie, and God bless you always. Read you next time!
Since entering my sixth decade of life I’ve become more aware that most of my is over. There are more sunrises in my past than there are in my future. This beautiful story resonates joyfully in my heart as I let go the things that are not of love. Something I’ve been reminded of through the eyes of a granddaughter child. Thank you for this story and music.
Tony, I just read your comment and was quite moved by your expressive tone and depth of wisdom. Of course I can and completely resonate with it all. How blessed is the present moment. Let us drink it all in while we have today. Life is pretty awesome, wouldn’t you say?
This is phenomenal!!! I absolutely loved it! And the message is so true!! Letting go of things that don’t matter could free us from so much pain. Unfortunately, we forget to turn to God when this happens. Thank you for this reminder, as I know I have to “let go” of things that aren’t worth the pain.
Oh wow, Margo, thank you for your response. Letting go of all the things that are not worth the pain is indeed true wisdom for all of us to share and pass on.
“When you let go you create space for something better.”
“Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.” – Steve Maraboli
What a beautiful message and beautiful music! Keep them coming!!!
Thank you so much, Patty, for taking the time to share your encouraging thoughts with all of us. I hope all is well and we wish countless blessings upon your entire family!
“One of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to let go of what you cannot change.”
What a beautiful gospel. Reminds me of mass when I was young. The piano and perfect pitch . Thank you for this very much needed message. This is a wonderful audible version. I hope they continue in this format.
Thank you very much, Dan, for returning to these pages and sharing your insights and comments with us. I am more than happy to hear how this has catapulted you back to a much simpler time for all of us and for the encoureagemnt that you shared with all our readers and with me. God keep you and all your family very safe.
“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.” –Frederick Bueckner
Beautiful.
A very powerful and very relatable way to share the Gospel message.
Thank you for your comments and your wonderful supportive encouragement. We find it quite exciting to continue the spread of the Gospel especially in these troubling times. Thank you and God bless you always!
“One has to beckon the spiritual warrior inside oneself whenever it is deemed necessary for the task at hand. Courage is the fuel. Healing is the direction. Forgiveness is the balm. Love is the atmosphere Divine.”
― Donna Goddard
Thank you very inspirational. Direct and to the point. Thank you.
“The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.”
― Steve Maraboli
Oh, this is absolutely beautiful, from the piano to the narration. I felt as if I was there watching this story unfold.
In a time when many of us are feeling we are grasping onto anything we can out of fear of losing control, we forget that God is in ~full~ control so long as you trust in Him. I, myself, have stumbled many times questioning my faith in the most difficult of times, only to find in the end that God never left my side and led me to a field of peace which, for a time, I thought I’d never see.
The music combined with this lovely piece of literature brings the whole scene together, and adds a new element to the way we can step closer to Him.
Thank you for this!
Thank you very much Kristen, for your customary insightful responses and addition to our pages here. We all certainly appreciate them. You are so on target as you call us back to remember and live courageously because God is indeed in control. I am grateful to you and many of our readers who are so generous with their time and kind words. Let us all move together with the strength that comes from the Gospel, always.
“The only thing a person can ever really do is keep moving forward. Take that big leap forward without hesitation, without once looking back. Simply forget the past and forge toward the future.” – Alyson Noel
Oh WOW! The narrator’s soothing voice along with the beautiful piano music made listening to this mediation so enjoyable! We all cling to material things and even people. This story is a helpful reminder that what God has prepared for us in Heaven is way beyond anything we could desire or imagine for ourselves. I also love how Scripture is brought together with story. I will definitely share this with family and friends! Thank you!
Thank you very much, Mary Ann for your kind response and commentary to our very first “podcast.”! God has indeed prepared a great place for all of us, which is the great meaning of our wonderful Feast of the Assumption yesterday. God bless you and all your family and all those you love. “It’s not a matter of letting go – you would if you could. Instead of “Let it go” we should probably say “Let it be”. – Jon Kabat-Zinn
Beautiful message! Thank you for the reminder!
“Sometimes people come into your life just to teach you how to let go.”
As time goes on things change, people behave and act differently and both things and people get older, yet only some people get wiser. And some hold on to things so long that we don’t realize that the things mattered most to us in the beginning have evolved into something that might not have appealed to us when it was first bought or inherited or given to us. Let us be open to the Holy Spirit to see what God wants to do in our life because God never runs out of ideas that will bring pleasure and joy in our lives. Release what you hold onto and has caused burden and pain so God can do what he is famous for and replace with the NEW!
Yes, dear friend, you are absolutely correct. Unfortunately getting old tends to have us hold on to things that we think we must have in order to be happy, But in the end, we lose so much that the only thing we have left is our faith in God and the hope that it brings to us on a daily basis. Thank you so much for commenting. Prayers for prayers!
“There are things that we don’t want to happen but have to accept, things we don’t want to know but have to learn, and people we can’t live without but have to let go.”
Oh my goodness, what a beautiful story! I love the new audio presentation. Having broken my dominant wrist recently, and having had surgery, this audio version made it more feasible to maneuver. Thank you for the reminder that we are not of this earth, but belong to a greater kingdom. In the meantime, may our minds, hearts, and hands, remain cleansed of all earthly things. Again, thank you for this absolutely beautiful story!
God bless you, Sandy, and Godspeed on your quick and lasting recovery from surgery. Thank you for reminding us all we are certainly not of this earth that we were indeed made for a different world.
I really like the new audio format. It allows me to listen to the story, message and music over and over again. If we let go of that which we love the most, our Lord will bring it back to us. The piano composition is gorgeous and the message gives me peace and comfort during these difficult times. Thank you so much!
Margie, Welcome back to these pages and thank you so much for the time to let us know how you appreciate the new format. I am so grateful that this brings you comfort.
Absolutely beautiful! A message so many of us need to hear.
Thank you so very much, April! We all certainly appreciate your response.
“Anything you can’t control is teaching you how to let go.” – Jackson Kiddard
This is absolutely beautiful, the message, the music and everything it means. I love it.
God bless you Mari! Have a wonderful week with the Lord!
Good to hear it and the voice so clearly say his words. Great to be back on track with words from the good lord above.
“If you want to fly on the sky, you need to leave the earth. If you want to move forward, you need to let go the past that drags you down.” – Amit Ray
Good to hear it and the voice so clearly say his words, was very moving. Great to be back on track with words from the good lord above.
Absolutely! We all need to get back on track! Have a great week ahead!
“One of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to let go of what you cannot change.”
That was a great story and great message.. Prayers for a blessed wk
Thank you so very much! All the best to you and all your family!