JUST SAY "GOOD RIDDANCE!" FOR HEALTHY LIVING

Has pain from the past
Become a great grievance?
Just give it to God,
And then say, "Good riddance!"

Is your grieving and sorrow
Too heavy to bear?
Give it over to Jesus,
And then leave it there.

Are your duties so many
They've become an encumbrance?
Turn it over to Him
And then say, "Good riddance!"

Do you struggle with life?
Do you question and fret?
Remember the Saviour
Will never forget.

Does life in the present
Seem beyond endurance?
Give it over to Him
And then say, "Good riddance!"

Stop carrying your load;
Unburden your soul.
Let the Lord Jesus Christ
Take over the whole.

Lay it all at His feet
And walk in obedience.
Let Jesus take charge
And just say, "Good riddance!"

This, I grant, is not the best poetry in the world, but I wanted to make a point in a poetic way. We so often carry our burdens, allow sorrow to weigh us down, try to "get on with life" without dealing with pain from the past and struggles in the present. It doesn't work. They always come back to "haunt" us, to sidetrack us and sometimes derail us. The best way to deal with these things is to take them to the Lord in prayer, tell Him all about how you feel, let go of the whole and leave it there. Then shout out, "Good riddance!"

We don't need to carry these things in our own strength. Jesus has promised to be our Burden-Bearer, our Guide, our Provider, our Comfort, our Hiding Place, our Deliverer, our Strong Tower, a Father to the fatherless and a Husband to the widow. He wants us to surrender everything to Him so that He can have full control of our lives and be free to lead us into our destiny.

When we have learned to leave it all with Him, there is good reason to shout out, "Good riddance!" It brings freedom, joy, a lightness of spirit that helps us go through all the trials that life brings. The Lord will not give us more than we can handle, but we have the choice of whether to take on burdens of our own or to take His yoke which is easy, His burden which is light. This is the way to healthy living physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and relationally. Just dump it all on Jesus and rid yourself of an unnecessary weight.

Yes, I'm giving you a push here. Come on, you can do it! It's time! Let me hear you shout it out! "Good riddance!"

MUSIC AND HEALTHY LIVING

Can you imagine a world devoid of music? No silver tones of piccolo, no resounding of bass drum, no harmony of bow on violin strings taut with melody, no crashing of cymbals, no mellow crooning of saxophone, strumming of guitar strings or resonant echos from nimble fingers on piano keys, no tinkling chimes, no reverberating notes from pipe organ, no voice of singers pouring out lilting lyrics from the song in their hearts.

I believe that music is an essential part of healthy living, a form of therapy to help troubled minds, used in stress management and listened to simply for pure enjoyment and relaxation. Music can alleviate emotional suffering, bring comfort to grieving hearts. Music can lull babies to sleep. It has the power to change the direction of our thoughts, to bring joy in times of depression, to soothe aching hearts, to calm the troubled waters in our lives, even refresh memories of times long past. The angels sing around God's throne in divine melody that echoes throughout eternity. Music is a divine elixir to needy souls, causing us to ascend out of the mundane into heavenly realms.

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
---Berthold Auerbach (1812-1882)---

But what is music to you may not be music to me; what is music to me may not be music to another generation. Personally I am blessed most by listening to instrumental classical music, the music of Chopin, Mozart, Handel. I am lost in Fuer Elise (music pictured above) by Beethoven as I play it on the piano, and a violin rendition of Meditation from Thais by Jules Massanet causes my spirit to soar.

I recall being asked years ago by my pastor to accompany him on the piano during his violin solo of Meditation. We had no practice together until we actually performed it in church, but it was a wonderful experience akin to worship. If you would like to hear this music on YouTube, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhKkjIC2SWk&NR=1 If classical music is not your forte, I would ask you to 'hear' this with your spirit rather than your mind. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Then there is a so-called music that is no music at all, composed of harsh noise, commotion, disturbance, confusion, distraction, evil words and can lead to evil thoughts and deeds of violence. This is the devil's 'music'. He is the great impostor, the perpetrator of everything ungldly, and has deceived many into believing that what he has to offer is good. It's our choice what we listen to. My choice is music composed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit whether classical, gospel, old-time hymns or whatever brings peace, joy, encouragement, worship.

He, the Creator God, has created His children to imitate Him--to create. Music is part of this creative ability bestowed on humanity. And music will follow us into the courts of heaven itself. We will sing praises to the God of our salvation throughout eternity. What a blessed heritage we have!

Music! I thank God for it!