Let Freedom Ring

You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  Galatians 5:13-14

Each of us is called to be free in Christ.  He desires for us to accept his gift of salvation and offer our obedience as a result.  Once we make a decision for Jesus we are freed from the bondage of sin and death.  We are no longer doomed to an eternity of darkness and torment, but a forever with our Lord in Heaven.

As we live our lives we are called to act out our faith in loving ways.  Although we are freed, we are not exempt from the attraction and temptation of sin.  The enemy will most certainly continue his attempts to persuade and manipulate.  Part of that is trying to convince us that freedom means we can do whatever we want, whenever and where ever we want to do it.

In America we live a self-entitled existence.  Over generations we have convinced ourselves we deserve it.  In the name of free speech, and freedom of expression we have allowed hurtful and damaging information and images to be broadcast into our public airwaves and printed in public view.  Freedom of religion has resulted in limiting of religious freedom for some by taking away the right to pray in schools and public events.  Instead of standing by, we should be bold and courageous and take a stand even when it is not popular.  Too many compromises of our values have plunged us into the predicament we are now experiencing.

Freedom in Christ is what we as believers, followers, disciples of Jesus are entitled to.  That simply means that we are free to love one another as He commanded us to do.  We should hold others in higher regard than ourselves.  We should not walk through life with blinders on and watch out only for ourselves.  We should be motivated by love and not by criticism and condemnation.  We should be looking for the good in others, building them up and not tearing them down.  We should strive to live as examples to others of what a Christian is to encourage them and be the flesh of Christ before there eyes.  We should, in love, take a stand and be bold in our faith when needed.

Let's claim our victory in Jesus and live in the freedom it affords by being true to Him and serving others in His name for his glory!

God thank you today for the freedom you have given me.  Thank you for the men and women who are fighting today, this minute, to protect that right of physical freedom and the right I have to worship you.  Help me to remember your Word and be faithful to live a life that brings glory and honor to you.

No Coincidences, just Faith

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. Exodus 14:21-22

For centuries science has tried to explain this miracle recorded in the Bible. Scholars have used everything from weather patterns to chalking it up to an over embellished story passed down through generations of human beings. But the truth is, they cannot explain it away as a coincidence nor can they disprove the validity of the event. The texts of the Bible from the five books of Moses are indisputable in their age and authorship. So why do you suppose people continue to try to discount the record?

People have not changed that much over the centuries. Yes, our culture, our way of life has, but the basic humanity in all of us has not. We still have a driving desire to try and explain everything. We simply refuse to accept that some things are just not meant for our understanding or our explanation. Even in today's world of advanced science and knowledge there are events and happenings that are beyond our ability to rationalize. When that happens, instead of just accepting that God is in control and allowing that to be our "why" answer we still search for a more tangible reason.

If you look at life through your human eyes, you will no doubt see many inexplicable occurrences even in your everyday life. However, if you use your eyes of faith, God will allow you to see those same events from his perspective. All you have to do is ask and believe. I know in my own life there have been instances both life changing and minute that when looking back I realized that the only explanation I needed was faith. God had and still has a plan for my life. He knows what he is doing even when I do not. I have to trust him to do what is necessary and be willing to walk in obedience even when it doesn't make much sense to me. I have learned that there are no coincidences in my life. There is always a reason, I just do not always understand what that reason is.

Heavenly Father, God, thank you for caring and for loving me enough to have a plan. I thank you guiding me in the direction I should go and nudging me, sometimes pushing me, toward the goal. Help me to see your hand at work in my life and the lives of those around me. Help me to recognize the 'coincidences' as your handiwork and not try to explain it as anything else.

Sacrificial Thank Offerings

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me,
and he prepares the way
so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalm 50:5

 

the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying, "Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever." For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,' says the LORD. Jeremiah 33:11

 

What does it mean to 'sacrifice thank offerings' to God? If we are showing and communicating our thankfulness how then is that a sacrifice? Interesting questions, I believe, however answering is not the difficult part,

following through with the answer is.

 

Thank offerings are words and ways in which we express to God our grateful attitude for all that he has given us, done for and through us and accomplished in this world. It can be simple 'popcorn prayer"

thrown up at a moment when time is short. It can be a heartfelt plea to our loving God on bended knee.  However, I believe that the best way to show our thanks is to make a sacrifice of some sort. We can sacrifice our time, our talent, our possessions or our money.

 

When we sacrifice our time we are devoting time that may otherwise be wasted in a worldly sense. Instead of watching television we study the Bible. Instead of going to a movie on Saturday afternoon, we volunteer

at a shelter or food kitchen. Instead of rushing from church on Sunday morning to try and beat the crowds to the restaurants maybe we should find a way to serve at church; help with the children, parking, participate in a bible study group. Finding some way to be an active member in the family of God through service.

 

Using our talent can be anything from cleaning up, to singing to teaching to rocking babies in the nursery. We all have gifts that God has given us to use to further and to nurture his kingdom. There are many jobs in the church that need to be done that most people never think of, you just need to ask where you can be of use.  We have to be willing to make that

sacrifice of self to step out on faith and take action on it.  If you don't know what it is you are good at, try different things that may sound interesting to you. You just never know where that right fit might be.

 

Sacrificing our possessions or money is for some most difficult and for others easy. Those who find it difficult sometimes are inhibited by a lack of trust. They don't trust the leadership of the church or organization to which

they are giving to use their gift wisely. Sometimes it is warranted but in most cases its an excuse not to give.  For others, it's the easy way out. They would rather donate in this way to reserve their time for what they consider to be more important. Granted some are truly over burdened with obligations that truly are important, caring for a sick or incapacitated family member or working long hours to provide for the needs of their families. We all need to look long and hard at our sacrificial giving in whatever manner in which we accomplish it. We need to examine our priorities to determine if we are honoring God in our lives by anything other than lip service. Saying thank you is appreciated, but showing thankfulness and gratitude through sacrifice can expand the kingdom and for that there is no greater blessing.

 

Lord God, I do thank you for all you do and have done in my life.  I thank you for just being the loving, gracious God who created me and provides for my needs.  Please, show me ways to put action to my words God.  Lead me in acts of service to put hands and feet to my faith and further your kingdom.

Bless and Keep You!

The LORD said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

"The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." '

"So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them." Numbers 6:22-27

 

 

This scripture is a direct blessing from the one and only Almighty God. He delivered this message to Moses

to give to Aaron and the other Levite priests. This particular blessing has been often quoted and spoken over not only the Jewish community of believers through the centuries but is also a promise of blessing to all believers in Jesus Christ.

 

When God sent his son Jesus to walk this earth as the pure and spotless lamb of God to be later sacrificed on behalf of all human beings God's promises and blessings were then opened to us all. It's not just the direct descendants of the Jewish tribes of Israel that benefit, but all who call on the name of Jesus. Everyone blood washed one of us who has put our faith and trust in this Savior who's cross of crucifixion built the bridge to span the gaping ravine of sin in our lives that separated us from God. This selfless act

allows us access to a personal relationship with our merciful and gracious God.

 

Today my friends, if you are saved by the blood of Jesus, I pray this blessing over you.

May the LORD bless and keep you.

May the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

 

If you have yet to truly put your faith and trust in He who is able, who is gracious, loving and merciful.  He who is all powerful, all knowing, trustworthy and forgiving. I pray this blessing on you as well but to this I add my prayer that you too will find the loving relationship with your Heavenly Father by asking Jesus to be your savior and accepting Him into your heart and your life.

 

Forgive and Forget

But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:11

Forgiveness is difficult, forgetting, impossible. How many of us have said, "I can forgive but not forget"? As human beings we tend to hold on to the past. Our memories, although not perfect since I sometimes can't remember why I went from one room to the next, are part of what makes us who we are. Our minds hold on to images, scents, sensations, all things that bring back a particular moment in our life experience on this planet. Sometimes the moments are good, heartwarming flashes that give us the warm and fuzzy feeling like being a child wrapped tightly in a quilt by our grandmother. Yet others are upsetting and painful filling us with dread and tears.

As we travel our journey in this human form waiting on eternity we spend day after day making new memories, having new experiences that fill our minds with tidbits of information to look back to. Some of us stop to make intentional memories. We soak in the smell of flowers, cologne, hand lotion, whatever reminds us of a particular person. I will always remember my grandmother every time I smell Jergens hand lotion. When I was little she always had a bottle sitting on her dresser. The cherry almond scent is forever embedded in my mind and it always brings me to her and the way she loved me.

Our memories can be tools for good but they can also be instruments of evil. When we hold on to memories of difficult, hurtful or disastrous moments in our lives and we relive those events not letting them go it becomes a stumbling block for us. If we constantly punish ourselves or others for our past indiscretions and bad decisions or actions we become locked in the pattern of unforgiveness. Although we may never truly forget the past, we must be willing to let go of the pain. We cannot hold on to those moments or seasons allowing them to be our focus if we expect to move past them to a personal relationship with God. We must forgive as he does. In Hebrews 8:12 he says, " For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more". As followers, believers, disciples of Jesus we have been washed, sanctified and justified in his Holy name by the Spirit of God. Even if we think forgiving and forgetting is not probable remember, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Dear God I am so thankful for the reminder today that you can work in and through me. You have washed me of my sins, you have set me apart, sanctified for your purpose and you have justified me through your son Jesus and by your Holy Spirit. It is through you that I have been given the power to forgive and the capacity to forget. Thank you, thank you for helping me move on to better things in you!

If you are stuck somewhere in your past, ask God to help you let go and live! It is beyond the power of the human mind but nothing is impossible with God!

Remarkable, Unsearchable Secrets of God

"This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV)
“This is what the Lord says—the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come." Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NLT)

Happy Mother's Day my friends! Today, as I look out into the world that God created I see the beauty of nature. I have been watching a family of Robins for the last few weeks as they have grown from two to six. Momma built her nest on the railing of my covered deck in plain view. For the last 4 weeks we have watched as the nest went from empty to being filled with four lovely blue eggs, to four not so lovely hatchlings. Now after only a week and a half we have fat feathery babies bouncing around the porch. This morning two were gone, off flying on their own. By afternoon, they were all out spreading their wings and experiencing the life they were created for.

This verse expresses and reminds me of the truth that God, our creator, knows so much more than we do. It assures us that he hears us and will share the information, his remarkable, unsearchable secrets with us if we ask him in faith. As I have gotten to watch as the miracle of life unfolds in this family of birds, I have thanked God for giving me the opportunity. Since childhood when we got to hatch baby chicks in elementary school we have known the mechanics of such an event. However, this is the first time I have had a front row seat to witness God's provision in such a tangible sweet way. It affirms my belief that God truly is in control and that he does indeed care for his creation right down to the baby birds on my porch. How awesome is that!

In a few short weeks, I will be some what like that mother bird on my porch. The "hatchling" I have nurtured for the last 17 1/2 years will be graduating from high school. She is going to be stretching her wings and expanding her territory as she flies with the Eagles of Morehead State University. I am sad to know that not only to see the empty bird's nest on my porch, but to know that in a very short time my nest too will be empty. But just as I have watched God provide for the needs of these babies through a mother bird, I know that God provided for my baby through me and will continue to do so. Even though she is leaving the nest to test the winds on her own, I know that she is in good hands. I celebrate her independence and trust that the lessons her father and I have tried to teach her will be evident in her choices. I also trust that God will guide her steps and protect her as she moves ever closer to adulthood. I remind myself that this is how it should be. It's what she was born to do; grow, mature under the guidance of her parents so that she too can go and fly freely and one day teach her own children to do the same.

Heavenly Father thank you so much for displaying the wonder of life in front of me these last few weeks. I have seen as these creatures have grown and been provided for by your mighty hand. God, I want to listen to your voice and continue to feel your presence as I have through these wonders of your creation. Help me stay focused on you with a listening heart and an open mind to follow your lead.

Have a blessed Mother's Day and may each of you be as blessed in His presence as I have been! Here's to the mothers of all of God's creatures!

Be Still..

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

 

Many people in today's society speak of how busy we are as human beings. This daily grind, so to speak, that keeps us moving from one engagement to another day in and day out rules our time. The speed at which life moves today seems so quick in comparison to times of old. All of the technology, the modes of communication that are constantly

bombarding our senses leave little room for quietness in our lives. The constant barrage of stimuli and demands on our much coveted time seem almost overwhelming making it a necessity to purposefully plan for a few moments of focused devotional time with God.

 

I have heard and even said myself that today's life is much more hectic and rushed than past generations. However, it occurred to me that although in some ways that may be true, intentionally sitting down and being with God has apparently been an issue since the beginning. This verse from Psalm 46:10 was not recently added to the Word of God to address our current situation. It has always been there. He knew from the beginning that we, as his creations, as human beings, would have attention issues. He told us from the beginning the secret to knowing Him and being connected to Him. We must "be still" and "know" that He is God! We need to stop all the things that distract us and concentrate on recognizing and perceiving the truth of who He is in our lives.  We need to communicate with Him and he with us and the only way we will be able to do that is by blocking out all else and giving Him center stage in our hearts and minds.

 

God I thank you this morning for knowing me and recognizing the struggle I would have in prioritizing my time to

spend with you.  Thank you for giving me instructions and being faithful to listen and speak when I seek you first.

 

The instructions are clear, we just have to follow them!