I Am Free!

I will walk in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. Psalm 119:45

What is a precept anyway? The dictionary defines it this way: (From Oxford) A guiding rule that is used to control, influence or regulate conduct. An example is of a precept is a commandment found in the Ten Commandments.

I would say that the Ten Commandments fit that definition pretty well. Because we are called to be obedient to them.. 

What kind of freedom do we walk in if we follow them or any of God's ways?

If we are not obeying God, we are sinning against him. But when we have received Christ, we are to walk in him. To obey him. To keep his commandments. And when we do that, we walk in freedom from our sin.

The Ten commandments are not just there to stop us from having a good time. They are there to keep us out of that razor sharp fence that prevents us from being truly free. If the human race would obey them, there would be no need for prisons, or mental hospitals or anything else that keeps us from the freedom of Christ. 

And yet, what do we do? We want our own way. We don't want to listen to what is good for us. And we go our own way. Isaiah 53:6. And because we have done that, God lets us have our own way because he does not make us do what we do not want to do. And that is why we need a Savior..

To set us free from that sin that we have allowed ourselves to indulge in.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:35

And that is the answer to being free from sin. To search for his precepts and then obey them. To receive him into our hearts and lives. So that we can burst out of the fences that surrounds us and thereby having Christ as our advocate to the Father for the forgiveness of our sin. 

Do you need that freedom today? You can have it by praying this prayer. And if you honestly mean it, Jesus will hear you. He is waiting for you. Do it now. 

Friends, I hope if you need freedom from your sin, you will take advantage of this moment and pray that prayer. And if you have done so, you have started an amazing journey with Jesus Christ. May you ever be blessed...until nest time, may our praises to him penetrate heavens floor and ascend to its highest, wherever that may go! 

Who Do I See?

Mirror, mirror on the wall, do you see Christ in me at all?

A good question that we should be asking ourselves when we get out of bed in the morning. And maybe several times a day. Who do we see when we look in the mirror?  Are there even any glimpses of Christ in us? 

If not, there should be.

When we look into God's mirror of us, perhaps we can believe what He wants us to know about him. And so what does he think of us anyway? Lets take a look.

For I know the thoughts I have for you. says the Lord. thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of him that called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

Now then, if you will indeed obey My Voice and keep My Covenant, then you will be a special treasure above all people, for all the earth is Mine. Exodus 19:5

And the Lord, He is the One that goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave or forsake you, do not fear or be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:168

Those verses are fine, but really-they aren't for us today, are they?

After all, they were given to God people that actually lived hundreds and hundreds of years ago.

Right?

Well Ok, I agree with that. However,f it doesn't stop there. Consider these verses.

All the promises of God are yes in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

God didn't just make promises to the people that he created. He made them for all of us that have followed and accepted him as our Savior.  Remember what he says in Exodus 18:5. For those that obey his voice, we are his "special treasures."  How can we question his love for us any more then that along with all the other things that he says to us in his word? 

Is it time for you to look into your mirror and see Christ in you? I myself have struggled with it myself. But I do know this for a fact,  If you have a hard time seeing him there, start meditating on the above scriptures along with the many others that God has given us and you will begin to sense his great love for you.  It is time we start seeing ourselves as what we should be. His special treasures. Because Friends, that is what we are. We just have to see it. He already does. 

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. God bless you and yours. Have a wonderful day in him!

Miror Mirror On the Wall

Have you ever seen the show "Who Do You Think You Are?"

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A TV series by that name was made popular in the US in 2010 by using DNA to find loved ones etc of celebrates. I don't think there is any argument that the testing of DNA has picked up momentum in more then just the celebrates as it has become available to anyone that has a desire to find out who their ancestors were or other facts about their health and so on in the ensuing years since the TV program first aired. 

This post is not for the propose of advertising companies that provide DNA services  However, the title does pose an interesting question. . 

Who Do you Think You Are?

Perhaps our feelings about ourselves go back to our childhood days. We might say to ourselves: We are not pretty enough. We aren't smart enough. We aren't talented like other kids are. 

We just aren't......

We aren't anything. And as we grow, if we let it, the devil can use those feelings keep us in that barbed wire fence because our self-esteem is so low, that we just do not have any confidence that we are anything but a body that is taking up space until our time is up on earth. 

Remember that scene in the Disney Movie,  where the Queen asks the mirror, "Whose the fairest of them all?"

Perhaps if she had been a real person, the queen would have had a little too much confidence in herself. But the fact is, for those of us that don't have any self-confidence in ourselves, we don't even look in a mirror and ask what God thinks of us. 

And really, that is sad....

because it his opinion that out ranks anyone else's thoughts about who we are, how good we might be, how pretty, smart or talented we are, and everything else about us. And it even trumps our own feelings about ourselves. 

So what does God think of his creation of humanity? We have to admit, as we look around, some of it has gone to the dogs. But, are we a hopeless cause in his eyes? Can we change our attitudes about us to line up with his. Or are we doomed to having the negative thoughts that we think about ourselves, and for some even the self hate that might come from those thoughts as we are locked into that fence that jabs at us because we buy into those things that we hear the devil telling us.

We can learn a lot about what he thinks of it and about our own selves as individuals. That is if we take the time to read his word and believe it. Jesus says to learn from him in Mathew 11:29 because why? Because when we do, we will find rest for our souls.

Isn't that what we need in this world? To find rest for our souls. Sometimes it begins with how we view ourselves as God does. When we find that rest in him, it can only make us happier people. Happier in our family, jobs and happier in our world. 

Do you need to learn from him what he thinks of you? Come back tomorrow and I will share some scriptures with you that will give you the confidence that you need in him. If you let them. 

Thanks for coming by today Friends. Have a blessed day!

tl

A Rocking Chair of Anxiety or Trusting Jesus?

Worrying is really not having faith in God that he is going to or can take care of our situations. He wants us to bring all of our concerns to him, because he loves us. 1 Peter 5:7

When we do that, worry that is-we are trusting in ourselves. Instead of saying, "God I know you have got this, and I put my trust in you to handle it for me...." We might as well be saying, "Lord, you can't handle this and so I might as well just worry."

I read a quote on another site about worry and thought I would share it with you.

"Worry is like a good rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere."
https://newchurch.org/get-answers/connection-magazine/dealing-with-fear-and-worry/live-with-less-anxiety-and-more-joy/?gclid=CjwKCAiA6vXwBRBKEiwAYE7iS9DMRJ9clLdc7RVWGRhnAuP8agWkxwrOcmkcPiwy2fAacNBANSjg4BoC-IwQAvD_BwE

And how true that is. It doesn't get us where we want to go. It gets us nothing but anxiety and depression because we can't get our problems solved. And we know where that can lead us.

But amidst the worries of everyday living-the stack of unpaid bills on the table, the rebellious teenager, the sickness that is invading our family-not to mention the downright craziness that goes on in the world, can we really do that? Can we really trust God to take care of us?

Well, I ask you, what other choice do we really have?

The answer goes back to that good old afore mentioned "rocking chair."  No where, except where we don't want to go.

Trusting God seems like a hard thing to do at times. And yet many scriptures calls us to do just that. And furthermore, to do it with patience and hope and prayer.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

When we can do those things, we can ward off the worry and find the escape route in which to break free of the devils tools to keep us inside that barbed wire fence that wants to keep us from what God wants for us.

Easy? Not usually? Doable? Yes, or God would not ask it of us. But in asking us to hope, be patient, and trust in him, he doesn't ask us to do it alone. He is right there with us.

Hello Friends. I pray for you today to have the peace that only God can give you. He is all  together lovely. Altogether worthy. Altogether wonderful. And he is there just for you! God bless.

Sticking Us With Worry (Part One)

That is what the devil wants to do to us. Stick us with worry along with all the other things he tries to do. Worry really does not get us anywhere. Except awake at night and could get so bad as to worry us sick. But really, what good does it do? Whatever we are worrying about is not going to go away if we can't lay it down and sleep. It will continue to be there and can even grow into more worry then we want. 

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Proverbs 12:25

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Worry is a trap that keeps us in that fence of barbed wire. So what can happen to someone physically, when they worry too much?

We can worry so much that it interferes with our daily lives. After we have not slept well during the night, it can control us by taking away our appetites. That can cause weight loss. Or just the opposite, for some, it can cause them to eat more then they should and gain weight.  Excessive worry can take our minds to those places we are worrying about and we may not be able to do our jobs the way they should be done.

Have you or someone you know ever felt the muscles in your neck or shoulders tighten up? That could be due to worry and stress. It can cause short term memory loss and/or suppress the immune system. And it can cause someone to have a heart attack.

These are just a few of the things that can happen to us when we let worry overtake us. So what can we do about it?

Well, if you have been reading my blogs for any length of time, you will know that I usually and almost always am a big proponent of going to God's Word for any and all things.

Cast your burden on the Lord and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be moved. Psalm 55:22

We will say confidentially, " The Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6

They will have no fear of bad news, their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3

There are many other great verses that deal with anxiety and worry. One of my very favorites is in Philippians 4:8.

Finally brothers, whatever is true, what ever is honorable, what ever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admiral-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things. 

I wonder how different our lives would be, and how different our world could be, if we followed those instructions everyday about everything. Even when we are going through hard times. Instead of grumbling or complaining. Instead of worrying and being fearful. How different could things be?
It is something to think about. It is something to practice. It is something that is important for our health.

Aside from meditating on God's Word,  which is the most important thing we can do instead of worrying, what else can we do? Up next time I will give you some ideas on that very question. I hope you will come back for that. Thanks for coming and God bless!

A Sharp Jab of Fear

One spike in our fence of life is fear. It can be so big a problem for some, that they suffer from a condition called agoraphobia.

Agoraphobia: a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and avoid places or situations that might make you panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed. 

Have you ever suffered from a problem such as this? I can't say I have but I know it exists in some people. It can be so bad that it is debilitating. The person might not even be able to go outside their home, because they don't feel safe in doing so.

It has to be just an awful way to live. To be so out of control in your life, that you can't go anywhere.
We know that fear is not of God. It comes from the devil. He wants to catch us in that barbed wire fence and keep us locked up in it.Jabbing us with his spikes, every minute of every day.  If he can do that, what good are we as Christians. We cannot carry the gospel of Christ to those that need it.

One way of getting free is to mediate on God's Word. There are so many verses that reminds us that God loves us. That he helps us.That he delivers us. And that we can trust him.

In the mean time, this condition is far to serious to not get medical treatment for those that suffer with it. Help can be tricky because the person has to confront their fear. But it can be done. Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37) and because it isn't impossible for God to heal, through prayer and treatment, nothing is impossible for us.

For more information on agoraphobia follow this link:https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/agoraphobia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355987

For scripture to meditate on when going through a time of any kind of fear, follow this link:
https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/33-verses-to-remind-us--we-do-not-have-to-fear.html

Thanks for coming today Friends. May God's richest blessing rest on your today!

Barbed Wire That Hurts

Life, just as sharp as barbed wire, can cut into our very souls when we least expect it. I once couldn't wait for my fairy tale life to begin. And that is what it turned out to be.

I was getting married, and it was going to be so much fun. Almost like playing house which I had done when I was younger.

So I got married, and in hardly any time, I ran right into that barbed wire.

Is that you? Have you run into it too? Well if not, most likely at some point-you will.

There are many kinds of it, sad to say. Drug abuse, too much debt, loss of a job, divorce and yes even the things that we think are going to be good things, can jab us. Mine was marrying someone that was becoming an alcoholic as we said our wedding vows.

So what do we do when we run into those painful wires?

Well, there is usually not a cut and dry answer that is going to suddenly set us free. Because we do make our own messes and when we get jabbed, it could stay there for a long time. Of course, the best way to not get jabbed, is to stay away from them (temptations) in the first place.

If caught in the middle of one of those fences, it may hold us in so deeply that we can't escape. There may be no place in the fence that is open to let us out. And so we have to either try to craw under it, or go over top of it, or just plain stay within it.

That is, unless we have Jesus in our lives.

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way of escape, so that you can stand up under it. I Corinthians 10:13.

He doesn't tempt us, and he doesn't let us be tempted beyond what we can do that would break us down and keep us inside that fence we have allowed to close us in.

For sure life is hard. Sometimes we do allow temptations to do the things that do not please him. But if he allows it, he also provide a way in which we can get out. We still might have climb up and go over. We might have to do what I felt like I was doing during the years my husband drank, and craw on my belly to get out. And in so doing, we can get jabbed and stuck again and again. And it can hurt. But there are always lessons that God wants to teach us. And one of them is that he is faithful, and when the time is right, he will get us safely out. I know that, because he did it for me. After about 15 years of living with a husband that drank, he provided us with the escape from that kind of life, and my husband has not touched a drop since. As of January 15th he will celebrate 35 years of sobriety. How awesome is that! How great is our God!

Life wasn't miraculously easy after he got sober. But what was miraculous was the work God did in us to get to the point that the pain of spikes that we had felt jabbing us, have long since gone away. Oh, we have our days. Believe me. But life is so much better on this side of it.

If you feel you are stuck in something you can't get out of and are hurting because you can't escape from it, take heart. There is always hope and Jesus wants to provide your own way of escape. If he said it, believe it. He did it for us. He can do it for you!

Hello Friends. Thanks for coming by today. God bless you and have a wonderful day. Until next time....