Sun, 22-Jan-2012 -- Freedom

Freedom, a photo by Pardesi* on Flickr.

"Freedom is not the absence of bars, rather it is the presence of Christ." Sheila Walsh

She goes on to say that freedom isn't circumstantial, but true freedom comes from the inside when the Son of Christ sets you free, you are free indeed.

Freedom doesn't come when this or that happens, it comes from Jesus Christ. I've been learning a lot about freedom in a somewhat painful way, through relationships with people, one in particular.

I found that I was in prison with certain beliefs and mindsets that kept me in bondage. I had become accustomed to feeling and thinking that way, that I knew no difference, that I was even enslaved.

God is so patient. He used the Holy Spirit and certain recent relationships to reveal just how faulty my thinking was. Humbling. But, along with gaining freedom, though Jesus Christ is already my personal Savior, I wasn't living in total freedom, there was a cost for it.

I'm learning some of the cost for me gaining freedom is some people will not come along with me because they remained enslaved to wrong thinking that they cannot or think they cannot get out of. In it of themselves, they can't. But, Christ and total surrender to Christ will bring freedom.

I realize that as I change, some people will become a greater part of my life, some people depart, new people come in. It shows me that I am growing as a person.

Are the people that are showing up in your life steeped in all sorts of bondage & turmoil, a prisoner of their thoughts, feelings and circumstances? Maybe you should look no further at yourself in what God is attempting to show you about yourself.

Observe your life to see what is showing up. It's very curious and interesting.

Which Path Do You Choose?

[Day 2] Grasmere: Memory Lane - Behind the Church (2 of 6), a photo by fridgeuk on Flickr.

A discussion I had with long time girlfriends last night had me pondering the paths we choose. Andy Stanley writes this book Direction of the Path and he sheds insights on our choices and the paths we take in life.

We all choose a path to take in life and sometimes that path seems different from another person, but the end destination is the same.

One person may have an awful childhood, another whose childhood was intact, but the child broken inside. One chooses a safe route, or so she thinks. Another chooses a dangerous route. They both end up at the same place.

How is that so? Maybe the one who thought she was on the safe route walked in the center of that path, no fear of veering off the path. While the other, on the same path, walked the edges, enjoying the thrills.

In the end, it was the wrong path for both. Where did they choose the wrong path initially? At the crossroads.

The only way to get off the path, Pastor Stanley says, is to change the direction and get on a different path. You can't do that unless you acknowledge that you are on the wrong path and that you must change directions.

The expression, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Intentions is not enough for you to be on the right path. You must CHOOSE the right path.

Jesus Christ ----> Heaven

Not choosing Christ specifically -----> Hell

Pretty stark, profound, but simple. You must not only believe there is the right path, but you must contientiously make that choice.

Ask Jesus Christ to be your Savior by realizing you are a sinner, that Christ came to earth to die for your sins. He is the only way to God, and there are no other means (i.e., good works, giving money to needy people, doing good things, being what you think is a good person).

Jesus conquered death and is alive today. Not only believe all these things, but ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life, to be Lord & Savior of your life.

Really mean it as much as you can right at this moment, but that's it in choosing the right path for your eternal destination.

Maybe you think you're a Christian because you live in a Christian nation or you've gone to church, or even grew up in the church. None of those things make you a Christian. Not only must you individually believe in what Jesus Christ did for you, but you must accept & receive it for your own.

It doesn't count if someone else wants it for you. You must make the choice yourself.  Don't rationalize it.  It doesn't always make sense.  Intention is not enough.  You must take action.

Once you're on the right path, then to continue on that path (by the way, once you're on that path, you can't ever get on the wrong path again, but you can still make wrong choices, like being on the fringes of the path), I suggest you find a good Bible believing and practicing church that suits you to grow.

There are many different churches for all different people. I've gone through the gambit, but one thing remains, they are all strong in the Word of God - the Bible.  However, as a caveat, not all churches are good churches or the right church.

If you have any questions, concerns or just want to know more, leave a comment for me or message/email me.

God bless you.  You can make the right choice for your eternal destination in a matter of a couple minutes.  That's it.

Tues, 20-Dec-2011 --- Festive

It honestly feels like a Friday, as today was the last day of school for my children. It was only a half day and I was at school with them the whole time. It seemed like a really long morning and seemed to drag on. No studies were done, just watching movies, and a bunch of other festive activities.

Lately I've been wearing some summer dresses paired up with leggings and long-sleeved tops, which is really cool because that makes it seem like I actually have more clothes.

12-20-11 (Festive), a photo by Extraordinarily_Passionate on Flickr.

As I pondered some wandering from class-to-class and chit chatting with teachers, parents, students, my heart was feeling warm with gratitude. As a mom, one of my dreams was to have the time to spend with my children in a free way.

I am incredibly grateful to God for this privilege to spend these past near 5 yrs doting on my children, teaching them God's Word, and walking it out with them amidst the hardships, pain & difficutlies we've experienced.

Sometimes out of pure exhaustion with no help available to parent my children and juggle the battles that ensued, the heartache we all felt, God gave me strength to get back up one more time to face things that I would soon as well forget, but couldn't. Ignoring truth is never good because eventually you have to come to terms with such things.

As I flitted from place to place between the grade school my son was in and middle school of my children, armed with camera in hand, my heart just glowed. I get this time with my children and their schooling. I get this time with them, and a lot of parents wished they could.

God is our strength through not only the bad times, but particularly in the good times. It's in the good times we often forget about God and I am no exception. But, each day, God does something to wow me.

It could be from being sick and barely being able to get out of bed and then having the ability to get out of bed, or breathe well. We often don't realize what we have until we don't have it. What a shame.

Despite the wonderful times God gives to us, I'm deeply aware there are people in this world who feel and are very lonely, and have no one, not even God to turn to. Their days are covered in darkness, in aloneness, with no hope. I cannot imagine.

This season is not about buying stuff, or decorations, or the number of social events we can attend, rather it is about the birth of Jesus Christ and what He came to earth to do - give all of mankind a choice to never be alone, to have hope and for all eternity.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? If not, you can. It's really easy.

1. Acknowledge you are a sinner - meaning you've done things that are against God.

2. Know that the only way to God & Heaven is through Jesus Christ, as Jesus Christ came to earth to die for all the world's sins, but conquered death and now lives. He sits at the right hand of God.

3. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and ask Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of your life.

4. Really mean in your heart #1-3. That's it.

It is not enough to just believe & know #1 & #1, but you must do #3. He'll change your life, give you hope, be with you forever.

Some people's outward life changes immediately, and other's do not rather it's a gradual process, like me, which has taken over 30 yrs.

Even someone like me who has many friends, people close to me, and a plethora of support & love, there are times I do feel lonely when I get self absorbed. But, as I relinquish my narcissistic tendencies, and really invite God's presence to cover me (not some New Age mumbo jumbo), I cling and go to His Truth and let Him work, let Him satisfy my soul.

Where can we find more about God is plainly in His Word, the Bible. That's it. Not a commentary or a supplementary book, but just the Bible. There are many translations, some easier to read, and others more poetic, so you can have your pick.

If you received Jesus as your Savior as a result of reading my blog, I would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I'll get back to you.

God bless you.