Shackled

-
June 7
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1

 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
Psalm 31:4

Do you have tools in your home/garage/kitchen which you rarely utilize?  Maybe you think they are too much trouble to get out or put together.  My husband bought a new power trimmer for our trees, but he has not used it because he has not wanted to take the time to put it together, so the other day he was sawing away with the manual saw. 
Our son and his wife suggested we purchase a lovely grater/mincer from Williams Sonoma for Christmas.  We purchased it, but I'm still hand mincing garlic and even used a knife and scissors the other day to grate lemon peel, because I didn't want to take the time to wash the new gadget.

We have this amazing tool for our faith...it is time in the word and listening prayer. So often we don't want to take the time to stop and be with God and seek his direction to be set free from our burdens.

In Priscilla Shirer's study, One in a Million, she tells the story of how a baby elephant is shackled early on to teach it to not escape.  As it grows larger, it does not recognize it's strength and if that shackle is on it stays confined.  What is it you need to be set free from?  Fear, bitterness, jealous, addictions, gossip, doubt?  Remember right now the reason Jesus came....to set WE captives free.  Choose today to unlock the shackles that are holding you back from experiencing joy in Christ.

...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses, knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:17-19

Popular posts from this blog

She Fought the Good Fight

-
Image
February 27 Bible Gateway's verse yesterday was: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him . 1 John 4:9 A fitting verse for the day my everyday friend, soul sister, monster of the faith and mischievous partner in crime, Kaye, left this world behind and headed to her heavenly home. My husband was able to be by her bedside and said he knew she heard the words of our faith that he shared. Her sweet daughter held the phone up to her ear so I could say good-bye and the brightest single star you have ever seen shown through my bedroom window as she exited this earth! Yesterday, my heart literally ached so badly that I told the Lord, "Take me too!" Wouldn't she have been surprised if I had snuck up on her in heaven and said, "Thought you were going somewhere without me, did ya." When we received the call she was ready to go, I called out to the Lord for comfort and He led me to the Bible Gat...
Read more

Toe Sucking

-
Image
June 13 If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet. Psalm 25:12 …or allow them to be sucked off by carp!  For as long as I've been on this lake (49 years) we've gone to feed the carp at various marinas.   I have a bag of old bread waiting to be tossed to the carp tomorrow by our grandchildren!   There's a new adventure at a couple of the marinas.  Toe sucking!   For 25 cents you can buy a small scoop of peanut butter to go on your toes. Then the carp suck it off!   I just got a pedicure, so I have an excuse not to participate! What we do need to participate in is keeping our feet on the paths the Lord sets before us. Give careful though to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Proverbs 4:26 
Read more

Remember Your Story

-
Image
Our oldest granddaughter made this bouquet and hand painted card for me.💖 Nothing touches our lives that God doesn't allow.  He has a plan and a purpose, sometimes far into the future, that can be used for His glory. (Jeremiah 29:11) Flash back 40 years and I approached life's downs with an "I can't believe this is happening." and truth be told "How can I fix it?" attitude.   Now that I am older and wiser I see that God truly works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28) I thank God for the stroke 8 years ago and how it mellowed me out (okay some of you are laughing, but it really did). And honestly,  I like getting old. Sure, there are regrets, but there is also value in being able to pass along the wisdom learned from those regrets. God CAN use everything for His good. Mentoring moments are what I feel called to at this stage of life.  Working on a talk for a women's retreat weekend, I came ac...
Read more