What Is Freedom

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“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galations 5:13

Jesus paid a very high price for our freedom so shouldn’t we understand what that really means for us. Before Jesus came all people were slaves to an evil master. One who wanted to control us and have control of our lives. When he got Eve to eat the forbidden fruit he thought that now he could be god. But that is because he never understood God and just wanted power. But God is anything but power hungry. So many people think God is all about rules and commands taking your freedom from you and any chance for a life. This is because they don’t know God. If they only knew they are believing the lie that Satan has been pushing down our throats for years just to become a god. They don’t realize all they have already given up because they are his slave and they don’t know it. Jesus came to give life and give it abundantly. He came to give eternal life forever to anyone who would believe on him and just say, “I’m sorry!” God promises to forgive every sin we have ever committed and those we will commit in the future, because we still have a sin nature and can’t stop sinning. Jesus has become our new master, but he does give us free will to do what we choose because he loves us so much. He wants us to love him so much that we get to know him intimately and don’t want to do anything against his wishes. As free people we can do anything we want but shouldn’t we first consider the one who gave us our freedom and how much he loves us and only wants what is best for us. Never wanting to see us hurt. It took thousands of years to bring people to the place they needed to be just to be ready for Jesus to be born. And John The Baptist prepared the way by doing what God called him to do. So many were blinded by the sin in their lives. They tried to earn forgiveness by following rules and rituals. They weren’t trying to do something for someone they loved just keeping the laws that Moses gave them but Moses wasn’t God and he would be the first to say so. He was taught by God what they needed to do to live holy lives. Pleasing God not Moses. But people made it about works not worship. That is why they didn’t see Jesus when he stood before them. He was about love not rules. He went to his death showing how much he loved.

Gods Presence

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“The Lord replied, “ My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

The wonderful thing about God is he will never leave us. He is always watching over us and he is in control because he knows everything that is going to happen and the thoughts and intentions of all people. He sent his Son to die for our sins so we could live with him forever. The more you spend time in his words and talking to him the more you feel his presence. When you have the joy of the Lord in your life you can handle whatever comes your way because he brings contentment that this world can’t give. The blood of Jesus Christ bought our freedom and has overcome all that the enemy tries to bring in our lives. But, greater is he who is in us than he that is in this world. Things and people can’t give lasting contentment only God can. He gives everything we need. Do you need more wisdom, peace, strength, power, or pretty much anything. Just tell him what you need and he comes through for you. He is not a genie granting your every desire because maybe some things just aren’t good for you or what is best for you. But he works for the good of those who love him and have his purposes and his will as their desires. Being used to further his kingdom should be your priority. Things that matter for eternity and not just temporary enjoyment. He has given us everything w need to make this a great life. Strength, wisdom, power to do great and exciting things to better our world. God wants you to have enjoyment but living for him can bring enjoyment and fulfillment.

He Was Sin For Us

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“God made him who had no sin the sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

From the beginning of the world there has been darkness and sin. There is no way we could breech the distance between us and a righteous God. So he sent his one and only son to be sin in our place. Light came into the world to show the way of the Father. Just like every morning the sun rises so we can see clearly to enjoy our new day the Son came to bring us light so that we could see the truth. When we are surrounded by darkness we can’t see clearly to enjoy. Until the Son showed us the ways of the Father we didn’t know we were in darkness. Once we knew the truth we had to let that light into our hearts and believe in him. Once that light came to live within us we no longer need to walk in the dark. Even if my room is totally dark at night I still have Jesus with me and know he is watching over me. My job is to shine my light into the world so that others might believe also. You don’t always have to preach to others but how you live can say it all. We have all sinned there is no perfect person but Jesus. We could do nothing to save ourselves. Nothing I could ever do is good enough. I remember singing a song when I was young. “I can see clearly now.” I’m so glad I had my stroke and that I didn’t die because my life is so much different now. Back then I just wanted to do what I wanted to do. Now it all seems stupid, what I thought was living. Ha, was I wrong. But at least I got a do over before it was over. Now I know what a full and abundant life really is. “Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” How will you live?

Victorious King

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“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, the colt, the foal of a donkey. Zachariah 9:9

This week is Holy Week and we are celebrating all that Jesus did for us. As he rode into Jerusalem the beginning of the week people cheered and waved palm branches to celebrate the victorious King. Palm leaves are decorative for military and other important people. They were declaring him as King although many didn’t believe. Many who saw his miracles knew that only God could do such amazing things. The Messiah. The long awaited savior. They also shouted Hosanna, which means God save and deliver us. Jesus did just that by giving his life for ours. The palm branch is a cymbal of honor, respect and reverence for someone important. It also is resilient and can tolerate poor conditions and is considered eternal. Things that Jesus definitely is. As he willingly let his palms be nailed to that cross he did bring victory by saving us from death and giving us eternal life to all who would believe in him. By his stripes we have been made whole in more ways than one. Satan and the religious leaders thought they had gotten rid of something that irritated them and took the attention off of them. But he was doing just what his Father sent him here to do. He was here to show us the Father by doing just what the Father would do. His great compassion and love for people lets you see how God really feels about each of us. He is not demanding and harsh the way some think he is. The more you get to know him the more you see how much he is interested in helping us to have what is best for us. His death shows what a great price he was willing to pay so that we could be together for eternity. Because God loves people just like the Son.

Perfecting Holiness

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“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

The key word here is promises- God is good at making promises but he is way better at keeping them. He is a God whose word is perfect. What he says is only truth so it’s for sure. Whether good or bad, it will happen just as he promised. There are things God tells us not to do. Just like when your parents told you don’t touch the stove or you will get burned. If you ever tried you would never do it again. Ouch! He tells us not to sin because bad things can happen. Just like speeding you don’t always get caught the first time but one day you will pay the price. On the other side there are so many good promises and I want all of them. A full and abundant life, who wouldn’t want that one. But it gets better because one day we’ll get to heaven and he has promised that no eye has seen and no mind can even imagine all he has for us when we get there. Some people may think well I believe in Jesus and I’m going to heaven but I heard someone preach once that God is building you a mansion in heaven where one day you will live forever. But they build it with the supplies you send ahead of you. So if you have done the bare minimum to get in you may be living in a dog house for eternity. I want the best he has for me so I am doing all I can everyday. Each of us has been given certain abilities and talents and he has asked us to use them for his kingdom. Some of us one or two and some five talents. What have we done with the talents he has given us. How much do we show appreciation for what he has given us. Eternity is a really long time and I want to live it up. I want to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Greed

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“Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 14:15

Have you ever really watched all those ads that we are forced to watch throughout our day. If you don’t have everything they say you won’t be happy. There is new stuff every day. That new brand of shoes, that new gadget to cook with, or a new car. Jesus has already given us everything we need. But what might we be missing. I was a realtor at one time and I’ll never forget the day I went to a house of a hoarder. I had never even heard of it before but as I walked through room after room of stuff piled to the ceiling and just narrow paths throughout I couldn’t imagine how they could find anything in that chaos. They obviously believed the lies that say whoever died with the most toys won. Because they definitely had the most toys I ever saw. I now have one small room and hardly anything but I could not be happier. First of all I don’t have to worry about losing anything or having it stolen. People are way more important than possessions. I realize that more every day. The most important is Jesus. He has given me a joy in my heart that makes no sense. But it gets me through anything. I remember a family member that just had to have the best deals. Even if it was something that she didn’t need. If it was a really good deal it was a must. People have so many reasons why they have to have more. Keeping up with the ‘Jones’s. But have you ever met someone who has lots of stuff but is truly miserable. People can hide behind their money. Trying to make others believe they have it all. What we really need is to fill that void inside our heart that is without God. They will try anything to fill the hole but nothing but God will truly satisfy. Drugs, alcohol, things and status will not fill it. Some really poor countries have some truly happy people with nothing but their families. They might struggle to eat and keep a roof over their heads but they get by. Ten years from now will that possession be important. The only thing that matters in the end is what you will spend eternity doing. Do you know?

The Advocate

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“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died- more than that, who was raised to life- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34

We are not facing this life on our own. First Jesus has taken our punishment for our wrongdoing and if we believe that, God will forgive our sins and remember them no more. But the devil is evil and he will try to convince you that you are no good and that your sins have made you unworthy of Gods love. You have made too many mistakes and your life is one big black mark. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. God loves you so very much. Jesus is in heaven interceding for us and his blood has totally washed us whiter than snow. I used to fly airplanes and I would love to go out on a sunny day just after it had snowed. The snow was so white and bright it was blinding but you could see for miles. Everything was covered with that snow just like our sins are. You can’t see the dirt on the ground anymore. Our blemishes our gone. And if that wasn’t enough he is pleading our case against our enemies. He wants them to know that his blood covered everything completely and we stand before God perfect and spotless. Our one way ticket to paradise has been paid in full. And it is a first class ticket. I know so many people who have fought the good fight and are now enjoying perfection forever and I have to say I’m jealous. My dad used to say how much he was looking forward to heaven and now I understand. One day we will be able to thank him Jesus face to face in heaven. All though we will spend eternity trying to thank him for all he has done.

Heavens Treasure

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“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44

I have been a Christian for 60+ years now but I didn’t know what I had till about 2013 after I had come to live in a nursing home. The chaplain there loved God so much and was just bubbling over with joy and excitement. I was so wanting to know more. I had a good life but never thought much about doing anything different. I was just living my life how ever I wanted far from a new creation. I believed Jesus died for my sins but change. In 2013 I decided to go all in. Reading my Bible and praying everyday and I found a good church that would pick me up Sunday morning for church. I started memorizing scripture and as I did the more I knew the more joy I had. I started watching podcasts and sermons online and I couldn’t get enough. I started writing, something I was not very good at in high school, but I had to share my new found excitement. For the last few years I have been so full of joy that things can go bad but it doesn’t shake me like it normally would in my life. I am so glad I had my stroke because even though I’ve lost so very much I have found something better than gold and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. It is the things you can’t see with your eyes that non Christian’s don’t know. That feeling in your heart that brings joy that you can’t buy with gold. The excitement of seeing God at work and amazing things he does with simple people but awesome and extraordinary things. I thought at one time that I had to make my own exciting life. But what I thought was exciting was scraps and now seems stupid. The Christian life may be hard sometimes but it is so worth it. I wouldn’t trade this for anything else.

Seeing Clearly

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“Jesus said, ‘You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one now speaking with you.’” John 9:37-38

The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit are all one. Just as water is a liquid, a solid, and a gas, or I can be a mother, a sister and an aunt all the same with different characteristics or we are a body and a soul and a spirit. The Godhead cannot be separated. They were all here from the beginning and they are all working to support the others. When Jesus was here on earth he was the physical body for people to watch and learn more about the others. He was also a man and needed the help of the others just like we do. That is how he could lead a sinless life and overcome the enemies plans to destroy him. Little did the enemy know that he was playing right into their hands, perfectly. The Spirit was there to give him strength and comfort and wisdom to do all he did well. It was a very difficult task but they all worked together perfectly. We can have that kind of help also but we are stubborn and like to have our way. We can cause ourselves more trouble than necessary and God can still bring us to where we should be and he also works to thwart satan’s plans also, so that he receives the glory. Trust God to do what only he can do. It may not always make sense but their will, will be done in each and every life. Right to the end.

Love NEVER Fails

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“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galations 5:14

God is love and God is perfect. He will continue to love everyone he has ever created with perfect love because he knows everyone’s thoughts and needs completely. We are not perfect though and we will make mistakes that can cause us added problems as well as sins. I There are consequences for sin. I know I would do anything for my children but I will fail them because I don’t always know their needs or wants. Let me try to explain in a way most will understand. I use my iPad every day and write on it. I got new charger cables that are magnetic. When I first plug them in they glow as they are charging. When they are perfectly charged it shows 100%. God’s love is flowing continuously at 100%. We can cause draining to happen by our own imperfection. We can even have God’s perfect love when it doesn’t feel like it. We might not even know what we really need. Or even how he is also working on millions of others needs and that also is a factor. He won’t fail to love anyone perfectly. With the spirits strength we can love others as we love ourselves. That won’t be perfect but it will make a big impact on the lives involved. Treating others how we want to be treated is way more than most people do. If you really know how much God loves each human life and you treat them like they matter to you also you will be following God’s law. Maybe not perfectly but in your heart you are.