stealing my freedom

I'm growing weary of everyone else's selfish, sinful decisions stealing my freedom.

All through history it's really what's driven any destructive era of time.  One man or a group of people decide they want something to change, or that their evil desires are most important and it drives movement.  Typically a movement that doesn't consider what the majority of people believe or want.

Even when I've heard of horrible things people have done in our own country, when it's not happening to me, it doesn't effect how I live.  I intend to be more attentive to what's going on in other's lives and pray more, lots more.


This week I've paid attention, I've paid close attention.  Authorities are still telling us not to leave our houses or cars unlocked, and to stay inside if we can.

This morning I had a window of time I could be sitting in my favorite spot on our deck and I've decided to be obedient and do what I've been asked and stay inside.  Not fair!

The sin of even one man can change our lives.

Just like Adam did in the garden.

These troubled people desperately need The Savior and keep looking in all the wrong, selfish, pointless places...

But just like we've been taught from God's Word - evil, trouble, disappointment, sickness always drives us to our knees.  It's completely understandable why God allows trouble in our lives.

We turn to Him. 

my day off

For a 3rd Monday in a row - I'm on my deck!  So thankful!

Just read these words on one of my favorite bloggers site  - "The Power of Pondering"...  and that's what I'm doing right now - following an 11 hour work day yesterday - I sit and I Ponder!  How good!!

My pondering brings me to a remembrance of something that literally stopped me dead in my tracks yesterday.

All I was doing was walking from Crossroads to Kroger to pick up some lunch items for my video team (we stayed and shot another Mayhem commercial yesterday), and the Lord chose that moment to reveal bitterness in my life.  I stopped walking and felt tears come to my eyes!  A revelation from the Lord is no mystical experience, nothing scary or magical - it's simply a moment when He actually has your attention so He exposes something you're wrong about.

The only part you play in the whole thing is whether you're teachable, willing to repent and WILLING be RELEASED from it.   The reason the Lord wants us to repent is so we can live in FREEDOM from what bothers us, torments us - His love is not withheld until we release it, there's not this big punishment coming if we don't repent - He reveals it so we can live in harmony and freedom from the burden of sin!!!!

He knew my heart was longing for freedom from caring about this trivial thing I was hanging on to.  And also in that instant He reminded me I'm to PRAY for my enemies - not hate them.  And so I did.

Today I have prayed a second day for them - and am beginning to see the massive rock of annoyance I've been carrying...so foolish to waste even 1 minute controlled by the enemy.  HE LOVES to distract us from the Lord!

So from my deck I encourage you all today - spend a little time pondering and make your heart open and invite God to reveal whatever He chooses!

what I learned today

Habakkuk 1:1-3

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

Habakkuk's Complaint

² O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
    and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
    and you will not save?
³ Why do you make me see iniquity,
    and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    strife and contention arise.

Pastor Tim begins a new teaching series this weekend called - "God, what are you doing?"

I was reading tonight to try to prepare for the weekend and I was struck by how similar the questions being asked way back then are to our prays and questions today!

One commentary I was reading began with the following paragraph.

The prophet was perplexed. Wickedness and violence seemed to go unchecked. Would there be no end to the rising tide of sin? Habakkuk took his complaint to God. “Why don’t You do something?”

Doesn't it sound just like conversations you hear around you?  Anytime I see the news it makes me wonder how much longer God will allow our county's horrible sin.

There's comfort that comes in knowing others before us asked the very same thing and our God delivered them.  His timing is perfect!

I'm looking forward to the series!

in darkness hides

This morning it was with great joy I woke up to sunshine!

As Vern and I headed outside, I noticed how all the grass was brightly lit and already looking a little bit more green.  All the grass however except the grass still hidden in the dark shade of the trees.

It brought to mind how evil tries to stay hidden in the darkness, clinging to the last little bit of shade, a place where no one sees.

Pastor Tim's Easter message at Crossroads speaks to all who are trying to hide the mistakes and sin they've made in their lives.  Hoping desperately that no one ever sees.

It's time to no longer hide. 

Just as the sun eventually reveals the last remaining bit of frost hidden in the darkness, so the Son of Man exposes our sin but He doesn't just reveal - He offers Himself as the sacrifice and forgiver of our sin.  Move from the darkness to the Light this Easter weekend!

Tiger

I cannot imagine having my sin publicly splashed all over the TV and talked about by everyone!

One of my friends mentioned today how sad he was for Tiger's wife. How embarrassing and heartbreaking!

Do you think Tiger's sin is any worse than sin you commit?

I thought about that a lot today as I listened to one news report after another discussing Tiger Woods. Obviously some sin has more immediate consequences than others, that is possibly where the concept of big sins vs. little sins came from. It is either sin or not - it all comes in the exact same size.

I dont' know why the world draws such pleasure from catching someone in sin. Perhaps it is because it takes the focus off of our own shortcomings.

windows without curtains

My home has lots of windows. They are windows without curtains. Probably not correct according to HGTV standards, but I love wide open places. I love to feel like I'm outside while being protected from the weather.

It gives the impression that there is nothing to hide.

If I am in, I can see out, if I am out, I can see in. I like this.

Now, if I can just have the same attitude toward my spiritual life. Why do I think if I whisper He cannot hear? Why do I think if I close a door He cannot see?

Transparent for all to see, is how I should live. To be the same on this inside as on the outside. No hidden agendas, no arrogant thoughts, no secret sin.

Our lives should resemble windows without curtains.

what I learned today

I don't know about you but I just cannot stop sinning. No matter how much I pray, how much time I spend in the Word or at church, I sin everyday! Discouraging!!

How would you feel if you sinned and had to choose your own punishment? That would be the worst! That is what happened to David in I Chronicles 21:11-13. David messed up big time by taking a census that God did not approve of. In return for his disobedience, God gave David three choices of punishment.

1. 3 years of famine
2. 3 months of destruction by sword at the hands of his enemies
3. 3 days of devastating severe plague

Can you imagine having to choose your own punishment? Having it handed to you so cut and dried? Having to choose a punishment that would devastate and cause great suffering not only to you but to your family and friends and entire town?

I am sure my sins are just as far reaching and damaging to His kingdom even though I don't often know the consequences. I have no doubt that many things I have said and done have been devastating to others along the way. But, man, what a blow to be publicly punished and others thrown in too because of your sin. None of these would be good choices! But, by God's mercy he let David choose 3 days instead of 3 years or months, and allowed David to choose the punishment at God's hands instead of handing him over to his enemies! How completely gracious!

I learned today that despite my ongoing struggle with sin, I can still be a woman that seeks God's heart. And, regardless of my sin I can go to the Lord and even in punishment He reveals His love for me! How amazing!