I recently spoke at a Celebration of Life service for a very dear friend. I believe the Spirit had me say to this man’s daughters and wife, because it wasn’t in my notes, “Joe was ready, but he didn’t want to go.” Joe would have loved to stick around to see his much wanted grandkids, but he was ready to depart when Jesus called him home.
I often hear Christians say, “I sure wish Jesus would come back to take us home” in reference to the rapture/home going of the Bride. The context of this statement is usually that they’re tired of living with all the hardships and aches and pains that come with living in this world.
Take it for what’s it worth, but I think Jesus would rather we have Joe’s perspective: We’re ready, but don’t want to go. Jesus loves people and wants  an eternal relationship with them. How will they see Jesus if not through us sticking around, loving and walking with Jesus through the thick and thin of life, and then being ready to share His love with them both verbally and physically?
We know how the world ends. (Read Revelation in case you need a fresh reminder.) Those around us – coworkers, family, friends, the grocery bagger, the cashier at our favorite restaurant – need Jesus! Let’s be ready to go when Jesus calls, but willing to stick around for them to see Jesus in us.
Set Free Now“W”w

A vast amount of those who call themselves Christians have little or no walk with Jesus, though they have a tremendous amount of biblical knowledge. It’s these Christians who give Jesus a bad name. Their words are not backed up by their lives.
A rather famous movie character once said, “There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” James said the same thing to his believing Jewish brothers scattered throughout the world, “I will show my faith by what I do” (James 2:18).
We absolutely need to be in the Word of God; but we also must walk with the Word of God, Jesus, each day. A healthy believer allows the truths discovered in Scripture to transform their life through actually using that knowledge in their daily decisions empowered by the Spirit.
If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it must be a duck. Today, ask the Spirit to empower you to walk closely with Jesus, not just talk about Him.
Set Fre“E” Nowww

I saw something most interesting on my prayer walk – an ant carrying a single kernel of wheat. It was almost as big as the ant! I’ll bet that ant was very thankful too. The farmer had just harvested his crop and plowed his fields. The entire crop was gone!
Where would the ant get its food to store for the winter now? Unhappy ant? I don’t think so. I think it was extremely thankful, despite the barren fields.
The farmer had actually done all the heavy “lifting” for the ant. The harvest and the discing machines had separated the kernel from both the stalk and the chaff. All the ant had to do was pick it up and carry it home.
I read once, “You don’t have to be happy to be thankful, but true happiness only grows in a thankful heart.” The ant could focus on the entire crop being gone and been extremely unhappy. Or, it could be thankful for the take away ready kernels and be happy.
We don’t have control over all our circumstances, but we do have full control over whether we’ll be thankful or not. Stop complaining, which only takes you toward a frown (and your drug or sin of choice). Instead, remember who Jesus is, what He can do, and all that He is doing in you. It will put a smile on your face, just like the ant’s.
S“E”t Free Nowww

This appears to be an abandoned church building, which my wife and I discovered on our trip through the Owens Valley. It’s not really. It was filled with junk from floor to ceiling and probably had someone living it as it had a new electric meter.
Yet, among other things, it had cardboard plugged broken windows, peeling paint, missing steps, and out of control weeds and trees throughout the yard. Left on it’s own, the building was deteriorating. Nature was slowly taking over and would eventually bring this building down as it had with the many other buildings in this town.
This is what happens when believers choose to stop walking in the freedom Christ gives (Galatians 5). Jesus set us free from all the negative consequences of sin. It’s our job with each decision, through the Spirit’s strength, to choose to stand in that freedom and experience all the positives of being in His presence.
If we choose to stand still or go backwards in our Jesus walks, we open the door for our flesh, with it’s old way of thinking, to creep back in, which leads to the return of the old habits of broken windows, pealed paint and out of control weeds.
Each decision to follow Jesus, no matter how small or large, leads to a house that will last forever! Choose to keep walking with Jesus today, even if it’s baby step after baby step.
Set “FREE” Now“W”w