We have a part to play in our sanctification and God has His, but I can’t play my part without God playing His.
I want to be more like Jesus with almost every fiber of my being. (The other part is the flesh that wants to stay right where it’s at.) I’m ashamed to admit this, but sometimes this stresses me out.
Jesus already did His part. To name only a few, He died and rose again to give me life, eternally starting now. He gave me His mind so I can think correctly. He also gave me His nature so I can choose correctly. Now, He says that if I love Him, I will obey Him, which is my part.
Yet, this obedience is still impossible if He doesn’t do His part to empower me through His Spirit. I can’t listen and follow Him, let alone become like Him, without the Holy Spirit’s power. He will get the job done in me as I relax in His power to obey. Let Jesus show you how to live a relaxed obedience. I know I am.
Set Free Now“W”w

I was having writer’s block, so I went for a drive. As I was in the left turn lane waiting for the green arrow, I heard an ambulance siren. I finally saw it to my left when the green arrow came, but I had to wait for the ambulance to pass. This waiting caused the driver behind me to get rather agitated. How did I know? Let’s just say I could see their hand gestures in my rear view mirror and my ears were unpleasantly disturbed by their car horn. You should have seen, however, the sheepish look on their face when the ambulance finally cleared the intersection.
We only know what we know when we know it, nothing more. But what if what we know isn’t correct, like the driver behind me? They saw the same green arrow I did, but not the ambulance. What they knew was incorrect.
This is why believers have the Holy Spirit. He gives us valuable information to make Jesus choices, if we listen. This is why the Spirit put us into a body with other believers who can also give us valuable information to make Jesus choices, if we listen.
We need each other to be watchmen – a person given information by Jesus that we need to draw closer to Him. This is the believer who will tell you “the truth in love” even when you don’t want it. Let’s be those watchmen and women, even though sometimes the information we need to give might be uncomfortable.
Set Free Now“WW”

Discouragement. We all face it. And, if we’re honest with ourselves, we sometimes let it get the best of us. Paul gives the Corinthians a great discouragement fighter: remember how far you’ve come in Christ!
Paul lists a number of less than stellar character and behavioral traits in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. He then makes a rather odd statement, “And such were some of you.” Why remind of them of who they were? To help them see who they are now! He tells them they were washed. They were sanctified; and, they were are justified. Did you notice all the past tense verbs? This is who they are right now. So give a shout out to Jesus my friend, so are you!
We get so bogged down in the day to day battle of exercising the truth by faith Spirit empowered that we get weary of the fight. We get discouraged at the defeats and the seemingly small victories that we forget how far the Spirit of God has already taken us.
Today, before you take another step. Take a moment to praise God for how far He has taken you and praise Him for where He will take you as you continue to fight the good fight.
Set Fre“E” Nowww

We live in a broken world where broken people make broken-like choices. Those choices will affect you and me, sometimes on a daily basis.
You can’t control what others do to you, only what you do to others. How does Jesus want you to respond to those with whom you come into contact? Secure children of God, who are also salt and light, can change the broken culture in which they live one choice at a time by following Jesus.
Let’s make a difference in our world as all lives matter to Jesus.
“S”et Free Nowww

A week ago I got our apple and pear trees ready to head into their fruit bearing season. The next day I showed the love of Jesus at a citywide event, which was followed by an afternoon of swimming and enjoying conversation and a wonderful meal with my family, followed by an early morning surf time with my son. And if that wasn’t enough, two days later, I was introduced to kayaking by a friend!
I would have missed it all had I stayed home. I ‘suffer’ (please take the word lightly considering what our brothers and sisters are facing for their faith) from an arthritic shoulder. Some days are better than others, but I’m uncomfortable most days. I could let that discomfort discourage me to the point of discontinuing life; or, through the Spirit’s power, I can work through that discomfort and be encouraged by Jesus to keep on experiencing the life He gives.
Daily living is not always comfortable, but a life of adventure and wonder await those who walk through their discomfort in the Spirit’s power to enjoy an enjoyable conversation and an awesome meal with Jesus.
Set Free Now“W”w