People love to tear others down in order to build themselves up. Believers are not immune to this challenge, which can carry over to their view of God.
There are times when what the Spirit is asking the secure child of God to do is hard to understand. The believer has two options at this point. They can lower God to their way of thinking in order to understand Him or they can rise to God’s way of thinking.
Jeremiah 2:5 states by lowering God to yourself, you’re now following a worthless idol and will become worthless yourself. Anything other than Jesus is an idol, no matter how we dress up that idol, even with Christian language.
A God defined by you, however good your intentions may be, is one controlled by you; thus, making you god. There is no other way to say it – are you god or is Jesus? Yet, there will be times you won’t understand what Jesus asking you do. Will you trust Him and step toward Him or trust yourself and step away from Him?
At those hard to understand times, it’s time to exercise the truth by faith Spirit empowered and take a step up. You’ll be glad you did.
Set Fre“E” Nowww

I’ve been studying Jesus’ statements, “It is finished” and “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Two truths the Spirit has given me thus far are: Jesus is both God and Savior. This might not sound earth shattering to you, but think about it for a second.
As God, He took all the world’s burdens and cares, which includes ours, upon His shoulders. Why do we give them so much head time? As Savior, He took the responsibility to make humanity whole (i.e. save). Why are we sweating the process?
Based on those truths, we can relax and simply listen and follow Him throughout our day. He’s got everything else under complete control.
Choose to let Jesus be God and Savior today by downloading all the stuff that rattles around in your head onto His shoulders. Then go out and enjoy His presence, no matter where you go. He made life that easy!
Set “Free” Nowww

There’s no time like the present to start is a phrase I heard growing up. As kids, we’d get lazy about doing our chores or homework assignments; and then, we’d be reminded that if we got them done now, we could enjoy playing later.
When it comes to walking with Jesus, you may have been putting off something He’s been asking you to do. But, there’s no time like the present to get started. You can waste more time missing out on the joy and peace He brings or you can actually follow Him now.
Yes, there will be all kinds of excuses to overcome in getting started. Yet, you can go with them or with Jesus. It’s your choice. The walk with Jesus is more than worth it.
S“E”t Free Nowww

A friend of mine wrote, “Joseph knew that if he dared to touch his master’s (Potiphar) wife, it would cause him to sin against his beloved God, and that grieved him more than anything.”
How often do we really think about how God feels? We get so focused on what we want to do and how we’re feeling that we don’t slow down to ask, “Will this action hurt the one I say I love?”
The English word love has been so abused lately as to lose its true meaning. One biblical definition is that love “does not insist on its own way.” Why? Because it hurts others!
Who cares when we decide to do our own thing? Jesus does. Yes, He is God and is self-sufficient. And yet, He still wept over the loss of a dear friend and the hurt it caused those who loved him. He cried despite knowing He was about to heal that hurt.
Jesus weeps. Let that soak into your thinking the next time you’re tempted to do, say or see something you shouldn’t.
S“E”t Free Nowww

I was walking today with the tune “Silent Night” on my lips. It was the last phrase where the Spirit caught my attention. “Jesus, Lord at thy birth.” Jesus was birthed as God and man to live, die and live again forever to bring us freedom. He came into the world in that stinky animal cave so as to relate to people of all stripes and colors. He came and was LORD at birth on Christmas. He still is LORD today and He will remain so long into forever eternity.
We celebrated Jesus’ birth through singing, services, gift giving, family gatherings, etc. this past weekend. Now, let’s remember to celebrate His life through our daily love filled choices to follow Him. Ya know, He still is LORD.
S”E”t Free Nowww