I learned a new Hebrew phrase today that in English basically says, “Don’t put your shoes further than your leg.” It talks about the truth that all you have is the decision you have at the moment, not what you or others made yesterday or will make tomorrow.
Pictured is the Moshav Hamra. It is a family owned organic herb and tea farm in the Jordan Valley. Its ability to sell its products have been greatly affected by decisions made by others and economic factors beyond its control.
After talking with the farm’s founding father, you would have to love his attitude. “Don’t put your shoes further than your leg.” He can only control his decisions and his actions, no one else’s. He can’t worry about tomorrow or fret about yesterday. He can only make choices in the here and now for his family and farm.
It’s the same for secure children of God. If we want to become more like Jesus, we must focus on exercising the truth by faith empowered by the Spirit in the moment. It’s all we have.
As the psalmist wrote, “Don’t fret. It only leads to wrong doing.” We can focus on so many things beyond our control that we let others make our choices, rather than relying on the Spirit to help us make them.
Be caught up on forgiveness so you don’t focus on yesterday. Give Jesus tomorrow. And then, rely on the Spirit to make your choices today to listen to and follow Jesus. Don’t let your shoes get ahead of your leg!
“S”et Fre”E” Nowww

People came to pre-State Israel for many reasons. One was the dream of freedom from persecution, while for others it was to live in the land of their forefathers. Such was the dream of a group of professionals, doctors, lawyers and dentists, who came from Romania in the late 1800’s. However, for their small community to survive, they would have to clear and then work the land. They would have to work at night, as to not get shot by their Syrian enemies. They would have to import eucalyptus trees to plant along the edges of their property to drain the swamps with their malaria infected mosquitos (the last swamp in Israel is pictured) and to provide protection from enemy fire.
For these settlers, who were not used to working with their hands in such a way, these constant hardships were eroding their dream. And for many, it crushed that dream altogether.
What will make you quit going forward in becoming more like Jesus? We have lots of swamp land (i.e. character flaws) to be cleared (i.e. replaced with Jesus). Paul tells those who want more of Jesus and less of themselves to expect hardships, enemy pushback, and difficult choices.
Keep making those tough choices my friends, turning back (living a life you know lacks fulfillment and joy) is not an option!
Set Fre”E” Nowww

In 1918, the British were given control over then named Palestine with the understanding that Jews could build a homeland there. A few years later, they reneged on this promise with the infamous White Papers, which stated that Jews could not build any further villages of towns

. This de facto made it an Arab country. The one catch, however, was that “existing” towns could stay.
The Jewish people employed a very astute tactic to use this “catch” to their advantage. First, they bought land through intermediaries from Arab land owners. Once owned, they deployed what became known as the “Tower and Stockade” strategy.
Within 24 hours, they would erect a fence that could withstand bullets, a tower to alert them of a coming enemy in order to defend their new village, and tents for people to live and then work their land. They were “declaring that we are here!”
By the time the enemy, in this case the British and Arab world, realized what was happening, an existing city was up and running that couldn’t be torn down! The first such city in the western Galilee to use this strategy was Hanita (pictured), which means to park or come to a rest. In the first 24 hours of being built, it was attacked and defended at the cost of 10 lives, but it is still a thriving part of Israel today.
God said He would restart the nation of Israel. But the people did have a part to play, which they did. Galatians 5:1 states that Jesus set us free, but we must do our part to stand firm in what He did and through His power remain free.
Don’t be afraid to take new areas of your life! When the Spirit wants to take new territory, which Jesus already owns, it’s time to go forward. Victory is assured, but we must apply the FREEdom principles to stand firm in that victory.
The enemy will not give up easily. He will fight back. But a changed life, becoming more like Jesus, is worth the effort! And your changed life is declaring to the world that Jesus is here and can give them victory just as He did for you.
Set “FREE” Nowww

This is a picture of where scriptural prophecy came true in an instant on May 14, 1948. This instant was the moment David Ben-Gurion declared Israel to be a nation right in this room.
In the days leading up to this declaration, the U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall knew the Arab world would declare war once this took place. He knew the odds were strongly against Israel surviving such a conflict; and therefore, tried to apply world pressure to put off Ben-Gurion’s declaration.
What made Ben-Gurion do it? Conviction and belief in the Jewish people having their own homeland. The man pictured, Theodore Herzl, said, “If you will it, it is no dream.” Ben-Gurion was willing this dream to come true.
Just as the odds were against Israel surviving its War of Independence, the odds are against the believer in Jesus. We live in a fallen world. Our brains have been sin stained. Our flesh is embedded with old thought patterns, all which conspire to wipe out the believer’s progress of becoming like Jesus.
Are we doomed? Not if your biblical convictions are strong. The conviction that the Word and Spirit of God can change your life is crucial. Each day, with each decision you make, you can give into world pressure or declare your independence from the sin-confession cycle.
You have been given a new mind – Christ’s. You have been given a new nature – Christ’s. The issue now is your will. If you will it, choosing to stand up against tremendous odds, it’s no dream. Despite the odds, you will see your life changed if and when you choose to exercise the truth by faith empowered by the Spirit.
Set Fre”E” Nowww

Once we start walking with Jesus, life will get tougher before it gets easier. I know you know this, but a friendly reminder from a friend of mine is in order, “You take a stand to go forward, the enemy will take a stand to get you to stop.”
Here is a another friendly reminder from a friend of yours, Jesus, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them (Satan’s antichrists), because the One who is in your is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) We have a power source that overcomes this resistance, if we stay plugged into it.
Choices are simple. Choosing them is hard. Yet, you have the power living inside you to make them. Keep going forward, even through failure, toward Jesus.
Set Free Now“W”w