We’ve all had them. We all go through them. And the only real choice one has is to press on despite them. What am I referring to? Bad days.
On one particular day, we were visiting two sights in Israel where the wind was just horrendous. It was so bad that sand was accumulating on the side of my coffee up. We could have stayed on the bus and missed what God had for us; or, we could choose to press on despite the windy conditions.
Situations for life changing choices are never ideal. In fact, it is usually through life’s windy days that we’re pressed into the difficult choice of either going back to our drugs of choice or pressing on by faith in the truths Jesus has specifically given us.
The question we must constantly ask ourselves is, “Have my drugs ever made my life better?” The answer is no, if we’re honest. The only real choice then is to get out of the comfortable bus and head into the wind and see what the Lord has for us.
On this day, we pressed on and saw an actual grave with a stone, much like Jesus’ tomb would have been. It’s simply another validation that God’s word is accurate and can be trusted.
Each time you press on, despite life’s stormy conditions, you prove to yourself and to those around you that Jesus can be trusted. The Word of God indeed does work in everyday life.
Set Free Now“W”w

At one of the archeological sites we visited, out of the stone wall was this beautiful bouquet of flowers. What your eye focuses on will tell you a lot about yourself.
My latest trip to Israel was full of physical challenges (sickness that kept me two days at a hotel) and spiritual attacks (miscommunication left and right); and yet at the farewell dinner, people were sharing significant life changing experiences.
Lots of great things have taken place in our lives, can we see them? Jesus is constantly showing up throughout our day, do we notice? If you’re not seeing Him in your life, it’s time to ask why through picking up your Freedom tools. If you are, make sure to focus on them, give Him praise and stay positive. Your God is at work in and through you!
“S”et Free Nowww

We’re in The Old City of Jerusalem. We’ve stopped for a discussion on Psalm 122. It has a specific reference about following the Lord’s command to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and what it brings to those who do.
While this discussion was taking place, church bells were loudly ringing; the local Imam was calling his people to prayer; car horns were going off; people walking along the street were talking so every one could hear them; birds were chirping, all the while engines were whining as they went up a hill. Of top of this, it was discovered that the Hebrew word translated “prosperity” actual means peace. The believer who prays for the peace of Jerusalem will experience peace from such prayers.
All these distractions can make it very tough to hear Jesus’ voice. Yet, life is full of such distractions. We can do one of two things when they come; and, come they will. One, we can let them bother us so we don’t hear and follow Jesus; and thus, we won’t experience the peace Jesus promises. Or two, we can filter out those noises with the Spirit’s help and start praying for the peace of Jerusalem and experience the peace that God says will blow our minds!
We have no control over life’s distractions. But we do have control on whether or not we will filter them out to hear and follow Jesus to experience the kind of peace that He promised. Choose to focus and follow.
Set Free Now”W”w

The Spirit uses olives to teach us many truths about our walks with Jesus. Today I want to focus on the third step of the olive oil production process. The first step is to crush the olives to produce the extra virgin olive oil used for the Temple Menorah. The second step presses the olives to produce the oil used for cooking. The third step is another pressing that produces a bitter oil used for lamp oil and soap (mixed with fragrant spices).
Jesus was crushed and pressed for us at Gethsemane, which means olive press. If you review the passages before His arrest, Jesus went back and forth three times between His sleeping men and talking with His Dad. During the third conversation, scripture reveals that Jesus was in agony. This word carries the idea of severe emotional struggle. Why? His Father was silent for the first time in Jesus’ life! Jesus was wrestling with His emotions big time; and yet, He conquered them to bring light to the dark places that remain in our hearts, minds and lives. He kept going forward despite His emotional struggle to wash us from the pain that can cause bitterness.
We all struggle with our emotions at times. But who will be king – Jesus or our emotions? Only One can bring the light of hope that our lives can be changed and the cleansing power that can remove bitterness caused from the pain brought by ourselves and others.
Let’s continue to exercise the truths Jesus gives us in His Word through the Spirit’s power in each situation. As You do, Jesus will be king of your thoughts and your emotions so you can experience the joy and peace that only He can bring.
Set Fre”E” Nowww

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