Yesterday I saw the exposed roots of an overturned tree. Nothing special about it, except there was a piece of pvc pipe deep inside the roots. The roots had slowly wrapped themselves around this irrigation pipe to the point where it finally broke the pipe into pieces when the tree fell. I’ll bet the landscapers were happy to find water shooting every where!
It reminds of a quote by John Fischer, “When the Spirit of God gives you the slightest indication that some thought, action or attitude might be wrong, that’s when you nail it. Don’t give it a chance to live.” If the Spirit is convicting you of something, it is a big deal, no matter how small it may seem to you.
Don’t abuse God’s grace. Small things can become big things if ignored long enough.
Set Free Now“W”w

silhouettes of people on mountains

The last two months, it seemed that no matter what position I put my shoulder in, I’d end up at minimum gritting my teeth and at worse literally screaming in pain. And because of this, I tried not to use it much. The problem was that the muscles started atrophying. But what could I do, purposely hurt myself?
Well, after discovering the culprit, the solution was to take natural anti-inflammatories and, drum roll please…strengthen the muscles in the shoulder! Yup, bring on the pain to get rid of the pain. Surprisingly, it worked! By going through painful stretching and workouts, I can actually move it with only slight discomfort now. Whew.
Like it or not, at times this is a picture of the believer’s journey toward Jesus. Life change not only takes time, it can hurt too! It’s difficult, and sometimes painful, to give up the old thinking and ways of doing life because we’ve become so comfortable with them. Furthermore, we tend to avoid pain. Doubt me? Put your hand on a hot stove next time. See how long it stays there.
Avoiding pain doesn’t get rid of the root problem, though, and neither does going around it. Yes, sometimes change is painful. Yet becoming more like Jesus by working through the pain brings a peace you can’t possibly imagine. Whew.
Se”T” Free Nowww

My wife and I have a small orchard in our backyard, which consists of nine varieties of fruit trees. This past week it was time to rake up the orange to yellow to slightly green leaves from the peach, plum and two nectarine trees. Afterwards, it was time to fertilize all the trees and soak them for the coming fall. Lots of work, but it felt great when it was all done! I love that sense of accomplishment when I look over a finished project. Don’t you?
We all do, because this sense of accomplishment was put there by God from the beginning of time and again at the point of salvation. The question is, “Where am I going to get that pat on the back?”
Some people in the news lately destroyed their lives, the lives of others and the lives of their family in their search for significance. Thus, the source of your significance is crucial to your joy both now and for eternity.
Jesus is ready to say, “Well done and good and faithful servant” to those who listen to and follow Him in all their actions, some of which fulfill that need for significance. Start by asking Jesus what He wants you to do. Then in the Spirit’s power do it. As you do, you’ll get a huge pat on the back that not only brings joy to you, but to others as well.
Set “FREE” Nowww

I was reflecting on a video I recently watched, “The Garden of Your Mind,” by Fred Rodgers, better known as Mister Rogers. The video has this line, “Did you grow anything in the garden of your mind? You can grow ideas in the garden of your mind. Think and they will grow.”
This is scientifically accurate. Basically put, thoughts you give time to grow and the ones you don’t die off. Therefore, what you think about will eventually bring about life change – positively or negatively.
This is where biblical meditation enters the video of your mind. As we think on a scriptural truth over and over again, we are growing that truth or renewing our mind. The more we think about what that truth means, how to live it out and then choose to act on that truth, our lives will begin to change.
It’s been said, “My struggle is real, but my goals are obtainable.” This is only true if meditation (see Joshua 1:8) on the truths given you by Jesus take place during that struggle. It takes time to retrain your brain, so don’t forget to mediate throughout your day.
Se“T” Free Nowww

I’ve been thinking about a saying I heard earlier this year that I heard again just a few days ago. Blessing is on the other side of obedience.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we have no known record of the Father talking to Jesus during one of Jesus’ two most intense human struggles (the other being on the cross). Why wasn’t God speaking or acting to relieve Jesus’ struggle? Jesus knew what He had to do. The only way out of the struggle was either to quit or to do what His Father had already told Him. Blessing (eternal life, reunited with Father in glory, our salvation, etc.) is on the other side of obedience (dying on the cross and an excruciating, though temporary, separation from His Father).
When you already know what Jesus wants you to do, blessing is on the other side of obedience. Your struggle today may have nothing to do with your enemy or your Father, but your will own. Blessing is on the other side of obedience. Stop struggling, in the Spirit’s power, just do it!
Set Free Now“W”w