I was asked, “What’s the difference between religion and Christianity?” There were so many thoughts that came to mind, but I settled on one. Religion is man made and man energized where Christianity starts with Jesus and is empowered by the Spirit to enable us to keep listening to and following Jesus.
What’s interesting is that Christianity can often look like religion. Believers can make up rules to live by that are not found in Scripture and then attempt to carry them out in their own power. They can also listen to Jesus as to how He would have them live each day, and then attempt to carry them out in their own power.
Either way, it all falls on the believer to make things happen, which is one heavy burden to bear! We couldn’t get saved in or by own power and we can’t be sanctified (i.e. become more like Jesus) by it either. It is belief in what Jesus did for us that saves us and it’s the Spirit who gives us the strength to keep following Him (1 Pet. 1:2). Our job? Surrender to that power and walk where He goes.
Want more of Jesus, the source of the eternal good stuff? Stop trying to act like Him and learn how to daily ask for the Spirit to empower your FREEdom tools to be like Him.
Set Free Now“W”w

Thought you’d never hear me say that? Well, I’m probably not talking about giving up as you might be thinking. King Solomon wrote, “There is a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.” There are things in our lives that it’s time to give up to Jesus. It’s time to let Him replace that issue in your life, that character flaw, that hurt, that pain, that disappointment, that unfilled longing or unscriptural expectation, that….you fill in the blank.
Today can be the fresh start you’ve been looking and praying for. It’s time to move forward in your walk with Jesus. The Spirit has already shined the light of God’s truth on that area of your life. Now it’s time to give up that “whatever” the Spirit has been asking from you. You know what it is. You’ve been wrestling with it and experiencing victory on some days while getting killed on others. Why? You haven’t really decided to give it up yet. You’re playing with it.
Pick up your FREEdom tools. It’s time to give up, literally, the whatevers that are defeating you. Let the Spirit do His job in your life – to keep you walking in freedom from those whatevers through faith in Jesus.
Set “FREE” Nowww

One of the by-products of the rain we recently had was that the air smells so good. It was almost sweet. Even the smell of fresh dirt, at least to this guy, was pleasing and relaxing.
Yet I discovered on my walk-talk with Jesus this morning patches of puddles already forming and beginning to stink because of the return of warm weather. The difference was running verses pooling water. Running water makes a very relaxing sound, pooling water makes none. Running water keeps things fresh, stagnate water does not.
Are you gathering with other believers? Most excellent. But are you running (i.e. exercising the truth by faith empowered by the Spirit) with what you heard from Jesus when you gathered? If not, your gathering as well as your life, could turn into a pool that begins to stink when life gets warm. If so, you’re gathering will remain fresh and sweet as you keep running with living water, Jesus, who will change your life.
I once read somewhere that “there is someone God wants you to touch on the other side of obedience.” Keep running with Jesus and both your life and those around you will be sweet, pleasing and relaxing. Who does Jesus want you to touch today?
Set Fre“E” Nowww

It was awesome! We finally had rain in Southern California. My thirsty fruit trees, dry lawn and drying tomato plants soaked it all up because of the drought we’re facing. At times, though, the wind and rain were raging. In fact, in one fifteen minute time span, the storm caused tremendous amounts of rain and wind damage. Trees that once stood tall came crashing to the ground because they were not firmly grounded.
It gives added meaning to 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith.” Be on your guard, your enemy wants to make you fall. Healthy Jesus believers should expect storms. We can stand tall after those storms pass, however, if we’re grounded in, focused on and holding onto God’s truth we’ve put into our brains and hearts before the storm.
You can’t stop the storm any more than you can stop your enemy from putting thoughts into your head. What you can do is prepare for those storms/attacks by making sure you’re getting the truths from God’s Word that you’ll need for those expected storms. It’s as you exercise those truths by faith Spirit empowered during the storm that will enable you to stand tall after the storm.
What truths does the Spirit want you to put into your brain today so you can stand firm in them tomorrow that will enable you to stand tall later? Healthy believers spend time in and with the Word, Jesus, each day, not just Sunday.
Set Fre“E” Nowww

“Ah, grasshopper.” No, I’m not talking about the ’70’s TV show, but those little buggers who can either be eaten as a high source of protein or can eat everything in sight, leaving destruction in their wake.
Scripture, at times, uses grasshoppers of a losing, can’t-go forward, quitting mentality. The generation whom God freed from Egyptian slavery only saw themselves as grasshoppers, ready to be devastated by the giants living in the Promised Land. They never saw themselves as God did, the ones doing the devastating, which led to wandering in the desert for 40-years rather than to enjoying the good life in the Land.
King Saul was very similar. God saw Saul as a king ready to lead Israel. Yet when Samuel was ready to announce Saul’s kingship to the entire nation, he was hanging out with the camels, donkey’s and luggage! Because Saul never saw himself as God did, he went from one mistake to another, eventually costing his family the kingship.
You are a victor in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:13)! Keep up your shield of faith against the grasshopper mentality. You are a secure child of God because of what Jesus did for and in you. Rise to the level of who God thinks you are, and you’ll be achieving one victory after another in becoming more like Jesus.
S“E”t Free Nowww