I saw something most interesting on my prayer walk – an ant carrying a single kernel of wheat. It was almost as big as the ant! I’ll bet that ant was very thankful too. The farmer had just harvested his crop and plowed his fields. The entire crop was gone!
Where would the ant get its food to store for the winter now? Unhappy ant? I don’t think so. I think it was extremely thankful, despite the barren fields.
The farmer had actually done all the heavy “lifting” for the ant. The harvest and the discing machines had separated the kernel from both the stalk and the chaff. All the ant had to do was pick it up and carry it home.
I read once, “You don’t have to be happy to be thankful, but true happiness only grows in a thankful heart.” The ant could focus on the entire crop being gone and been extremely unhappy. Or, it could be thankful for the take away ready kernels and be happy.
We don’t have control over all our circumstances, but we do have full control over whether we’ll be thankful or not. Stop complaining, which only takes you toward a frown (and your drug or sin of choice). Instead, remember who Jesus is, what He can do, and all that He is doing in you. It will put a smile on your face, just like the ant’s.
S“E”t Free Nowww

This appears to be an abandoned church building, which my wife and I discovered on our trip through the Owens Valley. It’s not really. It was filled with junk from floor to ceiling and probably had someone living it as it had a new electric meter.
Yet, among other things, it had cardboard plugged broken windows, peeling paint, missing steps, and out of control weeds and trees throughout the yard. Left on it’s own, the building was deteriorating. Nature was slowly taking over and would eventually bring this building down as it had with the many other buildings in this town.
This is what happens when believers choose to stop walking in the freedom Christ gives (Galatians 5). Jesus set us free from all the negative consequences of sin. It’s our job with each decision, through the Spirit’s strength, to choose to stand in that freedom and experience all the positives of being in His presence.
If we choose to stand still or go backwards in our Jesus walks, we open the door for our flesh, with it’s old way of thinking, to creep back in, which leads to the return of the old habits of broken windows, pealed paint and out of control weeds.
Each decision to follow Jesus, no matter how small or large, leads to a house that will last forever! Choose to keep walking with Jesus today, even if it’s baby step after baby step.
Set “FREE” Now“W”w

“My focus is not what was but what is, can be and what will be. Jesus Christ, the hope of glory, is my righteousness by His merciful grace,” wrote a good friend and colleague of mine on Facebook.
The Lord told me this right after a recent time of reflection on a tremendous amount of “stuff” that had been thrown my way, “Keep the wheat and let the chaff go.” The wheat kernels can be made into delicious bread while the chaff is just plain nasty tasting. When you harvest wheat both come; yet, one provides much needed energy and the other needless fiber.
Today can be a great day with and in Jesus, if we choose to separate the wheat from the chaff, the caste off from the keepsakes. Today is the best day you have, why waste it on junk that should be thrown away? Focus on what can be based on the truths Jesus gives you in His word…today.
S“E”t Free Nowww

I was having a conversation with a Millennial who stated he was a progressive. He talked about how society is currently going through a social experiment where all groups can believe what they want and that the “community” (whatever that meant, but I digress) would eventually correct itself.
I replied that I already knew where this experiment would end. He raised an eyebrow with that look, “Old man, you’re crazy. You can’t know what will happen.” I ignored his look and stated that this experiment is simply a retread. What’s happening today has already occurred where everyone did what they felt was right.
He gave me that “Really?” inquisitive look. I continued, “Yup, the Bible described this in the book of Judges and that experiment ended in chaos.” He blew me off at that point. But I said, “Think what you want. There is nothing new or progressive about people’s thinking today that God hasn’t already given us black and white pictures of where it ends up.” The subject quickly changed.
It’s been said that youth is wasted on the young. There are times when we wish we had the energy of our youth with the wisdom we now possess. Yet, this will always be true if we continue to run into the brick walls of the “living our way” experiment. We learn about who Jesus is, attempt to deny it by living our way, only to eventually surrender to it; and then, wish we had our youth back to enjoy the wisdom we now own. Don’t waste your hard earned wisdom. Surrender first, it keeps you younger!
S“E”t Free Nowww

I once heard a self-described ex-alcoholic say, “I asked God to take it away. He said, ‘No.’ I asked, ‘Why not?’ He said, ‘I want you to choose to stop.’”
A writer said it this way, “The reason God doesn’t give us a spiritual lobotomy the moment we believe is that God wants us to reacquire the authority He originally gave us. Remember, He created us to have dominion over the earth. He wants us to freely choose to be the administrators of His loving providence.”
We can not only think correctly, but we can also choose correctly. This is true at the moment of salvation because the Father gave us a new mind and a new nature – Christ’s. He put us back in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve before the fall. Yes, they eventually chose incorrectly, but they didn’t have to and neither do we.
Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey Me.” We show how much we love Jesus with every choice to listen to and follow Him. Your everyday choices reveal who you love more – you or Him. Stop just saying you love Jesus. Show it! You’re a secure child of God who can freely choose to love Jesus with each and every choice with the Spirit’s help. Here’s to your love meter going off the charts today!
“S”et Fre“E” Nowww