I recently watched God work in a mighty way at one of our MiniChurches (our home fellowships/churches). As the group worked their way through John 10, lights went on big time. The group discovered and discussed the important points of a shepherd in John 10:1-10. Among other things, the group saw that Jesus knows His sheep by name and that His sheep know Him by voice and follow Him.
“Frank”, a person in the group, spoke up. “I’m going through that right now. I think I know what He wants me to do, but I’m not sure.” After letting the group in on a few details, people, with filters on, were getting insights from the Spirit to share with him. A few moments later The Light went on in his head. He realized he was basing his decision on fear rather than on the truths of God’s Word. The group didn’t tell him what to do. They simply listened to the voice of their Shepherd along with him. Everyone went away stoked at what God had done!
I often hear Christians say, “I don’t need the church. I can worship Jesus on a mountain top by myself.” This statement is both true and false. True, they can worship Jesus on a mountain by themselves. False, they don’t need the church. The Spirit of God using the Word and people of God are needed for us to become more like and in love with Jesus. Yeah, we don’t need a church service, but we do need those in the church to draw us closer to Jesus. Who are the people of God in your life?
Set Free Noww“W”

A few weeks ago, my wife and I put in our annual vegetable garden. We’d picked out a variety of tomato, bell pepper, zucchini and cucumbers to plant. We connected each plant via a drip system in order to get the best production with as little water use as possible.
Over the years, I’ve learned a little trick to putting a drip system together. I use a hand torch to slightly heat the end of the ¼” tubing that attaches the various parts of the system. This system works great…unless there’s wind! It was blowing quite nicely that afternoon. After repeated attempts to make this work, I was starting to get angry. Each time the tension would arise, I’d use my FREEdom tools and the tension would abate.
I was getting ready to call it a day after a few cycles of this when my wife and partner suggested I use a candle. It not only worked at getting the drip system operational, but it also increased my joy levels tremendously.
The tools do work…all of them! I not only needed to filter the drip system through the Word, but I also needed my partner as well. Without both, the vegetable garden might still be in our garage!
Set “Free” Noww“W”

“Live like Jay” is a motto from the surf movie, “Chasing Mavericks”, about the life of Jay Moriaity. He explained his philosophy of life this way, “Don’t take anything for granted, because one minute it can be there and the next minute it can’t, and it happens so quickly. When the negative stuff comes around, just let it go. It all leads to the positive as long as you keep a positive attitude. Enjoy everything you get. That’s one of the most important things in life is really appreciating it because we only get to do this once and it’s not for a long time.”
If only we, as God’s children, would live this way. Negative comes to all of us. The question is, “How will we process it?” You can’t let it go. It must be processed out. We have the choice each day to let our negative thoughts or others negative actions to either drag us away from or draw us closer to the source of real life, Jesus. We do this by filtering out those lies using the truths of God’s word.
As God’s children, we have been given the awesome opportunity to enjoy real living, a kind that will last for eternity, each moment in the presence of love, joy and peace, Jesus. Let’s choose to live like Jesus, who lived each day in the presence of His Father by filtering every situation through Him (Jn. 5:19).
Set “Free” Nowww

Wow, what a powerful 3 minute video worth watching! I am not endorsing the product, but I certainly am the message.

It contains three priceless life lessons for those who wish to “stand firm” in the freedom Christ has given them (Gal. 5:1). One, we must align our thinking with God’s. If we don’t, those lie-based messages will affect our daily decisions. Two, we need a source of truth outside ourselves to help us know what the proper alignment should be. We only know what we know at the moment we know it. Thus, as the Light of the World Jesus can expose the lie-based messages we currently hold so we can exchange them with the truth. And three, who we listen to is crucial to our freedom. We need others to help reinforce how God sees and defines us.
How’s your alignment today?
“SE”t Free Noww“W”

Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.…I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,…I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”
Keep in mind Paul had encountered all kinds of tough situations (see 2 Cor. 11:23-33). Yet, he learned to be content no matter where he was or what he faced. How? He learned to be comfortable in the skin God gave him. He knew who he was and could rest in who his God is.
We bring tremendous pressure upon ourselves when we try to be what others want us to be or when we try to copy the lives of those around us. This pressure often finds it’s release in our drugs of choice, which only further takes away our contentment and robs us of our peace.
You are a wonderfully and awesomely made child of God with gifts and talents of your own. Stop looking at or worrying about how God created those around you. Use your biblical tools to listen to and do what Jesus tells you to do each day. As you do, you’ll be like Paul – comfortable in your own skin and content within the situations you encounter.
I once heard, “Why do we often say ‘truth hurts’, ‘the hard truth’, ‘you can’t handle the truth’, etc? Truth in and of itself need not be hard to bear or painful. It is only after becoming accustomed to living in lies that it becomes such. In my humble experience I’ve found the more one accepts the truth it generally becomes enjoyable, soothing, even blissful.”
“S”et Free Nowww