In the US, today is Memorial Day. It’s a time when Americans stop and say, “Thanks” to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms they enjoy.
Today, people all over the world are crying out for freedom; and yet, they are looking for it in the political arena. Governments can give and take freedom away; but only Jesus can set the person free from what truly enslaves them – their sin and their sinful choices. People can be free outwardly, but be in bondage inwardly. Jesus sets people free inwardly, regardless of what takes place outwardly – a freedom that can never be taken away by any government, person or situation.
Galatians 5:1 states, “It is for freedom that Christ has us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
True freedom starts in the heart and mind. Are you free today? If not, it is time to trust in the only One who can free you from the inward bondage you experience. Tell Jesus that you are a slave and cannot free yourself. Tell Him that you believe He died and rose from the grave to give you freedom. Right now, ask Him to be your God, Lord and Savior. Go ahead. Become free today.
If you are free, it’s time to give thanks to the One who paid the ultimate price to give you true freedom, Jesus Christ. Thank Him for not only setting you free, but for also giving you the power to live in freedom from your drugs of choice each and every day of the week, not just on Sunday.

“S”et Free Nowww

Ever been in this guy’s shoes? “The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
“Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, ‘God! How could you do this to me?’
“Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him. ‘How did you know I was here?’ asked the weary man of his rescuers. ‘We saw your smoke signal,’ they replied.”
As you end your week, did you face any burnt hut situations? Are you still processing them through your biblically-based truth filter or have you given in to discouragement? Or maybe, even picked up your drug of choice? Remember, as a child of God, your Father is big enough to work in your life using those supposed disastrous situations (Hebrews 12:5-11). If you let Him, He can use them to bring you closer to Jesus, the source of love, significance and security.
As you look back over your week, instead of saying, “Oh Lord, why did You let my hut burn down?” Ask, “Jesus, what are you trying to do in, for or through me because my hut burnt down?” Then wait upon Jesus, He’ll rescue you in ways you never expected.

“S”et Free Nowww

In one of the battle scenes in the movie Avengers, Hulk is battling Thor’s brother, Loki. Loki says, “I’m a god.” Then Hulk proceeds to toss Loki around like a rag doll and says, “Puny god.” The audience roared with laughter, as did I.
Then I processed this scene through my BWV. The Bible says in Jeremiah 2:5, “They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.” Think about this for a second. You become what you worship. Egypt worshiped over 1,500 gods, one of which was a dung beetle. You become what you worship. Picture yourself as a dung beetle doing what dung beetles do. You get the picture.
But you might say, “I’m not worshiping dung beetles.” True, but our gods are who or what we turn to in order to meet our needs. Who are your gods (drugs of choice) that you turn to in order to make yourself feel good about yourself? If you don’t turn to Jesus and His Word, picture what you’re becoming, anything like a dung beetle? If we want to be free from our drugs of choice, we must first stop seeing them as “not so bad.” Until we see all sin, all drugs of choice, as destroying our lives, we are lowering ourselves to becoming a dung beetle.
If you’ve placed your faith in Jesus, however, you are a child of God. You have a Loving Father, a Kingly Brother – Jesus, and a Heavenly Helper – the Spirit. Why lower yourself to some dung beetle or whatever else you choose to worship? You are a child of God, worship the king. And guess what? You become what you worship. Picture that One! Oh, how great freedom looks!

“S”et Free Nowww

A good buddy of mine and I were surfing one day. As I was getting a little frustrated with some of my rides, he said something that I’ve never forgotten. “Chris, you need to relax and enjoy your time in the water. There will always be better surfers than you. And there will always be others who are not as good. You can learn from those who are better, so watch. And others will be watching you, so have fun.”
I hated to think that people were watching me fall off my board! What he said was very profound, though, especially for believers. On our journey’s to be like Jesus, some will be further down the road than us; so learn from them. And there will be others not as far along, so let them watch and learn.
Jesus can use every one of us to make healthy disciples (Matt. 28:18-20; Hebrews 5:13-15), even the newest of believers. The Spirit can also use others in our lives to help us experience victory each day. Hopefully, you have someone to whom you acknowledge your drugs of choice and who is praying for your victory over them. If so, enjoy your time together! If not, I strongly urge you to ask the Spirit to bring at least one person into your life to form a Bible Impact Group.

Set Free Noww“W”

I love what a friend told me today, “Don’t judge your insides by other’s outsides.” We need other believers to help us practice processing our daily lives through God’s Word to find love and peace today.
Yet, we often avoid others because of our own insecurities. We see their outside of what appears to be a happy, well-adjusted, going places person. Compared to that, what can you do? You’re fighting to process your disappointments and/or failures. Your insides are telling you to hide because you don’t measure up to their outsides.
This is a lie-based message that must be filtered out. Satan wants you to think that your challenges are unique and that those around you are doing just fine. Maybe. The Bibles says every one of us has areas in our lives that the Spirit wants to change into Christ-like character (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
Some people hide their insides behind a false outside; while other’s outsides are quite real. The person you’re looking could be in a fruit bearing season. I have a grapevine in my backyard. This winter it looked dead. It had no green leaves or juicy fruit. Yet it was alive alright. In fact, right now it has quite a few grape clusters!
Some are in grape bearing season, while others are in dead of winter. Don’t judge your insides with other’s outsides. You need them to pull you forward; because one day, you’ll be pulling them forward. Hiding hurts both of you. So let’s be real with other believers so they can pray for our lives to produce juicy fruit!

Set Free Noww“w”