Freedom

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Galatians 5:1 NIV

The Fourth of July is the day that we celebrate the birthday of the United States of America. Our country was founded by the people and for the people of this country. It was the intent of our founding fathers that we form a nation that would submit to the direct leadership of God. The God that I am talking about here is the one and only God! The God I speak of is the same God who created all of heaven and all of earth. He is the same God who breathed the very breath of life into every single human being.

Our founding fathers also desired that we have basic individual freedoms such as the freedom to worship and freedom of speech. The founding fathers also wanted us to have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

As I celebrate the birthday of my country, I also celebrate a very special freedom that I have through Christ Jesus. Because I have accepted the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for me personally, I am free from the bondage of sin that separated me from God. I have been redeemed by Jesus and brought back into fellowship with my creator.

Jesus taught us to give to the government what belongs to the government but never to bow to anyone other than God. As believers we are to be discerning and gracious people. In many ways we are like sheep among wolves. Jesus told his followers,

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

Matthew 10:16 NIV

I also believe that in this world God has given his children spiritual discernment to recognize when some of our basic freedoms are in danger. The Bible teaches us to watch for injustice and recognize sin and corruption.

Join me this week as we celebrate all of our most precious freedoms. Especially the one we have in Jesus. I also challenge you as a believer to be astute, sharp, perceptive, insightful, discerning and wise. Do not follow blindly any leadership that threatens our basic freedoms and do not bow to anyone other than the God of all creation. Our greatest hope for our country is for believers to pray with a humble heart, for the ones who lead our country and for our fellow believers to remain strong through the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not know about the future, but we do know the One who holds the future in his almighty hands!

I pray that we will never loose our precious freedoms but if we do, there is one freedom that can never be taken away from us and it is the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. Even in death no one can take our soul!

Questions:

Are you grateful for the freedoms that you have in this country?

Have you experienced freedom from sin through Jesus?

Are you a discerning believer?

What are some of the things that God has given you discernment about concerning our country?

Will you join me in praying for our country, our leaders, and fellow Christians?


Prayer:

Dear God,

As a believer sometimes I feel discouraged regarding the direction our world is going. I am sad when I see people call “good” evil and “evil” good. I pray Lord that you will give me your discernment regarding the country in which I live. I am grateful and privileged to live in the USA, but I also am fearful that we have become a country where many do not acknowledge you and would love to stamp out your name. Your Word teaches that when you are not honored there will be consequences. Help me Lord to be as shrewd as a snake and gentle as a dove as I go about living my life. Lord, I pray I will not take for granted the freedoms that I now experience, and to cherish the freedom that I have in you. I pray for our country, and that our leaders would look to you. I pray also for all believers that we might be discerning and remain strong in our faith.

In Your Son’s Name I pray. Amen.

The Sweet Aroma of Jesus

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved
and those who are perishing.”

2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV

I love the analogy of my heart being God’s garden because there are so many spiritual truths to be found inside a garden. Some of those truths are found in the lessons of the preparation of the soil, the planting of the seed, the necessity of watering the plants, and the pruning of the plant. I also love the unique individuality of each flower and leaf, the sweetness of the fruit, the nourishment that comes from the vegetation, the flavor and the aroma of the herbs. Let us not forget the analogy of the Master Gardner and the loving care that he gives to our heart’s garden.

The fact is that when we begin our relationship with Jesus our soul is barren, dry and thirsty. We are in deep need of some nourishment and care. Our garden is empty and in need of some serious beautification. The fact is, that any heart no matter how ugly it has been in the past, it now changes when Jesus comes into that life. The sinful ugliness has been wiped clean. That heart now has a fresh start and God begins the beautification process of that life. I just love the fact that God is making something beautiful out of my life. I stand amazed yet happy that God would change me and use me for his purpose.

What are your favorite smells? For me it is a chocolate cake or an apple pie baking in the oven. It is the smell of freshly ground coffee, or it is entering the house and smelling the pot roast that has been slow cooking all day. I also love holding babies that have the fresh scent of baby powder and lotion. I love the smell of my husband’s after shave when he kisses me good morning. Of course, I love the smell of fragrant flowers! Smell is a precious gift from God. Pleasant smells are so wonderful that I don’t think I will even mention the smells that make me go running for fresh air.

The point is, God wants to change us so that we will have the aroma of Christ. God begins his work by taking our negative character traits and replacing them with his character traits. When this happens we become wrapped in the aroma of Jesus. Jesus begins to sweeten our spirit and he also begins the demolition of our walls of self protection. Jesus teaches us about love and hope. He teaches us to model his compassion and mercy. We learn about the amazing grace of God. Jesus begins to teach us how he thinks so that our thoughts can be changed to his thoughts.

I wish I could say that giving to God our undesirable character flaws like fear and anger, is a one time effort. But as long as we live we are subject to sin revisiting our life. However, I do believe that as we mature in our faith we also learn to recognize sin more quickly and then we are faced with the choice of what we will do with that sin. Even when our emotions are raw, through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is still possible to choose Jesus. When we do, others now experience the sweet aroma of Christ in our life.

Questions:

Are you amazed that God wants to make something beautiful out of your life?

What has God been speaking to you about?

Do you desire to have the sweet aroma of Jesus Christ in your life?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

Once again I am reminded that I am a work in progress. I am indeed blessed that you would choose to make something beautiful out of my life. Help me to choose your ways over my ways. Help me to become submissive to the character changes that need to be made in my life. I want others to desire you because of your sweet aroma in my life. I desire to become a person of influence for you.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Growth is Found Deep in the Garden

”Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.”

Psalm 4:1 KJV

No matter where I am in my faith, I will always need to meet Jesus in the garden of my heart every day. Some days I find that I just need Jesus to love on me, comfort me, dry my tears, and reassure me of his love for me. Another day I may have a need to tell God how awesome I think he is and express my gratitude to him for all of my many blessings. Some days Jesus asks me to go deeper into the garden with him so that I can listen to his voice and learn more of his ways. Other days I need to fall down before him and surrender my will to his will for my life. It is on days like that when I will experience a deep indescribable peace, as I surrender to his perfect will for me.

Today it is occurring to me that it is easy to ask God for all sorts of things that others need, but it is rather difficult to look inside my own heart and address what it is my own spirit needs. I believe that when we do accept Jesus’ invitation to go deeper into the garden with him he will tell us amazing things about our self and minister to our spirit in astounding ways.

It is deep inside the garden where Jesus will address the boulder of fear in my life. His plan is to totally remove the boulder and in its place plant tulips of trust and lilies of peace. It is in the depth of the garden where Jesus will point out the thistles and weeds that are destined to destroy the garden. These are the ugly weeds of pride and anger, and the thistles of control and selfishness. In the place of those unsightly weeds and thistles Jesus has a vision and a plan for planting beautiful flowers of humility and forgiveness.

As I walk and talk with Jesus I find my self uncomfortable as I am forced to face my sinful attitudes and behavior. I begin to squirm. I become frustrated, and then I resort to tears. At times there are enough tears to water the entire garden! But Jesus, the Master Gardner simply says, “Why are you throwing such a fit?” Through my sobs I am finally able to spit out the words, “Because I can’t do this! I can’t forgive, I can’t give up my control, I can’t turn loose of my anger!” Then Jesus puts his comforting arms around me and he reminds me, “Paula, I know you can’t, but my Holy Spirit within you can and he will help you accomplish the task. You only need to ask. I promise that I will give you my grace and it will be all that you need.”

I then ask in prayer for God’s grace to do whatever I feel is impossible. I know God will withhold no good thing from me and I know that peace, trust, humility and forgiveness are all good things. So according to his promise, I ask in confidence and Jesus supplies the strength that I need. Because of my sinful nature I am naturally an ungracious person but Jesus gives me his all sufficient grace to help me accomplish what I cannot do in my own strength.

I leave the garden knowing that God has a plan for my life. He wants to enlarge the garden plot of my life. His plan is to plant an abundance of beautiful flowers for his glory. I am confident that God has begun the beautification process of making my heart a sanctuary of love and peace. Even in my distress, I am very confident that God will enlarge me. The touch of the Master Gardner is always beautiful even in the hardest times of surrender.

Questions:

When was the last time you visited the garden?

Did you pray for others or did you pray for yourself?

Were you reluctant to go deeper into the garden?

What happened in the deep part of the garden?

How did you feel when you left the garden?


Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I thank you that you love me enough to ask me to go with you into the deepest part of the garden. I must admit I dread those visits! God you always seem to ask the impossible of me when I am there. Yet you have promised me you will give me the grace that I will need to enlarge my garden. I’m ashamed when I have a melt down, but I am more ashamed of the times when I leave the garden without your peace. Forgive me. Help me to learn that I am only prolonging the inevitable. That before too many days pass you will again call me back into the depths of the garden. We will again address the same issue. Lord I pray that I will learn that I can shorten the agony in my life by relinquishing to you sooner opposed to later. God I know that fear, hate, control, selfishness, anger, and pride only drag me down and never lift you up. Lord please forgive me and enlarge my heart for your purposes in my life.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Three Important Trees in My Garden

“…your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love,

and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I Thessalonians 1:3 NIV

There are three trees in my garden that rise tall above all else in my garden and provide shade to the ferns, Hosta, Hellebores and the Bleeding Hearts. They are the mighty oaks. These three oak trees also provide shelter and shade for me as I set under them and allow God to refresh and restore my soul.

As God and I sit together he whispered the names of those trees to me. Their names are Faith, Hope and Love. God informed me that these three trees are the main foundational trees in my garden. I know this is true because, as a Christian, my faith is based upon what I believe about Jesus Christ and his personal gift of salvation for me. My work is an outflow of my love for Jesus Christ and I am inspired by the hope I have in Jesus Christ and his return.

What I believe about God and his goodness is my faith, my godly actions and responses to others is the work I do out of love for Jesus, and how I endure the difficulties of life is my personal witness that reflects my hope for my eternal future.

Yes, faith, hope and love are the foundational truths in the life of all believers. Without them where would any of us be? When those foundational trees have taken root deep within our hearts, we will be without a doubt the positive people of godly influence that God intends us to be. I don’t believe this will happen without us being intentional about the amount of time we spend alone with God.

There are many creative ways that we can learn more about God throughout our day. All of those ways are valuable, but the times of deepest learning is always found in solitude. I encourage you to find a secluded spot where you can meet privately with God. Going to the garden of your heart to be alone with Jesus is the very place where he will speak the sweetest, most amazing and enlightening words you will ever hear. His words to you and your time of prayer with him will become sacred and precious to you. As you learn more about God the foundational trees that God has planted in your heart’s garden, they will grow taller year after year as their roots dig down deeper and deeper into the fertile soil of your heart!

Questions:

How deeply rooted are God’s foundational truths in your heart?

Today what are you struggling the most: faith, hope or love?

How has past experiences increased your faith in God?

How has God spurred you on to love him and others more?

Today where is your hope for the world, your eternal future, and Jesus’ return?

Are you intent on spending time alone with God?


Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for the three wonderful spiritual constants that you have given to me. The faith to believe, your love that will stretch me into serving you and others, and the hope I have for eternity. These are the things that will enrich and sustain me in this life. I am reminded that you have said in your word that “now there remains faith, hope and love, but that the greatest of these is love.” Thank you for loving me even when I was unlovable. I pray that you will enable me to love others with the same selfless love that you have shown toward me. Give me the desire to spend more and more time alone with you so that faith, hope and love will become deeply rooted in my life.

In the Name of Your Son I pray. Amen.

God's Amazing Resume

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”

Exodus 3:14a NIV

One of the things I have always dreading doing was updating my resume. Yet I have found that in this day and age no one is going to TRUST you enough to hire you unless you can prove to them that you have experience and that you are a good fit for their organization. So when seeking new employment I was faced with trying to put my best foot forward on paper.

Then I began thinking about God and what his resume might look like. When I realize who God is and what his amazing attributes are I discovered that God’s amazing resume enabled me to trust him with my life and the lives of all those I love.

GOD’S NAME

To Moses, God called himself the “I AM” and he told Moses to tell the people that
“I AM has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14b I AM is his name.

That name includes I AM all present, I AM all knowing, I AM all powerful.
I have always been and I will always be. God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The bottom line is I can trust God because his name is the great “I AM.”

GOD’S ADDRESS

“I AM” resides in heaven above, in the earth below, and within our hearts!
“Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” Isaiah 66:1a

As believers we know that God lives within our hearts.
“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you?

I Corinthians 6:19a God resides in heaven and also within our hearts. He is always at home and is constantly available to you and me.

GOD’S PURPOSE

Redemption made possible to all mankind through sacrificing his son.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believed in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

God desires to have a personal relationship with every person he has ever created. God wants to restore you and to have a personal relationship with you.

GOD’S WORK EXPERIENCE From: The Beginning – Throughout: Eternity

Creator of the universe – Creator of you and your inmost being – Design expert – Gardener and landscaper – Miracle worker – Experienced in sea parting – Deliverer of a nation – Experienced in wall demolition – Commander in Chief – Lion tamer – Fire, wind and rain expert – Giant slayer – Great physician – Healer – Wealthy beyond our imagination – Great philanthropist – Expert travel agent and tour guide – Owner of a daily bread distribution company.

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Provider – Shepherd – Teacher – Counselor – Acquainted with sorrow – Experienced in personal sacrifice – Oversees and adoption agency – Father – Friend

CIVIC AND SOCIAL

Ability to ignore social and economical status – Serves all humanity – Relational – Active in wedding planning for “His Bride,” the church of all believers.

OTHER

God has as exceptional organizational and people skills – Known for his extraordinary ability to know and hold the future – Has great wisdom and discernment – Possesses way above average ability to love, forgive, and care for mankind.

REFERENCES

He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Lord above all Lords and King above all Kings.
Those who serve him can testify to his amazing love and faithfulness.
Satan’s reference is not needed but if asked,
Satan would have to say that, God is awesome enough that he desired to be like Him.
Satan could testify to God’s magnificent power and glory.
Satan would also say that the “I AM” is who the demons fear.

This day I am again reminded that God’s Resume is flawless! His attributes are impeccable! His reputation is perfect! In light of this amazing resume that belongs to my Heavenly Father, how can I not trust God with every detail of my life and the lives of those I love?

Questions:

What is God asking you to trust him with?

Do you need to find God’s strength to help you trust him with your life and the lives of those you love?

What part of God’s Resume gives you the strength to trust him?


Prayer:

Dear Father,

I confess to you today that I do not always trust you immediately. But I know deep down in my heart that I should. Some things are just too scary and uncertain. I have tried many times to trust you but I keep coming up short. I need your help. Help my unbelief. When I see your amazing resume I know that only a fool would choose not to trust you. I need to stay in the garden with you until I feel I am safe in your care. Help me to find your peace through trusting you.

In Your Son’s Name I pray. Amen.

Where Does My Help Come From?

“I lift up my eyes to the hills – Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1 NIV

Today I am reminded that we live in a strange world that calls “good” evil and “evil” good. The world’s value system clearly is not God’s value system. Although we can look and find many good causes in this world and many good caring people, still at the very core of our society evil masquerades as good.

As I process what is going on around me, I sometimes become discouraged and feel that much of life is whirling out of control. The poor economy and financial struggles keep my focus on survival as I struggle to remain hopeful for the future. Yet as Christians, we can know that our focus must remain on God. I must constantly remind myself that God has provided for me in the past, he is currently providing for me, and he will provide for me in the future as well.

God is our hope, our peace, and our provider. God is all that we need physically, financially, emotionally, and most importantly eternally. God will faithfully provide and sustain all of us during all of our circumstances and he will give us wisdom and peace for every type of problem that we will ever face. God will get us safely through each and every circumstance.

Psalms 121: 3-4 reminds us “He will not let your foot slip –
he who watches over you will not slumber…or sleep.”
Verse 8 in the same chapter says, “The Lord will watch over your life;
…your coming and going both now and forever more."

Do not be confused. I used to think that being a Christian would some how put me in a special bubble that would keep me and all those I loved safe and secure. The truth is because sin entered the world we are all subject and susceptible to all kinds of difficult situations. Jesus reminds us in John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Wow! Take heart! Have hope! Why? It is because Jesus has overcome the world. Jesus came, he did his job, he died, and he rose again. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father praying for me and for you. In addition, he has sent his Holy Spirit, to be our helper in times of trouble. His Spirit lives inside each and every believer. Now pay attention! Jesus over came the world thought his obedience to death on the cross. Because he did his job and did it right we can take heart! We can have hope for eternity. Jesus is coming again and he is the winner! Because he wins – we win. My help comes from Jesus Christ!

Questions:

Where is the first place you go for help in time of trouble?

How do you find strength in the fact that the Lord is your helper?

What would your circumstance look like if you couldn’t “take heart?”

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Today I am thrilled with the knowledge that you Lord are my help in time of trouble! Lord, help me to know that even if I am on my way to the “poor house,” a courtroom, a hospital, or the cemetery you are my help in time of need. Even if my doctor’s report says that my life is terminal help me to cling to you until I feel your peace. Thank you Lord that you said, “take heart.” Lord, I realize that my life would not have any meaning or purpose without that hope. I accept that my life will be difficult but I rejoice in knowing that because I have accepted you as my Savior, my life in eternity will be perfect!

With thanks and praise, in Your Name I pray. Amen.