Freedom devotional

 

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Now the Lord^[a] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

 

Freedom is… being released from man’s laws and decrees.

No need to do man’s bidding, to respond to pressure.

 I don’t have to perform,

 I only need do the Lords will, move when he wants me to.

 I have Freedom to serve or sit at his feet.

Not bound by should’s and shouldn'ts

Not bound by religiosity!

I CAN, but I don’t have to!

I can worship, have fun, be silly, be serious, move or be still,

Responding only to the spirit,

 Internally at rest, outwardly obedient only to God.

 

Oh, the pressure to walk as Jesus. Often the heavy yoke of being a “good” Christian can weigh a body down. The “I should do this and that “, both the internal and external messages often obliterating the gift of being truly free in Christ. We are not to submit again to a yoke of religious slavery or of slavery to sin but to walk with Jesus in freedom. To know his word and be obedient to his voice and to find rest.

 

What are some of the internal or external voices that are weighing you down? Can you see and hear the invitation to simply love the Lord and listen for his Voice?  The Lord is delighted in you and is inviting you to dance, create, laugh, cry, rest and be fully free. Today, take a few moments to ponder what that invitation to walk in more freedom could look like for you.

storms devotional

 

Mathew 8:23-27
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey."

 

Warning signs,

Storm's coming.

Trying to head it off.

Prayers, fleshly words,

No stopping it.

Gale forces stirring up the muck from below.
Simple cries to the One above.

He's got this one.

The healing will come,

Not from weather watching,

But from his perfect timing and plan.


How many times have you seen the storm on the horizon? All the emotions and turmoil begin to swirl, sometimes from our own souls or from those around us. We want so desperately to head it off but sometimes it’s out of our control.  It’s a struggle to hand it over to the Lord and yet that is often all we can do. To call out to Jesus and then shelter in his love, waiting out the storm.

What storms have been swirling around you? Take a few minutes today to just pause and lean into the Lord, calling out to him in the midst of the storm, looking to the one who even the winds and the waves obey.

KWA assignment the night before Christmas

 

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house...

Anticipation for chaos and disappointment descended and filled each room. The traditions of the past and the need to please, weighed heavily on her head. Every year the mad dash to decorate, buy the perfect gift and fill the stockings with special items would crash on Suzy's heart. The circular thoughts of "will they like it, did I get enough, will they feel loved? swirled till she was overwhelmed with dread. And every year she would make the same promise to herself that she would simplify and just enjoy the process. Could and would this year be any different? Suzy had her doubts. She tried to pray and hand it over to the Lord. Praying "Lord I want to celebrate this year in a new way. " Then would come the insidious whispers "what about little Timmys' gift? you forgot the eggnog and you know Kelly hates bagels and lox for breakfast; you messed up again." finally exhausted and defeated, Suzy would usually give in and just settle for another disappointing year. But this time a glimmer arose in her spirit, a twinkle of hope that this year indeed could be different.  She did not know how it could be. Then with wonder the Holy spirit invited her into letting go of people pleasing. Could she learn to be fully present this season? Present to her emotions but not ruled by them. Present to others but not responsible for their responses? Could she find internal acceptance of her short comings and be filled with the Lords full acceptance? Was it even possible she asked herself and finally knew by the power of Christs love all things were possible. Instead of ruminating and looking inward Suzy defiantly turned up the worship music, quieted herself and postured her heart towards her savior. She was learning to sit, be still and receive from him who was the true gift. And as breath after breath became deeper, inhaling the Lord's presence and exhaling the worry, a peace that passes all understanding descended. As Suzy fell asleep that night before Christmas visions of joy and love filled her head.

 

The tape worm of self

 

 

 The tape worm of self

2 Timothy 3:2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Philippians 2:21

“For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

 

 The parasite of sin.

The eggs laid at the foundation.

Inch by inch

Cell by cell multiply.

Larvae attach deep within.

 oh the parasitic nature of self.

 Full grown worm hardly noticed,

Until freedom is desired.

No easy remedy,

Tugging and pulling in futility .

The impossibility of self-effort.

Only that which cleans completely

can kill the worm of self.

No quick fix,

only in surrender will liberty come.

 

2 Corinthians 5:15

 “And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

What I’m thankful for in this dog gone crazy season

 

What I’m thankful for in this dog gone crazy season

As my time of dripping IV antibiotics every 6 hours for 6 weeks, draws to a close, I am given to pause and contemplate what I have learned and am thankful for in this season.

I have learned to be more appreciative of Allopathic medicine. These past few years has been an eye opener of how broken our medical systems are and how big pharma has emphasized pharmaceuticals and sickness instead of coordinating care in conjunction with the God designed ability of the body to heal as well as wellness via what we put into our bodies. My studies have brought great information but also cynicism and mistrust. This incident of the dog bite and subsequent bone infection has realigned my heart to see the need for all. I am thankful for my general practitioner who moved mountains to make sure the infected finger got addressed by the specialist. I am thankful for Lancaster Orthopedic Group, whose offices (I visited all 3), where filled with smiling, happy staff and a great doctor. I am thankful for, as much as I do not want to admit, pharmaceutical medicine that helped fight the infection. I am thankful for Ephrata Hospital that is still small enough to be personal as well as the caring and loving staff. I am thankful for a fellow OT who knows fingers. I am grateful for my weekly nurse visits to change the dressing. This has been a time of meeting new people and getting to enjoy them. I had so many lovely nurses, I'm humbled by their kindness.

I have increased my understanding that family is important and that it is a microcosm of what community can look like. I am thankful for my husband who has been understanding and attentive. He has stepped up to the plate and dealt with my many moods and exhausted crying session’s. Patiently helping me shower and eating lots of taco fest burritos without complaint. I am so grateful to my adult children who have offered me time, resources and encouragement. I’m filled with gratitude as I think about how they purchased hair washes at my hairdresser. (showering with a PICC line is a whole other topic!) I am thankful for bone broth that one child would make and religiously bring to me to help my gut from all the antibiotics. I am thankful for another kiddo, along with his wife, who would come over and help cook and clean 1 night a week or just cut up my cantaloupe. (The infected pinky made chopping difficult). I am thankful for the child who when the nurse showed up at the house and explained all the details on how to set up my Drips, took copious notes, and talked me off the ledge that first night.  I am thankful for another for regular check in calls and grandbaby chats.

I am thankful for siblings. I am learning that if we can truly appreciate each other’s strengths and weaknesses we can function as a whole so much better. This season has also been challenging as we have been walking beside our mother as she journeys through Cancer. The ability to text and blow off steam and vent to each other has been a gift. The battle still rages for mom and as a family we are learning to weather it with humor, grace and mercy for one another. I’ve also learned that though inconvenient and not conducive to sleep this PICC line situation is not anything even closely Related to the suffering that cancer patients endure. 

I have learned to better appreciate the friends I have. For walks and talks, for prayers, for texts and just again check ins to help me feel seen during this crazy time. OH, and the flowers.  I am thankful for my many nurse friends who held to the “suck it up butter cup” attitude, it took a while, but I finally understood why they were like” yeah, the scheduled midnight runs of IV drip and 4 times a day sucks, but have you considered the alternative”. Their reality checks helped me to reprioritize.

And although social media is not always my favorite, I am thankful for the “out There” community that sent well wishes and messages. The comfort to sometimes just put your stuff out there is not as good as talking with God and or a dear one, but oddly I have grown to appreciate the catharsis it can sometimes bring in sharing your trials.

 

Silly things I learned and am thankful for…again, although I have read much about micro plastics in our food and environments, I am thankful for press and seal saran wrap. It does a mighty job on covering a PICC line way better than any store-bought cast cover thing. I like cute PICC line sleeves.  I learned how to navigate a drip with my IV in most places, except it does not work in a car while driving home from a wedding but if you have an engineer husband, who can figure out how to set it up, so it works in the car in the middle of a chic filet parking lot, that’s another thing. I am thankful for the timers and the flashlight on our phones so that in the middle of the night, I can see if the IV has finished and be awoken in case I do fall asleep in the middle of it so I can disconnect. I am thankful I am not a young mom again, at almost 60 this middle of the night feedings aka drips really disrupt my sleep and ability to focus.

I am thankful for the local church for a soft-landing place. I am learning that though sleeplessness, fatigue and distractions have impacted my ability to focus on the Lord, He has no difficulty focusing and seeing me. I am learning more how to be still, like literally still for 45-60 minutes each drip. It is still a hard lesson on surrendering productivity. Having a non-functioning pinky on my right and a 10-pound lift limit on my pick arm on the left felt so limiting. The “who am I “if I’m not working or functioning as a full-bodied person question made me feel off balance. (and of course lack sleep added to the situation).  I am also thankful for the lessons learned in the past about the Lord's mercy and grace and about having grace for others. I am thankful for life.

KWA assignment on faith scripture

KWA assignment 6/1/24

What do you need faith for 

Hebrews11:6ESV

" And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. "

It is in the drawing nearby. Draw near to me my daughter. Oh, how I will rend the heavens for you dear one. Be at peace that I am faithful and the mustard seed of faith you have is enough. Don't focus on if your enough. Just draw near to me.  I ask you to also remember, remember who I Am and where I have been and moved in your life. The remembering is exercising and strengthening your faith. Doubt and fear weaken it. I am delighted when you walk and sit with me. My desire, daughter, is for you to know your need for me but also that I am He who meets your needs. Will you come and draw near? Will you lay all your fears at my feet? Oh daughter stop doubting and despising your own heart. Trust that I know you inside and out and love you. all of you> I know your needs and I don't hold anything back based on your performance. I need you to believe that you are my joy. I delight in you and what you bring, so don't hold back. Trust me. I am the God of the intimate but also of the supernatural miracles. Ask not just for the small but dear one ask for the big. I can and want to show you the big. Come and dream for the big with me. I have given you words to share with the world. Will you believe that I can help you get them out and where I need them? 

KWA Devotional the Word

 

 KWA Devotional

6/2/24
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.

The living word living in us

 

 

The Logos of life, from before time began

Words speaking forth all existence

Rhema emanating from the one who knows the plan

Word of God coming alive

Words shared in verbal history

Words spoken to the scribe

Words given to uncover mystery

Words forming new life

The living word living in me

Words being given voice

Words that set captives free

Words that give choice

The musician’s words poured forth in song

The poetic word a personal psalm

The Spoken word preached hard and long

The bloggers word providing healing balm

The encouragers’ words helping others along.

The prophet’s words making others strong.

Kingdom words coming down

Words so needed for our world

Release of heavenly words where truth is found.

 

Do you believe you were born for such a time as this? That the Lord chose to reveal himself to you and that your life is not your own?   Then consider this, If in fact this faith journey, this walking in the way of the Lord, is what you’ve been saved into then we must embrace that he’s called us unto something. First and foremost, it is to seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and to love Him with all your heart and soul. As scribes for the Lord and as keepers of his word, can we believe that he has called us to worship him through our obedience in pouring forth his heart through our written words. The Lord is the living word living inside of us, he is also the fierce Lion of Judah roaring. Can you hear the invitation to be strong and courageous and release the words he has spoken personally to you? This is challenging for many of us because it may seem like what we have to say isn’t enough or that we might be required to write a novel. I believe its more a matter of listening to the father’s heart and letting him pour through our fingers on to the paper.  The what, when, and how your words are to go forth are to be placed back into His hands.

Lets take some time and ask the father for what’s on his heart to be written  or perhaps ask for the when and how or just ask for the boldness to step out and go for it ?

The Lord spoke this to me several years ago with regards to speaking in front of people I want to encourage you too

 

"out of your heart speak"
"Your heart and mine, intertwined"
"declare my heart in this place"
Continue to relinquish the need to please
"Trust the words of the one who resides inside'

 

Luke 6:45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Proverbs 18:4 “A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”