His Everlasting Love

"Those who survive the coming destruction will find blessings even in the barren land, for I will give rest to the people of Israel"
Long ago the Lord said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. I will rebuild you, my daughter Beth. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines. Again you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria and eat from your own gardens there. The day will come when watchmen will shout from the hill country of Ephraim, Come let us go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord our God."  Jeremiah 31:1-6

As I reflect on this past year, I am drawn to this scripture in Jeremiah. The blessings are abundant and His promises ring true to my soul. Less than a year ago, I was in the barren land. A place of destruction. I couldn't find rest, peace, or joy in my life. I was in the barren land trying to survive.  But yet, I was seeking and God was drawing me towards Him with His everlasting love. With the coming destruction, He promises that we will find blessings. He promises rest. He promises to rebuild us. He promises happiness and dancing within our souls. He promises a harvest and plenty to feast upon. Above all, He promises rejoicing in Him,

It began one Sunday morning as God touched a place in my heart and encouraged me to sign up for a book study at church. The Holy Spirit began to work on my heart as I was seeking more of Him and less of me. I was being held captive and the Lord was trying to set me FREE through His word and truth!

Prayer on Fire began to work on my life. I desired nothing more than a stronger and deeper relationship with my Father. It is hard to build that relationship when you are treading water in the middle of the ocean. I was too busy trying to survive by keeping my head above the roaring waves.Legs kicking, arms waving, lungs taking deep labored breaths along the way. If I rested, I began to sink. Slowly, God gently pulled me towards Him and gave me His unfailing love and support in the troubled waters. As He heard my cries and I began swimming towards His outstretched hand, I began to experience the freedom in the still waters. 

Steps to Freedom was placed in my hands. The tools and path towards Freedom in Christ. Overwhelming at first, yet directions to guide me through the obstacles that trapped me in my captivity. Jesus came to set the captives free!! We CAN have Freedom in Christ, but it only comes to those who activate those steps and dig deep into the heart. Freedom is a choice and a commitment. It is not FREE ....it takes someone willing to battle.

Submission. Obedience. Openness. Eyes. Ears.  Awareness.  Armor.  Faith. Trust. Small Victories. Sword. Desire. Commitment. Tears. Fight. Real. Praise. Battle.Worship. Prayer. Release. Heart. Truth. Hope. Love. Wholeness. Freedom.

These words have encompassed my year. As I look at them, it reminds me of pain. It reminds me of struggle. It reminds me of frustration. But above all, it reminds me of Christ. These words bring me to Praise and Thanksgiving. Through these months, I see His grace. I see His unfailing love and commitment to me. I see His transformation in my life. I see the Potter working His clay. I see the blessings of brokenness. I see His promises being fulfilled.

We can't survive the barren land or the roaring waves without Him....that is why He says "those who survive the destruction will find blessings." We will survive when we turn and submit to Him. Thank you for drawing me to you, Lord, so that I may be rebuilt. Thank you for the small victories that helped me keep my eyes on you. Thank you for the tears that continue to bring healing. Thank you for your truth that shows me who I am in Christ. Thank you for my eyes that helped me to see your love and grace.Thank you for my ears so that I could hear your truths and discern the lies. Thank you, Lord, for your Word that protects my heart and encourages me to live a life in obedience to you. Thank you Lord for the strength to battle. Thank you for giving me a heart that desires you more than life itself.

Today, I dance. Today, I sing. Today, I worship my Lord for bringing me out of captivity and into a land of freedom. Today, I praise Him for the valleys and give thanks for the mountain tops. I can't wait to see the vineyards grow and the fruit that comes in the beauty of His transformation.

Blessings of Obedience

As a parent, OBEDIENCE is a huge word! We always want our children to obey us...especially in public or when we are around family and friends! I remember when my kiddos were young and I would always get embarrassed when they would act out in front of others. It seemed, at the time, that their obedience was seen as a reflection as my role as a mother. If they were "bad" then I was a "bad" parent.  As I have gotten older, mmmmm wiser, I have  realized that we can't always control our children and that they are NOT always obedient despite our teaching, instruction, and discipline. They will ultimately make their own choices, but hopefully they will rely on what Jeff and I have taught them and ultimately on the ways of the Lord as they become older and wiser too.

Isn't this how we are with God, our Father?  He guides, directs, instructs, disciplines...and we, as children of God, make choices...to follow Him or disobey Him. Is He a bad father? Absolutely not! Are our choices a reflection of the type of father He is? Nope! Obedience is a choice of our own free will. Just like our children are given free will to make their own choices, so are we! But what are the consequences of the choices we make? What happens when we obey? What happens when we rebel? Blessings for Obedience! Curses for Rebellion!

Deuteronomy 28-30 tells us the consequences of our obedience and disobedience! I have spent some time in these chapters over the last week and I have realized the depth of our obedience with God. He clearly states that if we fully obey Him and carefully keep His commands that he will set us FREE and we will experience all the blessings that He has promised long ago. Disobedience results in curses, confusion, frustration, abandonment, discouragement, and defeat. It seems so clear, but yet it is so hard!

The Living Free series has given me some new insights on the birds of the air and the beasts of the field, the enemies who darken our world and attack us on a daily basis. Satan is on the prowl and ready to destroy and devour God's children whenever given the opportunity. Does God allow this to happen? Absolutely. Does He take joy in this? Absolutely NOT. He is a loving, compassionate God that desires the best for us. He wants to bless us just like we want to bless our own children. But He also wants us to understand that with disobedience comes curses and consequences. He calls us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind and to walk in His ways. When we turn from Him, it breaks His heart and He desires nothing more than for us to turn from our sinful ways and turn back to Him. He does this with open arms and a forgiving heart. His love never fails! His mercies are new each morning!!

So, what is the bottom lin? We need to realize the danger of our disobedience.  When we are disobedient to God, we will be attacked even more. The birds of the air and the beasts of the field are ready to pounce on us!! Is there freedom in that? NO WAY! We are in chains, in bondage, and no where near freedom!!  Read the following verses to give you more perspective on God's view of disobedience:

• Deuteronomy 28:25 states that "the Lord will cause you to be defeated by your enemies. You will attack your enemies from one direction, but you will scatter from them in seven! You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. Your corpses will be food for all the scavenging birds and wild animals and no one will be there to chase them away." 
• Deuteronomy 28:45 says "If you refuse to listen to the Lord your God and to obey the commands and decrees he has given you , all these curses will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed. These horrors will serve as a sign and warning among you and your descendants forever. If you do not serve the Lord your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you. You will be left hungry , thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. The Lord will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you." 

You can keep reading about the curses that will come upon you and the devastation that comes with your disobedience....but if you are anything like me, these verses can terrify you. I have come to a point in my life where I see His anger and fury as real, but yet I am no longer fearful of Him in this regard. I have a fear of reverence for Him, not a fear of  His wrath. I am in awe of Him, of His grace and of His mercy on my life. He is a God who loves and continues to show mercy, compassion, grace, patience, love and more even though I am undeserving. He is not out to crush me, destroy me, or condemn me! Romans 8:1 states that "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". He doesn't want to destroy us, to curse us, to condemn us to the point of turning us away from Him and fearing Him. Instead, He  wants us to come to Him, just as we are...humbling ourselves at His feet and asking for forgiveness for our wayward hearts. He wants us to open our hearts to Him so that  He may refine us and purify us in order that we may be a light for Him in this broken world.

Deuteronomy 30 is a message for all of us. It is a call for us to return to the Lord. Will you humble yourselves? Will you allow Him to break you so that He may restore your soul? His promises are unbelievable and His love is forever faithful to those who return to Him!! Deuteronomy 30 shows us His love and compassion for each of us. He promises to restore our fortunes, to show us mercy and to gather us back from the scattered lands. He promises to make us more prosperous than our ancestors. He promises to CHANGE our hearts so that we will love Him with all our heart and soul and that we may LIVE!! He promises to make us successful in all we do and cause our fields to produce abundant harvests!! Oh, Lord....you are so gracious and abounding in LOVE!!

This is a CHOICE for each of us....between abundant life with prosperity OR death with disaster. If we walk in His ways, the blessings are endless!! If we turn away and refuse to listen, you will not live a long, good life! FREEDOM comes to those who are obedient and follow HIM with full SURRENDER!!

Deuteronomy 30: 11-20

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ¹² It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹⁴ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
¹⁵ See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. ¹⁶ For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

......It is YOUR choice!!

Our First Step in Freedom: What does a Vital Relationship look like with God?

What does a vital relationship with God look like to us? How would you describe someone who you feel has a vital relationship with the Lord? Maybe it would be someone who goes to church every Sunday, someone who serves within and outside the church, someone who does random acts of kindness to reach those in need, someone who tithes monthly, someone who reads scripture daily and prays for others. These are all good things and  can describe someone who loves God and has a relationship with Him. But a thriving, growing, close and vital relationship with God? How can we perceive this from the outside? Honestly, we can't. What does God require for a vital relationship with Him? Is this where true Freedom begins to take root?

Repentance is where it begins. He calls us to remove the heavy yoke of oppression from our souls. He calls us to humble ourselves before Him and to repent of our destructive ways. In order to have Freedom, we must first start from within.

 In Jeremiah 3, scripture shows how Israel was in captivity and continued to walk away from the Lord. The land was polluted and their hearts were wayward and consequently their lives were miserable. But because of His unfailing love upon His children, he says in verse 12 "my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever. Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God." Verse 13 says "Confess that you have refused to listen to my voice." This is part I of becoming Free in Christ...we are called to repent!

The Israelites were in captivity...on their own path...away from God. Where are you? Is your heart polluted just like the Israelites? Are you living a life away from God? Do you follow your own desires or His? About a month ago, I was struggling with some personal things that were just tearing me down. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't concentrate on my studies. I was striving for so many things, full of alot of emotions that I just could not get a handle on, and felt like my life was out of control. On the inside, I thought I was going to explode. My body was struggling spiritually, physically, and emotionally. But yet, I had this drive to continue at full speed ahead. No speed limit signs anywhere to be seen! No stop signs...no yielding. Crosswalks...watch out people! There was absolutely no margin in my life. The  vision I can give you is a race car in full throttle spinning it's wheels in the mud...with the finish line 500 yards ahead. I was stuck, but yet I could see where I was going. Along side the muddy road were rest stops for refueling and fixing ....but me? Well,  I was choosing to put the gas pedal down and keep my wheel straight. Why would you rest when you can see the finish line down the road? That's insane...just get there! This my friends is the problem!!! This is why we are stuck in oppression and have no freedom. This is why we don't experience joy, peace, love, contentment, and the abundant life Christ offers us.

That morning I sat seeking the Lord to unstuck my muddy tires and move me forward! I think I even asked Him to get out the wooden planks....you know, to help my tires get a better grip! He did just that , so be careful what you ask for!  Wouldn't you know it, I came to Jeremiah 3-4 and read the exact scripture that Living Free has us in today. I was reading about our wayward hearts and Him calling us to repent and come to Him, just as we are. In chapter 4, He tells the people of Judah and Jerusalem to "plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Don't waste your good seed among thorns. Surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins." OUCH...I was about to go up in flames! These verses spoke so loudly to me that day back in September that the Lord broke my spirit. My spirit of pride. My spirit of self sufficiency. My spirit of anger. My spirit of resentment. My spirit of defeat. My spirit of fear, insecurity and doubt. I could go on and on...but the bottom line was that I realized that I was following MY path, at MY speed, with MY controls. In Jeremiah 3:14 it says " Return home, you wayward children" says the Lord "for I am your master."

Are you listening to your Master? Are you coming to Him, just as you are, and asking Him to show you areas in your heart that are hard ground? Are you allowing Him to plow those up so that the good seed can grow and the weeds can be destroyed? Freedom is  a choice...the first step is FULL SURRENDER through REPENTANCE!! FULL SURRENDER and allowing Him to take control.  Allow Him to take control of the steering wheel, the speed, and all the controls on the inside (the rooms in your heart)....clean out all the junk in the trunk!!

A vital relationship with Him begins with a repentant heart willing to open up and clean out. Are you willing to surrender your hearts desires for His? Are you willing to turn from your ways and follow His so that you may experience the full freedom that He promises to you?

WAR ZONE

1 John 5:4-5 "For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God."

We are in a WAR ZONE....a battle for our souls. Do you believe this? Do you believe in Satan and the demonic forces in this world? Do you believe that there is a battle for your soul? I was introduced to these thoughts months ago in a sermon series on Spiritual Warfare. I was caught off guard and quite frankly, became terrified of the demonic realm. I began to wonder about this warfare and how I was intertwined within it. Where is God when this is happening? Does He allow it to happen? Does He protect you from the attacks of Satan or does He give Satan free shots at you to see how you respond?

Revelation 12:9 says "This great dragon- the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world- was thrown down to the earth with all his angels." Satan is real! Satan tries constantly to hinder God's work in this world and is constantly looking to attack believers especially those who are vulnerable, weak, or isolated from other believers. Satan tries to feed us lies, brings suffering upon us, and attempts to deceive us of God's truths. However, Satan is NOT in control....God is! Satan is under the control of God and is limited by His power!

How do we find FREEDOM from the strongholds that tear us down, from Satan who battles for our souls, from the chains that hold us captive? We are in a constant battle where half of the time we can't even see the enemy!!  How are we to win? It seems hopeless at times doesn't it? I remember hearing in the sermons back in the spring that as believers we have AUTHORITY in Christ....but deep down in my soul I had a hard time grasping that concept! "I have authority in Christ to fight off  Satan?"...I just wasn't seeing it OR believing it! This was a mind that needed some DEEP convincing!

I am currently watching a video series called Living Free- Breaking the Cycle of Defeat. It has been overwhelming at times as scripture has been given to me left and right. It has made me fearful at times as I have realized the hold that Satan has had on my life in the past and the attempts he will continue to make on my life in the future....in addition to the lives of loved ones. I have also realized that as I continue to get closer in my relationship with Christ and as I grow in my freedom, that Satan will continue to attack and with a stronger will. It is scary. It brings fear. At times it makes me want to move to the mountains of Virginia and hide in a cabin!! Hey, I haven't ruled that one out yet!! However, I am also reminded that this fear is NOT of the Lord!! Through this series, I have also been encouraged because I am learning how to recognize the demonic realm, how to fight the attacks, and how to use practical steps in becoming free from the bondage that so easily entangles me. Anyone else interested in finding this freedom?

Do you know anyone that is FREE and lives their life as if they are FREE....truly FREE? Anyone who is controlled by the Spirit and not by the world? No captivity. No bondage. No chains. No strongholds. No walls. Anyone who has spiritual oneness with the Lord? Do you know anyone who has TOTAL Freedom in Christ?  I remember this question in the beginning of this series and I thought to myself...."I don't know anyone like that, but it is what I DESIRE the most. I WANT FREEDOM IN CHRIST. WHOLENESS IN HIM...to be COMPLETE!!!  What does that take though? What sacrifice does that entail on our part? Is it even attainable? Can we have total freedom in this world? Can we be WHOLE Spiritually? Physically? Emotionally? .....if we look to scripture, Jesus says "I have come to set the captives FREE!!" He came to give us FREEDOM.....so what is our part in attaining this freedom? We must have a part in this or else everyone would be FREE! It must also be a very challenging part because as we observe those around us....we don't see many lives that exemplify this freedom in Christ. So how do we achieve this freedom that Jesus is talking about?

Here is another thought that continues to ring in my mind that was brought forth in the first video of this series..." We live in the battle! We are NOT freed from the battle...but rather freed TO the battle!" We LIVE in a battlefield! There is NO escaping it...not now, only eternally!! I don't know about you, but I am willing to be a fighting warrior....to FIGHT the battle in order to have fullness, fruitfulness, and FULL fellowship with my Father.

Stay tuned for practical ways to Fight in the Battle for your soul!!.....sorry about all the "yelling"!! I am a little pumped!!