Christ sets us free. You can be sure that those whispers of slavery (as CelebrateRecovery puts it, “our hurts, hang-up and bad habits”) come straight from the mouth of the enemy:
“They’re all out to get you.”
“Just one more won’t hurt you.”
“You’re too stupid.”
“Have it your way.”
John 8:44 (MSG)
When the Liar speaks, he makes it up out of his lying nature and fills the world with lies.
Truth wins. Christ beat up the liar. You’re free!
“There are two freedoms – the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought.”
Charles Kingsley (1819 – 1875)
Independence Day. Think freedom. Think spiritual freedom. What is holding you back from full spiritual freedom?
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
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.
Christ sets us free.
Don’t feel free? Remember, the Israelites were free from slavery in Egypt for 40 years before they stepped into the freedom of the Promised Land.
Maybe you’re still in the wilderness, on your way to the Promised Land.
It’s not complicated.
Matthew 18:3 (NIV)
Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Old saints don’t retire. They are reassigned to the front, where they became prayer warriors on the battle line.
James 5:16 (MSG)
The prayer of a person living right with God
is something powerful to be reckoned with.
Friends just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Their children assembled a photo album, divided into decades. Each decade had a title. This got me thinking. If I divide my adult life into 10-year increments, what title should I give each decade?
Here’s how my assignments from God worked out (feel free to share yours)–
20’s – Teach me to work
30’s – Teach me to love
40’s – Teach me to pray
50’s – Teach me to write
60’s – Teach me, Lord, to tell your story
Note to self: you don’t retire from God’s work. You grow into it.
I just celebrated a milestone birthday—one that required registration with the federal government (no, I didn’t just turn 18 and register for the draft). Truth is, we’re all getting older. How do you see yourself?
I’ve never been graceful. I’m a bit of a klutz. So I won’t age gracefully.
I do, however, aim to age graciously. 
“Fathers and mothers, do not forget that children learn more by the eye than they do by the ear.”
J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
It is estimated that 40-50% of American adults read at or below an 8th grade level. Think about it — four of ten adults in church may have trouble reading.
How can we help?
