Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.
This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)
Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!
Today's word: freedom
What does the word freedom mean to you?
What does freedom in Christ mean to you?
How is God's freedom different than the world's?
Let me know what you think!!
"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
But far inside, a flicker of flame
A wish, a hope we can scarcely name,
Glows like an ember of deep desire
Just waiting to be swept into a blazing fire.
With separate twigs to start the fire
You light the spark of our desire,
And fan a flame we cannot start
And plant Your Spirit within our hearts.
Lead us, guide us, show us Your way
Give us inspiration on each new day,
Expand our horizons, help us to proclaim
The wondrous glory of Your precious name!
© Sharon Kirby, July 30, 2010
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
First, I love your poem, Sharon.
ReplyDeleteNow about this thing called freedom. (That was actually the name of my sister's valedictory address way back in '76, but I digress...
To me, freedom in Christ is like stepping out of a dark and dirty stall into this beautiful pasture. It's open and light-filled and full of wonderful things for the grazing. It's just also fenced in. This time, the fence is for our own protection though. Make any sense at all?
AMEN!
ReplyDeleteBlessings Sharon, A beautiful prayer and poem rolled into ONE!!! I only wish freedom was that easy, or is it? Why do we struggle so much for freedom? Is there a difference?
What does the word freedom mean to you?
What does freedom in Christ mean to you?
How is God's freedom different than the world's?
My mind is dull and definitely not full. I have no great wisdom to impart today (still sleepy from another sleepless night or one disturbed by storms and a dog that has just started reacting in panic each and every storm. Nothing works but have not tried medicine yet.) I digress but she sure hampers my freedom to sleep well. So hampered as I am, here's my response:
Freedom= independence and liberty
Freedom in Christ = liberty from the shackles and obstacles in our lives that keep us from being close to God and free to live without the hindrances that bind us and lie to us that we are unworthy, unaccepted, unwanted, unloved, unforgiveness, un... everything... Christ died to liberate us and He paid the highest price for us to be FREE: His precious Life.
The difference; we struggle to be free and liberated in this world and independent of others or 'stuff' that hinders us; whereas in our freedom in Christ...we desire to be rescued and our liberty in Him, encourages us to draw near to Him and be DEPENDENT completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit and His work in us. The struggles given to Him to be changed and replaced with His fruit in us: love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness,... the devotion on WAITING on GOD says it like this:
"...And there is nothing so needful as to cultivate that spirit of dependence on God and of confidence in Him, which refuses to go on without the needed supply of grace and strength."
I surrender ALL to Him, but this demands my need to crucify my flesh daily from being captured by the 'stuff' in the world that hinders my freedom and life in Christ, being mindful of my dependence on Him and struggle to obey Him as I seek Him first rather than my own way... knowing He loves and accepts me and wants me to live FREE in what He says in His Word, claiming all His Promises to maintain my freedom and walk!
Definitely a fan for this flame as I focus my faith today, pray and wait on God (or learn all I can in the benefits of freedom and waiting on God-not complaining or begging from Him). Growing and thanking you for adding to my growth. May God richly bless you and your weekend...
Love and peace,
Peggy
did I say this would be short> Sorry :0(
Sharon, do you save all the Aslan devotionals that you post on the right?
Hi Sharon,
ReplyDeleteSorry, I don't seem to have commented on your posts for a while. I have been visiting, sometimes at the moment, I am a bit lost for words. Sometimes I comment and Blogger goes A.W.O.L - which is most annoying.
Past week has been a bit stressful, but for some reason tonight, I have feelings of panic, that I don't know quite where they originate. However I will claim freedom from them in Christ and soldier on.
Take Care and have a good weekend.
God Bless - Nita.
There's a great weight that has been bearing down on my shoulders for some time now. I know I must fight it off each and eery day. To be rid of it - that is freedom.
ReplyDeleteThing is - I AM rid of it as per the Cross of Christ. Why then, does it keep trying to jump back on my shoulders? It's that hill country we're walking in. Ambush! A fight for Freedom that is my own possession. But for the season of battle.
Looking to the Lord who delivers. Freedom personified. Therein is my peace.
Your post today reminded me of a short devotional allegory I wrote many years ago. I want to e-publish some of those writings. Wondering how to do that through my blog while protecting it.
Free in He!
Kathy
Great questions Sharon.
ReplyDeleteWhat does the word freedom mean to you?
I am not held in bondage. Free to choose, for example a career.
What does freedom in Christ mean to you?
Free from the bondage of sin and death. Free to serve Jesus.
How is God's freedom different than the world's?
In the world, we are still in bondage to sin and death.
Blessings,
Ken
There is worldly freedom and Godly Freedom and sometimes they can be the same - and a lot of times they are not!
ReplyDeleteLove the poem, Sharon.
ReplyDeleteFreedom in Christ...it's hard to put into words, and I truly am just beginning to understand the full measure of God's grace. No longer under the law, not of works, a gift, freedom from sin--forever!
Just a few of my thoughts.
Blessings,
Joan
May I just sum up some of your thoughts? (You said yes, didn't you?)
ReplyDeleteDebbie - Freedom is like an open and light-filled pasture. Fenced in, but only for our own protection.
Peggy - Liberty from the shackles and obstacles in our lives that keep us from being close to God and free to live without the hindrances of sin. (No, I don't save the Aslan devotionals, but they are all derived from the devotional book that I have listed. I do, however, write down the questions daily in my quiet time journal.)
Nita - Freedom comes from Christ, and it is what enables us to soldier on.
Kathy - Looking to Jesus, our Deliverer, who is freedom personified. Being freed from great weight. (I've heard that what we put on our blogs is unofficially *copyrighted* - not sure if that's true or not. Worth looking into, huh?)
Ken - Free from bondage to sin and death (which the Bible also calls slavery). Free to serve Jesus...yes, serving is a privilege!
Sandie - Amen! If worldly freedom were more like the freedom we have in Christ, everything would be much better here on earth!
Joan - No longer under the Law. Freedom is a by-product of immeasurable grace.
These were wonderful "fan-flaming" thoughts! Thanks for sharing them. I wish that more people understood the difference between the world's freedom and the freedom that Jesus offers.
I am reminded of the verse - You shall know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. The father of lies offers "freedom" which looks like independence to many - but it is really the worst sort of dungeon.
Lord, set us free to serve YOU!
GOD BLESS!
Well your poem is truly wonderful. Like Nita somedays my mind just doesn't work. Somehow nothing comes to me with the word freedom on any subject. Maybe because sometimes I feel so much like a slave with my everyday work. But we are all slaves to different things. Ok I am not going anywhere with these. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteCarrie - You know what? I love that you felt "free" enough to admit that you didn't have much to say today!! We are all slaves to something - that is totally true! And I think it's the people who say they want to "do their own thing" and not have anyone tell them what to do, that are the most deceived. This is not freedom - it is slavery to sin.
ReplyDeleteGOD BLESS!