NOW LIVE IN FREEDOM!

It's the Fourth of July!

Sparklers for everyone!!

****************

Today is the 240th birthday of our United States of America!

It is a day of fun and celebration, but it's also a good day to reflect on the concept of freedom.


Freedom is: the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint; absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government; the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved; the state of being physically unrestricted and able to move easily; the state of not being subject to or affected by (a particular undesirable thing); the power of self-determination attributed to the will; the quality of being independent of fate or necessity; unrestricted use of something.

(Synonyms: independence, self-government, self-determination, self-rule, home rule, sovereignty, nonalignment, autonomy, democracy, liberty, liberation, release, deliverance, delivery, discharge, exemption, immunity, dispensation, impunity, right, entitlement, privilege).


Every war the United States has fought in has been over the issue of freedom – (at least in theory, let's not get stuck talking about political agendas here!).  

We seek to maintain it for ourselves, and we fight to secure it for others.

There is nothing frivolous about freedom – even when we sometimes take it for granted.

Today we should take the time to remember what it cost, and continues to cost, to maintain freedom in our country and in our lives.

We should remember, and be thankful.

But let's also expand on the idea of freedom, and ponder the concept as it applies to the believer's life.


Last week I talked a lot about battling in the spiritual realm.

I talked about *standing* after the battle.

About the importance of not only winning spiritual territory, but also in occupying it so the enemy can't take it over again.

This is what I want to focus on today.

I have a picture in my mind –

A war-torn, battle-weary soldier standing in a muddy battlefield.  He's dirty and scraped and bruised, maybe a bit bloodied by the fighting.  He stands, barely balanced, but he stands strong nonetheless.  In his right hand he holds a pole with a flag attached to it reading, "The LORD is my Banner!"  This he has firmly planted in the soil, claiming the new land of victory.

Then I see the General quietly approach him.

The General looks long and hard at the soldier.  

Finally, he gives him a firm handshake as he states, "Well done."  

Then he gives the soldier a hearty salute, and just before he turns to leave, he issues this command:

"Now live in freedom!"


You do see the spiritual parallel here, don't you?!

I think of how often the Lord and I win a spiritual battle, just for me to cede the territory again at a later date.

I talked last week about following up, about occupying the *just-won territory* with something other than what the enemy wants.

And part of this *occupation* must certainly be the idea of living in the newfound freedom that the battle won!

We all know what it looks like when it fails.

A battle won, a victory secured, freedom is established.

But then, occupying forces leave.

And all too often, the country and its people return to their old ways.  And sometimes this leaves them in a position to be overrun by enslaving powers once again.

Take politics out of it, and we can see the same principle occur in our spiritual lives, too.

That's why today I'm thinking about this *fight after the fight* idea.

I'm thinking of the General who tells us, "Now live in freedom!"

It's no use if we are set free, if we don't use that newfound freedom to live free!!


Thinking about this idea of being set free, and then not living free, I thought it might be interesting to see how many prisoners who are set free actually return to a life of crime.

I found a report from the U.S. Department of Justice (2005) that detailed the recidivism (relapse into criminal behavior) rate of federal prisoners upon release (about 400,000 prisoners in 30 states):

More than a third of released prisoners were arrested again within six months of their release.  That number rose to 56.7% by the end of the first year, 67.8% within three years, and 76.6% within five years.

I find that staggering, don't you?!

But are we any different?

How often do we win a battle against sin, only to be tempted to sin in the same area once again?

And how often do we succumb, once again falling into the same trap of enslavement?

Rhetorical questions, because we know the answer is – we do it all the time.

How come?

Why do we return to enslavement, imprisonment, reoccupation?

I can think of several reasons:

1. The outside world is too tempting
2. We don't think we deserve freedom
3. We don't know how to function in freedom
4. The old ways and old places are too familiar
5. We associate with the wrong people
6. We're afraid of new choices
7. We return to comfortable, instead of making change
8. We try to do it all alone


On the surface, we might think it foolish that anyone who, once having tasted freedom, would willingly return to a life of captivity and restriction.

It's easy to point fingers at people who fail in this area, who "relapse" into old habits and sins.

(My opinion?  We all tend to be a motley bunch of "log in the eye" pretenders who delight in bringing to attention the "motes" in others...)

Sometimes I think it's because we're so ingrained in our propensity to "rate" sins.

We like to reproach the alcoholic or addict who falls into addiction again.  Or the cheater who gives in to infidelity again.  Or the criminal who keeps committing crimes.

However, if we're honest, we do the same thing, because we turn a blind eye to our own shortcomings.

For how often do we return to gossiping, or lying, or self-righteousness, or criticizing, or complaining, or anger, or...the list goes on.

We don't judge our own "minor" sins as harshly as those we point out in others.

But there is no such thing as a *sin scale* in the eyes of God.

SIN. IS. SIN.

It's ALL falling short of His standard – no matter if it's practiced in big or little ways.

Therefore, *reoccupation of the land* can occur with a marauding army of invaders, or by one little voice that sows doubt and discontent.

This is why it's very important, very necessary, to attend to our hearts after a battle against the enemy.

Especially when we start feeling too secure in our victory.


So, how do we occupy the land?

Our pastor recently gave a message about God's peace, and about how He promises that it will guard us.  It was a study on the first part of the 4th chapter of Philippians.

Let's listen in to Paul’s words:

"…in this way stand firm in the Lord."


OK, Paul, tell us how to do that!

(Verses taken from The Amplified Bible)


1. "Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!" (verse 4)

2. "Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people." (verse 5) 

3. "Do not be anxious or worried about anything…" (verse 6)

4. "…in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God." (verse 7)

5. "Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God's word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]." (verse 8)

6. "The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things [in daily life]…" (verse 9)


Fantastic!

What's the payoff, Paul?

"The Lord is near…and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you…And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]." (verses 4, 7, 9)


I am beginning to see…


Go back to my image of the soldier on the battlefield.

The General has just said, "Now live in freedom!" – and he is turning away.

If the soldier lets him go, he's left alone to hold the territory, in his own power and strength.

This scenario most likely ends in reoccupation by the enemy.

End of story.

But wait!

What if there's a different ending?!

What if, as the General begins to walk away, the soldier shouts out:

"Wait!!  I cannot maintain this victory alone.  I need a guard, a trustworthy sentinel who will protect the borders of this territory.  I need someone who will keep watch, and warn me of impending danger."

The General turns back...

The soldier speaks once more, "Please send help."

At this the General smiles.

"Yes, it is the wise soldier who understands the importance of a watchman."

At this, he motions forward another person.

"I present to you the one who will guard and protect you.  Always listen to him."

You do know who the *watchman* is, don't you?

The Holy Spirit.

Might these words from Paul also be the parting words of the General?

"Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me – a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you." (2 Timothy 1:13-14, NLT)

Oh yes, amen.


In that all-important aftermath of battle, in that *fight after the fight,* in that time of victory, might we recognize our deep need of The Watchman – or as my pastor called Him, the "Silent Sentry."

And might we depend on Him to guard and protect us.

For the enemy will approach once again – loudly and softly, with an army or a whisper.

Tempting us to cede territory, and to return once again to a state of occupation.

We must not listen.


Focus on these things (from my pastor's sermon, reflecting Philippians 4:8):

What's real vs. what's phony
What matters vs. what's frivolous
What's right vs. what's convenient
What's clean vs. what's dirty
What's unifying vs. what's divisive
What's helpful vs. what's harmful
What's best vs. what's inferior
What's positive vs. what's negative


Happy Fourth of July, my friends!

May you have a wonderful day doing what you do to celebrate!

Barbecues, pool parties, fireworks.

Maybe even a main street parade like our little town!

But might we take a moment or two (or many) to reflect upon the idea that this is a day when the cause of freedom in our country became a reality.  

Therefore, let this be a day when we ponder the meaning of freedom.

It's a day that's also called Independence Day.

And in every real sense of the word, our own *Independence Day* occurred when we believed in the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Having won His victory on the cross, He now encourages us to fight on as conquerors.

To battle for the faith, to stand our ground, and to claim our territory.


I hear His parting words…

"Now live in freedom!"


Yes.



Are you living in freedom, or are you ceding territory to the enemy?

Here in the power of Christ
I stand.



(From "In Christ Alone" by Stuart Townsend) 

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NIV)

"So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.  What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me…Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" 
(Romans 7:21-25, NIV)

"Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning?  Of course not!  Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey?  You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.  Thank God!  Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.  Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living." (Romans 6:15-18, NLT)

"When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us,…evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power.  Now we can serve God…in the new way of living in the Spirit." (Romans 7:5-6, NLT)

"'For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe – until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.'" 
(Luke 11:21-22, NLT)

"'…if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out!  Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.  But you must subdue it and be its master.'" 
(Genesis 4:7, NLT)

"…you are not controlled by your sinful nature.  You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you." (Romans 8:9, NLT)

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, NASB)

"'…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'" (John 8:32, 36, ESV)

"For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17, NLT)

"'And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.'" 
(John 14:16-17, NLT)

"…for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth." 
(1 John 2:20, NLT)

"I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost.  There I will wait to see what the LORD says…" (Habakkuk 2:1, NLT)

"Be on guard.  Stand firm in the faith.  Be courageous.  Be strong." 
(1 Corinthians 16:13, NLT)




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BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

BAGGAGE CLAIM

Ever ridden on a train?

I have, and I love it!

Once when I was growing up, my family went to visit my dad's aunt in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  She owned a home with several acres right on the lake.

It was a wonderful time – perhaps as close to living like Huck Finn as I'll ever get!  Days full of fishing and boating and waterskiing and Frisbee-tossing and walking and reading and joy.

But, the best part was the ride home.

We took the train!!

The distance from Illinois to California meant that we stayed overnight in a cabin on the train.  Goodness, what an adventure!  I loved eating in the dining car, and walking around while we were moving.  I loved looking out the window at miles and miles of scenery passing by.

I spent most of the night on my mom's lower bunk – (she has terrible claustrophobia!) – and there was something magical about the steady motion of the train and the reassuring clack-clack of the wheels on the rails.

Years later, I took my own boys on a long 10-hour excursion to Northern California.  I'm happy to say that they loved the experience as much as I did.

There's an interesting *pace* that occurs while traveling on a train. Things slow down, and we are more apt to join in conversation with fellow travelers.  And, of course, we get to see some beautiful things that cannot be seen from the interstate.

Trains are wonderful.


I got to thinking about trains when I read a recent post by a dear friend.  You can check it out here.

She got me thinking about trains, yes.  But she got me thinking even more about baggage.

The emotional, spiritual, mental kind.

The kind of baggage that we tote around – sometimes every day, sometimes for years.

About how we can become weighed down by this unnecessary baggage.

Ugh.

I know I've got some Samsonite that I've lugged around on my life's journey.  

Don't you?


Here's some of what I'm talking about:


1)  The Trunk of Bitterness

You know what those old-fashioned trunks looked like.  They were big and ungainly, and were used for storage.  And they were most often made of very, very hard materials so they stood the test of time.

Which made them great if you used a literal trunk for traveling.

But the trunk of bitterness is never a good thing to bring along for the ride.

I'm not a person with a short temper, nor do I think that anger is a particular sin tendency in me.  But, bitterness?  Oh boy, I am capable of holding a grudge – for a long, long time.

If I've been hurt or betrayed or disappointed or rejected, I might not even let you know.  But believe me, I'll take those feelings and stuff them into my trunk, thinking they'll never see the light of day.

I'll store them for years sometimes, hidden deep in that hardy ol' trunk. Bigger and bigger they grow in the darkness.  I might even forget what I've put in there.  But, it doesn't matter.  For bitterness stands the test of time.  

And you know what else happens?

Let me tell you, if you've ever opened one of those old trunks at an antique store, you'll know what I'm talking about.

The awful smell of mustiness, and mildew, and rotting things.

That's what happens to bitterness inside of us.

It just makes us stinky.


2)  The Suitcase of Guilt

I don't travel often, but when I do, I try not to check in any baggage.  It just makes it so much easier.  A long time ago, I made the mistake of packing some very important things in my suitcase when I went to Hawaii.  You know what's coming next, don't you?  Yup, the suitcase was lost for several days. Fortunately, it did arrive finally – but that doesn't always happen.  And in the meantime, I had to re-stock many necessities – (as if the trip wasn't expensive enough!!)

So, call me Mrs. Carry-On now.

But, here's the problem.  When you try to travel with only one carry-on suitcase, you end up trying to stuff EVERY thing into it.  I have been known to sit on my suitcase while "The Hub" valiantly tries to close the zipper.

Then I lug it through the terminal, making my arms and shoulders ache.  I have to stop a bunch and catch my breath.  Then I try to lift it over my head to stuff it into the overhead compartment.  Then I have to *rinse and repeat* the whole routine when I land.

Opening my suitcase is often an exercise in avoiding the eruption that explodes upon releasing the zipper-contained pressure-packed pile of clothing and shoes and toiletries.

Guilt is like that.

It's an emotion that we like to stuff.  For it is truly painful to deal with guilt. It makes our hearts ache.  It makes it near impossible to lift our heads.  It slows us down, and it cramps our forward movement.  We are often doomed to repeat the same old cycle of re-dredging past circumstances and mistakes and sins – until they often explode in our face.

Guilt is a barely zippered up, over-stuffed burden.


3)  The Garment Bag of Pride

Mostly "The Hub" is the one who uses a garment bag.  Although, to be fair, my stuff usually hops a ride!

The thing with garment bags is that we use them to keep things looking nice and fresh and unwrinkled.

We use them for our really *good* stuff.

Sigh.  

It's the same with pride.  Pride is something that we hold on to because it's all about making us look good.  We like taking out the flashy stuff and parading it around in front of others – (after all, isn't that one of the temptations of social media??)  We like to think that people will never know about the other luggage stuffed with wrinkly and balled-up clothing – (our true lives and selves).

Oh yes, look at my *fancy dress*.  Beautiful.

My expensive *silk pants*.  Yes, lovely.

That *pure white, crisply ironed blouse*.  Not a flaw, never.

It's the *me* we so desperately want the world to see.  But, the reality is that on the inside, we're really just a pair of dirty, threadbare, sinfully-smelly old sneakers.

Pride loves the garment bag.  Reality is in the suitcase.


4)  The Tote of Fear

I love totes.  In fact, I just might have a tote addiction.  I come by it honestly – my mom has always collected totes!  I'm a sucker for those convenient little bags.  They come in such a variety of colors and sizes.  I never seem to have enough.

(Insert inner dialogue here):

"Oh, this one's perfect for my makeup.  This one will carry my books to Bible Study.  Gotta have that one for my writing supplies.  Well, I could put my brushes and hair dryer and curling iron into that one, yes!"

Totes are especially tempting because they're everywhere now!  The grocery store, the drugstore, the health food store, the bookstore, the mall.  And believe me, they beckon me to keep adding…

Totes are harmless little bags, right?

Maybe.

But the tote of fear is no joke.  Not harmless, not lightweight, not worth collecting.

The thing with fear is that it's everywhere.  We can buy into it at a moment's notice.  I don't watch the news or subscribe to a newspaper.  But every time I log onto my computer, I am confronted with my homepage and thumbnails of what's happening in the world.

And it's scary.

But that's the world at large.  Even in my own corner of the world, there's endless stuff that's scary.  Relationships, finances, health.  I find myself addicted to fear.  Worry is the "harmless" little bag that I tote around.

But the thing with fear is that it's insidious.  It's everywhere.

And it constantly beckons me to keep adding…


5)  The Duffel Bag of Doubt

Duffel bags.

Duffel bags are the perfect baggage for camping.  Flexible, stuffable, sturdy, and dirty-worthy.  We've got a whole family in various colors and sizes. One for cooking supplies.  One for important stuff like matches, lighter fluid, rope, flashlights, hatchet – you name it.  One for the tent, tarp, rainfly, stakes, and rope.  We've got more.

Duffel bags are handy.

But what about doubt?  

Doubt is flexible – adapting our questioning to the spiritual season we might be in.  It's stuffable – we can cram a lot of doubt deep in our souls.  It's sturdy – doubts can become entrenched and able to withstand much-needed scrutiny.  And doubt is dirty-worthy – muddying up our faith with needless dust and grime and soil.

You see, we might think that doubt is harmless.

We might think that the duffel bag of doubt is the perfect baggage for our faith journey.  It's handy to have doubts, right?  They help keep us from blind faith, right?  

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not questioning the value of questioning.  For we are counseled to search the Scriptures and seek after God.  But healthy doubt should always lead us to a closer walk with the Lord, to a greater insight into truth, to a firmer stance of faith.

The other kind of doubt comes from the devil.

After all, our first fall from grace came when he planted the seed of doubt into our souls.  

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.  And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"  (Genesis 3:1, NASB)

Doubt begins here – with this thought.  "Did God really say…?"

Mindless faith, no.  Faith without intellect, of course not.  Faith without reason and study, surely not.

But doubt without God is rotten fruit.


You know, on reflection, there is a lot of needless baggage that I lug around.  Trunks, suitcases, and garment bags.  Totes and duffel bags. You've got them, too.  Maybe yours are full of other junk...

But God doesn't want that for us.  He doesn't want us to hold on to stuff that slows us down, or hinders our walk, or dirties our souls, or poisons our minds.  

He does not want us burdened.


So, let's leave those useless bags that weigh us down at the Station of God's Forgiveness and Grace. 

Let's depart from the Depot of Bitterness, Guilt, Pride, Fear, and Doubt.

The choice is up to us.

The ticket is right there, waiting for us at Will Call.  We just have to pick it up and use it to board the Glory Train to the life that only the Holy Spirit can bring!

All Aboard?

Yes!!

Choo Choo…

Pack up your troubles
in your old kit bag,
Don't let your joy and laughter
hear the snag,
What's the use of worrying,
It was never worthwhile...
So pack up your troubles
leave them all behind,
and smile, smile, smile.

(My paraphrase of an old World War I song)

"...I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." 
(Philippians 3:13-14, NLT)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NLT)

"God has told his people, 'Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here.  This is a place of quiet rest.'"(Isaiah 28:12, NLT)

"'For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.'" (Jeremiah 31:25, NLT)

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'" 
(Matthew 11:28-30, NLT)

"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)



What baggage are you holding on to?  Are you ready to leave it behind?!




Linked with:

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BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!

I'M A (SPIRITUAL) WAR VET

Today is Veteran's Day.

As I was thinking about this day, I recalled a very famous quote by General William Tecumseh Sherman:

"War is hell."

Yes, it is.  But I might add to that phrase a bit -

"War is FROM hell."

The history of America is peppered with stories of war.  And though war often brings moments of glory and honor, at its core, war is really a reflection of the evil that lives in the human heart.  It reflects the unending urge for power, and the inner drive to rule.

And human war had its beginnings in that other battle – the epic battle between good and evil.

Once, a long time ago, an angel with evil in his heart also desired power, and wanted to rule everything – he wanted to be like God.

It didn't quite work out – he was cast out from Heaven for his rebellion – and he became Satan, the Adversary, the Accuser.

And since that time, Satan has used every available strategy to continue waging war against God.  He even used humanity to injure the very heart of God.  And we were complicit in the injury.

That epic battle is still being fought – every day.  And though ultimate victory for God and His children is assured, the battle still rages on.  We are an integral part of that battle, we are soldiers in the war.

How to be effective warriors for God?

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm wearing armor!

"Therefore put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground…" (Ephesians 6:13-14, NLT)


Here's what we've got:


The Belt of Truth – the only way to defeat the enemy's lies

The Breastplate, the Body Armor, of Righteousness – God's righteousness is the only thing that protects our hearts and ensures His approval through Christ

The Footgear, the Shoes, of the Peace that comes from the Good News – the motivation to proclaim the true peace that is available in God

The Shield of Faith – protection against the fiery arrows of the devil

The Helmet of Salvation – protecting our minds from doubting God's saving work done for us by Jesus, and the assurance that ultimate victory is ours

The Sword – the Word of God, the Bible, our Scriptures – the only weapon of offense in this list – we must use the Word of God as a weapon against lies, and deceptions, and temptations



So yes, today let us remember the spiritual war – the one that Satan brought, the one that we are engaged in.

But let's also take today to remember the earthly wars being waged by courageous and self-sacrificing men and women.

Let us remember all those who have served – all those who were injured, or captured, or tortured – all those who are missing – all those who have died.

And all those who are serving now.

We have so much to be grateful for…

FREEDOM.

We do so many things that would not be possible if someone hadn't fought for this country – for my country – for your country.

We have the glorious freedom to worship our Lord – freely and publicly. We are not in danger of being thrown in jail, or tortured, or killed.  And our veterans have sacrificed so much in order for us to have that freedom.

Today it doesn't matter whether we agree or don't agree with political policy. 

Today we simply focus on people – real, live people who served our country, or are serving now – who did this for our sakes – because they believed in freedom.

Thank you.

May we take today to remember what they have fought for – what they have sacrificed for – what they have believed in…

One nation…under GOD.

If you know someone who has served, or is serving, this country in the armed forces, I would encourage you to reach out to them today.  Tell them how much you appreciate them.  Tell them we will always remember them.  Tell them…

Thank you.

Remind them that God sees – He upholds them – He will never forget what they have done – in the name of…

FREEDOM.

Remind them that we are praying for them.

Remind them that they do not fight alone - for in one way or the other, we are all participants in the Great War of the Heavens - the war that lurks behind every human power struggle on earth.  

We are all spiritual war vets.

So, let's keep up the good fight, and stand against our enemy with the Holy Spirit's power. We are enlisted soldiers in God's army, and we have joined the forces of the Lord's Kingdom.

Always faithful, may we fight on.

Sacrifices Never Forgotten

"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

"'The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come'" (Luke 4:18, NLT)

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV)

What freedom are you most thankful for today?



***A BLESSED VETERAN'S DAY TO ALL***

(Above photo is of The Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall)

Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAY
Jen at UNITE
Salina at HEART REFLECTED
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Rosalind at A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAY
Judith at WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY
Jacqueline at ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Nannette at WISDOM WEDNESDAY
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Leslie at FAITHFUL FRIDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Sandra at STILL SATURDAY
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Freedom

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 is the difference between the *freedom* of "doing your own thing" - and the freedom of obedience?

If you had to pick, what is the one thing that gives you the biggest sense of freedom in your walk with Jesus?


Let me know what you think!!


"So if the Son makes you free, you will be truly free."  (John 8:36, NCV)

"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)



"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)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

DOWN IN THE DUMP

No, not down in the DUMPS – but literally, down in the dump!

One of the fun little challenges up here in the mountains is the fact that we have to "bus" our own trash.  (Well, to be honest, it's "The Hub" – not "we").

So, about once every two weeks or so, he makes the trek down to the dump.  It's about a 10-minute drive out of town – which is easy to do right now, but might provide a little more fun when we get ***snow*** up here - (yes, I wrote this before the last flurries of fun...)

One day he asked if I wanted to accompany him.

Well, sure, why not.

My sons actually remodeled a home up here about 6 years ago, and that involved several (many, a bunch, tons) of trips to the dump.  I never made the traveling team on that.

But, I've always been a little curious about the dump.

I had visions of those pictures I've seen on TV.  You know, a huge landfill of stratified refuse, with a bulldozer moving all the muck around.  I had visions of alleyways between the towers of rotting…well, rotting everything.  

And oh, I could only imagine the smell!

But, curiosity got the better of me, and so I hopped in the car for the dump-dumping extravaganza.

The first thing I learned is that our dump is more accurately called a "transfer station" – which I figured was just a politically correct way of saying "smelly, disgusting pile of trash."  You know, kinda like how I call my (dyed) gray hair – pigment-challenged follicles.

So, armed with a new bottle of waterless soap, I jumped in the car.

Soon we turned off the main road onto the side road to the "transfer station."

A winding road took us far into the mountains.  This made sense to me.  I figured the longish drive was to keep the smell away from the more populated areas.

As we turned the corner, I caught my first glimpse of the dump.

And got the shock of my life!

There before me lay a circular area (like a parking lot) full of dumpsters all lined up side by side.

What?!?

No landfill?  No towers of trash?  No smell???

Nope.

Just one very well-organized place to leave your junk.  Dumpsters labeled "Ashes" – "Normal Trash" – "Recyclables" – "Cardboard" – "Metal" – bigger dumpsters for "Bulky Items" – and one for "Electronic Waste."  Also a place in the back for "Green Waste" (branches and leaves and such).

I was astonished.

It was so…well, so un-trashy.

Yes, I get it now, I thought to myself.  Here we "transfer" our trash to the dumpsters, and then someone else "transfers" it to…well, actually I don't know where – must be a landfill somewhere else!

No mess, no hassle.

(A sidenote here:  Do you guys that live somewhere else in the country have Waste Management?  I'm not kidding – "The Hub" and I have traveled in the western United States a lot, and all we seem to see is Waste Management dumpsters.  I seriously think these people have a monopoly on trash).

I looked at "The Hub" with wide-open eyes.  And then, with a smile, I said, "Can I come here again?" 

It was just so easy.

And you can bring ALL of your stuff here.  No rules.  

Down below where my parents live, the city has a limit on how many cans you're allowed to put at the curb.  Where we used to live, we could ONLY use the trashcans provided by…yes, you guessed it, Waste Management.  AND, you couldn't fill them heavier than 50 pounds.  AND, if you wanted to get rid of anything else, like a crummy couch or mattress, or something bulky like that – you had to schedule an appointment for pick-up.  And you were only allowed to do that like twice in a year.

Up here, the sky's the limit.

It almost makes me want to be more "trashy" – wait, that didn't quite sound right…

Well, I'm sure you're wondering where I'm going with all of this.  I'm hoping this is an amusing little story – but you know that I'm always looking for that *God lesson* in life.

Here's what I got thinking about.

Lots of times I look at my life and it seems like a hodge-podge of junk. Useless feelings, crumpled up thoughts, discarded goals, rotting problems – my own little pile of trash.  

Sometimes I get out a bulldozer and move things around a little bit – but the stinky piles still remain.

What a mess, I often think to myself.  What a mess.

Lord, I often feel like a dump.

But does HE see me that way?

Oh no!  

In His Sovereignty, He has created a well-organized "transfer station."

His blood, my sin.  His death, my life.  His resurrection, my eternity.

It's a good deal.

No rules.  There are no limits to the refuse I can leave at the curb for Him to take care of.  And He doesn't care how I "can" it – it can come in tears or in anger.  No limit to the "poundage" of my junk.  And those bulky things? The BIG stuff? 

Yup, He can handle that too.  (And not just twice a year).

Yes, the sky's the limit.

In gratitude for His perfect "waste management," I look at Jesus with a wide-open heart, and say with a smile, "Can I come here again?"


Are you "dumping" your trash at the foot of the Cross?

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HAVE YOU DONE YOUR *SHARON* DUTY and voted on the sidebar? C'mon, VOTE!

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Linked today with:
Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

Thanksgiving Day.

Ah yes – a day of family, fellowship, and food – lots and lots of food!

But, have we forgotten the original intent of this very special day?

I have copied below the original proclamation of a national Thanksgiving Day written by George Washington. It's long – so I've highlighted the portions that I think are so very important:

"Proclamation of National Thanksgiving

George Washington

City of New York, October 3, 1789

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have...requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God...

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection...for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence...for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed...for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations...to render our national government a blessing to all the people...and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord...as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789."

The first Thanksgiving Day was not about family, fellowship, and food. It was all about our Almighty God, the Creator of everything, and the Giver of good blessings. The focus of thanksgiving was correctly aimed at the One who is responsible for everything we have – including our very lives.

The correct view of things is that this is a day to give thanks to God.

God to whom we owe our hearts. God who gave His Son as a sacrifice for us. God who loves us beyond measure. God who gives us abundance in this life, and a hope for life everlasting!

Family, fellowship, and food? Well, that's just added gravy! ☺

So, in every real sense, though Thanksgiving Day is set aside as a national holiday – and most people will have their focus on everything else BUT God – may we as believers remember why we have anything to be thankful for. It is because of God – all because of God.

We should have an attitude of thankfulness every single day of our lives.

So, dear brothers and sisters in Blog Land, have a wonderful day enjoying the bountiful blessings that come from a faithful and benevolent Lord.

Happy Thanksgiving Life!!

Linked today with Joan at the GRACE CAFE - a bit of fellowship before the feast!

***(This next part is optional – just for fun!!)***

Here's some added trivia in case you need something to read while digesting the 10 pounds of food you just "stuffed" into your belly! (Or if you want to impress all those relatives with your scintillating knowledge of random and inconsequential facts. I've added a little commentary here and there to keep you awake):

Though many competing claims exist, the most familiar story of the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony, in present-day Massachusetts, in 1621. (The Pilgrims wore their best black and white. The Indians wore…well, next to nothing).

The Wampanoag Indians were the people who taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land. The Pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, had organized the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621. He invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians to the feast. (Perhaps he really took to heart the words of Jesus – "But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good…" – Matthew 5:44-45)

The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days. (Which is the average amount of time I sleep after my feast…)

Lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese are thought to have made up the first Thanksgiving feast. (Actually, that sounds pretty good! Guess I better start putting out my lobster traps…)

The pilgrims didn't use forks; they ate with spoons, knives, and their fingers. (In my family, this tradition often continues…)

More than 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November as a national day of thanksgiving. Sarah Josepha Hale, the enormously influential magazine editor and author who waged a tireless campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday in the mid-19th century, was also the author of the classic nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Her letter to Abraham Lincoln finally persuaded him to issue a 'Thanksgiving Proclamation' on October 3, 1863, officially setting aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving. (Notice that Sarah did not recommend eating any lamb on that day…)

In 1939, President Roosevelt proclaimed that Thanksgiving would take place on November 23rd, not November 30th, as a way to spur economic growth and extend the Christmas shopping season. (Wow, as if we need more days for that!)

Congress finally made Thanksgiving Day an official national holiday by passing a law on December 26, 1941, ensuring that all Americans would celebrate a unified Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November every year. (Was that the last time we were unified on anything in this country??)

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States. (A bald turkey just isn't quite as majestic to me as a bald eagle… just sayin')

The average weight of a turkey purchased at Thanksgiving is 15 pounds. (Which is about the average that I think I ate last year at the dinner table…)

The heaviest turkey ever raised was 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog. (Good grief. Can you even imagine?! Great Dane? Nothing compared to a Great Turkey…)

A 15 pound turkey usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat. (Personally, I'm a dark meat fan – how about you?)

The five most popular ways to serve leftover turkey is as a sandwich, in stew, chili or soup, casseroles and as a burger. (I prefer not to serve any "leftover turkey" at my house. I usually just tell them to leave – "Uncle Joe, you turkey, you need to GO HOME NOW!")

Turkey has more protein than chicken or beef. (Didn't know that one…)

In the US, about 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving celebrations. (Why do I always feel so sorry for the turkeys? Poor things. Delicious – but still...)

Each year, the average American eats somewhere between 16 - 18 pounds of turkey. (Do any of you eat turkey on other occasions? Or do you inhale that 16-18 pounds in one sitting??)

Californians are the largest consumers of turkey in the United States. (Doesn't surprise me – I've always thought my state was full of the most "turkeys" in the nation…)

Although Thanksgiving is widely considered an American holiday, it is also celebrated on the second Monday in October in Canada. (Hmmm…didn't know that one. Guess Canada has a lot to be thankful for, too!)

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. (And, incidentally, the beginning of the traditional nervous breakdown season, outrageous debt season, and road rage mania season that sweeps this country. Tranquilizer anyone?? *This isn't true – I made it up…*)

The American Automobile Association (AAA) estimated that 42.2 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2010. (Maybe this has something to do with the beginning of the aforementioned road rage phenomenon…)

Cranberry production in the U.S. is expected to reach 750 million pounds in 2011. Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are the top cranberry growing states. (Gotta love cranberries – they're tart and tangy – just like me...)

Illinois, California, Pennsylvania and New York are the major pumpkin growing states, together they produced 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkin in 2010. Total U.S. production was over 1.5 billion pounds. (Ever heard of the GNP? You thought it meant Gross National Product. Nope. Gourd National Product…)

The sweet potato is most plentifully produced in North Carolina, which grew 972 million pounds of the popular Thanksgiving side dish vegetable in 2010. Other sweet potato powerhouses included California and Mississippi, and the top producing states together generated over 2.4 billion pounds of the tubers. (I can do sweet potatoes. Yams? Not so much…)

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measured just over 12 feet long. It was baked on October 8, 2005 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio, and included 900 pounds of pumpkin, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs, 300 pounds of sugar, 3.5 pounds of salt, 7 pounds of cinnamon, 2 pounds of pumpkin spice and 250 pounds of crust. (I don't care how big that thing was – I'm just not a fan of pumpkin pie. I think it's the texture or something. And don't even get me started on mincemeat pie. No, I'll take apple pie or some kind of berry pie instead, any day – in fact, why don't you slice me up a piece right now...)

So, why are you sleepy after a big turkey dinner? It's a combination of the type of food (carbs, fats, L-tryptophan), amount of food, and celebratory atmosphere. (Zzzzzzzz…)

HAVE A GREAT DAY, my friends!

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"'As through one trespass [the result was] unto all men condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness [the result was] unto all men to justification of life.'

If words have any meaning this declares that the death of Christ has efficacy as complete and universal as the sin of Adam...

But the work of Christ goes infinitely further than this. The Eden trespass ushered in the reign of sin...and sin claimed the very throne of God as an agency for enforcing its just demands.

But Calvary has dethroned sin, and grace now reigns supreme. And this, not at the expense of righteousness, but through righteousness. And as sin reigned unto death, so grace now reigns unto eternal life...

'There is now no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon Him; for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

Eternal life is thus brought within reach of every human being to whom this testimony comes. How, then, is it possible that so few receive the benefit? The answer to this question claims a chapter to itself."

(From "The Silence of God" by Sir Robert Anderson, c. 1897)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"