Freedom Day 3

Because of Adam, we are all born to sin; death. We are separated from God

Because of Jesus, we are a new creation; alive. We are in relationship with God.

What is Freedom in Christ? Christ paid the price for you. He is the living sacrifice. You have been given the opportunity to live a life filled with the same spirit that rose Christ from the dead.

Romans 8:1-2 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.

Romans 8:3-4 God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.
The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn't deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.

Do me a favor today, look at your life and ask yourself if people that see and know you believe you live a life of freedom. It is easy for some to believe, it is easy for some to have knowledge, it is even a gift to trust God for provision. In our world of to-do and need-to-succeed, even our Christian walks become competition. We spend days in prayer wondering what God wants us to do and how he wants us to respond. Although this is important, sometimes it takes away from the confidence we should have in our Savior.

Look at the highlighted scripture above. 1st says that we are no longer slaves, "freed from tyranny". AMEN!! Second says to "embrace what the Spirit is doing in us". Freedom isn't about what you are doing, how you are serving or how successful you are at your Christian life. It is about what the Spirit is doing.

Okay, for all of you that are wondering how to do this, I don't have that answer for you. I think it is a very personal experience. In my own life I embrace the Spirit in times of worship, in praise and thanksgiving. When I am acknowledging God's amazing grace, my perspective is transformed. My freedom in Christ isn't about how I feel when I get up everyday or how I end the day. For me, it is about knowing my God has conquered the world (John 16:33). I try to focus on things bigger then my struggles. Part of me refuses to live my life consumed by the bumps in the road when I know that in the end I will be with the Creator of the Universe, my Papa.

Heavenly Father, Your beautiful words from Romans 8 reminds me of Your sacrifice and my need for You in my life. You know my heart Lord, overwhelmed by Your grace and desiring nothing more then to live in response to You. Forgive me when I loose focus and cloud the freedom You have given me. Show me Lord the fruit of an embraced Spirit in my life. Some days, I am so human and desire the how-to's and the to-dos. Remind me today that it is our relationship, my reaction to your love that keeps my perspective focused on the things of you. ~Desiring more of You in your Precious Name.

Please continue to pray for Julz Y this week. Tomorrow is Friday so send in your Prayers and Praises to share. If you have a testimony of how Christs gift of freedom changed your perspective toward a situation, we would love to hear it. Please email us at womenofworship1@gmail.com or simply add it to the comment section. God Bless

Freedom Day 1

I hope everyone had a great Holiday. My family and I enjoyed a wonderful hike with friends yesterday. Part of our hike came to an overlook. A rock that jetted out of the mountain as you overlook the Cumberland Plateau in TN. It was amazing and a beautiful reminder of how creative and divine our Creator is. Standing on the edge of the rocks I was reminded of freedom, my freedom in Christ and how it takes my breath away.

I would like to kick things of this week with not a feeling but a state of being. Sometimes our perspective can influence who we are and how we react to situations.

freedom (from dictionary.com)
1. the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
2. immunity from an obligation or duty

Isaiah 61:1-3

Exaltation of the Afflicted

1The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

Because the LORD has anointed me

To bring good news to the afflicted;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to captives

And freedom to prisoners;

2To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

3To grant those who mourn in Zion,

Giving them a garland instead of ashes,

The oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Please pray for Julz Y this week.

Disappointment, Day 2

I am a huge fan of the Olympics. Last night I was watching the women's gymnastic competition. Amazing athletes that have committed every piece of themselves to be perfect at what they do. When you see on one of their faces the disappointment of not winning the gold medal, you want to cry for them.

Failure to meet expectation. It happens to all of us. Someone disappoints us or we fall short of those expectations ourselves. It is even harder to deal with failing at the things we have set out to perfect in our own lives. There is not a solution that makes disappointment easier. In fact, I think the more heart and soul you put into something with hopes of success can hit the hardest when they don't work out as we plan.

Take the gymnast for example. She had performed to the peak of perfection but due to things out of her control she now holds the silver medal in her event. While you and I see the blessing in the silver, she sees the failure in not wearing the gold. Perspective has a lot to do with disappointment.

In Romans we are told we are hemmed in with troubles. Okay, that doesn't sound good. So, no matter how hard I try, will I fail, will people fail me? No, that isn't it. Sometimes though there are things in this world that will cause pain and disappointment. Although many of us like to think that we can control everything, we really can't. If you think for a moment that you can, I am thankful not to be hemmed in with you and your troubles. We are not suppose to dwell in our pain, we fight the good fight and learn the lessons of patience that becomes virtue. If you continue to attempt control, disappointment will become despair because nothing will ever meet your expectations. Dealing with disappointment in this life prepares us for the promises of God. With Him we will never be "shortchanged" but blessed generously by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:3-5 There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

Heavenly Father, I praise your name for all that you are and the beauty of your majesty. I read your inspired words in Romans 5 this week and I am weak with the knowledge of your gift. Lord I find myself holding back from challenges and relationships because I don't want to feel the pain of disappointment. Lord, the next time I am given the chance to love a little stronger or try a little harder remind me that when the disappointment can be great that the gift is more amazing and greater then anything I could imagine. May I never store up my blessings but share them with those you wish to see you. ~Your precious Holy Name.
Please Continue to pray for Annemarie M this week.

Prayer Request: Hello, This Saturday a family, the Brewers, in our church lost their home to a house fire. They were not home when the fire started and they were not able to recover anything but 2 Bibles. They are a young family with 3 children, 6, 4 and 2 years of age. Today they are coming back to town to share with their children why they are not able to "go home". Please pray for them as they have lost everything they have ever worked for. They are thankful that they are safe and have each other. Praise God that our church has come through and that they may have a place to stay and temporary comforts, but the grief and the loss is hard. Please pray for them. If there is anything you would like to do or if you would like to encourage them, please forward on to womenofworship1@gmail.com and we will make sure to let them know. Mostly though, the prayers will be needed, so thank you in advance.