HOW TO GET FREE AND STAY FREE

JOHN 8:31-32 "...If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Life is tough.  Many people just don't know how to cope with all the things that hem them in.  Duty to husband, wife, children; to job and friends; to community and country.  And then there are the bills and responsibilities to deal with.  Sometimes you feel you are in jail only there are no bars - just pressures.

How do we get free of the pressures of life?

Jesus made it simple, he said 'continue in my word'.  There are several things he meant by this.

1. In order to continue, you have to have started.  That means you need to have a relationship with Jesus and believe in and rely on his direction and leadership.  In order to do this he says you must be 'born again', which means: to recognize your need a new way of living, you believe you can have this through the work Christ did on the cross, and through the power he demonstrated by rising from the dead, your life will be transformed, e.g. born again.

2. By following the word of God, you learn how to walk in new and freeing ways. 

3. For continued success in staying free of the 'stuff' that bogs you down, continue as you started - follow the directions found in the word of God.  Don't follow your feelings, the pressures of life or the demands of others - follow the Word of the Lord.

This will make you a disciple or follower of Christ.  He always leads you into ways of liberty.  Troubles that used to overwhelm you no longer have that power because God's directions lead you on a path of trust that keeps you above the influence of the things that used to keep you down.

When you come to know the truth of this, you will live free and stay free. 

Truth (God's Word) makes you free!  You will be able to say like Paul the Apostle, "...none of these things move me."  He had just been talking about trials, suffering and tribulations he had faced and the end result was that he was free of all the traps that could have brought him into bondage.  Even when he was put in a physical prison, he was able to sing and overcome his surroundings.

You can get free and stay free by following the Word of God continually - that's the truth!  GO WITH GOD!

STRENGTH FOR TODAY

Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)

"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]."

Many are the days when we flat run out of strength or will power to face the day and the particular trial it has brought.  Well might we 'throw-in-the-towel' only we don't have enough ump to do so. 

I had a friend who faced extreme circumstances and his response to my question "Are you depressed?", was, "My depression is depressed."

Maybe you have felt like that or you may in the future.  Here's some hope and direction so you will know what to do.

I will number these steps so they are easy to follow:

1) I trust God, now I must trust His Word (the Bible)
2) His Word is true and God cannot lie

3) His Word says "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me..."

4) That means whether I feel it or not, that strength is present with me because God says so!

5) It also addresses every possible scenario we might encounter [all things]

6) This word 'empower' means to take the power of one and place it into another without losing any of its vitality or ability.

7) Therefore I will not face the issues of life in MY strength, but in Christ's strength - therefore I cannot fail to overcome the issue because He overcame all the issues for me.

8) [eight is the number for new beginnings] So now that He has made a way, I will overcome this thing, because He will take me through it, over it, around it, under it or He will just take it out of the way!  I start anew now through Christ!

You may say, "But you don't know what I'm facing."  No, but He does and nothing, and I mean nothing, is impossible for Christ to conquer.

Remember you are to declare and expect to see results when you take your stand (even if you are flat on your back, stand up inside yourself) and say it out loud - "...I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency".

As you declare this, the Holy Spirit will move in you and give you assurance that this Word is true and active in and for you NOW!  (Yes, I shouted that!)

So remember nothing is too difficult for you because you are not alone.  The All Powerful One lives in you and fights for you so you are a winner even when you don't look like or feel like a winner.  You win (and I win) through Christ Who makes us strong.

That should give you STRENGTH FOR TODAY and every day.  GO WITH GOD!

STRENGTH FOR TODAY

Text: Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." KJV

IS LIFE A STRUGGLE? RELAX, GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU!

There are times in life when it is just toooooo much. You know what I mean? To much week and not enough paycheck? More things to do than time to do them? It's hard to be thankful for the lot you have in life?

Don't feel all alone and lost, there are many facing the same difficulty. God cares -- He really does! That's why He sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit, gave us all guardian angels and above all gave us His Word, the Bible.


The Bible is filled with caring comments because God wants us to know not only that He cares, but that He has made a way for us to get through it all.

For example, if you have no money and you have heard that you have to plant seed in order to get a harvest, take heart from this Scripture:

"As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness." 2 Corinthians 9:8-9 KJV.

Just because you haven't experienced this yet, doesn't mean you can't or that God won't bring it to you. On the contrary, He intends to do this for all that believe on Him and call on His name.

What will He do? First, He spreads good things to the poor. Even in the toughest times, God shows up for those who call on Him. Just be patient. He will meet your needs in His time and His time is always on time.

A second thing God does is to supply seed for you to sow. Don't have any seed? Don't worry, He will supply. And in addition, He will provide bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown.

A little secret here, you must plant the seed to get a harvest. If you eat the seed - no harvest. If you spend the seed - no harvest. If you give the seed away - no harvest. You must plant the seed to get a harvest. When you do He will increase the fruits of your right deeds. You will get more with the right attitude doing the right thing. That is God's promise. It is the way He works.

So if you want to be 'enriched in everything to all bountifulness' (vs. 10a), then trust Him, act on what He provides and expect a miracle.

The tough times will pass. The hard times will get easier. The 'not enough' times will become an abundance.

How do I know? His Word says so and I have tested it for over 40 years - it works and God is ever faithful.

Try it - you might like it! GO WITH GOD!

Back in Business

Hi again. Bet you thought I died or quit or something. Nope, just some personal issues I had to get out of the way so I could give attention to blogging again. Please forgive the time out.

Now to the blog:

Exodus 6:5 - "And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant."

Just a couple of notes as we begin: 1) this 'groaning' is not just the present spot they were in, this is the cumulative version of ALL of their groaning; 2) God's 'remembering' was not from forgetfulness, rather it was the right time for His intervention as He had promised.

Some would say God is a hard and harsh God for allowing Israel to go through 400 years of slavery and abuse from the Egyptians, but remember, this was both the choice and desire of Jacob and his family because they didn't trust God to provide for them in the famine as He had for Isaac, Jacob's father (see Gen. 26:1-5; 12-16.).

When Jacob was faced with famine, he didn't ask God for direction or help, he just looked around to see what he could do. When he heard there was food in Egypt, he sent his sons to buy some. He didn't inquire of God, he just made his own way. Later when Joseph was revealed to him as still alive and in charge in Egypt, again Jacob didn't inquire of God, he just made his own way.

True, God had made a way for them through Joseph, but that was the mercy of God in action because he knew how Jacob and his sons would act when faced with (what seemed to them) a natural disaster - they would try to solve it on their own.

They had forgotten they were God's chosen people and acted just like the rest of the people on Earth - "do it my way". God had set them for an example to the rest of humanity and they just acted like the rest of humanity instead of allowing God to deliver them so others would see His greatness and personal concern for them and thus testify to the world of God's greatness and goodness. This would have been in great contrast to the 'gods' of the region and would have turned many to follow God, Jehovah.

So they went to Egypt and decided to stay there. They had forgotten the promises of God to give them the land of Caanan for an inheritance and settled for becoming slaves to the Egyptians when they could have been greater than kings as Isaac was counted by the Philistines. Instead of the heathen fearing Israel, Israel feared the heathen and their false gods.

God allowed this because they chose it. But when the time finally came that they were sick and tired of being sick and tired and they began to call for God to deliver them, God 'remembered' His covenant with them.

Rembered as in "Finally you have come to your senses and called for help. I would have helped you at any time, because I promised this to your fathers, but you didn't call. Nevertheless, you have called now so here's my answer. I will demonstrate my power so you and the world will not forget that I am God and I keep my promises!"

Now that's not scripture, just my paraphrase of what He did say and do. He is still saying and doing the same things for all that call upon Him today. If it's in His Word, He will do what He says He will do. We need to trust Him, call on Him and then we will see His deliverance. He is still the Mighty God! He is still the Great I AM. He is still personal and He still cares for all that trust in Him.

Why wait 400 years and suffer for generations when you can have the promises of God now? Why live as slaves when you can live as kings? Why live in poverty when all the riches of His grace are available to us now?

The Scripture urges us to "call upon Him while He is near". How near is He? He said He would never leave us or forsake us. He told us to "trust and not be afraid". He is waiting for you to call for His help. He is an everpresent help in the time of trouble.

If you are experiencing bondage to anything, call on God to deliver you - that's what He does best.

Proverbs 3:5&6, says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

He is listening, why don't you start calling? GO WITH GOD!

Back in Business!

Hello, everybody! It has been quite a while since I have blogged. I am sorry about that - had some personal issues - but I am 'back in business'.

I will try to blog you at least once per week. If you like what I write, please leave me some input. If you don't like it, please leave me some input.

Now for this weeks blog: