Freedom

Freedom

Memorial Day, the day we remember our fallen soldiers that keep our freedom alive.  We celebrate with families, barbecues, lake trips, swimming pool parties, and homemade icecream.  Some visit the graves of all their loved ones, placing flowers to remember the lives that have deceased.

This Memorial Day will be different than most.  My husband is working.  My grandmother is in the hospital.  We have no lake trips and no homemade icecream.  We will be thankful to go swimming this afternoon.  (And I have time to write a blog).

This morning I contemplate freedom.  Not the freedoms we possess in the United States because of many soldiers giving their lives (I will forever be grateful), but freedom that comes through one man.  He gives us the freedom that changes the way we live daily.  He provides freedom that gives us a new family, an eternal family.  He delivers freedom that lives on beyond this temporary world.  The only man that could give us these freedoms, Jesus.

1.  Jesus gives us freedom from slavery.

Yes, we all are born slaves to sin (choosing our way instead of God's).  We need freedom from this sin that separates us from a holy, perfect God.

Romans 8:1-4 (New Living Translation NLT)
 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ² And because you belong to him, the power^[of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. ³ The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature  So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ⁴ He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Romans 8:20 (New American Standard)
²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Only Jesus could provide us freedom from slavery to sin.

2. Jesus gives us freedom to salvation.
Acts 4:12 says, "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (speaking of Jesus, emphasis mine) (NLT)

Jesus saves  us from the penalty of sin, death (Romans 6:23). Through his death on the cross and resurrection, he provides eternal freedom.

3.  Jesus gives us freedom to sonship (and daughtership)

Romans 8:15-17 (NLT)
¹⁵ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs.

and Romans 8:21 again says, "set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the the glory of the children of God."

I love that because we are children of God through Jesus, we call God "Abba" or "Daddy".  We have the freedom to talk to God as our personal daddy, who cares about our every need.

4. Jesus gives us freedom to Spirit living.

  Romans 8:4 (again) says, "He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

and Romans 8:15(again), "So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.

Galatians 5:24-25 (NLT) says, " Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵ Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."

How I'm thankful for the freedom Jesus gives me.  Have you experienced true, eternal freedom through Jesus?  As a follower of Jesus, what freedoms do you love?

Freedom

Linked up with:
http://www.goodmorninggirls.org

http://intentional.me/

http://www.raisingmightyarrows.com/

Last Day of Elementary School

1st day of Kindergarten

Ready for Middle School

(Pics from PowerPoint clip art.  I'm still not posting real pics of my kiddos. )

My oldest daughter, A, had her last day of elementary school today.  Wow!  How time flies!  It seems like just yesterday I took her to her first day of Kindergarten.

The first day of Kindergarten and last day of fifth grade have some similarities and some differences.
First:  The similarities
1)  "You are going to drop me off at the door, right?"
2)  Excitement!
3)  Camera ready to capture the moment (pics at home)

Next:  The differences
1) In response to the #1 question, Kindergarten: "No.  Your Daddy and I are both going to walk you into school because that is what parents do" (also had a nine-month-old and 3-year-old daughters in tow).  Fifth grade: "Yes.  Have a great day!"
2) Kindergarten was only 2  1/2 hours each day.  Fifth grade, a full day of class.
3) In Kindergarten, her large backpack nearly tipped her over backward.  The last day of fifth grade, no backpacks allowed. 
3) "A" only knew one girl in her Kindergarten class.  And fifth grade: more friends than she can count (she attended the same school the last four years)
4) I didn't cry when she went to Kindergarten (more emotional at first grade).  I had tears in my eyes at the 5th grade "clap out".  For the "clap out", the underclassmen (if that's a term in elementary school) lined the halls of the school.  The 5th graders walked around giving high fives, while everyone clapped and cameras tried to capture every moment. (I need to get copies of pics. I went straight from work and only had my broken phone with me).

 Is she really finished with Elementary school?  (Where's the kleenex again?) I know she is ready for Middle School.  Hopefully by the end of the summer, I will be ready, too.

Linked with Beholding Glory

Surprise!

HOPE S.H.A.R.E.D. (Share How Abba Relates Every Day)

Yesterday, My husband took off work to spend the day with me and a friend, A, visiting from Colorado. We decided after school to take the girls on an adventure. The weather: remarkable!  The wind that usually rushes down the plains in Oklahoma had stilled.  The sun: bright, but not too hot, created a perfect day for a hike.  In metropolitan Oklahoma City, finding a place to hike posed a great challenge.  We didn't have the Rocky Mountains, or the "mountains" of southwest Oklahoma.

 We drove to a local nature park, only to discover it was closed on Mondays.  We found a new park with a few wooded areas for bikers and hikers.  As we trecked through the trees on narrow, muddy trails, we enjoyed the time together. (It's funny how the girls get tired walking down the street, but can hike for hours in woods??).

On our final trail, I waited on the path as my husband and youngest daughter, age 6, took off to look at the small spring that meandered through the trees, while the older two girls (ages 11 and 9) and A, (I won't tell you her age) walked ahead on the path.  A few minutes later I hear a screech!  I thought maybe one of the girls had gotten hurt.  But to my surprise, the two girls, screaming as they ran back to me, exclaimed, "There is a snake!"

Curious, I walked ahead to take a gander. They weren't lying when they said it was big! I got close enough to take a picture of it with my camera. The quality is not great, but you can see the size (black thing behind the tree)

I'm thankful my friend accompanied my girls on the trail.  She said my oldest daughter froze when she saw the snake.  My friend helped her turn around and head to safety.  My friend's role reminded me of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as followers of Jesus. 

1.  The Holy Spirit reminds us of His presence.
In John 14:16-17 Jesus says,
^" I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you."
 (emphasis mine)

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, the very person of God, lives in us who follow Jesus.

Just like my friend stayed with my girls when my husband and I stopped, the Holy Spirit promises to remain with you forever.

2.  The Holy Spirit reminds us of peace.

In John 14: 26- 27 Jesus says, " But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

The Holy Spirit reminds us that Jesus promised peace.  God can bring peace in the midst of the "snakes" in your life.
And peace belongs in the list of "fruit" that the Holy Spirit produces in us.

 Galatians 5:22-23 says,
^" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

3.  The Holy Spirit reminds us of protection.

When I decided to look at the snake, my friend told me exactly where to find it for my protection.  Even though the Holy Spirit lives in us, sometimes He uses the Bible to warn us of danger ahead.  The Bible tells us how to protect ourselves from the evil one, the devil himself (tempted Eve in the form of a snake).

Ephesians 6:11-17 says,  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against  flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
 
The only offensive strategy in fighting against Satan is the word of God, the Bible.  Most times the best defense (protection) uses the best offense (the Bible).

Do you have the Holy Spirit in you?
Do you have peace?
How are you using the Bible to fight against our enemy?
What verse do you use as your sword?

Linked to my friend Kathy:Cornerstone Confessions

Cottonwood Again?

HOPE S.H.A.R.E.D. (Share How Abba Relates Every Day)

(pic from Power Point clip art) 

Every year about this time, the seeds of cottonwood trees in cottony masses float innocently through the air.  After three days in a row of outside activities, even with allergy medication, I'm ready for the madness to stop.  I'm having a sneezing fit as I write this blog!  As I think about cottonwood, it reminds me of three changes.

First:  Cottonwood reminds me of changes of seasons: Spring! (which means Summer is around the corner!).  I love Spring (but would love it more without cottonwood).  It's a time of outdoor soccer, grilled food (less cooking for me and more grilling for my awesome griller husband), outdoor dining, with ends in sight (end of school, end of activities, end of highschool, college, or in my house: elementary school).

Secondly:  Cottonwood reminds me of changes in allergies.  This means: stock up on allergy medication, kleenex, and expect more kleenex  in the laundry (Is it ok to reuse kleenex after its been laundered?  Probably. Right?).  I've also realize my reaction to a sneeze has changed.  My reaction before children: "God bless you."  My reaction when one of my children sneezes: yelling, "Where's the kleenex?" (It's usually when I'm driving, which results in tossing a kleenex box at the sneezer.  And after three children a sneeze becomes, "Where's the bathroom?" (ladies you will understand this one).

Finally:  Cottonwood reminds me of changes in communication. My husband (R) and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary next Tuesday.  We communicate much differently (hopefuly better) than we did when we dated.  Cottonwood effected our communtication early in our relationship.  I must back up and tell the whole story for you to understand. 

My husband's friend that lived in Dallas, TX invited us to stay with him to visit Six Flags.  R bought Six Flags tickets before we left to receive a discount.  When we stopped to get gas, R had me check to make sure we had the tickets he placed in the glove box.  I checked, put them back, and we drove to Texas.   

The next day, we arrived when Six Flags opened anticipating a great day together.  I opened the glove box to get the tickets.  To our surprise, no tickets.  Really?  I know I saw them and put them back.  We searched the car, our luggage, my purse, no tickets.  Exasperated, we decided to buy tickets at the gate.  Neither one of us wanted to take the blame for the missing tickets.  Before this argument, three months of dating, we had only disagreed about who had to pick where we would eat.  We didn't have much practice in conflict resolution.  Our solution: silence.  We only talked to each other to decide where to go next.

Then unprepared, the cottonwood flying around reeked havoc on my allergies: eyes watering, nose running like a faucet, and sneezing uncontrollably.  Now, in between lines we had to find a bathroom to stock up on toilet paper, which made my nose red.  Miserable!

We loved roller coasters.  Because we went in the middle of the week, the short lines allowed us to ride roller coaster after roller coaster.  Sometimes we rode the same ride two times without getting off.  You'd think no lines was ideal.  However, if you'd had cottonwood allergies, need kleenex constantly, and feel terrible, it created a problem.  It shouldn't have surprised us when I finally "tossed my cookies" on a roller coaster.  Thankfully I got sick at the end of the roller coaster, and the darkness hid most of it.  After that, R said, "I guess its time to go."  Yes! What a terrible day!

Cottonwood reminds me of how our communication has changed.  Our communication has improved since then.  We deal with conflict resolution very differently.  We don't choose the silent treatment any more (maybe we should sometimes). 

This also made me think about my communication with God.  Do I communicate more, and more effectively now, than I did when I first became a follower of Jesus?   Better than last year?  Just like I want my communication to improve with my husband, I also want to work on my communication with God through prayer.

What about you? Do you believe there is a God?  Do you have a friendship with Him?  How is your communication?




P.S.  We found the tickets a few months later when R had to replace his car battery.  The tickets had slipped behind the glove box through the small space above the glove box.  We can't agree to this day who should take the blame.