Certainly Free

This morning, my prayers are centered around the fulness of the Spirit. I need to decrease that He (Christ) may increase. Otherwise, I feel the emptiness.

I have also been thinking about the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That is the evidence that I am walking in a free manner. When I am free from (unencumbered by) sin, I can walk in the freedom intended for me.

As I have prayed, a call to freedom is what keeps coming to mind. I looked for those verses about the fruit of the Spirit and found them in Galations, chapter 5. But the beginning of that chapter states, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." I am not working to attain freedom, but to maintain it. If Christ has ever made me free...then I am free. Though sin lives, I am dead to sin.

Yes, I'm preaching to myself.

I have not been made free to do all things. Though the Word says, "All things are lawful for me", it also says, "but not all things are profitable." (1 Cor. 6:12) I don't want my freedom to become it's own chain. I want to be truly free...not mastered by anything.

I want to keep standing firm.

Lord, let it be so. May I walk in freedom from the sin that dwells in me. You have said in Your Word that I am dead to sin (Romans 6). You have told me to walk by the power of the Spirit. Amen!

Advent Begins

I am so glad that the Advent Season is beginning. I now have a reason and purpose in making daily "devotionals" with the kids last for an hour! Ok, maybe not an hour, but close.

Last night, we read from Jotham's Journey and put our first Jesse tree ornament up. I love the anticipation of the Season. There is a growing intensity in me (that started weeks ago as I prepared).

I think I know the purpose of all this. Preparing the heart.

I read recently that the celebration of Advent is not only looking back in history to the first coming of Christ, but looking ahead to His second coming. I have missed that prophetic part of this celebration for years. 34 of them, to be exact. I pray that all this will build an excitement and anticipation in my own children's hearts.

Presumptous sins - Psalm 19

Yesterday, I heard Adrian Rogers speak on Gideon's army. God doesn't look for the strong, the smart, the capable. He chooses the weak things to confound the strong. The foolish things to confound the wise. That started the process of recognition of sin in my own life. I'm not being used of God for my own ablilities. If God allows me to join with Him at all it is because I'm humble enough to recognize my own frailty and inability and have faith that only He can.

Secondly, I heard from Moon Williams that meditation on the Lord is the central birthing place for right thinking in believers. I recognized that my meditations weren't pure as of late. I've been meditating on my own worth and ability. (Yuck - it sickens me to admit this.) My test came and I failed this one.

Psalm 19:13-14 says, "Also keep back Thy servant from presumptous sins:
Let them not rule over me:
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

Presumptous sins. Unfortunately, that sums it up for me. Arrogant, immoral actions. Haughty thoughts and words. I'm done with it...again. I'm so thankful for the grace of God that leads me to places of restoration!

More books...

You might think I'm a reader or something. I dabble in most things...including reading. Here are more books that sound great!

References for Future use

I found a great list of books on Amazon that I might research for the kids.

I'm currently considering getting The Young Peacemaker and The Princess and the Kiss as resources for the kids as well. I'm not sure where they'll fit in...church or home. Just don't know.

Book Nook

I recently saw an amazing book shelf that picqued my interest. But, I knew that it wouldn't work for me. So, I was pleased to see this simple alternative. I think this would be great for library books which are treated like gold at my home. No one carries them to off to unseen nooks. They must be returned to a given spot after each read.

Having a "holy experience"

I'm just beginning to dig into Ann Voskamp's site...holy experience. And it is.

This morning I tearfully read about her need to feel validated in the doing. If you don't have proof of all that you accomplish, then what's the use, right? Hah! I hear my heart in her words.

I'm so touched by my first brushing encounter. I will be back to dive in!