Finding Freedom

Finding freedom has been on my mind a lot lately.  Being in the company of others who are sharing real life events of people struggling with an addiction, that year in and year out just seems to be getting the best of them,one them ultimately taking their own life, has spurred on this thinking.  The complexities surrounding such life stories is almost mind boggling.  How do we end up there?  And what is it that makes some come out of it so much for the better, and others to never come out of it at all?  This thinking can be applied to a depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, pornography,abuse, and the like.

Another question that has been plaguing my mind, is for those that do come out of these trials completely free, how many, if any, were able to do it without the very person of Christ being a part of their life?  Maybe my sphere of influence is so limited, but every person or situation that I have heard of that has been able to walk out of a situation of the like, completely free and accepting of forgiveness, knows Christ and has made Him a significant part of their life.  I have known many that are able to "live" with these addictions, accepting that they will just make the best of it and get used to it.  I was told many times in my treatment for anorexia, that I would always struggle with it, but I would learn to cope and be pretty healthy.  That is not complete freedom to me.  That is coping/surviving, not freely living!  I know that Teen Challenge experiences around a 70% success rate of those that have completed their program, and secular treatment centers quote anywhere from 1-15% success rates.  I realize that these are just statistics, and change year by year and may not be the most accurate, but it does make you think. 

Personally, I know that without being able to cling to my personal relationship with Christ and the truths in the Bible, I would not be able to say that I have been completely free for almost 10 years now.  However, I know that there are many that cling to Christ and the truths in the Bible, that have not found complete freedom from the affliction at hand.  Complete freedom for me did not happen overnight by any means....it took a good 6 years!  There were many times I pleaded with God to take it away, but the answer did not come right away.  This discussion could really open up with many questions, but for tonight, the thought is... Do you know of anyone that has found complete freedom from an addiction, or something of the like, without Christ?

I would love to hear any thoughts that you might have on this.  Just click on comments below and leave me your words of wisdom =)  

How Great Thou Art

I love Christ and all that He has done, is, and always will be. My life may not always reflect this accurately, yet there is just something about this hymn, and her rendition of it that brings me to my knees in awe of the character and depth of love in God.  I wanted to just post the lyrics and have the song playing on the side bar, but that could not be done.  So here it is on a you tube clip, with the lyrics to follow.  All too often we forget to step back and remember just what has been done for us. Taking the time to enjoy this song is a simple way to do just that!  Enjoy!

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
      
     (chorus)
     Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
     How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
     Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
     How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
     (Chorus )

Verse 3.
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Airbrushing and Photoshop

I have mentioned the deception we are faced with when we look at photos in magazines and other publications.  The airbrushing and photoshop that occurs can be devestating to us if we are unaware of it, and just how much of what we see is not real.  Prompted by some headlines this week about unreal photos of people, I thought that I would post these videos for you to view.

Here is one about girls and their self-esteem, by DOVE Campaign for real beauty.

I hope this gives you some food for thought, the next time you see photos that make you feel less than the beauty that God has created in you!

Cultivating Contentment

"You were made for more than this world has to offer you.  Our yearnings, longings, cravings, and hopes are telling us something: there isn't enough love, peace, hope, friendship, and intimacy on this earth to completely satisfy us.  We will always want more."

Nicole Johnson

Cultivating Contentment, that is the name of the Bible study I was blessed to take part in this summer.  I cannot even begin to explain to you how wonderful and thought provoking it was!  When you stop to think about it, isn't contentment a huge force that propels us throughout each and every day?  It really truly is a driving force behind the thoughts we think, things we say, and actions that we do.  We are seeking to fulfill a longing of purpose or fulfillment is some way, shape or form.  

I am truly drawn to people and desire to emulate people that exude contentment.  There is such a peace and comfort in their surroundings.  Does it ever feel to you as if this is something so hard to attain?  Have you ever thought of this discontentment as a gift from God?  Maybe it could be.  Do we really want the things of this disappointing, sinful world to be the fulfillment of our wildest dreams?  I am oh so glad that something far better awaits us!  How easy it would be to just claim that since this world is not meant to completely satisfy us, I am going to freely express my discontent attitude.  However, that is not to be.  We should be filled with peace knowing that there is more to this life than meets the eye, and humbly accept that which comes our way each and every day.

Even though this world is not my true home, there was (and is), so much more to learn and apply in my daily life.  There is the passage in Proverbs 19:13 about the nagging wife being like a constant dripping.  Those closest to us will probably love to speak up their opinion about us on this topic!  If you look through different versions of Prov. 19:13 and 27:15 you will find these descriptions: quarrelsome, constant dripping, bothersome, nagging, annoying, contentious, leaky, and my favorite, drip, drip, drippy!  Yikes, is what I felt when I read this.  This is definitely not what I want to be or portray.  A discontent, complaining attitude not only gets out of control so easily, but it rubs off on those around us!  We had a lot of discussion about complaining versus discussing things with someone we trust.  The conclusion we were able to draw was it is the motive behind it that determines which it is.  God did give us other people to comfort us in our troubles, and to share this journey called life with. 

Every day we have the opportunity of  being transformed into the likeness of Christ.  Just like what food is on our plate varies from day to day, so do the things on your life's plate.  It is always enough to satisfy, we need to remember to say Thank You.  Our personal contentment hinges a lot on just how much we are trusting God, and learning to see life through His perspective. I am challenged, to face each day with gratitude in ALL things, and when asked about the variables in life to respond with "Can't Complain!"

"I will forget my complaint; I will change the look on my face and smile." 

Job 9:27 NCV 

Blogging Break

Well, I have decided to take a little break from blogging.  Days just seem to get away from me right now, and the readers just do not seem to be there:(  So for now, unless I am unbelievably inspired, my blog will be on hold.  Enjoy your summer and feel free to check back from time to time to see if anything new has been posted!

Guilty, or Not?

Guilt....that feeling seems to creep over me a lot in life.  It probably has something to do with my perfectionistic and people pleasing nature.  It is a plague that I need to do something about!  I am sure that you have found yourself in similar circumstances from time to time, and yes sometimes there is a very good reason for that feeling to come creeping in.  During those times forgiveness needs to be sought out, but I am thinking more along the lines of guilt that is there unnecessarily.

Guilt is described as self-reproach for supposed inadequacy or wrongdoing.  It is placing upon ourselves the feeling of failure, where failure is not due.  It can creep in when you feel as if you did not do what others thought you should, you are not good enough at what you have to do, or maybe you set too high of a standard for yourself overall!!  Whatever the case may be, Satan loves it when we dwell in the plague of guilt!  Then we are not claiming what is rightfully ours, that is above his control.  He cannot take away the fact that we are redeemed and made righteous, but he sure knows how to distract us in to forgetting!!!  Whether we are a mother, sibling, friend, spouse or child, there are many things thrown our way that could cause us to have unnecessary guilt, that is a fact, but it is what we do with them that matters.  I am going to share yet another part of a writing by Marie Chapian that touches on this subject so profoundly.

"Examine the words you speak, because it is you who are hardest on yourself....You shall establish yourself in righteousness, in conformity with the Father's will and order.  Hear me in the wrestling of your mind, for My call of love is true and powerful.  

I shall put you in a place far from the thought of oppression or destruction.  I shall lift you up above the guilt and shame, and sin shall no longer be your master.  I shall lift you up from fear and from terror, for it shall not come near you.  

Do not caress guilt as though you deserve it.  Confess to Me your wanderings, and the ease with which you curse the One who loves you.  Guilt is not your friend, and feelings of guilt do not make you holy or clean.  Be holy as I am. 

I give you the garments of praise so you can throw away that old tattered and foul-smelling coat of collected sins and guilt.

When you are forgiven, you are free.  Whom the Son makes free is free indeed."

Are you truly guilty, or not?  The freedom in our minds comes from resting in the peace that we are forgiven and made free, knowing that He who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it, and has not, nor will not give us more than we can handle.   Be still, allowing yourself to accept with confidence that which you are and all that God has given you!

"I have blotted out as a thick cloud your transgressions, and as a cloud your sins.  Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." Isaiah 44:22 Amp. Bible

Finding Balance

Finding balance is something that I think we all struggle with in one area of our life or another.  For me balancing work and motherhood is sometimes the most challenging of them all, especially during this season of the year. Keeping with the focus of the blog though, let's think about balancing caring about our appearance versus it's what on the inside that counts.

I will be honest, I really do not know a black and white answer on this one, but rather a few tidbits of thought out responses.  We know that it is stated in the Bible that "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  1Peter 3:3,4  That would lead you to the thinking that it is not right to think of your appearance as having any such importance.  Yet on the other hand you think of the example of Esther in the Old Testament and before she was chosen as queen she had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments!  That was to make her presentable in the king's presence. Now we are left with the impression that it is important to place great care in our outward appearance!  To really get a grasp on what God is trying to teach us, more of scripture needs to be taken in to account.  We are commanded over and over to place God first, to not live as the world does, and to care for that which He has given us.  We are to live by the examples of the lives that are shared with us in the Bible.  People that are more concerned with the eternal than the external.  Serving, not obsessing.

Where exactly am I going with this?  I do not believe that it is necessarily the right response to pick one side or the other to live by, but rather to find that balance. Are we so preoccupied with what we weigh, the size of our thighs, or the style of our clothes, that we put time with our Savior and that which He has called us to do, in any other place than first?  Are we so obsessive about getting in that exercise and analyzing every morsel that we put into our mouths, that time spent with those close to us gets pushed aside?  It can be a great struggle to find that balance, and yet we are fully able to do that which He has called us to do.  We are the temple of Living God, and we are to care for it and treat it with the utmost care, while not placing unnecessary attention on ourselves. I encourage you, (and myself included!!!) to step back, take a look, and ask God if you have found that balance between external and eternal.  May you find that beauty which comes from a gentle and quiet spirit!