Freedom

Belonging/Love: Friendship, Caring, Involvement

Power: Importance, Recognition, Skill, Competence

Fun: Pleasure, Enjoyment, Learning, Laughter

Freedom: Choice, Independence, Liberty, Autonomy

 

The other day the kids started telling me about a test they did at school to find out which basic need they are most in need of. I found it interesting. (Click on the 4 needs above to read more.) They each told me which one from the above list they are in highest need of and I could totally agree with each of their results. Seraya - Freedom, Joelle - Fun and Ariel - Power. Now I would love to do this test myself, not because I like boxes but because it's fun to see what they say. I looked for it but couldn't find it, but that's ok I don't really need it anyway. Without doing the 'test' I am pretty sure I know what my highest need is. I need freedom.

My reasons for choosing freedom:

1. I don't like boxes

2. I can and will choose which word describes me without a test to tell me.

3. The whole event the other day by the side of the highway.(click here to read the story)

This event was an out-pouring of a need for adventure that stirs in me sometimes. I try to have adventures and carry-on with an interesting life without getting myself into too much trouble, that's why I did it. I need freedom from boring.

What do you think is your highest need?

Mark 14

Thanks to all those that have been following along in Mark, we're almost done. If you haven't been on in a while here is what I'm up to with this Mark thing. Click on these words to find out.

The first story in this chapter I always find so beautiful. I wish I could do that for Jesus. I find his acceptance of extravagance rather interesting because from my upbringing extravagance for Jesus has not been looked upon with kind eyes. Like those present at the pouring out of the perfume,is how I naturally feel like responding, "What?! Don't waste the money, don't spend money on fancy stuff for the church building or worship service, go practical and simple." yet I see Jesus here accepting this extravagant offering as an act of worship. I am now conflicted. I sometimes wish reading the bible made things easier to understand but in this case it makes things complicated, because Jesus lived such a sacrificial life for the poor and sick. What do you think? Should we be extravagant in order to better worship God, even if people look on saying, "Why this waste? It could have been sold and the money given to the poor." Or should we keep a small worship budget and spend more money on the poor?
Maybe the story no longer holds us to do as the woman did because Jesus says "...You will not always have me." Times changed.
Ya ... so the outcome of that was clear as mud. I love the bible, makes me think.

As i was reading the part about the Lord supper preparations I realized something I hadn't really thought of before. Jesus knew what the disciples would encounter(V.16). He did this with the donkey a few days ago too. Now I am a firm believer that Jesus was fully human and he gave up his godness when he came to earth, that would mean whatever he does on earth is possible for us as well with the holy spirit in us. This to me is fascinating that we can know the future if we need to. What do you think of that?

Mark 14:38 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak." This is a verse that I have memorized and recited many times. It is a powerful verse for me because it helps me keep my freedom. I know it would take a lot more words to really explain this but let me try. When I discovered where I was weak, where I was trapped in sin and then found freedom, I had some safe guards to place in my life and this verse was what led me to understand that it is more than pray, it is keeping watch. Watch for where the weak points were in my armor, where the enemy could try to take me captive again. Watch means to me to toss thoughts, small thoughts out of my mind as soon as they come in.... and of course pray. That is the short version. I love this verse.

I was listening to this chapter through the Bible experience (which is the audio dramatized bible on MP3) it brought tears to my eyes and gave me chills. I am like peter sometimes, I am like Jesus accusers sometimes ....am I like Jesus sometimes? - not in this story.

Ecourage to Freedom

I have been reading my friend Niki's blog and I have been blessed by her honesty and willingness to share her secrets. Her hard to share honesty is something to aspire to. It really is refreshing to hear/read the honesty in ones heart. When we recently chatted about the topic of sharing our secrets, we discussed how sharing secrets isn't for everyone on the same level but yet it seems we are asked by God to be real and transparent. We concluded that each should share as the Spirit leads them to. So what do you do if you sense God asking you to tell a large group of women your "bad and ugly" past? You say "Yes" of course..... and then ...eeeekkk
Last winter the Spirit sorta nudged me to start thinking about helping other women know what it means to not live in secret and to encourage women to tell their secrets to help themselves and others experience freedom. At that time I had no idea what this was going to look like but I knew part of it meant sharing my story of becoming free. I kept the idea smoldering and this November the date has arrived. November 18 at the church will be an evening called Encourage to Freedom. I will share my freedom story and a challenge.
I guess at some point I'll have to share that story here but not until the time the spirit leads me to.
Women - keep that date open and I hope to see you out.

We are not easily broken

Jeremiah 19:10-11

"Then break the jar while those who go with you are watching, and say to them, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I will smash this nation and this city just as this potter's jar is smashed and cannot be repaired."

Ben and Jeff's sermon this Sunday highlighted a smashed vessel, our brokenness, Like Jeremiah says when we do not turn from our sin God will get our attention in other ways because he loves us that much. Interestingly during the illustration on Sunday the first time that Jeff through down the pot to smash it, it was not broken. The hard, dried and baked clay vessel resisted the brokenness only to be picked up again and smashed into hundreds of pieces. Wondering if any one else sees a message in that? ....
Someone said to me today, "We are not easily broken." This is very true, we resist it, who wants to be smashed into hundreds of pieces. Yet who doesn't want to be a legitimate child of God?
Hebrews 12:6

"The Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

If we are true children of God we are loved and thus also disciplined if we have unconfessed sin. Brokenness isn't really our choice in the end anyway, though we resist, he still has the power to go beyond us and break us, as in the case of the fateful pots this past Sunday. Our choice is not if we will be broken but how will we respond to brokenness.
Brokenness is painful, yet it is the way to freedom.