all things will be brought to light...

"... For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest,

nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. ..."

Luke 8:17 ESV

Today I had a glimpse of things being brought to light...

one a joy to see...

the other... simply a revealing of this truth...

A friend shared a hidden sin...

one she didn't even recognize...

She shared how He worked in her heart... for months...

and how she chose to obey today...

It was a joy to hear her tell...

smiling she said...

I feel so much lighter...!

Freedom... that's what she experienced...

a new area of freedom...

where she didn't even know she was bound...

The second came in an email...

a family secret...

found through a paper trail...

in the preparation for a property sale...

This one simply revealed the truth...

that what has been hidden...

will be revealed...

Nothing can be kept in the dark forever...

it will all come to light...

And I think about the Day the Light will return...

and how we'll respond to the unveiling...

of what's been hidden in the dark...

Some will embrace the Light with joy...

being freed from bonds they didn't know they had...

others will simply be revealed for what they are...

what they would've rather kept hidden... forever...

I've done some revealing of my own...

at His prompting...

Sharing truths with others I would have rather kept hidden...

but what I experienced... through a hard obedience...

was like my friend's... a lightening...

a freedom... filled with joy...

So the word to you friends today...

would be to recognize...

accept the truth...

nothing is hidden... that will not be brought to light...

Seek His counsel now...

on how to bring your darkness to light...

Be willing to obey...

and find freedom and joy now...

rather than being weighed down...

by what will be uncovered... one Day... one Way...

For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.

For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

Psalm 18:27-28 ESV

rest in Him... Exodus 31:12-17...

And the Lord said to Moses, "You are to speak to the people of Israel and say,

'Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you

throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.

You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you.

Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it,

that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done,

but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord.

Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death.

Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath

throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign

forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord

made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"

Exodus 31:12-17 ESV

Early on in His relationship with His people...

God made a law... He commanded them to rest...

it was His idea... His way... for His people to rest in Him...

Rest was serious business for the Israelites...

it was a capital offense... to work on the day of rest...

working seven days a week could get you killed...

Their Sabbath... their day of rest...

was a sign between God and the people of Israel...

a sign of God's perfect provision...

He Himself... worked six days... 

created everything to complete the world...

then... He rested...

He called His people to do the same...

Work six days...

rest in Me on the seventh...

make it a holy day...

set apart for Me...

In this rest...

He's telling His people...

He's the One who provides all we need...

without Him... we have nothing...

In this rest...

He's telling His people...

Recognize all I do for you...

trust Me to provide completely...

even while you rest...

He sanctifies... He provides...

for us this is true too...

we cannot work our way into anything...

only by His grace do we have what we have...

Only by His grace... can we rest in Him...

We no longer practice Sabbath like the Israelites...

we no longer face the sentence of death if we don't...

solely because... He has made the Way...

of perfect rest... in Christ Jesus...

Jesus died... for every broken Sabbath...

every broken law...

and for those who rest in Him...

we find life... peace... freedom from condemnation...

and freedom from being found out...

Rest...

Rest in Him...

live your whole life...

as a holy day toward Him...

set apart your life...

and rest in the work He's doing...

in and through you...

independence day...

Yesterday's worship at church... intertwined with the patriotic...
reminders of the faith-filled roots of our nation...

One of the songs... America, the Beautiful...
in the lyrics... echoes of our nation's roots in Him...

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,

Whose stern impassion'd stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

---Katharine Lee Bates, 1913

Thy liberty in law... this is His way...

The freeing of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt...

came with Ten Commandments... Leviticus... Deuteronomy...

law... law... law...

Within the law... liberty is secured...

Other nations use law to control...

in the USA... as in Jesus...

liberty... freedom... found in the law...

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom

as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

1 Peter 2:16 ESV

Remember this day... 

on our nation's birthday...

it is He who made the Way...

for freedom...

[email subscribers... click here to view on YouTube... or click post title to view on Jeremiah's Menu...]

Speaking of freedom...

I'm exercising mine... along with a sister in faith...

Beginning tomorrow... Tuesday... July 5...

we are leading a Bible study we're writing...

not only will we teach it at our shop at 12:30pm...

we have set up a website for you to follow along...

the Blog page is where you'll find the homework posts...

Just like here... you can sign up to receive them email...

hope you'll go explore the site... and maybe invite a sister to come along for...

Sister Talk: Resuscitate Your Faith...

SisterTalkFaith.wordpress.com

freedom... to be undignified...

Now the Lord is Spirit,

and where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

Freedom... it's my word for 2016... and I've seen evidence... of increasing freedom in my life...

For one... freedom from fear of judgment from others...

Just this week...

an undignified moment in worship...

an undignified question to guys...

both resulting in comments from others...

Comments I could've taken and turned into doubt...

doubting my actions... 

doubting my intentions...

doubting my freedom...

Comments that would've previously shamed me...

to one degree or another... for having offended...

The surprise... for me...?

I had none of that...

Neither undignified moment has caused me a moment of grief...

neither came from a heart bent on offending...

each came from a sense of freedom... to connect with others...

But I now see... how newly found freedoms... can offend others... who aren't free... don't yet know the freedom found in His Spirit...

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom

does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 Corinthians 8:9

And I will be careful...

but I will also... not be bound up again in fear...

when I have freedom to act... ask...

in order... to connect with others...

in a way unique to the situation... and relationship...

Freedom...

where the Spirit is...

there is...

freedom...

For now... basking in the confirmation... of living Spirit-led...!

Amen...!

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convicted...

I found myself convicted today... for complaining...
a mild complaint... but a complaint nonetheless....

The complaint centered on something that should only bring joy...

Self-centeredness... the root of complaint...

As I write... I'm reminded for what I have been set free...

For you were called to freedom, brothers.

Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,

but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

I suppose all complaints... or most to be sure... are rooted in selfishness...

His love... frees us to serve others... in love...

therefore should free us from complaining...

Do everything without complaining or arguing.

Philippians 2:14

Grateful to be set straight...

Grateful for the Holy Spirit who convicts...

Grateful for the freedom to serve... in love...

Have you complained today...? 

Perhaps it's time to examine its root...

freedom... from judgment...

On the morning of jury duty...
I open my prayer guide...
where I read...

Honor God, praise Him as Judge...

Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Genesis 18:25

He is the Judge of all creation...

the only Judge who judges perfectly...

Only He sees... knows... all the evidence...

the motive of every heart... behind every action...

He knows the rule of law perfectly...

because He defined the law...

With God... Truth always rules...

He cannot be swayed... manipulated... deceived...

He is the Judge of all the earth...

Because He judges rightly...

and brings all things into judgment...

I do not have to judge...

Vengeance belongs to Him...

Grace belongs to Him...

Forgiveness belongs to Him...

And praise God for His judgment...

and praise Him for His Son...

who came to receive judgment...

for those who trust Him... 

By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh

and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

in order that the righteous requirement of the law

might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh

but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:3-4 ESV

Because of Jesus...

and the blessing of faith...

I am judged righteous...

He is my righteousness...

Today I see... freedom... from judgment...

both passing judgment on others...

and receiving it from Him...

Freedom from judgment...

makes room for us to walk in grace...

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ

to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned

and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace

through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:22-24

Are you free from judgment...?

why darkness needs to be confessed...

Darkness... it has no substance...
it's only an absence of light...

Light... photons... wave-particle duality...
all its lengths of color mixed together... make white...

Darkness lurks in our hearts...
the shadow of sin...
the remnants of wounds...

When Believers recognize darkness in their hearts...
when the Holy Spirit convicts...
there's only one thing to do...
confess...

Bring your darkness into the light...
share it with a trusted friend in the faith...
a sister or brother in Christ...

Today... I was reminded afresh of the freedom it brings...

Moved to confess something dark in my heart...
it's been going on a while... months in fact...
a jealousy of sorts...

I don't agree with it when it raises its ugly head...
but pride kept me from confessing...
thinking it would somehow... just... go... away...

Bringing it into the light was not something I wanted to do...
but I know enough by now... (spiritually speaking...)
to know keeping it hidden... only gives it room to grow...

I spoke it out loud... to a trusted friend...
and though there was sorrow for the darkness in me...
I soon felt lighter...
less burdened...
dare I say... free...?

And I realize... darkness cannot exist in the light...
its nothing really...

Darkness stays dark when its hidden...

Therefore... darkness needs to be confessed...
because then it has no power...

Light... overcomes... darkness...

Do you have something dark lurking in your heart...? something that makes you cringe with shame...? when you see it...?

Bring it to the Light...
first confess it to Him...
then ask who else you need to confess it to...

Confession leads to freedom...
freedom from darkness...

Breaking free is never easy...
but its always worth it...
Amen...

He uncovers the deeps out of darkness

and brings deep darkness to light.

Job 12:22 ESV

Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly,

as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them saying,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me

will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 ESV

"... I have come into the world as light,

so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. ..."

---Jesus

John 12:46 ESV

The night is far gone; the day is at hand.

So then let us cast off the works of darkness

and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:12 ESV

Jesus came so we could see we were stumbling around in the dark... He came to make it safe to come into the light... to find forgiveness... healing... freedom...

Light... it is our armor... in a dark world...

even when the darkness is found in our own heart...

freedom... to lay down an offering...

offering... the act of one who offers... something offered especially: a sacrifice

ceremonially offered as part of worship... a contribution to the support of a church...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Ed.

Yesterday... I had an opportunity to give an offering at church...

Not a monetary gift in the offering plate... but a time of witness... sharing part of my story... through a prayer and praise service...

This is not something I've done before... at least not in a public setting... with a microphone and sound system...

Multiple times... I've shared bits of my story... one on one... or in small groups... Bible studies... so yesterday... felt like a sacrifice...

But the funny thing was... this whole opportunity... this offering... appears to be an answer to prayer... one I wrote in a journal... way back in January...

Lord, free me up to use the gifts You've given me

boldly and without fear! or false humility.

The journaling about offering... came to my attention the eve of the service...

Forgotten pages became most significant in my preparation...

My desire... was to be available to Him... to share the work He's done in me... through His Word... and prayer...

My usual way would be to fret... write... know exactly what to say... but that just wasn't the way this time...

I wrestled with resisting the urge to practice in my head... 

He called me to let my story speak... in that moment... as He led...

and really... I mostly had peace...

The morning came... my flesh wanted to bolt... but my spirit seemed calm... prepared...

I prayed earnestly... to be a blessing to Him... to His church... to give an offering... a contribution of spiritual support to His people...

Another line in my journal helped me prepare for this moment...

...an offering is an act of worship given solely with God in mind...

The freedom of offering solely to Him... allowed me the freedom to lay down my offering... leave it on the altar... no need to review... critique... seek affirmation from others...

Whatever your offering... use your freedom in Christ... to contribute to the support of His people... whether it's monetary... spiritual... service... whatever... 

Lay it down for Him on the altar... and thank Him... for what He's done for you...

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,

as good stewards of God's varied graces...

in order that in everything God may be glorified

through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion

forever and ever. Amen

1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part eight...

Here we go... another piece of Psalm 103... seen in light of His work on the cross...

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

Psalm 103:9-10

We stand at a miraculous time in history... the year of the Lord's favor...

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Luke 4:18-19

(emphasis added)

These words of Isaiah... Jesus read in a synagogue on a Sabbath day in Nazareth... after reading He sat down... and said... Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing...

Jesus made it clear... He is the One Isaiah prophesied about... hundreds of years earlier...

The fulfillment of these scriptures... proclaim the year of the Lord's favor... the amazing time in which we now live...

Jesus preached His good news to those poor in spirit...

He proclaimed freedom for those imprisoned by sin...

He opened the eyes of those spiritually blind...

He released those oppressed by the enemy...

He not only proclaimed the year of the Lord's favor...

He brought it to pass... via the cross... the tomb... the resurrection...

As Believers... we live in bodies of flesh... continually stumble over temptation... yet know... rely on... the grace... the favor... of the resurrected Jesus...

A place... and time... where we sin...

yet go forth unaccused...

Sin and grace...
daily intertwined...
in those who know Him...

The wrath... anger... of God... which we deserve...

has been poured out on the Son...

Jesus took the brunt of what we deserve...

By His grace... punishment forgoes us...

Our iniquities... need no repayment...

He footed the bill... paid the ransom...

By His wounds... we... are... healed...

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,

that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

No... He does not treat us as our sins deserve...

He pours out Himself... in grace... and... love...

Lord Jesus... let this truth sink in deep...

may it transform my heart and soul...

to pour out my life... for You...

freedom to trust...

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his paths beyond tracing out!

Romans 11:33

This verse has been echoing in my heart since yesterday... considering the depth... richness... of His wisdom and knowledge... in a world where very little seems to make sense to me...

In His omniscience... and sovereignty... He reigns...

In grace... and mercy... He reigns...

In righteousness... and goodness... He reigns...

But really...? I don't often see it...

His grace... mercy...

His wisdom... knowledge...

where is it...?

when families implode... leaving little ones wounded...?

when people rebel... ignore... disregard... their Creator...?

when dis-ease... eats away... at bodies... minds... souls...?

But... OH... the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God...!

beyond my understanding...

beyond my comprehension...

way beyond the capacity of my little brain...

He's the One who sees from beginning to end...

the One who created knowing it would all fall apart...

the One prepared to send His Son to die for our freedom...

make a way for all things... ALL THINGS...

to be made new...

Finding freedom... to trust... His wisdom and knowledge...

Finding freedom... to be okay... not understanding what He's up to right now... at peace... not being able to trace out His paths... in history... presently... or in the future...

Because He knows...

because He is good... merciful... gracious...

because He's always right... just...

I don't have to know...

I don't have to understand...

because He does...

In the richness and depth of His wisdom and knowledge...

I find freedom... to trust...

Amen...

blank...

Blank...
the screen I brought up yesterday...
to wait for thoughts...
to wait to write...
remains...
blank...

And I wonder how I forgot...
it wasn't that I didn't focus on Him yesterday...
I did...
editing another's devotionals...
reviewing... rewriting... some of my own past posts...
memorizing His Word...
regular study for Sunday School and Bible study...

But in all that... I felt blank...
I remember bringing up the page...
and feeling... blank...

blank... adjective... devoid of covering or content especially: free from writing or marks... having spaces to be filled in... unfinished...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)

So today...
resting in the freedom...
to be... blank...
to be devoid of content to share here...
to have spaces needing to be filled...
to be... unfinished...

What about you...? feeling blank in some area of your life...?

Rest in the blank... in the unfinished...
He promises to finish what He started...

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you

will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

Father God... continue to remind me that I am unfinished...

that I can rest in Your work in my life... even where there are blanks...

Thank You for Your grace... to fill in... complete... my empty spaces...

freedom to forget...

Not till this morning... did I remember... I forgot to post yesterday...

And I realize... there's freedom in forgetting...
the freedom to allow Him...
to choose the day off... from writing...

In His sovereignty... He allowed a forgetting...
so I could learn... He orders my day...

In his heart a man plans his course,

but the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

freedom... to practice new things...

Experiencing freedom to practice new things...
things I've never really understood...
like social media...

I posted my first Istagram picture today...
with a call to glorify Him with each post...
free to wait for His inspiration...

This week on FaceBook...
I invited others to test drive the Bible study on Romans 8...
the outline which began here last year...
during the season of Lent...

Free to share... what He's doing in me...
with others... publicly...
the widow... offering her two small coins...

Also wondering... if I really hear...
a call to practice re-newing some things...

One re-new to practice...
the first inspiration... He gave to write...

making it new...
offering it here...

And then there's the look of... Jeremiah's Menu...
feeling led to make it fresh... new...

We'll see about these two...
I think I'll sleep on it...
enough new freedom for today...

I will walk about in freedom,

for I have sought out your precepts.

Psalm 119:45

freedom... to be poor...

This feels like a long story...
one I'm not sure where to begin...
it's been so long in the making...

The call to write... teach... encourage others in His Word...
is not one I feel equipped... prepared... trained... to do...

This place... this blog... this table...
it's the place of rough stuff... first drafts...
the pouring out... of what He's pouring in...

So when she makes the challenge...
to promote this place... let more people know it's here...
invite more to the table... openly...
I cringe...

She asks...
Where does this attitude come from...?

The question causes me to wrestle...
the wrestling with Him... turns into recognition of whining...
a prayer ensues...

I'm whining... Lord... forgive me...!
You know my challenge...
fear of putting too much of me...
in what I write here...
and wondering what people think...
and is it good enough...

But You call... and I give...
so it must be enough...
like the widow with her two cents...
she gave publicly... openly...
giving all she had...

She openly gave out of her poverty...
all she had... for all to see...

Lord... from the world's perspective...
she was poor... pathetic...
but You saw her as one giving out of abundance...
an abundance of faith...

And he sat down opposite the treasury

and watched the people putting money into

the offering box. Many rich people put in large

sums. And a poor widow came in and put in

two small copper coins, which make a penny.

And he called his disciples to him and said to them,

"Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more

than all those who are contributing to the offering box.

For they all contributed out of their abundance,

but she out of her poverty has put in everything

she had, all she had to live on."

Mark 12:41-44 ESV

Today... I'm that poor widow...
when it comes to writing about Your Word...

I'm poverty-stricken... when it comes to degrees...
diplomas... formal education... credentials...
regarding theology... Greek... Hebrew... 
and hermeneutics...

But here... I publicly lay out my offering...
giving what I believe You're calling me to...

Giving willingly...
out of the abundance of faith... You have blessed me with...

Giving... writing...
based on the promise... that You will teach...

"I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God, and they will be My people. No longer 

will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, 

'Know the Lord,' for they will all know Me, from the least

to the greatest of them" --- this is the Lord's declaration.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 HCSB

All your children shall be taught by the Lord,

and great shall be the peace of your children.

Isaiah 54:13 ESV

Giving everything I have... by faith... that it is You that I hear... and in faith... that if I get it wrong... You have the power to work it for good...

And we know that for those who love God all things

work together for good, for those who are called

according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

Willing to go public...

hoping to please You...

So... today I go public... sharing my wrestling...

embracing the freedom... to be poor...

in the face of so much writing from those who are rich...

in degrees... credentials... education...

Understanding... my shame... the desire to stay invisible...

is really being ashamed of Him... of what He's doing in me...

This freedom thing... it's challenging...

but how I want to be free...

I wonder... is there something He's calling you to...? where you feel poor... poverty-stricken...? not good enough to do...? no credentials...? according to the world...?

I encourage you... exercise your freedom... to be poor...

because in Him... whatever you give... will come out of His abundance...

[Note... the one who challenged me to go public... also said... I had to share my story... I have many... but today... this is the one I'm led to share... I'm the poor widow... openly giving... her two small coins... really less than two cents... dismissing the shame... of not being a legitimate teacher... in the eyes of the world... choosing to see me... through Him... Amen...]

a song for freedom...

I asked Him today...
What is a symbol for freedom...?
wanting something to remind me of my one word this year...

Expecting an image...
something tangible to seek out...
perhaps a charm to hang around my neck...

But what came to mind...
words from a song...

My chains are gone... I've been set free...

My God... my Savior... has ransomed me...

And like a flood... His mercy rains....

Unending love... amazing grace...

--- Chris Tomlin

A song of freedom...

to remind me...

what I am...

in Him...

For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore,

and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1 ESV

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exercising freedom...

With my word for the year...
Freedom...
changes have already begun...

Some exercises of freedom subtle...
changing the inside...
my heart... thought life...
moving toward this word...

Other exercises of freedom...
include changes in ministry pursuit...
and attitudes toward serving...

But today... exercising freedom...
involved letting go...
freeing up space...
filling up trash cans...

Recently I've felt led to free myself from holding on to past journals... past Bible study books and notes... past ministry guides... outlines... and more notes...

Today... I piled thousands of sheets of paper...
both computer paper and spiral notebooks...
into boxes for recycling... or trash...

The freedom exercised...?

Releasing the fear that He will not provide what I need when I need it...

The irony...?

Every sheet of paper... every note... every outline... evidence of His past provision...

He will provide the words... the outlines... the plans... for what comes next...
I do not need to hold on to His words that I've recorded and written down...
I do not need to be trapped by the clutter... or fear... that He will not provide...

Today... I exercise my freedom to trust Him to supply the wisdom... word... and plan... for whatever He calls me to...

...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send

in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you

of everything I have said to you.

John 14:26

I now see... He not only reminds of what He's said in Scripture... but also what He has revealed for the service... and ministry... He inspires... and empowers...

The Spirit will bring to remembrance... EVERYTHING... He has said to me...

Amen... and bring on another box...

[Another irony... the purge begun today... brought on by a search for past ministry notes... Hmmm... you think He's trying to tell me something...? :/ ]

grateful for grace...

Began the morning... feeling like... a disappointment...

No one had voiced a complaint...
nothing specific came to mind...
just an overall feeling...
I disappoint...

Then I remembered... freedom...

In Him... I'm free from oppressive feelings...
free from others' expectations... leading to disappointment...

Taking hold of my freedom... I went about my day...

As the day progressed...
I did disappoint...
mainly myself...

One error after another...

A call to a customer...
Sorry... your order won't be ready tomorrow...

A text to my partner...
I messed up...
need to reorder... buy more...

By the end of the day...
I find myself... grateful for grace...
grace from a customer...
grace from my business partner...
and the freedom... to receive... grace... in Him...!

So we praise God for the glorious grace

he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

Ephesians 1:6 NLT

new year... new word...

The spiritual discipline...
one word... for a year...
continues to call me...

The past three years...
a single word... has helped define...
my walk with Him...

2013... Obedience...
2014... Journey...
2015... New...

This year... the word came before I even asked...
a word... that's already... having an impact...

My one word... for 2016...

Freedom

Already... I sense these words connecting... into a truth...

Obedience to Him...

is a journey with Him...

into a new life...

of freedom...

freedom... noun... 1. the quality or state of being free: as a: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another: independence c: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous...

The Word regarding freedom...

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore,

and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1 ESV

For you were called to freedom, brothers.

Only do not use your freedom

as an opportunity for the flesh,

but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

The Greek translated... freedom... means...

• liberty to do or to omit things having no relationship to salvation... true liberty is living as we should not as we please... Enhanced Strong's Lexicon
• the word denotes "freedom" of access to the presence of God... Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words

My favorite... freedom of access to the presence of God...

What a great freedom...

one we only have in Christ Jesus...

Consider this year... your freedom...

to approach Him... and ask for a word...

No telling where it might lead...

Father God... thank You for freedom...

teach me what it means in my life...

show me how to glorify You...

 with the freedom You've provided...

one day...

One day till Christmas...
for most... it seems like less...
festivities begin this Christmas Eve...

Still so much to do...
unsure how it will happen...
looking forward with anticipation to what will get done...

Feeling the same about these twenty-five days...
He did... does... so much...
He is... so great... more than we can fathom... discover...

John wrote...

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did.

Were every one of them to be written, I suppose

that the world itself could not contain the books

that would be written.

John 21:25 ESV

With all that He is...

what we've seen... what we haven't...

we end the twenty-five days...

with Him as Gift...

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

that whoever believes in him should not perish but

have eternal life. For God did not send his Son

into the world to condemn the world, but in order

that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16-17 ESV

A gift is given...

and God gave His Son...

as a gift of grace... mercy... redemption...

gift... something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)

Gifts given... are given freely...
no compensation...
no payment required...
no strings attached...
that's a real gift...

But with freely given gifts...
we also have the right to refuse...

Or... we can receive...
but never unwrap it...
never open it up...

The same is true of Jesus...

Through Him... God offers...
the free gift of salvation... grace... mercy...

For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God,

not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

The gift of Jesus... comes to us... completely undeserved... 

a gift of grace... unearned... unmerited...

When received... by faith...

the gift of Jesus... opens for us...

the way of freedom... peace... joy...

There is therefore now no condemnation for those

who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life

has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh,

could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful

flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

in order that the righteous requirement of the law might

be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh

but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-4 ESV

Freedom from sin... death... fear...

The Word says... sin holds us in a death grip...

and the root of fear is punishment...

because we have become God's enemies...

But by receiving the gift of grace Jesus offers...

we are freed up from all that binds...

Jesus is a gift given... to the whole world...

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise

as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,

not wishing that any should perish, 

but that all should reach repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

Yet there are those who refuse to receive...

Then there are those who receive...

however... they refuse to trust the Gift...

with difficulties... or wealth... or worry...

They continue living as if still bound...

when chains have been broken...

cell doors flung open...

death-sentence repealed...

The Gift of Jesus...

receive...

unwrap...

trust...

He is the Greatest Gift ever given...

to a dark... cold... broken... lost... world...

And the angel said to them,

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news

of great joy that will be for all the people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11 ESV

Have you received Him...? do you trust Him...? do you live freely by His grace...?

Father God... continue to grow me...

in the joy... freedom... grace... and love...

of the Greatest Gift... You've ever given...

Bless me with the time to unwrap...

as much of Him as possible...

Note to email subscribers... If you only read via email... know you are one day behind... to read the actual post for Christmas Day... go to Jeremiah's Menu... today...

the high cost of freedom

Freedom... a word God's been speaking to me lately...

A word which comes with a cost...

For freedom Christ has set us free...

Galatians 5:1 ESV

Our freedom achieved through His crucifixion...
For freedom... Christ has set us free...
A word we are called to live...

What I realized today... is two-fold...

First... Jesus paid not only our cost for freedom... but His too...
When the Word chose to become flesh... He forfeited much freedom...
He willingly confined Himself to human form... and His Father's will...

"My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;

nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

Matthew 26:39 ESV

The cross... the cup of His Father's wrath...
poured out on the Lamb... bought freedom for His creation...
Yet also... obedient death was Jesus's way out...
His own freedom... from flesh... was also achieved...

For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God.

2 Corinthians 13:4 ESV

His freedom... through resurrection... cost Him the cross...

A needed journey... 

or else His Father would have given Him another way...

The cost for His freedom... painful...

Now... second... we are called to freedom...

but we too live in a world at war... the same world Jesus walked in...

Why would we think... that freedom could be fulfilled in our own lives...

without some pain...?

Freedom is something all Believers are called to exercise...

but often we don't... because it involves a painful journey...

Letting go of the addiction...

Surrendering to His will...

Denying desire...

Submitting to persecution...

Yes... we are called to exercise freedom... in the same way Jesus did...

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself

and take up his cross daily and follow me...." ---Jesus

Luke 9:23 ESV

So I wonder... what pain... what loss... will I be faced with... as He continues to speak... freedom... to me...?

Am I willing...? to pay the price...? the high cost...? to experience freedom...?

I hope so...

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection

and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11

[emphasis my desire... the other not so much...

if possible... let this cup pass from me...]