Tag: freedom

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Strongholds

redbankwomen

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We all face them. One of the biggest is our thoughts! Once we have accepted lies into our thoughts, then we start to believe and actually bow down to those thoughts resulting in us being prisoners.

It’s like a child that was told over and over “you will never amount to anything” or “you were a mistake we didn’t plan you” or “why can’t you be more like your sister”. Those words not only cut like a knife, but the rejection becomes a part of that child and affects them in all of their relationships. Even their relationship with Jesus if she has accepted Him. They start to believe they don’t matter and will never be anything!  Now God’s Word tells us we are precious in His sight.

Fast forward to adulthood. That child has experienced one disappointment after another and in their mind believes they don’t deserve any better. They won’t get that promotion, be chosen for that special project, find someone who truly loves her. So how does the cycle stop? There is only one way; truth must take the place of the lies. That process begins when she starts to hear truth from God’s Word, and maybe for the first time realizes she counts. By God’s grace she comes into a personal relationship with her heavenly Father and starts a journey to wholeness.  But she must do her part by taking the truth of God’s Word and putting that into her mind to tear down the lies.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

This applies to any kind of thoughts that are not in line with the Word of God. Jesus died to set us free and gives us a full, abundant life.  Scripture tells us “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) And now that you are free, do not put on another yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

Our minds are a battleground. But we have “the mind of Christ,” and we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. It is a daily surrender but we can be victorious, because Jesus is in our corner. We must agree with and apply Truth. Jesus is our strength, our confidence, and our identity – not what someone may have spoken about us or to us.

Blessings,

The WM Team

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Memorial Day

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We just paused for a moment in time to remember those who have gone before us and those who now leave family behind with a heart to defend this country, preserving all the privileges that come with the flying of Ole Glory. Some have given their all to afford us these privileges, and I am afraid we often do not consider the cost and even take for granted. The journey that allowed us to become the United States of America was forged with blood soaked soil, loss of a son, husband, or daughter. Wars are ugly leaving emotional and physical scars that affect our veterans to this day. Soldiers returning from “hell on earth” only to be spit on and despised. Do we really understand?

Although most know the words to the pledge of alliance many don’t know the words to our national anthem. I have noticed a resurgence of patriotism! I was encouraged recently, when at a ball game, the national anthem was not going to be played so the people in the stands stood and sung the anthem. It was said afterwards they normally only play the anthem at the beginning of the games but now it will be played before each game. We must not forget or put in the background the cost of our freedom as a nation. It must be passed on from generation to generation with the respect and honor deserving of these heroes. Remember Memorial Day is every day. The next time you see a solider, active or veteran, go over to them and let them know you appreciate their service. Extend that appreciation to policemen, firefighters, and emergency individuals. And next time you sing the national anthem, stand a little taller and sing it for those who served or who are serving now and for the families!

The freedom we enjoy as God’s children was also a journey of a horrific nature with blood soaked soil. Jesus, the holy Son of God, was spit on, mocked, and beaten almost beyond recognition. His mother, at the foot of the cross, sobbing as many family members have over the casket of one lost in war. The gospel of the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus must be passed on from one generation to the next. God gave us life while we were dead in our sins. We must not forget the blood of the Cross or place in the background because through it God reached down through His Son to give us freedom in Christ. Freedom to live for Him. We don’t have the right to live any way we want. We represent our LORD. What image are we showing to those around us? Scriptures tells us “we are to live a life worthy of the calling.”  We must be counted with His sufferings in order to enjoy all the abundance He rose to give us. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ~ Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT

One freedom is physical, the other spiritual, and neither one is free! America the Beautiful. It all comes under God. We would not enjoy either one without Him. So how do we express thankfulness? Live for Jesus in a way that the Father in heaven receives honor and glory. Pass on the gift of salvation so others will know the freedom that comes with belonging to the one and only true God. And when we sing “Amazing Grace” we should stand tall, not of anything we have done, but in the mercy of God.

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. ~ Matthew 5:16 NLT

In Love and Blessings,

WM Team

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New Life

redbankwomen

new life imageI used to think growing up if I just could escape a situation everything would be good.  If I could be part of the “in crowd” or win that award, I would be happy, and life would be good. How would you fill in the blank? My life would be complete if_______? It took a while, but I finally realized all these things were temporary, and soon I would be back to wanting things to change and my life to be like those fairy tales moms read to their children. Years went by with no knight in shining armor that would instantly change my life.

Isn’t that how it always goes in the fairy tale. Well life is not a fairy tale and knights don’t exist that can rescue you or me from our emptiness, erase mistakes, and make life brand new. Getting married I expected my husband and my new life as his wife to be free from emptiness and feeling incomplete. Well that bubble didn’t last long! Don’t get me wrong – my husband is a wonderful man and though our road together has included speed bumps and sometimes hurdles, I am very thankful for him and my love for him has only deepened.

Fast forward to a point in my life when I began to seek out God. I had been away from church for a long time. Once I started going back and getting into God’s Word I realized I wasn’t sure of knowing Jesus at all. God was so gentle, and I made sure I was His child. As my walk with Him continued, I came to know why my husband or no one else could take away my emptiness. Only God could do that, and it was unfair of me to place that weight onto anyone else. Only He could heal my hurts and my life be made new through Him.

My journey with Jesus has included speed bumps and hurdles too. But they have been used by Him to change, grow. and bring beauty from ashes. Now I know where contentment, satisfaction, and fulfilment are found. In JESUS alone.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners., to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort those who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Isaiah 61: 1-3 NIV

Blessings,

The WM Team

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From Sinking Sand to Solid Rock

redbankwomen

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God wants all of me. And He wants all of you. And He will do what it takes to get our attention.

I remember as a teenager I had it all planned out. My husband would be everything I needed and wanted. Charming, handsome, smart, faithful, committed. The list goes on. Our finances would be just like they were supposed to be. Good jobs, good credit, a plan in place for the future. It was a good plan, but God had a better plan.

Life happens and it’s messy sometimes. And the very people that we put so much stock in, the ones we trust the most, end up letting us down. Finances hit a bump – a job lost, a tanked economy.

I’ve been through it all and life today is not what I pictured it to be all those years ago. But I was building my own kingdom and building it on sinking sand. Things don’t last. People are imperfect and will disappoint us at times. But there is One who will always last and will always be there. Jesus Christ never disappoints, and we can always trust Him. He is the solid rock on which we can stand.

Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:6-8

We can easily turn our well-intentioned dreams into strongholds in our lives. But Jesus needs to be our all. He is enough. We can find our true worth in Him. We can find true love in Him. We can find peace, stability, and true joy in Him even in the midst of difficult circumstances. When our hope is built on Him – our solid rock, our cornerstone – our future is secure no matter what uncertainties swirl around us in this world.

 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Matthew 7:24-28a

My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

Blessings,

The WM Team

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Chains of Yesteryear

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Ever had a memory just pop into your mind from years ago? A memory that only brought pain and hurt and you wonder why now? Well I have, and I seriously believed it had been put to bed, so to speak, a long time ago. It stopped me dead in my tracks. Buried feelings rose to the top and threatened to overwhelm me, but I was in the grocery store. I couldn’t allow this to happen. They would be calling someone to come take me away. I knew I had to get out of the store. Leaving my buggy, I made a bee line for the door and then my car.

Once inside my car the dam burst, and I sat there with my face in my hands sobbing. Finally, I was able to stop crying and was very grateful my roommate would not be home when I got there. I remembered I had been a little edgy lately and not sleeping well. My mind would try to take me back to that time, but I would fight it! Well today it had won. Entering my apartment, I sat down in the darkness and quiet.

Then I remembered a sermon I had heard that week on letting go of your past and forgiving yourself. The pastor clearly used Scripture pointing you to Jesus and freedom. He pointed out how we stay in bondage and often don’t even realize it although we have sincerely accepted Jesus. He went on to say God will bring something to mind, over and over if necessary, attempting to get you to acknowledge it, face it, and walk through it with Him to freedom. Not that it didn’t happen, but giving it God. God would replace the pain with Himself and those chains would fall off and it would no longer have a hold on you or stand between you and your relationships. Even your relationship with Him!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-4 NIV

I slipped down off the couch and onto my knees and cried out to God. I thanked Him for not letting me push this down again but to bring to Him, give it to Him, and allow His healing to take place in my life. When I got up I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Truthfully it had. I had been carrying this hurt for a long time. Now I was walking in freedom because of God’s love. Is it still a part of my past? You bet, but it no longer defines who I am. Did Satan try to use it against me again? Yes, but with the truth of God’s Word he couldn’t put those chains back on me! You see, it didn’t win. I now realized I had won. Because of God’s grace I was victorious!

Do you hear even the slightest rattling from your past? Is a memory coming back over and over that hurt or damaged you? As God’s child, take it that He is calling you to be free of the chains that bind you. Are you in need of inner rest? In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says “Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”

Father, thank you for Your faithfulness to us as your children. Your salvation is the door we must walk through first. Let us remember and be reminded we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. Help us to walk in freedom in You every day. When your love for us brings to mind over and over a chain rattling memory, help us to recognize it is You calling us to be free of it. Give us the courage to face it with You, because that is the only way for us to be victors. Amen.

Blessings,

The WM Team

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