Tag Archives: freedom

Mar22

DAY 81 (2015)

Posted on March 22, 2015 by lsgrlr

What we cultivate is what we’ll give to those around us.
(Picture by Lisa R.)

Mmmm… it’s be awhile with the DAY posts. I feel regretful about that. I have been caught up with many things. Things that many times have kept me from where I know I am suppose to be and from what I know I am suppose to be doing. Which is why today’s post is so fitting and so God-breathed. Today’s praise and worship was beautiful; I could feel God’s spirit literally breaking down that walls I have (over the past few months) been building. We came to a particular song, one that we have sung many times before. But today the song resonated in my heart and soul in a different way. Today the meaning of the lyrics came to life and it was as though I was understanding them for the first time. The lyrics:

It’s Your breath in our lungs so we pour out our praise

pour out our praise

It’s Your breath in our lungs so we pour out our praise

To You ONLY…

The question came while singing. Do we? Do I… Pour out praise to God only? Honest answer… no. My praise is not always for God alone. I give my praise to many things, things that are not really worthy of it. Things like: friends, family, work, and attaining more stuff. However, none of those things came to earth to stand in the gap for me. None of those things gave up their one and only beloved for me. None of those things blew their breath into my lungs. Therefore they don’t deserve my praise. It is reserved for HIM only.

It’s God’s breath in our lungs. So we should pour out our praise to Him ONLY.

“Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).

So what am I thankful for today? God’s breath.

Nov23

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on November 23, 2014 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

2 Samuel 2. “Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, ‘The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.’ So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, ‘You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. And now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them'” (Verses 4-7). There is something about David’s heart. something about the way it works, that is a picture of God’s heart. Faithful till the end. To Saul (despite the elder’s determination to kill him), David’s heart remained true and constant. In running and hiding, in making himself look like a madman, and in shacking up with the enemy… during all those times David’s heart remained true and constant to the call and direction of God. My life has nothing on David, my struggles will never even come close, but my heart does not have that consistency. I am praying for it though, everyday. Praying that I look to God in the good and the bad times. Praying that I understand the fight is for but a moment and I already have the victory in Him. Life is a lesson and David an great example of how the student should be. Always finding our consistency in God’s able arms, the greatest of all teachers.

Oct25

DAY 297 (2014)

Posted on October 25, 2014 by lsgrlr

Standard

Fill in the blank…

Today I saw the coolest sign it said, “I am thankful for _________…” It reminded me of the reason I started this blog. In 2012 life was less than stellar. I spent the majority of 2012 depressed, although you would not have known by looking at me. Years of being the “go to person” had taught me to hide my feelings like a pirate hides his treasure. But even if it didn’t show on the outside, I always knew what was going on, on the inside. At the lowest point of my year, God spoke to me and told me I needed to develop an attitude of THANKFULNESS. As you can guess, thankful was not how I was not my prevailing feeling. But from that challenge this journey was born. In 2013 everyday for 365 days, I found one thing to be thankful for. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. In those 365 days, some days were easier than others to find a reason to be thankful. That year changed me from the inside out. It taught me to see past the situation I was facing and to see the “what” God was trying to teach me. If we see life the good, bad, and ugly from the perspective of God, then we are able to find a reason to give thanks. As we give thanks, we learn to appreciate what we have, even when it is not always what we want. I learned that thankfulness does not change my situation, but it will change how I view the situation. So today just a little encouragement to be thankful in the midst of whatever you are going through. Life does not always go according to plan, but sometimes plans changing can also be a reason to be a reason to give thanks,

“Thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, The Message).

So what am I thankful for today? I am thankful for God’s gentle reminder.

Sep12

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on September 12, 2014 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Joshua 23. “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as He promised. So be very careful to love the Lord your God. But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you. Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. But just as all the good things the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so He will bring on you all the evil things He has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you from this good land He has given you. If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land He has given you” (Verses 9-16). When I was a kid my mom would say (it’s a Jamaican mom staple), “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”Meaning that as easily as she gave, she can take away. The same principal holds true to God’s relationship with the children of Israel and with us today. How come? There were rules attached, “Follow Me, obey Me and I will give you rest.” As well as, “Disobey and go after other gods and I will cause your enemies to consume you.” Their obedience or disobedience would dictate God’s reaction. However, they can not complain, He told them over and over again. He gave them examples over and over again. At no point could they say, “But God we didn’t know. You never said…” The same is true for us, even more so. We have it in written form, we can see clearly the blessing of disobedience as well as the curse of disobedience. He gives us the opportunity to choose. Free will. Israel had it and so do we. This morning as I sit and read God’s word. I am blown away at that the thought that He even gives us an opportunity to choose, to have a choice. We are finite, selfish, and prone to disobedience, yet He still loves us. So much so He provided a way of escape for our sins, for our mistakes. The choice is ours, it always has been. But with free will comes great responsibility. Our choice will either lead us to blessings or to curses. But we can never say, we didn’t know. Don’t believe me? Look at Israel…

Sep11

Remember…

Posted on September 11, 2014 by lsgrlr

Standard

After tragedy life goes back to normal and we forget. We forget that people died so that we could forget. We forget that there are those who would steal our freedom away. Today take a moment to remember… Freedom is not free… others paid the price for us.

Sep2

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on September 2, 2014 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Joshua 13. “As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I Myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you” (Verses 6). I woke up this morning still without a job, but living in a beautiful home, with plenty of food in the fridge and enough money in the bank to last for a bit. I am not wealthy and I do not have a never ending supply of anything, but I have this ONE thing: A God who will FIGHT for me. He will drive out what needs to be driven out and He will give me what I am to inherit in Him. This journey that I am on has called for complete dependence on God, it is the greatest adventure I have ever been on. It has awakened my soul, and my heart to see God’s hand in the smallest of things. It has caused me to take pause before a decision and ask, “Is this the direction Lord?” My plans are now His plans. My goal is to consciously live, move, and have my being in Christ. To live each day expecting God to show up and do great things. l have to say this mind set has me living in expectation, has me living in hope. Makes the journey exciting.

Aug27

DAY 238 (2014)

Posted on August 27, 2014 by lsgrlr

Standard

In life we either fly or crawl. One requires that we let go of the load, and the other requires that we bear the burden. The choice is ours: Free to fly, or burdened to a crawl. (Picture by Lisa R.)

I have so much to say. There is so much that God has done in past week and a half, but I fear I will never be able to express adequately all that I have been learning. All that I have seen Him do. As I was pondering what to write and how to write. I determined that the message I wanted to most convey was the reason I had decided to embark on this journey in the first place. I wanted to see God work, but I also wanted to be used. Here’s the best way I can tell my story:

The Flying Flower

Yesterday I went for a run in my new neighborhood I happened upon a butterfly. It was white with a little bit of yellow in the center it reminded me of a daisy. A flying flower. I stopped and watched it for a bit. Then I had this thought how does a butterfly come into being. Even the smallest of children know that butterflies first start out as caterpillars. So how does this unattractive, usually stepped on bug become a flying flower? It let’s go of the old. It literally has to dissolve all of it’s old outer layer all the way to its core. This produces a protein rich goo-like liquid that then regenerates and grows all the parts necessary for the bug to become what it was truly meant to be. A flower with wings. Right now in my life I am in the stage of letting go of my outer core, so that I can become what God intended. Life has thrown many curve balls my way and instead of swinging I hid in fear worried that I might get hit. As I looked back on my life I saw many missed opportunities, many open doors that I failed to walk through. I was not ready to let go of that outer protection I had built up. Sadly though it meant I was crawling around like a bug, instead of soaring like a butterfly. Today I can say I have seen God do amazing things in the one week I have been in Buffalo, He has met me right at the point of my need. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Each experience has helped me shed a new layer of the outer core and has pushed me closer to the place that Christ has prepared for me. Here’s the truth we are ALL either crawling or flying. We are either living the life that God has for us or we are living according to the world. One gives us the freedom to soar. One holds us down and all we can do is crawl. The choice as always is ours. Choice wisely.

“For the Lord takes pleasure in His people, He will beautify the humble with salvation” (Psalms 149:4).

Learning to fly and not crawl. Learning to shed what is not needed so that I can lay hold of what is (needed).

Jul15

DAY 196 (2014)

Posted on July 15, 2014 by lsgrlr

Standard

Windows down. Head out. Enjoy the ride.

Today on my way to work, I almost lost my salvation due to traffic. It was one of the most frustrating and irritating drives I have ever had. As I was complaining and questioning God as to why He created the driver in front of me, He gently reminded of just that, HE HAD created him. As such the driver in front of me was just as important to God, as I am. That small rebuke changed the direction of my attitude. We often times color the world and those who inhabit it, based solely on how we think things should be, or how we think people should act. But we are not here to try and fit people into our mold, we are called to help them unfold into who THEY are meant to be. That was my drive to work. On my drive home, I encountered another driver, but different circumstances. The car in front of me had a dog sitting in the front seat. The windows were down, and his head was out. His ears were flapping in the wind, and his face held an expression of pure bliss. As I watched the dog revel in the drive. it hit me. That’s what God intended. He intended for us to ENJOY life. He intended this life to be pure bliss, however, we got in the way, sin entered the world and God’s intentions were trampled by our disobedience. Today let’s live in God’s bliss. Yes I am aware that we live in a selfish, imperfect world. But God is selfless and perfect. So let’s roll down the windows of life, stick our heads out and enjoy the ride. God’s at the wheel, we have nothing to fear.

“So do not fear, for I Am with you; do not be dismayed, for I Am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

So what’s the plan? Windows down, head out 😀 .

Jun30

DAY 181 (2014)

Posted on June 30, 2014 by lsgrlr

Standard

God is the DIRECTOR of my path.

Isn’t weird, that even when we are aware we’re are making the right decision, change is still incredible stressful. I am finally make a step toward my future, stepping out and trusting God to do what He promised. He has closed doors and narrowed avenues in my current situation leaving me in a state of in-between (seeing where I want to be, but with no possibility of arriving there…from here). He is directing me to different waters, waters where “feet may fail”. This is where the stress comes in. I hate failure it is painful and depressing and it makes you feel all shades of inadequate. The problem however, is that in order to not experience failure we end up not experiencing ANYTHING at all. Which to me is much, much , worse. Today as I continued reading, Take The Risk, by Dr. Ben Carson. He talked about the idea of taking “self” out of the equation. Our fear is pride… self pride. We don’t move because we are fearful of how we will look, how we will be perceived. If we take ourselves out of the picture, then we can see the picture for what it really is a chance for change. A chance for a deeper faith and relationship with God. A chance to fulfill our call. Today I am stressed, not gonna lie. I feel it in my body and in my mind. But I a trusting God, because I know He said, “Go.” So I am making a conscious choice to NOT fear, and to trust the One who has promised to go before me.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).

So what’s the plan? Go where God is.

May17

Random (hopefully inspired) Thought

Posted on May 17, 2014 by lsgrlr

Standard

I have hidden Thy word in my heart.
(Picture by Lisa R)

Exodus 18. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: I am the Lord your God. You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. You must obey My laws and be careful to follow My decrees. I am the Lord your God. Keep My decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord'” (Verses 1-5). It is both interesting and sad that God had to tell the children of Israel formerly that they were to serve Him, that they were to keep His commands, after He blesses them with the promised land. Why should He have to do that? He is giving them a land flowing with milk and honey. He is meeting their needs, He took them out of bondage and handed them freedom. Shouldn’t they WANT to serve Him? Shouldn’t they lay prostrate before Him in reverence and awe? Shouldn’t they? Are we? He has done the same for us, yet every single day we forsake Him go after other goals, other “gods”. Oh that our hearts would understand what God has done, what He has REALLY done and then serve Him accordingly.