Thursday, December 13, 2012
The Impossible Impasse
For those who know me, know I am a believer in dreams. The ones you have in the night that sometimes puzzle you or startle you with wonder. Most of us live lives that try to ignore that in which we cannot grasp and just dismiss and deny aspects of our lives that we cannot solve the mystery in. We like things neat, orderly, and logical. Usually dreams are not this way; they are symbolic, scattered, hard to follow and puzzling. Kind of like life, but maybe that is just my life and I can only speak for myself. But I do believe there is a higher voice speaking to us through our dreams. Pointing to what is going on inside of us, where the real house cleaning is taking place, our outside appearance in reality is just an illusion of what we want others to see. What goes on within is where the magic and eternal work is taking place. Wisdom speaks that to clean the outside of the cup without cleaning what is within is worthless, pure hypocrisy. We are masters at appearances. So if our dreams are pointing to some mess within; often we'd rather not look at it and just dismiss it. So we go buy some new clothes, work on a project, or clean the house, all to make us feel and look better, but inside we are still a mess and nothing changes. So what is my point in all of this. For today it is a recognition of something within myself that has been there as long as I can remember, at least since my early teens. My dreams last night again pointing to this. It's frustrating because I have acknowledged this struggle, seen it, know what it is; but I seem to be powerless to overcome it. I can resist the temptations it brings for a time, but healing has been elusive. The only way I can describe this is like a man who is engaged to the woman of his dreams, she is everything he has ever wanted, her beauty and grace unequaled. When together there is never another place he would rather be. She helps him to become the man he was created to be as he does with her. All is well but yet there are times when he senses something not right within him. He notices another face in a crowd and is drawn to her beauty, has a laugh with another woman and wants to know more about her. At first he dismisses it, pretends he didn't think what he just did, "There are many beautiful women in the world and to notice doesn't hurt. I'm human after all." But some of the light he and his bride to be fades the next time they are together. He thinks to himself, "if she thought about other men as I do sometimes with women I wouldn't like it, but it's not as if I'm consciously looking everyone does this." But over time the light and wonder between the couple fades away. He could never follow through on such a desire and pursue anyone, he couldn't hurt her that way. So He resists, says no, distances himself from those who spark that interest. The same spark he had when he met his bride to be. Heartfelt intimacy becomes scarce and the relationship becomes more cordial than real. In an act of desperation to recapture what He is losing, He even confesses to friend about being drawn to other women. His friend reassures him that this is natural, "Don't be so hard on yourself, that is the way life is. The flame of love burns bright at first but then just settles into smoldering fire, flaming higher at times, but usually it is just a slow smoldering burn. Just don't act on your desires, that's what we all do." Getting out the feelings seemed to help some but it the problem is still there and arises again at a later time. This time he shares his thoughts with his bride to be, He can see she is hurt but he is careful to assure her that these are only thoughts (he won't use the word desire since it's at a heart level and thinks it would hurt her more), there is no one who even comes close to her but since he sensed a distance between them he wanted to clear his side of the street hoping that being "real" would reopen those lines of intimacy that seem to be blocked. Full disclosure is not an option, it would seem cruel and after all this is his problem, he thinks to himself, not hers. This again seems to bring some relief and some tender moments are shared as some tears flow from his face as He shares what he can. Her loving eyes never unlocking from his, though he cannot look upon them for long without glancing away. All seems to go well again for a while but again the same desires appear and notices himself staring at a woman on the train to work. They make eye contact and a natural smile appears on his face, she smiles back, feeling alive again, he turns away again thinking of his bride. That night he even dreams about the woman on the train after having dinner with his bride to be. How can this be, how can a man have 2 hearts? Or such a divided one? He feels it's only a matter of time now and it seems the chasm between them is widening again and they are just going through the motions of what is supposed to be happening between them. The dullness of the relationship is setting in and it that seems to be the only "truth" between them, dullness, boredom, the motions without an engaged heart. He believes the lie that she has stopped loving him and thinks she has lost respect for him since in his heart He has lost respect for himself. He sees himself at an impossible impasse, pursue what is forbidden and feel alive again, or resign yourself to what is "right", resist, deny, and just exist. What he cannot see is that both are unfair to his bride, neither option is good for her but how can a divided and broken heart be healed? It seemed healed at the onset of the relationship, at for moments scattered throughout the courtship as they opened up their hearts to one another without the fear of rejection; sharing their hopes, dreams, thoughts, lives, experiences and desires, even their fears and failures. Nothing was off limits, understanding, compassion, adventure and love were the lot of the day, he couldn't wait to see and hear from her again, walk hand in hand wherever life may lead them. She even seemed to be in tune to what he was thinking without saying it, and he could anticipate her feelings or be able to break through a difficult moment with just the right word or touch. Now all is lost or so it seems, those are but distant memories and he is stuck at the impossible impasse. A place He's been at before long before He even met her.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Standing outside the Fire...
As those who read this blog know, I see and hear a lot in music. This story is from a while ago and am finally getting around to writing about this. Shortly before this event took place I had watched a movie, Amadeus, 1984, about Amadeus Mozart. This is a magnificent story that really will show a great picture of God's giftings and our enemy using every possible way to destroy that gift including our own earthly father's failures and our need for approval. I highly recommend it. I found it amazingly deep with spiritual insight as well as the joy and passion that our gifts bring out in us when lived and how they reflect the heart of our True Father and his Son Jesus...
So I am driving to my first stop of this work day and a song comes on, Standing Outside the Fire, by Garth Brooks.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=932467020
We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned
We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned
But you've got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'Cause it's not enough just to
stand outside the fire
We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall
We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all
They're so hell-bent on giving ,walking a wire
Convinced it's not living if you
stand outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
There's this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can't abide
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
As I listen to the song, a burning starts in my heart. To love without barriers or thought of how it may be received, to love fully and completely not thinking anything of self or how it could hurt you to love so freely...
I see in the mind's eye. Jesus directing the music with passion and joy as the lyrics pummel my soul. He loves the song, He loves the message, and it's message captures the very heart of God. He longs for us to allow His love to flow through us to a broken world. Love without barriers or fear of consequence. To truly live the life He meant for us...
The more I look at the lyrics the more I see Jesus here. He has the scars to show, he forsook it all. He revels in the fire of his love, a passion that consumed His very existence for us. Nothing could stop Him!
Have you ever felt like life is just merely survived? Maybe your standing outside the fire and Jesus is inviting you to jump in with Him and love without limits...
So I am driving to my first stop of this work day and a song comes on, Standing Outside the Fire, by Garth Brooks.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=932467020
We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned
We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned
But you've got to be tough
when consumed by desire
'Cause it's not enough just to
stand outside the fire
We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall
We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all
They're so hell-bent on giving ,walking a wire
Convinced it's not living if you
stand outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
There's this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can't abide
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
As I listen to the song, a burning starts in my heart. To love without barriers or thought of how it may be received, to love fully and completely not thinking anything of self or how it could hurt you to love so freely...
I see in the mind's eye. Jesus directing the music with passion and joy as the lyrics pummel my soul. He loves the song, He loves the message, and it's message captures the very heart of God. He longs for us to allow His love to flow through us to a broken world. Love without barriers or fear of consequence. To truly live the life He meant for us...
The more I look at the lyrics the more I see Jesus here. He has the scars to show, he forsook it all. He revels in the fire of his love, a passion that consumed His very existence for us. Nothing could stop Him!
Have you ever felt like life is just merely survived? Maybe your standing outside the fire and Jesus is inviting you to jump in with Him and love without limits...
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Wonderful story about Cancer, death, and Intimacy with God.
This is a true story of an old man dying of cancer.
The old man’s daughter had asked the local priest to come and pray with her father. When the priest arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The priest assumed the old fellow had been informed of his visit.
“I guess you were expecting me,” he said.
“No, who are you?”
“I’m the new associate at your parish,” the priest replied. “When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.”
“Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bed-ridden man. “Would you mind closing the door?”
Puzzled, the priest shut the door. “I’ve never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man, “but all my life I have never known how to pray. At the Sunday Mass I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head. Finally I said to him on day in sheer frustration, ‘I get nothing out of your homilies on prayer.’
“’Here, ‘says my pastor reaching into the bottom drawer of his desk. ‘Read this book by Hans Urs von Balthasar. He’s a Swiss theologian. It’s the best book on contemplative prayer in the twentieth century.’
“Well, Father,” says the man, “I took the book home and tried to read it. But in the first three pages I had to look up twelve words in the dictionary. I gave the book back to my pastor, thanked him, and under my breath whispered ‘for nothin’.’
“I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” he continued, “until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, ‘Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here’s what I suggest. Sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because He promised, “I’ll be with you all days.” Then just speak to Him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now.’
“So, Padre, I tried it, and I like it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d send me off to the funny farm.”
The priest was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then I prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the rectory.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the priest that her daddy had died that afternoon.
“Did he seem to die in peace?” he asked.
“Yes, when I left the house around two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store about an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange. In fact, beyond strange, kinda weird. Apparently just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside his bed.”
- excerpt from "Abba's Child", by Brennan Manning pages 124-125
The old man’s daughter had asked the local priest to come and pray with her father. When the priest arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows and an empty chair beside his bed. The priest assumed the old fellow had been informed of his visit.
“I guess you were expecting me,” he said.
“No, who are you?”
“I’m the new associate at your parish,” the priest replied. “When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to show up.”
“Oh yeah, the chair,” said the bed-ridden man. “Would you mind closing the door?”
Puzzled, the priest shut the door. “I’ve never told anyone this, not even my daughter,” said the man, “but all my life I have never known how to pray. At the Sunday Mass I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it always went right over my head. Finally I said to him on day in sheer frustration, ‘I get nothing out of your homilies on prayer.’
“’Here, ‘says my pastor reaching into the bottom drawer of his desk. ‘Read this book by Hans Urs von Balthasar. He’s a Swiss theologian. It’s the best book on contemplative prayer in the twentieth century.’
“Well, Father,” says the man, “I took the book home and tried to read it. But in the first three pages I had to look up twelve words in the dictionary. I gave the book back to my pastor, thanked him, and under my breath whispered ‘for nothin’.’
“I abandoned any attempt at prayer,” he continued, “until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, ‘Joe, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here’s what I suggest. Sit down on a chair, place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It’s not spooky because He promised, “I’ll be with you all days.” Then just speak to Him and listen in the same way you’re doing with me right now.’
“So, Padre, I tried it, and I like it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I’m careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she’d send me off to the funny farm.”
The priest was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old guy to continue on the journey. Then I prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the rectory.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the priest that her daddy had died that afternoon.
“Did he seem to die in peace?” he asked.
“Yes, when I left the house around two o’clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me one of his corny jokes, and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store about an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange. In fact, beyond strange, kinda weird. Apparently just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on a chair beside his bed.”
- excerpt from "Abba's Child", by Brennan Manning pages 124-125
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Dreaming of Cat Stevens...
As is often the case it seems that my steps have been "pre-ordained" in a strange way. As many of you know I do believe that God is working in and through us even when we sleep. My dreams last night we of the correcting variety and told me in His symblic way that I was to continue to write the stories given to me via this site (I don't even know if anyone reads it...). The dream ended with "Cat Stevens" singles being in a pile of information I was diseminate to various military bases. There is much more to the dream but I'll end it there and keep this theme for now. So in my travels this morning, not thinking of Cat Stevens, a song came on my IPod, "Thinking about you" by Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens (real name: Steven Demetre Georgiou). The song sparked my heart and I listened to it 3 times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VwQvcOSuGI
When I hold your hand,
I could fly a zillion miles with you.
When I see your grace,
I can see you're God's words come true.
Every little bird above the haze,
And fish beneath the waves,
Knows about you...
Wouldn't they do.
When I see your eyes,
I can see rainbows in the sky.
Being with you,
All who parted reunite.
Every little pearl drop in the clouds,
And stones beneath the ground,
Are waiting for you...
Wouldn't they do.
Whatever you say
Lightens up the burden of the day.
Whatever you do
Makes us ever want to follow you.
Whatever they say,
Whatever they do,
I'll always love you.
Every burning comet that zooms,
And angels too,
Think about you...
Wouldn't they do.
Thinkin' bout you,
I could climb a mountain in the dark.
Listenin' to you,
Flowers dance in the park.
Whatever they say,
Whatever they do,
We'll always love you.
The words that you say,
Lightens up the burdens of the day.
Whatever you do,
Makes us want to follow you.
Whatever they say,
Whatever they do,
I'll always love you.
As with so much music I believe this very song is a love song to and about Jesus, written by the Spirit of God. And I would sing it and think about Him. Now many would say how could that be, He (Yusuf) is a muslim. They don't know Jesus as we "Christians" do. I remember a part of "The Last Battle" written by CS Lewis. Which could very much be written as a prophetic book pointing toward the end of the age and the great battle beween Good (Jesus) "Aslan" and Evil (Satan) "Tash". There is a young man who served in the army of Tash and in the end he ends up in "Heaven" with Aslan. From Pages 204-206, "The Last Battle", this young man, a servant of Tash is speaking with the others of how he got there:
"Then I looked about me and saw the sky and the wide lands and smelled the sweetness. And I said By the Gods, this is a pleasant place: it may be that I have come to the country of Tash. And I began to journey into the strange country to seek him.
"So I went over much grass and many flowers and among all kinds of wholesome and delectible trees til lo! in a narrow place between two rocks there came to meet me a great Lion. The speed of which was like the ostrich and his size was an elephant's; his hair was like pure gold and the brightness of his eyes like gold that is lquid in the furnace. He was more terrible that the flaming mountain of Lagour, and in beauty he surpassed all that is in the world even as the rose in bloom supasses the dust of the desert. Then I fell at his feet and thought, surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honor) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless it is better to see the Lion and die than to be Tisroc of the world and live and not to have seen him. But the Glorious One bent down his head and touched my forehead with his tounge and said, Son, Thou art welcome. But I said, Alas, Lord, I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash. He answered, Child, All the service thou has done to Tash, I account as service done to me. Then by reasons of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, Lord, is it true as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one? The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, It is false. Not because he and I are one but because we are opposites, I take for me the services which thou has done for him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore in any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath's sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash that he serves and by Tash his deed is acepted. Dost thou understand, Child? I said, Lord, thou knowest how much I understand. But I said also (for the truth constrained me), yet I have been seeking Tash all my days. Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me, thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they seek.
"Then he breathes upon me and took away the trembling from my limbs and caused me to stand upon my feet. And after that he said not much but that we should meet again, and I must go futher up and further in. Then he turned him about in a flurry of gold and was gone suddenly. - from pages 204-206 "The Last Battle", by CS Lewis
So for me, no matter what your "religion" is, or what your words are, it the fruit and the actions that matter. Labels mean nothing, it's the Life that matters...
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
(Mat 7:15-23)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
(Php 4:8)
This is a work in progress...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VwQvcOSuGI
When I hold your hand,
I could fly a zillion miles with you.
When I see your grace,
I can see you're God's words come true.
Every little bird above the haze,
And fish beneath the waves,
Knows about you...
Wouldn't they do.
When I see your eyes,
I can see rainbows in the sky.
Being with you,
All who parted reunite.
Every little pearl drop in the clouds,
And stones beneath the ground,
Are waiting for you...
Wouldn't they do.
Whatever you say
Lightens up the burden of the day.
Whatever you do
Makes us ever want to follow you.
Whatever they say,
Whatever they do,
I'll always love you.
Every burning comet that zooms,
And angels too,
Think about you...
Wouldn't they do.
Thinkin' bout you,
I could climb a mountain in the dark.
Listenin' to you,
Flowers dance in the park.
Whatever they say,
Whatever they do,
We'll always love you.
The words that you say,
Lightens up the burdens of the day.
Whatever you do,
Makes us want to follow you.
Whatever they say,
Whatever they do,
I'll always love you.
As with so much music I believe this very song is a love song to and about Jesus, written by the Spirit of God. And I would sing it and think about Him. Now many would say how could that be, He (Yusuf) is a muslim. They don't know Jesus as we "Christians" do. I remember a part of "The Last Battle" written by CS Lewis. Which could very much be written as a prophetic book pointing toward the end of the age and the great battle beween Good (Jesus) "Aslan" and Evil (Satan) "Tash". There is a young man who served in the army of Tash and in the end he ends up in "Heaven" with Aslan. From Pages 204-206, "The Last Battle", this young man, a servant of Tash is speaking with the others of how he got there:
"Then I looked about me and saw the sky and the wide lands and smelled the sweetness. And I said By the Gods, this is a pleasant place: it may be that I have come to the country of Tash. And I began to journey into the strange country to seek him.
"So I went over much grass and many flowers and among all kinds of wholesome and delectible trees til lo! in a narrow place between two rocks there came to meet me a great Lion. The speed of which was like the ostrich and his size was an elephant's; his hair was like pure gold and the brightness of his eyes like gold that is lquid in the furnace. He was more terrible that the flaming mountain of Lagour, and in beauty he surpassed all that is in the world even as the rose in bloom supasses the dust of the desert. Then I fell at his feet and thought, surely this is the hour of death, for the Lion (who is worthy of all honor) will know that I have served Tash all my days and not him. Nevertheless it is better to see the Lion and die than to be Tisroc of the world and live and not to have seen him. But the Glorious One bent down his head and touched my forehead with his tounge and said, Son, Thou art welcome. But I said, Alas, Lord, I am no son of thine but the servant of Tash. He answered, Child, All the service thou has done to Tash, I account as service done to me. Then by reasons of my great desire for wisdom and understanding, I overcame my fear and questioned the Glorious One and said, Lord, is it true as the Ape said, that thou and Tash are one? The Lion growled so that the earth shook (but his wrath was not against me) and said, It is false. Not because he and I are one but because we are opposites, I take for me the services which thou has done for him. For I and he are of such different kinds that no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him. Therefore in any man swear by Tash and keep his oath for the oath's sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him. And if any man do a cruelty in my name, then, though he says the name Aslan, it is Tash that he serves and by Tash his deed is acepted. Dost thou understand, Child? I said, Lord, thou knowest how much I understand. But I said also (for the truth constrained me), yet I have been seeking Tash all my days. Beloved, said the Glorious One, unless thy desire had been for me, thou wouldst not have sought so long and so truly. For all find what they seek.
"Then he breathes upon me and took away the trembling from my limbs and caused me to stand upon my feet. And after that he said not much but that we should meet again, and I must go futher up and further in. Then he turned him about in a flurry of gold and was gone suddenly. - from pages 204-206 "The Last Battle", by CS Lewis
So for me, no matter what your "religion" is, or what your words are, it the fruit and the actions that matter. Labels mean nothing, it's the Life that matters...
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
(Mat 7:15-23)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
(Php 4:8)
This is a work in progress...
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Quick Story from Yesterday, Seek me Early...
Yesterday morning I woke with a question in my mind. Why am I so quick to neglect my morning time with the Lord now? Several months ago I was going through a hard time. Every day seemed to be more than I could bear. Too much work, no rest, conficts within, conficts with others, money problems, etc. It seemed that everyday I would come home after the day a just be beat to crap. I definitely wasn't overcoming the world, it was overcoming me. I started to latch on the Lord first thing in the morning becuase I didn't think I could get through the day without Him. I needed the time of peace, comfort, and joy He would bring to make the day go smoother and have the strength to get though it. Now things have settled down, He has brought an inner, lasting peace and healing in many places of my soul and life is more tranquil. So I don't feel I "need" the time each morning and cut it short, or just spend time praying, mediating, etc. while I drive.
I felt compelled to read the message of the Day from "God Calling" and it shed a lot of light on what I was thinking.
Seek Me Early June 16
Walk in My Way and trust Me. No evil can touch you. I am yours as truly as you are Mine. Rest in that truth.
Rest, that is, cease all struggle. Gain a calm, strong confidence in that certainty. Do not only rest in Me when the world's struggles prove too much and too many for you to bear or face alone. Rest in Me when you need perfect understanding, when you need the consciousness of tender, loving friendship and intercourse.
The world, my poor world, flies to Me when its difficulties are too great to be surmounted any other way, forgetting, or never realizing, that if, with the same eagerness, those hearts sought Me merely for companionship and loving intercourse, many of the difficulties would not arise.
The circumstances, the life, the character would be so altered - so purified, that those same difficulties would not exist.
Seek Me early, that is the way to find Me. Early, before I get crowded out by life's troubles, and difficulties and pleasures.
I hope this blesses you....
Michael
I felt compelled to read the message of the Day from "God Calling" and it shed a lot of light on what I was thinking.
Seek Me Early June 16
Walk in My Way and trust Me. No evil can touch you. I am yours as truly as you are Mine. Rest in that truth.
Rest, that is, cease all struggle. Gain a calm, strong confidence in that certainty. Do not only rest in Me when the world's struggles prove too much and too many for you to bear or face alone. Rest in Me when you need perfect understanding, when you need the consciousness of tender, loving friendship and intercourse.
The world, my poor world, flies to Me when its difficulties are too great to be surmounted any other way, forgetting, or never realizing, that if, with the same eagerness, those hearts sought Me merely for companionship and loving intercourse, many of the difficulties would not arise.
The circumstances, the life, the character would be so altered - so purified, that those same difficulties would not exist.
Seek Me early, that is the way to find Me. Early, before I get crowded out by life's troubles, and difficulties and pleasures.
I hope this blesses you....
Michael
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
High Place and Pricipality lessons...
As I awoke this morning this story came to mind. It starts back on February 27th of this year (2010). As with many stories it starts with a dream. I won't get detailed into the dream here, it is written down, and even has a deeper meaning than I will get into. If possible I'll try to keep this short and to the point. (I'm usually not too good at that, so I laugh as I write this.)
After the dream that morning I sense it is time to close the door on a relationship from my youth. I've thought I had done that but the dream seemed to indicate that there was something I was holding onto in my soul. I decide to go to the "mountain" where I asked her to marry me one October morning in 1988. This is also the place where I had my first real experience with God revealing himself to me. I had written about this in a earlier blog dated January 20th, 2006 (The Lord Intervenes). I asked her to marry me here becuase it held such a place in my heart. I remember waking her on a Sunday morning, not telling her what I had in mind. She was grumpy since she had not a chance to wake up, but I was estatic knowing what I was about to do. I had bought the ring several days earlier and believe this was the one I wanted to spend my life with. We hiked together up the mountain, it was a beautiful early fall day. I won't get much into the story but I knelt down under the heavens and asked her to marry me. We were very young (I just turned 19 and she was soon to be 17, if that makes a difference) but she did say yes and we made plans to be married. I thought I had found what I was looking for in this life and was overjoyed.
As dreams of youth often fall apart, we fell apart. We struggled for about a year on and off but it never worked out. Came very close to being married that January, we had our marriage license, blood tests, court order (since she was underage we had to get a judge to approve), all we had to do was show up at the justice of the peace. We ended up in a fight and forgot to show up for our wedding. The justice of the peace called us and asked where we were (we made up again after the fight and were together that Saturday), we had just forgotten... (This again is quite hilarious if you think about it, who forgets about their wedding and doesn't show up!)
Quite the love story... Anyway to get back to what I am writing about. There are a couple of interesting tidbits to note about the place where all this happened. Written on a rock on the top of the "mountain" overlooking Wachusett resevior is a Sioux indian poem:
Oh Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
and whose breath gives life to all the world - Hear me.
I come before you, one of your children.
I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
My ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise, so that I may know the things you have taught my people,
the lesson you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength not to be superior to my brothers,
but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, *MYSELF*.
Make me ever ready to come to you, with clean hands and straight eyes,
so when life fades as a fading sunset, my spirit may come you without shame.
Some would call this a "high place" or place where someone would come to worship God as they understand Him. No one really knows all that has taken place here, much may not be Holy and there may be a demonic stronghold in that place. You may question even my experience here but the Lord is Lord of all, even Peter's confession that Jesus was the Christ was a Cesarea Phillipi at the base of Mt. Hermon, this was a place dedicated to the God "Pan", you can read more about this from this link:
http://www.churchisraelforum.com/caesarea_philippi_the_place_of_confession.htm
There were other stories I had heard of this place in which some would come there high on drugs such as LSD as well as other possible ungodly acts done here.
To get back to the story, I go up to this “mountain” to put an end to that relationship and close the door on the past. After all I believe that the Lord has much larger mountains for me to climb with Him and I just want to close this door forever. After some prayer, thanksgiving, confession, and even a few pictures to remember the day. I am ready to leave this place behind. I kneel down on the ground and for whatever reason I decide to make this place a holy place . I lay my right hand in the snow on the top and claim the place for Jesus and declare it Holy Ground. I remember looking at my hand as the cold snow burned my hand in pain. The hand was that of a child, maybe eight years old (I say this because the deformed right pinky I have that was crushed in a door when I was 9 was not there in the vision of my hand.), the hand was yellow, purple (blue), and red. I immediately start to cry. I let the tears flow thought I do not know why. Afterwards I begin to walk back toward home.
2 days later about 11AM I start to feel sick. Nausea, headache, fever, and extreme tiredness. I struggle to complete a book I am reading about deliverance, “Deliver Us From Evil” but the sickness gets worse. I call a friend of mine Bob to pray for me. He senses confusion, says a prayer, but the sickness continues. I force myself to finish the book with my head pounding. I cannot sleep either. I force myself out to take a walk with the Lord, I get a little better and I am able to take a nap when I get back. I Even go to the gym in the evening.
I start to read “Needless Casualties of War” by John Paul Jackson
The next day around 11AM I start to feel sick again. Nauseu, fever, tiredness, headache, etc. I get home from work still feeling ill. I do very little for the rest of the day but contuniue to read the John Paul Jackson Book "Needness Casualties of War". In the book John Paul tells several stories of men and women who get involved in Spiritual Warfare in which they war against demonic pricipalities and declare High places in the name of Jesus. Many horrible things happen to these people to include miscarriage, sickness, and even death. He inquires the Lord about this and through a dream it is revealed that these people had commited the sin of presumption. Pesumption being that they presumed they could conquer a principality or high place without the Lord's instruction. They overstepped their authority in Christ and went to battle where they were not told to. This is like a soldier taking on the enemy without the order from high command. Once those mentioned in the book repented, the miscarriages stopped and health was restored. I realized this is what I did that day on the "mountain" in declaring it a holy place without the Lord's direction. I repent of that sin and a couple others in which I had done in the past. After repenting I see the vision of my hand as a child in the snow on the mountain. The verse comes to me from Isaiah:
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isa 11:8-9 ESV)
The sickness has not returned since...
After the dream that morning I sense it is time to close the door on a relationship from my youth. I've thought I had done that but the dream seemed to indicate that there was something I was holding onto in my soul. I decide to go to the "mountain" where I asked her to marry me one October morning in 1988. This is also the place where I had my first real experience with God revealing himself to me. I had written about this in a earlier blog dated January 20th, 2006 (The Lord Intervenes). I asked her to marry me here becuase it held such a place in my heart. I remember waking her on a Sunday morning, not telling her what I had in mind. She was grumpy since she had not a chance to wake up, but I was estatic knowing what I was about to do. I had bought the ring several days earlier and believe this was the one I wanted to spend my life with. We hiked together up the mountain, it was a beautiful early fall day. I won't get much into the story but I knelt down under the heavens and asked her to marry me. We were very young (I just turned 19 and she was soon to be 17, if that makes a difference) but she did say yes and we made plans to be married. I thought I had found what I was looking for in this life and was overjoyed.
As dreams of youth often fall apart, we fell apart. We struggled for about a year on and off but it never worked out. Came very close to being married that January, we had our marriage license, blood tests, court order (since she was underage we had to get a judge to approve), all we had to do was show up at the justice of the peace. We ended up in a fight and forgot to show up for our wedding. The justice of the peace called us and asked where we were (we made up again after the fight and were together that Saturday), we had just forgotten... (This again is quite hilarious if you think about it, who forgets about their wedding and doesn't show up!)
Quite the love story... Anyway to get back to what I am writing about. There are a couple of interesting tidbits to note about the place where all this happened. Written on a rock on the top of the "mountain" overlooking Wachusett resevior is a Sioux indian poem:
Oh Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
and whose breath gives life to all the world - Hear me.
I come before you, one of your children.
I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
My ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise, so that I may know the things you have taught my people,
the lesson you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength not to be superior to my brothers,
but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, *MYSELF*.
Make me ever ready to come to you, with clean hands and straight eyes,
so when life fades as a fading sunset, my spirit may come you without shame.
Some would call this a "high place" or place where someone would come to worship God as they understand Him. No one really knows all that has taken place here, much may not be Holy and there may be a demonic stronghold in that place. You may question even my experience here but the Lord is Lord of all, even Peter's confession that Jesus was the Christ was a Cesarea Phillipi at the base of Mt. Hermon, this was a place dedicated to the God "Pan", you can read more about this from this link:
http://www.churchisraelforum.com/caesarea_philippi_the_place_of_confession.htm
There were other stories I had heard of this place in which some would come there high on drugs such as LSD as well as other possible ungodly acts done here.
To get back to the story, I go up to this “mountain” to put an end to that relationship and close the door on the past. After all I believe that the Lord has much larger mountains for me to climb with Him and I just want to close this door forever. After some prayer, thanksgiving, confession, and even a few pictures to remember the day. I am ready to leave this place behind. I kneel down on the ground and for whatever reason I decide to make this place a holy place . I lay my right hand in the snow on the top and claim the place for Jesus and declare it Holy Ground. I remember looking at my hand as the cold snow burned my hand in pain. The hand was that of a child, maybe eight years old (I say this because the deformed right pinky I have that was crushed in a door when I was 9 was not there in the vision of my hand.), the hand was yellow, purple (blue), and red. I immediately start to cry. I let the tears flow thought I do not know why. Afterwards I begin to walk back toward home.
2 days later about 11AM I start to feel sick. Nausea, headache, fever, and extreme tiredness. I struggle to complete a book I am reading about deliverance, “Deliver Us From Evil” but the sickness gets worse. I call a friend of mine Bob to pray for me. He senses confusion, says a prayer, but the sickness continues. I force myself to finish the book with my head pounding. I cannot sleep either. I force myself out to take a walk with the Lord, I get a little better and I am able to take a nap when I get back. I Even go to the gym in the evening.
I start to read “Needless Casualties of War” by John Paul Jackson
The next day around 11AM I start to feel sick again. Nauseu, fever, tiredness, headache, etc. I get home from work still feeling ill. I do very little for the rest of the day but contuniue to read the John Paul Jackson Book "Needness Casualties of War". In the book John Paul tells several stories of men and women who get involved in Spiritual Warfare in which they war against demonic pricipalities and declare High places in the name of Jesus. Many horrible things happen to these people to include miscarriage, sickness, and even death. He inquires the Lord about this and through a dream it is revealed that these people had commited the sin of presumption. Pesumption being that they presumed they could conquer a principality or high place without the Lord's instruction. They overstepped their authority in Christ and went to battle where they were not told to. This is like a soldier taking on the enemy without the order from high command. Once those mentioned in the book repented, the miscarriages stopped and health was restored. I realized this is what I did that day on the "mountain" in declaring it a holy place without the Lord's direction. I repent of that sin and a couple others in which I had done in the past. After repenting I see the vision of my hand as a child in the snow on the mountain. The verse comes to me from Isaiah:
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isa 11:8-9 ESV)
The sickness has not returned since...
Monday, June 14, 2010
I am a Patriot
There are about 5 blogs I've wanted to write for a while. I don't find these easy to write. It's hard to put into words what you are trying to capture that is going on inside one's soul. Words are so limited, pictures capture a bit more, a movie maybe a little more; but thoughts, feelings, experience, and the Spirit seem almost impossible sometimes. There is no way that what I write can be completely understood but now and then the Spirit of what is written may give you a revelation of what is being said. Maybe Romans 8:36,37 captures a little of what I am even trying to say here though this is in regard to prayer: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
I hear the Voice of the Lord in many ways, one common way for me is through music, much of it is "non-Christian" music. I believe everyone is looking for something and all men/women capture some truth from time to time and tap into the river of God, even if they don't know it. All of creation points towards Him, even evil points towards Him in a longing for what is good and just.
Here is a Jackson Browne link to song "I am a Patriot" (I prefer the album version from The Very Best of Jackson Browne): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saYvWAVmT_s
So when I first heard this song from Jackson Browne "I am a Patriot" (written by Little Steven), it seemed to capture something in the Spirit that spoke truth to me as well as guide me through some inner struggles I have within myself. With the current state of the nation I wonder what I should be doing. I've been to some tea parties, even went to Washington this past September 11th. May go back to the Lincoln memorial on 8/28. But even there I wasn't convinced to throw my hat in the ring and give the next few years of my life to that cause. My favorite sign in DC on 9/11 was the one that quoted Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD..." That I could support. But the left vs right, democrat vs republican, conservative vs liberal, something is not right there. Not one of those sides free and heal people's hearts to be who they were created to be. Now I lean right in thinking but but being right and being righteous are two different things. Some of the most obnoxious people can be factually correct but also have a heart of stone. I know no one who has it all figured out, and those who think they do may be the scariest of them all.
Little Steven wrote this song, I believe, in the early eighties under President Regan. He was concerned about the direction of the country back then. You can see him speak and then perform the song from this link recorded in 1984. There is profanity in it (which I believe lessens your case, but that is my thought, and yes I too have been know to drop a few profane words, not to my credit), but you can see where he was coming from in writing this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzguf7WBIM0
I happen to see his words of this song inspired but maybe not competely as he understood them. I do agree with about 85% of what he says. I hope we all agree with each other's freedom to speak what we believe.
Now in revisting the song today we have a completely different government running the country but the words of the song still apply just coming from the opposite end of the spectrum. I believe neither Democrats or Repulicans will save us, not even Capitalism. Communism is tied to the deaths of at least 70 million (of their own people) just last century, or Imperialism, which I honestly have not thought much of. For me I want minimal power in the hands of any government over it's people. For we are not the property of any government but the creation of God and that is where are rights are derived from. We are heading in the wrong direction here...
And the rivers shall open for the righteous...
And the rivers shall open for the righteous...
And the rivers shall open for the righteous someday...
I was walking with my brother,
And he wondered, oh how I am.
Said what I believe in my soul
Ain't what I see with my eyes,
And there's no turning back this time.
I am a patriot, and I love my country,
Because my country is all I know.
Wanna be with my family,
People who understand me.
I got no place else to go.
I was walking with my girlfriend.
She looked so fine, I said
"Baby, what's on your mind?"
Said I want to run like the lions
Released from their cages...
Released from the rages
Burning in my soul tonight.
I am a patriot, and I love my country,
Because my country is all I know.
And I ain't no communist,
And I ain't no socialist,
And I ain't no capitalist,
And I ain't no imperialist,
And I ain't no democrat,
Sure ain't no republican either,
I only know one party,
And that is freedom.
I am...I am...I am...
I am a patriot, and I love my country,
Because my country is all I know.
And the rivers shall open for the righteous,
And the rivers shall open for the righteous,
And the rivers shall open for the righteous someday...
Someday...someday...
Someday is today...
And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap." So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. (Joshua 3:13-17)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luk 18:9-14)
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:38)
And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." (Rev 5:5)
On freedom:
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2Co 3:17)
So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed...
Hopefully we can drop the labels and look to Him who can set us free "to run like the lions, released from the cages, released from the rages burning in our souls..."
I hear the Voice of the Lord in many ways, one common way for me is through music, much of it is "non-Christian" music. I believe everyone is looking for something and all men/women capture some truth from time to time and tap into the river of God, even if they don't know it. All of creation points towards Him, even evil points towards Him in a longing for what is good and just.
Here is a Jackson Browne link to song "I am a Patriot" (I prefer the album version from The Very Best of Jackson Browne): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saYvWAVmT_s
So when I first heard this song from Jackson Browne "I am a Patriot" (written by Little Steven), it seemed to capture something in the Spirit that spoke truth to me as well as guide me through some inner struggles I have within myself. With the current state of the nation I wonder what I should be doing. I've been to some tea parties, even went to Washington this past September 11th. May go back to the Lincoln memorial on 8/28. But even there I wasn't convinced to throw my hat in the ring and give the next few years of my life to that cause. My favorite sign in DC on 9/11 was the one that quoted Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD..." That I could support. But the left vs right, democrat vs republican, conservative vs liberal, something is not right there. Not one of those sides free and heal people's hearts to be who they were created to be. Now I lean right in thinking but but being right and being righteous are two different things. Some of the most obnoxious people can be factually correct but also have a heart of stone. I know no one who has it all figured out, and those who think they do may be the scariest of them all.
Little Steven wrote this song, I believe, in the early eighties under President Regan. He was concerned about the direction of the country back then. You can see him speak and then perform the song from this link recorded in 1984. There is profanity in it (which I believe lessens your case, but that is my thought, and yes I too have been know to drop a few profane words, not to my credit), but you can see where he was coming from in writing this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzguf7WBIM0
I happen to see his words of this song inspired but maybe not competely as he understood them. I do agree with about 85% of what he says. I hope we all agree with each other's freedom to speak what we believe.
Now in revisting the song today we have a completely different government running the country but the words of the song still apply just coming from the opposite end of the spectrum. I believe neither Democrats or Repulicans will save us, not even Capitalism. Communism is tied to the deaths of at least 70 million (of their own people) just last century, or Imperialism, which I honestly have not thought much of. For me I want minimal power in the hands of any government over it's people. For we are not the property of any government but the creation of God and that is where are rights are derived from. We are heading in the wrong direction here...
And the rivers shall open for the righteous...
And the rivers shall open for the righteous...
And the rivers shall open for the righteous someday...
I was walking with my brother,
And he wondered, oh how I am.
Said what I believe in my soul
Ain't what I see with my eyes,
And there's no turning back this time.
I am a patriot, and I love my country,
Because my country is all I know.
Wanna be with my family,
People who understand me.
I got no place else to go.
I was walking with my girlfriend.
She looked so fine, I said
"Baby, what's on your mind?"
Said I want to run like the lions
Released from their cages...
Released from the rages
Burning in my soul tonight.
I am a patriot, and I love my country,
Because my country is all I know.
And I ain't no communist,
And I ain't no socialist,
And I ain't no capitalist,
And I ain't no imperialist,
And I ain't no democrat,
Sure ain't no republican either,
I only know one party,
And that is freedom.
I am...I am...I am...
I am a patriot, and I love my country,
Because my country is all I know.
And the rivers shall open for the righteous,
And the rivers shall open for the righteous,
And the rivers shall open for the righteous someday...
Someday...someday...
Someday is today...
And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap." So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. (Joshua 3:13-17)
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luk 18:9-14)
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:38)
And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." (Rev 5:5)
On freedom:
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2Co 3:17)
So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed...
Hopefully we can drop the labels and look to Him who can set us free "to run like the lions, released from the cages, released from the rages burning in our souls..."
