Sunday, July 20, 2008

Freedom, Rain, and Roofs.


letting the blogging begin...again! I've taken a break, but I feel its time to start again.

So, today is Sunday afternoon, and this is the only time of the week we're I feel I have to hang out with people...because its Sunday. AND, of course all my friends are out of the country, and my parents are who-knows-where. So its me, my big house, and my thoughts, God, and this blog.

Last night, I went to the "Knoxville Outpouring" meeting, and God surprised me for sure. I mean, I knew it was going to be good, but last night was a fresh word for me. The worship leader kept singing about freedom, and God was really hitting me with fresh revelation. You know, sometimes God goes after your heart and emotions, and sometimes He hit your mind first. Well, last night was the mind, and then translated into my heart. Here goes....see if you can follow my train of thought.

Ever wondered why God put two trees in the garden? And why didn't He hide the bad tree in the corner or something? NOPE! DEAD CENTER! Its because He gave us freedom, and freedom is the ability to choose...God gave us the freedom to not choose Him, and thus choose our own path...and that path is the path of self-sufficiency, the path of "I'm fine on my own" - otherwise know as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That tree is represented in the "Law" - the law points to righteousness and our weakness because try as we might, we can't fulfill the law. The whole Old Testament is about this, and current day legalism is this package with a nice, neat bow of "I'm a Christian and I have my life in order, or perhaps better stated, I have my lie in order" - this tree, this law, leads us to the only one who can fulfill this law....Jesus!

So if freedom is the ability to choose, then we either choose self-sufficiency, or we choose dependency....on Christ. With that background, here is what I wrote down in my journal last night.

Freedom is being a bond-servant of Christ.
Freedom is living for God's will alone.
Freedom is dependence.
To the world, freedom is independence...in God's Kingdom, true freedom is dependence on Him
It looks like being a child.

Freedom looks like complete trust.
Freedom is tasting and seeing that God is good, that His plans for me are LIFE, abundant life.

Freedom is knowing I'm a ligament son of God.
Freedom is surrender.
Freedom is being the sacrifice.

"Your people will be freewill offerings in the day of your power; in the splendor of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew." - Psalm 110

Know the this verse? "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Well, that verse came alive last night. When God's Spirit is present, He proclaims the wonders and greatness of Christ. And when Jesus is lifted high and seen for who He really is, freedom is found because choosing Christ is abundant life! He is irresistible. Many times, religious baggage gets in the way, but when the Spirit moves, self sufficiency is blown away by the majesty and glory of Christ. You would you rather put your trust in? Legalism looks plain stupid when the beauty of Christ is seen.

Freedom is a progressive journey. Jesus is the destination. Every new level of freedom experienced on earth is a new, fresh level of trust in God....faith in who He says He is, and who He says we are. This is the kind of freedom I'm longing for. The kind where my acceptance comes from the Father, and where my life mission is do His will on earth...that's real freedom. Isn't it amazing that we will never "arrive" , and that there is will be a never ending journey to experiencing the depths of God's heart?

So here we are again...releasing control and finding that its the sweetest, most joyful thing ever. God's in charge. Let His faithfulness rain-down upon you...and don't put a roof over your head. Read these lyrics from one of my favorite songs:

I am the wilderness locked in a cage
I am a growing force you kept in place
I am a tree reaching for the sun
Please don't hold me down
Please don't hold me down

I am a rolling wave without the motion
A glass of water longing for the ocean
I am an asphalt flower breaking free but you keep stopping me
Release me
Release me

I am the rain that's coming down on you
That you shielded yourself from with a roof
I am the fire burning desperately but you're controlling me
Release me
Release me


amen. (this song isn't even Christian! People can help but write about Him, and they don't even know it. haha)

GO LISTEN TO THIS SONG NOW! ITS SO GOOD!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYfsJ6rXgoc