Freedom

What does being free mean to you?
For many it is simply that we live in a country that has
several freedoms, free speech, etc.
For others it means not being tied down to whatever
could tie them down.

Often times we equate being free with running away as well.
We think when we are free of whatever it is in our lives that we simply run,
leave, or turn away.
Well.. That is true we do turn away.
But sometimes there isn't a need to run away.

Sometimes being free means choosing not to go,
but to stay.

Now that I am 40 and life has taken a really different turn for me
than when I was younger I find myself basking in a different kind of freedom.
Christ.
I ran, or at least believed that I was running away.
I think for a time, I did.

Like I had to leave Florida.
I cannot tell you what my path would have been had I stayed in Florida
but I do know that I had to leave there.
And run I did.
My life growing up was hard.
I have shared that many times throughout writing on this blog.
I will spare you the many details that I could write a book on.
But I will share that I needed that freedom by running.
And even though I only ran 4 hours away to college, it was exactly what I needed.
Little did I know that my life would turn into a living hell there.
But, I chose that path and journey because who would of thought what I was
running from could be worse.
It actually did get worse.
And I am totally to blame for it all.
Of course since I've been walking awhile now, I've had the chance to ask
for forgiveness and grow through those choices.
But this post is about freedom...
I don't regret many things in my life because it is what I chose.
I am one of those types that makes a choice and then just goes with it.
It's why I boat jump without inhibitions.
Sometimes it is wise, other times it is not.

For example, like eating badly.
Normally I do not eat bad. But every now and then I make choices
that are very good for me.
But I do not beat myself up for them.
I stick whatever it is in my mouth and that's that.
I made the choice and therefore how can I go back and beat myself
up for putting an entire sleeve of Girl Scout cookies into my mouth?
Anyway..
I am getting off track, which is quite normal for me...

Sorry about that.
Freedom.
There are many types.
But the most important one is Christ.
He can and will provide you with such a freedom that you soar.
I know, I've experienced it.

Like when I was dating many, many men in college.
In fact, I made some serious poor choices. I dated
many men who beat me, cheated on me, sold drugs, and did not respect me.
You have to know that all I was doing was filling a God-shaped hole.
I wanted someone to just love me.
But that love came at some serious prices.
I lowered what I knew about myself and my self-esteem was probably the lowest
it ever was back then.
When I stopped running, finally in 1995
and met Jesus in my apartment I realized
that there might be someone who could love me without any conditions.
It was a freedom so sweet and tantalizing just like when you put a piece of
chocolate in your mouth and savor it.
That is what Jesus was for me.
It was a freedom that truly set me free.

But of course, I bound myself yet again, and it wasn't truly until
2000 that I finally just stopped.
That's right. Just as much as I make a choice to eat an entire sleeve
of Girl Scout cookies, I made the choice to fully and humbly walk with Jesus.
And that was a freedom that I thought I had experienced!
Huh.
This was something indescribable!
That freedom was like flying.
Like I imagine Harry in movie 3 flying on that Hipagriff.
Every time I watch that and watch Harry, I know what he is feeling.
God did that for me.

Not only did I stop, I stopped running as you know and I've shared.
But I realize as I age, that I don't need to run.
Not only because of God but because I choose to stay.

Right where I am at.
Regardless of each and every turn that I chose to make, I do not run.
I realized that while I might of run from Florida and everything there,
I am not a runner.
Not by nature.
I just had to go a different path so that God could get a hold of me in GA.

I thought I was running. But I was merely just walking.
Right into Jesus' arms.

I share this with you, even though I know it's quite long because
I felt led too. And because friends when you feel that itch to run from whatever it is
in your lives that you feel that need what you do is merely stop.
Walk. Make the choice to walk right into Jesus' arms.

That freedom...
Like riding that hipagriff or that morsel of sweet candy can be found
In Jesus.
He is real. He is calling your name.
That my friends is true freedom.

No matter what you think you are running from
whether it be weight, beauty, finances, relationships, children, etc.
The Lord can truly take it all away and give you the freedom you so desperately desire.

It is funny to me, how we seek the very freedom that binds us and strangles us.
We are comfortable in our lives.
We are afraid to let go, I mean truly let go.
And all it takes is a choice.
That is all.
A
mere
choice.

Yes I am one of those people that make a decision and stick with it. That is how
God wired me. But I see people every day that cannot do this.
They are stuck.
They do not know where to go, how to move, or what to do.
And it truly is quite simple.
And honestly I do it myself.
It's when we think we can do it ourselves.

That is where we get into trouble.
Because we cannot do it alone.
The freedom we desire can only be found if we are willing to see
the truth.

Because that truth will set you free.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
-2 Corinthians 3:17


It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do
not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
-Galatians 5:1