PERFORMANCE PRISON!

Growing up in a small town, with a beautiful mother, I learned early on to put my best foot forward! It's what was done. She was an expert at it.

Her paving the way, made it much easier! She was Sunday School director @ FUMC. A fashionista who would daily lay my clothes out, she kept everything together for me! She "bubble-wrapped" us all to make life easier. 

On my own through many seasons of life, I could often get caught up in trying to "work" for God, feeling useless if I did not "do" enough.

Performance Prison as Dallas Seminary prof Dr. Vic Anderson impressed on my friend, Dawn Dalton, can be so constricting. A great reminder for me that I needed to "play" my "Get Out of Jail Free" card.    

I know life is not a game but I also have learned that we are heirs of the Lord....with the Spirit of His Son in our hearts. 

Jesus is our Savior and Sustainer.

Believers, don't be imprisoned by "doing" for the Lord. 

Remember Christ has set us free. Lean into Him in faith through love. 

Look to Him. Walk with Him as He leads us in serving others!

Stay outside of the "performance prison cell.

We are set free!

TRUE FREEDOM!

ONE NATION UNDER GOD is what the Hobby Lobby ad declared in today's newspaper. BLESSED IS THE NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD. (Psalm 33:12)

How grateful I am to live in a community where God's Word can appear in the newspaper---whether as a paid ad or as part of the publication that is free of  charge & explains true freedom in Christ with "A Verse For Today," Galatians 5:1.

GLORIOUS FREEDOM!

Freedom is celebrated! In local parades as well as DC. 

In cookouts, al fresco dining and fireworks. **

It's the American way---for a country founded on freedom.

Expressions are emailed, tweeted and recorded. Songs of America: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music that Made a Nation, (Meacham & McGraw) recalled hymns and declarations from the past reminding me of our country's independence founded, "under God" and for the people. Even Abigail Adams is quoted as she urged her husband John & other members of the Continental Congress not to forget our nation's women, "I desire you would remember the ladies." (Songs, p.27) 

McGraw reminded all that, independence in America is not easy---it's a never-ending struggle to pursue the promises of liberty and freedom that our Founding Fathers envisioned. Again, "one nation, under God" comes to my mind......

......as I picked up my Bible for reassurances of the "freedom" that truly counts. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free..that's glorious freedom! (Gal. 5:1)

**Remembering a 4th of July (2004) with long-time friend Ann Martin at Blackberry Farm w/our our own fireworks.

MONDAY OOPS

5/27/13 Today has been a "puddling" kind of day for me as the sadness of missing Daddy continued throughout the day. Daddy didn't die on the battlefield but he was severely wounded on the island of Leyte in the Philippines. The day after his wounding his entire platoon was wiped out while on patrol under the soldier who took Daddy's place. A big part of him died that day in a trauma that stayed with him throughout his life.

But God.......reminded me that today is Monday and on this blog Monday means meditating on scripture. 

A gift bag was the prompted meditation .....
the gift bag had the needed verse to free me from the oops of sadness.

It is for freedom God has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do no commit again to a yoke of slavery.

(Galatians 5:1)