As the United States just surpassed its most recent Independence Day and looks ahead to honor the 250th anniversary of its freedom from the rule of Great Britain in 1776, it is also a time to acknowledge the sacrifices that had to be made to achieve this liberty. Blood was shed, and courage was demonstrated to make this bold move to another continent and an unknown territory. This is something the United States acknowledges every July 4th, and lives through constant challenges and threats to its freedom and democracy daily. It is something to not only cherish but to protect as well.
A Sacrifice That Allows Freedom
Biblically, the journey to walking in faith as a Christian has similar merits. Sacrifices were made in the death of Jesus on the Cross and His ultimate resurrection. It is a bold move for every Christian to make the first step to accept Jesus as their Savior and to walk in this “newness of life” (Romans 6:4) that is afforded by the decision. It, too, is a freedom that we must acknowledge and protect daily because of the privilege and cost associated with the salvation it brings. For those who answered the urging of the Holy Spirit, it is a decision that opened the door to true liberty that can’t be taken away.
Salvation is the unshackling of the soul, where grace breaks every chain and love restores every name. It’s the moment exile ends and belonging begins—a freedom not just from bondage, but into purpose, into peace, into the eternal embrace of mercy. The freedom experienced as a Christian is fully dependent upon the authority and power of a Savior who desires to guide your every footstep so you can have true independence…true freedom.
Choose True Freedom Today
Today, choose Jesus Christ. In doing this, you will choose a freedom that is not an escape, like the early founders of America built upon, but an arrival to a destination that was created out of love, just for you. There is freedom in Christ, so let’s celebrate the liberties that were intended for your life.
Why am I thinking about Moses and the Red Sea? Maybe it’s because the movie, The Ten Commandments, just made its annual Easter appearance on television. Maybe it’s because current events are reminding me strongly of that scene where Moses and the newly freed Israelites, while being pursued by Pharaoh and his army, suddenly found themselves on a cliff overlooking a vicious body of water with nowhere to go. You see, as this blog is being written, we are in the sixth week of self-isolation in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. For some reason, this week feels like a Red Sea scenario, where the pandemic has no intention of showing those of us, caught up in the pandemic’s fray, favor.
The novel Coronavirus has impacted every continent in this world. As of today, it has claimed approximately 166K lives amid almost 2.4M reported cases worldwide. These numbers, along with smaller, more detailed numbers for our local communities, have become an ongoing byline to every news program or headline being broadcast. Sadly, during this week six there appears to be no way out as we dangle on that cliff, waiting for something to make it end today.
But It’s Hard, Lord
And so, I think about Moses. I am pretty sure he was being yelled at, questioned, and cursed (because the Bible says so) by the very people for which he had just facilitated freedom. In these days of selfies, Moses probably would have been hit in the back of the head with sheep dung if he turned his back on this angry crowd to take a picture, or worse, pushed into the roiling waves of the Red Sea. It is also during these times that I wonder about all the ‘wonderment’ in the Bible and why the story of the Red Sea is so endearing. I think it’s a reminder to us that God came through during an impossible time. A time that truly was the difference between life and death.
God Knows
God could have only come through for the Israelites if He was mindful of the imminent need. He wasn’t off toiling with something elsewhere He could have missed their cries. God was very aware of their need and was present in the moment (read Exodus 14). Likewise, when we cry out to Him, God is a very present help already aware of the need (Psalm 46:1).
This COVID-19 season is a tough one. Tough because all the endings are not happy ones. Many are dying and there is no logic as to why some survive. The Red Sea is still being the vicious body of water that it always was, and it seems God is not willing to move it so we can get on with the rest of our lives. Inherently, I believe, that is the point. When we look at scripture, time and time again, we see God doesn’t necessarily remove the situation; He moves in the situation. Yes, we see lepers healed and sight restored in the Bible, but these miracles usually happen when the person is already dangling on that cliff crying out for an intervention. The ‘red sea’ is still there, looming in the background hoping to swallow up the person’s hopes and dreams – and then we also see, God is still there.
We are reminded that, just like Moses and the Israelites, God does not necessarily move our ‘Red Sea Situations’ out of the way. Instead, He moves in them. God moves in ways that give us a better understanding of His love and His power. Much like Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross, He didn’t make the cross go away. The movement came, through Jesus’ death; and that movement continues to today in lives again and again.
Give Your ‘Red Sea’ to the Lord
As this pandemic continues to make moves across this nation and this world remember, God is still moving in ‘Red Sea Situations’. God is moving in your situation. He is a very present help in times of trouble. God is our refuge and, more importantly, God knows your circumstances and what you are going through. Keep seeking God’s face and keep your faith. Like Moses, wave your staff (e.g. through prayer) and let God move in your life. God’s movement always has a plan (Proverbs 19:21) that can overcome any circumstance and is backed by a love that is greater than anything we could imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Walk it like you talk it or, more personally, walk it like I talk it. That is the lesson I must keep in mind as I walk through this life and as I tell others about Jesus. The importance of this edict stays on my mind constantly, but it hasn’t always been there. I had to learn that people are always watching how I respond to events in life as God matures my faith and I have to be intentional in thinking about my responses.
Button, Pushed
I recently had an experience where I found myself in a
disagreement with another person. Not
just any person but one who was also a Christian, like me. Nothing unusual, we all get into differences
of opinion, but for some reason this disagreement spiraled way out of the
context of what we were in conflict about.
Their response hit me in my emotional core which made me want to reply
far more aggressively than I probably needed to. The other person sensed this and put up their
defenses and the next thing I knew, we were facing an all-out argument. Why and how did this happen? As Christians, we should know better
right? Well, the other person was my
husband who is the one person that can push all my emotional hot buttons. And boy, he did at that moment.
Take a Breath
Thankfully, the outcome was not what it could have been. If it had happened at an earlier time in my
life this would have resulted in some hurt feelings. That was during the early days of my walk
with Christ. It has taken some time, but
controlling my emotions was the first thing God had to deal with in my
soul. I grew up in a family where
letting the other person know what was on your mind was the norm vs. the
exception so I had to learn to respond differently. Thank God, He didn’t give up on me and
realistically, I am still learning, one day at a time.
Colossians 2:8 says –
“See to it that no one takes you
captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human
tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.”
When you read this scripture, it speaks to the importance of
knowing the truth of God’s Word, so we don’t fall victim to false
interpretations embedded in human traditions.
I take this one a bit further because I believe our responses to the
‘things of life’ are also related to our interpretation of what God says is
appropriate. Just because everyone is
doing it or it is legal, doesn’t make it right.
We must ‘walk it like we talk it’ as God’s Ambassadors on earth. In my case, responding in anger would have
only made the situation worse and the Bible is very clear that we should be
“slow to anger” (James 1:19).
Let Your Light Shine
We need to ‘walk it like we talk it’ because people are
always watching. The enemy will use
others, especially those close to you, to get you to be an example that is opposite of what God is telling you to
be. That is why we need to understand
the importance of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and relying on the
Holy Spirit to direct our paths (John 14:26).
Additionally, spiritual warfare is real and determined to make you
stumble. Our responses can not only make
us stumble but can also be an obstacle to another person’s faith walk. Think about it – who wants to be around a
bunch of angry, impatient, abusive people?
That’s why we need to understand how God wants us to live and respond to
life’s experiences. Don’t worry if you
are reading this and feel “oh, oh, I have not been responding appropriately.” Thankfully God’s grace and mercy can pick us
up, dust us off and give us another chance to make it right.
Get into the Bible, pray and be in relationship with
God. The Holy Spirit will tell you how
to walk, where to walk and even when to walk away. And the reality of it all, God promised us He
would fight our battles for us, so let God respond for you (Exodus 14:14).
Some days, I need a Strong Tower. Actually, most days I need one. You know, the one mentioned so frequently throughout the Bible promising cover and protection from the most personal and oppressive forces? If you have ever said the phrase “This is one of those days”, then you can understand what this means.
Where Can I Hide?
The interesting thing about exclaiming I need a strong tower is that many times I am crying out to God to give me a place to hide – a quiet sanctuary where I can block out the distractions of this world. Though it is a great thought, unfortunately, it is not always feasible; like when I am driving in traffic or working with a team on a project. The thought of going poof into the air to my ‘strong tower’ place might also scare those around me – kind of like the rapture though they weren’t caught up with me. Still, it is a fun thought…but I digress.
God’s Covering
In the Bible, a strong tower is described much like a fortress. It is a fortified place that not only provides safety for those inside but also keeps the undesirable things outside. It is a pure place. A safe place. We sometimes look at our homes as ‘strong towers’ because they are our ‘safe places’. But even they can be penetrated by unexpected events and emotions – anyone that has lived with a growing teenager can relate. When God is your strong tower it goes much deeper. God can be your safe place – even in the middle of a crowd. I know that may not make sense but think about Psalms 23:5 which says “God prepares a place for us in the presence of our enemies”. It reminds us that He is always aware of what we face. If God prepares the place for you it is already anointed with His protection. His cover is over you always, even when those desiring your downfall are right before you.
That is what His strong cover means – He is our fortress and refuge in the middle of the storm (Psalm 46). What a promise and what a blessing God offers to those that seek Him.
So, the next time ‘one of those days’ or even one of those moments creep up on you, seek the cover of a loving and safe place. Seek God. He’s got plenty of room to cover you and no one – I mean no one – can break through His walls. You are safe with Him.
Here, I sit in my favorite coffee shop, journaling about my day and life and my current focus on God’s movement in the desires of my heart. As I write, I speak to God about using me and opening doors and getting me ready for my next season. I jot down all the things I want to do and, out of habit, I start outlining the steps to get them done. I get a bit anxious when I get to the steps that may require more resources than I currently have but keep writing and put an asterisk next to those bullet points trusting God will provide whatever I need. Suddenly, I hit a wall where I could not focus. As I try to write my thoughts down I become increasingly distracted. What was this about? I like the white noise of this space and can usually focus (I pretty much wrote my first book in this same coffee shop) so why is my mind wandering all over the place?
God, Was That You?
Then I have a BAM! moment – I feel this deep conviction in my spirit telling me ‘I want to use you right where you are’. Is that you speaking to me God? I stopped, looked around and then focused on my coffee cup. At that point, I understood what I was being told.
See, all of my ‘planning’ was so forward thinking it was as if I couldn’t do anything until some other event occurred. For example, I ‘will’ set up my sewing machine to make hats for sick kids once I get some additional resources (e.g. money) to get the fabric and ultimately the time to do it. As I contemplate the topic for my next book, God was telling me “I’ve already given it to you, so get started on the outline”. This was true but for some reason, I was waiting for some event – like the words being carved in stone from a lightning bolt before I actually sat down to start writing. In other words, I already had what I needed to get started so I shouldn’t plan as if I needed to acquire something else before I could move. I already have a ton of fabric in my basement to get started on the hats so what was I waiting for?
Watch For the ‘Pot Holes’
Procrastination, disguised as planning, can be a tool the enemy uses to keep you from your goals, dreams and, more importantly, God’s purpose in your life. We sometimes ‘wait’ out of fear when we really need to be moving because of faith. Now, I am not saying you should just move without any forethought on the plans of your life after all the Bible says ‘the people perished due to lack of vision’ (Proverbs 29:18) but there is a point where you have to trust God for the provision for your dreams and direction. In business, there is a term called ‘planning paralysis’ where you can plan so long you end up doing nothing. In life, sadly, this can have an end result of you never experiencing what a great God can do if you just let Him move.
Jeremiah 29:11 says:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
So today, as you look ahead in your life, prayerfully seek those areas you have been holding onto or even ‘holding out’ on and trust God to provide. You already have what you need to prosper and that is your faith. God is our dream giver and provides for whatever you need – right where you are. #LivingTheRedeemedLife
As I yell, “Drop it!”, I once again find myself looking into the woeful eyes of my 7-month-old puppy. She has chewed up her latest random sock stolen from a laundry basket, full of clothes waiting to be washed. I look at her, feeling of both love and frustration. As I pick her up, ready to berate her for continuing to chew on things when she has so many ‘chew toys’ to chew on, the only thing I could come up with is “You are bad but I love you.”
Stop That!
Really? That is the best I could do? No wonder she is the perpetual ‘sock monster’. But, there was something about the innocence in her eyes that said I’m sorry that served as a reminder to me that she recognizes the error but just couldn’t help herself as she walked past the temptation of another sock dangling from the basket – she is, after all, a puppy. I remembered my older dog having the same ‘temptation’ when she was a puppy and knew that eventually this phase would pass (hopefully) and socks around the world (or my house at least) will be free to live good long lives.
This incident also reminds me of God’s love when we mess up. He probably looks at me many times and says “You are bad but I love you”. Actually, the Bible tells us that God sees the best in us – always. He knew (and knows) we are going to fall, mess up and be tempted by the very things we know we shouldn’t do and reminds that 1) we really do have the strength to resist and 2) even when we fall, He is like a caring Father with big, loving hands extended to help us up. He dusts us off, checks to make sure we are okay, and sends us on our way.
I Love You
Daniel 9:9 says –
9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;
The wonderful thing about God’s love in this verse is He doesn’t focus on the mistakes we make. God says to us, “You were bad, I may need to discipline you but remember it is only because I love you and need you to learn the path to righteousness. That is what is best for you”
In some respects, I guess that is what I want for my puppy – I don’t want to her to choke on the lint balls from the socks or get sick from possible dirt on them, so I discipline her to keep her safe.
Isn’t love grand? Even better, isn’t God’s love for us grander? So much so, He sent His only begotten Son in Jesus to die for us to have life (John 3:16)!
