Freedom

The word means something to each of us and as we come upon a happy celebration of July 4, we conjure up all kinds of historical reasons to be thankful for what we have and where we live.

I decided to check the dictionary to see what it says about freedom:

1. Personal liberty, as from slavery, bondage, serfdom, etc
2. Liberation or deliverance, as from confinement or bondage
3. The quality or state of being free, especially to enjoy political and civil liberties
4. The state of being without something unpleasant or bad; exemption or immunity: freedom from taxation
5. The right or privilege of unrestricted use or access: the freedom of a city
6. Autonomy, self-government, or independence
7. The power or liberty to order one’s own actions
8. The quality, especially of the will or the individual, of not being totally constrained; able to choose between alternative actions in identical circumstances
9. Ease or frankness of manner; candour: she talked with complete freedom
10. Excessive familiarity of manner; boldness
11. Ease and grace, as of movement; lack of effort

Looking at this list I find I can relate to some but not all of these definitions or descriptions. But the one that is particularly interesting to me is #8. That is truly the kind of freedom I find in Christ. The kind of freedom that allows God to use me, the real me, to make a difference in the lives of those he puts in my path. The uniqueness, quirkiness, definition that He has given each of our personalities is based on the freedom he has to do that and the freedom we have to use those things that are genuinely us!

So as you each enjoy the wonderful upcoming holiday, remember all your freedoms; share them, use them and celebrate them too!

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Gal. 5:1a (The Message)

In my line of work I have the opportunity to speak at a variety of venues. This past weekend I had the privilege of sharing with a group of men at the Fort Worth Adult Rehabilitation Center. As is their practice, prior to the speaker sharing, that day’s leader asks for prayer requests and at times there is someone that has something to say to the group. This can be a verse that has impacted them, a book or something they have written. This past Sunday we had the privilege of hearing a poem from one of the beneficiaries at the center. His words were powerful – in just a few minutes he spoke authentically and from his heart God’s healing in his 40 plus year old life. Change or transformation is a journey. He shared the way God has been working in his life to make him the man God wants him to be.
What struck me directly was that God uses all of us to share his glory with mankind. I thanked him for sharing his humanity, his life and God’s grace so profoundly. The words have moved my soul to again surrender to the one and only true God – Jesus Christ.

Heal This Lame

My pain, my fears, my wants, my needs

My life, my death, my thirst, my greed

My highs, my lows, my ability to understand what I took and what I gave, who I was and now who I am

My good, my bad, my gratitude when I’m on, what I lost and what I gave and my attitude when it’s gone 

How I love and how I hate, to forgive when I’m wronged, when I’m weak how I want to be forgiven when I’m strong

My laughs, my cries, my hellos, and goodbyes

My mother, my sons, and their tears when I lied

The days, the nights, the streets, the fights, and my conversation with my God whenever my spirit ain’t right

My guilt, my innocence, my life in the jail, my prayers and my deliverance from my own personal hell

My family, my friends, from the beginning to the end, and how my God still loves me even though I’m living in sin

My women, my thoughts, my reaction when I get caught, and how my intentions were just intentions until they showed up in my walk

The hood, the gangs, the police, the same. No justice, no peace, so the hood is insane

My old man, Ole’ Jes many locks but no keys. Reputations but no reparations, for the blood that we bleed

My “homies”, their graves, murdered young life gave. In my transformation is the dedication to the path that they paved

My transition to change, the remorse, the shame, and how I go to what I know, whenever I’m out of my range

Lord I want to thank you for healing this lame. For protection from myself, when my thinking was clinically insane.

And I want to thank you for the pain, because I grew from it like the flowers grow from the rain

And I want to thank you for giving me the strength to whisper your name in the middle of the battlefield when the battle was still using cocaine

And I want to thank you for keeping it plain, ‘cause I know now that our wills are not the same, because yours is to keep me, and mine hates to be contained. And I want to thank you for showing me favor, when my behavior was off the chain

And I know many people that say they ain’t supposed to be here, but I see clear why I remain, it’s your Glory! And Lord I know you gave me my story, so people can know the power in your Name!

How you took this thug, misfit, drug addicted, maladapted son, delinquent father, spiritually bankrupt bum, and made him whole

And Lord I know I still have work to do, but today I surrender my soul!

I want to throw down a challenge:

My challenge is for you to develop a personal leadership development plan. A good plan has at least three elements.

• It addresses your divine design or who you are (your gifts, passion,
talents, etc.)

• It addresses your ministry direction. What do people designed like you do in ministry?

• It addresses your ministry development based on who you are and how God has wired you.

As you work on your plan, keep in mind these areas to consider as well.

Godly character
Knowledge of one’s ministry area
Skills for the that ministry
Healthy emotions
Care of your physical health