Break Every Chain-Part 2

As I've been dwelling on the "Break Every Chain" topic, I can't help but focus on the fact that chains are ALREADY broken! We are already free....even if we are not walking in the freedom that lies before us.

Let me explain by giving you an analogy. Our family use to have a beagle named Sammy. He was a slow, calm dog...one that enjoyed sleeping about 23 1/2 hours a day. He was not a watchdog of any sorts...in fact, he would have been okay with anyone breaking in as long as they brought him a treat. Sammy was a stark contrast to the psychotic black lab we have now.....but that part is a whole other blog of its own!

When we would let Sammy outside, we would lead him to the edge of the deck where we would fasten his tie out. You see, being a beagle, Sammy would often sniff his way out of our yard, not realizing where he was going. He had to be tied up, for his own protection. For the first few years, we would have to lead him out to the clip to hook him up. The last few years we had him though, he had become so familiar with the pattern that we no longer had to walk him outside with a leash or anything. He would simply walk to the bottom step of the deck and wait for us to attach the hook to his collar.

Did you catch that????

He would stand there and wait for us to tie him up to the outdoor leash. There were days I tested him by not hooking him up. And to my amazement, he just stood there. He looked up at me with hopeful eyes....desperately waiting for me to hook him up. That dog was convinced that he could not walk out into the yard until I attached the outdoor leash to him.

Some days I stood there and said, "You're free! Go out into the yard!" And still. He just stood there, waiting for what he THOUGHT was his freedom.

Then one day I took it a step farther. I brought the hook up to his collar and moved it so it made the "click" sound. BUT....I did not hook him up.

That crazy dog took off into the yard, thinking he was hooked up. But, again...to my amazement, he stayed in his little circle. He acted like he was still tied out.

Sammy was given freedom. His chains were taken off...literally. I tried to coax him into the yard where he normally wouldn't be allowed to go. But all these times I tried, he did not believe he was truly free until he had the chains on him.

Now I bet you're already seeing the spiritual application here.

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He has ALREADY taken the burden from us. He has already given us the freedom.

The key is we, like Sammy, have to choose to walk in the freedom.

And just because Jesus has given us the freedom, doesn't mean that the enemy won't tempt us. Of course he will! He will make those chains seem appealing. He will convince us that they are part of us...that we need them. He will try to keep us in our little comfort zone of where the chains keep us. He will try to keep us from breaking out into the freedom that Christ has given to us.

But the key here is that he doesn't force us to take those chains.

We choose it.

We decide if we are going to keep putting those chains on each and every day. And once we do put them on, they restrict us. They weigh us down. They keep us from being the men and women of God that we need to be.

But there are no locks on the chains.

We aren't stuck with them. At any point we can put them down and choose to walk in freedom.

But like Sammy, we have to choose it. I couldn't do anything to convince that dog that he truly was free. He still felt bound by the pattern of being chained up so long. He felt a version of what he THOUGHT was freedom when I did hook him up. But that wasn't real freedom.

Your chains may feel like a mountain so high that you could never get rid of them. Your chains may feel so familiar to you that you aren't ready to give them all up. Your chains may be more than you ever imagine you can defeat.

But you can do it. Not on your own, though. You can do it with God's help.

How do I know this? Well, because I picked up my own chains for so many years and carried them with me each and every day. They were heavy. They restricted me. They kept me from doing the things God wanted me to do. They were chains of depression, anorexia, suicide...to name a few....

Yes, my past isn't pretty. But with those chains removed, God has painted a beautiful masterpiece with my life.

And it's not a complete masterpiece yet. I have a few more chains that the enemy still tempts me to wear each day. BUT....each and every day I make it a goal to

BREAK. EVERY. CHAIN.

every chain.

Break Every Chain

As our church is preparing to host the next "Stepping into Leadership" conference March 1-2, I have been dwelling on our conference title.  It's a title that stirs up great anticipation inside of me.  It's a topic that hits very close to home in my life personally.

"Break Every Chain"

That just creates excitement in my heart!  Too many Christians are walking around with chains on them...chains that are holding them back from the purpose that God has for their lives!!!  It's time to break those chains and find true FREEDOM!!!  I cannot wait to see what God does at this conference!!!!!!!

But as I've been praying for this, God has been stirring up something inside of me. 

Break EVERY chain.

Not just some chains.  Every chain.

I know from personal experience that it is easy to let God break SOME of the chains that we are bound with.  Now, I'm not saying the process is necessarily easy.  Instead I mean that there are often chains that we are willing to part with....chains that we want gone.  Those aren't as difficult to lay at the altar and say, "Here God, I don't want this anymore!"

But what about the chains that are buried deep within us?

You know what I'm talking about.  The chains that are hidden.  The ones that we don't want to ever admit that we have.  The ones that we are ashamed of.  The ones we would rather bury than deal with.  The ones that scare us.  The ones that we ignore, hoping that they will go away on their own.

It's time we let God break EVERY chain.

Not just the chains we want Him to.  Not just the ones we are comfortable about dealing with.

Every chain.

What is the chain that is holding you back?  What is the one thing you don't want to deal with....or admit?  What's the chain that you are trying to bury?  What have you been telling God you can't do--what's holding you back?

We aren't truly free until each and every chain is broken.

Every chain.

Then I started wondering....why do we keep that chain?  Why do we hold onto it?  I mean, the chains that hold us back do not have a lock.  We can decide at any point to put them down.   So...why don't we?  Why do we stay in bondage?

Maybe we're scared of dealing with it.  Maybe it has become such a part of us that we don't know how we would function without it.  Maybe we think that we can never change....that it is just "who we are"...that the chain defines us.  Maybe...just maybe...we actually like the chain.  Maybe leaving the chain will force us out of our comfort zone.

Whatever the reason for the chain, the solution is the same.  We can't fully break the chain on our own, but we CAN break it with God's help.

It's time to give God the chains.  It's time to allow Him to break every chain.

Yes.  EVERY chain.

It's time to ask God to show us the chains that are holding us back from being the men and women of God that we should be.  It's time to take the foothold away from the enemy.

And when that happens...when we truly lay the chains at God's feet...we will find true FREEDOM!

My Bling Purse

I like bling.  Sparkly.  Shiny.  Girly.  Sequins.  Pink.  ......all that fun stuff....

However, despite my love for bling, I don't usually find myself wearing much of it.  Bling is loud...attention-drawing...bold.  Me?  I'm not so loud...not so bold...and I really don't like the attention on me.  I love bling...but my personal jewelry collection has always been very conservative.  I would often see others wearing the jewelry I loved, but then would always assume it would never look good on me.  I guess you could say that I often admire bling from afar.

Until recently.

The last few years I have broadened my horizons.  Those who may remember, years back, I NEVER wore dangly earrings.  I never wore bracelets.  I only owed small and dainty rings and necklaces.  I guess it's been since I started making a lot of my own jewerly that I have found a love for more "blingy" items. 

...and then a few weeks ago I saw the purse.  Yes....the purse.  And I know what you're thinking....yes, I AM about to draw a spiritual application out of a purse.....

The purse...

Pink.  Sparkly.  Sequins. 

I instantly gravitated towards the purse.  My daughter was shopping with me and did not hold back as she exlaimed her extreme disgust for the purse I was considering. 

I held it up to the mirror next to the purse rack and tried to envision myself carrying the purse.  ...and though I loved it....it just seemed too bold for me.  I mean, could I actually see myself shopping at Walmart in sweatpants and carrying a pink sequin purse?  I might feel a little crazy doing that...

So I put the purse back.  Instead, I settled on a less flashy purple purse....which, I might add, my daughter ALSO hated....(tough!  I bought it anyway!)

But you know, as much as I like the purple purse.....I have found myself wishing I had the boldness and confidence to carry the pink sequin purse.  I regretted not buying that one.

Well, lo and behold....this weekend while shopping with my husband....guess what I just happened to find on clearance???????????????????????????????????

YEP!  You guessed it!  The pink sequin purse.  I found one left.  AND to top it off, I had a 30% off coupon.  I could spend just a few dollars and get the sequin purse that I had wished I bought. 

But you know, as I once again held it up in the mirror, I still had a hard time envisioning myself carrying the purse.

Is this really me? 

I mean...I knew it was me....deep down inside, I love this purse!  But could I really show that side of my personality to everyone around me?????? 

As I started to put it back on the shelf, I realized something.  I realized that everytime I look at the purse, I smile. 

Now that may seem silly.  But it's true.  The pink shiny sequins make me smile.  You know why?  Because that's the real me. 

And I started to think.....why is it that we often hide who we really are? 

Why do we wear masks?  Why are we afraid to let others see us for who we really are?

We are each so very special because God made us that way.  He made us unique....each with our own talents, abilities, personalities.....and when we hide who we are, we are hiding the masterpiece that God has made in us! 

I often find myself shying away from situations where I need to be bold...loud....as I know that I am quiet.  I often use that as an excuse and hold myself back.  But you know, God has made me to be more than just a quiet person who hides her true self.

Whatever God has made you to be......let it shine!  Be the wonderful person that God hand-crafted you to be.  Don't let your feelings of what others think of you dictate how you live your life.

It's time.  Pick up your "blingy" pink sequin purse and move ahead confidently knowing that God made you special!

No Excuses

New Year's resolutions. 

What thoughts do those words put into your mind?  Do they make you think of things you wanted to do, but then failed?  Do they make you think of things you started but didn't finish? 

It's easy to make a new year's resolution.  In fact, last year I had a whole list of things I wanted to do in the new year.  They were all great things that would change my life in a postive way. 

But did I do them all?  Did I follow-through?

Some, yes.  Some, partially.  And some......not at all....

I started thinking about this.  Why is it that it is so easy to make a new year's resolution, but so very hard to keep it?  Why do we do great with the new "promise" for a few months...but then slowly forget about it in time?  Why do we lose the passion to change?

Change is hard.  Change takes time.  But change is affected by things like laziness....old habits....and excuses.

Excuses. 

Wow that one hit me like a tons of bricks.

I look back at my life and I can see how the excuses I have made have put limitations on what I've done. 

Take running, for example...  In the past, I have always had a rule....."I will not run outside if it is below 40 degrees."  In saying that, it has severly limited how often I can run in the winter.  And me on a treadmill.....well, let's just say that doesn't always end well.....I need help with that one.

That rule has been something I lived by and never made an exception to.  That is.....until this year.  This year I decided to throw away the excuses.  WHY can't I run outside when it is 20 degrees?  Why can't I run in the snow?  And to take it out further..........Why can't I run in the pouring rain?  Why can't I run while on vacation? 

It has become a challenge to me now....if I have no excuses for running, what can I accomplish?  I have run in unfamiliar places.  I have run in the wind...the rain...the snow...the sleet....I have run when my snot froze to my face.  Basically the only things that keep me inside now are blizzards and dangerous low temperatures. 

But here comes the real reason for this blog...................................................................

What if we never gave God any excuses???

What if?  What could we do for God if we threw away all our excuses?  What could we accomplish...through Him...if we never held ourselves back? 

What if we had no excuses?

I know in my own life I have given God many, many excuses.....

I can't talk to that person...I don't know her well! 
I can't witness to them!
I'm scared to do that!
I can't lead worship...I don't play the piano well enough...
I can't speak in front of a large crowd....I'm shy!
I can't lead as well as so-and-so...
I can't drive the church van....I'm not good with big vehicles.  (THAT one is VERY TRUE!)
I can't be the type of leader you called me to be...
I can't be the type of parent you called me to be....I fail.

I can't.  I can't.  I can't.

Truth is, I can't do it.  I can't do it on my own.  I especially can't do it when I live in the excuses.

But...with God's power and help, I CAN! 

First step.  Take out the excuses.  That is my goal for this year.  NO EXCUSES!

Is it going to be easy?  No way!  Excuses are natural for me.  Excuses are what I'm use to.  Excuses keep me in my safe little comfort zone. 

But I wonder what God can do with a life of no excuses?

I challenge you to find out. 

What can God do through you if you don't give Him any excuses or limitations?????????

Let's find out!!!!!!!

Popped Out of Place

Have you ever felt the pain of a pulled muscle or an injury that affected your daily life?

Sadly, I injured myself while running about two weeks ago.  ...I know!  You're shocked!  I've told no one but my husband about this...

I'm not really sure what happened, but I strained something...pulled something...or popped something out of place in my hip.  It wasn't horribly bad, but it did cause a dull pain that I felt every time I walked.

Did that stop me from running?  NO WAY!!!  :) 

Running is such a stress release for me--it makes me feel so much better about myself!  There was NO way I was going to stop running, even with a slight injury. 

So despite the pain, I kept running.  About a week went by and the pain was unfortunately getting worse...to the point where I was finding myself limping because of the severe pain.  I was becoming concerned that it might be noticeable to others.  See, up to this point, I had told no one about this.  Last Wednesday night at church, I did my best to hide any clue that my hip was hurting me.  I didn't want anyone to notice.  I mean, it was just a dull pain, right?

And I think I did a great job of hiding it....that is, until later that night.  As I tucked in my son for bed, he looked at me and said, "Are you limping?"

"Um........maybe......," I responded hesitantly.  I then explained how my hip felt weird...almost as if something needed to be popped back into place.  From there I then demostrated all the stretches I had been using as an attempt to fix this pain in my hip.

As I did this, suddenly I heard a loud POP and I literally felt something move in my hip.  And not just me...my son heard it too!

Instant relief. 

Since this realization thrilled me, I started to jump up and down and run in place in his room, demonstrating how I could suddenly do this without pain.  I do believe my son was happy to see his crazy mom leave his room that night.....

But I had reason to be happy!  I could walk with only minimal pain!  No more sharp pains throbbing through my body!  God had taken what was out of line and placed it back in place!

It has been almost a week since then.  I can still feel a dull pain in my hip.....BUT....the pain is less and less every day.  It's as if my body is healing from having something out of place for so long.

And have I stopped running at all during this?  You guessed it....NOPE I've continued to run!  In fact, my hip feels BETTER when I run!  Each and every day it feels better and better.

So as I was running the other day, I started thinking about this whole situation.....and God showed me a very awesome spiritual application!

When we sin...when we get out of God's will...it's like our lives become "popped out of place".  We don't function as we should because we aren't in complete obedience.  And this sin will cause "pain" in our lives.

But.......................................once we repent, God takes that sin and washes us clean.  He then "pops" the displaced joint back into place.  He puts us back together so we can function appropriately!

However--and this is VERY IMPORTANT--

...............even though God "pops" us back into place, that does not mean that we are free from the consequences of our sin.

Just as I still feel pain from the joint that was out of place, we also will feel the results of our sin....even after we repent.  For example, if we are addicted to alcohol, we will have to endure the recovery process after we stop drinking.  If we lied to someone, we will have to deal with the results of this dishonesty.  If we acted out in anger, we will have to clean up the mess we made.  If we hurt someone, we will have to deal with the consequences.

And this is where it is VITAL to keep moving forward.  Running every day, despite the pain, has actually helped my body to heal. 

The affects of our sin will try to hold us back.  The enemy will try to make us feel unworthy....
incapable...
inadequate...

The enemy would want us to wallow in our guilt.

But God is calling us to MOVE FORWARD! 

Move forward out of the sin.  Move forward past the guilt.  Move forward and work through the consequences of our sin.  Move foward to get rid of that sin.

It may be painful for a short time, but God WILL heal us as we step out in faith!

Keep running the race.  Keep moving forward!

Me.....a Leader????

Have you ever wondered what God was thinking?

He took me--a shy girl--and turned her into a pastor's wife.

I was the one who could go through a whole school day without talking.  I was the one who had a panic attack if the teacher called on me.  I was the one nicknamed "Mama Mouse" by my 4th grade teacher because of my quiet voice.  I was the one who dreaded any type of social situation.  To say I was painfully shy would be a giant understatement.

As a child, I anticipated being a mom and a teacher.  Yes...I did know a teacher would have to speak in front of others.  But somehow a class of children didn't seem as threatening as my peers...or adults.  I knew I could NEVER teach adults.  The thought made me sick to my stomach....

What I didn't realize was the plan God had for me.  His plan was not for me to go through life living in my "bubble" of shyness.  His plan was to take this shy girl and turn her into a leader.

........................seriously????????

Over the years, God has drawn me out of my shell.  He has put me in situations where I have to speak...teach...sing....lead.

And do you know what?  That is SOOOO out of my comfort zone!  I feel incapable.  I feel unable.  I am weak.  I feel out of my element.  I don't always feel confident in myself.  I am scared....vulnerable...

But it's at THAT very moment I have to decide.....am I going to stay in my bubble of comfort?  Or am I going to take a step of faith and walk forward into the plan God has for me?

I may have fears.  But in God, all fears are wiped away.  He is my strength.

I may feel incapable.  In fact, in and of myself, I AM incapable.  But with God, He is my strength.

I may feel no confidence in myself.  But I have to look instead at the "God-confidence" I have.

We all have the potential to be used mightily by God.......IF we venture out of our comfort zone.  IF we trust God.  IF we step out in faith.  IF we leave our comfort zone....

Our comfort zones are just that...they are comfortable.  They are easy.  They aren't a challenge.  But God is calling us to be MORE than that.  He is calling us to S-T-R-E-T-C-H....let's move out of our comfort zone and into the area God wants us to move in.  Life lived inside your comfort zone is life lived outside of God's will.

What Are You Afraid Of?

Fear.

It's something we all have experienced.  That intense feeling of dread..apprehension...anxiety.  Your palms get sweaty...your heart races...you try to find a way out of the situation...you have a panic attack. 

Sound familiar???

It is DEFINITELY familiar to me.  Although, I do have to admit that I am scared of some unusual things.  Well, actually, they do send me into a panic.  Bees for one thing.....I absolutely hate bees and wasps.  They will cause me to start running wildly in the opposite direction.  Second is dentists.  Yes.  I hate the dentist.  And not just hate.  I go into an absolute panic attack.  And not because of the drill...no that part isn't bad.  It's the x-rays I hate.  (Yes, I am unusual.)

But beyond that, there's many other things that cause me to fear.  The enemy is always attacking me with thoughts that cause the fear to start creeping in.  Sometimes I don't dwell on the thought and take it right to God.  Sometimes, I admit, I do dwell on it....and that very quickly spirals into a deep fear that hinders me from doing what God wants me to do.

Fear is paralying.  Fear hinders you.  Fear will keep you from the path God wants you on. 

God has been really challenging me lately about fear.  Fear is keeping me from what God wants me to do.  Fear is hindering me from moving forward. 

So today I spent a few hours at the church...alone....just me and God.  I wrote down all the ways the enemy is attacking me with fear.  It filled a whole notebook page......with one fear per line.  Then I felt God telling me to pray about each and every one.  It's amazing as I went down the list how I could see exactly how the enemy is attacking me.  It's amazing how a lot of the fears are related to each other.  It's amazing how deep the fears went after so long of not giving them over to God.  It's amazing how MANY fears I found inside of me.

After I reached the bottom of the list, I knew exactly what I needed to do.  I tore the paper into about a hundred pieces.  I tore my fears up and I laid the pieces on the altar.  And I did NOT take them back! 

PEACE.  Peace.  Peace.  Overwhelming peace is what came next. 

No longer do I have to keep these fears.  In fact, I never was suppose to carry them at all!  I am determined to never take these fears back.  I am tired of being afraid.

Yes, I'm sure the enemy will tempt me with those thoughts again.  I am sure it will be hard.  But I am also completely sure that God will help me through it.

If you are dealing with fears, I encourage you to do the same thing I did.  Write them down, pray over them, and then give them over to God.  COMPLETLY over to God!  Don't pick them back up again!

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." -2 Timothy 1:7