FreeSpirit

FreeSpirit http://freespirit.blogsz.info/index.php FreeSpirit 2010-06-30T16:25:34Z Oops I'm Sorry http://freespirit.blogsz.info/blog/freespirit/general/2006/04/08/oops-im-sorry I'm Sorry? What does that look like? or for me personally along with requiring a visual I often ask "What does that FEEL like?" in effort to internalize the scope of the situation just a bit deeper. Here is the challenge, bring the statement "I'm sorry" to a new level of awareness. Pay attention to how often you use it, be attentive to how authentic or genuine you are when you say it. Pay attention to the behavior the statement is made in reference to. Is that behavior continuing on or present in numerous aspects of your life? Has the statement lost it's salt so to speak? Does it have any value? Are you genuine when you say it?Ephesians 4:32 ( NIV)Be kind and compassionate to one another, FORGIVING each other just as Christ God forgave you.Are we genuine when we say I'm sorry, are we truly apologizing for the actual behavior or are we just sorry because we got caught?Are we sincere or are we looking for the quick and easy way out that doesn't require communion with our Lord to motivate change ?Have we accepted the conviction of the sin by the Spirit or are we so distracted and ego minded that it's really the other persons fault or them that has to change anyway?(Notice all of the questions say are we, they are not directed at judging another person but rather at examining ourselves)In the ET Leadership classes there is a session on repentance and remorse. Do you know the difference?Repentance ( Luke 19:1-10) Zacchaeus the Tax Collector Remorse (Matthew 27:3-5) (NIV)When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. 4"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.Remorse actually is a very sorry state to be in when you read that scripture, I compare it to wading in a sess pool of guilt because it's a situation where we feel pain and anguish for what we have done but are not willing to change our ways thus resulting in the wallowing in pain and anguish.Repentance has Freedom in it, it is an active decision to change our thoughts and actions so what does that look like? Acknowledge itAsk the Father and the person for forgivenessReceiveGet up and walk away from that sess pool of guilt.What does that FEEL like A slice of watermelon on a hot summer day.Ever so refreshing!!!We've implemented a standard in our home in January 2006; It is no longer acceptable to just say I'M SORRY. We practice the act / art (practical application) of repentance with Our Father, with each other and we are now expanding that in other areas of our life, WOW what a difference!!So pay attention, are you practicing the act or art of repentance or are you just sorry?Glory to God, For His ways are always the ways of Excellence!!!! General 2006-04-08T05:31:48Z FreeSpirit Mediocrity or A Passion For Excellence? http://freespirit.blogsz.info/blog/freespirit/general/2006/04/07/mediocrity-or-a-passion-for-excellence Webster defines "mediocre" as moderate or low quality.Mediocrity is the state of being mediocre. Is this the state Our Lord has provided and blessed us with? Are we using our God given gifts and talents to the best of our abilities?More importantly are we using them with the full power and authority of our Lord?In 1 Corinthians 14:1-40Paul commands believers to pursue Love and desire spiritual gifts. Pauls attitude is that these things be sought after eagerly.These gifts bring the power of Holy Spirit into our midst. Spiritual gifts are not optional and we are not free to take or reject them as is believed in some places today. They are to be part of the ordinary believers experience. We are not to be passive or indifferent about spiritual gifts but rather we are to desire them strongly and be open to receiving them from God. These gifts are given to us by God to be used as kingdom tools for accomplishing His purposes. Can you imagine a carpenter or a mechanic without the tools of the trade? It is equally ridiculous for a Christian not to use the gifts provided to them by God.A favorite authour of mine Marianne Williamson wrote the following:Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. 1Corinthians 13:4 - 7 ( NKJV)Love suffers long and is kind; LOVE DOES NOT ENVY; Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked; thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things.Love does not envy means that real love wants people to do better, does not parade itself means it's not to impress others, does not puff up means without big heads, is not self centered, does not keep a record of wrong doing, does not rejoice in the mistakes of others, always has hope, perseveres and remains loyal.But this does not suggest that we dim our lights, that we don't shine to fullest to Glorify fully the Father and the gifts He has Blessed us with.As believers when we accept mediocre in ourselves we say to other people " It's ok to behave in a state of moderate or low quality". And so my question to day is What if Jesus chose mediocrity?Is that enough to motivate us to have a Passion for Excellence? General 2006-04-07T20:49:19Z FreeSpirit REINVEST http://freespirit.blogsz.info/blog/freespirit/general/2006/04/03/reinvest WoW!!!!What a great message from the Father through Darcy. Keep our eyes fixed on the Lord!!!! Be an icon for the Lord!!!Thank You Father for delivering that message. Often as we know, what appears to be heavily burdened with pain and agony can be a great opportunity for growth if we magnify our Father in the situation rather than placing our focus on the self or the ego and what that situation represents to us.For example when we find ourselves feeling buried alive in grief over a loss, a loss of any kind ,we fail to see the opportunities in the situation thus not magnifying God. Grief over loss usually calls for fundamental change of some sort. When we consider Romans 8:28 we Can find the motivation to shift our perception, funny how that works huh, if we would just humble ourselves to reach for the word, or humble ourselves to pray we instantly find relief. God you are truly amazing!!!Romans 8:28 (NKJV)And we know that ALL things work together for GOOD to those who LOVE GOD, to those who are the called according to HIS purpose.All things, not somethings, not now and again, not his things or her things.....but ALL things work together for the GOOD. With a shift of perception out of ego ( wallowing in self pity) to our authentic self which is the self created by God, for the purpose of glorifying and worshipping God, perhaps we can find the fundametal change that is required.Deepen our reliance on God, Fix our eyes upon our Lord!!While we may only have a mustard seed of Faith the Faith of Jesus is abundant and can be expressed only though the body.REINVESTING IN LOVE IS REINVESTING IN GODWe all hurt, we all have pain, we all have suffered, but none have suffered like HE SUFFERED......therefore who are we to walk with a hardened heart to that which we have decided in stubborn refusal that we will not endure again. What if JESUS decided in stubborn refusal that he will not endure a pain, ANY PAIN again and decided today not to REINVEST IN LOVE???What if????His purpose is my purposePaul Magnified with his body General 2006-04-03T19:38:46Z FreeSpirit Gratitude http://freespirit.blogsz.info/blog/freespirit/general/2006/04/02/gratitude I'm very thankful to the Father for Tehillah and Plunder for Spirit guided and Spirit filled Worship.JOHN 4:23-24 (NIV)(Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman)"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in Spirit and truth."My purpose is His purpose Glorify the Father in all we do General 2006-04-02T16:05:32Z FreeSpirit