I Am Free...

John 8:32  “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Seems like this verse is often misused by enthusiastic evangelists or just plain out of context from ordinary people trying to get some poor soul to confess to something they may or may not have done.  Today, while thinking on a situation in our lives, this simple phrase came to mind "the truth will set you free". I kind of chuckled because I am not a person that would use this scripture out of context, I don’t think I would any way.  But, then I thought, hmm..it’s true really.  The truth can set you free and not just by accepting Jesus Christ into your life.

This is what came rushing through my head today…There are other ways of “truth” setting us free.  It’s sometimes the pin that pops the happy bubble we are living in and sends us tumbling to the ground wondering what on earth just happened. It’s sometimes a truth that turns our world upside down and wounds us to the core and changes us in a way we can never see overcoming.  The truth can set us free from a lie we are a part of or are living in that we didn’t even know about, or maybe we did and thought, hoped, we were wrong.  This truth sets us free into experiencing a whirlwind of feelings, doubt about ourselves, or lives and even God. It has the ability to destroy us if we give into it or to make us stronger if we dare except this very uncomfortable realization that we are now free to see the lie for what it is, a deception .  Wow, this was a lot for my brain to comprehend in just minutes, but I believe God wants me, needs me to get this and to trust him and to stand strong in all truth, no matter how much it may hurt.. To BE courageous and face this truth, and be prepared to and willing to,  grieve a possible loss, to heal and to continue to follow him as he leads me to whatever lies ahead. If I don’t. If I give up. If I play the victim, if I don’t get back up. I’ll die.  I don’t mean physically really, but I’ll stop growing into the person God has made me to be.If I don't allow the truth to set me free, if I allow it to wound me forever,  I’ll not make it into the promised land.  The plan he had for me all along. The plan that is my destination, my real destination! Not the destination I thought. 

I am overwhelmed by THIS “truth”.  But, whatever the outcome, the truth, whatever it is, I can trust God and HIS word.  I pray I'm ready for whatever consequences come with it. God promises to be with me through the rivers and the fire  (Isaiah 43:1-3)  He hears my cries and is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:17-18)  He is near, ready to fill me with peace as I share my every request and give thanksgiving to him (Philippians 4:5-7) and he promises to give me rest when I am weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28-29) and…he gives me hope for a future (Jeremiah 29:11)  He gives me everything I need to face truth, no matter what that truth is in any situation and no matter the outcome. He IS.   

 Oh my Savior, you have completely overwhelmed me with an answer to prayer for the “truth”, but  I did not expect this. I expected an answer to our issue and you basically told me that I need to trust YOU with that truth. I pray Lord that I will lean into you more. I admit that I, too often, let fear rule in my heart and make bad choices because of it. Thank you for loving me, thank you for hearing me and ALWAYS responding to me! Always!  I am overwhelmed by your graciousness an patience with me. I truly am.  I trust you Lord with the outcome of every area of my life. My marriage, my children, my job…everything! It all belongs to you. It always has.  I love you Lord.  Amen…

Following the Spirit

Lamentations 3: 22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.


I love to write things that move people. Something comes together in my head from an experience I just had, usually something God has used to teach me something and I can't wait to put it into words to share. I feel the same way about photography. I love to capture images to share that are beautiful and usually, God inspired if not God made! So a very good friend and sister in Christ, JoAnne, suggested I start a blog to combine my two passions. I have an adoption blog but this blog is to share photos and hopefully, some encouragement.  I loved this idea!

We are not on our journeys alone, although, we each have our own journey to travel. My hope is that God will use this to inspire us both.  So, here is my first photo of a barn I see every day on my way to work. It's beautiful. Some days more beautiful than other days. I stopped this day because of the amazing sunrise. It reminded me of God's compassion being new every morning. Wow. What an amazing gift.  His Glory shines into our lives every day. Our days may look the same, some days more beautiful than others...but they all come from him. I'm so grateful for new beginnings each day and a God that doesn't just give me the same ol day, day after day, but some pretty amazing days as well. Even if the sunrise is the only good part of my day, I'm blessed.

Thank you Lord for loving me so much. Thank you for new mornings, new blessings and new beauty every day. Thank you for painting the sky with colors that take my breathe away. You could have just made the sun come up with no introduction, but you didn't, you made it so very special and I take those days very personal, as if it were just for me. So thank you.  I pray to never take it for granted but to always be grateful for the even the smallest, yet biggest blessing of a sunrise each day....your amazing Lord. I love you... In Jesus name, amen...