Hey Friends & Family!!!

Freedom. It’s a word we hear a LOT in the church, but what does this mean? I was always so enthralled by this word because of my independent nature & the sheer fact that I hate being boxed up in a perfectly packaged way for the world to see. I love adventure, I love being quirky, & more than that: I love thinking outside of the box.

The word freedom speaks so strongly to me because I envision running into an open field in a white & blue dress, not being confined to the ways of the world but being free to be myself. But what does Freedom mean when it comes to how God sees it? It says in scripture that we are not slaves to sin anymore!! Ultimate freedom came in the form of ONE person: His name is Jesus!!

Jesus came to bridge the gap that we had made, He came to fill the chasm of sin with His pure & perfect love for His people (yes, that’s us!!! You & me!!!). The cross is where He bore the weight of every single sin the world was & is so entrenched in, in order to bring us closer to Him so that we wouldn’t have to shy away from His throne room.

We are offered the secret place as a gift,  the place that only we can personally have, to share our heart cries with our Creator. My secret place is normally my bathroom floor, where so many tears have been soaked up by the concrete & He has heard every single thought that comes to my mind & every single heart cry that He has not only heard– but carries in His heart as pure treasure. My words are treasured by Him, my thoughts are treasured by Him, my actions (In Him) are treasured by Him. I used to talk about my love for Him, but now ive been stirred to talk about His infinite love for me. My love can & will fail at times– but His love never fails.

Freedom Week was all about understanding our Original Design with the Lord. About understanding what He originally intended for us & how knowing that shifts our perspective to be able to draw even closer to Him with absolute boldness. During this week, we opened our mouths & declared His truth over our lives. We were encouraged to think of moments when we were lied to, lies such as “you’re ugly” or “no one wants to hear you.” We were encouraged to think of these moments & then declare God’s original design over our lives. We also were told, as an exercise, to voice how we personally saw God. Whether we saw Him as an angry God, or a God who probably loved us because He had to– we voiced all these thoughts & then asked the Holy Spirit to minister to us in silence. As He ministered to us, the whole room was filled with so much Joy in His presence. We got pictures, visions, words of encouragement describing to us how much He truly does love us, sees us, & also likes being with us.

We also learned about the desires of God for us to live in a culture of faith. A culture of faith is being so sure of God’s love for us so that we don’t doubt the promises He has for us & the blessings He wants to shower over our lives. Being rooted in Him is described in scripture as being like an ever-blossoming tree planted by living water– producing fruit year round. In the same way, a true relationship with Him is like this. Faith doesn’t have to start big, it can be as small as a mustard seed– but then it grows roots, deep in His abiding love, and is eventually unable to be uprooted by the world!! In John 15, it says that Jesus is the vine!! & we are the branches!! We are an extension of His love for the world & in being an extension there needs to be faith that He will deliver on His promises for His kiddos. We are all His children, yet some of us don’t know Him yet. The  invitation to be in His family is always open, & we as current beloibered are called to bring this good message to those who don’t know yet!!

True freedom also means having established & healthy boundaries for our well being. God is not a rule maker who wants to confine you, but a loving Father who creates healthy boundaries to ensure your heart is protected from the poison found in this world. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. In this same way, what’s in your mind will eventually find its way out, into your mouth, & spilt all over into the world. True freedom is abiding in a healthy relationship with God by first 1. Seeing Him rightly. 2. Having a Secret Place with Him (just talking/praying with Him) 3. Knowing that His boundaries are set in Love not in Imprisonment.

We are not imprisoned by sin anymore— we have been set free to walk in eternal blessings through Him who paid the ultimate price!! We are deeply loved & cherished in both this life & into eternity in heaven!!

I want to express my highest gratitude to all those who have kept me in prayer, for those who have financially & spiritually blessed me– you all are building the Kingdom with me!! Isn’t it exciting?? God is so so COOL.

From the core of my heart to yours!!