FREEDOM!!

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Really let that sink in for a minute. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Why did Christ set us free? So that we would be ..........FREE. That's it. That's the "end game". He set us free so that we would be free. How's that for a loving Father? And what "yokes", other than the one from Christ, have placed around your neck (or allowed others to place around your neck)?

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Is this what you're experiencing in your life? What are your fears? How is your marriage? Your relationship with your children? Your job? Your finances? Are you weary and burdened or are you experiencing freedom and rest?

Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

"The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe." - H. L. Mencken

"Freedom lies in being bold." - Robert Frost

About 20 years ago I thought I had completely surrendered my life to God. And in all fairness, I was as surrendered as I knew how to be. Since that first encounter with Christ, He's been slowly but surely revealing areas of my life that I've not given Him lordship over - or areas that I've taken back from Him. Some of you have been involved in a couple of these struggles. You had a part in helping me through the struggle of surrendering my finances. And then you were there to help me during the surrender of my career. These two critically important areas of my life (as a man - with a stay at home wife) were consuming me. And actually, it wasn't my finances or career that were consuming me - it was the cloud of fear, doubt and insecurity hanging over these areas. Fear, doubt, and insecurity that led me into alcoholism and would have eventually consumed not only myself, but my family as well.

The journey toward freedom in any area of your life begins with you taking faith filled steps. The first step Julie and I took was to cut up every single credit card we had. This was a faith filled step for us because it was during a time when we relied on credit to make ends meet each month. The second step we took: God strongly urged me not to leave my current place of employment until He made it PERFECTLY clear that I was supposed to leave. I agreed to be obedient. At this time in my career I was working on a contract basis. Almost immediately after agreeing to be obedient, rumor upon rumor about lay-offs, lost work and restructuring began to circulate. I stayed put. Normally I'd be off to the next contract at the first hint of things changing or slowing down. Eventually God did make it perfectly clear that I was suppose to leave. It was at the beginning of December and I received notice that I was being laid off - with an heard of - one month notice. There were no jobs to be had in my industry at this time - even out of state. This ridiculously, agonizingly long notice gave me plenty of time to wrestle with exactly where in the heck God was leading me. I mean, here I am God - as submitted to you as I know how to be, and you're leading me down this horrible path? I'm going to be laid off at Christmas? I finally turn over my finances and my career to you and this is what you do with them? These questions and many more led me to spend countless hours in meditation, prayer and study - seeking Him - seeking guidance, peace and comfort.

And you know what He says to me? FINALLY!! Chuck, you've been looking to empty, silly rumors for guidance, you've been looking to your unstable, unreliable income to give you peace, and you've been looking to food and alcohol for comfort - and now your finally coming to ME for those things! WELL DONE SON!! Even if nothing else comes of this - WELL DONE!! He gave me tremendous comfort by saying to me "I know this is the most counter-intuitive thing you've ever done, but most faith filled journeys are exactly that".

I realized that as long as my life was to be totally directed by logic, common sense and intellect then there would be no room for faith. Relinquishing control was very scary and brought a whole host of new questions and fears with it. But they're the kind of questions and fears He eagerly desires me to struggle with as His child. Foundational fears like - is God even real? It's one thing for me to nod in agreement that we have a great God while sitting in a Sunday morning class - but now I'm at a place where this really matters! Now, by necessity, I'm beginning to move from theory to reality. And even if He is real, does He care about me in an intimate, personal way? Does He even really know me in an intimate, personal way? Can I really rely on Him or should I take back control and rely on myself? Where is the balance between what I'm responsible for and what I'm suppose to leave up to God? Maybe God isn't really leading me at all - maybe I've imagined the whole thing - and now I've placed myself and my family at great risk. These new questions drove me even further into His comfort. A comfort that began to produce a powerful and deep seated joy and peace.

For an entire month I could see the entrance to "The Desert" looming near. We were living paycheck to paycheck at this time so it wasn't long after my contract ran out that we were standing at the entrance to the desert. I was completely unable to provide for myself or my family. I had no idea what the next day would bring. We were totally reliant upon Him. I couldn't make my house payment or my car payment - I couldn't even buy food for my children. My heart was laid bare (before God and man), I was humbled and searching.....And you know what? I'd never felt such peace, joy and contentment in my entire life. It truly was a peace that passed logic, common sense and intellect. A peace totally independent from my seemingly horrible worldly circumstances. Julie and I had never been closer to God or to each other. God took us to zero, then led us right into the desert. In a very real and concrete way, He became our provider. Because of our faith filled steps, theory was finally becoming reality. He not only provided for our needs - but even many of our wants. He used our friends, family and the church to provide for our every single need. What a loving, lavish Father we have. I really can COMPLETELY trust Him with these extremely important areas of my life!

I could attempt to use hundreds of thousands of words to explain to you the beautiful freedom this has produced in my life but it honestly has to be experienced to be comprehended. I'm sorry if that sounds arrogant but it's absolutely true. It would be like trying to describe the overwhelming, indescribable love I have for my children to a person who's never had children. It's just something you have to experience to fully grasp. The intellect cannot fully grasp, and theory cannot produce this blessed indescribable freedom. Only reality can. It took courageous, faith filled steps on my part to begin to move theory into reality - to begin to make the longest journey known to man: From his head to his heart.

I'm in prayer one day after He's led us out of the desert and I ask God "What is this weird "lightness" I feel? This lack of concern - this lack of weight on my shoulders - this almost care free feeling - I feel almost irresponsible.....what is this?

"Freedom" He whispers to me in a small voice. "Isn't it great?" "It's how my children are suppose to live."

Wow! Praise your Holy name Father! Yes this is great! I WANT MORE!!