Jan. 30, 2005

Hi Ladies!
Today is a special day for me...an anniversary of sorts...it was 6 years ago today that the Lord "visited" me in a season of deep anguish and despair...I had been wrestling with some personal issues and some marriage issues and told God I felt like Jacob...I also was not going to let go until He blessed me...well, that day He did bless me and we hashed some things out and began a journey that brought great deliverance in many areas of my life....whew it was hard work...it took time...but somehow God finally got it though my thick skull that my way wasn't working.

You know I desperately wanted my way to work...but jeepers why did it take me so dang long to admit...hey, it ain't working!! I had to realize that if I kept doing what I had always done...I was going to get what I had always gotten. Seems so simple...but duh, I guess I couldn't grasp it. I wanted everyone else to change....why did I have to change?! Well I finally got the concept that I had to take drastic measures, rethink everything, react and respond in ways I never thought I could...but God was holding my hand and walking with me every step of the way...and you know what? I was able to act and think differently. I begun to change and heal. It was really quite amazing to me. Somehow God rewired my brain.

Oh there were plenty of days that I felt like I was dying...but God told me that was a good thing...there was plenty in me that needed to die. I needed to put things on the altar and sacrifice them...God told me what He accepts He consumes, so when I felt as though I were dying...he was accepting that sacrifice...make sense?

He reminded me of Romans 12:1, "I urge you therefore sisters, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, that is your reasonable service of worship." My automatic responses and thought patterns that only brought more destruction needed to be put on that altar and consumed by God....it's only reasonable....

So try and keep this in mind when those times come and you feel as though you're dying...it just might be a good thing. Let God lead you. Don't give up. Stay the course.

Your sister in Christ,

Looking Forward to Study

I went through this study last year and it was great. But I know that there is still a lot of "breaking free" that I need to do, so I am looking forward to going through it again. You all are in my prayers.

:-)

This study is going to be a breath of fresh air for my spirit! I am really looking forward to it! :-)

Why did you sign up for Breaking Free?

Hi Ladies...this blog is open for anyone to post so please feel free to do so. You can comment and or start your own post when you become an author. I've invited everyone to be an author.

So, tell me....what led you to sign up for this bible study? What are you needing from God?

posting

Hi Ladies, as I stated this is new to me! so I'm trying to learn how all this works. I have sent invitations to you all to join with posting privileges. Soon I will enable security so no one else can read our posts--they remain private to us all. I desire this place to be a safe place for us to express ourselves.

Let's start sharing

Hi Ladies....well this certainly is a new venture for me! My hope is we can use this blog site to hash some things out...share what's on our heart, seek prayers, share victories and give glory to God.

Give this some thought: our journey to freedom has already begun. God called us, he sent out the invitation for us to join him in this study....and we said YES. That's step #1.

I did this study the summer of 2007 on my own...I felt I had my own issues to work on and couldn't effectively lead a class on this study until I had some victory under my feet! Apparently, God is saying it's time now.

Currently we have 75 courageous women signed up to take this study. Amazing. (Three teens included.) Christine brought up an interesting question to ponder...what would cause 75 women to be drawn to a bible study called Breaking Free? Would you might sharing your thoughts about this?

God has great things in store for us. These upcoming 11 weeks can drastically transform our lives if we will do the work and let God have his perfect will and way with us.

Please know you're covered in prayer and Christine and I covet your prayers. The enemy doesn't like it when his beautiful bride is about to dive into the liberating Word of God. Let's stand firm, shoulder to shoulder, we're in this all together!

5 Benefits God Extends to His children:
1.  to know God and believe Him
2.  to glorify God
3.  to find satisfaction in God
4.  to experience God's peace
5.  to enjoy God's presence

If we're not fully reaping these benefits...chances are....we are in bondage to some degree. Anything that hinders the abundant and effective Spirit-filled life God has planned for us....is bondage. There was a time in my life, if I was told this, that it would of affended me...but now I see acknowledging this truth is a necessary step in being set free.

Give it some thought....and prayer.

"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." Gal. 5:1