Thursday, October 16, 2008

Freedom Filled Fridays...

Friday - one of the best day's of the week. Those of us who work outside the home look forward to Friday as we know the weekend is a coming! Freedom from "going" to work. Freedom to sleep in. Freedom to meander through a Saturday. Freedom to be with family & friends. Freedom to worship. Freedom to just be. Two days where we are not confined to a desk in an office.




With these thoughts of freedom, I decided to blog on Fridays, using the title of "Freedom Filled Fridays". I thought this would help me blog more consistently - with a goal in mind to somewhat keep me on task.



What does "freedom filled" mean to you? What would a "freedom filled Friday" look like in your world?


I started my blog so I could write about the freedoms I am experiencing - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I am learning to give those things which have weighed me down, to God. My Jesus does not want me to be encumbered with "stuff". He is the burden bearer - not me. He stands ready to take those things from us - we just got to hand it over. Sometimes, I just plain forget and then He gently reminds me when I'm overwhelmed. As I've been learning to give God my "stuff" and fill that void with Him - His Word, His Presence, His Praise - I am being healed and restored to be the woman God called me to be when I was conceived - even before I was conceived. I am being set free! I am running the race!!


Hebrews 12:1,2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside very weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


If you haven't yet experienced "freedom" in Christ - that restoration "freedom" from your "baggage" that has kept you ensnared to a life of guilt, shame, and hopelessness, then take a step and grab a hold of it now - today! Forgiveness and grace offered to me - to you, by God through the death of His Son, Jesus. Confessing your sins, believing in the name of Jesus Christ, accepting His forgiveness and receiving His grace are the 1st steps to "freedom" you will not experience through anything or anyone else. It is taking that first step of faith which brings you into your freedom run...


Romans 10:9-11 ...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame".



Free in Christ ~ Jodie

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

All Dressed Up...















and no where to go! Yes that's me and my aunt (in the picture on the left) all dressed in our swimming attire in October in Minnesota on my deck! It definitely was not hot and sunny! Can't believe I talked her into it! You could also say we were a few sand pepples short of a beach!


Well, this is serious business - especially when "free" and "contest" are in the same sentence!

Yes, we are from Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes that freeze in the winter. We love our hotdishes (comfort food) in the winter and get plenty of exercise shoveling the piles of snow and washing the piles of laundry from all that winter clothing we must have!


Yes, we NEED a vacation!



Help us trade in our boots for flip-flops; snow for sand; cold ice for warm, sunny breezes. Just thinking about all that fun... girl talk, swim parties by the pool, exploring every part of the ship, pampering, espresso coffee, sailing the ocean, blue sky, relaxing in the sun....aahhhh, take me away. AND it's with our girlfriends - how much better can it get?


Take us away on the Girl's Get-A-Way Cruise! From Minnesota to Mexico - here we come!

Jodie and Debbie (The Northern Girls)