How would you describe personal freedom? We live in a country that highly values its freedoms. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights spell out the freedoms established at the dawn of our existence as a republic. We are called the land of freedom. Some believe being a Christian would limit their freedoms in some way, but that’s not true. It’s just the opposite. Being a follower of Jesus, being in him, is unlimited freedom! Freedom in Christ releases us from sin and shame and gives us the creative energy to be the best we can be, whatever our abilities and innate talents may be.

A favorite among many Scripture favorites: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). How amazing to realize how much God loves us humans, especially when we know how unlovable we can be. He doesn’t rebuke us, he rejoices in song over us. Many are the songs with love as their theme, lost love, young love, frustrated love, but none of these songs can compare to the love song God sings for us.

One morning it was 7 degrees, the same week the high was 72 degrees. Winter in Texas, folks. You can’t know what to wear or how to adjust your thermostat from day to day. I’ve figured it out though. When it’s warm I hurry around taking care of all I need to do outside and when it’s cold I hunker down in the house. I’m not complaining (well, maybe a little). Folks up north would consider Texas weather mild in comparison with what they put up with every winter. Even so, I wish they would share a little of their snow. Freezing cold with no snow—ugh!

As I was reading through the little book of Titus, the letter the apostle Paul wrote to his coworker in the faith, a passage caught my attention. Paul wrote to Titus, “…in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:2, NIV). What! Eternal life promised us before creation of the universe, earth and human beings! That’s what Paul says. God loved us so much he had a plan to include us in his family way before he created us. What kind of love is that! Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

If someone asked me if I had faith, I would reply, yes, I have faith. But, I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that question. How, then, can others know that you or I are faithful followers of Jesus. The apostle Paul said to the Galatians (and to us) that faith expresses itself in love. Faith is not self-centered. Faith is outgoing. When we have the faith of Christ, they will know because his faith is always expressed in loving concern for others.

When someone tells me how much they appreciate my writing, I say thank you, but how much is due to me and how much to the Holy Spirit. I always pray for God’s guidance before I write, but if I didn’t get to my computer and write the article, it wouldn’t get written. And, if the Holy Spirit wasn’t involved, my writing might be entertaining at best, and not much good for anything else. Whatever we do in God’s service is in relationship with him. He could do it much more efficiently, of course, but he wants us to use the talents and abilities he’s given us with him, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

My dream was going well until my friend turned, looked me straight in the eye and said, “You love evil!” That’s when I awoke with a start. “No,” I protested! “I don’t love evil!” Most of my crazy dreams I ignore, but this one seemed different. What could this dream mean? Is it because I like reading detective mysteries so much? They’re based on evil for sure. After praying about it, it came to me, it’s not that simple. Yes, I do love the darkness over the light. That’s the “gift” Adam gave me. Without listing all my faults, if it weren’t for the merciful Gift of cleansing salvation from the Second Adam, our Savior, I would have no hope.

Sometimes when I go to bed at night, there in the dark my past (and not so past) sins flash through my mind. I’m overwhelmed with a sense of shame. Then I remember, these reminders of past sins do not come from God. God is not of the dark, he is perfect light and love. Past sins are just that—past! Our Father has washed us clean, wiped away our sins through the sacrifice of his Son. He doesn’t dig around in the murk of past sins to shame us. May we never forget, no matter what, God is not disappointed in us. We are his beloved children!

While dining at a restaurant, I asked a friend why a couple who usually ate with us wasn’t there. After she answered my question, Jerry immediately brought the subject up again. “Jerry, you need hearing aids! We were just talking about where they were, and you didn’t hear us at all,” my friend said. Jerry laughed and said, “I know it, but one doctor at a time.” He was waiting until after his scheduled cataract surgery. He added, “I told this lady the other day, if you don’t talk louder, I’m going to have to get a lot closer to you!” I love living in Texas!

Have you ever been denied something you really, really wanted? It wasn’t anything bad either, but it was denied? I have. I’ve prayed fervently for certain things in my life, but God didn’t intervene. They were denied. Why, Lord? In some cases, I’ve fretted over what I’ve considered losses for years. But, when that has happened, in time I learned God had something else in mind for me, something much better. What I wanted would have interfered with his plan for my life. Our God is a good, good God! He has our back! He is looking out for us! Let’s have faith in him and be thankful he doesn’t answer all our prayers.