Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
This morning while I was walking the dog, my eyes caught the leash and its significance. I mulled around in my head during the walk, whether that could be an object lesson or if too many would be offended. Kicked back and forth the idea of it’s ‘true’ nature and here we go.
When we get a new dog, we train them to walk on a leash. There are a number of reasons why … it’s the law, don’t want to chase, etc; however, the most important reason is for their safety. Keeping our animals on a leash ensures that we are in control and that their location is always known. We know that they are no more than six feet or so from us. We can see them. We can protect them. As they begin to grow, we train them to answer with voice commands. Sit. Stay. Lay down. Walk. Come. We can even somewhat communicate while training with toys as with; where is your ball or go get your ball and other such toys for fetch. All of this training is just to help them to be more social, better acclimated with people, and to know who their parent is. A trust or bond is built between you and your pet. They know when your voice is heard, they are to come to you.
In the days we were witnessed to and were deciding whether we wanted to join the church, the enemy used the very tactics that we use to train our pets as ammunition to sway us from that choice. When you are a Christian, you can’t go out with your friends anymore, you have ALL these rules that you HAVE to follow, it is not fun, you are on a SHORT LEASH, and you lose your fun life. You only get to hang with the god-squad … how lame is that? Oh, and if you don’t do things ‘their’ way, they will kick you out. You have to quit smoking and vaping. You have to stop drinking. You can't listen to music…only their music … you can’t, you must, etc. He makes it sound as though there is no freedom. Many buy into that, and many are led to that by ‘Christians’ who are not following Christ but their version of Christ.
Let me ask you this … When the disciples agreed to follow Jesus, did they lose who they were … or did He use their personalities for the good of the Kingdom? Peter was a hothead … He used that. Saul/Paul was passionate for God … He used that. Thomas had doubts … He used that.
When we make the choice to leave our life to join His life, it is not a matter of giving up but using our talents for good…for His good. Do you have to quit smoking to be a Christian? NO. But you may feel the desire to quit more earnestly. Do you have to stop drinking to be a Christian? NO. But you may feel the all to change how much and realize that over drinking brings out the you that you don’t like, therefore slim, or even stop. Do you have to quit hanging out with your friends? NO. But you will feel a tug in your heart when they are doing something that is outside the will of God, and you will find you no longer like those activities.
You will feel the leash tugging at your heart to stay within the reach of the Father. He is not hindering you; he is protecting you. As you grow in your faith, you will hear His voice and know that you are safe with Him. You will know to return to his fold. The leash is metaphorical and is the boundary that He sets; however, the leash is not connected physically … you still have the free will to choose. It is just that the choices that you make now … are different than the ones you would have made before you made the choice to follow him. Should break the boundaries of the leash … He will … with all his heart … chase you to bring you Home. He will not leave you; you need only say you wish to return, and he will forgive you.
My dog knows that I love her enough to keep her safe on the leash. She knows my voice and knows when to come to me. She is not caged; she is free with the love of me. Choose to be part of His family. Do not embrace the family of darkness and the agony that he brings but embrace the Love of the Light and see what true freedom brings. It is darkness that has all the requirements, but Light gives you freedom.
Be blessed today my friends.
***He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:15-16
This morning while I was walking the dog, my eyes caught the leash and its significance. I mulled around in my head during the walk, whether that could be an object lesson or if too many would be offended. Kicked back and forth the idea of it’s ‘true’ nature and here we go.
When we get a new dog, we train them to walk on a leash. There are a number of reasons why … it’s the law, don’t want to chase, etc; however, the most important reason is for their safety. Keeping our animals on a leash ensures that we are in control and that their location is always known. We know that they are no more than six feet or so from us. We can see them. We can protect them. As they begin to grow, we train them to answer with voice commands. Sit. Stay. Lay down. Walk. Come. We can even somewhat communicate while training with toys as with; where is your ball or go get your ball and other such toys for fetch. All of this training is just to help them to be more social, better acclimated with people, and to know who their parent is. A trust or bond is built between you and your pet. They know when your voice is heard, they are to come to you.
In the days we were witnessed to and were deciding whether we wanted to join the church, the enemy used the very tactics that we use to train our pets as ammunition to sway us from that choice. When you are a Christian, you can’t go out with your friends anymore, you have ALL these rules that you HAVE to follow, it is not fun, you are on a SHORT LEASH, and you lose your fun life. You only get to hang with the god-squad … how lame is that? Oh, and if you don’t do things ‘their’ way, they will kick you out. You have to quit smoking and vaping. You have to stop drinking. You can't listen to music…only their music … you can’t, you must, etc. He makes it sound as though there is no freedom. Many buy into that, and many are led to that by ‘Christians’ who are not following Christ but their version of Christ.
Let me ask you this … When the disciples agreed to follow Jesus, did they lose who they were … or did He use their personalities for the good of the Kingdom? Peter was a hothead … He used that. Saul/Paul was passionate for God … He used that. Thomas had doubts … He used that.
When we make the choice to leave our life to join His life, it is not a matter of giving up but using our talents for good…for His good. Do you have to quit smoking to be a Christian? NO. But you may feel the desire to quit more earnestly. Do you have to stop drinking to be a Christian? NO. But you may feel the all to change how much and realize that over drinking brings out the you that you don’t like, therefore slim, or even stop. Do you have to quit hanging out with your friends? NO. But you will feel a tug in your heart when they are doing something that is outside the will of God, and you will find you no longer like those activities.
You will feel the leash tugging at your heart to stay within the reach of the Father. He is not hindering you; he is protecting you. As you grow in your faith, you will hear His voice and know that you are safe with Him. You will know to return to his fold. The leash is metaphorical and is the boundary that He sets; however, the leash is not connected physically … you still have the free will to choose. It is just that the choices that you make now … are different than the ones you would have made before you made the choice to follow him. Should break the boundaries of the leash … He will … with all his heart … chase you to bring you Home. He will not leave you; you need only say you wish to return, and he will forgive you.
My dog knows that I love her enough to keep her safe on the leash. She knows my voice and knows when to come to me. She is not caged; she is free with the love of me. Choose to be part of His family. Do not embrace the family of darkness and the agony that he brings but embrace the Love of the Light and see what true freedom brings. It is darkness that has all the requirements, but Light gives you freedom.
Be blessed today my friends.
***He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:15-16
Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
This morning while I was walking the dog, my eyes caught the leash and its significance. I mulled around in my head during the walk, whether that could be an object lesson or if too many would be offended. Kicked back and forth the idea of it’s ‘true’ nature and here we go.
When we get a new dog, we train them to walk on a leash. There are a number of reasons why … it’s the law, don’t want to chase, etc; however, the most important reason is for their safety. Keeping our animals on a leash ensures that we are in control and that their location is always known. We know that they are no more than six feet or so from us. We can see them. We can protect them. As they begin to grow, we train them to answer with voice commands. Sit. Stay. Lay down. Walk. Come. We can even somewhat communicate while training with toys as with; where is your ball or go get your ball and other such toys for fetch. All of this training is just to help them to be more social, better acclimated with people, and to know who their parent is. A trust or bond is built between you and your pet. They know when your voice is heard, they are to come to you.
In the days we were witnessed to and were deciding whether we wanted to join the church, the enemy used the very tactics that we use to train our pets as ammunition to sway us from that choice. When you are a Christian, you can’t go out with your friends anymore, you have ALL these rules that you HAVE to follow, it is not fun, you are on a SHORT LEASH, and you lose your fun life. You only get to hang with the god-squad … how lame is that? Oh, and if you don’t do things ‘their’ way, they will kick you out. You have to quit smoking and vaping. You have to stop drinking. You can't listen to music…only their music … you can’t, you must, etc. He makes it sound as though there is no freedom. Many buy into that, and many are led to that by ‘Christians’ who are not following Christ but their version of Christ.
Let me ask you this … When the disciples agreed to follow Jesus, did they lose who they were … or did He use their personalities for the good of the Kingdom? Peter was a hothead … He used that. Saul/Paul was passionate for God … He used that. Thomas had doubts … He used that.
When we make the choice to leave our life to join His life, it is not a matter of giving up but using our talents for good…for His good. Do you have to quit smoking to be a Christian? NO. But you may feel the desire to quit more earnestly. Do you have to stop drinking to be a Christian? NO. But you may feel the all to change how much and realize that over drinking brings out the you that you don’t like, therefore slim, or even stop. Do you have to quit hanging out with your friends? NO. But you will feel a tug in your heart when they are doing something that is outside the will of God, and you will find you no longer like those activities.
You will feel the leash tugging at your heart to stay within the reach of the Father. He is not hindering you; he is protecting you. As you grow in your faith, you will hear His voice and know that you are safe with Him. You will know to return to his fold. The leash is metaphorical and is the boundary that He sets; however, the leash is not connected physically … you still have the free will to choose. It is just that the choices that you make now … are different than the ones you would have made before you made the choice to follow him. Should break the boundaries of the leash … He will … with all his heart … chase you to bring you Home. He will not leave you; you need only say you wish to return, and he will forgive you.
My dog knows that I love her enough to keep her safe on the leash. She knows my voice and knows when to come to me. She is not caged; she is free with the love of me. Choose to be part of His family. Do not embrace the family of darkness and the agony that he brings but embrace the Love of the Light and see what true freedom brings. It is darkness that has all the requirements, but Light gives you freedom.
Be blessed today my friends.
***He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:15-16
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