Let Freedom Ring… Friendly Fire That Works!
Genesis 4:6 the Lord said to CainMary, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
Was it just two weeks ago I wrote the blog around my brother Cain?
Yeah, little did I know (sarcasm) God’s Word was not going to return void from MY life. I thought Part 2 would be the end of Friendly Fire for this year, but my “old” woman must have wanted to use up the leftover fireworks display I have stored hoarded, for a time I could show off my own fiery stuff. How appropriate on the day before we proclaim our freedom with loud, noisy, sometimes colorful, always dangerous (if used incorrectly) explosions, I light up my old fireworks to display my PROCLAMATION of MARY IS NOT HAPPY (healthy – maybe, wise – rarely)!
Stop… Genesis 4:7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
I’m on the stationary bike (riding to nowhere) with my planner (the bike conveniently has a desk attachment) I use to record prayers as I ride. I’m not smiling and I really don’t feel like talking about it…
BUT GOD!…
“What are you going to pray about this morning, My daughter, My heiress, My little one?”
“Um…” My Attitude…
Drop… It was HARD to draw the star I use to highlight the person, place &/or thing I lay on God’s altar – in God’s Throne Room. It was even HARDER to not dress it up as righteous irritability.
“Um… it SUCKS!”
ROCK & ROLL… The HARDEST of all… waiting for Abba’s response.
Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
I didn’t deserve grace. I deserved, at the very least, my hands slapped. No I didn’t “murder” anyone like my brother Cain did – or – did I?
Christ died because of and for MY sins so that I would never need to be yoked to the slavery of catering to and pleasing my very old and impossible-to-please sinful nature.
Christ died and paid my price… for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)… and He paid it in full… the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let Freedom ring!
But my attitude still sucked… I’m still riding my bike wondering what my ROCK must think about that.
You see, apart from the grace I didn’t deserve but received, apart from the freedom gained by my debt being paid in full, apart from my destiny being assured…
I love my Abba… I love my Daddy… I love the full on – nothing can separate us – relationship He has with me. I looked in His face with the fear of finding disappointment in His eyes!
Know what I found?
The Friendliest Fire of all! God’s HOLY FIRE of LOVE!
Instead of hanging my head in shame because I have nothing to show from my own faith walk with God… instead of hiding behind the glib, arrogant cliché of “Do as I say, not as I do”… instead of quickly moving on to a much brighter topic…
I have REAL TIME experience and evidence of God’s FREEDOM FESTIVITIES… Let Freedom Ring!
After I stopped at the sound of His voice… If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?
After I dropped my pretentious ways and spoke the truth (with REAL TEARS)… my attitude completely SUCKED!
My ROCK – ROLLED me up in His love, and sang, and danced with me!
Zephaniah 3:17 (I love the Tree of Life version!) Adonai your God is in your midst – a mighty Savior! He will delight over you with joy. He will quiet you with His love. He will dance for joy over you with singing.
I wasn’t disciplined with a hand slap though I shudder to think what would have been necessary had I not CONFESSED and REPENTED while KNOWING my attitude was allowing my enemy to crouch at my door.
I cringe at what it might have taken to open my foolish heart and smash the rebellion keeping me from fellowship with Papa.
Whatever it took, God would have accomplished because He loves me more than I love myself!
Praise God it didn’t take a wack on my backside (this time)… because I Stopped, Dropped and Rolled with my Rock… He filled my spirit with His song…
“What A Friend We Have In Jesus” sung by the Newsboys
“It Is Well with My Soul” sung by the Newsboys
“Psalm 91” by Sonic Flood
“You Love Me Anyway” by Sidewalk Prophets
“What Love Looks Like” by Dara Maclean
“Field of Grace” by Big Daddy Weave
“Me Without You” by tobyMac
“Just Give Me Jesus” by Jeremy Camp
“Words” by Hawk Nelson
“How Great Thou Art” sung by Carrie Underwood
“Your Love Never Fails” by Newsboys
“Who You Say You Are” by Britt Nicole
Just a “shuffle” and He – my God – picked the songs from my Prayer Warrior Playlist…
Once again I was changed… I was healed… I was cleansed in Daddy’s Throne Room! Go figure… Stop – Drop – Rock & Roll… Let Freedom Ring!!
Mary says, “Amen and Amen!”
**All Scripture (except the one from Zephaniah) quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible