Born to be Free

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1) This year so far has really been one of self-discovery. Of discovering who I am in Him.  Who I am not.  Who I am to be. Discovering what I believe.  What I don't.  And why. Where He wants me.  Why He wants me here.  What I am to do. Surprisingly enough, this journey began right when I decided to give up on the notion of possibly knowing exactly where I'm supposed to be. He has this way of letting me live what I believe to be my plan for a while.  Then my life flips upside down, and really - that's the moment He's been waiting for. Faith has never meant being tough.  It's never been about stepping up and showing people how it's done. The heroes of Hebrews 11 - their strength came from their own brokenness because it was never about being strong.  It was never about the capabilities, their intelligence, their...

In our backyard there are a sizable number of tomato plants.  We have several different varieties, thus several colors as well.  Jumbled together in the bottom of my metal bowl, it was like a myriad of colors shouting together the joy of this season.  The winds are changing..... And for the better.  Each day I am closer to fitting the puzzle pieces of my life together - and I'm beginning to see these things around me as God's preparation.  So excited with the possibilities he has set before me!  I've got one more year still left for quizzing, and the chance to work in that area perhaps afterword.  I was asked to consider going back to Canada as a counselor next year.  I'm beginning to develop friendships with some of the kids that I meet at the library.  Really, I'm amazed with all that He's put in front of me. Tomatoes, harvest beginnings, lower temps - they're all pointing to a change of seasons.  A season of joy, provision, abunda...

I came home this past Sunday from a Bible retreat/fishing trip in Canada.  I had spent the week tent camping on an island with a few friends, and it really made for an amazing adventure (plus good food! <3 ) There were many things we studied when we weren't fishing.  Usually we were assigned a chapter from the Bible, supposed to memorize some verses from it, and then come back after the half hour to discuss it. One morning, our text was Psalm 91 - a passage about God's protection and provision for us and the reasons why He would give it to us.  I was reading through the chapter when I came to verse 9 - "Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place, the Most High Who is my refuge." Something stuck out to me there. I am quite deeply introverted.  It's not that I don't like people - I care a lot about them.  But I gain all my energy from solitude and it's easy for me to feel out of place and unseen. We had made several stops before we had...