I Am The One Who Rescued You.

Day Five

^8–10 “Listen, dear ones—get this straight; O Israel, don’t take this lightly.

Don’t take up with strange gods, don’t worship the latest in gods.

I’m God, your God, the VERY GOD who rescued you from doom in Egypt

Then fed you all you could eat, filled your hungry stomachs.

Psalm 81 MSG

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 Return to your fantastic first connection with Jesus. There was a whirlwind of NEVER-ENDING JOY. Your dependency was exact. Your sacrifice of praise and worship was exclusively for Him. The abundant freedom was just like the dance by Miriam after the Israelites went through the Red Sea. (Exodus 15:20)

Now creativity has entered your world. You recognize it is a gift to express what is inside. Where previous surroundings were a source of bondage, doors are open wide. Once you needed to act in certain ways for acceptance. Now those limitations no longer restrict your activities.

The Israelites rejoiced in their freedom until the cost started to rise. Hunger, sore feet, thirst, desert as far as the eye could see. Complaints began. Questions flared—

“Where is the promised land”?

The bold sharp dream of the PROMISE LAND slowly lost it’s clear focus for all except the ones who kept their hearts steadfast on the GIVER of the PROMISE.

Has your life slowly given way to shadows? The once clear dreams and direction lack clarity?

Is your stomach empty? Have the unyielding dreams you once had, lost their sharp clarity? It does not happen all at once. The strange gods will try to entice you away from your first LOVE. These latest gods do not take obvious shapes. Their luring call will be very obscure at first, almost unnoticeable. If not in touch with a deep, close relationship with God and His love for you, everything will get out of focus. Slowly at first, but then…. Well read on

Are you aware of what happens to your vision when cataracts occurs?—

At first, the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract may affect only a small part of the eye’s lens and you may be unaware of any vision loss. As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens and distorts the light passing through the lens. This may lead to more noticeable symptoms. Symptoms to cateracts from Mayo Clinic

A once clear vision is slowly covered by a filmy cast. Does this sound like what is around your soul? What was once joyful praise is slowly covered by the need for applause of man to feed you. Deadlines, Performance, Envy, directs the goal to some promised land instead of a life reflecting the Love Relationship with the PROMISED ONE.

God will not allow anyone or anything to sit in His place on the altar. God will not even allow anything or anyone to sit next to Him on the altar.

I am the One Who Rescued You!

Allow yourself to rest in the arms of the One Who loves you and gave to you that special gift. The shadow covering your dreams is not God’s Heart for you. He is the One who rescued you.

God’s Love is free and gentle. Allow Him to do surgery. His desire for you is to walk a clear path, know His Truth and reflect His Heart.

RECEIVE: His Love If anyone or anything is taking His Space, what will you do?

REFLECT: Upon His Love for you. Return to the crazy excitement of your First Love. How does that affect your creativity? No shame! How do you feel? What steps need to change for the Space to be THE CREATOR’S ALONE

RESPOND: through your genre to the time you spend with God. What did you receive from Him?   

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No Longer A Slave

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Day Four

  ^34-38 Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can’t come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. John 8: 34-38 MSG

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What burdens weigh you down? Bind your mind, body and soul then slap the label SLAVE on top?—–Deadlines? Competition? Performance? Comparison?

I am sorry if this does not sound like a sweet love letter from Jesus, but God wants us to see the barriers keeping us from dancing in freedom.

When I have tunnel vision and I allow performance to be the motivation of my creativity, I become a slave. I may walk around as if everything is running smoothly(although my husband is beginning to ask questions. I get a bit quieter than usual.) The truth is, it feels as though I have a ball and chain pulling down my every step. I am not walking in the truth of how God sees me or His vision for me.

It is so wonderful that God knows the truth of who I am. His love will never leave me. With His sword, He swipes away the thick cords wrapped around me. I am again free to worship.

 When I lie to myself saying, “I have no needs” or to others with, “I have it all together,  I dig a bottomless hole with no way out. Barriers go up to community and to God. That is living as a slave.

Reread the bible verse. Specifically the last line.:

So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through!

We are set free. We can reach for the stars. God gives us community for a little help.

RECEIVE this verse into your soul. Allow God to swipe away the chords binding you.  

Take at least 10 minutes (set a timer so you don’t need to think about it) and REFLECT upon what God wants to share with you. What barriers hold you back from Him, your art, your community, yourself? Ask God if there are ways to consistently walk in deeper freedom in these areas.

RESPOND to what God shared with you. In your specific genre (writing, drawing, photography painting, etc, ) can you express what you received? Are there ways you want to share here in joy and or for accountability?

This site and my Facebook page (Sandi A. Ackerman) are places where you are welcome to share your thoughts and growth. https://www.facebook.com/worshipcreatedream/ Questions are welcome too although I can only guarantee prayer.☺

BE FREE TO WORSHIP AS YOU WERE CREATED!

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You are!

DON’T PANIC. I AM WITH YOU.

Relax and breath. I am with you.

Take a deep breath wherever you are. God is with you. God is love. He takes you into His arms and says Peace, Be still!

DAY THREE

 Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady; keep a firm grip on you.  IS 41: 10 MSG.

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The day begins.   Sunshine and blue-sky? NO! — Rain. ☺

Baby Jenna has a fever. Bradley spilled milk on Tara’s art origami project for the Spring REGIONAL CREATIVE competition.¹

Your computer is calling out to you, taunting you, daring you. “How did you ever think you were a writer?”  Shame and anger shoot through your whole body. The lid of your computer is slammed shut!  “FORGET THIS PAIN!”

So many chords pulling for you. The creativity is GONE!!!
OR IS IT?

         BREATHE.

Sometimes the path before you is really hard to navigate.

 Does your path look messy, sharp, jagged, uneven? Fear limits that confident forward movement.  Jumbled thoughts of the unknown trip you up causing the creative spirit to cramp inside. You know you are called to create, but a real world with real children and real situations yell your name with a louder voice. Which one do you listen to?

      MOMMY!!!!!

Emily P. Freeman( in a million little ways) states we are image bearers². Does that mean we only reflect Jesus when the lake is still and path is easy to walk?

As the waves of life rage high and the waters tormenting our attempts to create are frigid , that’s where we need to engage in the above verse from Isaiah. It is when the child is crying out for the third time, “Mommy, I’m thirsty”, and you want to finish your word count for the day, you recall these words :”I have given you the gift of being MY ‘image bearer’.” You know this can’t be accomplished on your own. It was never meant to.

RECEIVE these words. In the frustration and jagged path, God is holding out His hand. He will not bring shame. He is walking with you. He understands.

REFLECT upon what it means to reflect Jesus. Are there ways you are trying to do life on your own? How does that affect your creativity? Does looking through His lens change your perspective on life?

Set a timer for at least 10 minutes. Be still. Sit. Contemplate on these questions.

RESPOND to what you receive concerning reflecting the light of Jesus’ love no matter what path you walk. Write a poem. Draw a picture. Paint an abstract piece of art. Maybe take a photo. ☺

    SHARE

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BE

FREE

TO

WORSHIP

AS

YOU

WERE

CREATED!

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¹This is not a real story. The names are fictitious. The situation can happen anywhere.

²Thanks to Emily P. Freeman’s book for the great information on image bearers. Emily P. Freeman, a million little ways, (Grand Rapids: Revell, 2013)

 

“Learn The UNFORCED Rhythms of Grace”

Day Two

Matthew 11:28-30  (MSG)

^28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

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Why do we brush His help aside as if it were an annoying fly?

 Interesting queries.

Is working really hard on a project with our eyes just on completing what is ahead of us actually saying we are co-laboring with God? The more projects, the better?

Are the expectations, the endless meetings, the deadlines – only being used to cover an emptiness inside? Are you saying, “I am ok” on the outside, but an underlying pain does exist? (Working hard might cover a multitude of pains for long time. Is that being honest?)

Is this your reality today?

God is calling His Artists to express from freedom. He wants a connection in and with His Love to flow in what is created.

  How does this intimate reality with God happen? Try this:

Slow down. Spend time with Him!

In a world pulling from all sides this is difficult. There is this “trying to be a good person” inside too. It is crazy. The madness is ALL happening at the same time. And we are expected to create?

In Romans 7 and 8 there are many verses where Paul states “I do what I don’t want to do and I don’t do what I want to do”. God never left Paul in this schizophrenic attempt to figure on his own the best way to serve. Paul was real with God. God was real with Paul. The same is true in your circumstances. God will never leave you.

 Do you trust God? Do you trust His heart is for you. His love is not to lay anything unsuitable on you. His plans for you are good.

OH REALLY??? You may tell me to look at the photo. This yoke business is a mess. This walk is a mess. I admit this walk can be very challenging. Do you want to try it on your own? What does God say when you pair up with Him?

What does it mean to release your burdens and be yoked with God ?

God is creative. What will be released if you are yoked with Him?

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RECEIVE the gift God is giving you about rest and release.

 REFLECT upon the gift in the opening verse. What did you hear in the devotion? Set a timer for at least 10 minutes or more. Be still.  Allow God to share His heart and His love with you. What are the barriers you put up and why? He is gracious. There is never shame in God’s Love.

Come and rest with Me.

RESPOND to what is God asking you to give Him. Write, paint or draw a response of your time with Him.

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BE

FREE

TO

WORSHIP

AS

WERE

CREATED!

DAY ONE You Hear Me!

1.Psalm 28:7 The Message (MSG)

^6-7 Blessed be God—

    he heard me praying.

He proved he’s on my side;

    I’ve thrown my lot in with him.

Now I’m jumping for joy,

    and shouting and singing my thanks to him.

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Simplicity of Joy and Strength of Peace.

The still waters reflect a gentle breeze. The tree limbs sway as if dancing. Nature is joyful, resting and at peace. I am called to be the same.

  God, You fill my heart with such joy…..

  Suddenly, as I remember deadlines and unfinished projects, fear, anxiety, and doubt attack my solitude. Their clutching fingers are scratching and clawing at my soul trying to rob the reality of Your sweet presence.  My throat is dry. I can’t breathe. Tension is tearing my respite apart.

 Joy, are you the lie?  Is fear the lie?  Why are the the lies of fear, anxiety and doubt more aggressive than the Simplicity of  Joy and Strength of Peace? How can one say NO to the chaotic lies swirling around and truly live in the Simplicity of Joy and the Strength of Peace?

Do you identify with that inner battle for joy and peace? Do you hear these lies trying to rob, steal and destroy the connection between God and you? Quiet yourself. Return to the pond. Sit. Be still. Hear God’s voice calling to you.

In His presence, take paper and name the chaos trying to rob you. Draw the ugly in whatever form it takes trying to say I AM BIGGER. What is the fear speaking inside, either calling you names or pulling you apart? Face it squarely. In doing so, you realize, who has the power concerning your identity. Make space for the TRUTH.

As you are honest in the chaos, you will hear the Holy Spirit speak:

TRUTH. 

God’s Heart is pouring out Simplicity of Joy and Strength of Peace all over you.

   God hears your cries. He patiently listens to your prayers. God is trustworthy. As you go deeper in your relationship of trusting and loving Him, you will be less consumed by lies trying to lure you away from who you are meant to be.

BE FREE TO WORSHIP AS YOU WERE CREATED!

Receive His Peace and Joy!

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