Set me free

Ps. 142.7
Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name.

We have all been in prison in one way or another. I worked in a Federal Correctional Institution for a year and let me tell you, it was not a place you could get out of on your own. Two 20 foot razor wire fences with motion, heat and touch detctors. Armed guards. Locked doors and gates. Sally-ports where your id was checked and rechecked. You were not getting out if you were sentenced there.

Well, my sinful nature and addictions are my prison. I cannot get out of it on my own accord. I cannot escape it by thinking the right thing, or avoiding it. I cannot get out of it through therapy or church. Only God can help me break out of my prison that I walked into, that I sentenced myself to, and locked the door behind me. Only God can help me break the sin bonds with overeating, lust, pride, depression or anything other prison I can walk into and shut the door behind me.

Just like when Paul was in prison, God will rattle the doors open in some life-shaking experience and let me out. Its happening to me right now in my life on so many different issues and levels, because God is faithful. God wants us free so He can have our heart back, so He can be in fellowship with us again. He misses us, and wants us back because He loves us. Even if we are in our own Super Max prison (now there is a prison), He still desires to have you back. He still wants to set you free so He can have your undivided heart.

Lord, Set me free.

Searching for the Spirit

When and how were you aware of the Holy Spirit acting in your life?

My first and most significant time was at a retreat after 6 hours of praise and worship. I had fasted for four days, asking God to make himself known to me. I was aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit when a magnificent sense of peace and love overcame me to the point I could barely move...actually, I didn't want to move. I felt an incredibly powerful love for the men who were at the retreat, a love for Jesus that was tangible, and a desire to be closer to Him.

It has been my experience that the presence of the Spirit is most noticeable after an extended period of praise and worship (refer to my first posts concerning how I got there) and asking God to be known. I have also found that fasting for several days helps and that confessing my sins openly does as well. Its like God wants us to clean away the muck of our lives so He has room to inhabit us as we praise Him. This is just my experience, I am sure it is different for others.

But I would like to hear about your experiences with the Spirit. How are you aware of the Spirit? What to you do to make this possible?

What is your favorite present?

What has God given you for which you are most thankful? For me, the love of a wife, the greatest kids in the world, friends that are actually there for me when I need them, a warm comfortable bed, neighbors I can trust, birds I can watch out my kitchen window, a kitchen window, a great place to worship, and good health.

What's on your "thankfulness" list?

Being Thankful instead of BMW

Sorry I haven't written in a while as I have been dealing with Jared having pneumonia during the holidays. Three days ago he turned blue and was responseless so we have had to pay more attention to his needs. He just requires more CPT, breathing treatments and TLC as he sleeps it off....and he HATES having a candula in his nose (which forces oxygen up his nose)...he hates it and fights it.

I am not writing this as an excuse or to whine about it because it just is what it is and am happy to help him as much as I can. But it reminds of something I have been wanting to write about....

I know many people who BMW (Bellyache, Moan and Whine) about everything. "It's too hot." "It's too cold." "The holidays are too hectic." "I just have too much to do." And if you are a Republican, "The Democrats are ruining our country." OK. But I am experiencing the same weather and I am not complaining about it. I have to shop, cook, wrap presents, too, and I rather like it. I have to live in a country where Democrats are running things, too, and I have deciding to pray for them. I have just as much to do as most do but I count it a blessing instead of a chore. So what's the deal with all the whining?

God says we are supposed to be thankful. Thankful for the hot or cold weather that he has provided. Thankful we can buy presents and thankful that we have others to give those presents to. We are to be thankful for something to do and thankful we have kids to take to soccer, baseball, basketball, golf, band and orchestra. We are to be a thankful people because God is giving us what we need and helping us through some pretty remarkable times. Be thankful we live in a country where we can vote (or not) for who we want to be governed by.

What do you think is at the root of all this whinging? Attention? Listen to yourself. Are you whining? Can you be thankful? What do you whine about the most?

Son Pride

My youngest son is in 7th grade and plays basketball for Travis Middle School in Irving. This past weekend his team (which is undeated) played in a tournament with teams from Grand Prairie and Irving middle schools.

My son's team made it to the championship game on Saturday night. My son scored 6, 3 pointers. Yep. Six. Eighteen points (plus four others). Yep. 22 points all together. God has given that boy some athletic talent.

Okay. I am done bragging on my son...but he did score 22 points...heh, heh.

Christmas Receipts

As you buy things for Christmas, place all the receipts in an envelope marked "Christmas." That way if a gift needs to be exchanged, the receipt is easy to find. Less Stress, Happier Holidays.

Crockpot Beef Short Ribs

Cooked these today and they are really good:

Ingredients

1/3 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

2 1/2 pounds boneless beef short ribs
1/4 cup butter
1 large onion, diced
1 cup beef broth
3/4 cup red wine vinegar or 1 cup red wine
1 cup brown sugar
2 TBL catsup
2 TBL Worcestershire sauce
2 TBL minced garlic or 1 TBL garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder or 1 tsp cayene pepper

What to do:
1. Put flour, pepper and salt into a Ziploc bag.
2. Add ribs and shake to coat.
3. Melt butter in large skillet; brown flour coated ribs.
4. Put in slow cooker.
5. In same skillet, combine remaining ingredients,
6. Bring to a boil...pour over ribs.
7. Cover and cook on low for 9 hours.
8. Eat with mashed potatoes.
9. Ask for more.

Best short rib recipe I know. Enjoy.