FREEDOM

psychology + theology   = Freedom

psychology = revelation   theology= healing

Empty Me by Chris Sligh

I've had just enough of the spotlight
When it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood
And I've tasted my share
Of the sweet life
And the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough

I know how i can stray
And how fast my heart could change

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So i can be
Filled with you

Ive seen just enough of the quick buys
Of the best lies
To know how prodigals can be drawn away

I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change
Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you

Cuz everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
Compared to you
Cuz everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
So I surrender all

Emp

I've had just enough of the spotlight
When it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood
And I've tasted my share
Of the sweet life
And the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough

I know how i can stray
And how fast my heart could change


Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So i can be
Filled with you

Ive seen just enough of the quick buys
Of the best lies
To know how prodigals can be drawn away

I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change
Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you

Cuz everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
Compared to you
Cuz everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
So I surrender all

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you.
Filled with you
Empty me
ty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you.
Filled with you
Empty me

Change of Heart

Today, is my birthday.  I've started this thing where I'll pray to God my resolutions of the day every morning.  These resolutions aren't I need to lose 5 lbs, I need to complete my to-do list, etc.  My resolution is to love God more... which encompasses.. the desire to be humble which leads to submitting to his word which leads to obeying his word which leads to holiness which leads to loving God with all my heart ,with all my soul and all my mind and loving my neighbors as myself.  

So in the past birthdays, I'd wake up thinking how I can milk the day.  What I expect to happen for me... I expect people to serve me.  There were many birthdays I spent depressed because Hubs failed to bring enough attention and devotion to me.  I'd demand I want this and that... expensive gifts but they never satisfied.  I would justify not doing anything because it was my birthday.  As a mother, that could never be, so I'd be crabby, harsh and mean.

I woke up this morning making the resolution that I will be a servant.  Even when hubs left this morning without wishing me a happy birthday, I was sweet to him.  I asked a friend with 2 little kids to come over so I can serve her lunch. She didn't know it was my birthday but I wanted to payback her kindness for taking Emma and Jadyn for couple hours some days.  I went to the store in morning and I cooked hot meal.  I was so expecting to cook dinner but I got a pleasant call from a friend that she was going to make my family dinner... steaks. It's amazing the blessings God does give when you choose to give yourself... to bring attention to the needs of others.  Today, I try not to focus on myself.   I was so blessed.

I was so blessed, today.  It's the first birthday in a long time, I feel peaceful and happy.  Truly all I need is the love of Christ.

I know that this blog has been filled with a lot of God, lately, but I can't help but share how God continues to work my heart.  Not that it's always like this, my spiritual walk has been a bit of a roller coaster.  Once I surrendered my life, I was soaring high but the last few months, I've had my dip but I'm learning that it's when I turn my focus on myself instead of Christ, I fall.

Like Peter walking on water.  He was walking on water when his eyes was fixed on Christ and he started sinking when his eyes saw the wind and the storm.

Today was a good day... and praying resolutions help me because on days I don't meet my resolutions which are spiritual broken days, and I examine my heart and search the root of my sins... which have a constant theme... pride and self-centeredness (placing myself above God), I rest in Him and pray that he break me to repentance.  

This is turning to be sermon-like. ew!   I just wanted to document how a service focused birthday turned in to the best birthday ever.

A Gift..

I've grown up most of my life in the suburbs.  I don't like traveling in to the city.  I don't like parallel parking.  I don't like the congestion of the traffic.  And I think people are mean.  Rough and crass.  To be in the city, you got to be strong and confident.  I try to avoid the city unless someone drives me.  I do like eating there though...

Well, I've been trying to be proactive in my life.  I found myself being led by my anxiety and trying to live my life burden and anxious free which leads me to be at home all day since I find it extremely difficult to travel with four kids.  Hubs always tried to accommodate this for me because if I went anywhere like grocery shopping or anywhere with the kids, I'd be miserable and crabby when he came home from work.  Well, I've been convicted for the last 6 months to be a "noble"wife.  Reading and memorizing Proverbs 31:10-33.  I try to be diligent and to really serve Hubs...  I'm trying...

So this summer, I've been taking the kids to the pool, library, mall, and trying to find places to take them. I'm trying very hard to free up Hubs time in the home.  Things I can clearly do while he's at work, I need to be diligent.  It's hard but  I try to remember godliness with contentment is great gain..  So true..  Not that I don't falter.  I often do. hmmm...  this post is ending up going on a tangent.

Anyway, I called a friend, a mother of three, to join me to visit the Morris Arboreteum because I heard they have  a tree adventure thing there.  She then suggested going to the Franklin Institute that it'll be free since she has a membership and she can get me and my kids in for free.  My old self would be very anxious and I wouldn't` go because of the driving in to the city and the anxiety of having to find street parking and then parallel park the big van.  But I know that the kids would enjoy it and that they've never been.  How could I pass up an opportunity for the kids to experience the Institute for free.  I studied the directions I printed out from mapquest.  I tried to get a visual... there were a couple of anxiety spots but I prayed.  Sounds so stupid to pray about something like that but "cast ALL you anxiety for He cares for you".  

As I was driving, I didn't get the usual butterflies that I usually get going somewhere unfamiliar.  I was pretty calm.  I also decided if I can't find parking,I can park in the institute's parking garage even though I know hubs would want me to drive around and try to find street parking to save money.

I drove slowly up the side of the Institute towards the front and I see an open spot right in front of the Institute.  But as I drove up I see a parking meter van pull in to it but I think he must of saw me because he pulled up further to open up the spot.  I wasn't sure if I could park there.  As the parking meter guy came out of the van, we made eye contact, I gestured," can I park there?"  He nodded.  Awesome!  I was able to parallel park with ease.  YES!  While I was getting the stroller out, I noticed the parking meter guy fiddling with my meter.  I thought oh, it must have been broken and he's fixing it or something.  He opened the thing up and took the thing inside and was doing something. He then left. I got all four kids out and I went to put money in the meter and to my surprise,  I see 2 hours already in there.  Did he put those 2 hours in for me?  Did he really do that?  How sweet !  He must have took pity on me seeing my four kids.  

It was a lot of fun.  My kids had so much fun.  You know, I realize that I decide not to do things because I think it'll be too much for me but when I choose to do it and I choose contentment, I always am blessed by it.  God really truly provides strength. " I can do everything in Him who gives me strength." 

GracePoint Women's Group Commercial

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Ladies,  we are going to study Lies Young Women Believe.  I'm so excited about this study.  I read half of Lies Women Believe and it really has helped me be free... Studying God's word is a light onto our paths...