Freedom: In Christ

by Desi Ash

According to the Bill of Rights, we have the Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, to Bear Arms, to Vote.  These and many other laws grant us freedoms that many people outside of America desperately long for and we take for granted.

Sometimes when I hear the word freedom, I think that I am not really free. There are chains that keep me bound; money, the past, or the expectations I have for myself.

What are you chained or bound to?

Is it your job, your doubt, your insecurity, lust, lying, your feelings of brokenness, or striving for perfection?

We all have things that we feel bound to that we need to let go of.

Jesus has done just that. When Jesus died on the cross, He set us free. He broke the chains that bind us.

That freedom allows us to go and live a life of joy, to live the life God has in store for us. Jesus calls for us to leave those chains, those burdens aside in Matthew 28 (The Message)

 “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 or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

This passage is calming and makes me think of peace and freedom. It reminds us that we don’t need to continue to live as people who are bound and chained. We can live in the freedom that Jesus gave us. To remove those chains:

·        Pray that God will loosen the grip they have on you.

·        Share this burden with a trusted friend and let him/her hold you accountable.

·        Fill in the holes with God. Spend time in the Bible, worship through music, pray prayers of adoration and confession.

·        Focus on your relationship with God

Sometimes we are bound with chains that are so tight they are cutting off the circulation. Those chains can take time to break free. Don’t give up. God has great plans for you and living in the freedom Christ gives us is worth it.

God is in the business of setting His people free. Let God work in your life. Let God set you free.

Freedom: In God We Trust

1,354, 664 and counting.

Let me state that again, one million three hundred fifty-four thousand, six hundred sixty-four and counting.  That’s how many people have died in the history of our country to ensure that you and I are able to live free.

When you think of the upcoming holiday, your thoughts shouldn’t just be about fireworks and foot-longs, it should be about the unbelievable price that has been paid so that you are able to be free.  When you think about what we are celebrating every year on July 4th – and you try to fathom that unbelievable number it’s truly humbling.

It is compelling.  It makes you realize that all too often you take your freedoms and liberties for granted.  When you think about that number it makes you want to honor the sacrifice that was made by making sure you respect and appreciate all the freedom that you are able to enjoy today.

It makes you want to live a different life.  When you think of that number – it makes you want to live like someone died for you.  Because they did.  I mean obviously, they fought for their own liberties and the freedoms of those they loved.  But they also fought to protect the same rights for you and me.

So what you have, what you enjoy in this life, really isn’t because of you.  Someone else paid the price and you get to enjoy it.  Someone else did the heavy lifting and the hard work and we get to benefit from it.  We should live a life that reflects that truth.

You may not realize this and you may not live by it – but that doesn’t mean it’s not true.  You owe so much of your life to someone else – someone who paid the ultimate price.

But it isn’t just all of the brave men and women who were charged with and chose to fight for our freedoms that you and I owe.  The question isn’t if someone died for you would you live a life worth saving.  Because the reality is – someone has died for you and paid an enormous price for you.

“He (Jesus) died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves.  Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”  - 2 Corinthians 5:15

So while you celebrate this week,  that we live in an amazing land of opportunity and take time to appreciate the freedoms we have and remember all of those amazing men and women who so selflessly provided you and I the freedom we have – do not forget that an enormous price was paid for you.  It wasn’t just paid in defense of our freedoms but it was paid at your expense for eternity.

It’s all too easy to place our trust in so many things – our jobs, our families, our money, our success, our own ingenuity, our power or strength, and even at times our country. And while those things at times can provide us with stability we must remember what the builders and shapers of our nation recognized and declared.


It is “in God We Trust”.

When you do Wrong … Jesus Rescues

by:  Leah Dummel

Luke 23:42-43

John 16:33 Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

This month at VBS we taught our children that in all circumstances, Jesus rescues. When they worry, when they’re lonely, when they feel powerless, and when they struggle. I was able to have a lot of good conversation, especially with our oldest son, around these topics. However, the one that really got him talking and me thinking was “when you do wrong…Jesus rescues." 

Now, if you know our oldest son Declan, you know he is an all-around pretty good kid! But he was able to be very vulnerable with me and share how sometimes he struggles to not make bad behavior choices when playing with other kids and how he told a lie because he thought his parents might be upset with his choice (couldn’t get him to confess the lie, but baby steps).  He also explained that sometimes when his little brother is acting out or throwing a tantrum he feels “mean feelings” towards him. I was able to talk him through all these scenarios and help him name those mean feelings and illustrate how Jesus is there to rescue him when he does those wrong things. 

I was feeling pretty good as a mom if I am completely honest. But THEN … he asked the loaded questions. “Mommy, what are things Jesus has to rescue you from that you do wrong?” I froze. Devin and I both believe in being honest and authentic with our kids. We want, as they grow up, for them to see us and feel we are approachable, relatable and safe. And we believe that one way of creating that culture is being honest with them and not having many secrets with our own mistakes. Otherwise, we risk them putting us on a pedestal and being unable to talk and share their struggles with us. 

But when you make this choice to be so vulnerable you also have to use discretion and boundaries. For instance, it would have been wildly inappropriate for me to say, “Well, I need Jesus to rescue me when I do wrong when I am knee deep in toys, laundry, and diapers and there’s yogurt in my hair and you haven’t stopped asking me all the questions and your brother hasn’t’ spoken a non-hateful non-tantrum word and your dad is frustrated because he can’t get a word in because of all the chaos and I can’t concentrate and I’m 40lbs overweight and the dog needs to be fed and I feel like I have lost who I really am and I think to myself WHY DID WE EVER HAVE CHILDREN?!” 

I mean, am I right though? Parents raise your hand if you have ever said those words or something similar in your head during those heated and stressful moments of parenthood…you can’t see but I am raising both my hands right now. And yes, maybe when he’s 31 and in the thick of parenting himself, I will share my need for a rescuer in those moments, but sitting at the table with him here at age 6, I will not. 

But I can tell you what I did do. I very delicately told him that mommy needs Jesus to rescue her all the time. Declan is a smart kid, he’s a feeler, he’s an empath, he’s an old soul, and he just GETS it. So I shared with him in a very age-appropriate way about this new found anxiety I have developed since becoming a mother of 2. I told him every day I pray for Jesus to rescue me from it because when I let it control me, I make bad choices. I yell at my kids, I say harsh words, I withdraw from my husband, and I withhold love from my family. 

We talked about all those things, and he was brave enough to tell me that he is old enough to recognize when my anxiety takes over and those ugly things come spilling out. He even sweetly offered to warn me when he sees me getting worked up and feeling “scared” so he can help me…which is not his burden to bear but his heart is SO good. It wasn’t a long conversation and I didn’t use the exact words with him that I used in this blog. But what I did try to emphasize was that at every age and every season in life, our need for a Savior, MY need for a Savior, is so great.

It made me remember the story from Luke 23 about the criminal that hung on the cross next to Jesus, who asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His Kingdom. The criminal recognized his need for a Savior and asked to be rescued. He said a strong YES. He always does. He always will. 

As parents, one of our duties and greatest responsibilities is to model Christ’s love to our children. And guess what, we aren’t going to be perfect at it. We will fail. But I am learning that when our babies see us acknowledge our need for Jesus’s great rescue, they are WAY more open to the idea that one day they will also need to ask to be rescued. So if you struggle with anxiety like me, or are a distracted parent, or whatever you are struggling with in this parenting journey, remember what we are teaching our children…that When we Do Wrong, Jesus Rescues.

When We Struggle Jesus Rescues

by Devin Dummel

When I was younger, I moved to a new town and started a new job.  I was really excited about working in a new place and meeting new people.  But one thing I was a little nervous about was making new friends.

I was lucky because early on I met someone that I thought I would be great friends with; so I did what you do with new friends and we hung out a lot.   We did things that he liked to do, and we did things I liked to do.  I thought we were becoming great friends, but later I found out that he didn’t feel the same way.

He said some things that hurt my feelings and when I asked him about it, I will never forget what he said: “Why don’t you quit trying so hard. I already have 3 friends I don't need any more".

I can’t tell you how much that hurt me.  It was a real struggle to figure out how to act around this person after that.  It felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells, trying not to say or do the wrong thing to upset him.

Have you ever had a moment like that?  Where no matter what you did – things just seemed hard and difficult, everything was a struggle.

I think we all know what it’s like to struggle from time to time.  When we struggle it’s like we are being tied up in emotional knots.  The struggles we go through make life extra hard!

Things like balancing responsibilities, trying to pay the bills, making time for yourself and being a good parent. All of these things can be difficult and when we struggle with them or with other things we can feel like one giant knot.  Sometimes when we struggle we don’t know where to turn.

Jesus knew what it was like to struggle even though he was God's son.  Check this out.  In the Bible, we are told that Jesus struggled in every way that we do.  The only difference is that he never sinned.

So that means that Jesus felt everything we feel.  He dealt with the same pressures we deal with and He has walked in our shoes.  He knows exactly what it’s like to try to navigate the daily struggles that we have.

There was even this one time where one of Jesus' closest friends betrayed him.  Have you ever felt like a friend let you down?  Well, Jesus knows exactly what that feels like.  His friend’s name was Judas, and when Jesus needed him most, he turned his back on him and actually lied about Jesus getting him arrested in front of the rest of his friends.

One thing that I think is so interesting is what happened as Judas was betraying Jesus; the rest of his friends the disciples wanted to put up a fight.  Peter even cut another dude’s ear off.  Things got out of hand pretty fast.  But at that moment Jesus didn’t let the struggle tie him up in knots.  Instead, Jesus calmed his friends and the authorities.  He brought comfort, guidance, and peace to a very difficult situation.


There are all kinds of situations in life that can be difficult.  We all struggle in one way or another, but the amazing thing is with Jesus we don’t have to feel like we are always tied up in knots. 

You can remember that Jesus knows exactly what you're going through and He is always willing to help you find comfort, guidance, and peace.

Today, we should remember we don’t have to get caught up and tied up in the struggles we face.  Because Jesus knows exactly what we are going through and we can trust that He will always come to our rescue!

When We Worry Jesus Rescues

by Devin Dummel

I remember it like it was yesterday.  I was at the mall with my family.  My dad was at work so it was just my mom and my brothers.  We had been shopping on the second floor of sears or JC Penny.  It was time to head back to the car so my mother took my younger brother’s hand and got on the escalator and proceeded to the exit.  I was supposed to follow.

But in that moment something happened and I froze.  I had been on escalators hundreds of times.  But for whatever reason, it felt like it was the first time I would have to do it by myself.  I was afraid I was going to get sucked up and trapped in the stairs.  In my panic, I froze; and as the seconds ticked by my family got further and further away.  But I stayed planted at the top of the escalator, on solid ground, trapped in my fear, anxiety, and worry. 

Looking back on it now I realize that I had nothing to be scared of but not all fears are rooted in reality.   There are so many things that we can be afraid of.  Some fears are healthy, but some are unfounded and unhealthy.

I don’t know how you handle fear, but I typically keep it to myself and I get really anxious and worked up – and I will start to worry.

Do you know what worry is?  It’s kind of an odd feeling to explain.  Here’s the best way I can explain it:

Worry is negative thoughts or emotions that we have trouble controlling about a potential problem.

You know what’s really strange about us humans – we have phobias for everything you could ever dream of.  

•    There are phobias about spiders

•    Phobias about clowns

•    Phobias about water

•    And yes even phobias about beards …

That seems so ridiculous – I thought everyone loved beards.

The truth is we are pretty good at getting worked up and worried about a lot of things – too many things really.  And many times the things we are anxious about or worry about don’t ever happen – so really we worry over nothing.

This month we are talking about how Jesus recuses.  He rescues us from all kinds of problems and issues, but something I am so thankful for is that Jesus can rescue us from our anxiety, worry, and fear.

We see a great example of this with Jesus and his friends in Luke chapter 10. 

To give you a little background:  Jesus was going on a trip to visit his friends.  These friends of his were sisters, and their names were Mary and Martha.

Martha was one of those list type people.  You know the ones who are always working and always achieving, they are always trying to do more and more and more.  But her sister Mary was much different, she was pretty laid back.  She was more the “go with the flow” kind of person.  It’s not that she didn’t like getting things done; she was just ok to take her time getting things accomplished.

Now, the thing you need to understand was that when Jesus traveled – lots of people traveled with him – His friend the disciples – as well as other people from the surrounding area who wanted to hear him teach.  

So when he went to Mary and Martha’s house there were lots of things to do – lots of tasks and chores – things to get ready so that everyone could enjoy their time with Jesus.

After Jesus arrived he started to teach, and Mary stopped what she was doing and sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to everything he had to say.

But when her sister, Martha saw this she was frustrated because she was busy worrying about doing all the things that needed to be done to make their day a success.  She got so frustrated at one point she pulled Jesus aside and said, “Jesus, don’t you ever care that my sister lets me do all the work by myself – won’t you tell her to help me?”

Jesus heard her and then responded by saying, “Martha – I hear your frustration, but you are getting worked up way too much and worrying over nothing.  These preparations don’t matter – really the only thing that matters is being here with me – and that’s what Mary has chosen.”

Jesus wanted Martha to see that too often we get worked up and worry about things that don’t really matter. 

Jesus wanted his friends to know and you to know that you don't have to worry because He's got everything under control.  He knows it's not easy … he knows that it's a natural thing to try to worry – but even though it's natural … it's not necessary.

It’s not something you have to do.

The truth is Jesus may not take away the things that make us worry, but he promises to help us carry the load.

We should always remember that we do not have to be afraid.  We don’t have to be anxious or get worked up.  We don’t have anything to worry about – because we have an amazing God and he promises that  Jesus will always come to our rescue!

When you are Lonely…Jesus Rescues!

by Whitney Jones

We have all felt lonely at some point in our lives. We have all felt like the only person dealing with a certain trial. We have all felt like we need to be saved from a certain circumstance. And we all need Jesus each and every day to rescue us!

One area where I feel lonely in my life is parenting a teenager. I have a 14-year-old and some days, I just don’t know which direction to take. If any of you have teenagers you know how sensitive and emotional they can be. Oh, and did I mention lazy!? As a parent of a teenager, I want so badly to protect my teen from this broken world yet let her live and learn so she can function and find success in this world. It is a hard balance for me at times.  How do I meet the emotional needs of my teenager and prepare her for hard things in the future?

When I start to feel lonely, in any area of my life, but especially parenting a teenager, I turn to Jesus and God’s word rather than finding the answers from worldly things.
One story in the Bible that stands out to me when I feel lost and lonely, is the parable of the lost sheep.

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he finds it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” Luke 15:3-7

It may seem foolish for the shepherd to leave 99 sheep to go search for just one. But the shepherd knew that 99 would be safe, whereas the lost sheep was in danger. Because each sheep was of high value, the shepherd knew that it was worthwhile to search diligently for the lost one.

God’s love for just one individual is so great that he seeks out each one and rejoices when that one person is found. It might not be easy to understand a God who would forgive sinners who come to him for mercy. But a God who tenderly searches for sinners and joyfully forgives them must possess an extraordinary love! This is the kind of love that prompted Jesus to come to earth to search for lost people and save them. This is the kind of extraordinary love that God has for you. A love that would save you through any of life’s toughest circumstances!

Finish Strong: Finish Line

A couple of years ago a friend of mine planned on running in the annual mini-marathon in Indianapolis.  For months he trained, plotting a course through town and laid out a training schedule so that he would be ready.  He ran religiously.  I knew on certain days and certain times if I drove through town I would find him pushing himself harder to reach his goal.  He did everything that he needed to do in order to be ready, but the evening before the race my friend didn’t feel very well, and he knew that race day was going to be a long day.

He had put all the hours and miles in order to be ready, so he was determined to get on the course and run the race even though he wasn’t feeling one hundred percent.  Things started out fine, but he could tell that he was expending more energy than he should be just trying to keep up with the pace he had set for himself.  As he entered the track at the speedway he could tell things were getting worse, and before he could make it around the loop he collapsed.  He was sick and dehydrated and his body couldn’t take any more.  He found shelter and shade in a medical tent, where he was given great attention.  He was feeling so terrible that it took him a while to get the strength back up to get back on the track.  When it was all said and done, it took my friend over four hours to complete the race, more than double the time he was aiming for. 

A few days after the race, he sat in my office.  He was visually discouraged and frustrated after putting in all the hard work and not getting the result he wanted.  We talked for a bit and he told me that he was planning on doing another mini in the near future, knowing that he could do better and cross the finish line the way he wanted this time.  It wasn't long before he ran that race and finished very close to the time he was shooting for.

I know it’s not how he envisioned it, but I was really proud of my friend for finishing strong.  He accomplished what he wanted to do – he crossed that finish line proud of all that he had done.

I remember when I received word that one of the longtime members of our church passed away.  He was a great man of God who was very influential in the lives of so many people in our congregation.  He spent most of his adult life doing God’s work, sharing the Gospel with anyone who would listen or care to watch him live his life.  In his last five years he developed Alzheimer’s, and then in the fall of 2015, he was diagnosed with cancer.  It was difficult for his family to watch his decline.  But the amazing thing was watching him and his family finish strong.

When I think of this great man I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul nearing the end of his ministry, “For I am already being poured out … I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord … will award me on that day - and not only to me but also to all who have longing for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

We celebrated the life he lived.  We also celebrated how he finished the race strong.  We talked about how he fought the good fight.  We remembered how he kept the faith.  And we smiled when we realized that one day we too would have the opportunity to be awarded the crown of righteousness, not for anything we had done – but because we lived our lives longing for God.

This week, I have asked myself how do I run a race like that.  How do I live a life like he lived?  How do I keep the faith, fight the good fight and finish strong?  I think the secret is in our perspective.  It’s not about one race.  It’s about many races.  It’s not about one battle or fight; it’s about a daily skirmish.  The secret to running THE race and finishing well has to do with what we do each day.

We have to run the race each day.  We have to train to make the right decisions.  We have to practice fighting the good fight.  We have to get better at being faithful in tough times.  And all of those things happen one day at a time.  You can’t just sit down and say, today I am changing course and I am going to finish the race strong, twenty … thirty … forty … fifty years from now.  No, you have to decide today that you will run the race, and fight the good fight, and finish strong.

And when you do that – there is no doubt in my mind that some days you will not cross the finish line the way you wanted to, or the way you planned to.  But my friends, remember you still crossed the line.

And then tomorrow you will get back up and you will try again, knowing that you can do a little bit better than you did the day before.  You will also know that when you live life this way, (running the race, fighting the good fight, and longing after God) that one day you will receive an award that is far greater than just crossing the finish line.

So I encourage you, finish this day strong.  Then finish the next one and the next one and the next one.  Finish this season strong.  Finish this year strong.  Run the race.  Fight the good fight.  And anxiously await the day, when you will be embraced into His arms and you will hear your Father in Heaven say, “Well done.”