i have been thinking more and more about the promised land of freedom. Christ promised freedom to all who would follow him, but i did not see this freedom growing up in the church. all i saw was rules and regulations. a list of does and don'ts. i was told if you did not do certain things you would go to hell. there was not freedom. i see this more and more in my mom. she is worried about many things. she can not give others the freedom to be them selves because she is too worried about their eternal soul.

i am so glad that God has taken me out of this trap and given me freedom. i have the freedom to allow Him to work in the lives of those around me, because i know that He is the only one who can bring the true freedom in them. i have the freedom to watch my children grow up int lovely ladies. i am amazed at their wisdom and sometimes at the exuberance of youth.

i have the freedom to love those around me without trying to change them. i can love them for who they are, and watch as God brings them into what He has for them. it is fun to watch. i love seeing his work in the lives of others. it proves to me again and again that his ways are so much better than my ways. i hear things come out of the mouths of others that causes me to stop and think. things that shape my whole world.

i am so glad that God has helped me to come out of the trap i was raised in. i can not live in the freedom of relationship with both God and man. 'the truth will set you free.'