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The Devotional Diva - Released
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The Devotional Diva - Released
By Barbara Gobbs
Executive Assistant and Ministry Partner - Pocket Full of Change Ministries
“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood -” Rev. 1:5 (NAS95)
My childhood in many respects was unremarkable. I made good grades but wasn’t the smartest in class. I was probably as happy as anyone was, but that didn’t make me the most popular in my class. I had no distinguishing features and no penchant for art or music.
I should mention that I was also a sensitive child. It’s not that I was necessarily sensitive of others, but in regards to myself, overly so. My feelings hurt easily and embarrassment was fatal in my book.
However, our house had the greatest climbing tree in the neighborhood and I could climb that tree with the best. It was medium height oak tree with a thick trunk. The tree leaned over and then ascended upwards with branches that went to the right and left. The left side of the tree had branches that made a “V” which hovered over our doghouse and led to more branches.
The bottom part of the trunk leaned at such a delightful angle I could run halfway up the tree stopping just before the “V.” Since the elementary school was located, literally, in our backyard, I’d routinely return from school and run up the tree for good measure. I quickly learned not to attempt such a feat with penny loafers, no traction. Ouch!
One day after school, I decided to spend some time alone in the tree. It was a great place to be alone especially if no one saw you climb up and wanted to be copycat! Now I am not sure how it happened but something odd occurred that afternoon. Perhaps I went further up than usual. Maybe I saw a large bug that spooked me but somehow I found myself stuck.
Of all the things to happen to me, I got stuck in my own tree! I was trapped and the only way out was down. Well forget that, I’d rather die in a tree than jump and die in pain. Yet, there were bugs on the tree and I couldn’t survive up there very long. I had no Kool-Aid or peanut butter. Fear overwhelmed me. It was a hopeless situation.
Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, it did. Someone spotted me crying in the tree. News of this sort travels fast. Soon the neighbors gathered. Family and friends stood around, gawking and trying to coax me down. It was only a matter of time before someone might think to call the fire department. I would have to run away and join the circus. Surely, I couldn’t show my face in school again, hey maybe there was a bright side!
I have no memory of how I managed my escape. It’s likely my parents had something to do with it. Safely on the ground and still in tears, I dashed to the safety of my bedroom. I was humiliated, however, released from my woodsy prison. My leafy chains had dropped and I was free at last!
This begs me to wonder, have you ever been stuck in a fear-striking place or situation and knew it would take help to release you from the place. Sure, you have! I’ve been trapped too, and I am not talking about a tree this time. The real prison is sin.
I was reading Revelation Chapter 1 in my quiet time this morning and stopped to focus on verse 5. It tells me that Jesus loves me and RELEASED me from my sin with His blood. Did you hear that? He released you and me from the prison of sin. Ponder that for a spell. As a believer, I often dwell on His forgiveness of my sin and praise Him for it. Today, I will ponder on my release. It’s a word with such freedom.
You know, after my tree top escape, the tree remain in our backyard. I danced around it and continued, with more caution, to climb the tree. But I never got stuck again. Sin, however, is not a tree.
Like my tree – sin still remains around us. It hovers over us enticing us to come up and sit a while. Unlike my tree, you cannot continue to “climb up” sin without getting stuck again. Yet, we try. We dance around sin, play in its shadow and expect nothing bad to happen. But when you least expect it, you find yourself stuck.
Today, are you in need of release? Maybe it’s not from the tree of sin, but the tree of despair or doubt. Perhaps you are on the branch of indecision and need help. If you are, Jesus is ready to provide it for you. If you are stuck crying in a tree that seems to offer no hope of escape – cry out to Jesus. Let His love comfort you and let the blood He has already shed release you!
Released and Relieved!
Barbara
Divinely Inspired Victoriously Active
Barbara Gobbs is a ministry partner with and the Executive Assistant of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information, to schedule a speaker for an event, or to request a newsletter, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden, Publicist at 904 316-5462. This ministry is supported by donations. If this ministry helps you or others, and God calls you to help support this work, you can make a donation to Pocket Full of Change Ministry at POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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