from the spirit of the Free.

In case you don't know this, Steven Curtis Chapman is my hands-down, all-time favorite musician/artist EVER.

Today, on my way home from college and errands, I popped in one of his old CDs: "Signs of Life". It's from the 90's, but I was just in the mood. I listened absently to the first couple songs, humming along and tapping my hand against the steering wheel. I came to track 6, and as the slow music started I hit the fast-forward button to skip to the next song. But then I thought, "Oh whatever, I haven't listened to this in a while," and went back to the beginning of the song. The song is called Free. It's not on any of his "greatest hits" albums, it's not really a song you'd find in a worship songbook, but today it hit me hard. Before I go any further, here are the lyrics that touched my heart this afternoon:

'The sun was beating down inside 
The walls of stone and razor wire
As we made our way across the prison yard
I felt my heart begin to race 
As we drew nearer to the place
Where they say that death is waiting in the dark
The slamming doors of iron echoed through the halls
Where despair holds life within its cruel claws
 
But then I met a man who's face 
Seemed so strangely out of place
A blinding light of hope was shining in his eyes
And with repentance in his voice 
He told me of his tragic choice
That led him to this place where he must pay the price
But then his voice grew strong as he began to tell
About the One he said had rescued him from hell, he said

I'm free, yeah, oh, I have been forgiven
God's love has taken off my chains and given me these wings
And I'm free, yeah, yeah, and the freedom I've been given
Is something that not even death can take away from me
Because I'm free
Jesus set me free

We said a prayer and said goodbye 
And tears began to fill my eyes
As I stepped back out into the blinding sun
And even as I drove away 
I found that I could not escape
The way he spoke of what the grace of God had done
I thought about how sin had sentenced us to die
And how God gave His only Son so you and I could say

We're free, yeah, oh, we have been forgiven
God's love has taken off our chains and given us these wings
And we're free, yeah, yeah, and the freedom we've been given
Is something that not even death can take from you and me
Because we're free 

And if the Son has set you free,
Oh, if the Son has set you free
Then you are free indeed,
Oh, you are really free
If the Son has set you free,
Oh, if the Son has set you free
Then you are free, really, really free 

Oh, we're free, yeah, oh, we have been forgiven
God's grace has broken every chain and given us these wings
And we're free, yeah, yeah, and the freedom we've been given
Is something that not even death can take from you and me
Because we're free, yeah, the freedom we've been given
Is something that not even death can take from you and me
Because we're free, oh, we're free
We are free, we are free
The Son has set us free'
 

This song was written after SCC actually visited a prison. He paints an incredible picture; as I listened to this song, tears began to roll down my cheeks: not only because of the moving lyrics but also because I can so clearly imagine the darkness of the prison, the despair, the hopelessness.

Being free has kind of become cliche for me. My family and close friends say I have a "free spirit;" that I'm whimsical, like to go go go, like to do my own thing. But the fact that GOD--the Creator of the entire world and the lover of my soul--sent His dear Son to DIE, to set ME free, is sobering, to say the least.

I view everything as a story. I guess that's par for the course, as I am a writer at heart. The Almighty LORD of all sending His one and only Son, the pure and loving Saviour, to sacrifice His life for me, the unworthy scoundrel, is the greatest story of all time. Imagine yourself as nothing but a dirty, stinking, rotten, disgusting, repulsive creature. Your hair is knotted, your skin is grimy, you are naked and worthless, a slave to the devil. I know that sounds awful and nobody wants to think of him or herself that way. That is how we were in our sin. But God loved us so much, He wanted us to be free. FREE.

FREE.

Say it. It's an indescribable feeling, a perfect thought, wondrous knowledge that you are--or can be--completely free. No longer in bondage, no longer a servant to your own sin, no longer living in hopelessness. All we had to look forward to was death. No more do we have that hanging over us.

The story of God is one of freedom, and love. Two things everybody wants. The best part? It's not just a story.

I hope you know this freedom. If you don't, I pray you will accept it. If you do, I pray you share it, and enjoy it at its fullest. "How do I do that?" you may ask. It's simple. Live for the One who made you free, and tell others who still dwell in darkness and despair.

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." ~ John 8:36

Looking to far better things ahead,

Bee  



(Note: This is in no way a promotion or advertisement for Steven Curtis Chapman. I am in no way affiliated with him or his company.)

Who are you?

Who are you?


       [No, seriously.]

If you’re reading this the day I post it, I probably know who you are. I can assume you are pretty familiar with yourself as well. You can name your favorite colour, favorite song, favorite food, the position you sleep in, what you usually think about, where you go to church, the name of your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, etc. I might even be able to name those things about you too. But is that YOU?

As I was creating this blog, it took me a long time–3 timed sessions on this library computer!–to think of a cool name for it, that said ME. Did I want it to be something I like? Something I do? Something I aspire to be?

After much deliberation, obviously, I came up with a name. And it is a part of me. But it made me think: How do I want people to know me, to remember me? That crazy girl whose dreams are even crazier? The waitress at Sandy Cove? The girlfriend of a country boy? Making sure people have a good opinion of me used to be a primary goal of mine. Now, however, I believe it goes deeper than that.

How does your life shine? How will people remember you, if they remember you at all? Sit down and think about it, and maybe even jot down the answers you come up with. It can change your life. One of my life quotes, something I tell myself often, is “Be unforgettable.” But how? Unforgettably annoying? Unforgettably loud? We should be unforgettably loving, unforgettable Godly, unforgettably honest and kind and humble.

In 2013, strive to be unforgettably ______. You fill in the blank. Change it up every week or month if you like to keep it fresh or think you’ll be able to accomplish it in a short period of time. Challenge yourself to be more than you’ve been before: more like Christ. Become who He wants you to be.

Looking to far better things ahead,

Bee