Happy February Ladies!

Esther, Charlotte, Jackie and I have decided to change the name of our blog from “3 on Thursday” to “Freedom Writers” As we brainstormed thoughts on what it means to have freedom in Christ, we came up with these thoughts for you and for our future writings!

• Freedom - to live as people who are free (1 Peter 2:16)
• Truth – Jesus is the way, the Truth and the life (John 14:6)
• Grace – Undeserved favor to live in freedom (2 Corinthians 9:8)

A Book…
In the opening scene of Louisa May Alcott’s book Little Women, four teenage girls wake up on Christmas morning to find their table laden with food that starts them salivating.  You see, Dad is off fighting a war and Marmee (Mom) isn’t able to provide much beyond the necessities.  Waking up to find these treats has the girls giggling with excitement.  
A moment later, their faces drop when their mother tells them a story of a family close by who has no food, no fuel to keep warm and who are in need of some holiday cheer.  The girls quickly but reluctantly help pack up the food, fuel and a few extra blankets and march off through the snow…

A Scripture story…
There’s a story in the Bible of a young boy who surrenders his loaves of bread and fish to help Jesus feed a crowd of thousands.
What causes people to give when they would rather not?

Another book…
In his book Invitation to a Journey, M. Robert Mulholland Jr. states that “God purposes us into a particular kind of being – that we might be holy and blameless before God in love.” And that “The process of being formed in the image of Christ takes place primarily at the points of our unlikeness to Christ’s image.”  
To put it in every day context, every time I want my husband to hear “my side” but am not willing to hear his…every time I get easily frustrated when circumstances change my plans…every time I choose to be silent when God’s Spirit prompts me to speak…those are the places I am least like Christ.
What happened to the girls in the story?  They gave out of obedience and their mother’s example and their wealthy neighbor heard about their sacrifice and gave them a more lavish breakfast than they had given away.  What happened to the young boy who gave his loaves and fishes?  Jesus fed 5,000. 
So, for this month of love, let’s offer our breakfast to the plans of Our Father, because, like Pastor David says, “We can’t outgive God!”
With Much Love,
Christina
If you would like to connection or share your story, please contact me.

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