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Therapists and Counsellors and Aid Workers and Psychologists and Surgeons and Lawyers and Teachers and Courses for this and Programmes for that and Self-help for you and Help-Yourself for me.
And some find “God” a comical figure?
Thanksgiving has become a global event. Thanksgiving is not just for USA, it is for all. It is a practice Christmas, and I firstly thank you for drawing a fast-approaching Christmas to my attention.
So “Thanksgiving” … ?
Never done a “thanksgiving post” before – so here goes …
I am thankful for so much. Yet one thing stands out.
My personal freedom in love and life which is my safety of soul and self in which I can be safe in my personal freedom. I am free to be me AND am accountable to you, and you are free to be you AND are accountable to me – for THAT is freedom of each.
And that freedom means I can take more risks: I can take the risk to be me.
I can explore what else might I be – what else might I do. And I have found this: as I become me, I have less to prove to you or me, and I have so much more to give.
But this is not “just money” – not “just material wealth” – not even “just wisdom”… I have more time through not needing to prove, fight or fear. I have more time to give. And time is measured in heartbeats. So I have heartbeats to share with you. Freely and willingly.
And that is why I am thankful. And THAT is why I don’t think God is a comical figure.
In fact I don’t think God is any kind of figure at all. And I have learned that I don’t need God to be anything at all. For if I do, I am not free. And unless I am free even of God – I cannot be free. I am thankful for learning through GSHJ that the stuff I used to think I needed to be free – is the same stuff that was taking my freedom and safety. And I never knew.
And now I do.
I call my God “God Soft Hands Jesus”. Because GSHJ has shown me to not need religion, to not need the building and institution of church, to not need to defend the bible, to not need to defend him, to not need to worship, to not need to do anything that I was taught I needed to (and must) do. GSHJ has taught me to be free. And all without any cost (for I have also learned that “cost” … is always someone’s “need”).
So “Thanksgiving” … ?
I have found freedom from the need to need and I am thankful (but that is not the why or the it). I am thankful because the “why” and “it” is realising that I even have more heartbeats than I need – we all do. And I can imagine if we all shared them …
Just how cool is that?
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Just me being curious 
One time in a dream I was sitting with Jesus in a boat and He said, “I like talking to you; your not political.”
I’ve really have never known what that meant. Your post here has answered that question for me and a few others.
Growing up the way I did, not knowing the bible, not going to church, and just knowing Jesus loved me is what my relationship with Him was built on.
Then when I got older and started going to church, I was taught to fear Him and death. To fear not loving enough, giving enough, being enough. I think that instilled in me to spend my life “working” to hear the, “well done good and faith servent” speech,” …
But now I see the truth was, I became a slave to man instead of a bond servant to God. I thought I was severing God by submitting to man. There was no freedom in that, but a lot of guilt, fear, and shame.
I believe it’s when our “have to” turns into “want to.” That we
“But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.…
So now when we get to heaven and stand before the Lord we won’t say, “look at all I have done for you Lord.” Instead I hope we will see all the Lord was able to do through us, as surrender hearts, rooted and grounded in love.”
“When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’…Matthew 25:38-40
All this a result of a heart changed by faith in Jesus Christ through “Grace so that no man can boast.”
It’s hard to get over ourselves. I truly believe this is the dying to self the Bible speaks about and the freedom He came to give us and that which you talk about in your Thanksgiving post. And again I thank you for help me to see it a bit clear than before.
It’s a lot like jumping off a cliff so you can feel the freedom of flight. Faith I guess?? : ) I was so afraid of getting it wrong as if it were all in my hands. (MyBighead) but salvation through Jesus Christ is all about God knowing we would get it wrong at times. In Him, we have the freedom, mess up, learn, and grow! A relationship rooted in love and freedom not fear and obligation.
Each heart beat a gift a chance to live and love and to be loved…not political at all.
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Denine – this is beautiful! Thank you for connecting me with something five steps ahead of where I was. And I know you don’t write as much right now – but this is a post and I would love to use your comment as a post – especially today (but only if you agree). What “got me” in particular was this: .
“Then when I got older and started going to church, I was taught to fear Him and death. To fear not loving enough, giving enough, being enough. I think that instilled in me to spend my life “working” to hear the, “well done good and faith servent” speech,” …
But now I see the truth was, I became a slave to man instead of a bond servant to God. I thought I was severing God by submitting to man. There was no freedom in that, but a lot of guilt, fear, and shame.”
For me that is “religion” and an “entry point” so often considered the right way to God – but isn’t (as your comment just sings out with wondrous music)!
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Thank you..don’t mind at all if you want to use it .. honored. I had deleted my blog because I realized most of what I had written was wrote out of all the hurt and fear. It was me probably trying to find my way out of “religion.” Well
We are up early 5:30 am getting ready to drive to Chicago to have Thanksgiving with my daughter and her husband. I am not a morning person. Please have a blessed day and a happy Thanksgiving!
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I hope you all have a wonderful family celebration! And thank you for the ok! 🙂
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