Live Free

To live creatively – fully embracing and being
all that You made me for – is to live free.

With You, Jesus, life is truly to its fullest.
You made me to run, to fly, to be free.

In You, and only You, I find who I am.
You are the Source of creativity, of life, of freedom.

The liar tells us that You restrict us –
that You keep us from all that is creative and free and complete.

But as we listen to him and get drawn from You –
our lives begin to wither, close in, deconstruct.

Apart from You we find ourselves carrying around
testaments to our neediness.
We find ourselves locked in prisons of our own making,
bent under shame, guilt and pain.

Apart from You our souls cry out, longing to run free,
longing to be who You made us to be.
Longing to live freely, creatively.

In You there is Life and Health and Peace.

We come – like the bleeding woman in the midst of the crowd –
reaching out our hand toward the hem of your robe.
And You welcome us like the Prodigal's father –
running to us, arms flung wide,
burying us in Your embrace.

As I give my entire attention to You –
finding my life embedded in You
then I truly live.

Bit by bit, You strip away
all that I had been clinging to –
all that I had been trying to find my life in.

And little by little You reveal who I am –
who You made me to be.

As I live freely, creatively in You my desire to judge others fades –
as I realize that they, too, need You.
They, too, will find their true selves in You.

In You – they, too, will
Live Free.

Live Creatively • Galatians 6

 (Painting by Gracie)

Live creatively, friends. 

Galatians 6:1

 •

Make a careful exploration of who you are a

nd the work you have been given, 

and then sink yourself into that. 

Don't be impressed with yourself. 

Don't compare yourself with others. 

Each of you must take responsibility for doing 

the creative best you can with your own life. 

Galatians 6:4-5
 •

For my part, I am going to boast about nothing 

but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. 

Because of that Cross, 

I have been crucified in relation to the world, 

set free from the stifling atmosphere 

of pleasing others and fitting into 

the little patterns that they dictate. 

Can't you see the central issue in all this? 

It is not what you and I do—s

ubmit to circumcision, reject circumcision. 

It is what God is doing, 

and he is creating something totally new, a free life! 

All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—

his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them! 

Galatians 6:14-16
•

Breathing in deep all that You are.

You are the Creator.
I have been made in Your image.
Your Spirit dwells within me.

You want me to be creative.
To take what You have given me,
who You have made me to be
and live in creative freedom as You
lead me throughout my life.

Oh how sad it must make You
when we cower in our little boxes,
being restricted by rules You did not
give us, shunning people
for mistakes they have made,
instead of lifting them up in love.

You are so gentle and patient with me.
Help me to be that way with those
You have placed in my life.
Graciously building into their lives,
helping them carry their burdens, and
gently correcting them when they go astray.

You have made me unique, special,
with my own journey to take as I follow You.
Help me not compare myself to others,
but to stay focused on You and what You
have for me to do.

You are at work in me!
You are creating a new life in me,
around me, through me.

Thank you, Jesus!

Free Indeed • Galatians 5

My counsel is this: 

Live freely, animated and 

motivated by God's Spirit. 

 

Galatians 5:16

•

I have been set free to live free,
why do I want to return to bondage?

Following the law
wraps those chains
tightly around my wrists and ankles.

I set up my religious rules
and as I follow them
I cut myself off from Christ
and then I walk around wondering why
I am not connecting with Him.

Focusing on Christ –
following Him where ever He leads –
that brings freedom –
that brings connection to Him.

Trusting Him completely –
Who He is, what He has done is enough!

Freedom grows as I use it to serve
those in my life in love.

Freedom is destroyed when I use it
to serve myself.

When I live my life freely,
animated by the Holy Spirit,
I will not follow my selfishness.

Free life, lived for others, brings more life,
it brings fruit.

Following the law, following myself,
removes the hope that fruit will come.

Oh Lord, help me to trust You so completely that I once and for all throw aside the chains of the law, the chains of myself. Lift my eyes, my heart, my mind to You so that my eyes are turned away from my little rules, my wants, my way. Take my hands in yours and lead me where You want me to go. That is when I can run and not be weary, that is when I can be all that You made me to be. Help me to step away from the "safety" of my little box to run wildly through the fields with You.

Personal and Free • Galatians 2

What actually took place is this: 

I tried keeping rules and working my head off 

to please God, and it didn't work. 

So I quit being a "law man" so that 

I could be God's man. 

Christ's life showed me how, 

and enabled me to do it. 

I identified myself completely with him. 

Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. 

My ego is no longer central. 

It is no longer important that I appear righteous 

before you or have your good opinion, 

and I am no longer driven to impress God. 

Christ lives in me. 

The life you see me living is not "mine," 

but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, 

who loved me and gave himself for me. 

I am not going to go back on that.

Galatians 2:19-21

•

In Christ alone
my hope is found.

Rules are a false foundation
that seem so good and strong.

But who is able to completely
live by and abide by them
all the time?

Jesus, You truly have done it all.

You came and so simply and plainly
demonstrated how to live.

You did only what You
saw the Father doing.

You did only what He
told You to do.

The words You spoke
were His words.

You lived in constant
contact and fellowship
with the Father.

You stood trial in my place,
and accepted the sentence of death
in my place.

You gave Your life
for mine
as payment for my sin.

And then, You broke the power
of sin and death
through Your resurrection!

Through Your life,
I can now truly live.

Christ in me.

Personal and free
I live in faith in You.

Rules bring death,
faith in You brings
a living relationship with God.

Remove from my life
any way that I may be
trying to rely on the law
to improve myself, to impress You.

In Christ alone,
my hope is found.