Break Free!

Earlier this month I posted a blog called ‘Take me back to where it all started’ and this morning when I saw this, I was captivated by the similar theme I was discussing and the animated release from it!

When we grow up thinking one thing and then later on in our life, we realise it does not have to be that way, it becomes a little disorientating.  Some of my preconceived ideals I had were…

·       I grew up in one home all my life with parents and siblings, until getting married

·       Eat everything on your plate, don’t waste

·       Children should be seen and not heard (or fidget)

·       Travelling away was for a specified reason (not frivolous) and not for pure enjoyment

Home

Since getting married, my husband and I have lived in approximately 4 rentals & 3 homes over the last 42 years. Probably because our first home we built together, the home I brought my new-born babies to and watched them take their first steps was maybe why I felt such a strong attachment to that home.

When it came to moving house (which was another difficult process of me asking why?) I discovered that my emotional ties to the house were overwhelming and I struggled to let go and had to process why this was causing me so much difficulty.

I think I realised that although I had grown up in one home all my life, I felt subconsciously that, that is what I would do as well with my children.  But of course, God had other plans.  My husband had seen a block of land and suggested we could build a new home – I asked why?  My husband said, if we put our names down, does not mean we will get it – but we did!  My husband said, if we put our home on the market and it does not sell, we don’t have to go through with it -but it did! All of this pushed me out of my comfort zone.

For they are transplanted into the Lord’s

own garden and are under his personal care

– Ps 92:13 TLB

What I believe God was doing during that season was planting us where he needed us for what took place 12 months after being in our new home – we were required to find a new church home, and we were in the new location of where the Lord wanted us!

Waste

I recall one time as an eight-to ten-year-old not wanting to finish a bowl of rice pudding and because you did not leave the table till it was finished my cousin of the same age was made to feed me till it was gone.  Hence why I now don’t eat rice pudding!

When I was turning 21 my husband (boy friend at the time) took me out to a very exclusive restaurant and I was very spoilt.  When eating my meal, I was struggling to finish it and my husband said, ‘just leave it if you can’t eat it’ but I was conflicted with how wrong that was and felt really guilty due to him paying a lot of money for it.

Not waste but love & devotion

Similar to Jesus being loved on by Mary with perfume

John 12:7-8

Since then, I have compromised and tried not to be too rigid on the food thing with my children or grandchildren and even for my husband and I as we get older and have changed the way we eat – it’s a different season again!

Children

My grandparents were very Victorian in their values and concepts so when visiting them I struggled to understand why certain things were not allowed and other enforcements were made upon us as kids over the years.  Because of this I would say that is why my parents struggled to be more open with all their grandchildren.

My husband on the other hand was brought up with grandparents that were over the top embracing story tellers and always had time for neighbourhood children, so he had a totally different set of ideals.

Then he took the children into his arms and placed

his hands on their heads and he blessed them

 – Mark 10:16 TLB

I have since tried to initiate an arms wide open persona to my grandchildren and would love them to remember their times with us as a wonder and excitement.

Travel

My husband was required to do a lot of overseas travel with his work role very early on in our marriage and I did not baulk at that as I understood it was required and just got on with things at home. But later on, God stepped in and opened up a very confronting opportunity for me to go on a missions trip in 2008 and from that obedience we started running a ministry at our church and was encouraged to attend a conference every second year in the UK.  Because of that my husband encouraged us to add a holiday to that trip and I did not question it as it contained ‘a required’ component so seemed necessary and not frivolous. 

As time has gone on (and no required conferences any longer) my husband still desires the ‘frivolous’ holidays, and I am really struggling with the ‘why’ do I not want to go away on them?

Yes, be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt!

For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go

 – Joshua 1:9 TLB

In 2022 when we were allowed to travel once again, the Lord spoke to me in a whisper and said – put down what is in your hand, do the holiday hubby wants and then set the following year for Him! (I attended a church training program in 2023)

I think I am understanding more now that the Lord sets us up over our lives for a continual release and letting go of things to ‘BREAK FREE’ of and see how He wants us to live our best life for Him!

At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free!

– Gal 5:1 TPT

I came so they can have real & eternal life,

more & better life than they ever dreamed of

 – John 10:10 MSG