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To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32-33
Dinner at Station 23
Have you ever believed a lie? No. Really. Think about it. I have. The times I have believed a lie were not necessarily some one telling me one. It was my own mind “putting two and two together”. I conjured up the lie myself and before I knew it, it was truth in my mind. Often times these types of lies are sandwiched with guilt, anger, judgement or fear.
I took my first trip up to Martin County today to bake cookies at James’ station and give them a copy of the book. Not only did I visit Station 33 but I was able to go to Station 23 as well and share a great bowl of white chicken chili with the boys at dinner.
Spending time with them is such a joy for me. I feel an instant connection with each and every one of them. Just like family. How they interact with each other, genuine love that you really have to squint your eyes to see at times over the rude gestures and smart talk they crown each other with. Knowing they are “toning it down” because there is a lady in the room, frightens me to wonder what they do when I am not around. Then there are the rare moments when I get to hear their hearts. I get a glimpse of who they really are, apart from the joking around and the crude comments they make about each other. This particular night one of them laid something kinda heavy on me. A lie. Exactly as I described earlier. Not a lie someone told him, but a lie he believed by putting “two and two together”. Only thing is, this lie, caused him five years of unnecessary guilt. I was so grateful he told me what he thought so I could tell him the truth. The relief in his face gave me a rush of happiness and sadness simultaneously. I was happy I was able to tell him the truth and set him free, but I was sad that he had carried this lie for so many years.
Do you currently believe a lie? What do you think about God? Has the enemy tricked you to believe that He is a mean God, ready to strike you dead for all the wrong things you have done? Or does he have you believing that you are “good enough” and don’t need God? I believed that I was a “good Catholic”. After all, I didn’t kill anyone, I went to church most Sundays. I even put a few dollars in the envelopes they gave me. But I was believing a lie. The Bible says that no one is righteous, not even one, Romans 3:10. Fact is, I needed to surrender my life to Jesus and be saved. Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life and no one gets to the Father but by him, John 14:6. Don’t let another day go by…seek truth. He will set you free.
13 firefighters received books today