Andrea O. Freeman

…. Seek His will in all you do, And He will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:6 NLT) Do you remember the first time your heart was broken? Trust was shaken? I think I was a freshman in high school when I met the first guy who would capture my heart-oh, those big blue dreamy eyes! We had just moved to Springfield in the winter of 1984, so we had lived here nearly 2 years I guess at that point. What would only be a matter of months I think, felt like an eternity to me. Teenage crushes are brutal, and the absolute worst in my opinion. When you are that young, and the hormones are raging, and you are in such an awkward stage trying to find your self-confidence and self-worth, the impact of any disappointment at this stage in life can have a catastrophic impact. I know you have been there, so journey with me for a moment back to that feeling. It’s almost a euphoric feeling, isn’t it? Young “love”. I used quotations for that because at that stage in life, we really do...

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. (Jeremiah 31:25 NIV) In my 46 years of life on this planet, I have experienced my share of failures and triumphs. I have received more criticism than I would prefer, both personal and professional, but I have chosen to use it to propel me forward. When circumstances seemed to be at their worst, I chose to trust God, tell Him, “Okay, Lord, I know You have got this, I hear You and I am moving forward!” and I am thankful, incredibly thankful for the experience the journey has brought me. I have more confidence, more tenacity, less concern for what others think and a greater appreciation for finding my own version of balance. I am not perfect by any means-I know I need to take more time out to rest and re-charge, eat a little less (stress eating-oy!), exercise more and above all take more time to lean in and be still in the presence of my Father God. There.is.not.enough.time! This week alone, my tired is tired. Last night I had t...

‘I have told you this so that you may have peace in Me…..’ John 16:33 God, I’m not at peace right now. I spend more time day to day trying to lighten the load on my brain, giving it over to You, because the stress, the worry, the weight of it all doesn’t ever let up. The ‘What if …?’ questions circle through my mind constantly. For my husband, for my children, for our aging parents and their health challenges, for family and friends facing any number of challenges in their lives, for our country as we watch so much unfold amongst our leaders that is unhealthy, unreasonable, unimaginable, just completely unacceptable. And yet, You are not surprised by any of this. This world is not our home. This world is not perfect and not what you intended when you created Eden. What a mess we have made of things, Lord. We spend far too much time trying to make this world what we think it ought to be, rather than starting by focusing on You and Your intent, Your purpose, Your plan. How...

“Keep on asking, and you will receive… Keep on seeking, and you will find…. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened…” (Matthew 7:7 NLT) Ask me what keeps my heart tuned to my Father God, and I will tell you: Prayer. How do I deal with the day to day stress and mess, all that I realize I must accomplish the moment my feet touch the floor: Prayer. When I am completely overwhelmed with worries for my husband, my children, my family, my friends, I am turning to the only action I know will bring swift release: Prayer. My quiet time today was a perfectly timed reminder of what the purpose of prayer is: Our focus, our intent as we enter into prayer is key . Are you praying to get an answer, a relief, the thing that you think will fix your current circumstance or life challenge? -OR- Are you praying to grow closer to the God who created you and loves you? If we are focused as our God intends, our prayer habit is absolutely about one thing and one thing alone: ...

We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19 NIV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV There is ONE powerful solution to the issues we are facing in our country, in our world today. There is only ONE way to end the evil that continues to occur. The GOSPEL which Christ instructed His disciples to share the day He ascended into heaven. The GOSPEL which speaks of a God who created us, called us, and inspires us daily to be more than what we have experienced in this human life. Why are we carrying on with this urgent need to place blame on someone, or something, desperate for an und...

He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (Mark 8:23-25 NIV) When we choose Christ, accept Him as our Savior, we are newly born. We are washed clean, made new, forgiven and free. We have been touched with new vision. What a beautiful and amazing thing our Father God has done for us! So, we instantly know what God has for us to do, right? We automatically get what our purpose is on this earth. Like we have been downloaded directly from the Father in heaven. Like a robot. Like some sort of software update on our cellular devices. No, I’m sorry to have to tell you this but that is not how it works. We are entirely human and have been adopted into the ...

It is a truly extraordinary thing we do each day to choose to sacrifice all that we are to be like Christ. Presentable. Honorable. Acceptable. It is not a natural habit. It is a supernatural one, inspired by the Holy Spirit living in us because of our decision to follow after Christ. This is not intended to bring guilt upon anyone. If we are seeking Him daily by reading, knowing, committing to memory His Word, praying, meditating upon His faithfulness and His unwavering promises, then we are able to shift into the holy mindset He desires for us. I am thankful every single day to know God loves me and has mercy new for me, but if I am honest I have a lot weighing me down as I walk through this life journey. It is difficult to come to terms with my inadequacies, my failures-but He knows my heart and loves me anyway. Upon my confession, the release of all that stuff that weighs me down, I am humbled and grateful to know my God is there and loves me anyway. ‘And so, dear brot...