Spiritual & Emotional Health

How do you know when you are NOT emotionally healthy?

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Monitoring the fruits of the spirit in our lives and see where we need to rest. I actually think it’s a practice to consider on where we need to dig even deeper to see what is lying underneath our emotions and behaviors. 

Galatians 5:13-18 MSG says…

 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

Paul goes on to speak of what it looks like for FRUIT to exist in our lives. I love this version from The Passion Translation. But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:

joy that overflows,

peace that subdues,

patience that endures,

kindness in action,

a life full of virtue,

faith that prevails,

gentleness of heart,

and strength of spirit.

Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.

Galatians 5: 25-26 in The Message goes on to say this…Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves (original language here is speaking of envy) with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

For me “bad fruit” looks like responding snappy and not gentle. It looks like being critical instead of kind to someone who thinks different than me. It is fear and anxiety instead of a peace that says “I trust you Lord”.  When HOLY SPIRIT FRUIT is not being produced in my life there is a reason. It can be an alarm that says “I need rest” but oftentimes it is pointing to something deeper that I am meditating on that is producing “bad fruit”   When the Fruits of the Spirit are not being produced in our lives that is the alarm to ask “what is at the root of these emotions and behaviors?” So let’s do a check in within ourselves. Let’s ask God to help us be aware of when the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is showing up a little rotten in our life.

Let’s Live Free & Stay Free!

Wildly Free Women’s Gathering

Upcoming Event: Women’s Gathering.

We want the Gathering to be a place where women can expect to come as they are and receive what they need… in order to then turn around and share it with others! These gatherings are a place of freedom + joy rooted in the unconditional love of Jesus.

Come join us on Thursday, May 11th to be seen, known and loved, first by God then by us. A time filled with worship and Truth of God’s Word.

The event will be held at Smith’s Chapel on Redfield Rd, Niles MI.

Thoughts From My Desk

As you start your week ahead I have a question for you.

If God was in charge of your schedule, what would He ERASE?

Pray + Listen to what the Holy Spirit is calling you to E R A S E.

What is it?

Maybe it is scrolling.

Maybe it is a comparison.

Maybe it is self-doubt spirals.

Maybe it is drinking that extra glass.

Maybe it is a show that gives you anxiety.

Maybe it is reactively checking your inbox 50 times a day.

WHY is it so important to ERASE? When we erase what we need to erase we can make the MARGIN for joy, peace, creativity, Holy Spirit downloads, rest, and restoration of relationships.

We all have something we need to erase and repent of, don’t be hard on yourself friend! Jesus looks at you with LOVE and Compassion. I am proud of you for taking a moment and putting in the time to GROW spiritually. The best is yet to come with JESUS!

Have a beautiful week!

You are Wildly Loved.

Wildly Free Leading

Who are you in the private?

Scripture promises, when you are in leadership, there is a heavier mantel on you and a higher requirement. When you are in charge, people are watching you.

What is your leadership reflecting? Portraying?

We have influence. We have impact. We can change the atmosphere. I think that real influence starts with reading your Bible, praying, journaling and connecting with God. It’s where you begin and continue to be the person that influences.

WHO you are by yourself with Jesus, plays into WHO you are when people need you in wherever or whatever you are leading.

You have to live it out!! Daily walk it out with Jesus.

It’s your personal, private devotion to Jesus that will gain you influence in the public. Your personal declaration is Jesus. It’s your personal holiness.

SO……..

Where am I currently at in the private?

What do I need more of?

What do I need less of?

God calls us to Flourish as leaders, as influencers for the Kingdom work He has given each one of us to do. Let’s continue to be leaders that do all of the work in the private.

Wildly Free Ministry exists: To Inspire, Engage, Connect, Equip and Empower Kingdom – Driven women to WILDLY LEAD.

Wildly Free Living

So often we hear the words that Christ came to “set us free” and they fall on our ears like an old cliché. But what if freedom is more than going to church or a post we like on social media? What if freedom were our living and breathing reality? How differently would we experience our everyday lives? All too often freedom is something we believe in, but not something we live in.

For example:

The woman who struggles with shame from her past …  is not walking in freedom.

The woman who lives in bondage to an eating disorder or self-hatred of any form …is not walking in freedom.

The woman who lives in fear … is not walking in freedom.

The woman who harbors unforgiveness towards someone … is not walking in freedom.

The woman who continues to fall into the same sinful pattern, over and over again … is not walking in freedom.

 I can tell you one thing for sure, living this way is not God’s best for us.  It is absolute bondage!

Friends, let’s never forget… Jesus came to set the captives free! Therefore, if any area of our lives is marked by defeat, bondage, or oppression then we aren’t living in the fullness that Christ has for us.

To Become Women of Freedom we must be…

Dependent upon His cross to cover our shame.

Dependent upon His healing touch for our wholeness.

Dependent upon His presence to calm our fears.

Dependent upon His power to overcome our enemy.

Dependent upon His truth to liberate our minds.

Freedom is found in knowing and resting upon the fact that Jesus is with us, for us, empowering us and defending us in every circumstance we face. It is found in dependence.

There is nothing we can do (in our own power) to bust down the doors of our prison cells. We require the power and presence of God to set us free.  I want you to imagine yourself, right now, hand in hand with Jesus as He busts down the door of your prison and leads you out into freedom.  Whether that prison is an addiction, a sinful pattern, an insecurity, or a bad relationship—Jesus really did come to deliver you!

Redeemed Girl, take His hand. You can’t do it on your own. Declare your dependence~ Let Him lead you out, as you rely upon Him every step of the way.

Wildly Free Living is providing ways to help and partner with women in their freedom journey.