Freedom's Anthem

Perhaps the following  picture will cause you to wonder at the title of my blog. But on closer observance you will quickly realize how completely apropo. Jesus said " You will know the truth and the truth will make you free" that word Know is a verb. and in the greek translates:

1.  to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel to become known
2. to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of
3. to understand
4. to know
5. Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman
6. to become acquainted with, to know

Looking at each one line by line:
1. Truth is learned. It is knowledge. it is felt.
2. Truth is understood. it is an action of knowing. a perception.
3. Truth is an understanding.
4. Truth can be known. is attainable.
5. Truth can be intimately known. Truth is a person.
6. Truth can be come aquainted with.
All these attributes speak of relationship. Relationship with a person. Looking at each portion of definition one can conclude that in order to know Truth you must walk with Truth hand in hand. And not only walk with, but come to know on a very intimate level. One of the most vivid ways intimacy  can be expressed, is through intercourse between a man and a woman. Jesus used this very word "know" to describe the type of relationship or parallel between truth and freedom. He said " you will know the truth and the truth will make, (set at liberty from the dominion of sin) free.
ha! What a kiss of fresh air for someone like myself who at every turn seems to fall. It is out of my direct relationship with my Father, that I become intimate with his truth and am made free.
        Perhaps right now all you can see in the mirror is what you have experienced : failure to love. failure to forgive. failure to give in to temptation. failure to resist lust. failure. But can I tell you a big secret:::: YOU ARE FREE!!!! YOU have been given the keys to freedom. Its yours. Its called....are you ready?.....(leans in to whisper in your ear) relationship with the Living truth. The life of Christ in you. He is the hope of glory. Want to experience freedom? walk with him daily and see that blind eyes will open, your eyes will open, death flees, and nothing but light, sweet light, floods every corner of your room. Freedom is a constanst state of being. A continual lifestyle flowing from God's revealing grace, into every corner of your life.
 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Can you not find your way? He is the way. Are you bound up in lies? Drink in the truth. He is the truth. Are you staring at death? He is the life. Need to find God. He already did the work. Through his son Jesus he found you.
     I was bound up in lust. It has reared its ugly head at me on more than one occasion. Even as a  follower of Christ and child of God, "gasp". Yes, it had been a struggle. But God is releasing a power not of my own.His goodness caused such a heart of repentance within me and his favor has released me to stop sinning in a supernatural way. How? My continual trust in his pursuit of my heart. God is running after you. At everyturn even in my past diseased state he came with healing in his wings and saught me. God's love for you is immeasurable. His infinite compassion chases and runs after you in the midst of your helpless state. Maybe you have yet to fully comprehend this love. Ask him, for greater understanding of the cross. I have. I desired to know the revelation of his love.   Freedom in the stead of slavery is now my anthem.   I  proclaim from the rooftops " whom the son sets free is free indeed. Come to him all who are bound." Be free. Know what I have known and know to be truth. Set your face towards the heart of Perfection and allow his word to comfort you. His word states "You are his". And it is all found in living relationship with God. If you are found there, guess what, you are Free.
      These past few months, past few years, have been desert, valley of shadow of death, dry bones, ect. but God has been with me the entire time. Over the course of time,  many of my relationships have grown so much greater, some have dwindled, and some new have been birthed. Greater still my hunger for God continues. Walking next to him, I can feel his heartbeat. He longs for intimacy with his creation, that we might know Truth and Truth beckons us to come.
     Recently, something happened in my family that shook my faith to the core. No words can express the moutains of obstacle that came with this trial. And yet God was faithful friend and father through it all. I invite my youngest brother Seth to share in his own words what this season has meant. He has been an inspiration to many of his friends and family. And lastly to myself.
       To those who have wanted to know where my heart has been the past few months of my existence well take a look: thanks for checking in. and stay tuned for more to come. God is doing something incredibly deep within my being and I long to share with anyone willing to listen and join in this amazing magnificent obsession
.cheers,
your girl
isabel
ps: i want to personally thank everyone who stood by our side both in prayers and finances during this trial by fire,  you are a blessing and because of you God was able to move in a powerful way. thank you for linking arms with us we love you.
Post- suicide
Poem:  By seth garcia

Thoughts of pain
hold back the rain
of a dry and broken soul
Hidden Truth to unfold
"Forget about the past" one would say.
How can I do that? I'll forget about the rain.

Broken mirror in my hand
Reflect a monster of a man
Misplaced hope tossed in a can
No suicide note,
only a funeral dirge satan wrote
Shattered glass pierces my throat
As demons gloat

Watchmen on the wall
Hear the call
Fall to their knees
To Him who holds the keys
And Contend for a soul that hangs on a thread

Who is able to bring this child from the dead?

Arteries and veins severe
Hopes and dreams I would endeavor
Where is the Love that would last forever?

When friends become idols
and the mirror your best friend
know your life is coming to an end
when you die to this earth
and your life hits the dirt
Jesus breaths
Rebirth

Awake
family by my side
Their hell was watching me die
While my soul took a ride
Watching a son die now that's....
Suicide

Opposition will will arise
When storming hells gates

Where's the prize? A Child crying to stay alive.

Hope my son
For I have heard the saints crys
Let me dry those tears from your eyes
And my Love well it always abides
I conquered death
and there is still a fight in you left
Just take the steps I'll do the rest
My hell was when my Father left
"My God My God why have you forsaken Me?"
I cried as I bled on that tree
To Hell and back that was my destiny
I Yielded up my spirit so you could be free.
Now I'm in heaven watching over thee.

My life was bought with a price
no longer will I treat it as dice
I'm no longer my own
I'm His son who's calling me Home
So ill pitch a tent every where I go
Sun, Rain, and even snow
So in life's race I'll run slow
As to never neglect those that I know

I will betroth you to me forever.....

     I recently saw the Vow. Apart from some intimate scenes that could have left more to the imagination , overall the plot was appealing.
      Based on a true story of  husband and wife who end up in a car accident,  the wife suffers complete loss of any memories made in the past ten years, including her betrothel to her husband. Throughout the next few weeks and months this man's love does not waver as he embarks on a heroic plight to win her heart once again.
       Following this man's tremendous diligence and heart, I could not but think on how often I forget my commitment to my First Love. How often people forget their creator. Not limited to head concussions, cosigning to oblivion of the Godhead is found in our social media, work, family ,and anything else pining for attention. How quickly our Lord fades into the background, as our lives give way for lesser forms of diversions.
       Perhaps it stands to be said of you that your diligent seeking has caused an overflow of abundant life to result. But what if  I asked, When was the last time you were in awe of God's majesty or humbled to tears at the sight of God become flesh to serve humankind. What about  when your heart skipped a beat at the thought of spending time with him. How long has it been since your mind was brought to a place of serenity just at the thought of reading his Word. Daily communion with the Father was what you lived for. And prayer was default mode nothing else.
    Sitting in class one morning, a professor stated,  "How many Christians fellowship with Jesus, yet do not possess an intimate relationship with Him." How often they go about their lives just getting their goals checked off the list, to  meet with him once a week. It has become an informal acquaintance. Lethargy takes full reign, even in the face of such desperation of One who came and endured hours of excruciating pain, suffering rejection that was unparalleld , to be with his creation.
       I wonder if at times now he still feels that tinge of hurt every time I choose to sit amidst distracting thoughts and vices instead of his soothing presence .

     Driving home one evening after a in depth Bible study on Hosea's life I stared into the abyss of stars that surrounded. Almost immediately the Spirit of God filled my car and with the words "Gomer represents every human heart, my soul resonated with such understanding. Much like Gomer our hearts have tendencies towards everything other than God. Created to worship we tend towards building up mini idols within our lives,  constantly seeking after fulfillment. It is in us. Apart from the Spirit of God causing us to love him back with the agape love he so longs for, it is impossible.

     In the beginning, God created the earth. Two people existed on it. He walked with them daily. And their relationship was an affinity unmatched. Yet it wasn't enough. Loving God with phileo, or friendship love is never enough. It is not love  in the way he desires. Not in the way he deserves. He longs for closeness with us. Like that only found between a husband and wife. A commitment of love. An agape love. Supernatural sacrificial love. A love which can only be given to us by him.

     Since the beginning of time, man has chosen pursuit of himself over the pursuit of God. Adam and Eve chose their own desires above him. How often we do this almost unknowingly everyday.

  Get outside of yourself for a moment, imagine, creating something with the sole purpose of relationship with you, yet the very relationship for which you sacrifice even your own life, lives for generations to betray and deny your love.

    Peter, such  zeal and passion for God which was unparalleled yet it would not be enough. On the night the Lord  needed him ,most, Peter denies everything to a mere peasant girl.

    Jesus,  was betrayed, not by a stranger but by one of the twelve. One of his very own.

    What rejection met our Lord and  yet such endurance displayed, for the joy set before him he chose to die. This is why we can love him. He died to give us Life through his Spirit. And now we can Love. With divine Love.

     We love him because he first loved us.

        The book of Hosea depicts a story of a prophet told by God to wed a prostitue. Beloved that is exactly what God has done. Come to us. Betrothed himself to us. Knowing we would often run after many other "loves", that even some would never come back to him. Instead of spending time in the word, we go on facebook. I am not by any mean downgrading this social app, however to often it has become an escape for many. and oftentimes my own place of solace when God was standing there waiting with his heart open, longing to share himself. Instead of going and sitting and waiting upon him, we resort to else, when he deserves our very best. Our utmost for his highest.
       But the good news is, he wont stop loving you, he wont stop wooing you or drawing you because that is who he is. A lover. He draws us with everlasting chords of love. Hosea 2:14 "therefore behold I will allure her.", speaking of Israel, so precious to God's heart. " I will speak comfort to her in the wilderness."  Don't despise those places of wilderness , the desert, places of darkness. God allows those times that you would draw near to him. Allow him to strip you bare and in exchange for ashes he will impart beauty.

      I will give her vineyards from there and a valley of achor as a door of hope. He always provides such a sweetness in these seasons. She shall sing there as in the days of her youth. as in the days of her youth as in the days when she came from the Land of Egypt and its in that day says the Lord that you will call me my husband and no longer call me my master.

     

    God has committed himself to us. In marriage, there are vows exchanged between lovers for better or for worse. That is exactly what God has done. He has bound himself up in us and will never let us go. What shall separate us. Nothing can separate you from him.

   I have spent the good part of my life running from this sweet call of surrender but now I have raised the white flag to his persistent intxicating love. My king is mine and I am his.  I am a slow to  learn quite often, but each moment of every waking hour, my lifelong quest is to put him first. To be completely his begins with a choice to be just that. Will you be his today.

    In that day I will make a covenant with them.....I will betroth you to me forever.     I, (name), take you (name), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part.
                                  However In this vow with Him not even death will part! It is eternal.