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Freedom Friday – On Becoming Small

October 24, 2014 by Patti 3 Comments

Downtown Charleston and Battery Park 062

If I share with you yet another area of weakness will you judge?  Will you think to yourself that I am a terrible leader of people because I don’t have it all together myself?  Today’s Freedom Friday post is yet another lesson I’m learning during this time of becoming more dependent on God to meet my need for friendship.  This is an honest, from-the-heart post that exposes more of the real me.  I hope that you will read and NOT judge . . .

. . . After all, maybe some of you are a bit like me.

Downtown Charleston and Battery Park 082

Welcome to FREEDOM FRIDAY – A new devotional, emotional, spiritual and sometimes hysterical series that I will be sharing on occasional Fridays, in addition to my regular Old Things New posts.

As I mentioned in my first Freedom Friday post I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of Knowing and Being Known.  In that post I shared that I believe God has given me this time of not knowing anyone in our new community so that I will draw closer to Him and spend more time in His Presence . . . knowing and being known by Him.

Downtown Charleston and Battery Park 060

Having been Freedom Session Directors for the past four years I can tell you that doing the ministry that God has called one to can be an exciting thing!  Who knew that God would ever be able to use my story to help others?  Life experience brought me low but God intervened and sent people who believed in me, supported me, encouraged me and brought great healing into my life by loving on me without reservation.  In that process I became better, I grew, I changed, and I received such freedom that I wanted to help others.

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In the beginning I could barely stand in front of people with a microphone without shaking in my pretty boots (a feeling that has never fully left me), but in stepping out of my comfort zone, sharing my own story, and offering hope in Christ to others, I’ve been blessed to see many people set free of the shackles that have bound them for years, even as practicing Christians.

When all of the work you pour into a ministry like Freedom Session results in victory in people’s lives it is not only exciting but can be a heady thing!

head·y
ˈhedē/
adjective
 
  1. (of liquor) potent; intoxicating.
    “several bottles of heady local wine”
    synonyms: potent, intoxicating, strong; More

     
       
    • having a strong or exhilarating effect.
      “the heady days of the birth of the women’s movement”
      synonyms: exhilarating, exciting, thrilling, stimulating, invigorating, electrifying,rousing;

      informalmind-blowing
      “the heady days of my youth”

Each year, as we started up a new year in Freedom Session I would pray this prayer,

prayer of jabez

 And God faithfully answered.

I would also often say, “I want to do BIG things for you God!”

Thinking back I’ve been asking myself what the motives were behind those prayers?

I believe they were mostly good but I wonder, now that I am in a place where I’m not known or recognized at all when I walk into a church . . . when I don’t have people deliberately making their way over to me to give me a hug or an encouraging word . . . when I don’t have people thanking me for teaching a particularly important lesson . . . am I okay with not being known?

Downtown Charleston and Battery Park 049

I’m not particularly fond of a lot of public praise or having attention drawn to myself.  In fact it can be quite embarrassing.  This stems from a period of negative attention received in the past.

But being known in a positive way was kinda’ nice.

In this new place of BIG churches I am not REALLY known by anyone.  I’m also not doing BIG things for God!  What I am able to do is spend a lot of time GOING DEEPER with God and I’m finding that this season of going deeper is good, REALLY good!

One of my favorite authors, Ann Voskamp says, “All wonder and worship can only grow out of smallness”.

Downtown Charleston and Battery Park 001

In this place of smallness, of being unknown, I lean in to God and He does not disappoint as He pours out His lavish love and affection on me.  In this place of being small I can see how big GOD is to meet all my needs.  As I become small before Him He is magnified and I am comforted.

And I realize that I don’t need to do BIG things or GREAT things for God.  He doesn’t need me to make His name great.  He doesn’t need me to do anything for Him at all. because He is the God of all GREATNESS!

Yet . . .  and this is a big YET. . . as Christ followers we are all called to be a part of the greater story . . . His Story.  Each of our lives are meant to be shared with others to encourage and draw them to Christ. Scripture says that we are chosen and appointed to bear fruit! – John 15:16.

As we play our part in God’s story it is important to remember that our stories shouldn’t make US great but should always point to Christ and His greatness!

Downtown Charleston and Battery Park 048

What about you?  Maybe you feel lower than low and you can’t even relate to what I’ve said. Maybe you’ve never had the experience of feeling important to anyone.  In that case, if you are a Christ follower, you need to know who Christ says you are in Him:

  You are CHOSEN – Eph. 1:3-8;  You are God’s workmanship – Eph. 2:10;  You are a new creation – II Cor. 5:17;  You are redeemed and forgiven – Col. 1:13-14;  You are free of condemnation – Rom. 8:1-2;  You are complete in Christ – Col. 2:9-10;  You are God’s beloved child – John 1:12.

You are SIGNIFICANT!

 Downtown Charleston 023

On the other hand, maybe you’ve become impressed with your own importance.  Maybe it’s happened gradually without your even becoming aware of it.  Perhaps you’ve even become consumed by it.  Here is a gentle reminder that Mr. OTN is fond of using,  “There is only one God and you are not Him!”

Prayer:

Papa God – Help me to maintain proper balance in my service to you.  Help me not to become “heady” over the victories.  Help me also not to sink back into the old feelings of being “less than” all of the beautiful Christians around me.  Keep my eyes focused on You and Your GREATNESS!  Keep me in this place of being dependent upon you and daily amazed by YOU!  Continue to guide me as I play my part in the greatest story ever told.  YOUR story!

Finally Lord, my prayer is this . . . that if there is anything at all great about me that it be You IN me!

Now that is a heady thought!

Blessings,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
 UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper,LifeOnLakeshoreDrive,
ThreeMangoSeeds,  NiftyThriftyThings,
SundaySoiree,
Monday:
 IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor,  ModVintageLife,  TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns,WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, HuckleberryLove, CarrieThisHome, Dwellings,AnExtraordinaryDay,
InspireMeMonday,
BetweenNapsOnThePorch
Tuesday:
HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,NotJustAHousewife, 
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,
TwirlAndTakeABow, TheWinthropChronicles, WeCallItJunkin’
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, IvyAndElephants,  DIYByDesign, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove,
SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, Fishtail Cottage,  TheCityFarmhouse
Thursday:
NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson,BeyondThePicketFence, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife, AKAWeekendRetreat
Friday:
MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays,CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome,RootedInThyme,  TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,
 DIYVintageChic,
ShabbyliciousFriday
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal,
OneMoreTimeEvents,  SayG’DaySaturday
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Filed Under: Freedom, Freedom Friday, Freedom Session, Friendship, Meditation Tagged With: Freedom, Freedom Friday, Freedom Session, Meditation

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Welcome! I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti and I’d like to invite you to come in and take a seat in this creative space of mine.

I love the process of hunting for orphaned and cast off furniture (particularly my Chosen Chairs) and then taking the time to transform each piece into something new and beautiful. This process allows me to reflect upon my own story of transformation and blesses me over and over with each piece I redesign.

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It may be dreary outside, but it’s cheery inside It may be dreary outside, but it’s cheery inside when I get to be doing that thing I love. Chairs!
💜Valentines Day is the day of love!💜 That’ 💜Valentines Day is the day of love!💜 That’s why I chose this day to share the 🎉Grand Opening 🎉of my custom chair design shop on Etsy. Whether you’re in the market for a new chair or not, I would love for y’all to go to my shop and check it out. You might even learn some things about me that you didn’t know before by clicking on the About page. 😉

I’m very excited to do my creative thing and be able  share it with others. This is the first step in a new journey and I greatly appreciate any likes or shares so that I can get my Chosen Chairs shop name out into the marketplace🥰

Chosen Chairs, where every chair has a story.

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Chairs! For many are called, but few are chosen. # Chairs! For many are called, but few are chosen. #biblewisdom #chosenchairs #reupholsteredfurniture #interiordesign #chairs #customchairs #chairdesigner #creativefurniture #uniquechairsdesign #artfulchairs #smallbusinessowner #etsysellersofinstagram #etsyshop
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The morning routine changes everything. #biblestud The morning routine changes everything. #biblestudy #danielstudy #e2mcoffee #charlestoncoffeeexchange #siezetheday❤️
Etsy Shop opening soon for Custom Designed Chairs Etsy Shop opening soon for Custom Designed Chairs by Patti.
We’ll done Buffalo! ❤️💙 We’ll done Buffalo! ❤️💙
Christmas is put away but a little light remains i Christmas is put away but a little light remains in my library dining room. #twinklelights #diningroom #libraryroom #frenchcountry #coastalstyle #diningroomlibrary #lakelifestyle #piercingthedarkness
Delicious New Year’s Day frittata from Leslie Wa Delicious New Year’s Day frittata from Leslie Watkins at Feet under my Table blog. ❤️
We’re eagerly watching London’s New Year’s D We’re eagerly watching London’s New Year’s Day parade on PBS to see two of Bill’s granddaughters participate with their Fleming Island High School marching band in playing a tribute to the queen.
I’m thrilled with this beautiful necklace I rece I’m thrilled with this beautiful necklace I received from @beaglund for Christmas and want to give a shout out to her friend Ashley @livealohadesigns. All of her designs are gorgeous. #supportsmallbusinesses #madewithaloha #ohana
Still going strong after four rounds in the only p Still going strong after four rounds in the only program that has ever worked for me. Sure, I went off plan a few times over the holidays but E2M shows you how to get right back on track toward meeting your goals. It’s not about getting skinny but about being strong, and I feel better than I have in years. Sign ups are open for a limited time for the next 8-week round so check out the link for more info. #e2mpersonaltraining #e2mfitness #e2m #67strong

https://e2mfitness.com/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
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When do you take your Christmas tree down? 1. The When do you take your Christmas tree down? 
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5. Until Spring 
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For those wondering if this program really works, For those wondering if this program really works, I’m still going strong with @e2mfitness after four rounds, and now that they’ve released a new cookbook (available on Amazon) I am more excited than ever about my fitness journey. This is the first in a series of cookbooks, and this one features delicious beef and poultry recipes. It also includes dozens of recipes for dressings and spice blends to use in cooking, along with a weekly meal planner, water tracker, weekly exercise log, etc. 
What is E2M? It is a virtual, eight week, rapid body transformation program for adults, which consists of workouts, meal, plans, cooking classes, mental fitness, and personal coaching. Workouts are designed for all fitness levels and can be done at home or in a gym. Our fit family is made up of people from across the world, from various backgrounds and ages, and we all have one common goal: to encourage each other to reach our personal best lifestyle fitness goals. After the first eight weeks, the program is available for free to maintain progress. This isn’t about getting skinny. It’s about building a healthier lifestyle, living longer, and getting the most out of the one body you’ve been blessed with. The next round opens on Thursday, and I truly hope you’ll check it out!
#e2mpersonaltraining #e2mfitness #e2m #eager2cook #67strong #healthyrecipesforhealthyliving
Shumaker Christmas 2022. #christmas2022 #shumakers Shumaker Christmas 2022. #christmas2022 #shumakerstrong #familychristmas #prancerthereindeer #polarplunge
Shumaker Polar Plunge 2022. Participating family m Shumaker Polar Plunge 2022. Participating family members @joelshumaker @olivia.l.05 @sydneydthompson @philshu04 @pj_shumaker @billiamdollarman #shumakerstrong #polarplunge2022 #familychristmas #sothisischristmas
Santa Claus is comin’ to town! #christmas2022 #s Santa Claus is comin’ to town! #christmas2022 #santaclaus ##christmasdecor #goldendoodle
“In 1965, Charles Schulz, a devout Christian and “In 1965, Charles Schulz, a devout Christian and creator of the Peanuts comic strip, was asked to create a Christmas special for CBS featuring the Peanuts Characters. He agreed with one requirement, that they allow him to include the story of the birth of Jesus. Although the stations executives were hesitant and tried to convince him otherwise, Schulz was insistent. As a result, for the past 50 plus years, millions of people have watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and heard the story of Jesus and “what Christmas is all about.”

It wasn’t until a few years back that I realized a “hidden message” in the film. Linus, a child who seems to have some insecurities as he carries a security blanket with him at all times. In fact, Linus NEVER drops his blanket, except once....

While sharing the message of “what Christmas is all about,” Linus drops his blanket at the exact moment he says the words, “fear not!”

In this seemingly innocent moment, Linus delivers a powerful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. We are to “fear not”, for Jesus is born. We needn’t rely on material things for security, we have God with us, “Immanuel”, (Matthew 1:23) Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior - the true meaning of Christmas.

Awhile back, someone informed me, indignantly so, that Linus picks up his blanket at the end of the speech so my interpretation must be wrong. Well, he was right, Linus does pick up his blanket at the end of his speech. However, he “drops” it again later... 

Amid big, bright, colorful, shiny artificial trees, Charlie Brown chose the least of these, a little, wooden tree with just a few branches. Shortly thereafter, Linus uses his blanket to wrap about the base of the tree and says, “Maybe it just needs a little love”. In that moment, the tree “awakens”, stands tall and firm. A reminder that no matter who we are, how many mistakes we’ve made, a “little love” can make all the difference.

Let’s strive to “fear not” (Luke 2:10) and “love one another” (John 13:34), not just at Christmastime, but the whole year through.”

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