"It is for Freedom for that Christ has set us free?"

Posts are the original thoughts and writings of Rev. Kelly Bates Oglesby


Stand firm, then, and DO NOT let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Does my mouth provoke wrath or spew forth profanity? Am I angry more than I rejoice? Am I prone to contention, anger or even violence?

If I closely examine my conversations and interactions with my family, friends and strangers, are they contentious and angry, or are they loving, kind and pure?

A mark of maturity is how I relate to my immediate family. This group of people knew you as a child, rebellious teen, arrogant young adult. They observed your living habits and relationships with others; how you are able to interact with them reflects how spiritually mature you truly are today.
+ Note: the people in this group may not be saved or as spiritually committed as you; however, the emphasis is on how you treat them and respond to them when they are inappropriate with you.
+ Have you ever repented and asked forgiveness for petty arguments, jealousy, and other frustrations from your parents and siblings?
+ When is the last time you initiated prayer with your parents or siblings?

Having forgiven people who offended me, do I expect to have a loving and mature attitude toward them or do I filter the present and future through the past?

Am I griping, murmuring and complaining? Are my prayers more like whining sessions than prayers of praise and thanksgiving for what I do have?

Am I rebelling against God? Against His word? Pride is the root of rebellion. It is enmity toward God and our fellowmen. And so we might ask, Am I proud and arrogant?

Am I so proud that I make up my own interpretations for God's commandments? Am I
rationalizing in order to soothe my conscience?

Are my thoughts and actions chaste? Do I slip into lustful thoughts or actions? Do I covet what other people have - whether that is their spouse, their house, their money, their talents, or what I perceive as their "cushy lives?"

Am I committed to my pastor and congregation? If one is observing me, in what ways can they observe my commitment to my pastor and congregation?

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5:3


Love is to be celebrated, demonstrated, enjoyed, and shared. Be generous and open with your love. Allow others the opportunity to love you, there is never a need to demand or earn love. There is not a shortage of love and we should not declare an embargo on love either.

By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35

This year will only be different if you are?

Too often we look forward to the new year while retaining the same old attitudes, desires, habits, friends, and not understanding we must change to experience a change.  We must do a new thing to experience something new. 

Be aware that trying something new will not be easy, comfortable, and it will require considerable commitment and sacrifice.  The question is how much do we really want to experience life in a new dimension? How much stronger do we want to be in spirit, mind, and body? Do we truly want to draw closer to God and the purpose for which He created us? Are we ready to put aside the weights of sin that so easily beset us - those things that distract us and slow us down.  I know what mine are and you know what yours are --- will we lay them down and run with endurance this year. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in peace and that is to be whole, lacking nothing.  When we live in the power of the Holy Spirit we have the power to endure the hardship of making the changes necessary to do a new thing.

With the power of the Holy Spirit this year we will experience life differently in 2011.  We will not react the same way, we will not interact with anyone the same way, and we will not operate on the same priorities - we will live our lives in obedience to the will and word of God.  Our decisions will be made prayerfully and with fasting.  In relationships we will move beyond friendship to fellowship where we hold one another accountable according to the word of God, we pray for one another, encourage one another, love one another, and provoke one another to good works.  We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in 2011 and will understand and respect the need to open ourselves to prayer and studying of the scriptures in our homes, workplaces, and at every given opportunity.

Yes 2011 is going to bring about a new way of being in our lives...starting NOW!