Bill Dallas had to experience his own resurrection in order to live his purpose-filled life God had planned for him. 
But wait. Is this rare? Do only a few have to experience this "resurrection thing?"
No! We ALL have to experience a death and resurrection of our own life through the power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Maybe you have "said THAT prayer." Maybe you attended an Easter service a few weekends ago as Christian churches all across America celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ! This is our favorite holiday. Our favorite celebration. This is more special than Christmas! This celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is every single thing the Christian walk is all about. One of the main things that sets Christianity apart from all other religions - we don't serve a dead God! No other religion claims to have a resurrected God. Our Lord is Risen! He conquered sin and death for us!
For we know know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. Romans 6:9
When you say THAT prayer - that sinners prayer, that prayer of salvation, you are saved!
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13
So, what is this resurrection experience I am talking about? Jesus died, Jesus rose. I don't have to do anything other than say that prayer, the Bible tells me so. Yes, while this is true, I would ask you to consider a few more things. Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that He came to give us an abundant life. According to dictionary.com, abundant means:
1. present in great quantity; more than adequate; oversufficient 2. well supplied; abounding 3. richly supplied
Consider the synonyms for abundant - abounding, ample, bountiful, brimming, copious, exuberant, fertile, fruitful, galore, generous, lavish, lush. Of these synonyms, my favorite is exuberant. Let's take a look at the meaning of exuberant so that I can get us where we are going here...
1. effusively and almost uninhibitedly enthusiastic; lavishly abundant 2. abounding in vitality; extremely joyful and vigorous 3. extremely good; overflowing 4. profuse in growth or production; luxuriant; superabundant
Let's laser focus on that word, and more importantly on the meaning of that word. Remember this word, exuberant, is a synonym of abundant. Remember, Jesus came to give us an abundant life. He said so Himself in John 10:10. The Amplified Bible says, "...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." For you Old Schoolers - the King James reads, "..."I came that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." More abundantly than what? More abundantly than anyone has life without Christ! That is the what! But, back to the laser focus of exuberant, forgive my ADHD - it is difficult to have laser focus even when I am the one writing. If we take what Jesus said to us literally, that He came to give us life more abundantly, then that means he came to give us a life of exuberance! I challenge anyone reading this to find a negative connotation to the word exuberant! You can't! There is nothing negative about the word exuberant.
Living an exuberant life means to live an extremely good life overflowing in effusive and almost uninhibited enthusiasm, abounding in vitality, extremely joyful and vigorous and lavishly abundant, superabundant, luxuriant, profuse in growth and production! Does this describe your life? If it does not, then something is wrong. You said THAT prayer. Did you mean it? Okay, yes, you meant it. So, what is the problem? Why is your life no different than it was? Why is your life no different than those who haven't said THAT prayer? May I suggest that it might just be because you haven't died yet? Died? Does that mean we don't get this abundant life until heaven? No!! It means maybe you haven't died to some things here on earth yet. AND, if you haven't died to those things then you haven't had a resurrection experience.
What do you need to die to? Well, we all need to "die to ourselves." But that sounds like one of those church phrases you have no idea of what it is talking about. You figure you must have had to grow up in church to get that one. Well, it isn't that difficult. Let's take it down a bit and see if we can throw out some ideas that grab your attention, better yet, let's see if we can throw out some ideas that grab your conviction! What do you really need to die to?
Your career?
Your addictions?
Your dreams?
Your friends who continue to pullyou away from your relationship
with your Lord and Savior?
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hobbies? Your pride?
If we are allowing the enemy to steal our abundant life then we are producing fruit that is rotten to the core,
Labels: freedom, purpose, Restoration
----- -------- AUTHOR: Rona Davis TITLE: New Beginnings DATE: 11:45:00 AM ----- BODY:
New Beginnings
Originally uploaded by honokana.balansu
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
This is such a comfort for me. I am one of those people who really lives life out loud and many times in doing so..... I run ahead of where the Lord and I are walking together.
Each time, because I am running on my own terms and in my own energy, I don't have the necessary fuel to carry me that far. I stop, in the middle of where I am, too tired to move another step.
I awake to feel more tired still, not refreshed and I am faced with the reality that I am once again at the end of myself.
I don't need to wallow about the past mistakes, not even yesterday's mistakes! I need to just get up and move along on my journey.
I need to walk in my freedom, purpose, and new restoration all bought with His blood.
I need to get back to the business of the Abundant Living He came to give to me.
I continually reevaluate my life. Many times I am fearful I am not living in God's will for my life. Listening to Marcus share his journey reminds me again that today is a New Beginning! As I seek to live in Purposed Freedom, today I have the grace sufficient for me in my journey. Another, and more important, rare and precious gift in my world of chaos! Thank you Abba, Father! But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)Labels: Abundant Living, freedom, grace, mercy, purpose, PurposedFreedom, Restoration, The Freedom Hour
----- -------- AUTHOR: Rona Davis TITLE: The Cool Blue Made Jay Dan Sweat DATE: 5:06:00 PM ----- BODY: As he stood staring at the blue cooler filled with beer, his heart beat in his young teenage chest. Sweat broke out through his pores. Just staring at the cooler he knew he was on the brink of a life altering decision. It was just beer, no big deal. For Jay Dan, somewhere in his soul, somewhere in the recesses of his spirit, he knew it was a big deal. He knew he was standing on the edge of the teenage peer pressure cliff. He knew if he put one foot out, he would fall into that temptation and it would only spiral out of control from there.
CoTTon ... !!
Originally uploaded by BaLLYoOoLabels: 60 Minutes, Bobby Poole, DNA, Eyewitness, forgiveness, freedom, grace, Jennifer Thompson, Restoration, Ronald Cotton, Wrongfully Accused
----- -------- AUTHOR: Rona Davis TITLE: The Mod Squad and The Jonahs Brothers DATE: 8:41:00 PM ----- BODY:It was just sort of surreal sitting in the studio with Chuck and Mike. The way God had infiltrated all three of our lives and had orchestrated bringing us together is so amazing to me. As we talked about on the show, it is just more evidence that God is in every detail of our lives! When my uncle Mike talks about his anger at God because he lost his older brother, what we didn't tell you is that his older brother was my father. I was almost 2 when my father died; my baby sister was still on her way (she was born six months after our father's death). A few years later, my father's best friend married my mother and adopted my sister and me. It would take a book (someday) to tell you all that happened in between and the point of that book would be to show God's amazing sovereignty as well as His endless mercy and grace.
As I visited with Mike and Chuck before we recorded the show, it struck me that if God had not allowed my father to depart this earth in 1965, there is a good chance we would not have been recording this show. We would not have become so intrinsically involved in this crazy, amazing mission we call prison ministry. God works all things together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose! (Romans 8:28) There is no mission I would rather be involved in than prison ministry; I think I can say the same for Chuck and Mike. I would like to think of us as God's Mod Squad! : )
So, that's the Mod Squad, now for those Jonah's brothers! Did you hear the resistance to God's calling in these two men?? Not to say I haven't resisted God, but this isn't about me - shew!! This is about Chuck and Mike! I am so glad God drug them kicking and whining into this great ministry! The Texas prisons are a better place because of the work God is doing through these two very amazing men! After they got the whale vomit all cleaned off, that is! ; )
Labels: God's Jigsaw Puzzle, The Freedom Hour
----- -------- AUTHOR: Rona Davis TITLE: Rain drops in the spider web DATE: 1:44:00 PM ----- BODY:
Rain drops in the spider web
Originally uploaded by marlenellsLabels: Beauty, drugs, Overcomers, The Freedom Hour
----- -------- AUTHOR: Rona Davis TITLE: Identity – Jason and The Serpent DATE: 9:16:00 PM ----- BODY:


IDENTITY - Who am I? Am I the fat kid the kids make fun of? Am I that ugly? Am I the dumb one? Does anyone see me? Do I blend in and disappear? I want to be different, but in a good way. Who am I?
That was the theme of Jason's heart-matter. That was Jason's Achilles heel that the devil knew to run after and attack. I have always felt that insecurity is one of the core issues in our rebellion. I know I certainly struggled with it most of my life. I never realized that it could be such a core issue for the male species, I always assumed it was a "girl thang." Listening to Jason's story makes me realize it is a human thing! For as long as we are apart from the vine, we are lost. Apart from Christ we can do nothing, so basically we are nothing! (John 15:5)
If we are lost, we have no identity so we go looking for it in all the wrong places! We look for our identity in our family first, the school playground second. If we are struggling with our identity then danger kicks in - if we are immensely insecure then the devil loves to lure us into those groups, gangs, and relationships that will accept us with open arms only to beat the hell out of us later! We seek our identity in sports, cliques, girlfriends, boyfriends, drugs, sex, work, money, clothes, looks. Here, there, everywhere we look for this lost in space identity and the harder we seek the further we fall. Then we are trapped in the whirlpool (or cesspool) of the places we sought for identity that actually brought on more pain, shame, and guilt so we have to look in deeper, darker holes to cover up the identity we are gaining because we do not like this identity. Insecurity and pride - all the same thing, wrong identity!
God tells us to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). When we get still and know who He is He begins to show us who we are. He created us in His image! (Genesis 1:17) He wired and designed each of us in a special and beautiful way to fulfill a God-given task, a God-given purpose. The enemy knows this and he spends OUR lives attacking that identity and throwing us off course. The serpent and the apple - the bait and switch, the lure and the hook.
Are you struggling with your identity? Do you struggle with deep insecurities? If you didn't hear Jason's story, please go and listen! Look at the section Our Shows and go to "Jason - God's Extreme Makeover. "
Pray, ask God to show you who you are! Are you alone? Seek wise counsel! Get into a good church. If you have no one, email the show and we will give you some phone numbers where you can find help!
Freedom + Purpose + Restoration = Abundant Life!
Labels: identity, The Freedom Hour
----- -------- AUTHOR: Rona Davis TITLE: The F Bomb with Grace DATE: 8:54:00 PM ----- BODY:
As a member of Fellowship Church I listened to Ed Young teach us about the Real F word awhile back. As I listened to the recording of this week's show that was all I could think about - that series of messages. Grace's story is such an amazing example of the real F word, the F bomb I'll say - forgiveness.
The F Bomb - that is exactly what it is. Once you truly act on this f word, it sets off a bomb! This bomb will cleanse the house of your soul from the inside out! The apostle Paul tells us we are to let go of all bitterness and malice, rage and anger and to forgive others as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Are you struggling with bitterness toward someone? Anger? Malice? Maybe even rage? Are you housing some age old anger toward someone? Maybe in the world your anger and malice is fully justifiable. Maybe someone did something to you that is despicable and they have never done one thing to ask your forgiveness or even show any kind of remorse. Forgiveness, according to God, is not contingent upon the actions of someone else. It is contingent upon YOU! The truth is, whatever bitterness and resentment you are harboring, it is hurting that person. Let's get real, you probably don't even see that person or those people that hurt you so deeply so they have no idea you are living life with this unforgiveness. Forgiveness will set YOU free - the F bomb will cleanse YOUR life!!
Labels: forgiveness, grace, mercy, The Freedom Hour
----- -------- AUTHOR: Rona Davis TITLE: Devon Drove Somewhere Over The Rainbow DATE: 10:00:00 PM ----- BODY:
What woman my age (won't mention the age - but you can guess) hasn't grown up loving that song? From Judy Garland to Patti LaBelle to American Idol's Kimberly Locke; every version is chilling and beautiful. I couldn't help but think of that song all week long after my interview with Devon Wallace. If you missed the radio show - you MUST listen to it on the website! Gosh, Devon's testimony hits so many levels from the misuse of little league sports to topless clubs, we ran the gamut this week! What a precious man Devon Wallace is today. He is a big teddy bear, the kind that would give you the shirt off his back. He is such a servant of the Lord, such a soldier in the Lord's army.
Setbacks. What a topic that is and yes we talked about that, too. I'm telling you I don't think we left a stone unturned. But back to setbacks. One of my favorite parts of Devon's story is when he tells about the huge setback he had AFTER he had not only been walking with the Lord, but authentically leading others to the Lord. He was as sincere and authentic in his faith in Jesus Christ before this setback as he is today. That is what makes that part of his testimony so very important!!! It shows us that the devil goes after everyone, no one is on safe! Remember playing those games as kids and you had a "safe base?" If you made it to safe base no one could tag you or haunt you or whatever else was going on in the game. Well, Christians are not safe from the devil. Although - we do have a safe base - on our knees in humble prayer and along side others that we will be open and honest with so we can be held accountable! This is a very busy season for Christians. There is so much going on right now, so much work to do - such a huge harvest to work. WE must take care of one another and hold each other up and accountable! When you see your brother or sister, ask them how they are and mean it and be prepared to listen to them!!
Halloween. Oh what a dreadful and divisive little holiday. Christians, should we participate at all or should we not? That's another blog, but this is our Halloween show - why? Well, listen and find out. October is a crazy month for Devon and Halloween, or we'll just say October 31st became a special day for him. What the devil means for harm God works for good for His glory!!! Amen?!
Labels: Beauty, Restoration, The Freedom Hour
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