Bondage and Grace Collide

We had an awesome weekend at church. Saturday night (after a hard, long day for the guys laying sod on our pitiful hill) we had a benefit concert for a dear couple in our church. Mike Childers underwent a liver transplant several months ago and they are dealing with enormous medical bills. He was as close to dead as you can be without actually seeing Jesus. But in God's grace and timing, he was chosen by his God to remain with us for a while longer. I think around $3000 was raised for them which is AWESOME!!!
Today brought a young man, Steven, into the lives of Midway Community Church and somehow I don't think our lives will ever be the same. You could tell immediately when you met him that he had a story to tell. In praise and worship, I was waiting on him to jump the chairs or break out into dance in the aisle (not that there is a thing wrong with that, just some of us "baptist" folks would have been a little taken aback). He was so completely worshipping....it was refreshing!!
He shared his testimony and boy did he have one to tell. I'll suffice it to say that this young man was in bondage from Satan because he had a testimony that the devil didn't want to get out. But by God's grace he has been set free and is on FIRE for Jesus! If only some of us could have an ounce of what the guy had Anderson SC would be a burning inferno for Christ.
Our pastor also shared a vision of what he sees for Midway. It is one of complete dependency on Christ because we could never pull it off ourselves. Very exciting.....
Last but not least our Breaking Free study also hit on grace and bondage and the freedom that is found in Christ. I see a common thread here...bondage....God's grace...and the freedom that can be found only in Him. No matter what we may be in bondage to: drugs, alcohol, money, fear, other people, or ANYTHING else, God's grace is sufficient and it covers all. He will meet us where we are if we will only admit we have a problem and open our minds and hearts to Him. He will be our Deliever and our Healer every time. He loves us and is fullfilled when He can be our Fullfiller. He is in the business of Healing Hearts and Renewing Minds....praise God!