Freedom

Over the past few weeks I have been experiencing the presence of the Lord, numerous times a day! Most of these times have been very convicting, and yet very healing. I felt like the Lord had set me free from a lot of bondage that I had placed in my life: by my own ideas of God, expectations I have placed on myself, and personal desires.
In the midst of my newly found freedom, I had a weekend of work scheduled. I had a full day on Sat. and didn't get all of my paperwork done. Sun. morning came, and I had a full afternoon of visits, and a birthday party. How was I going to get that paperwork done, and go to church? I really wanted to join the Sunday School class, and I knew they were watching a video series that traveled through Israel. I told myself, that I was "free" to combine the two. I went and did get quite a bit done, and learned some things from the video. I felt good: free!

But in the days to follow, the Lord had more to teach me. :) I recalled that as I freely sat, doing my own thing, that others in the room were distracted by my actions. The Lord brought this to my mind
1 Cor 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
I stood convicted again. My failure to recognize the needs of others, yet again!! I know what I am going to do the next time this may happen. I plan to make a slight interuption in the status quo of Sunday School, to ask if anyone would be bothered if I did some necessary paperwork while the video plays. I can be sensitive to the needs of others over myself, even though really I am free to do it.