Freedom from the Chaos Waters

"'Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]."

2 Corinthians 3:17 AMPC

I recently participated in an event that helped me connect to freedom in an embodied way.

Once a year, a group of Christian artists comes together for a day to practice their respective modalities on a common theme. This year, writers, sculptors, painters, woodworkers, block printers, and so many more brought their tools and worked with the theme of water.

This was a rich topic...there are the chaos waters, the Red Sea, and the Leviathan... then there are living waters, streams in the desert, and even the sound of Jesus' voice (in Revelation it sounds like rushing waters).

I'm so amazed by God's authority over all of it. To push back waters and bring forth dry ground, to allow people the freedom to choose chaos, and so the water He pushed back is allowed to cover the earth again...pushing the waters back again, He allows six million Israelites to cross on dry ground, and He allows the Egyptians to have the chaos they wanted to drag their slaves back into.

At this same event last year, I put so much pressure on myself.

I love the arts. I love how beauty and creativity awaken my heart to God's beauty and creativity. I have sculpted and worked on pottery wheels in the past. I enjoy calligraphy, wreath-making, gardening, and cooking... I especially love it when the dish looks as wonderful as it tastes, but primarily, I write.

Last year was my first time at this event, and my goodness, I felt so inferior. There were "real" artists here! What was I doing there? What could I offer? Would it be enough? Would I be embarrassed? I heaped so much pressure on myself. The day I spent with these artists was beautiful. I loved wandering around and watching them create, but I felt tortured with imposter syndrome and shame in the days that followed.

Have you ever been there? Where you don't feel like enough...like you don't belong?

Over the year that followed this first event, I watched the Lord take on the chaos in my life. (But that is a much longer story than what we have time for here.)

Did you know that all those plagues in the Exodus story are God taking on the enemy? The judgment we see is on the gods of Egypt...showing them up, demonstrating to all who see that there is only one, true God. God unmakes the world that the enemy was trying to rule through Pharaoh, and Abba leads the Israelites out...literally pushing back the waters again and bringing forth dry ground for them to escape. *Check out Blaine Eldredge's The Paradise King and Rabbi Jason Sobel's Mysteries of the Messiah.

This year, I tried something new.

I worked with mosaic. As I rolled broken pieces of shells and fire glass in my hands and arranged them on a wooden frame, I played with Abba, free from having to prove myself...I played in His goodness and experienced a childlike sense of joy. I created a piece that showed new, transformational life being rescued by Abba, Jesus and Holy Spirit from the chaos waters; of God pushing the waters back and calling His beloved to Himself.

So, two questions for you to ponder, and a blessing:

• Have you experienced the Lord rescuing you from any "chaos waters" in your life? What was that like for you?

• Have you been able to play with Abba, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, free from perfection, inferiority (what have you felt imprisoned by)? There is no condemnation, and you don't have to get your act together. Could you ask Him to step into this with you?

Dear Friend, may you experience His Presence...for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]!

Grace & Shalom,

Announcements & Reminders:

Embracing Shalom just turned 3 on June 18th!

Two special highlights of this past year included launching the Perfect Love Casts Out Fear Meditation Series and a Fall Retreat on Love as a Refuge!

I continue to offer gentle flow and restorative yoga as well as meditation in the community.

I would love to ask you to join me in prayer for the coming year as I seek the Lord's face for direction and the connections He has in mind for me and this work.

Thank you!

Listening Prayer is a beautiful modality in the church and in Spiritual Direction. If you would like a listening ear and someone to come alongside you, please reach out. We will listen to Abba, Jesus, and Holy Spirit together.

Book a Discovery Call, Session, or email me: tracy@embracingshalom.com

Book a Discovery Call or Session