The Cost of Being Free GUEST AUTHOR

Well I finally got something really cool from a friend of mine. She wishes to stay unknown so I think I will stick with a pen name. I DID NOT WRITE THIS!

The Cost of Being Free by Luci M.

In the beginning of the world, we had one simple rule: Don't touch the tree.
Though He knew it would bring our fall, God said, “Children, do as you please.”
But human is as human does, and we soon took the fruit
and so the Enemy's whispered sin began to take its root.

This is the cost of being free.

In our world today, we have more than one simple rule.
Yet Christ still smiles sadly and says, “Beloved, you are free to choose.”
When one man hates another for the pigment in his skin,
when teenage girls are sold for the pleasures their bodies can give,
when young mothers snort some powder and addict their unborn kids.
When believers in the East are forced to hold service in the dark,
when a drunken father's blows bruise the skin and tear apart,
when my hurtful words cut deeply into a brother or sister's heart.

When a Jew who's name was Jesus gave his life up on a tree–
all these things and more, my friend, are the cost of being free.

Though the cost of freedom is the fact that we may choose
whether we’ll bring healing or just make worse the bruise.
With the help of our Creator we can find a better way.
And with His healing Love, make less the cost someday.


“So tie me to a tree and let the smoke and ash collect. No, I won't regret to let love do what love will let. We can drown in mixed emotions or walk across an angry sea...this is the cost of being free.”
-Jars of Clay, “Show You Love”

Isn't she great? I hope to have my good friend Luci M. write for me again, thank you!

The Best Things in Life by Abbi Wharton

The Best Things in Life… by Abigail Wharton
The best things in life are always the smallest things.
The best things in life are always free.
The best things in life will always be yours.
A child’s laugh, one that you provoked
A hug from a best friend
Calling in sick (when you’re not sick of course)
Your school crush smiling at you
Laughing till your sides hurt
Lunch where you talk about anything and everything with your best friends
Singing and dancing without any music
False alarms
A Sunday school lesson
Living everyday like it’s your last
No regrets
No grudges
A summer vacation
Singing along to the radio
Dancing in the rain
Swinging on a swing, something you haven’t done since you were 5
Getting at A+ on a test
Sleepovers
Girl talk
Braiding each other’s hair
Playing four square and tag
Jumping rope
Laying down in fresh cut grass
Flip flops
Doing nothing at all
Fireworks
Carnivals
Summer days
Hotdogs
Outdoor Concerts
Jazz
Blues
Running around the park
Watching scary movies with your best friends
Riding a roller coaster
Doing absolutely nothing. We all have the best things in life, we just never see it.

The Race by Abbi Wharton

Kind of weird...based on a dream...work coming up shall be a short story by a good friend of mine :) enjoy!

The Race
I run forward, hurling myself into the well known rhythm. As for what compels me…that is still unknown. My legs carry me faster and faster, the knee high grass grabbing gently and tickling. The wind rushes through the leaves, a rattling percussion in my ears as I match the invisible pace, weaving through the trees.

My mind teeters precariously on the ledge of oblivion, but I do not care. The freedom, the exhilaration is impossible to even attempt to surpass. Now I know how the free stag feels like, or a wild stallion…faster, faster.

The wind rushes around me, wet and cool. I slow and stop, falling to my knees on the warmed mint earth. I close my eyes and breathe.

I savor the delightful contrast of the cool and warmth. Breathe in, breathe out. Turning my face to the sky, smiling always the wind caresses me as a loving mother. Breathe in, breathe out. I open my eyes…and I laugh.

Beauty

Is it painted on faces, bleached blond highlights, hair loaded with shampoos and hairspray, and orange tanned skin from hot light bulbs?

Is it the most expensive, perfect, top of the line clothing? Is it roaming the concrete jungles full of the same kind of people?

I tell you friends…it isn’t.
Real beauty is being daring enough to show your real skin, freckles zits and all. Real beauty is a real natural tan from the sun that you suffered a killer sun burn for…even if you don’t look much different.

Real beauty is letting you hair hang down, forget the color or frizz. Real beauty is worn out jeans and last season’s sneakers, plain old tee shirts from places nobody has ever heard of. Not to mention the grass stains and rips from your last adventure.

Real beauty is you.

Your bright eyes when you laugh
A good heart
An open mind
You