Good Day

The lesson for today, April 12, 2026, is titled “Can You Feel the Joy of Freedom?  Don’t Turn Away.”  Please read the scripture from Matthew 25: 14-18.

14 ‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents,[a] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A%2014-18&version=NRSVA>

First of all, we can be frozen by our appetites. We can be frozen and immobilized and destroyed by our appetites.  If we are self centered, we are frozen to selfish egotism.  If we feed on defeat, we are trapped in a prison of negativism.  If we constantly feed on jealousy or resentment, we are frozen in an iceberg of hatred.  If we always run scared we are frozen in a lifestyle of fear. We are headed for a fall–we have lost our freedom.  

The truth is that nowadays many people are slaves to their appetites–they do let one thing take control of their lives and immobilize them.  How is it with you?  Is there one thing that is enslaving you?

We can be frozen by our attitudes.  How we feel about God greatly affects our attitudes about how we feel about life.  This is why Jesus talked about attitudes—he said over and over “Don’t be afraid–don’t be anxious.” “God will always be with you–you can count on that.”  If you hear that and really believe it , this will make you more optimistic and productive.

We can be frozen by our anxieties.  Many of us know there are things we ought to do but we are afraid to act, afraid to try, afraid to commit.

So what is the answer?  How do we get thawed out and set free?  Christ sets us free by showing us that love casts out fear.  Love is the freeing agent.  Love is the thawing agent.  When love is strong enough, you can be sure it will cast out your fear and bring you out of what imprisons you.  Love lets us be God’s children and God’s disciples to the world.  So don’t become tethered by negative attitudes and anxieties but instead, seize life and celebrate it to the fullest.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for changing our lives through the simple and humble act of gratitude.  Help us remember our blessings and be a blessing to others.  Amen

Blessings

Verna