Todd Thorpe

The second barrier to our freedom is our beliefs. Gary Smalley says this, “You are as happy as the beliefs you have created in your own heart. If you’re not happy, you have no one to blame but yourself.”
I agree, your happiness depends on you and the beliefs that you store in your heart.

Your beliefs determine how you look at a situation. Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the view they take of them.”

I want to encourage you to examine your beliefs. Today if you are unhappy about any situation, there is a belief behind that emotion that is driving that feeling. Many people today have unbiblical beliefs that usually center around their own selfishness.

I hear it all the time, we are unhappy. It could be your  marriage, job, church, etc… “If you are unhappy about anything in your life, discover the erroneous belief you have stored within your heart and begin changing your thoughts.” Gary Smalley.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your beliefs.  Change your belief, change your life.

Todd Thorpe

I long to be free. I think humanity longs to be free. John 8:31,32 states, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

I believe most people are not free because of unseen barriers that exist in each of our lives. The most common barrier is dealing with reality. Most Americans would say they are free. However, I believe all of us struggle with addictions, bondage, pain, beliefs that don’t work, etc…It’s easy to think that our addictions are not a literal prison. I know many Christians today that are stuck in a literal prison of bad addictions, sin. Have you noticed how easy it is to be blind to the things that enslave us? The worst kind of prison is the one we don’t recognize. We live with it for the rest of our lives. In John 8:34, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” How many of us struggle with sin in our lives? Scripture says we are prisoners to that sin. According to Scripture, we are all slaves to sin. So, how do I become free.

Admit that your a prisoner!! You can’t be found until you recognize that your lost. You can’t be forgiven until you recognize your guilty. You can’t be loving until you recognize your hateful. You can’t be free until you realize your in prison. A prison of sin. It’s the first step of all recovery(addiction) programs.

You will never be free until you recognize the prison of sin that entangles your life everyday. Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus has come to set the captives free. Jesus wants you to have an abundant life here on this planet.

Today, the first step is recognizing you are in prison!!

Pastor Todd Thorpe

I long for freedom. My soul searches for it on a daily basis. In all areas of my life, there is this search for freedom.
John 8:31,32 states, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My Word you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

It’s not just any truth that will set you free. It’s the truth about Jesus Christ. It’s the fact that He is truth.  The truth will set you free.  You might also call it, the way out.  How do I get out of this habit?  How do I get out of this cycle?  How do I get out of this struggle?  How do I get out of this attitude?  How do I get out?  The truth will set you free!!!!

But first, you must know the truth!!  Truth today is a moving target for most people.  However, you can know the real truth today.  The real truth is God’s Word. We call it the Bible.    Jesus said, “If you continue in My Word you really are my disciples, (then) you will know the truth, and (that) truth will set you free.”

The word “disciple” does not mean you’ve learned it all.  It doesn’t mean you’re perfect.  In fact, the literal meaning of the word disciple is learner.  I’m learning from Jesus.  I’m learning how to be free.  I’m learning His truth in my life.  That’s what I want.  I want freedom!!  You want freedom!!  For the rest of my life I’m going to have new ways I can learn to be free because of Jesus.  I want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I want to encourage everyone today to read God’s Word.  Study it, meditate on it, chew on it.  Because therein lies the answer to the very desires of your heart and soul:  Freedom!

Pastor Todd Thorpe

Im trying to change the way my blog looks. Patience.

Desire is a weird thing. It ebbs and flow all the time. I desire to write. Matter of fact it is a conviction of mine that I have dealt with for some time. However, the desire is there, the flesh is weak. I find myself struggling to write and struggling to make time to write. I begin this new journey of writing. I begin the discipline of writing today.

Hello World! I know this particular blog on this day will not be read by many. However, my goal is that this blog will become a avenue to share my thoughts, ideas, concerns, vision, strategy related to everything church and leadership. It is a new day and a new year. I feel compelled to write with the ultimate goal of writing several books down the road.

I am the lead pastor at Watermark Church and are super excited about the future. Today begins my journey into blogging. Ready, set, go!!

Todd