Unshackled Moments ~ August 31, 2018 ~ Under Siege

Most of us, even those who have little exposure to Scripture are familiar with the 23rd Psalm. The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.... Want here is not want as in I want some ice cream. It is want as in not have my needs met. Yet even limited to need, having our needs met is not always what we expect or, well, would want. Later in the Psalm there is a line that states that God prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. That's a huge statement.

I want to look at it for a minute.At the time in history that King David wrote this Psalm, warfare was a lot different than it is today, so how he looked at a situation of being surrounded by enemies may not be how we think at first. Armies commonly fought without fighting at all. They would surround a fortified city and lay siege to it. No one could come in or out. This was warfare against the entire populace, nit just soldiers, with starvation as a slow killing weapon of mass destruction that left goods in tact for eventual plunder. Once food was gone and every animal in the city slaughtered and eaten, the result was starvation, sometimes cannibalism, and eventually someone would usually betray their city and open the gates to the enemy, either in hopes of being fed and spared or simply to get it over with. By that time, the people were too weak to fight well, and the invading army slaughtered more than they fought.

The metaphor of having a table prepared in the midst of enemies isn't about eating with people who don't like you. It's about not starving and having food while under siege. The need is met. But is that how we would look at it? If it were me, I wouldn't want a meal. I would want the enemy gone. God  is not always going to give us a quick and easy fix. And what we need isn't always what we think we need, even if that perceived need is food and water.Our need is to grow in relationship with Daddy, because while we can easily be distracted and focused on the present and the situation, God looks at the eternal and what matters long after the situation we see is done with.

We all have enemies. People, things and situations that are at best in the way and interfering with our lives, and at worst, that intend us harm. The promise we have is that we can trust Daddy to care for us and provide for our need. That doesn't mean the siege will end or that our enemies will disappear and life will be easy. Today, let us remember that God cares four us and our needs, and not allow the improvement or worsening of our circumstances dictate our belief about His love. He loves us, and like a good Daddy will provide for our need, but in the midst of the storm we may not realize what that need really is. Let us trust Him and have peace in the midst of the storm, even when the winds continue to blow.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Relationship, Religion Or Rebellion

Some try to follow the letter of the law more than others, but all of us have times we fall short and our hearts condemn us. Dalyn Woodard shares on how the condemnation in our hearts effects us and what to do about it. The message, "Relationship, Religion Or Rebellion," is about 54 minutes long, and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on August 29, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen.

If you missed the first message in the series "The Daddy Heart Of God," entitled "Redirected By Love," it can be found here. The second message, "God Is Light," can be found here. The third message, "You Are Beloved," can be found here. The fourth message, "You Have Overcome," can be found here. The fifth message, "The Trouble Of Tribbles." can be found here. The sixth message, "Who's Your Jesus?," can be found here. The seventh message, "Truth Tattoo," can be found here. The eighth message, "Who's Your Daddy?," can be found here, and the ninth message, "Responding To God And Others," can be found here.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Home Free

Life is often filled with pain, and we long for healing. Darlene Woodard shares on the ultimate healing and the ability to worship with and through our pain. The message, "Home Free," is about 6 minutes long and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on Sunday, August 26, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen. May God bless and keep you.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 28, 2018 ~ Why I Am Grateful Every Day

Last night I posted five things that I am grateful for on Facebook and Twitter. I started doing this about six years ago, writing out five things that I am grateful for every day. Ten years ago a group of people in recovery taught me the importance of gratitude and gratitude lists during hard times, but it was a list of suggestions for making a bucket list I looked at about six years ago when after a motorcycle wreck the CATScan showed spots in the lymph nodes in my chest that inspired this daily tradition.

As I waited to have the biopsy done part of me went to that dark pit of self pity and despair that fear often causes in me.  I was 41 years old, still relatively young. I had been clean and sober for just over two years for the first time since the age of 13. I had only been out of prison a little less than 4 years. I had a wonderful life with the love of said life for about the same length of time as my sobriety. I had two of the best years of my life after a long time of hell, misery, pain, fear and despairing of life. Things we finally looking up, so of course it was about time that I would lose the life worth living I had been given, and it would be slow and painful, one of my worst nightmares.

I saw the suggestion that a great thing to have on a bucket list was to find five things to be grateful for every day. Something in my spirit said yes! I decided to give it a go, and although I have taken breaks from positing the list on social media, the daily list of gratitude has been a part of my life since then. The growths in my chest were not cancer, but neither were they benign. In fact, the inflammatory disease discovered is still causing me problems. It's also in my eyes as well as my chest, and this morning I am struggling to see well enough to read my computer screen. But I have learned over the years that I have much to be grateful for., and it does help during those dark times of the soul.


This is on my mind because when I got up this morning I saw where two of my Facebook friends had a conversation about gratitude and the five things in the comment section. One friend who shares an affection for snakes and lizards and such with Leah and I asked a question that I wanted to answer here instead of on the original post, in case there are others who feel the same and have the same question. I hope she doesn't mind me doing it this way. She commented, "I'm in a dark place right now. How do you find five things to be positive about everyday? I read them and just wish I could have half your faith."

First, let me be honest and say that it isn't always easy. Sometimes it's downright difficult. Practicing gratitude is like exercising the spirit. If you're out of shape physically, walking a mile may be next to impossible, but if you walk regularly, it gets easier. Obviously this may not be true for someone in a wheel chair or what have you, but you get the idea. Whatever muscle you are working, if you work it regularly it gets stronger and using it becomes easier. Still there are days when sickness or circumstances can still make it hard.So sometimes it isn't easy.

Last night I struggled because I couldn't  see well, and it physically hurt to search through my backup for some photos that are very important to me. They weren't there. Evidently they didn't make it to my secondary backup when my primary backup crashed a while back and are in the mix of many images Leah and I lost forever. That nearly devastated me. Today is the anniversary off a day that has been difficult for me for nearly 30 years, and the photos are tied to that. I wanted to cry and throw a fit and feel sorry for myself, but I did my spiritual gratitude workout anyway, and it was fairly easy to come up with five things to be grateful for.

I don't say that to imply that I didn't feel ungrateful for the loss. I don't say that to say that all the pain and sadness disappeared. It didn't. I was able to get out of that place of focusing on the emptiness long enough to see the cup was not dry. There were still things in my life to be grateful for. And I certainly don't say that to say look how special and spiritually strong I am, because I wasn't and am not. It was my weakness that got me to that point, because I couldn't do it. I couldn't  get out of self pity on my own. I had to cry out to Daddy for help to find comfort in the time of darkness and loss and to see those five things and then some. Like a movie trailer of my day, images flashed in my mind of some wonderful moments. They may not have lasted long. But they were flares of brightness and light shooting through the dark.

Being grateful even in times of hardship and sorrow is still a relatively new thing for me. At a young age, I fell into the trap of religion. Religion says do this and don't do that so that you can be accepted and favored by God, or at least not have God angry and destroy you. Religion is merit based, meaning that sooner or later everyone gets what they deserve. When Christianity as a religion failed me, leaving me feeling unloved by God and worthless I began to look elsewhere to fill the emptiness and numb or distract from the misery of life. I explored hedonism and living for the moment and the comfort and pleasure of the senses as though there was no God at all. It helped until it didn't. I explored other religions, including but not limited to Wicca, Hinduism, Buddhism and Native American spirituality. None of them, nor any others brought contentment, peace, joy, love or a life worth living. I truly despaired of life.

Religion failed me. I All of them. And I failed religion. I couldn't live up to the moral standard of any of them. But finally I began to see the truth that not only is there a God, but He has declared me significant and of value, no matter what I think or feel or what anyone else thinks. Beyond that, He loves me as I am, not as I should be, but He loves me enough not to leave me the mess that I have been the vast majority of my life. He desires to have relationship with me, and His great desire is to heal and restore me and to help me because a unique reflection of perfect love and light. It is possible to have a real relationship with the Creator of the universe, not because I figure out how to connect with Him, and not because I am good or have enough faith or anything like that. It is possible because He made a way to connect with me. He wrapped Himself in flesh and reaped the result of all the harm and wrong I had done while giving me the result of His doing it right in exchange. It's not a fair trade, but it is the great demonstration of His love, that even though I didn't deserve it and can't earn it, He isn't looking for a fair exchange. he just wants me. And you. Because all of that is as true for you as it is for me. Daddy loves you as you are, not as you should be, but He loves you enough not to leave you as you are. He loves you enough to send Jesus to make a way for relationship and healing and restoration. Jesus loves you enough to come and die, even though you could still reject His love. And the Spirit of God loves you enough to make His very home within you and do all the renovations needed to make your life all it can and should be.

Daddy isn't done with me yet. The Spirit is putting in a lot of hours to bring into my life the results of the work that Jesus did on the cross. Sometimes I get it better than other times. Sometimes I still wonder how God could love a loser like me. But regardless of how I feel at times I have learned that it is true, He loves me. I see the progress, and I fully believe the promise that He is going to finish what He started and bring me to a place of wholeness filled with nothing but love, peace and joy. That great love and unearned acceptance are the top two things I am grateful for every day. The five things that I share are additions. I have learned to look for things that show me the love of God and give me wonder to be grateful for, but it isn't possible because I taught myself to be positive. It's because when you are aware that you are loved, it changes the way you see the world, people and your day.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 27, 2018 ~ Seeing Another's Danger

My transportation is a motorcycle, and last week after I got back from visiting at the jail I parked in the right place for Leah to catch a good look at my front tire when she got home. God graced her with noticing the bike instead of walking on by, and she saw that my front tire was shot. She told me, and I went and looked at it. Sure enough, it's starting to come apart, and now the bike is parked until I can special order a new tire (the downside to small town living).

Even those who don't ride can imagine how dangerous it would be for the front tire to come apart on a two-wheeled vehicle. I am so grateful that she saw it, because I hadn't noticed it. I walked by and or rode the bike daily, but I missed it. This could have been deadly at worst and very painful at best. Instead I  know and can take measured to correct the problem before the problem leads to destruction.

This is an example of why we need others involved with us in recovery and with our walk with God. Sometimes an issue can develop that we don't sense or see. It could be because it grows slowly and we don't see it. It could be that we are distracted by other aspects of life or are too close. But when we stay in relationship with others, they can spot issues that we might not see yet and point them out. I'm seeing this or that. When this happens, I strongly suggest taking a moment to examine the issue. Then, stop moving forward until God does what is needed to make moving safe again. This can save us much difficulty and pain down the road. And when we see areas of dangers in others, we can reach out in love and share that with them. It is part of bearing one another's burdens and building up and edifying our brothers and sisters. It's one of the ways we help keep us all healthy and why we are not called to walk with God in isolation.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Drop The Weight

Sometimes the weight of life threatens to crush and kill us. Wally Flynt shares on how we were never designed nor was it intended for us to carry those burdens. We have a hope and can be free. The message, "Drop The Weight," is about 4 minutes long and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on Sunday, August 26, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen. May God bless and keep you.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Echo ~ August 25, 2018 ~ Our Dangerous Power

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

March 25, 2015.

Nothing hath separated us from God but our own will, or rather our own will is our separation from God.

 –William Law

The free exercise of free will formed the first rift between God and people, between Creator and creation. God wants real relationship with us, and the only way to have that is for us to have a real choice in whether we want to reciprocate His love for us or if we'd rather live our lives focused on ourselves. So, we have the choice to walk in and by the power of our own will, trying to please ourselves, living for ourselves and ignoring God's love and will for us. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:35-39

When we surrender and accept God's acceptance of us, align our will with His, then nothing in our circumstances, nothing created on earth, nothing from hell, nothing that comes against us, can separate us from God. But we can, like the Prodigal Son, choose to turn and walk away, to follow the siren's call of our selfish will, and when we do that, we do something that no one else can do. We separate ourselves from God. We put the veil back together and restrict our ability to enter His presence and hear His voice and feel His love.

Abba, help me not to cut myself off from You. Don't let me separate myself from who You are and relationship with You. Keep me close to You as I go through this day submitting my will to Yours. Amen.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 24, 2018 ~ Desire To Sin Is Not Sin

I was talking to someone recently who was told by someone that if you want to sin you're not really a Christian. According to them, sin that happens because you slip into self and do something without thinking about it is different than sin that is done out of desire. Another young man told me a couple of years ago that he didn't feel right about asking God for help with his habitual sin because even though he knew it was wrong, he wanted to do it. So if he wanted it, then he couldn't ask for help and he didn't have a right to ask for forgiveness. As a consequence he felt defeated, condemned and hopeless over his addictions. These situations have something in common, which is a misconception that following Jesus instantly kills any and all desire to do wrong.

When we become children of God, we are given a new nature. That new nature hates sin and longs to do only that which pleases Daddy. But that new creation is wrapped in a cocoon of cursed and carnal nature. The transformation has not been fully complete. Because of this there is a war within the children of God between the desire to live for Daddy and live for self, to accept His control and solution or to rule our own lives and be our own answer.

There are wrongs that immediately after they are done leave disgust in their wake. We hate that we did that. We may not even understand why, and we really never want to do that again. This is true of believers and non-believers alike. Some sin feels like death from the jump. But some sin is temporarily pleasurable. It satisfies the hunger and longing or meets the need or covers it up or distracts from the problem  and pain or stimulates the senses or....... These are different sorts of sins, and not everyone reacts the same. Some things that would bring instant loathing to you might be a huge temptation for me and vice versa. These are the areas that lead to bondage, addiction and habitual sin.

There are many different things that we can be addicted to, but they all have some things in common. They all have elements of obsession and craving. They all provide relief or pleasure or both. They all lead to a point where the damage they cause outweighs the good they do for us, and by that time, they are beyond the ability of the addicted one to simply lay them down and walk away.

The obsessive nature of addiction is the most illogical desire for self destruction. It's the overwhelming desire to play with the fire that you know will burn you. Even after it quits working or when it hurts or does more damage to indulge than not to, those things which hold us in bondage call out to us as though they are still the answer. This time it will work. This time will be like it used to be and the pain, fear, loneliness, emptiness, anxiety, despair, what have you, will be taken away without the side effect of destruction and misery and self loathing that follows returning to the chains that bind. There is a part of us that is comfortable with the old solution, even when it fails. There is a part of us that wants to do that thing, whatever it is, that brings pleasure, even if it costs more than we wish to pay. There is a part of us that desires to indulge self, even when we know it breaks Daddy's heart and leads to death. This is not always, or often in my experience, instantly removed. If self were instantly and permanently dealt with when we come to Jesus, Jesus wouldn't have said that we must daily take up our cross, our method of execution of self, to follow Him. It wouldn't be a daily thing. It would be a one time thing that if we did right and completely wouldn't need to be repeated.

When the obsession begins to build within us, there is a part of us that wants to give in. Period. But there is also a part of us that wants to obey and please Daddy. That's our new nature, and it may not feel as strong or as loud as the siren's call of the desire to do wrong, but ti's there. That is the new creation within, the adopted child of God wanting to do right. The first voice that desires wrong does not negate the existence of the second, and the desire of the old nature does not disqualify us from having the right to turn to our Daddy and cry out for help. There is nothing wrong with praying something along the lines of Lord, I know this is wrong and will only cause problems in my life, but I really want to do it for some reason. Help me please.

And if we fail and give in? That kicks off the craving. Even as destruction is unleashed and condemnation sets in we need more. It's overwhelming and makes the obsession feel like nothing. It will lie and say you've already failed, so you might as well run with it. You're worthless and don't deserve help or forgiveness, so don't turn to Daddy. Ride it till the wheels come off and try to enjoy the fall until the crash that you deserve comes.

But the solution is still the same. It's Jesus. It's grace. Desiring sin is not sin. I know that will irk some religious folks, but it's true. Desiring sin is a by-product of not yet being fully made perfect. The desire to disobey does not mean you're an orphan nor does it mean you can't turn to Daddy. Failing to look to Him for help and giving in does not cancel your adoption and doesn't mean you must continue on to destruction because you got off the road of His will. We can strap ourselves to the safety of His Spirit within us, and though the siren of sin may still call, remain safely in His will. And if the siren does lure us onto the rocks, we can call out to Jesus, our refuge, strength and healer. We do have the right as children of God to ask for help and forgiveness and restoration. We don't have to lie there broken and beaten to die.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Responding To God And Others

There is a natural way we respond to people and a supernatural way that we can interact with those we encounter. Dalyn Woodard shares on Daddy's heart toward us and others and how that way is how we, as His children, are to respond in relationship. The message, "Responding To God And Others," is about 43 minutes long, and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on August 22, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen.

If you missed the first message in the series "The Daddy Heart Of God," entitled "Redirected By Love," it can be found here. The second message, "God Is Light," can be found here. The third message, "You Are Beloved," can be found here. The fourth message, "You Have Overcome," can be found here. The fifth message, "The Trouble Of Tribbles." can be found here. The sixth message, "Who's Your Jesus?," can be found here. The seventh message, "Truth Tattoo," can be found here, and the eighth message, "Who's Your Daddy?," can be found here.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 22, 2018 ~ The Impossible Climb

I love watching mountain climbing. It's amazing to me. I think it would be awesome to do what these people do, but not enough to actually put in the work to do it.  There is something about what they do that struck me today as a metaphor in recovery and discipleship.

First, on the more dangerous and difficult climbs, these athletes secure themselves. They use ropes to keep them safe. In faith and recovery, we have a tendency when we slip to condemn ourselves and feel like we've failed. Now we have to start all over and all that time and effort before is nullified and feels like a waste of time. But that is totally the wrong attitude.

Climbers fall. It's part of the process. They stretch and reach and lunge for hand holds and progress. Sometimes it doesn't work. They don't go all the way to the bottom. The rope catches them. They take a breath and try again. Sometimes they make an adaptation to the way that they are trying to go up the rock face. They evaluate the route and practice it in their minds and with their bodies. A route can take many tries to figure out the right sequence and location of grips to succeed. No one expects to just scoot up the mountain and having to backtrack a little or try again is part of learning and getting strong enough to make the climb. They don't dismiss the failures, or consider them wasted time and effort. It's part of the process and there's something to learn that will help them.

I watched this video earlier today, and around three minutes in I saw the greatest example of this as one of the best climbers in the world hung from his rope evaluating, thinking and trying the same move over and over. It truly is inspiring.

We have a safety rope on the climb of life and recovery. It's the Spirit. We can reach and stretch and try, because we know if we slip He will catch us. We're not about to die. We're safe in His arms. There are routes up that mountain that we don't see or understand at first, or aren't strong enough to make, but if we trust His care for us, we can continue to work and grow and learn, until by His grace we do what would be impossible on our own. We can make the impossible climb.



This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 21, 2018 ~ Rest In Security

It happens more often with guys I think, but I have seen both men and women who don't seem to care about how they look until someone sees past the mess. Suddenly someone thinks they are special and attractive despite the way they care for their appearance, and before long they look a lot better. Guys start combing their hair and wearing something other than old work jeans and white T-shirts. You get the idea. On the flip side of that are the ones you see that are impeccable every minute and obsessed with looking right, wearing stylish clothes, etc. They fall in love and the joke is that they let themselves go. They don't seem to care as much anymore.

I personally feel both of these situations are positive and an awesome place to be. While they may be opposite reactions, they are both reactions to feeling comfortable and confident in being loved. I recently saw an episode of Gilmore Girls where one of the characters said she was still in the newly wed stage where both of them woke up early to brush their teeth and snuck back into bed as though they were above morning breath. That's not comfortable. There's no rest in that. If you love someone and they love you, you need to be able to drop the mask and be yourself. You need to be able to relax. Love isn't a constant battle of trying to impress or be or appear good enough. So when someone knows they are loved, it can take that pressure to earn approval off. They are loved. At their best. At their worst. They can simply be. It's a wonderful place to be.

And it's not that the ones who suddenly start caring are seeking approval or putting on masks. They feel loved and cared about so that makes them care more about themselves. They love, so they want to make the person they love happy and want to feel attractive to the person who attracts them. When I wear a shirt and tie that I know Leah likes, it's not because I am afraid she won't love me if I don't. It's just I love that smile and the way she looks at me when I wear it.

Wanting to make our partner happy and look attractive to them but also being able to relax and not pretend or hide or both natural side effects of being in a loving and secure relationship. If this is true of our human relationships and make us much more secure in who we are and yet accepting of who we are, how much more so can we be content in relationship with Christ. We don't have to wear masks and pretend with God. He knows the truth about us better than we do anyway. We can't hide our morning breath from Him, so we might as well relax and drop the religious act of self righteousness and pretending we are better than we are. At the same time though, knowing how He cares for us makes us feel special and loved and valued, which in turn makes us want to behave and care for ourselves like we have value. His love for us inspires us to do the things that make Him happy, not to earn His love, but because we are loved.

If you find it hard to care or treat yourself like  you are worthless, there is a relationship that can transform your world. And if you are tired of the effort of trying to live with your best foot forward afraid to let your true self slip out and show up, there is rest and peace in that same love. We are called to come into that relationship that is filled with rest and marked by peace, joy and love. The secret is in catching a glimpse of the truth that you are not worthless. You mean everything to Him. But you don't have to earn that love or perform and keep up appearances to keep it. He loves us as we are, not as we should be.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 20, 2018 ~ Serving Through Disappointment

Sometimes I get a glimpse of Jesus as a man, and it blows my mind. The night of the last supper I would have been ticked if I were Him. Ticked off and disappointed.. I have never thought about that night this way before, but now I can't escape the way I would've felt. For three years He'd been teaching these 12 men and leading by example. He had poured Himself into caring for them and preparing them for what was to come when they would become servants and fishers of men.

He taught them to love and to serve. He showed them what it looked like. He told them to be great you must humble yourself and serve, and He showed them what that looked like as well. Jesus must already be starting to stress out some. Jesus stressed out? Yes, we are only a few hours from His sweating drops of blood. That stress didn't miraculously appear, nor did He not already know as they entered the upper room that Judas was about to betray Him, all the disciples would flee and abandon Him, and Peter would do his dance of denial before the night was done.

He's tried several times to tell them what is about to happen, and they are in denial, pretending nothing is changing and He is not going to the cross. This is just another dinner. They aren't supporting Him. They aren't even showing that they've learned and heard  anything. Here they are, three years into the best and most intensive ministry training ever, and what are they doing? Having yet another discussion about which of them will be the greatest.

I don't know how I would've reacted. Maybe I would have told them to eat and went off by myself. Why would I want to spend my last moments of freedom with these guys that are so self focused they can't see what I am going through? Maybe I would have snapped and berated them for not having heard me all the times I said the least, be the least, and stop trying to be great. Serve already. Maybe I would have just gotten quiet and felt sorry for myself that I had spent so much time and energy trying to teach them and guide them and nothing seemed to have changed.

But Jesus kept teaching. He kept showing. He served them and washed their feet. He asked some of them to pray, including them in His spiritual battle, knowing full well they'd fall short yet again and let Him down. He even showed compassion and called Judas friend. And He's done the same with me. He has continued to teach and to guide, thought I have been slow to learn and forgetful of lessons I swore I'd never forget. He has washed me clean and served me, even as my mind was not on following Him but on advancing my own agenda. He has called me friend and embraced me even as as I placed the kiss of betrayal upon His check and thrown Him to the wolves for a cheap and momentary reward. He knew I would face the pressure, buckle like a belt and flee, and yet He called me to Him anyway.

How long do we reach out when people keep slapping the hand away? How long do we keep sharing our experience, strength and hope with someone who says they hear and understand but don't change? How long do we serve someone who only cares about themselves? How long do we stay friends with people who offend and betray? Well, if we're serious about following Jesus, the answer is to death. We do it until the end and leave the results to the work of the Spirit. We love and serve and obey irregardless of their response or lack of.


If your response to that is, "I can't do that!," don't feel alone. That's mine as well. I think it's everyone's who is honest about it. Just like every other aspect of denying self and serving God, we can't do  it on our own. We must rely on grace. We must have the love and power of the Spirit within us do the work through us and for us. It is only by grace that we can serve and love those who do not deserve it.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Killing The Creepy Crawlies

When our homes are infested with dangerous and deadly creatures, we never ask the exterminator to only remove some of them. Dalyn Woodard shares on how we need to let the work of Christ have it's way in our lives to remove all the spiritual things that produce death in our lives. The message, "Killing The Creepy Crawlies," is about 10 minutes long and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on Sunday, August 19, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen. May God bless and keep you.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Echo ~ August 18, 2018 ~ Wrestling In The Garden

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

March 24, 2015.

You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Hebrews 12:4

Jesus, completely God and completely man, had a wrestling match with Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane. The part of Him that was all man felt the fear about what was soon to happen to Him. He wanted to find another way. He wanted to escape the cross. The anxiety, anguish and sorrow overwhelmed Him to the point that He felt like He was dying (Matthew 26). His Spirit, all God, knew that the plan and will of the Father was the only way. He wrestled with and defeated the temptation to do His own will (the will of the man part) instead of the Father's will. He settled the argument with surrender. "Not My will but Yours be done."

Jesus stood up after that time of prayer ready to face all that would come, starting in the next few minutes. He would be betrayed. Every friend who ever promised to have His back and ride with Him to hell and back ran away and deserted Him. One of His best friends would deny even knowing Him. He would be lied about, misquoted, and framed in a horrible farce of a trial. He would be beaten, mocked and crucified. Let the pain begin with a kiss, Jesus was ready. Why? because He resisted the will of His natural/fleshly self and surrendered to the will of the Father. 

It wasn't easy. In fact, this battle took so much out of Him that the stress caused blood vessels to burst, and Jesus sweated drops of blood. We can't do this. We're not capable. The author of Hebrews knew this to the point that even with the length of time it would take to deliver a letter he didn't fear writing that none of them had resisted sin and the flesh to the point of sweating blood. We just can't. We, on our own, will cave long before that point. But the Spirit that settled things at Gethsemane lives in us, and He is able to give us the power and strength to line our will up with God's. Once the will is surrendered, the battle is over, no matter what comes.

Abba, thank You for making it possible to walk with You. Thank You for giving us the power to surrender and the strength to obey, because without the added aspect of Your Spirit, I go running from the idea of Gethsemane in my life. Not only can I not resist to the point that Jesus did, the sweating of blood, I can't even go to the garden to try. Thank You for Your love for me. You are good. Amen.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 17, 2018 ~ Don't Panic

We've probably all heard the scripture that the devil is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. That sounds a little scary, and it is devastating information if that is the whole story. Just as if you stop at Step one the situation is hopeless. We are powerless over our bondage. Great. Now what? But there is more to the story.

The writers of scripture were inspired by the Holy Spirit with truth, but how that was done varied with the different people doing the writing and the different audiences. If that verse were written today for us, it would probably read differently, but the original audience knew something about man eating lions that most of us may not know.

Man eating lions will crouch in the night near a village and roar. It's deafening and frightening. Those who stay in the shelter are OK, but those who panic and let their fear drive them to run, become pray. Fear says you have to move, but it's not true. The devil is a roaring lion. He can't storm in and get us when we are in the shelter of Daddy's wings. So he crouches nearby and roars, causing fear. We may stay afraid, but if we remember that God is our shelter and our refuge and stay put, he can't do more than make noise. It is only when we let our fear drive us to look for an answer outside the shelter of God's love and will for us that we get chewed up.

Today, let us not panic at the sound of the roaring lion. Let us remember that while it's scary, it is only noise. Jesus has defeated the works of the devil and we are secure in Daddy's love for us. We may be in the Valley of the Shadow, but we don't have to stay afraid because the Shepherd is with us.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Who's Your Daddy?

What does it mean when 1 John 3 tells us that whoever sins has not seen or known God? Does it mean that you aren't a real Christian if you sin? Dalyn Woodard shares on what it means to understand that God is our father and to have an abiding relationship with Him. The message, "Who's Your Daddy?," is about 56 minutes long, and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on August 15, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen.

If you missed the first message in the series "The Daddy Heart Of God," entitled "Redirected By Love," it can be found here. The second message, "God Is Light," can be found here. The third message, "You Are Beloved," can be found here. The fourth message, "You Have Overcome," can be found here. The fifth message, "The Trouble Of Tribbles." can be found here. The sixth message, "Who's Your Jesus?," can be found here, and the seventh message, "Truth Tattoo," can be found here.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

If you would like to have notifications of new Unshackled Moments and messages sent to you via email, send an email to dalynwoodard@mail.com requesting to be added to the list. You can also follow Dalyn Woodard (@Dalynsmsings) on Twitter or Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 15, 2018 ~ It's All Or Nothing

I have heard many times in recovery people say that they tip their hats to folks who can drink in moderation.  I agree completely. I have nothing against drinking in moderation, nor do I believe it to be a sin. I just know that I am not one of those who can. I mention this because of one of my favorite past times.

Some people challenge, entertain and enjoy themselves solving puzzles. Some love sudoku. My father-in-law loves golf and that drive to see how few hits it takes to get the ball in the hole. My brother likes to see how many catfish he can catch with his bare hands. I don't play golf, nor do I noodle. I love fantasy sports wagering. I have an app which lets me play against people all over and against the "house." The only difference between this and gambling is that it is free. I don't risk money nor win money. Otherwise, the point spreads are the same, and you make the same types of "wagers" as you would in Vegas. You risk stars instead of cash. I only go into so much detail because I know that while my issue is chemical, some are addicted to gambling. They couldn't play this game without soon wanting the rush of the real thing and the chance to win real money. I most certainly do not wish to encourage gambling to anyone who is bondage to that as I am to alcohol.

But with all that said, there is something that I realized today as I made my picks on the baseball games for the day. While I do make individual game wagers, I love parlays. For those who are unfamiliar with sports wagering, a parlay is a wager where you pick multiple games on one wager. For example, today I made a three game parlay, a four game, a five game, a six game and one big 15 game parlay. The payouts are nice if you hit, but here's the thing; you have to get every game right. If one team you chose to win loses, you lose. So, while you may only have to risk one star to win over a thousand on a 15 game parlay, even if you get 14 games right and miss one, you lose. It's all or nothing.

The rewards are great with larger parlays, but the odds are against you, because there are more chances for a single upset to cost you everything. While it may seem a little unfair, but I was so close, there's no difference between only getting one game right and only missing one game. If you don't pick them all right, you lose. I have hit a couple of 20 game parlays, and it's  pretty exciting to me. I've missed many.

Life is like a decades long parlay. From the age of understanding to death, we all face many choices. If we get them all right, we parlay all those right choices into the ultimate win, eternal life. But even one wrong choice brings the total score to less than 100% right. It's a losing ticket. And it doesn't  matter what we do today and tomorrow if we've already missed the mark.  The pay out for perfection is glorious, but anything less than perfection is a loss. Period. Always. There are no curves or close enoughs. And we've all blown it. Some of us missed a lot of choices. Some have missed only a few. But only one has hit the parlay of life. Only one has walked in humanity without a single wrong choice.

I missed three games tonight.  That means I picked 12 winners out of 15 games. I feel pretty good about that. But I didn't lose more or less than if I had missed all 15. I lost. Maybe you have a 90% positive record of right choices. If so, you probably feel like a pretty good person. Some of us aren't close to that and may feel horrible about ourselves. A good record looks better than a bad one, but it's the same result. Loss.

The good news is that God loves us as we are, not as we should be. He loves the people who almost never get it right as much as those who almost never get it wrong. He loves us all so much that He gave us His winning ticket in exchange for our losing ones. We can all claim the prize for winning the spiritual parlay. But you only get to turn in one ticker. You can either trade yours for His or keep yours. There's no point in continuing trying to win by choosing right, because the parlay is already blown with what happened yesterday. But if we make the trade, the payout isn't based on our performance but on His. And the payout, remember, is eternal life. It's all or nothing. So since we have already failed to get it all right, we must trade all, the good and the bad, of our ability with His and rely completely  on the perfect work He did.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 14, 2018 ~ Don't Climb; Rest

Going through a difficult time? Feel broken and shattered?  Has trying to remember hope become like trying to recall the taste of a meal eaten years ago? Maybe it's worse than that. Perhaps it has gotten to the point where you wonder if life will ever be worth living, and while you desperately want to live you are simply going through the motions until you can finally die.

Man, that's morbid. But I've been  there, and I know that I am not alone. Life spirals downward into misery and hopelessness. Order decays into chaos and can not return. The rocks of the bottom rush up to greet us. Rock bottom is a frightening and miserable place, and it's easy to wonder, if God cares and loves me so much, where is He?

We;re lying broken and bloody on the rocks, and we know where we are. We're in hell. And obviously, God isn't in hell, so He's not here. He's up there, above, at the top of the cliff we fell from. So we do the only thing that makes sense. We climb. We try to leave the mess behind us. Though we are beyond weak, weary and wounded, we try to do what we could not do at our healthiest.

That's a worse mistake than what took us to the bottom. It dooms us to waste even more of what little is left in us to climb, which we can usually only do well enough to make it to a height that causes the inevitable fall to break us even more. If you're on the bottom, don't climb.

It's time to stop. Rest on the rock. I'm not saying pick up a shovel and dig. Don't continue in the chaos and the downward destruction. Rest on the Rock. Bedrock makes a great foundation, and when we stop trying to control our fall or climb from our pit, we find that it is on the rock of who Jesus is and Daddy's great love for us that we can finally stand and find stable footing.

He will give you rest, provide healing and stop the slide. Then, as restoration begins to take hold because of what He's done, He begins to lead us up the path we could not see before. The path that takes us out of the valley of the Shadow of death. And once your feet are on the path, not only do you no longer have to fear falling back to the bottom, but you can lead others to the path of escape. Jesus is the rock on which we stand and on which the life worth living is built strong enough to stand through any storm. So stop trying to climb. Rest.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 13, 2018 ~ Stuck In The Swing

Last week I saw a video on Facebook that some found hilarious while others found it highly offensive. I'm not going to go into who's right or wrong about that, because that isn't remotely the point of this. Someone had walked up on one of their sheep stuck in a tire swing. The sheep had stuck its head and front legs through the hole and not been able to get either all the way through or ease out backwards. Every time the person walked towards the sheep to help free it from the swing, the sheep, afraid and able to just barely touch back legs to the ground, would try to run.

The result of this is that it would run just far and fast enough that it could no longer reach the ground and would swing forward a little before swinging back. The person obviously couldn't keep from laughing, and watched until  the sheep quit moving and then walked forward again to try to free it. The sheep would run, loose contact with the ground and swing more. If the sheep would just stay still when approached, the owner could help it out of the swing, but in fear and panic it is doing only what will keep it stuck and in fear.

I couldn't help but wonder if the natural instinct to let fear drive it away from the only source of help and freedom is one of the reasons why we are compared to sheep. I am grateful that our Good Shepherd doesn't laugh at the predicaments that we get ourselves into, because there is no doubt that I act like that sheep all too often. First I stick my head somewhere it doesn't belong and get myself stuck. The more I try to escape the more helpless I become. Along comes the Shepherd to set me free and instead of trusting Him, I panic and run, making no progress and staying stuck. Fear fuels fear and the cycle continues until I am finally too worn out to run, at which point the Shepherd gently lets His Spirit comfort me as He eases me out of the place where I am stuck and into His arms. This is when I generally feel foolish. Why, oh why didn't I just let Him help me from the moment I got stuck?

Today, let us be quick to let the Shepherd set us free and not stay stuck running all out to nowhere. Let us remember that He cares for us. He is not laughing at us, nor is He angry. He only wants to set us free from the swings we are stuck in.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

It's Not Us

Why is it that sometimes it seems that no matter how much we want to follow Jesus without turning away we fail?. Dalyn Woodard shares on how we need to be careful of our perspective so that we always remember that it is His power, provision and love that makes us able to come and to stay. The message, "It's Not Us," is about 12 minutes long and was recorded at Nacogdoches Christian Fellowship on Sunday, August 12, 2018. It's our prayer that you are blessed and ministered to as you listen. May God bless and keep you.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments and or listens to the messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions to more people by sharing the Moments and messages that you read or listen to? Hitting the share button instead of or in addition to the like button will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

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Unshackled Echo ~ August 11, 2018 ~ Who Built This House?

Today's Unshackled Echo was previously published on

March 23, 2015.

God is the architect. I am the builder. –Unknown

I came across the above quote this morning, and I have to admit that at first glance it sounds pretty good. God is in charge of the plan, but we have to do our part, we do the work. But as good as this sounds, it's a little off from the right idea. This forgets the truth of my helplessness and powerlessness. I agree with the truth and idea that I have to do my part. I need to give everything I have and am to the process, but as a laborer at best. Carpenter's helper is probably a more accurate job description.

The builder still has some power over the process. The architect designs the house, but it's the builder who is charge of getting it done. The builder will make the day to day decisions as to how, when, where and more. The builder is actually the one in charge on the site, the one the workers know and see. I can't afford to give myself that kind of power and control over building the house of my life. I must remember that I am a lowly, unskilled laborer. I will place the board where the Architect and Builder say, cut it to the length He says, and place the nails where He wants. I don't make the choices, I just do as I'm told. Where I insert my knowledge and skill into the project is where the house gets a little off-square at best. I don't want that.

Psalm 127 tells us, "Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it."

Abba, help me to remember my place in the construction of my life. Let me not labor in vain or damage any further Your plans. I want to do it Your way. Instruct me step by step, board by board, nail by nail. Amen.

This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.

Unshackled Moments ~ August 10, 2018 When Forgiveness Feels Unfair

Forgiveness can be hard. Sometimes just the idea can reopen the wound and victimize us all over again. We all want to be forgiven for our mess and the wrongs we have done, but we often don't want to extend that same forgiveness into the mess someone else caused and what they have done to us. And that makes perfect sense when we take into account that our problem is self. I need mercy. I demand justice from them. Both of these make things better for me. We don't see giving mercy and accepting justice for us as in our own best interest.

It's easy to throw out grace when it comes to forgiveness. What makes forgiveness easy? Well, they didn't mean to hurt me and they're really sorry. They didn't have any choice. I messed up first, so really we're even. They've changed so I won't hold the past against them. But that's not forgiveness. That's justice. That's some idea of fairness. The scales are balanced, either by what they've done to make it right or be different or by what we've done to each other. You stepped on my toe. I broke your nose. We're even, and I won't hold it against you anymore. Not forgiveness.

But this is the type of thinking that has some of us years into recovery saying, or at least feeling, things like, but that happened over a decade ago! That's not who I am anymore! Besides, I was high when I did that and never would have otherwise. You should really get over it and forgive me already. It's also what has us saying, or at least feeling, things like, well, they haven't changed at all so they don't deserve forgiveness. They aren't sorry, and I can't  trust them, so I'm surely not going to forgive them. And so the cycle of sickness and resentment continues.

We somehow have all decided that to forgive means people are getting away with something and there is no justice. That we can't be healed or restored without justice, so we can't let it go until it has been made right. And you know what? You're right and wrong if you feel that way.It is absolutely true that there can be no healing and restoration without justice. That we can't have a life worth living without justice. Last night I said, talking aloud to a TV character, "Well, whoever said that life was supposed to be fair, little girl?"

We all did. We admit that life isn't fair, or doesn't seem fair. But we all also know that it should be. It needs to be. In a good world, life is fair. There is justice. That's why, even though we don't believe life is fair, when we are treated unfairly, we immediately feel it and recognize it and declare it. That's not fair!!

We see forgiveness like an open bar that isn't truly open. OK, maybe that's a bad example and the drunk in me is coming out. But what if an even had a buffet, instead of an open bar, and it was free for some and others had to pay? We would say that isn't right. It isn't fair. But what if we learned that someone had purchased the buffet tickets for everyone and all that you had to do to eat free is go by the table at the door and pick up a paid for ticket? Oh, so I don't have to pay? Awesome. Let me go get a ticket. And everyone who wants a ticket can have it? That's fair. And when we see someone upset that they're about to have to pay for their food? We tell them about the table with the free tickets. But no one is getting away with a free meal. It's not free. It's just that someone else paid. The chefs and suppliers are still getting the same money. It's just, because no one is shorted.

Everything that has been done to us will be made right. The bill will be settled. Everything. And everything we have done will also be made right. That bill will be settled as well. The unfairness of life is a result of sin and death entering the world and throwing everything off balance. When the King returns and sets everything in order, justice will be satisfied. The scales will all balance. Life will be eternally fair. It has to be that way, because we have a just and good God. So every debt will come due, and it will be paid. The only question is by whom? If we accept what Jesus did on the cross, we can stop worrying about our bill. We have a ticket to the buffet. It's not free. It's just that Jesus paid for it. And if we don't accept His work? Then one day we will account for every wrong, every selfish act, every idle word. Every single one.

And all those people who wronged us? The same is true. Either they accept the payment made on their behalf or they will pay. And what that means is that we don't have to keep trying to pay, nor do we have to go through life trying to make sure that we are paid. It's done. There can be no healing and restoration without justice, but there is justice. Jesus satisfied justice when He gave up His innocence in exchange for the world's guilt. He paid for the eternal buffet. When we remember and believe that, we can stop trying to escape or satisfy justice ourselves and stop trying to get it from people who can't afford the bill. Instead, we can know that it has or will be made right. So we can turn to the one who paid the price, trust the goodness of justice and mercy, and let the healing begin in us.


This site is free. If this blessed, helped and or informed you, the best thing you can do is pass it on via the social buttons below. And please subscribe or follow Unshackled Life Ministries on Facebook.

Unshackled Life Ministries is grateful for every person that reads the daily Unshackled Moments, the weekly Unshackled Echo and or listens to the Audio Messages. I want to thank those who have clicked "like" on something that blessed or ministered to them on social media, commented on the blog or replied to an email subscription. It is encouraging to know that God is using this ministry to help and bless others. Please remember that if God used something from this ministry to help, encourage or bless you, it could also bless someone else. Would you help get the devotions and sermons to more people by sharing this? Hitting the share button or forwarding this to a friend will help us reach more people with the good news of freedom and the encouragement to live an Unshackled Life. Thank you and God bless.