Skip to main content

Let Freedom Ring!

Happy 4th of July! This is a time of great celebration for all Americans. It's a time of remembering and looking forward with both gratitude and expectation.
 
I'm so thankful for the freedoms we enjoy here in America. I'm not so naïve as to believe we live in a perfect nation but I do believe America is an amazing place to live. A nation worth the effort of every resident to preserve and exercise their freedom with kindness and compassion. Never turning a blind eye to injustice, but speaking out and standing against it. Seeing the value in every person, desiring their good, doing good to them, and never tearing them down with our words or actions.

Many have paid a high price for the right of all Americans to choose. And one of the greatest choices we're free to make is to whom or what we will assign first place in our lives. We must choose wisely because to whomever or whatever we assign the greatest value will determine every other choice we make.

Which brings me to what I consider the greatest freedom of all. Freedom from sin. It too was bought at a great price. Life is in the blood. Sin brings death. Death and sin were conquered by blood; the blood of Jesus Christ, God's promised Messiah. Only through His life, death, and resurrection do we attain freedom from sin and eternal death. Through relationship with Him, we're given abundant life that begins now and extends into eternity. (Leviticus 17:11, John 3:16, John 10:10, & Galatians 5:1)

Abundant life includes freedom. Freedom to live by grace and with no condemnation! Full tilt living that allows us to say “no” to the things that enslave us and “yes” to the things that bring benefit to us and others. (2 Corinthians 12:9 & Romans 8:1)

That's real freedom! No obligation to think, say, or do what society or others dictate or expect. Freedom to act with love, experience joy, live at peace with God and sow peace into the lives of others, wait with a happy heart, be kind, do good, faithfully choose what's right, never have an exaggerated idea of our own importance, and exercise self-control; at all times, in all circumstances, and with all people. There is no law against any of these freedoms! (Galatians 5:22-23)

Our freedom also includes the amazing privilege of coming into the very presence of God Almighty, our Creator, the Maker of heaven and earth. The freedom to confidently approach His throne and ask for His mercy and grace; for ourselves and others, for our enemies, those who persecute us, and those who do not believe He is who He says He is or can do what He says He can do. We can ask His freedom for all who are enslaved. We can be sure He wants to give it because His word assures us He does. He desires freedom from sin and eternal death for all people!

So whenever we are in need,
we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God.
There we will be treated with undeserved kindness,
and we will find help.
Hebrews 4:16 (CEV)

LORD, may each one of us who are privileged to live in America be good stewards of the blessings and responsibilities of living here. May those of us who are in Christ faithfully exercise our freedom to live for You and be Your light in the world. May the Freedom of Christ ring out with clarity and be heard around the world! God bless America! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Surgery Needed!

I’ve spent years wanting to write words that will bring life and encouragement into the lives of others.   I’ve not written for fear of writing the wrong words or being misunderstood.   I’ve lived a life of disobedience.   I’ve used other “good things” to procrastinate and justify myself.   I’ve allowed dead works to fill my days and ease my conscience, but… Last weekend, I read a verse that caused me to pray a prayer that has rocked my world.   It turned me upside down and has shaken me so hard that everything of no value has been exposed.   Just this morning I was given the reminder that I was delivered and called to a life of holiness for God’s purposes and not my own (2 Timothy 1:9).   So, I’m guessing you want to know what Saturday’s verse was.   Here goes… The verse was Acts 3:26.   So it is to you first that God has sent His servant who He has raised up, so that He might bless you by turning each one of you from your evil ways.   FYI: I am currently reading from the Compl
3 comments
Read more

In The Garden...Tools

Spring beckons us outdoors and invites us to stroll around our gardens.  We see the new growth and we take stock of what needs to be done to keep all our plants as healthy as possible.   For the next few weeks, I want to compare the work of tending our garden to tending the garden of our hearts.   Gardening requires tools , and those tools must be taken care of properly.  They must be cleaned and many must be sharpened.  Items needed will vary by tool, but we all need rags, alcohol, and oil.  Some of you sharpen your own tools which adds sharpening devices and knowledge of angles to the list of things you need.  Other tools need things like electrical cords and batteries.   Not everyone would agree, but I consider gloves and sunglasses as must-have garden tools.  Gloves protect my hands and ensure a firm grip.  S unglasses keep me from squinting against the glare, and help me see what I'm doing.  I don't want to lop off the wrong branch or uproot plants instead of weed
2 comments
Read more

In The Garden...The Flower Walk

Our family has a tradition we call the Flower Walk.  It's an early morning stroll around the garden looking at all that's changed since the previous day.  There's nothing like the quiet stillness, broken only by the singing of the birds.  The dew is heavy and the air is cool. Our Flower Walk is usually done alone, but I do the Flower Walk with Momma or Daddy whenever I'm back home.  We carry a cup of hot drink and amble around the yard and talk about what we see.  We don't whisper, but there is a hush to our words; we speak with a quietness to match the morning air.  We usually settle on the porch and talk about life as we've talked about the garden.  We talk about the things past and dreams for things yet to come.  There is an intimacy in the time we spend together.   There's the lingering of many past walks; the hope of future walks. Gardening, for me, is not about the work or even the flowers that come and go with the seasons.  It's about t
3 comments
Read more