Independence

As we prepare to celebrate the July 4th holiday we need to remember those men and women who have been willing to pay the ultimate price for our freedom. It is easy to walk in freedom but many individuals down through the years of our history have offered their lives on a battlefield that our nation could enjoy our liberty today. To each of these brave men and women we say a heartfelt THANK YOU! Even today we have military personnel stationed in various parts of this world fulfilling their responsibility so that we could enjoy the opportunities of freedom. Take a moment this weekend and reflect on these soldiers and their families and realize that the price for freedom is still being paid. There are enemies of freedom who seek to destroy our nation both from within and without. We need to pray for these valiant soldiers and pray for the leadership of this nation. We are at a very crucial hour in our history and we need the direction of God. But I have not lost hope; throughout history God has raised up men and women for His purpose and plan and I believe He is doing the same thing at this point in the juncture of our history. We must not slack from our duties that are declared in the New Testament, we are to pray for our leaders whether we voted for them or not. Let us be faithful to our responsibilities; we know that God will be faithful to the promises of His Word. Today is also a good day to remember the price that was paid for our spiritual freedom. My heart leaps for joy as I reflect on the willingness of Jesus Christ to pay the debt for my sins. A line from an old song declares, "He (Jesus) paid a debt that I owed"; we must remember that we were in need of a Savior and that we were captured in the kingdom of darkness and Christ paid the price for our redemption. I challenge you to worship the Lord today. I challenge you to lift your voice as never before and rejoice in the fact that you have been delivered from the powers of sin and transferred into the Kingdom of Christ. Just as the freedom for our nation did not come without a price so it is also true concerning our spiritual freedom. Our spiritual freedom cost the death of our Savior on a "old rugged cross"; Christ died that we might live and today I am thankful for His willing sacrifice for my deliverance. As you move through this weekend and all of its celebration events do not forget to offer praise and thanksgiving to Christ and all that He provided and continues to provide for all of us. GOD BLESS AMERICA!