Thoughts For July From The Pulpit

I was listening to a speaker on NPR the other day and he was talking about the freedoms we have as a nation….It made me start thinking.  When you think about July 4th what comes to mind?  Perhaps you think about a day off from work with picnics, fireworks, and those red, white, and blue flags displayed in front yards along your neighborhood streets.  This is all good, but the one word that comes to my mind is freedom.  It is a fact that  we live in the United States of America where we can voice our opinions freely, and can vote for the people of our choice. These are very good reasons why we should never take our freedom for granted.  Each year I notice that some people really go all out decorating for every holiday, but  on the 4th of July I just display my flag in the yard for the entire month. The flag means a lot to me because of those in my family who have been in wars. I have also had friends who have served our country, and I have known some who did not come home in the past and present war.  My father served in World War II, my mother sang for USO shows around Alabama during that war, Frank was in the Navy, I have had friends and family who also served in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and stateside.  Because of their contributions in keeping us all free, I proudly display the flag.  Have you thought about the American flag and all that it stands for? It represents an emblem of the greatest nation on the earth. It has been carried through centuries in battle. It is placed on the graves of our honored dead who fought for the right for us to remain a free nation, and it flies high during peace times, as well as war.  “Old Glory” is its name.  There is another real freedom we can have. We can display it every day of the year, and that is our freedom “In Christ” to live a life to glorify Him, so that His banner of love, truth, and peace can be seen by all.  We can be free in our spirit to serve the Creator of the whole universe and that my friends, is True Freedom.  Romans 8:2 says,"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death."  (ASV)  Just like the flag that represents freedom, Jesus is a banner over us, protecting and shielding us. He is the “Glory and the Lifter of our heads” at all times. Let freedom ring out in your heart today.   Psalm 3:3 reads, "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head." (KJV)  Can God change your life?  God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life.  That is true freedom!

God Bless The USA,

Karen