America celebrates its 237^th birthday today. It may not be the perfect country and we’ve certainly do not hold the same values as those who fought so diligently for her freedom, but I am still proud to say that I am an American.

While traveling to SE Asia last fall, I was stopped by a group of high schoolers who were working on a project. They wanted to interview me. Of course the first question was where I was from. As soon as I said America, their eyes lit up. They knew America. They knew what stood for. They liked America.

They asked what I did for a living…of course at the time I was a starving artist with no employment. I wanted these young folks from a foreign land to know that yes, America is a great country, but that we have our problems and unemployment was one of them.

My group finally pulled me away from this enthusiastic group and we moved along to dinner.

I brought home many lessons from my trip to SE Asia, but one of them was to embrace the freedoms I have here in America. I can voice my opinion. I can vote for my candidate. I can move about without being watched. I can write and post my thoughts and feelings without reprimand.

I live in freedom here in America and I am so thankful for those who have fought through the years for my freedom. I am thankful for those men and women who willingly placed their lives on the line for my freedom. I am thankful for those who sacrificially gave their lives so that I might know and love freedom.

I am also thankful for the One who gave His life so that I might have spiritual freedom. It is only through Jesus Christ that can know what freedom is truly about.

Because of Jesus, I am free from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:18).

I am free from the holdings of earthly pleasure (Colossians 3:2).

I am free from the guilt of my sin (Philippians 3:13).

I am free from all the trappings of this world (Ephesians 2:1-10).

I am free to believe God (John 6:29).

I am free (John 8:31-32).

Yes, I am free indeed! I pray that you can say the same thing today, for there is truly nothing outside of Jesus Christ. There is nothing this world holds that is more important than freedom in Christ.

There have been a few areas in which I’ve gone back to my old ways of living since my trip to SE Asia. There are some things I take for granted. But what I will never again take for granted what God has done for me and that I live in a country where I can proclaim His Name.

Happy Birthday America!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

If you would like to read more about freedom from sin, take a look at these passages. Psalm 101:12; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 53:5; and Hebrews 10:11.

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