Let’s Celebrate America!

 

America celebrates its 239th birthday today. It may not be the perfect country, but I am proud to say that I am an American.

 

flagWhile traveling to SE Asia a few years ago, I was stopped by a group of students who were working on a high school 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 America stood for. They liked America.

 

They asked what I did for a living…of course at the time I was an unemployed starving artist and I told them so. 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 travelling companions 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 with many freedoms here in America and I am so thankful for those who have fought through the years for these freedoms. I am thankful for the men and women who willingly placed their lives on the line for my freedom. I am thankful for those who sacrificially gave their lives 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. Freedom in Christ can be found regardless of the country in which one lives.

 

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 (especially freedom) 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 is 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

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