“It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.” – Anonymous
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
“It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.” – Anonymous
thedailylily.com 
As General David Patraeus addressed the troops in Afghanistan, today, on the occasion of our Nation’s birthday, the 4th of July, he thanked “each and every one of you for your commitment to see this through and for the sacrifice that that entails.” (paraphrased)
Freedom isn’t free. Someone has to pay the price for the freedom and liberty of others. Throughout the history of our nation, wars have been fought and our young people and not so young people have given their lives and limbs to secure our safety and our liberties. Jesus Christ made that kind of sacrifice. He died that we,and not only Americans, but for the planet earth, that all might live and not only live this life in security and freedom but live for eternity with Him if we will but accept the sacrifice of the cross and receive the liberty that is in serving Jesus Christ. Paul says in Gal. 5:1, it is for FREEDOM that Christ has set you free” Thank you troops all over this world who are laboring in our behalf in harm’s way. We salute you and appreciate you and pray for your safety. And thank YOU Jesus Christ for Your ultimate sacrifice of the cross that forever mankind can be free if we accept YOU and Your salvation so freely You have given.
“Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — A 25-year-old soldier from Vermont was killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan, the Vermont National Guard said Saturday night.”
And General speaks on Saturday:
“We are in this to win,” Petraeus told a crowd of several hundred NATO and Afghan officials at the ceremony held on a grassy area just outside coalition headquarters. “We have arrived at a critical moment.”
A few scriptures I read today, 4th of July which is Sunday, 2010 to help me celebrate with purpose freedom and hopefully do my part.
John 9:4 “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night comethwhen no man can work.”
Luke 19:13 “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”
Romans 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
I Thessalonians 5:1-3 “But of the TIMES AND SEASONS, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child: and they shall not escape.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to god works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so MUCH THE MORE, AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING.”
John Chrysostom, known in Christianity chiefly as a preacher, theologian and liturgist writes; “Here is the cause of all our evils, our not knowing the Scriptures.” –
May our freedom remain and ring freely for others to live in freedom…
A story of hope:
Thanks for sharing this inspiring story that helps us see the depth of the meaning and value of the word freedom.
May God bless, strengthen and protect our troops and all who serve in Afganistan and elsewhere. Their service helps provide the freedom to ‘work the works’ as the scripture above says.
One cannot read the above “story of hope,” and believe that freedom is free. May God bless this young man and protect all of our soldiers. Thank God and all those who have risked their lives, for freedom in America.
Sara, thanks for sharing this wonderful blog as we celebrate the day of our independence. Just thinging about what John 9:4 “I must WORK the WORKS of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work…..” This is very interesting. Our time to work is limited according to John. We know our time is limited to do the work of God. We see the signs that our Lord spoke of. We know the clock is ticking. We know our Lord’s return is near. With all this in our mind, how do we get so distracted from the work that we are assigned to do by our Lord. We will do everything else that comes up, we stay so busy and bogged down that we can’t think clearly. We put things before God that we shouldn’t. Why do we do this. Are we addicted to BUSY. Why do we put so much stress on our mind, body and spirit. If we read what John says, we better get busy doing the work of God. Our time is short. I sure don’t want to wait too long and meet the Lord face to face when I’ve been so distracted being busy that I haven’t done the job God wants me too. I know my “paycheck” would be disappointing. We better get busy and SNAP to it. WORK, WORK WORK, before it’s too late.