Tag Archive: freedom


shhh

I have a confession to make.

I can not keep a secret.  Seriously, it is pure torture!!

I just helped my parents order gifts for the kids for Christmas.  Gifts that the kids will absolutely go ga-ga over!  These are THE GIFTS; the ones they continue hinting at, the ones they’ve been talking about for months, the ones they never dreamed they’d get, never thought they’d see, never imagined they’d hold…

I am having such a hard keeping it secret!!  I am so darn excited, I’m just bursting!!

I want to talk about it, I want to share it, I want to tell someone, ANYONE…

Crazy excited

But there is a secret that I have been known to keep.  The best secret.  The one I should share but I zip my lips, I hold my tongue.

The Good News of Jesus Christ.

Why am I not bursting at the seams over what Christ did for me?

Why aren’t I just as excited to tell someone… ANYONE… about God’s saving grace that I can’t keep quiet?

Zip Lip

Why aren’t I?

God offers us an amazing gift.  A gift that we will go ga-ga over.  A gift that we always long for, hint at, the one that we can’t stop thinking about.  A gift that we all desperately want but think we will never get.

Love…

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”   Romans 5:8

Forgiveness…

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”   1 John 1:9

Freedom…

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”   John 8:36

Peace…

“and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”   Revelation 21:4

Joy…

“The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”   Psalm 19:8

Beauty…

“…THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”   1 Corinthians 2:9

Life…

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”   1 John 5:13

 

We can have a burden for the lost; an excitement to share the change and promises God has made in and given to us, but we must ask for it.

It is very easy to grow cold in our longing to share what Christ did.  The evil one makes sure of that.  He certainly does not want us sharing our faith and changing hearts, so he plants seeds of doubt and fear in us to turn us from sharing the hope of Christ with others.

Ignore those whispers!

Don’t let the evil one steal God’s thunder!  Pray for courage, pray for a burden and let God work.

helping hand

Heavenly Father, your Word promises that You are always with me.  Give me a burden for those who don’t know you, the boldness to approach them and the words to say.  Please prepare hearts and guide my steps.  Oh God I praise You for the change You’ve made in me, please fill me with a desire for the lost and allow me to share You with them.

 

Related articles:
Heaven is a Beautiful Place   (http://www.mfctoday.org/)

We lift up our hearts, O God, on this day of celebration in gratitude for the gift of being Americans.

We rejoice with all those who share in the great dream of freedom and dignity for all.

With flags and feasting, with family and friends, we salute those who have sacrificed that we might have the opportunity to bring to fulfillment our many God-given gifts.

As we deny all prejudice a place in our hearts, may we also clearly declare our intention to work for the time when all people, regardless of race, religion or sex, will be granted equal dignity and worth.

Come, O gracious God, who led your children Israel from slavery, keep us free from all that might hold us in bondage.

Bless our country and join our simple celebration that we may praise you, our Source of freedom, the One in whom we place our trust.

~ Edward Hays
A Pilgrim’s Almanac:
Reflections for Each Day of the Year,
p. 111

I Spy allegiance

Men and women for centuries have given their lives for their love of this country and for our freedom.  We are so grateful for the price they have paid allowing us the privilege to live in a free country with no fear and opportunity abundant.

That is why we pledge our allegiance to Old Glory…to our flag of 50 stars and 13 stripes, and why we feel pride when we sing out, hand over hearts, to the “Star Spangled Banner.”  We know what has been sacrificed, are inspired by the love and price that has been paid, and are impelled to stay faithful to it.

What does it mean to pledge allegiance to something?

pledge      noun       \ˈplej\
Definition of PLEDGE:  a binding promise or agreement to do or forbear
 
al·le·giance       noun        \ə-ˈlē-jən(t)s\
Definition of ALLEGIANCE
1 (1) : the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government 
   (2) : the obligation of an alien to the government under which the alien resides
2 : devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause

As Americans we respect the price that was paid, we love and are proud to be part of this incredible country, and are devoted to support it… but as Christians, do we show the same respect, love and devotion to the One star and His stripes?

 

We have an obligation to support it…

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”   Mark 12:17

        

We should be loyal to it…

“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”   1 Peter 2:17

          

Show we are proud of it…

“But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.”   2 Timothy 1:12

           

Show our devotion to it…

“Pay to all what is owed to them: …respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”   Romans 13:7

           

Stand up for it…

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”   Titus 2:7-8

          

Understand what has been sacrificed for us…

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13

         

There is a song that gets me every time I hear it.  I love the message because it is exactly how I feel about my relationship with Christ;

“It ought to be
More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance

Caught up, called out
Come take a look at me now
It’s like I’m falling, oh
It’s like I’m falling in love

It’s like I’m falling in love, love, love
Deeper and deeper
It was love that made
Me a believer
In more than a name, a faith, a creed
Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me”

“More Like Falling In Love”  – Jason Gray

I love this country, and am so thankful and blessed to live here.  But the love I have for this country does not compare to the love I have for my Savior.  One day this country will fall from my eyes and the only thing that will matter is the One standing before me.

And like most people, I long to hear those words…

“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”   Matthew 25:21

Powerful YouTube Video

This powerful video illustration presents a creative and artistic worship experience from spoken word poet, Amena Brown. This reverent video illustration recounts Gods plan of salvation for us all:

The Easter message is one that needs to be heard in every season and in every culture. Amena Brown’s poetry and mixture of scripture, combined with the cutting edge video illustration technology will bring you to a point of worship with Almighty God.
http://Jesus.net
http://facebook.com/jesus.net

AMAZING.

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