Let Freedom Ring!

There is a lot of excitement today over the fourth of July! Flags abound on my newsfeed as many celebrate this fine day of remembering the sacrifice made by countless men and women in order to be able to live in a glorious country of hope. I wonder sometimes if we have forgotten the price our servicemen and women have paid in order that we might know peace in an otherwise troubled world. As a child I recall waiting on the dock in Portsmouth, Virginia in the 1960's for the ship my dear Daddy was serving on in the U.S. Navy, to pull into port! A lot of flags were waving in excitement as the loved ones stood along side us in anticipation of being re-untied with family members who were filled with delight to welcome them home.




Years later we watched in pride as our daughter, Dawn married her husband Bob who was dressed in his U.S. Marine Corps uniform. It was a happy day! As a family many of our best memories are times centered around celebrating with those we love and cherish. Deanna waited earnestly while her dear husband William served in the U.S. Air Force, in Saudi Arabia. There were a lot of lonely months in which we prayed for his safety and return to us after serving two tours in the desert.




This morning as I read my bible I was reminded of the measures in which our God provides for us. Not only did He create a perfect world for us to inhabit, he gave us every good thing imaginable to insure our pleasure and provision. He knew we would need food and he gave us the entire earth, to enjoy. Looking back I see the progression of man's desire to be independent of this loving creator. Wars and division have come along side the perfect plans once gifted us by Him. How can we complain about war and division and not see how our lack of concern for the salvation of the lost has contributed to this unrest?


I pray this celebration of freedom will cause our hearts to fill once again with pride in our great nation. One nation, under God , indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her through the night with a light from above! May we who call ourselves Americans, realize the amazing lengths to which we have been graced. As military bands proclaim: America, America, God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea! As the fireworks shine brightly in the sky overhead, may we see with fresh vision the magnitude of our HOPE!