“It’s our Independence Day, today and every day”

I’m waterin’ my flowers this morning. Bright and cheerful sun patiens march in an orderly line before the chicken coop. And just above them, colorful, patriotic bunting placed in time for last night’s party, the gathering we call The Kaboom. It’s the Fourth today, and my thoughts turn to our country, to America…

Fourth of July. Red, white and blue. Fireworks and holidays and family and friends. Here in the U. S. of A.

I’m thinkin’ this morning on this country I love. Thinkin’ how it was founded on freedom, on the desire of a people group once strong-oppressed who longed for one thing:  to be free.

Free to worship, to pray. Free to be. Free to…live.

I’m thinkin’ just now on the state of The States, how things have sure changed in our land. And I’m thinkin’ on independence, and on fear.

I cannot lie. Things are happening in this country that concern me. Deeply. Laws made, laws revoked, new and dark ideologies that clash with what I believe is the truth. There is much to be alarmed about, and in that, denying what’s taking place is not the answer. It’s not.

Independence and freedom and fear.

And His people.

As alarmed as I am about what’s happening in America, I’m nearly as alarmed by what is happening among those who have taken His name, Papa’s children. If I were to go by what I see in my newsfeed, we have become The Church of No. Oh, not everyone, not always, but very often.

“No” to this, “no” to that. “We shouldn’t” and “don’t do that” until my head is clear spinnin’, eyes crossin’. And it’s stuff. Picky stuff, things that do not pertain to salvation. My goodness, if I were an unbeliever, I cannot imagine how I would want any part of it, this group that’s always and ever shoutin’ “no.”

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘yes’ in Christ (1 Cor. 2:10a).”

The other thing I’m noticin’ is the overwhelming fear among those who say they believe. Trust in God. Who claim they are people of faith. Shoutin’ fear.

I can feel it. I can see the ‘reasons.’ It could come and flood me if I’d let it. But why?

The world is simply acting like the world. They’re not His children. We cannot expect them to live differently. It’s getting darker.

We know that in the end, we will suffer. We know in the end, times get hard. He’s said this. But we know this as well, that He will never forsake us, and we know how it ends, where we’re going. We are hope-full!

The truth is that no matter how dark it gets down here, His light’s always shinin’, and the darkness can never extinguish the light. It cannot. So this here–this moment, this dash on the timeline–is our chance to shine brighter and brighter. Quit cowering!

Stop retreating. Stop running. Quit retreating…and start advancing. Start living and walking like believers.

Look up; don’t look down. Reach out; don’t focus in. We’re the victors, but we’re living like losers. Done with that.

Just as people fought and died for our country’s independence, so Christ Jesus lived and died for our spiritual independence. There is so very much “yes” in this truth, in our lives.

So. On this Fourth of July, take heart. Church, rise up! March forth and carry His banner. You can.

It’s our Independence Day, today and every day. What glory. What joy. What hope!

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘yes’ in Christ. And so through Him, the ‘amen’ by us to the glory of God (I Cor. 2:10).”

Happy Independence Day. Amen!

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