It is for Freedom...

America. Home of the Free.

Today is November 11. Veteran's Day. The day we honor those who have served in the military protecting values such as freedom.

Freedom is something I probably take for granted. A lot. I don't utlize my American freedoms in some ways. I can. But I don't. And I don't abuse them either. At least I hope not.

Soldiers have a different kind of sacrifice to give. Some give up being with their families for long periods of time. Or altogether.

Some ultimately give up their freedoms, including their lives, so that our American freedoms are preserved:

• Freedom to speak, well, freely. Like on this blog. I can say what I want whenever I want about whomever I want.


• Religious freedom. I am not forced to be a Christian. I choose to be one.


• Free to bear arms. While I don't own a weapon, I can if I want to...after a waiting period, of course.


• Freedom to assemble. I can be with a group of people in public or private.


• Freedom to petition~I can ask the government to do something or to stop doing something that I don't like or agree with.

We have the freedom to...

• go anywhere in our country


• work anywhere, with any company we qualify for


• have a family~ more than one child


• join any political party one chooses


• own private property

Is it worth any soldier's life so that you and I can have these freedoms? I believe that only the individual soldier can answer that question. Even though I don't fully know or understand what our soldiers so for us, I DO appreciate the sacrifices they give so that others may live--with freedom.

And so today is the day we set aside in our nation to honor such men and women who have given their time, energy and yes, even their lives in so many ways, so that you and I and our friends and families can speak our minds, worship God and live wherever we want to.

Soldiers strive to protect our physical and abstract freedoms. And for them, I am so grateful. So I thank you, American soldier, for the freedoms you give up so that Americans can keep theirs.

On a spiritual note...

Jesus' believed we were (are) worth giving up His life to set us free.

Sin separates us from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2) And so we needed someone to bring us back into that relationship with God. And Jesus did by dying on the cross to defeat death and so was brought back to life. This is the gospel, the Good News. And since all have sinned, no one is immune to sin's consquence, that is, death.

Unless you're in a relationship with God through Jesus.

But being in Jesus Christ says that we belong to God and have the hope (dare I say, guarantee) of being resurrected so that we can be in heaven with Him.

And so it is for freedom that Jesus set us free. Not to indulge in sinful behaviors, rather so that we'd serve one another in love. (Galatians 5)

He set us free from the fear of death. So if we are in Christ, we don't have to be afraid to die, because when we die (because we all will) we don't have to be afraid to be eternally separated from God. (Hebrews 2)

And so through this freedom we can approach God's throne with confidence. I have freedom to talk to him. (Ephesians 3)

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor. 3)

And so I am free. Free from the wages of sin, which is death. Free from the fear of death. Free to talk with God with confidence without being afraid of His wrath.

Jesus gives us spiritual freedoms. And because of His sacrifice, I am eternal saved and freed from anything can have a hold of fear over me because my God is a powerful God and through Him and because of Him nothing is impossible. Nothing.

It is for freedom that Jesus set us free..

Update on Steve's Bell's Palsy

Steve's regained full use of his facial muscles! He still has some weakness, but he can close his eye all the way, smile, make faces at people~ you know, the important things!

We just want to thank you all for your prayers! It's a blessing and encouragement knowing that there are people out there like you who are dedicated warriors for God. It means a lot to us!

You mean a lot to us!

So thank you. And we thank God for you.

Oh, Me of Little Faith....

I was reminded today of how faithful, consistent and generous God is. While I was working from home, I was listening to a Christian radio station. The song "Come Home" by Luminate was playing. Part of the lyrics are "...you can't outrun grace. No, mercy doesn't care what you've done..."

While the song was playing, I began thinking about my struggle with having hope concurrently with faith. In a previous post, I talked about my struggle with disappointment over the last year. Struggling with having faith and hope together. I have faith, but hope sometimes eludes me when something potentially exciting comes up--because I don't want to be disappointed.

I can't out give God. He's more generous than I can ever be towards Him. And yet, when I'm struggling with my faith and having a hard time with having hope, He still keeps giving. He still keeps working even when I don't see the evidence of it.

And even when I sin or doubt God's power to provide and answer my requests in His timing, He cares about me.... and He keeps on forgiving me.

Every time.

And so I was reminded again of how good God is. Steve's regained partial control of the right side of his face as of yesterday. Today, there seems to be even more ability to move his muscles. We can guess what kind of treatment he's been following that's allowing the muscle movement, but in all reality, God's the one in control. And so we give thanks and praise to God for even this small blessing--which to Steve (and me) is huge!

When Steve showed me his face muscle moving, we were both elated! I'd never seen him so joyous! And I got the best hug ever from him! It's amazing how we take the little things God gives us for granted. I know I take for granted that I can smile with my whole mouth, because that hasn't been taken away from me.

And so we're learning to be more thankful for the little things... and praise God for the blessings He's given us in life. Not just the physical blessings.... but even more so the spiritual blessings.

Like not being able to out run God's grace.

And mercy not caring what I've done.

And God seeing me just as if I've never sinned.

And Jesus always being an advocate for me to the Father.

And that because of Jesus, I can have direct access to God and have confidence to approach His throne.

And my sins are forgiven.

So I get to be with God in heaven.

And that's worth telling others.

So, I may struggle with having faith at times. Not faith in God. Not faith that He even exists. But it's really about letting go of control of things that I can't do much or anything about. God has the power to do all things.... and I need to trust Him that He will. Because there have been so many answered prayers in the past and God has always provided.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28