Happy 4th of July!

Hello Friends,

It’s Independence Day. We rejoice today, as we join with friends and family to celebrate one of our national treasures Freedom. We pause to give thanks to God for the favor He has shown our nation and continues to show. We must confess it is all too easy to think of this Freedom as a right and not as a God given blessing. We realize in the Declaration of Independence there are three God given inalienable rights life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness." --Declaration of Independence as originally written by Thomas Jefferson, 1776. ME 1:29, Papers 1:31

We have included some Bible verses for thought and reflection this Independence Day.

Galatians 5:13
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature [5:13 Or the flesh; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24]; rather, serve one another in love. (Whole Chapter: Galatians 5 In context: Galatians 5:12-14)

Ephesians 3:12
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Whole Chapter: Ephesians 3 In context: Ephesians 3:11-13

James 1:25
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. (Whole Chapter: James 1 In context: James 1:24-26)

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, (Whole Chapter: James 2 in context: James 2:11-13)

1 Peter 2:16
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (Whole Chapter: 1 Peter 2 In context: 1 Peter 2:15-17)


We pray this Independence Day; you will experience the freedom that only comes from a living relationship with Jesus Christ. As we take time to reflect on the freedom we have as American’s let’s also reflect on the freedom we have as Christians. As we reflect on both of these freedoms may we not forget the price that was paid for them; the sacrifices of our service men and women to allow us to live in such freedom; and the death and resurrection of God’s only son Jesus Christ. Whose death, paid the price once and for all for our sins, and whose resurrection provided a gateway to the Father that through Him we could have life and have it more abundantly.

Our prayer for you is that your lives may be as wonderful as they were in the mind of God the day He made you.

God's blessings,
Rob and Denise