Independance Day.

Today is a day of celebration.  Deck out the red, white and blue.  Hang up the flag.  Clean the grill and prepare for the cookout and all the goodies.  Pack the blankets and snacks in the car for the fireworks later.  Spend time relaxing and enjoying with family and friends.  We create traditions and memories with our children today and sometimes we even take the time to delve a bit into history and the day's significance.  We call ourselves "blessed" that we live in the land of the free and the brave and are filled with good old American pride.  The 4th of July is a great day and we are, in fact, VERY blessed.  

Unfortunately, it's also a day filled with an ongoing spiritual battle:

For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Phillippians 3:18 

The pledge of allegiance is a sign of unity and honor for our country and yet many are "offended" by it.  Parades and festivities open up in prayer and yet again, many are "offended".  People argue and stand by their belief that our country was NOT in fact founded on a Christian heritage but instead that we've been indoctrinated to believe the lie that it was.  All around the United States, today, like every other day, people are fighting for their "right" to not to have to hear the name of God in public places.  They loathe their children being exposed to "false religion" and fight to take God out of schools, our courthouses and public events.  While we celebrate today our past victories for the "land of the free", our rights are slowly being pried away and many of us are not even aware.

Today let's go ahead and celebrate this great country that we live in:  our diversity, our heritage, our culture, our FREEDOM.  But let's also take the time to intercede and pray for our leaders....for God's divine wisdom in every choice that they make and every bill that they sign.  Let's remember not to take our "freedom" for granted and continue to be proud to stand up for what and WHO we believe in.  It was in unity that our freedom was won and it will be again in unity that our freedom will continue. 

Happy 4th of July.  May you be safe, enjoy the celebrations and remember that the fight is never truly over but yet we know in the end, the victory is ours.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Cor 15:57