Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Freedom From... Freedom For

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Let freedom ring! Yes, today we celebrate our country's freedom. Our hard-won independence. Our patriotism. When I really begin to think about it, my mind automatically thinks of the Revolutionary War heroes who gave all. I found out last year that I have a patriot in my ancestry, which qualifies me for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution. I remember reading through all of the research and seeing my family tree leading me to him and seeing his name, rank, and location. All of a sudden I felt a... connection. A connection to something historical and fascinating. Yes, today I'll be thinking of my Great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather Thomas.

And today I'm also thinking about being set free. I remember in Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" study years ago, coming to grips with the concept of being truly set free. If you haven't done that study, I highly recommend it, or at least reading the book. (Even if you're not particularly "Beth Moore-ish," the information it contains is so beneficial and straight from the heart of God, it'll be worth your time, I promise!) I'm not sure if it was in that study or in subsequent readings that I really began to ponder the fact that I've been set free from... and I've been set free for.

Freedom from one thing leads to freedom to do something else. So, today as the firecrackers are popping, I'm going to be thanking my Heavenly Father that He sent His Son to set me truly free- free from the eternal consequences of my sin, free from sin's bonds while on this earth, free from thinking that this life is all there is. And I'm going to be thinking all day about what I've been set free for.
As one of my favorite Ginny Owen's songs says:

You're free to dance
Forget about your two left feet
And you're free to sing
Even joyful noise is music to Me
You’re free to love
'Cause I’ve given you My love
And it’s made you free
I have set you free!
My mind finds hard to believe
That You became humanity and
Changed the course of history
Because You loved us so
And my heart cannot understand
How You accept me as I am
But You say You've always had a plan
And that's all I need to know
So when I am consumed
With what the world will say
Then You're singing to me, as You remove my chains

Free from worry
Free from envy and denial
Free to live, free to give, free to smile

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's true freedom.

Don't you feel a connection to something historical and fascinating now, too?

Happy Independence Day, everyone!


8 comments:

Dianne said...

Great post and I love those lyrics. (never heard that song before but I'm going to look it up). So true what you said about freedom from and freedom for. Thanks for the challenging thoughts.

Sandy said...

Loved your post! I know that I can visit your website when I want some inspiration.

Yeh for your great (many times) grandfather, Thomas.

Blessings and Happy 4th of July!
Sandy

Jen said...

Happy Independence Day from a Canadian Neighbor!

Freedom is so important and we must never take it for granted. i love your point of being set free FROM something FOR something.
Such a great Key!

Linda said...

I love this post Cyndi. First of all I am very impressed with your "pedigree". A DAR is nothing to be sneezed at!! I've often wished I could trace my family back to the early beginnings of this country, but they were all still in Italy at the time :-)
Freedom in Christ - freedom to do. It liberates the spirit so that whatever earthly things try to "imprison" us can never succeed. We are free indeed.
Y'all have a great fourth too!! We're just trying to keep dry.

Janis Rodgers said...

That is a wonderful song. I just love Ginny Owens! Our freedom in Christ is the most important part of Independence Day! I hope you had a good day! Blessings to you!

eph2810 said...

Amen to that, Cyndi. Yes, I have thought today that not only do I live in a free country, but I am also set free through His blood - the price He paid for me.

Thank you so much for sharing the true freedom we have in Christ.

Blessings to you and yours.

Susanne said...

I love this post! I love that verse, I love that song, and I loved Breaking Free by Beth Moore!
If the Son has set us free, we are free indeed!!
Have a blessed day!!

Dianne said...

I have to tell you, I loved those lyrics so much I looked them up and ordered a Ginny Owens CD off eBay. Woohoo! Thanks again!