Land of the free?

My family often visits "America's Fourth of July City" for Independence Day and we did this year as well. This place goes all-out for the Fourth.  There are dozens of craft booths, a food alley, carnival rides, historical presentations, concerts, and of course, fireworks--at least two major displays during the week of the Fourth, plus fireworks, firecrackers, and all other manner of explosives going off all over town.

This town knows how to celebrate.

But I wonder--what are we really celebrating?  Are we celebrating our freedom to purchase and light off firecrackers?  Our freedom to overeat and drink too much?

Twice today I saw veterans recognized for their service.  They know what we're celebrating.  They served this country, fought in wars, and know people who gave their lives so that the freedoms our forefathers won could be enjoyed by us today.

We have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion.

But in the name of "tolerance," we've lost the freedom to tell anyone they're wrong.  The citizens of our country are losing jobs to people who aren't citizens, but are given almost all the benefits that a citizen deserves.  It's okay for our country to give weapons to rebels in other countries, but it's frowned upon for an ordinary citizen on our shores to carry a weapon to protect himself and his family.  Anyone can believe in whatever religion/god they want, but try to tell them there's only one God and they've got the wrong one and you'll be shushed.  We have to tolerate everyone, but our beliefs aren't tolerated by anyone.  By calling it a "choice" we've legalized the murder of hundreds of thousands of unborn children who didn't deserve to die.

Are these the "freedoms" that thousands of men and women gave their lives to protect?

Is this really freedom at all?

I love this country, but it makes me sad to see some things that are happening in it.  I'm thankful that I live here, but this isn't the America that it was when Thomas Jefferson did most of the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

So today, I'm thanking God for the freedoms I have, and praying that he blesses this country despite its faults and failures (just as he blesses me despite my sinfulness).

I'm most thankful for the freedom I have in Christ: freedom from sin, freedom from the power of Satan, and freedom from death itself.

I'm free from guilt.  Jesus has destroyed that on the cross.

I'm free from fear.  Satan is vanquished: I have nothing to fear.

I'm free from condemnation.  Jesus took the punishment I deserve and gave me his perfect holiness.

That is freedom that no government, no country, no person can take away.

"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and the glory of the children of God." Romans 8:20-21

His Mercies are New Every Morning

...and so are his graces!  And I have to remind myself that, although blogging regularly is necessary in a sense, it's not a requirement.  So I'm okay with the fact that I haven't posted in a few days. :)

It hits me, some more days than others, how much I mess up in life.  When I walk into the house and books, clothes, papers, et cetera are scattered all over the living room...dishes are piled up in the sink and on the counter...worse, when I snap and yell at my husband and let my words come before my thoughts can check them.  When I gossip.  When I'm lazy.

But then (as my husband is often quick to remind me), I realize just how much God loves me...because he loves me despite all those imperfections.  He gives me a fresh start EVERY DAY.  He sees past the sinfulness...he sees the redemption of Christ that covers me, the Holy Spirit who lives in me.  He sees me beautiful, pure, holy--his.  That doesn't ever change.

And despite all my sinfulness...God blesses me beyond what I can imagine.  He gives me SO much more than I need.  There are times when I think that I don't have all I need.  When the cupboards are getting low.  When money is tight.  The list goes on.
But then I realize...I have food.  I have clothes.  I have a warm home.
And most importantly, I have things that money can never buy:
a husband who loves me and takes care of me
friends I can count on and trust
family who are always there for me
God.  His love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, peace, joy, comfort, salvation!

And every morning...those gifts are always there for me.  Again.

So on that note...
Time to catch up with the January Joy Dare!
Day 21: One thing in the sky, one thing from your memory, one thing that's ugly-beautiful.
-snowflakes falling a little when we were in Minnesota
-remembering the day two months ago when our car broke down, as we stopped at the exact same rest stop on the way to get it again.  Not the greatest memories...but it was a time of learning, growing, and strengthening our marriage.
-"new" car engine.  not a beautiful thing.  but it is...because it runs. :)

Day 22: one grace wrinkled, one grace smoothed, one grace unfolded
-clean sheets.  very wrinkled (from not being folded!), but very fresh-smelling. :)
-hubby smoothing my hair as he held me on the couch. <3
-the worship folder unfolding in my lap, holding lovely hymns, encouraging Scripture, the liturgy of Holy Communion

Day 23: 3 gifts found in Christ
(only three?)
-promise...of forgiveness, of resurrection, of eternal life
-comfort...from fear, from illness, from worry
-love...unconditional, unending, unchanging

{Quick update: after 14 hours in the car on Saturday, we have our car back!!!  Joshua's parents were incredibly gracious enough to drive us up to Minnesota to get it.  The engine has been replaced and although there are a few little things that need looking at, by the grace of God we got home without a hitch.  In fact, it was a blessing to spend so much time with Joshua's parents, and then so much time just the two of us--without the distractions of computer, TV, housework or homework!

So we are fully independent again, thank God, and enjoying being able to drive to school and work.
Especially since it finally snowed yesterday!  Today it was warmer than it's been in a while, so most of the snow has already melted, but it was lovely.  (It's been a weird winter.)

EVEN MORE BLESSINGS!}

Thankful Thursday: bread and friendship and other happy things.

Yesterday I got home with Joshua at about 1:00, and other than an hour of work at the library I was home the whole afternoon and evening.  So I made bread: Italian flatbread (for which I will post the recipe) for supper, and two loaves of white bread because we needed bread.  I bought bread flour the other day, hoping it would make my bread lighter, softer and less crumbly.  In the white bread I used half bread flour and half all-purpose, and oh. my. goodness.  It turned out absolutely perfect.  It's easy to cut, it doesn't fall apart, it's light and soft, and it rose so high!  Plus it tastes fantastic. :)  I can hardly wait to try whole wheat bread with the bread flour (which will end up being about 1/3 whole wheat, 1/3 all-purpose, 1/3 bread flour).  I know this might not seem very exciting, but I've been making bread for five months now and it FINALLY turned out the way I've really wanted it to.  I'm hoping to find a place to buy gluten to add to all-purpose flour (which is basically what bread flour is); I just need to see if it's cost-effective.

Anyway, so that's #1 for Thankful Thursday:  beautiful bread!

#2: The fantastic supper we had last night: the flatbread, cheese that my mom sent in a care package this week, and roasted asparagus.  Soooo good.  I love fresh, simple, wholesome food!

#3:  I am so thankful, as always, for our wonderful friends.  We spent the evening with Ruth and Joe again last night.  I know, we're with them all the time, but they are such blessings, and we just love being with them!  You know those friends who love you for exactly who you are but encourage you to keep growing into the person God made you to be?  And they always make you laugh?  And they appreciate your cooking?  And they're supportive and generous and kind?  Yeah, Ruth and Joe are two of those friends. :)  And they're just two of quite a few amazing people in our lives.

#4: It is SO great to have a car again!!  I feel like I've regained independence and adulthood, in some ways.  Amazing what having a car can do for the self-esteem.

#5: Coffee.  From our own coffeemaker.  Which we just used for the first time yesterday after five months of marriage.  I can't believe I put it off this long.  Thank you, Eva!!  It's even programmable, so it started brewing while I was making french toast this morning (one of Joshua's favorite breakfasts).  Bliss.

#6: My incredible husband.  I love him more every day.  Can't praise him enough.  He is the best thing that ever happened to me!!