"Give me Liberty..."

The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate!& one of the main reasons is because it's a time to show thanksgiving for...

& yes, 'For all.' !

This little guy was definitely reciting in his heart the last part of Patrick Henry's speech, "Give me liberty or give me death!" Because if my daughter hadn't rescued him from one of the cats, it would definitely have been one or the other! But he was fine & scampered away, back to Flopsy, Mopsy & Cottontail.

It's always so much fun to welcome the holiday celebrations with some down home adorning the little nooks & crannies of my home. But that's just a slice of the jubilee of Independence day. Ah yes, the feasting, the rodeo, the fellowship of fun, music & laughter, the games, (the nostalgia of Croquet, or softball),  & the connection of our ancestor comrades, those American Patriots, who, with the grace of God, birthed our great country, though not without pain, sacrifice, blood, loss. We are all familiar with, as I quoted above, the ending lines of Patrick Henry's immortal speech written March 23rd 1775.

"I know not what course others may take, but give me liberty, or give me death."

I think it would behoove every Christian American to read his entire speech & let it speak to your heart because it is just as relevant today as it was back then.   "One Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty & justice for all." As 2022 Americans, our freedom is produce from their gardens. We are their harvest. & shouldn't it be that the freedom that was fought for & won, should be kept, maintained, should be still fought for & preserved for our children & grandchildren until Jesus comes back? & to pass the legacy & heritage & the courage to do what is right on to our generations? America is a gift to us from our Eternal Father, but we are called to be the Guardians of the Gift. "Give me liberty...", but the 'give' came with a price.  Let's look at the words of President Calvin Coolidge given in a speech entitled,

"The Price of Freedom", January 21st, 1923

"There is another system, which every American should be familiar with, a system of equality & freedom, not without the claim of divine right , but recognizing that such right belongs in the reposes in the people...where the individual is clothed with inalienable rights; the people are supreme, the government is their agent...then... there is real freedom, real independence, & grave RESPONSIBILITY."

There's the price of the gift of America. Responsible, righteous living according to the tenets of the Creator, who entrusted America to us, His people, to live according to His laws, which is true freedom. We are embraced by a Love that is completely unselfish, who rules with the scepter of supreme truth, supreme righteousness & supreme love. The Creator of America is also our own personal Creator.  & we are loved so beautifully & completely, entrusted with the liberty He gives us through the death, burial & resurrection (Hallelujah!) of Jesus, & because of that, we are given liberty not only from the sin nature, but to be keepers of the flame of liberty by bringing to earth His Kingdom, by His living His will through us. Yes, that will probably come with a price for all who have the desire of the Father's heart to see this liberty preserved. The alternative for those who don't wish to get involved, for those who believe that the preservation of America is not a mandate from God, or who hope that the 'rapture' comes so they don't have to deal with the results of anarchy that they refused to curtail by being doers of the word & not hearers only, the illustration that comes to my mind is the story of "The Little Red Hen." Remember, she was going to bake bread & tried to enlist the help of others, but they all had an excuse of why they couldn't (or wouldn't) help, so she made the bread alone. From scratch I might add.  When the fresh, sumptuous bread came out of the oven, & she & her little chicks sat down to their little humble bread supper, all of those who refused to help came out of the woodwork & wanted her to share her bread fare. So the Little Red Hen said sweetly, "Certainly. I would love to share my hard-earned bread with you even though you didn't lift a finger to help." NOT!!! Oh no. Our little feathered Chick Mama responded with, "No way Hosea!" (or words to that effect.) Uhhh, kind of like 'You're reaping what you sowed', which was nothing. Or, "If you don't work you don't eat." or other such scriptural homilies. & rightfully so. & should we, who again, have reaped such monumental liberties at the sacrifice of so many, not be willing to also give what may be required of us, maybe our homes, our reputations, our families, our finances, our time, our "only one life to give to God & my Country." (Nathan Hale) ?

"Give me liberty or...."what??? It is a question we all have to answer sometime. I pray for the grace of God, so that I will always answer in a way that will make Him smile & say, "Well done child. Well done."

Raintree Perk of the Day:

"So if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!" John 8:36

"...& where the  Spirit of the Lord is, there is (Sweet Jesus!) liberty." 2 Corinthians 3:17

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