Heart Hope by Olga

You can tell it's the Fourth of July. The tourists have arrived in our resort town. The grocery stores are filled with people and empty of necessities. The bike paths are crowded with group after group of novice riders. People are lost in the round-abouts, unsure of which lane to use. And there is red, white and blue everywhere. It’s my favorite time of year in the Vail Valley.  Freedom in our country came at a great price to many who have gone before us, but we tend to take it for granted. Those who left their homeland in order to come to an unknown place full of danger and hardship often died an early death due to illness or other causes, but they felt it was worth it to have freedom to be able to worship God in the way that they knew was right.  There were also young men who risked their lives during the war for independence and other wars though out the years, so that today you and I can enjoy the luxury of being able to join together on a Sunday morning or a Wednesda...

July 4th is one of my favorite holidays--I can’t wait to see the parade, eat some barbeque, and watch the fireworks. Our forefathers fought for and gave us a gift that we don’t often stop and think about, but take for granted. I think they would be surprised if they were able to see our country today. Their desire was to give us freedom from all of the burdens and abuses that were harsh, domineering, tyrannical, and unjust that they suffered under the ruling hand of England. What they did was admirable, and courageous, but it was not a new concept. God had said long ago that He wanted us to be free—free from the burdens of sin and the chains that it puts on us. So if He has set me free, why would I choose to be bound again to sin? Today while I am eating potato salad, waving my flag, singing along with the marching bands, I hope I will remember to be thankful for the freedom that we have in America, but also the freedom that we can have in Christ. Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that C...