Yesterday we celebrated America's 233^rd birthday.  You may have witnessed the colorful pyrotechnic shows being viewed from a variety of spots around KC, eaten some delicious BBQ, or even worn something red, white, and blue.  Wasn't it awesome when you saw all of the American flags flying and heard the patriotic songs sung "in the land of the free and the home of the brave?"  

Celebrating our nation's Independence gives us a chance as a nation to reflect on where we have been and an opportunity to thank God for living in a nation with freedoms that citizens from other countries wish they could have.   And if we would search through our family tree, we would probably notice a commonality; our ancestors came to America for that reason, the opportunity to worship freely or to escape governmental persecution.

A group of people also were seeking their independence 3,500 years ago from slavery and the dominant rule of Pharaoh.  They remembered the promise of God that one day they would be free, and the battle to release the Israelites engaged everyone in Egypt.  The plagues literally destroyed a nation as they harassed the people, caused the Egyptians pain, and ultimately terrified them.  The trust the Egyptians placed in their gods and goddesses to relieve them from this torture waivered upon seeing the supreme power of God over and over again.  Pharaoh's stubbornness and hardened heart ultimately led to the death of his son, the freedom of the Israelites, and then his demise as he tried chasing them through the Red Sea before the waters were returned to their previous condition. 

In Exodus 15: 1-21, Moses shares with us how the Israelites celebrated their liberation from the oppression they had felt throughout their lifetime.  Singing and dancing with a tambourine accompaniment was part of the impromptu celebratory party as they reflected on the events that led them to their freedom throughout the past nine months.  And I bet if they had fireworks with them, they would have been exploding in the air!

We also have an independence party we get to celebrate every moment of our life here on earth.  This is our independence from sin, death, and the power of the devil that we experience because of Christ's victory over the grave.   Sin cannot conquer us.  Satan cannot rule us, because our Savior is fighting for us!

Our founding fathers probably felt at times like they should give up.  When the key battles weren't being won, when the citizens started to grumble about the lack of supplies, and especially when the soldiers said "I'm done."   I'm sure Moses felt at times like giving up, probably when Pharaoh kept changing his mind, and especially as the Israelites were wandering around in the desert and complaining about the lack of food and water.    How fortunate that Christ never gave up on His people as He was arrested, beaten, whipped, mocked, and then hung on the cross.  

Even though our freedom as Americans is something we often take for granted, our freedom as Christians should never be taken for granted.  And as we share the Good News with others and daily rejoice with praises to God, let's keep our relationship with Him in the forefront.

Enjoying the ride,