Our newly-renovated war room.
Doing battle here!
Today across America, we celebrate our freedom. To every veteran, THANK YOU for the sacrifice of your service! How humbling to realize the lives which paid- and still pay- the high cost of freedom. Words cannot adequately express the gratitude which we and so many other Americans share on this day.
At our place of ministry, John and I have the privilege of knowing a number of veterans. Most of them deal with PTSD. And in their day-to -day world, they struggle with flashbacks and memories which are, in their words, too disturbing to even describe. They are still fighting a war; they are hindered and even paralyzed by their past experiences. But now their battle is in an unseen realm. The war is not over.
Our earnest, heartfelt prayer for them is freedom. And for all our other dear and precious friends who are battling against unseen forces of darkness as well, veterans of a different kind of war, our prayer is also for freedom. We are comforted knowing that the Lord is a warrior (Exodus 15:3), and that He is fighting for each one of us! He is the ultimate freedom-fighter and freedom-giver. And the freedom which God gives in Christ can be neither defeated nor diminished. Ever.
Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude. Not by might nor power, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). Lyrics from a favorite Heartbeat (bucket drumming) song say it well: “Be strong/Take heart/ The Lord, He fights for us/ Hold on/Our God is a mighty warrior/ God, He is faithful, faithful to us/ Through troubled waters/ He won’t abandon/Fear not” (Chris Tomlin, “Fear Not”). Yes, Lord! Let freedom ring!
“If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed.” John 8:36