Growing up in a Christian household entailed many times hearing words from my mother in respect to life lessons. As the 4th of July is right around the corner, I have reflected on some of those words as well as current events going on within these United States of America; which was declared free from Great Britain in 1776 and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1892 identified as a Christian Nation.

With FREEDOM at the forefront of my thoughts, I am drawn to one of my mom's frequent comments, "Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean you should." Another one of her favorite phrases was, 'If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." With these ideas in mind I often ask myself if I am doing all that God requires or expects of me.

The greatest freedom being that mentioned in Romans 6:22, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." I feel so blessed to live in a country where I can freely believe without persecution. I know that I am going to pledge this 4th of July to live with the true sense of freedom found by standing firm on God's word and sovereignty.