Freedom and Independence

1 Corinthians 3:16-18
"But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Today is Day 94 for Tammy, and she continues to show improvement. She still has the occasional step back, but it's mostly steps forward at this point. We're preparing to go to her parents' house to celebrate the 4th of July tonight, and we're both excited for another "excursion." We're not there yet, but the freedom from the restrictions she's been under for the past three-plus months will be a welcome change.

We also celebrate the freedom we have as Americans, because of our Independence Day declared 233 years ago today. Our forefathers sacrificed everything they had, and many of them gave their lives, for those freedoms. Our country--which relied on God for strength as a rule, not the exception--became free from the tyrany of Britain's rule.

But the freedom we celebrate the most, is the freedom from sin. Through the sacrifice on the cross by Jesus Christ, our sins are paid for. No longer are we subject to the penalties of those sins. No more are we shackled to the effects of those sins. Our freedom was paid, once and for all, two thousand years ago.