THANKFUL THURSDAY...I'm proud to be an American and so much more!

This past week as we celebrated the 4th of July, the words of a song kept playing over and over in my head: "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free..."

FREEDOM...something we take for granted.

Yesterday in the newspaper I was reading an article about a group of people who became US citizens on the 4th of July. The headline read, "American dream comes true for 43 new citizens." One woman, from the Philippines, said that this dream started when she was in high school as she watched American television. Lenie Walsh, 29 years old, said that she watched TV and people in America were really wealthy and had clean living. They had cars.

 "I dreamed of coming here, It was my dream." Said Walsh

As I drove downtown Memphis the other day, wealth and nice cars was the last thing that I saw or thought of. The abandoned buildings and hobo's sleeping on the park bench was probably not the vision or dream that people like Walsh had.

But even with that, many people flee here for better jobs, better living and better opportunity. Really what it comes down to is having freedom and once you are free...what you are willing to do with your freedom.

Certainly here in the good ole US of A, there are far more opportunities than other poverish nations. It is no wonder so many are fleeing here and dreaming of becoming free. It is in our land of the free, that we stand and say, "Were proud to be an American, where I know I am free!"

But is that enough? T
To be a proud American?

Seeing an American flag, hearing the national anthem or coming face to face with a soldier in his fatigues always gives me goosebumps. As a mother of a son who has served our country, I cannot sing the national anthem without tears rolling down my cheeks. I am certainly proud to be an American, but with as much pride as the flag brings me, I have to wonder "Am I just as proud to be a Christian?"

Philippians 1:20-21 (NLT)
For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

For those new citizens, it is not enough to just dream of America. Immigrants cannot come to our free land and just blend in. With citizenship comes responsibility. The same is true for us as Americans and certainly for us that claim to be a Christian. It is not enough to just say we are Christians, we cannot blend in a dying, sinful world. We must take a stand and become responsible Christians.

As an American and a Christian, we must not only glorify God with our life but we must use our life to advance God’s Kingdom. It is much too easy to work diligently to blend in rather than continue to stand for the founding principles of this great nation. But we are bound by our citizenship to America and to God’s Kingdom to continue in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ with every person who we come in contact with.

Our life is an example. To share love, hope, faith, compassion, kindness and truth with those who brush against us each day. It was mandated and agreed upon by those who founded our nation and as an American it is our duty to honor this covenant even when others would try to destroy it. It is the responsibility of every person to uphold this faith in order to experience God’s continued prosperity on our land.

Freedom doesn't just come with proof of citizenship. It begins in the heart of each person who cries out to God in repentance. It is not the responsibility of the government but of every single man and woman. As we surrender to God, we can then yield to our country.

I am an American. And I am proud of it. In addition, I am a Christian, a choice that I made a long time ago to put God first in every aspect of  my life. And I am proud of that as well. I am free. Yes, free indeed!

I am so thankful for the freedom that comes with being an American, but the freedom of knowing Christ far outweighs anything. LYNN is hosting THANKFUL THURSDAY and we would love to hear your grateful heart today. CLICK HERE for more TT posts!