I'm Thankful For Freedom!

I am so thankful for the freedom that I can enjoy in my beautiful America! I'm LOVE my flag and I am so thankful to have the privilege to live in America! I am an Extremely Proud American! While our Country is not the God-Fearing One is once was, I am still thankful for that we still have many religious freedoms! Yes, I know that these are being taken from us slowly but surely. BUT for now, I am still able to say I LOVE Jesus, in public. I'm still able to pray. I can still read my Bible. I have made up my mind to dwell on the freedoms that I still have!

I Love my Country BUT I Love my Lord more! I am more thankful for the Freedoms that I have in Christ! These cannot be taken away by people, circumstances, or even death itself. Jesus has conquered death and has paid the ultimate price for my Salvation! I have a liberty in Christ that ones who don't know my Jesus as I do, don't understand. So many people are wandering around in the darkness of sin, driven by their horrible master to do things that they vowed they would never do. There is a way to complete freedom but nobody seems to want to take advantage of this beautiful way. The story below is a symbol of how some souls respond to the invitation to be FREE!! There is two ways to go... Which will you choose?

This story is about a young lady, named Samantha. She is like any other young lady except she is a slave on a plantation in Alabama. It is the late 1700's and we join her as she is working hard in the hot sun, in Master John's cotton field.

"Hello, it is sure hot today isn't it? Oh well, I have to get this field picked by sundown. You want to know how I ended up on this plantation? Well, let me tell you my story. "



"I was a girl 12 years old when my parents, and myself were taken to as slaves. I'll never forget that day! I was helpin' Momma bake bread and baby sister, Tasha was playin, and Poppa was workin' outside in the yard, when four men came galloping up on horse back. One of them had my Daddy tied up and slung over a saddle like he was nothin' but a piece of trash. Momma screamed for me to take the baby and get into the closet. I did. My heart was pounding as I listened to the men storm into our house and evidently start pullin' on Momma'. She shrieked and then grew silent. I pressed my ear close to the door but I couldn't hear anything. Then the sound of men's boots coming closer and closer, I realized that they were coming toward the closet. I laid Tasha down, seeing as she was asleep and covered her with a blanket hoping that they would not find her. The door was swung open and I was grabbed by two powerful hands. The next thing I knew, I was bound up and sitting on the floor while two men continued to search our cabin. One of them came back and demanded that I tell them if there was anyone else in the house. I was determined to tell of Tasha. He slapped me so hard I begin to feel dizzy and lightheaded. I fell back against the chair from the kick I received from his massive boot, when I was once again asked if there was anyone else here, and I refused to speak again. I must have went unconscious, cause' the next thing I remember was hearing a sound that made blood run cold. I heard a gunshot and a cry then complete silence. I struggled to ease myself back up into a sitting position, when I achieved this difficult feat, I saw a sight that made me cry out in anguish. My baby sister Tasha lay dead on the floor not ten feet from me, and a loud, cruel voice said, all a baby would do is cause' trouble. I was sobbing so hard that I couldn't see a thing. I was yanked from the floor with indescribable roughness and marched outside to be slung over the remaining horse. I couldn't see Momma' but I heard her cries. We were boarded on a boat and shipped to a land called America. When we arrived, we were put up for sale. Daddy and Momma were bought by a slave owner in Tennessee. I was sold to Master John who lives here in Alabama and I have been here since then. I am now 19 years old. I haven't seen my parents in 7 LONG years. I miss them so much! I have tried many times to run away but I am always caught and the punishment is worse each time I return, so I have decided to stay here. There really isn't a place for me to go anyway. Master John is hard but at least I have food and shelter. I will not complain! I must keep busy or ELSE."

We come back two days later and we hear this report from another slave.

"A man on horseback arrived on the plantation riding through the fields telling every slave that we are free! We can go and do as they please! Master John is furious and is trying to get us to stay here. The horseman told us that the price ultimate price has been PAID. Men have given their lives in order to ensure that we slaves can have freedom. We can be go and live in rest and happiness. Oh yes, there will be hard days but the joy of being free will override any difficulty we'll have to go through. I am leaving!"

We hurry to find Samantha and upon finding her ask her this question...

"Samantha, what will you do? Are going to leave too?"

"No, I believe I am going to stay. After all, my life is relatively good here on the plantation. I'll stay here and be owned by master John."

Is this the reaction we would expect her to take? NO!!! We would wonder what in the world was wrong with her? Why isn't she willing to risk a few hardships in order to have freedom? This story and these questions apply the same way to people who will not follow the Lord. The Devil had men so bound in sin that there was no way of escape, BUT Jesus came and paid the ultimate price, that we could have GLORIOUS FREEDOM!!! WE don't have to live under the cruel rulings of the Devil. The Lord has provided a way of escape! Sure, there will be hard days, but what a joy we can have knowing that we are free from the guilt and the sin that once burdened us down! We can be victorious!!! Why is it that people aren't willing to move from the plantation of sin and move into the peaceful habitation of the Most High?!? My friend, if you don't know the Lord, I pray that before this day ends, you will make the choice to have freedom! Jesus is ready and willing to make you His child! All you have to do is ask Him to forgive you and be your Saviour!

May the Lord Bless you all!