“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
~ Romans 8:18-21 (ESV emphasis mine)
Since we are celebrating this up-coming weekend Independence Day in the US, I thought about the word ‘Freedom’ or being ‘Free’. For me, true freedom only comes by knowing Jesus.
As you are celebrating this weekend, think about that freedom always comes with a price. Thankfully my way to heaven has been purchased with the blood of Christ. So, this week, my thankful list includes (but is not limited to)…
- Lord, thank You for providing a way to spend eternity with You. Thank you for sending Your son to die in my place; to give me true freedom…
- I am thankful that I live in a country where I can still worship Who I want to worship. Although it is getting harder to not get in trouble for mentioning the name of Jesus, I can still do it without going to prison…
- I am thankful that I can still read my Bible freely at work if I choose to…
- I am thankful that my beloved and I can freely move around in this country without any papers that give us permission to travel. Although traveling is getting expensive – remember that my family in Germany is paying roughly $8.00/gallon…
- I am thankful that my family in Germany has the same freedom – freedom to move around, read the Bible, and worship the Lord of lords…
- I am thankful for members of the military that have given up their own freedom to help others in the world to experience the same freedom…
- And I am thankful that I can freely share my faith here on my blog for the world to see that there is hope…
What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us in leaving your link below.
Thank you for stopping by today – and remember this Independence Day to thank our Lord for the true freedom He so freely gave for us at the cross…
Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.
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You shared some lovely thoughts. We are very blessed people, aren’t we?
Happy Fourth of July to you Iris. I hope you spend the day in a way you’ll enjoy. Thank you always for hosting Thankful Thursday.
$8 per gal? That’s too high… Happy 4th of July! Sometimes I take freedom (to share our faith) for granted but when I hear about stories of my friend who are living in non-Christian countries, I am enormously glad for having this freedom in my country too.
hi,
sorry i gave out a wrong link just now. my new link at janet2 is the right one. thanks.
It is for FREEDOM that Christ set us FREE! Thank you for helping us appreciate what we often take for granted.
Blessings!
Angela
http://testosteronepalace.blogspot.com/
thanks iris,
and happy 4th of July!!! you are indeed blessed to live in such a free country. in my country where i am based now, we are free to worship, but not to share.
Thankful. For raspberries coming ripe, and blueberries. For Black-Eyed Susans by the garden and pert red Bee Balm. For fresh basil again, rosemary, and the cucumbers just now swelling.
Oops. That would be L.L. Barkat. Thankful too I guess for little mistakes that make me laugh! : )
Iris,
Thank you for hosting TT. Have a great day tomorrow and a great 4th and weekend!
Blessings
Cheryl
Iris, I had already written my TT for this week and I was not surprised that we both had the same thought on our minds…FREEDOM. We are so blessed to be Americans! and to belong to the King! – God bless. Laurie
This is a lovely thankful post. Have a blessed 4th weekend!
Iris…truly inspirational…May you receive a doublefold blessing with your beloved over this 4th of July weekend! Thank you for your heartfelt thanks for Freedom and especially for your family in Germany, that really touched me (not the gas – the other part). You have such a beautiful spirit! May you enjoy the richness of your blessings! May Almighty God look favorably upon you and yours with His Love, Grace and Peace as He Protects, Provides and Leads You! Happy & Blessed 4th of July!
Happy TT and 4th of July Iris!!!
Blessings to you and your wonderful family. Thanks for this great reminder of all the many things we have because of the price that has been paid!
Thanks for declaring God’s faithfulness and HOPE for the world to see?
Whew! AND I thought I paid a lot for gas! We really don’t know how much we truly have to be thankful for …you have shared the truth Iris. I appreciate you so much. You just don ‘t know how “thankful” I was to find you.
God bless your precious heart and life!
Thank you again Iris! I love your theme for freedom in this country. God Bless!
I love your anti-spam words! 🙂
hi iris! that’s a beautiful list..I just want you to know that I’m really enjoying and looking forward every Thankful thursdays..thanks so much for thinking about this. God bless!
Hi Iris! I’m so glad I found this meme. I have just joined in for the first time and am so excited to have done so. Thank you for hosting this wonderful way of giving thanks. I enjoyed your freedom post very much. Blessings! ~ Tracy
Beautiful thoughts Iris. I, too, am thankful for open borders–makes my travel so much easier. Totally sympathising with your family on petrol prices as well. Have a blessed day and a wonderful holiday weekend!
Hi Iris,
Did you know that a blogger got jailed at Bahrain just for blogging about democracy? Isn’t freedom wonderful? You guys in the US enjoy that freedom because the founding fathers built on the solid rock – Jesus.
Have a wonderful weekend ahead!
Sharon
I am most thankful for the Holy Spirit Who lives in me. When discouraged, tempted, and crushed, I can go to Him and He gives me hope, victory, and encouragement.
My husband and I are have to be out of this beautiful parsonage by July 13. We are without a job, (he’s a pastor) and we are without a home (we don’t own a home). It has been such a blessing to have the comfort of His Spirit. It is a test of faith but He is my constant companion walking with me through this difficult time.
In the USA, we are SO BLESSED to have the religious freedom that we do! I often stop to think, would we be so faithful to God if we were persecuted as our brothers and sisters are in other countries? I pray that we would be!
Happy 4th of July! I couldn’t agree more with everything you wrote. We are truly blessed to live in this country.
Yes, if Christ has set us free, we are free at last!
Iris,
I love this post. What a great reminder for us to take into tomorrow. We are free in our country, but also we have freedom in Christ. I’m so thankful that we are freed from the bonds of sin and that we no longer have to be chained to that sinful nature. That’s the biggest blessing of all.
Hey Iris, We have such great freedoms! Praise God for His goodness and mercy to us! Thanks again for hosting TT. Have a wonderful weekend. Blessings!
So much to be thankful for and as usual you have a great post! Happy TT Iris and Happy 4th to you and your family. Thanks for sharing your time to host this neat Thankful Thursday! I am thankful for you! God Bless~
Iris,
Beautiful reminders! I, too, am thankful for the freedom we have in Christ, and the freedom we enjoy in our country!
I quoted from Romans as well!
Happy 4th to you and your family, Iris!!!!
Hi Miss Iris! I loved reading your list today. I didn’t know your family is in Germany.
I would love to visit Germany someday!
I too have been thinking of our freedoms and also the blogosphere. Thankful we can share God freely this way. A miraculous blessing.
I really, truly enjoy Thankful Thursdays, and in that am grateful for you. It is a LIFT in my week.
Sweet blessings to you new friend.
Holykiss,
Lea
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Great list!! Thanks for sharing and staying faithful to give us a Thankful Thursday list each week! Have a blessed and safe 4th of July
I love the them that you went with this week. We should all be grateful for the freedom that we have both as Americans & as Christians. I also am thankful that we have the freedom to worship Him openly.
Blessings
Joining with you in a heart full of gratitude. God bless you for hosting this meme every week. Happy TT!
Happy TT everyone! Enjoy your long weekends (if it applies to you)!
Thanks for the topic today & I hope you have a great Independence Day!! Happy TT!
Great list! Freedom is amazing! Thanks for hosting TT!
This is truly a great Thankful List. I think sometimes, because we are in America, we forget that our freedom, here in the US and from sin, these freedoms were paid with a price. Thank you for that reminder. Have a blessed 4th of July weekend in Christ Jesus.
Stacy
Thank our heavenly for freedom from him to enjoy our lives on earth, and in the future enjoy our lives with him in our heavenly home….I like freedom…
This post makes me want to shout. Freedom! Can’t stop thanking God for that.
Thank you, Iris, for pausing to point me back to this truth! I celebrate with you.
Love,
Tiffany
A joy to participate this week!
Dori
Great post! I have a post brewing in my head about my freedom in Christ that I plan to post tomorrow, we are thinking along the same lines today! Have a great day and a wonderful 4th!
Beautiful, beautiful list!! Amen and amen.
I love that Scripture passage – won’t it be so amazing when that day comes!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Nancy
Have a wonderful 4th of July Iris! Thanks for hosting this!
Thanks for making me take time to truly appreciate the sacrifices of others made on my behalf. I am thankful for the freedoms we have in our country. Happy Independence Day!
What a wonderful list. I am so thankful we have freedom in Christ. That is the best gift of all. Have a wonderful Independence day.
What a beautiful list of things to be thankful for!
Eight dollars?! Gah! Eek! Ahh!
Oh my! $8 a gallon! We can be thankful we are half that! Have a peaceful weekend.
Amen, Iris!
We are blessed indeed! What a grace we are afforded to be able to worship publicly, not hidden, for the Glory of GOD!
Just wanted to let you know I would be joining thanksful Thursdays
Amen, dear Iris!
That’s a good verse from Romans.
I’m thankful for freedom to share our thoughts on blogs!