As I stood at the deli, waiting for the lady butcher to slice my roast chicken, I found my foot tapping. The beat was contagious, so I had to comment as my feet lightly marched in step: “Is that Souza playing? I love patriotic marches!”
The young lady slicing my chicken stopped all action, leaned forward and lowered her voice. “NO, it is NOT Souza, Ma’am.”
“Maybe a symphony classic then!”
The young lady’s face was acquiring a red tinge, as she lowered her voice further and said, “It is NOT a symphony classic either. It’s—BEEF!”
“BEEF? BEEF!”
As she weighed my sliced chicken, the lady butcher confessed out loud in front of me and a small audience that had gathered: “That machine over there slicing the beef is the lively beat you are marching to!”
Not one to allow for awkward silence, I kept the conversation flowing, “Well it certainly has a rather classic hum to it, not unlike Mahler!”
“You should hear our pastrami!”
By now there was a small audience gathering, so I paid for my sliced chicken and made a rapid exit to my car. At that moment in the privacy of my car, I droned out a loud and mournful exclamation: “Oh Lord!”
My recent red-faced moment at the meat counter was a painful reminder that I had just laid an egg—publicly!
Then it occurred to me, I was free! Free to come and go publicly, to speak freely, and most of all, free to walk in my own choice of faith—my individual Christian faith—without fear or condemnation!
It was then in that very moment when I let out a new exclamation:“Oh Lord, thank You!”
I am reminded that I need to give thanks to our Lord Jesus, in whom we are free to live and move and have our being (see Acts 17:28), and give thanks to Him for life in a democracy that allows for us to live without fear or danger.
This Fourth of July, from my heart I wish you a hearty “Happy Fourth of July! Happy Independence Day!” You and I live in the United States of America, land of the free—a unique and special land that offers freedoms we should never take for granted!
PRAYER POWER FOR THE WEEK OF 7-2-2012
This week thank the Lord that freedom still lives in this great country. Thank Him for the veterans who have served—and are currently serving—so that you and I can walk in these freedoms. Pray for families here and abroad, together and separated from each other because of service to their country. Ask the Lord to comfort those who have lost loved ones. Pray this special week that those persecuted for their Christian faith would have God’s high favor and protection. Remember Israel and pray that God’s people will unite in prayer and purpose for the expansion of His kingdom, the upcoming elections, and His soon coming. 2 Chron. 7:14
To enrich your prayer life and learn how to strategically pray with power by using appropriate scriptures, we recommend the following sources by Apostle John Eckhardt: Prayers that Rout Demons, Prayers that Bring Healing, Prayers that Release Heaven on Earth and Prayers that Break Curses. To order any or all of these click here.
James Lasher 
Abby Trivett 
