Welcome to "Tuesday Morning"—always containing encouraging words for Christians everywhere.

 

I went searching for quotes on "freedom" in preparation for sending today's epistle. Aside from a few famous quotes, most of the ones I found had to do with freedom lost, won, preserved, and desired. Some of my favorites were written by Patrick Henry—the governor of Virginia between 1776 and 1779 and one of the founding fathers of the United States. His speeches advocating the American Revolution are legendary. Here is one of my favorite cuttings:

 

"They tell us, sir, that we are weak--unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemy shall have bound us hand and foot?—Sir, we are not weak, if we make proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power."

 

It was in that context that Henry said, "Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

 

There is a freedom, however, that does not require us to arm ourselves with automatic rifles and stand guard over our homes and possessions. It is the freedom of spirit that comes when we invite Jesus Christ to be Lord of our lives. Haldor Lillenas wrote the lyrics to one of the evangelical movement's greatest songs of testimony:

 

Once I was bound by sin's galling fetters; chained like a slave, I struggled in vain.

But I received a glorious freedom, When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.

Freedom from all the carnal affections; Freedom from envy, hatred, and strife;

Freedom from vain and worldly ambitions; Freedom from all that saddened my life!

Freedom from pride and all sinful follies; Freedom from love and glitter of gold;

Freedom from evil temper and anger—Glorious freedom, rapture untold!

Freedom from fear with all of its torments; Freedom from care with all of its pain;

Freedom in Christ, my blessed Redeemer, He who has rent my fetters in twain!

 

Today's epistle is entitled, "Good News." It is attached below. Read on whenever you are ready, and if you know the tune to the song above, sing it with me. From the top.

 

Tom Barnard

A Senior Encourager

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Good News

Tom Barnard

 

“So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.”

(John 8:36 NLT)

 

“Be done with shame! Attack shame. Go to war with it.

Learn to recognize and avoid it like the plague.”

(Melody Beattie, in The Language of Letting Go)

 

I have never been held captive to shame. Perhaps it was because I accepted Christ as a child of 12, and when Jesus set me free from the sins of my young past (and looking back, there wasn’t much shame in my life then), I became “free indeed.” What a celebrative memory! But I know folk who have been prisoners of shame for years. The memories of past and present failures keep them trapped into thinking that some evil “residue” from their life before Jesus will keep them in bondage for the rest of their lives.

 

Beattie is right: “Be done with shame!” Begin today! The Apostle Paul asked and answered one of the most important questions we will ever face in this life:

 

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?...I am convinced that nothing

can separate us from his love. Death can’t and life can’t. The angels can’t,

and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow,

and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away.”

(Romans 8:35 NLT)

 

As the old song says, “The world didn’t give it (freedom) to me, and the world can’t take it away.”

 

Friend, if this email finds you discouraged, defeated, depressed, and disconnected, look up! I mean really up, right into the face of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Isaiah promised (Isa. 42:7) that He will be the one who sets captives free from prison and will “release those who sit in dark dungeons.” Jesus himself said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJV).

 

Do you need more encouragement? Get ready; here it comes. From the Word of God:

 

“…for the battle is the Lord’s.” – 1 Samuel 17:47

“My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.” – Psalm 25:15

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom what I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1

“Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him…my God.” – Psalm 43:5

“I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.” – Psalm 91:15

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 44:10

“When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord

will lift up a standard against him.” – Isaiah 59:19

“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,

that He might destroy the works of the devil.” – 1 John 3:8

 

Martin Luther King, Jr., understood it well. He expressed it for every child of God.

“Free at last; free at last. Thank God A’mighty, I’m free at last!”