Day 21 ~ Today I am thankful for... the freedom to worship in safety
Sundays are full days for our family. Yesterday, because I was on piano, I was at church at 6:45 (yes - AM) for practice and then the services. We freely and openly sang, prayed, and listened to the teaching of God's Word. No one came in with guns to take us to prison; no one was asked to recant their beliefs; no one was hurt or killed. We have, at least for now, the freedom to worship God in safety.
The church began during a time of persecution and I know today there are many, many places were believers do not have that gift of worshiping God openly. I have a hard time grasping what that means because I have always lived in the United States - a land of freedoms and rights. I've only read about places were to worship together you meet in secret and even then you aren't sure if there are government spies in your group. I don't know what it means to live with that kind of fear. Someday in Heaven, I hope we get to hear the stories of what it meant to live for Christ in different times and countries. I'm sure it will make the frustrations I've experienced with church issues seem petty.
While I can pray for those who live with restrictions, I am thankful to live in a country where we have the freedom to go to church and worship in safety!
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