Exploring America’s Beauty Through Faith

SPEAKER 01 : 0:10

Welcome to Call to Freedom with Barbara Carmack. This is Jimmy Lakey, and I’m delighted that you are joining us for this half hour. You can reach Call to Freedom at Box 370367, Denver, Colorado 80237, or by going to the website at www.freedomstreet.org. If you want to leave a message or order a Word Power Daily Reading Bible Guide or a Freedom Street Express newsletter, you can call us toll free at 1-877-917-7256 and leave your name and address, including your zip code. If you want to talk to Barbara right now, she is expecting your call. You may call that same toll-free number, 1-877-917-7256 to speak to her. And now, let’s join Barbara in the studio.

SPEAKER 04 : 1:04

Welcome to Call to Freedom. May you always know how great, how great his love is for you, my friend. That’s why I’m here every day, Monday through Thursday. I’m here every week. And we’ve done over 5,500 programs. And I am so grateful to God for that. But may you always know his love for you and how much he delights in you. Read Zephaniah 317. You’re going to be blessed. And the wonderful blessings of belonging to him. You belong. You might have a past of really terrible past. Parents that really didn’t give a darn about you, that left you alone. You now have a father who cherishes you and delights in you and cares. You belong to him. I’m going to be talking about that in 1 John in a little while. Let’s do our Monday Bible slogan. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I do what it tells me to do. This is my Bible. It has given me new life. It is the word of God. You are blessed to dispense for in him you live and move and have your being. I just read through the book of Acts and such a tremendous book. Yes, Jesus was gone physically from this earth, but boy, the disciples had a power in them now that was so tremendous and just blessed everybody who came along. It’s wonderful. I want to announce a meeting this next Saturday. And the Lord willing, Kimberly is going to be here for the meeting, but also she’s going to be live across from me on Wednesday and Thursday. So I’m really looking forward to it. From her trip in South Carolina, I’ve been learning a lot from her bonding with her nieces and their husbands and her great-nephews, and she’s such a delight. So it’s going to be good just to have her here. And so I want to invite you to the meeting on Saturday. That’s July the 12th. Boy, I have a little frog in my throat. I need to get rid of it in Jesus name. So on July the 12th, that’s this next Saturday, we will have that meeting. Now, I’m going to do exactly, or I’m planning to do, not that I’m going to do, the Lord willing, we’re going to do what we did this last month. And we’re going to go to the restaurant for brunch. Not breakfast at 8.30, but brunch at 10 o’clock or 10.15. I’m going to make it. Boy, the time, pretty close, because if you come after 10, you might have to just drive to the restaurant by yourself, and I have directions that I’ll give to you by the front door. But hopefully, those of you who are planning will get there. between 9.30 and 10 o’clock so we can go to the restaurant. It’s going to be so much fun. It was last month and just had a wonderful time, a time of fellowship, but also delicious food. And you don’t even have to prepare anything. Isn’t that wonderful? Sometimes it’s really great to have a vacation from preparing food. So remember that this Saturday, July the 12th, and call me at 1-877-917-7256 for reservations. And it’s like when I call the restaurant, I ask them to get a table ready for so many people. So that’s what I’m asking of you, to call in at 1-877-917-7256 so that we have chairs enough for you when you come to our home. So God bless you, and I’m looking forward to seeing you. Last weekend, I hope that you had a wonderful Fourth. Last weekend, listening to the fireworks was a real enjoyment. I did not have to go anywhere to watch them because just two houses down, right in the middle of the street, I mean, they were popping off all over the place. And it was just so much fun. I went out and just sat on the steps and watched them zinging and popping and the bangs got loud and people were shouting and running and having a great time. It’s just a great neighborhood that I live in. I realized because we as a country had just gone through some of the worst years that American citizens can go through being dictated to by an administration that really didn’t know what they were doing and trying to force pronouns down our throats and giving us lists of what we should buy. Oh, electric cars. And, oh, I’m not against any of that. But you should make your own decisions. You’re a citizen of the United States. You know, electric ovens and stoves. No more gas by 2028. And continuing to raise prices and so many extra fees in our utility bills that we could no longer read them. We really can’t. I looked at them last month and I thought, oh, I can’t get through this. And then… After hearing about the dreadful flood in Texas, these issues that we go through on a month-to-month basis are so slight, are so slight compared to what happened. When I heard the devastating news from the Guadalupe River area on the 4th of July, It hit me that nothing is so bad that we cannot recover and get back up. Even bankruptcy, that kind of thing, is nothing compared to the loss of children and family. I cannot imagine the grief, the gut-wrenching grief of the families who lost loved ones and children in the flood. They had left their precious daughters at Camp Mystic, and they thought they were well taken care of, they were protected, and they could just enjoy a weekend with their friends. And the innocent children, the innocence of these precious children and the hope for the future for these families, these parents who lost so much. Oh, I just cannot imagine. And just gone in minutes, just a matter of minutes, just gone. And you will hear of the great miraculous rescues from last weekend. And most of you would like to do something in a tangible way to help this devastated area. That’s what I thought right away. Oh, God, we’ve got to do something. You know, it’s always we’ve got to do something. But it’s God who really does. He really does something. 850 were rescued in no time at all last weekend. I mean, helicopters and boats and all kinds of things were there on the scene helping and rescuing. You’re going to hear other stories about miraculous rescues. I know that Samaritan’s Purse is on the scene. They always are. They always are almost immediately on the scene. They’re an organization you can rely on. So if you sense that you would like to help in this effort, as I did immediately, Go to www.freedomstreet.org and click on the Donate button and give. I know that the volunteers of this tragedy would be grateful at your compassion and sympathy to those who have lost everything, food and clothing and that kind of thing. I know their homes are probably swept away in the river, but we can help in a tangible way also and also with prayers. Americans have always come to the rescue in their giving when tragedy strikes, and this is the time to do something. In fact, go to the website right now and give to this effort. Even if you miss the Call to Freedom program today, even if you miss it, just go to that website, freedomstreet.org. Your effort in helping in this situation is much more important. Click on the Donate button, and in doing so, you are giving to Samaritan’s Purse. I will be sending a check plus $1,000 from Call to Freedom for this great need. God bless you in your giving. Make out your checks to Call to Freedom, and then I will write one check to Samaritan’s Purse, as we’ve done in the past with tornadoes and things that have happened in the United States. I appreciate your sacrificial giving so much. Thank you. Oh, America, America, God shed his grace on thee. Have you ever spent the late afternoon watching the purple shadows deepen in the Arizona desert or seen a herd of elk plow their way through the waist-deep snow on a cold winter Colorado dome? Did you ever see the sun go down in Hawaii? Oh, it’s beautiful. Or sit behind the mighty Rocky Mountains or see the stormy waves break over the rock-bound coast of Maine? Or have you ever seen an eagle fly up out of the mists of Alaska or a big October moon hanging full over the still Dakota Badlands? Did you ever drink the water from a gurgling brook in Utah or stand on the mountain above the deep cavern of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison? I’ll tell you, folks, that Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the greatest mountains. natural resources, or see the eagles fly majestically over the Wyoming prairie. We’ve seen that. Have you seen the faces on Mount Rushmore or stood at the Vietnam Memorial? Have you ever crossed the mighty Mississippi or been to the daddy of them all in Cheyenne, Wyoming? Did you ever see the early morning dew sparkling on the Kentucky bluegrass, or the wind stir the wheat fields on a hot Kansas afternoon, or drive down those lonely stretches of Route 66? Have you ever heard the church bells peal their call to worship on a cool early Sunday in a small town in the deep south? This then is America, the land God blesses with everything. And no Eiffel Tower, no Taj Mahal, no Alps, no Andes, no royal palace can rival her awesome beauty. She is America the free, America the mighty, America the beautiful. And that’s written by Charlie Daniels. God bless him. America, America, God shed his grace on thee and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. In spite of all the tragedy that happens in this fallen world, our Redeemer God loves and helps all who trust in him. Some people call the Texas tragedy an act of God. And I am offended by that remark because the prince of the power of this atmosphere on this earth is in charge right now. Let me read from Ephesians. And my Bible is the truth. It’s the real truth. It’s the standard of truth by which I have been standing for 50 years. And in Ephesians 2, it says, we formerly walked according to the course of this world. Ephesians 2, right at the beginning of the chapter, according to the prince of the power of the air. He’s the power of the atmosphere around the earth, my friend. And he was given this power, this legal authority by Adam, by man. And don’t say, boy, that Adam, he really got us into trouble. If you would have been in the same place, you would have done exactly what Adam did. It’s innate in us when we are born that there is a sinful nature in us until we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. So here is the world according to the prince of the power of the air of the spirits that now are at work in the sons of disobedience. So this is not an act of God. This is the result of what the devil has planned all along to kill, steal and destroy. And that’s John 10, 10. It is the word of God on the lips of the saved and sanctified men and women of God that will push back the enemy’s schemes and attacks. And that’s why I’m asking you to pray. Pray for the welfare of this nation. Just as I read Charlie Daniels’ wonderful paragraphs about the description of America. Oh, we live in a great country, my friend. Don’t take it for granted. I have the utmost reassurance today, even though the families in Texas are weeping and grieving over their loss, every single one of those precious children and leaders in Camp Mystic are now with the Lord today. And what… a reassurance that is that’s when my husband John died and Darren died I know exactly where they are praise God and so the grief in the morning were gut-wrenching but not nearly as much as if I didn’t know where they were there will be a glorious reunion if we stay on course and trust in the Lord let us love one another just as Christ himself loves us I was centered all weekend, even in the midst of all that’s happening outside my home, my refuge, in the teaching that Kimberly gave on Thursday, that we are the center of God’s love in this world. We Christians, we believers. And if we don’t show his love on this earth, it won’t be shown because God’s love in us is going to win others. I spent a lot of time in 1 John 3, and that’s the verse of Scripture that Kimberly gave on Thursday. And I believe that this is something that you need to know and be confident about going forward. And our memory verse this week is taken from John 3. I was in that chapter all week long. John 3, verse 18. Little children. I love his endearing remarks about us being God’s little children. It’s so precious. Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. Truth from the word of God. And from the Passion Translation, 1 John 3, verse 18. Beloved children, our love can’t be an abstract theory we only talk about, but a way of life demonstrated through our loving deeds. Praise God. 1 John 3.1. I’ve got to go back to the third chapter of 1 John. It’s just such a beautiful chapter. Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that he has lavished on us. This is from the message. He has called us and made us his very own beloved children. You are loved, my friend, when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The reason the world doesn’t recognize who we are is that we didn’t recognize. that they didn’t recognize him. The world does not recognize Jesus. In fact, if you mention God, most of them will turn their back and they’ll walk away from you. And Jesus, if you mention Jesus, all they know is a curse word. They don’t know the beloved Savior and Lord. Beloved, we are God’s children right now. However, it is not yet apparent what we will become. But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like him, for we will see him as he truly is. So when you look in the mirror, especially as you’re getting older and you begin to see the wrinkles and you begin to see the sagging skin, don’t look at it, because you’re going to have… Not only a robe of righteousness when you see Jesus, but you are going to be changed in the twinkling of an eye. Oh, praise God. And all who focus their hope on him will always be purifying themselves. They will be working on it. as much light as they have been given just as jesus is pure and we know that in philippians 2 verse 13 god is at work in us praise god we don’t do it he does it in us when we relinquish our lives and surrender them to him he begins to work in us he is at work in us both to will and to work for his good pleasure his perfect pleasure the character of god’s children is evident to the world Anyone, and this is verse 4 of 1 John 3, anyone who indulges in sin lives in moral anarchy. For the description of sin is breaking God’s law. It’s lawlessness. And you know without a doubt that Jesus was revealed to eradicate sins. Not his sin, but our sins, because there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in union with him will not sin. But the one who continues sinning hasn’t seen him with spiritual awareness or known him by intimate experience. And Paul knew him by intimate experience. And I pray that you will receive God to the point that you want to truly know him. Oh, my beloved children, don’t let anyone divert you from this truth. The person who keeps doing what is right proves that he is righteous before God, even as the Messiah is right. Oh, I find that so reassuring, don’t you? That when you begin to realize what God wants in your life, you will go, you will focus and you will go on that precious path of righteousness that he has us on. When I was looking for a song today, I realized that Where where Jesus is, is where I want to be. I want to be where you are, Jesus. And I actually gave Rachel a different title. And then I found this song by Leland. And I thought, oh, we’ve got to do this song. No matter what happens in this life, God is there with you, surrounding you with his love and compassion in whatever you’re going through, where you are, Lord Jesus. I just want to be where you are.

SPEAKER 1 : 19:17

I can’t get enough

SPEAKER 03 : 19:57

You’re amazing, Lord Jesus, I can’t get enough I can’t walk away No, I can’t walk away For I have seen your face I just want to be where you are. And I just want to be near your heart. There is nothing like your love. Jesus, there is nothing like your love. I can’t get enough. You’re amazing. I can’t get in Every voice I can’t walk away I can’t walk away No, I can’t walk away For I have seen your face face of love. And I can’t walk away. I want to be where you are. And I just want to be where you are. Oh, and I just want to be near your heart. There is nothing Jesus, there is nothing like your love. Sing it again. I wanna be where you are. And I just wanna be where you are. Near your heart. And I just wanna be near you. Jesus, there is nothing like your love. Yeah. Just lift your voice. Lift up a song of worship. Oh, lift up a melody of worship to Jesus right now. He loves to hear the song on our lips. Your children singing, oh. Oh, singing, oh. Oh, singing, oh. Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you. Your children singing, oh. Thank you.

SPEAKER 04 : 24:49

Can you imagine what the choir in heaven is going to be singing? Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. Oh, praise the Lord. All we want to do is be near you, Lord Jesus. Oh, Lord Jesus, who paid it in full on the cross. He paid the penalty for your sins and for my sins for all eternity. He paid it in full, as John tells us in the 19th chapter of John, he paid all. Our penalties for sin are sinful, actual things that happened that we committed against God. He paid it on the cross. Praise the Lord. So the reason the Son of God was revealed was to undo and destroy the works of the devil. Praise God. 1 John 3, 8. Oh, if you find yourself just overwhelmed and perplexed at times, just remember that Jesus gave you value here. You have value in God’s kingdom that is far better than the best of the best in this world. And that’s why we just want to be near you, Lord Jesus. We just want to be close to you. That when the tragedy does come, we know where we will be. If we die in an instant, we know we will be with God. The angels will take us in their arms up to the throne of God. Oh, what reassurance, friend. What compassion from God. What love from God. I’m going to continue in 1 John 3. It’s just such a beautiful chapter. So join me tomorrow. Remember, go to freedomstreet.org, click on Donate, and give today. to call to freedom for Samaritan’s Purse. It’s so important that we do that right now at this time after the tragedy on the 4th of July. Pray for those families as I have been praying. God bless you and keep you and take joy.

SPEAKER 1 : 27:02

877-917-7256

SPEAKER 01 : 27:23

Call to Freedom is a listener-supported radio ministry. Barbara and her power partners invite you to come on board with us and become a network of hands holding up Call to Freedom ministry. Power partners support Call to Freedom with prayer and monthly financial support. You will be blessed supernaturally. We invite you to visit Call to Freedom’s website, www.freedomstreet.org, where you can hear Barbara’s daily radio broadcast 24 hours a day or order materials. You may share your praise reports and heart cries by mailing them to Call to Freedom, Box 370-367, Denver, Colorado, 80237. Or you may email us at barbracarmack at freedomstreet.org. Until next time, remember, Jesus loves you, Barbara loves you, and take joy.

SPEAKER 1 : 28:25

Thank you.