July 4th is not just another holiday.

It's much more than a trip to the beach, lake or pool.  It's much more than a picnic in the park or backyard.  This holiday is more than oohing and awing at fireworks displays.

July 4th is about freedom and liberty won and maintained through great personal sacrifice, commitment and faith.

Our independence was won by those who were willing to pay the ultimate price so that you and I could enjoy a holiday such as this.

George Washington said:

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

The following is a great story about General Washington’s faith in God.

During the dark days of the American Revolution, when the Continental Army had experienced several setbacks, a farmer who lived near the battlefield approached Washington’s camp unheard.

Our faith is under attack.

This is not really a new thing.

But. . .HALLELUJAH. . .these attacks cannot stop the power of God.

But the work of God is done on earth through believing faith.

Attacks come to hinder our faith by breaking our focus. . .with the purpose of  trying to keep the plan of God from manifesting in our lives.

Mark 3:1 in the New King James Version says:

“And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.”

This is one of my favorite stories in scripture.

The man was positioned to receive alms. . .to put bread on his table for a day.  But on this particular day. . .he was positioned for a miracle.

Our God is a deliverer Who does not like to see His children hurting.

Mark Twain, the American humorist said:

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.”

While I was in college, I was asked to write a paper about the greatest man I’d ever met or read about.  It was an easy and immediate decision. . .I wrote it about my Dad.

I often think about the character qualities I learned from my father that would benefit others.

Proverbs 20:7 in the Amplified Bible says:

“The righteous man walks in his integrity; blessed (happy, fortunate, enviable) are his children after him.”

There are seven character qualities of a Godly father that I want to share with you today. . .based on the life of James Harold Herring, Sr., my father.

First, everybody was worthy of respect.

Let’s establish a couple of facts.

First, no matter how anemic your bank account may be. . .you’re not broke.

Second, even though your money may run out before the month does. . .you’re not broke.

Before going any further. . .let’s define the word broke which according to dictionary.com means:  “without money, penniless.”

I know people who have a six-figure income who talk about how broke they are.

And by the same token, I hear from people receiving government assistance talking about how broke they are.

In our effort to figure out why some people feel like they are broke. . .let me ask you several questions.

Are you spending more money than what you’ve got?

Are you living today off money you expect to receive tomorrow?

Are you spending money you don’t have to compensate for stress in some other area of your life. . .such as a hurting marriage, troubled or chronically-ill children or a difficult work situation?

Are you a victim of Parkinson’s Law?  Parkinson’s Law says that expenses will always rise to meet income.

A few days ago, I was asked how many teachings I’ve done.  I said “over 2,000.”  The next day in the early morning. . .I started counting and realized  it’s over 3,000 teachings in various forms.

I’ve taught about or mentioned fasting in less than ten of these messages.  So it was with great interest ‘of what the Lord would do’ when I was directed to discuss the kind of fast He is after.

In Isaiah we are given some specific information on how, when and what.

Isaiah 58:6-9 in the Message Bible says:

“This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.  What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.

Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once.  Your righteousness will pave your way.  The God of glory will secure your passage.  Then when you pray, God will answer.  You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'”