Study session part 1

Chris and Samantha were studying history tonight and Chris asked her this question: "Why did the Pilgrims have a thankful spirit and determine to continue on even during the hard times that first winter?" Her first answer was ... the pilgrims were willing to do anything for their religious freedom. In other words, they were determined that no matter what ... nothing would stand in their way of experiencing freedom, worshiping God not mandated by some state church - worshiping God mandated by God, according to his scriptures. Here is the quote from her book, "Many of the Pilgrims became sick that winter. At one time, only seven were strong enough to take care of the sick. By spring, half of the Pilgrims had died. Yet there was no thought of giving up or complaining about being sick and cold and hungry." They did not give up. They did not want to give up because their faith determined how they would respond to their environment. They did not want to return to "their Egypt" under captivity of the king. They were determined to have freedom to worship God, wow! Can you imagine what that would be like? Fighting the government, elemental forces, fighting fear, uncertainty ... fight against it and not running away from it because you carve, want, yearn to worship God. That faith, community, worshiping God meant more than life itself. I want that. I want IT. We should all want IT.