Letter From the Editor: Spring 2026

Hello Friends,

I love America! The land of the free, the home of the brave, and the amazing freedoms She offers.

As this great land of ours celebrates 250 years of independence, I’d be remiss not to express my heartfelt gratitude for the untethered freedom to accomplish God’s holy calling on my life—to publish Living Real Magazine. Freedom of Speech is a freedom many take for granted and some even abuse, but the first amendment is a sacred privilege.

Freedom is never free. It comes with the high cost of life’s sacrifice. Much blood has spilled here and abroad to keep us free. But our freedoms also come with the great responsibility of using them wisely rather than exploiting them. We at LR commit ourselves to using our freedom of speech wisely as we proclaim God’s truth and liberty through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Speaking of liberty, did you know that there’s a portion of Scripture engraved on the Liberty Bell?

…proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants,

Leviticus 25:10

As the Israelites waited to enter the Promised Land, God instructed them that after they entered, they were to consecrate every 50th year as a year of jubilee. A whole year of celebrating liberty for all within the land. It was a year of remembering how God redeemed them, freed them, and gave them their homeland. This was a foreshadowing of Christ who would come to break the chains of our slavery to sin. He did this by shedding His own blood on that rugged, sacrificial altar called the cross. His redemptive act freed us from sin, restored our broken relationship with God, and provided us an eternal home with Him.

Since America is spiritually patterned after Israel, our 250th birthday symbolically marks our fifth jubilee which is a huge milestone for this grand experiment we call home. America’s spirit, grit, and light are only visible and attainable by the grace of Almighty God. Our country’s forefathers formed a more perfect union on the foundation and principles laid out in the Word of God. I believe our fifth jubilee is one of profound grace and mercy; something we don’t deserve because of our disobedience as a nation, but one God has graciously given.

May this year be, not only one for celebration, but also for reflection on God’s faithfulness, repentance, and turning our hearts back to Him. God has blessed and used America by Sovereign design to expand the Gospel of Jesus Christ here and around the world. May She never lose sight of the One who gave Her life and great significance in the world. May She remain humble, thankful, steadfast, and strong. And may She forever stand tall, one nation under God, full of His light, liberty, and unwavering truth.

Happy birthday, America! Let freedom ring!

Keepin’ it Real,

Melanie