The celebration of American Independence occurs tomorrow. How do you plan to celebrate this significant event? Many folks plan to celebrate with food, family, and fireworks. (Be careful, there are burn bans in many areas!) Others will choose to attend a parade or patriotic rally in their town. Many politicians use Independence Day to reaffirm their love of their country to voters while communicating their particular ideology of what it will take to keep our country free. (Are you registered to vote and do you exercise that privilege as often as you can?) At most of these events, one song will be played that stirs the emotions of most Americans. It has appeared on the Country music charts 3 different times, a feat that has never been replicated by any song of any genre. So, with Lee Greenwood, let's proclaim, "There ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless The USA!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Japc8M8RQw
This past Memorial Day, Lee Greenwood released a book that poses a question that is important for all of us to ask ourselves. "Does God Still Bless The USA?" includes a 30-day Patriot prayer calendar and 2 free song downloads. It also explores the idea of a nation that is turning away from its heritage and foundational principles. Subtitled "A Plea For A Better America", Lee Greenwood examines where we are as a country and with a patriot's passion, ways that we can turn back to the Founders intent of a country that is based on a Judeo-Christian belief system.
The Old Testament tells the story of the formation and existence of the
Israelite nation. Theirs is a history of returning to God when times were bad, then turning away from God when times got good. In all of their history, one thing remained constant.....God was always there waiting for them to return. America reflects that same story in many ways. Hard times have brought our nation back to God, good times have seen America lose its focus on Godly things. The same constant of
Israel is there for America. God is waiting for us to refuse to allow the "trends" of popular culture and political winds to cause us to
compromise on our Biblically founded, God-based truth. Please take a
moment to read this article from CBN.com regarding a recent interview
with Historian and Evangelical Christian David Barton:
http://www.cbn.com/
(for more from David Barton go to https://wallbuilders.com/)
God has promised that He will not depart from those nations who will remain focused on Him and doing His will. Our example of the nation of Israel is the proof. When Israel turned away from God and sought after the gods of the world, God removed His hand and the nation soon divided. Both Judah and Israel were eventually conquered. The nation that had been the world's superpower during the reign of David and Solomon no longer existed after the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests. Israel would not be recognized as an autonomous country again until 1947.
The Bible tells us that if we will turn from our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us from that sin. This applies to cities and nations as well. One powerful example was the Assyrian capital of Ninevah. This city features prominently in the story of Jonah. So much is made about the miracle of Jonah surviving in the great fish, that sometimes the larger point is missed. An entire city turned away from its sin and was saved from destruction because of its leaders. From the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation of Jonah 3:10:
Then God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—so God relented from the disaster He had threatened to do to them. And He did not do it.
This change was instigated by the leaders of Ninevah listening to the prophecy from Jonah and repenting. Turning to Yahweh and serving Him. This was enough for God to "relent" from the actions that He had planned. There is always hope.
On this Independence Day, take a moment and reflect on where we are as a country in our relationship and dependence on God. Take a moment and reflect on how the position our country has with God is compared to your own position with God. Revival of a nation is started with individuals taking a stand against sin in their own lives first, then calling out the sin of their nation. Use this Independence Day to declare your total dependence on God. Review how the politicians for whom you voted reflect the views that you have. Research candidates that will be elected in the coming election. Ask God to guide you in your selection process and when asked about your vote let others know how you voted and why. Let this be a Dependence Day on God so we can remain independent of the world and when given the opportunity, we will proclaim that we'll.... "proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today. 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless The USA!!"
http://www.cbn.com/
(for more from David Barton go to https://wallbuilders.com/)
God has promised that He will not depart from those nations who will remain focused on Him and doing His will. Our example of the nation of Israel is the proof. When Israel turned away from God and sought after the gods of the world, God removed His hand and the nation soon divided. Both Judah and Israel were eventually conquered. The nation that had been the world's superpower during the reign of David and Solomon no longer existed after the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests. Israel would not be recognized as an autonomous country again until 1947.
The Bible tells us that if we will turn from our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us from that sin. This applies to cities and nations as well. One powerful example was the Assyrian capital of Ninevah. This city features prominently in the story of Jonah. So much is made about the miracle of Jonah surviving in the great fish, that sometimes the larger point is missed. An entire city turned away from its sin and was saved from destruction because of its leaders. From the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation of Jonah 3:10:
Then God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—so God relented from the disaster He had threatened to do to them. And He did not do it.
This change was instigated by the leaders of Ninevah listening to the prophecy from Jonah and repenting. Turning to Yahweh and serving Him. This was enough for God to "relent" from the actions that He had planned. There is always hope.
On this Independence Day, take a moment and reflect on where we are as a country in our relationship and dependence on God. Take a moment and reflect on how the position our country has with God is compared to your own position with God. Revival of a nation is started with individuals taking a stand against sin in their own lives first, then calling out the sin of their nation. Use this Independence Day to declare your total dependence on God. Review how the politicians for whom you voted reflect the views that you have. Research candidates that will be elected in the coming election. Ask God to guide you in your selection process and when asked about your vote let others know how you voted and why. Let this be a Dependence Day on God so we can remain independent of the world and when given the opportunity, we will proclaim that we'll.... "proudly stand up next to you and defend her still today. 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless The USA!!"
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by loving you,
Randy
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