A place in history, of time untolled,
A purpose and plan struggled against the mold,
Some strangers from across the sea,
Set out knowing nothing at all of me.
Looking through the stars, a stirring they felt,
On my distant shores, gratefully they knelt.
A firm foundation, their hearts to heaven soared,
With a twinkle in their eye and a future reward.
A city on hill, a new world of freedom,
A people self-governed, contrary to a kingdom.
That was the plan; that was the dream,
To rule over themselves without selfish scheme.
Alas, it now seems that some devilish machine
Has usurped the plan and banished the dream,
No longer this people willing to behave well,
Sold their will and devotion to a vile cartel.
Yet, off in the distance, muffled by noise,
Still Liberty’s voice, it calls with poise,
“Stand up and be counted, all you who’d be free,
The time has come to support and defend me!”
“Too busy,” you say, to get involved;
“Too much corruption, and lies, and scandals unresolved!”
Ah, but who allowed that to happen,” Liberty dares to inquire,
“Self-governing was the call, not sit back and retire!”
This ‘self-governing’ people has stopped governing altogether,
Stopped trying to improve, stopped reaching higher.
It’s so much easier to just sit and collect a check,
“Leave the heavy lifting to others while I enjoy my new deck!”
But the Land of the Free simply will not survive,
If mediocrity and laziness overpower our drive,
To conquer all obstacles, to rise to every challenge,
To grow up, to face up, and stand in the balance!
Look back over your own life. I’d be willing to bet none of us are where we imagined we’d be when we graduated from high school. Am I right? Have there been disappointments? Has there been heart-ache? Hard times? Of course! If God had laid out the itinerary for each of us, step by step, kinda like an instructional map, how many of us would have stuck to it voluntarily? I bet NONE! We’d all try to eliminate the hurt, the tough times, the heart-ache, yet for most of us, the hard places are the richest for us – the places we learn the most about ourselves and about who God is. In spite of our President’s political viewpoint, LIFE is NOT FAIR!!!!!
The pre-trib Rapture idea is relatively new to Christianity. I’m a Teacher, by calling by motivation, by vocation and avocation! One of the first lessons I learned in Christ was before I could Teach a lesson, I had to Learn it, so that I was teaching by experience, not just by rote! This is probably why I have a very hard time with the pre-trib Rapture idea. Christ will return one day. This much is true, but the details are unclear, and must not become a distraction to us as we live day to day.
Disclaimer: I am not necessarily a fan of this ministry or teaching. Just throwing it out there for debate!
10 Promises of God to us, which, like Him, are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8) Consider them a rope to hold onto through any storm, or a hand to hold!
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”Deut 31:6
The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24 When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the Lord is the One [f]who holds his hand.
25 I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.
26 All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his descendants are a blessing.Psalm 37: 23-26
He has promised to supply every need we have. The Bible says: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. That’s Phillipians 4:19. Now notice, God has obligated Himself only to the extent of our needs. That would include food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and salvation thru Jesus Christ. It would not include the multiplicity of luxuries that we have come to think of as needs.
God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9). In fact, He has made provision for our salvation by His grace through faith. Read Ephesians 2:8. It is through an obedient faith that we have access into the grace of God according to Romans 5:2.
God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. Instead, He assures us that a way of escape will be provided. This promise is recorded in I Corinthians 10:13. Jude wrote: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present your faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude v 24). Darius, King of the Medes, said to Daniel, “Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you.” (Daniel 6:16). He did deliver Daniel from the den of lions.
God has promised us victory over death. He first resurrected Jesus by way of assuring our resurrection. Peter said: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3,4). Later on he adds: “but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:57).
God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him. (Romans 8:28). The first part of this verse is often quoted without the second part. It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.
God has promised forgiveness to those who believe.“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (Read Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:9 ).
God has promised His people eternal life by means of an intimate relationship with God himself! (John 10:27,28). We are adopted into Gods own family, his bloodline! (1 John 3:1) How amazing is this?
God promises unconditional and everlasting love. “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.Psalm 139: 17-18
Whether or not we are snatched up in the air and allowed to escape the devastation planned by God to turn the hearts of the rebellious back to Him or not, these promises, and all the rest, are given to us as tools to equip us for daily life regardless our circumstances.
My favorite promise, that motivates my life, even on the dark days …
Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10
Dig deeper, Rep. ISSA! America is waiting for the TRUTH!
Senator Lindsey Graham spoke with Greta Van Susteren of Fox News, last night about Benghazi and the importance of finding out the truth about what happened there. Graham said there should be bipartisan support for finding out what happened to these brave people, and why the story told by Washington was so wrong.
MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell interviewed Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) about tomorrow’s Benghazi hearing. More HERE
When the moral “cornerstone” was pulled from the structure of the American culture in the early 1960′s (removal of prayer from schools et al.,) our moral free fall began. It took us through the “free love” era and the “Down with authority” moment. Rebellion was encouraged, AND politically correct!
So … what happened to morality? It has disintegrated! The “cornerstone” was removed, and now the building, the USA, is collapsing!
What is happening to our society? Where are the morals and values? The video that I have posted below shows the changing values of our government and police force. The intrusion of Muslim and Islamic values into our once great country. The persecution of Christians which is now happening in America. This small group of Christian men are shown peacefully sharing the word of God. Hundreds if not thousands of Muslims surround them, cursing, throwing objects at them (cement, stones, bottles, crates, whatever they can find). Police come by several times to speak to the Christians. More HERE
“A society is judged by how it protects the most vulnerable, those unable to protect themselves. In the case of abortion on demand magnified by abortion just before or just after the baby is born, America has been found wanting.” More HERE!
LIFE is very important. Maybe not everyone has realized this, but it is! In fact, without LIFE, there is only … nothing! Void! Emptiness! LIFE is EVERYTHING. LIFE is purpose! LIFE is hope.
Jesus said, “A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy,
but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.” John 10: 10
A horrendous darkness has been exposed hidden away, ironically, in the birthplace of the American Experiment in self-governance. Since early in the 1970′s, our society has been drifting into the dark hole while millions of ignorant or apathetic Americans looked the other way. Some of us saw the darkness, others made excuses for its existence. But now, the world knows, and strangely (or not-so-strangely) the media, who should be conscientiously detailing the events for the benefit of the population and would-be victims, is deadly silent. Why so silent? Is there no journalistic pride amongst today’s media moguls?
“One reason may be that the trial of late-term abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell for multiple counts of murder is about an African-American killing mainly African-American babies — and so the common sense among liberals, or, as a friend of mine would say, the “coven-sense,” is that such a story disparages that community. This is something newspapers are loath to do. In much the same manner that they cannot dwell upon the causes of hand gun violence in inner city black communities. Or perhaps they view these killings as prophylactic: one cure for out-of-wedlock births.
“But perhaps an even more telling reason for ignoring the Gosnell story is that among the terrible details is revealed the fact that many, many babies being aborted late-term survive the process — not just a tiny few, as pro-abortionists keep insisting. And so these innocent little souls have to be murdered.
“In Dr. Gosnell’s clinic, typically by cutting their heads off. In one instance, a child arrived on the table with its eyes and jaw torn off by Gosnell’s forceps. While this helpless, sinless, creature lay writhing on the table, screaming, Dr. Gosnell gestured impatiently at an assistant — do something about that.
“How many children were so murdered? I believe that Gosnell’s charged with seven counts, but testimony indicates there may have been a hundred — maybe more, maybe a lot more. And so the liberal press, ever supportive of a woman’s right to “choose,” just can’t have that known.”
Maybe a hundred babies … and it’s not newsworthy? The administration has decided we-the-people don’t need to know this? There are other more vital matters for the people to know and understand? What’s the big deal? Just a few babies?
My heart cries not just for Americans, but for those waiting for Americans to return to their heritage and BE the LIGHT in this darkening world! Sadly, many are merely lining up in agreement with the policies that permit, and even condone, this devaluation of LIFE! Do we really want to experience the tyranny and poverty known by many parts of the world? Whether driven by faith or humanity, compassion costs. MONEY is not evil; it is the LOVE OF MONEY that destroys! Policy makers and population alike, we are ALL doomed if we don’t WAKE UP, AMERICA, and start acting like Grown ups!!!!!
“We make a living by what we get,
we make a life by what we give.”
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
The foundation of God is secure. The events of life do not change it. The words of the politicians and celebrities do not change it. They are a SURE revelation, and they are all still true. The Gospel plan of salvation is still valid. The hope of eternal life is still sure and steadfast. God’s plan for His people as individuals, as local churches, and within nations is still valid. None of this changes at all.
AMERICA’s Foundation is God. That is not what the left-wing politicians are saying. Nor is it what the NEA bound teacher’s are teaching our children, but Truth doesn’t change. America’s foundation is still God regardless of what our leaders may say.
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
But that is HISTORY, not now. Now, American’s are ridiculed and mocked if they choose to live a life of faith. Now, Americans are told to leave God at home, tucked safely out of sight lest someone be “offended” by the sight of an act of faith. Now, American’s bicker over the details, the symptoms of our sick and depraved society, now disavowing SCIENCE in favor of sin! Now, God is relegated to the closet while morally ignorant Americans or simply lost Americans revel in their ignorance. Politicians and celebrities proudly proclaim the glory and “freedom” of our Modern society while crime rates soar, hatred divides, bigotry spreads, and mental/emotional illness reaches astronomical proportions.
Divisions based on hatred and mistrust are better than neighborly communities? REALLY?
Violent crime rates climb and Politicians only seek a bandaid not a cure? REALLY? Chicago has the toughest gun restrictions in the nation and still their crimes rates continue to increase.
The numbers of impoverished Americans (with flat screen TV’s, cars, a/c etc, and daily trips to McD’s, but not enough real food) climbs above the number of WORKING Americans, and still no jobs in sight, but this is progress? REALLY?
Our economy is about to collapse, like Cyprus, Italy, and France, but sure, let’s print more paper money. BETTER?
Our nations medical care is undergoing a major change that was supposed to take care of the poor and help those with pre-existing conditions. OOOPS! It’s going to cost the POOR $2500 a year and those pre-existing conditions? Sorry, can’t help! There is a net result. There will be less/worse care for most people or higher costs or both.
One “seeker” has built a movement he calls, the THRIVE Movement based on a molecular structure called a torus, a self-generating, self-managing system. My question is … Did this “torus” create itself, or was God the designer? If God designed it, why not seek to build a relationship with the Designer, more than the Design? Just sayin …
The Solution is really much simpler than all that.
Thomas Jefferson, letter to Henry Lee, 1825 – “This was the object of the Declaration of Independence. Not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take. Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion.”MORE HERE
In fact, GOD is so intimately entwined (not just the idea of God, but HIM) into the fabric of this nation that it is unconscionable to think of the America we see today without the recognition of our God barred from public life. God is in our Anthem, our songs, our poetry, our stories, and permeates our history thoroughly. As Thomas Jefferson recognized (in the banner of this blog,) there is also an intimate relationship between the calamities that began with 9/11 and the rapid decline in our nation economically, morally, and socially. God is our nation’s Foundation, and if a building’s foundation is damaged, disrupted, or destroyed, what happens to the building? COLLAPSE!
This is not what GOD wants! He wants to help America, to rescue us from this horrendous downward spiral. POLITICS, however important, will NOT solve the problem. Hollywood cannot solve the problem. MONEY cannot solve the problem. BIG BUSINESS cannot solve the problem. What is left? Exactly! GOD!!! We are beyond all human help at this point, crashing down upon the consequences of doing things our own way, our human way. It will not work! It is up to the individual American to save America by coming into agreement with our Creator. It is only as we rediscover who GOD really is and learn HIS ways that the destruction brought about by our godlessness can be reversed. Otherwise, calamity awaits!
“There is a way which seems right to a man
and appears straight before him,
but at the end of it is the way of death.”Prov 14:12
B U T
“Then if my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek me and stop their evil ways,
I will hear them from heaven.
I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
I happened to tune Rush Limbaugh in the other day (not sure which day.) He was going on about the obscene extravagances of the Obama vacations, i.e. 3 lavish trips in as many months. That coupled with the intentional damage the Obama administration is pushing onto the American people via the “Sequestration cuts,” is enough to outrage anyone paying attention. Rush commented that he was surprised there wasn’t more of an outrage … more what? More ranting? More … This is exactly where a majority of Americans find themselves. Exactly HOW are we supposed to demonstrate our outrage? And HOW do WE-the-PEOPLE choose which of the many OUTRAGEOUS actions/policies/EX orders etc to go “ballistic” about even if we were to figure out how to GO ballistic!
Fact is, I believe the majority of the American people are awake. They SEE what is happening but feel powerless to DO anything constructive to halt the destruction. So many new organizations, groups, etc, each with their own agenda, plan, focus … NONE opting to work together with OTHER groups … WE-the-PEOPLE are too splintered, which is EXACTLY what the President wants. The more he and the media point out our DIFFERENCES, the more divided we are, and the easier it is to override OUR WILL. At some point, WE-the-PEOPLE must lay down our differences and realize it is AMERICA we need to save, AMERICA we must defend … at ALL costs, including the cost of OUR specific issue. We must unite atop the Constitution of the United States and demand our leaders obey it, comply with it, or change it legally – not by Executive order!
God birthed America with a purpose. It has been the most generous, most helpful, most innovative, the most compassionate nation on earth. Perfect? NO WAY! There are several dark chapters in our history, but the overall influence on the world has been positive … until now. Too many Americans have gotten lost amidst everyday life and circumstances. We must once again reach out our hands to one another … Hurricane Sandy victims are still without … Many are hurting in today’s economy and joblessness. REACH OUT & TOUCH … We must reach out and re-connect! Whatever else we are or are not we are Americans!
Below are a few related links to groups/organizations focused on Conservative goals. There are many other groups/organizations worthy of help, but these are the BIG THREE … IMHO. The more of us that get involved, the more authority our VOICE will have on the many issues vital to our nation’s future. Think of it as a Step of faith … We don’t know what will come of our effort, but the effort itself is a good thing! God is ultimately in control, so if we acknowledge His gentle guidance, and adhere to it, only good will come of it.
FREEDOM WORKS: FreedomWorks recruits, educates, trains and mobilizes millions of volunteer activists to fight for less government, lower taxes, and more freedom.
PATRIOT VOICES: Patriot Voices is a grassroots and online community of Americans from across the country who stand together to affect change that otherwise could not be accomplished alone. We know that standing on the sidelines is not an option. We are committed to promoting faith, family, freedom and opportunity. We believe that we’re one nation under God and all we do must be consistent with the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. We support candidates who share our convictions and hold those accountable that serve us in elected office.
MERCURY ONE: “To inspire, organize and mobilize individuals to improve the human condition physically, emotionally and spiritually with malice towards none and charity for all.”
And for WE-the-PEOPLE … AND those who seek leadership among us …
CONTRACT FROM AMERICA: The Contract from America is a grassroots-generated, crowd-sourced, bottom-up call for real economic conservative and good governance reform in Congress.
“I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.”John 17: 20-21 CEV
It’s true. I hear the sound of God’s Church coming together from various denominations, creeds, nations, and purposes. I hear the sound … We are not all the same. We are not all given the same purpose. There are theological, philosophical, and practical things we disagree on, but … But all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus are His Church. We do not need to compromise our beliefs to come together in Christ.
This may come as a shock to some. It may seem sacrilegious, but though we are not all of the Roman Catholic faith, we, as believers, are a part of Christ’s Church. As this new Pope assumes his role as Christ’s preeminent ambassador on earth, it strikes me that we ought to support him as best we can and pray for his to lead the Church with God’s wisdom. It is the Godly thing to do!
“We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.”EPH 6: 12 CEV
Some have the opinion that the anti-Christ will come from the Roman Church. Some non-Catholics have skeptical views of the Catholic church. Jesus, however, ordained the Church, and for many centuries there was only one Church. Imperfect, unjust, politically swayed at times, yes, but still an instrument of God. Like the men and women of the Bible, even those well known like Abraham, Moses, and David, each of us is flawed, so any group or organization we put together will also be flawed and imperfect. The Church is no different.
What am I saying? I’m saying to LOVE one another! It’s a command, after all! We have to grow up,get beyond our differences are learn to love one another, appreciate our differences instead of beating each other with them. Then, and only then, will the world see JESUS!
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”JOHN 13: 34-35
The world really needs Jesus … the REAL JESUS, not some fabricated, comfortable religion! But we each have to do our part.
“And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time,
the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault,
and violent men seize it by force, as a precious prize; a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion.”
Matthew 11:12 AMP
There are many puzzles in our daily walk, both as a Christ-follower and as an American. The verse quoted above has long been one of those puzzles because it seems to be contradictory to the overall message of the Gospel of Love. We get glimpses of the true sentiment from time to time … the righteous indignation of Jesus (Mt 21: 12-13) as he overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple because they had turned the “place of prayer & worship” into a mercantile or the righteous indignation of Paul as he chastised the slave girl (Acts 16: 16- 40) following him. It’s not a popular topic of either teaching or conversation.
I. The CONFLICT: As human beings, our tendency is to most highly value only that which we work to earn or possess. In Philippians, we’re told to “work out our own salvation.” (Philippians 2:12-13 Later, in the same book, we’re told to “press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.” (Phil 3: 14)
SALVATION is free … It is the Gift of God. (Romans 6:23) The moment we ask, salvation is ours, BUT … it is a daily calling which we have to put on each day. It’s like buying a new, warm woolen coat. It is ours, but for it to accomplish its purpose, it must be put on. So salvation must be put on, must be wrestled with on a daily basis because it does NOT come naturally. Even when we believe, even when our motivation is love … our minds and bodies want to do their own thing. We are asked to fight for it, and take it by force, sometimes, as though someone else wants our new woolen coat. We have the coat, and no one really can take it from us, but we can lay it down and walk away without enjoying its warmth and comfort.
Our Founders prayed for God to help them build a nation that would endure.
Our nation is at a vital crossroad, and the people of America must make the choice. Either we will resign ourselves to live out our lives in the compromised civilization that we see around us, and settle for the life of dependency and lack, OR we can put on our warm, woolen coat of salvation, accept that God’s ways are better, are SUPERIOR to our ways,admit our error, and walk into the abundance God always has for His people. Do we wish to bow to those in government or to the King of Kings? Do we bow to the government of men or the government of God? God’s ways are more difficult, for sure, and sometimes more uncomfortable, but ultimately much better and healthier! We choose not just for ourselves, but for our children, our grandchildren and for our nation.
I’m not sure that’s the best way to explain it, but … Maybe John Bunyan did a better job in his amazing book, Pilgrims Progress (highly recommended book):
” Then the Interpreter took him, and led him up towards the door of the palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not. There also sat a man at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a book and his inkhorn before him, to take the names of them that should enter therein; he saw also that in the doorway stood many men in armor to keep it, being resolved to do to the men that would enter, what hurt and mischief they could.
“Now was Christian somewhat in amaze. At last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, “Set down my name, sir;” the which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put a helmet on his head, and rush towards the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, Matt. 11:12; Acts 14:22; he cut his way through them all, and pressed forward into the palace; at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace, saying,
“Come in, come in,
Eternal glory thou shalt win.”
So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smiled, and said, I think verily I know the meaning of this.
Now, said Christian, let me go hence…”
II. APPLICATION: Again, I say … Nothing worth having comes easy. None of us learned to walk without falling down a few times. None of us learned to love without having our hearts broken a time or two. None of us learned to stand alone on God’s grace without failing miserably AND being hurt a few times.
“To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me!” (Col 1: 24-29 NCV)
Salvation, like Liberty, is an individual accomplishment. I can’t accomplish yours, and you can’t accomplish mine. All we can do for one another is facilitate the decision and encourage each other along the way.
Jacob wrestled with the Angel of God and would not let him go without a blessing. Genesis 32:24-28
As we walk out our salvation, we walk into greater and greater Liberty. We free ourselves from the dictates of men and focus on what pleases God. We learn to revel … to play inside God’s abounding love for us, free from worrying about what others might think of us. We know that as long as we walk inside God’s grace, whatever happens is blessed, ordered of God, and ultimately permitted GOOD for us. However, we must all realize, too, that while there are plenty of peaceful and restful times, there are also numerous “battles” we must walk through to make forward progress. We cannot stand still long, so we must choose to push ahead, upward or fall backward. The way is ready, but we must walk it.
III. CONCLUSION: God does not implant His character into our lives as the weaver might set in gold or silver threads. He does not automatically remove and replace our ugly, sinful traits with holy ones. It is through our personal struggle, each of us must work our way through temptations, trials and difficulties toward our upward goals. The help of God is given in cooperation with our aspiration, perspiration and energy. While God is at work in us, we are to work out our own salvation. The struggle is between our human nature and the implanted nature of God simultaneously occupying the same space! Our base human nature, when left unchecked produces the culture we’re looking at in the news – perverted, selfish, and violent, but the Holy Spirit within us will build into us the Character of Christ, if we permit Him. IF we permit Him. Will we? This is America’s only hope. It is OUR only hope, but it is more than enough!
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15: 13
Praise be to the Lord my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
Ps 144: 1
What do you suppose this “battle” is about? I’m sure there are dozens of possible ideas. Allow me to present an option to ponder.
I suggest the battle can be understood in the lifelong struggle we all face against selfishness. Each of us will naturally opt for the larger pile of gold or the bigger cookie. Still, someplace within us, we also possess a desire to help others. These two sides argue or compete with each other continuously, like the old Cherokee tale of the Two Wolves. The side of our nature that is strongest is the one we exercise the most. Our choice.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:40
Most Americans have heard this sentiment at one time or another. We are aware of those among us less fortunate than ourselves, and we are inclined to help any way we are able. For some of us, that means writing a check. For others, it means bagging some canned goods for the Boy Scout Food Drive. For still others, it means serving at a Soup Kitchen once a month or so.
All of these opportunities are performed with our HANDS! They are all actions done in response to a compassionate impulse to help those among us who struggle. Service starts in our hearts but must be acted upon through our hands.
I suggest, “it is God who trains our hands to…” do what our hearts urge us to do. He enables us to give and rewards us when we do. He brings opportunities to our attention and draws us toward activities that will use our individual talents and strengths. “He trains our hands for battle … ” to wage war against our selfish nature. He provides a lifetime of opportunities to use our hands to help our neighbors and ourselves in the process.
Which nature will we feed?
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
James 1: 22
