Tuesday, July 9, 2013

In (God) Dependence Day

First let me say that this blog is inspired by and in some cases quoted from our Pastor's Sunday sermon, including the title.  After reading this past week about a child in Uganda that needs sponsoring and Ann Voskamp's "Letter to North American Churches", this message went from my head to my heart.

I hope it blesses you with the very best kind of blessings - to hear God's voice, His child's heart listening.

Text:  Deuteronomy 8:10-20 from NIV Holy Bible:
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."  But remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who give you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.


"Under God" was added to the American Pledge of Allegiance in 1954, making the phrase "One Nation Under God".

As "ONE NATION UNDER GOD", let us be. . .

THANKFUL:  All good things come from God.  We in America have much to be thankful for.

CAREFUL:  Don't forget that God has given us these things. 

MINDFUL:  God gives us the ability to produce wealth. 


I like how this causes our focus to be on God - as Christians we know that "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."  This means no matter where in the world we live.  What we have in America is so very precious, especially the gifts of time and spare cash that can be spent either futilely or fruitfully - our choice, at least for now.

I love the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States where it says:  "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." 

Obviously, the writers did not intend for our nation to have independence from God.


FIVE FREEDOMS First Amendment Inspired Cross Stitch Chart
https://www.etsy.com/listing/105979112/five-freedoms-first-amendment-inspired







Vintage Children's Book - "Where was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May"  1975 by Jean Fritz
https://www.etsy.com/listing/128090295/vintage-childrens-book-where-was-patrick
And the quote from Patrick Henry, one of the ratifiers of the US Constitution: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.  For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."











I've read the Book, I know how it all ends - but in the meantime my heart cries out in utter thankfulness to God that I am blessed to live in the United States.  I pray I use my freedoms and gifts here and now, wisely and well.

Luella


Scripture art fall thanksgiving orange gray give thanks home decor
https://www.etsy.com/listing/111988325/scripture-art-fall-thanksgiving-orange
 
 
We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near . .  Psalm 75:1
 
 
 

5 comments:

  1. The most beautiful blog post I've read in far too long- thank you for posting it, and thank you Jesus for our freedom.

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  2. Yes, we are truly blessed and with grateful heart, give Him thanks.......

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  3. Terrific post. Thank you for taking the time to write it!

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  4. Yes, we are truly blessed. For the Lord is good and mercy endures forever!

    ReplyDelete