Independence Day

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I have noticed over the years a shocking trend. Gone is the terminology "Independence Day" and up and coming is the constant use of "Fourth of July" when naming celebrations, especially city-funded celebrations. What happened? When did we become so ashamed to name the fourth of July as our American Independence Day? When did we become too politically correct to celebrate the anniversary of our independence from British tyrannical rule?

I mean, sure, it's not just about a history lesson on the Revolutionary War. It's about more than that. It's about freedom. We all know that freedom is instituted by God in Christ, and we know that our military doesn't give or grant us freedom, but without them, our freedom would be essentially non-existent, as it was so long ago as British troops invaded homes and businesses, levying taxes which they had no fair right to levy, robbing the early Americans of their freedoms. Our founding fathers knew this, even that long ago, before we got caught up in politics and the everything-goes clause of government. They knew that without God, nothing would be possible, but they also knew and recognized that God instituted government and military action in order to protect His people and defend the freedoms that He has given them. Freedom isn't free, not even our freedom in Christ. Someone else always has to pay for it.


"What about our freedom, and this piece of ground? We didn't get to keep them by backing down."

Show me ONE person who hates our military, who brags the opinion that we should not fight, we should not bear arms. Show me one.You will find many unfortunately. Now show me one who would rather live in a law-less, military-less place such as Iran or Iraq instead. Show me one who would rather live under terrorist regimes like you would find in the middle east, or a communist dictatorship like you would find in North Korea, where their freedom to disagree with government would quickly be stripped under penalty of death. You will find none.

None.

Funny how that works out.

Now, it is true that we have wandered quite a ways from our foundation here in America. We have a split government (as President George Washington warned us against) and we have split agendas. Military and government as God instituted it was to honor God, and, well, not so much anymore. But you know what? No one is perfect in the flesh. God is still God, though, and the Bible still says that God sets up the rulers and kings (Psalm 75:7, Daniel 2:21) and it also still says that God will give rebellious men (and nations, as He did when He appointed Saul as king in  1 Samuel, because he was the type of king that the people wanted, even though God made it clearly known that he was not the type of king they needed,) over to their shameful lusts (Romans 1:17-32).

Does this mean that we as Christians should stop striving to do what is good? No! Does this mean that we, as Christians, should stop voting? No! Does this mean that the foundation that we are built upon is illegitimate? Absolutely not!

But it does mean that we reap what we sow. Thankfully, in Christ there is always room to turn around and do things the right way. There is always a chance, there is always hope.

This great country was founded on the Word of God and His righteousness, and the roots won't be shaken so easily if we stand up and defend them. If you let them strip us of our rights, they will, but if we stand to defend them, as our founding fathers stood against the British, first in peace, always by the grace of God, they will be stayed. Vote, boycott, be an activist (a peaceful one, mind you), exercise your free speech rights. SUPPORT our military, whom the government has lately been seeking to de-fund even more. THANK each service member that you have an opportunity to cross paths with. Jesus paid the price for our spiritual freedom on Calvary, these men pay the price daily for our physical freedoms. The LEAST we should offer are our prayers and thanks.

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Remember on this Independence Day that it is about the Revolutionary War and how we, as Americans, overcame the tyranny of Britain to form a God-fearing nation in the midst of a wilderness. They showed that they would rather have their God and their freedom while facing impossible odds and almost certain death rather than live another moment under a God-less rule. Remember the blood that gives us freedom. The blood of Christ as our spiritual freedom, and the blood of our soldiers who make freedom in this world possible.

Also remember that Independence Day is not only about the Revolutionary War, but it is about everything that has ensured us of our independence and freedom over the past 200+ years. Remember the blood of the civilians, the innocent people, of September 11th. LOOK at the pictures, READ the testimonials and articles, and THEN have the guts to stand up and say that we don't need a military. THEN stand up and say that we should not have killed Bin Laden. Think of the innocent American CHILDREN who had to pay the price of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers and those on the planes. THEN go picket a funeral of a service member who died so that YOU could HAVE that right to picket and voice your opinion, however wrong it is! They died to GIVE YOU A VOICE, and you hate them for it??

I know as well as the next American that this country has come a long way since the Revolutionary War. In some ways good, but in others bad. Nevertheless, the government cannot dictate what we hold dear, what we choose to remember and celebrate. Too many have died to ensure that right. YOU, America, choose what this Independence Day means for you. It's not all fireworks and BBQ, it's a road paved with blood of both civilians and service members, the sweat of our military and our blue-collar working men, and the tears of the widows and mothers who's husbands and sons gave all for this country. I want you to remember that this Independence Day, when you eat your BBQ and watch your fireworks, remember that blood.

But also remember that that blood is the same blood that runs through your veins, and mine. The blood of good, honest, God-fearing patriotism. The blood of someone who understands our foundational freedoms, given by Christ, protected by men, and knows that freedom is something worth dying for. Being able to choose to worship the one, true God without fear of being put to death is something worth dying for.


"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

And remember the words of another great patriotic hymn:

"Our fathers' God to Thee,

Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright,

With freedom's holy light,

Protect us by Thy might,

Great God our King."

 

Photo Credit

 Blessings upon you and yours, and upon our service men and their families for the sacrifice that they give to ensure our freedom each and every day.

 

A Woman's High Calling to Godliness : Study 2

A Woman's High Calling: 10 Essentials for Godly Living

Essential #1: Godliness

"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness..."  Titus 2:3

"How are we to live our lives as women with a high calling? Our calling is to godly behavior, to sacred behavior, to holy behavior. Our conduct must compliment our high calling in Christ."

"Can you fathom any higher calling than godliness? Any more important essential for godly living? Can you imagine any more wonderful way to spend your life and your time and your days and your moments than to spend them in the Lord, immersed in Him, looking to Him, desiring Him and the riches (and the richness!) of His grace above all that this poor world offers? You and I are above all others most blessed to possess such a glorious calling!"

In the first study, we looked at an example of godly behavior, and reviewed why the quality of godliness is so important in a woman of God's life. Now we will look at how we can apply the high calling of godliness and reverent behavior in daily life. 


As we look at the fact that we are called to be reverent in behavior, shewing forth behavior that becometh holiness, I notice that God places a lot of emphasis on the exterior. Behavior. A common argument among women in the church can be summed up in the following few words: "Well, God knows my heart." While that is true, God does indeed know our hearts better than even we know our own hearts, God does invariably place a huge emphasis on how we are to act, behave, and even look on the outside. Why is this, do you think?

The author offers a very accurate explanation:
"You see, our behavior stems from a state of mind, from what's going on (or not going on!) in our inner [and spiritual] life, and God desires that the behavior of His women to be reverent, behavior mirroring an internal sacred character."
As one pastor writes: The word reverent "has the root meaning of being priest-like and came to refer to that which is appropriate to holiness."

Mrs. George goes on to explain:
"That's quite a start, isn't it? Words such as consecrated, holy, sacred, and worship speak loudly of a heart and mind set on our thrice-holy God and the worship of Him. Such a one has to have a soul preoccupied with God, a soul immersed in a constant state of worship of God, a soul completely consecrated to God. Such a soul... and such resulting behavior, would then certainly point others to God!"

As we saw in the illustration of the Canterbury cathedral in the first study, and the example of the godly and holy behavior exhibited by those who served and worshiped in the cathedral which in turn calmed, quieted, and pointed others towards the Holy God whom they served, holy behavior, has an irreplaceable effect on those around us.

If holy behavior in a church has this kind of effect, what kind of effect could this have if put into practice in our homes? If we, as wives and mothers, placed this high calling to godliness, holy behavior, at the tip top of our priorities, and sought it unrelentingly each and every day, what kind of an impact could this have on the husband and children whom we serve and train? What if you could use every word and action as a living testimony to the most high God?

"We are to walk through the minutes and the hours, the days and the decades, of our life as a priestess would walk through and serve in a temple. We must apply to all of daily life the reverent demeanor, the sacred conduct, and the holy behavior of a priestess in a temple."
See the story of Anna in Luke 2:36-38 for an example of a woman who lived her life in holy reverence of God.

How can we follow our calling to godliness, to reverent holiness, in our homes and daily lives?

1. Pray ~ Prayer will most definitely affect our behavior! The act of prayer brings our soul into direct contact with the God we worship and love, so it stands to reason that the more we pray, the more we're aware of the presence of the Lord, and the more we reflect His beauty and godliness to others.

2. Purpose ~ to be more aware of god's presence. "Worship is an inward reverence, the bowing down of the soul in the presence of God,... a solemn consciousness of the Divine, a secret communion with the unseen." J.H. Morrison. Purpose to develop a solemn consciousness of the Divine and to deliberately bow down your soul in His presence. That awareness and God's enablement will cause you to be reverent in behavior.

3. Praise the Lord! ~ Elizabeth George explains that if we are unsure of how to praise the Lord, or if life just seems so overwhelmingly troubled that we do not feel like we can praise the Lord, it is a good idea and practice to make a habit of reading aloud one Psalm per day. Then allow the Psalm to feed your heart so that your lips gush with praise and worship to the Lord. "You are to consider this [reading] of a psalm as a necessary beginning of your devotion, something that is to awaken all that is good and holy within  you, that is to call your spirits to their proper duty, to set you in your best posture towards heaven and tune all the powers of your soul to worship and adoration. For there is nothing that so clears a way for your prayers, nothing that so disperses dullness of heart, nothing that so purifies the soul from poor and careless passions, nothing that so opens heaven, or carries your heart so near to it, as these songs of praise."

4. And praise Him  some more! ~ Perhaps this should be our theme song as we seek to live our lives in purposeful, reverent and holy behavior:  
"Fill thou my life, O Lord my God,
In every part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
Thy being and Thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
Nor e'en the praising heart,
I ask, but for a life made up
Of praise in every part."

5. Pick ~ a point for meditation. Thinking of a particular attribute of God, some act or teaching of Jesus, a promise from God's Word, or some calling from Scripture will tune your heart to the Lord.

6. Prize ~ your high calling to reverent behavior. Own your high calling! Prize it! Revel in it! And excel in it!

7. Plan ~  to act in ways that attract attention to the Lord rather than to yourself.

8. Ponder ~ your behavior and your choices, for by them you tell on yourself:
"You tell on yourself by the friends you seek,
By the very manner in which you speak,
By the way you employ your leisure time,
By the use you make of dollar and dime.


You tell what you are by the things you wear,
By the spirit in which your burdens bear,
By the kind of things at which you laugh,
By the records you play on he phonograph.


You tell what you are by the way you walk,
By the things of which you delight to talk,
By the manner in which you bear defeat,
By so simple a thing as how you eat.


By the books you choose from the well-filled shelves:
In these ways and more, you tell on yourself."

Next time: A Woman's High Calling to Godly Speech.


Blessings!

A Woman's High Calling to Godliness : Study 1

A Woman's High Calling: 10 Essentials for Godly Living

Essential #1: Godliness

"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness..."  Titus 2:3


"How are we to live our lives as women with a high calling? Our calling is to godly behavior, to sacred behavior, to holy behavior. Our conduct must compliment our high calling in Christ."

"Can you fathom any higher calling than godliness? Any more important essential for godly living? Can you imagine any more wonderful way to spend your life and your time and your days and your moments than to spend them in the Lord, immersed in Him, looking to Him, desiring Him and the riches (and the richness!) of His grace above all that this poor world offers? You and I are above all others most blessed to possess such a glorious calling!"

Elizabeth George starts out this chapter, this first essential, by detailing a trip to England that her and her husband, Jim, went on together to attend their church's European missions conference. This trip is such a profound illustration of godliness, godly behavior, that I simply must share the highlights of the visit.

They went to the Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England. She points out that the area of Kent has a rich Christian heritage dating back to the days of Saint Augustine and the Canterbury Cathedral is one of the finest cathedrals in England.

While her and her husband were walking through the cathedral, admiring the stunning architecture and furnishings, they became "quietly aware" of the people who served and worshiped in the cathedral. What brought these people to their attention was not any flashy displays, or loud voices of prayer, but rather their silent ways of movement and action that displayed a silent reverence for their surroundings. As she decribes:

"They moved reverently - never for a second forgetting that they were in a place of worship. They spoke little, if at all, and always in quiet tones. One could almost sense their awareness that they were in the presence of God. The already ethereal ambiance was further heightened by the sounds of a women's choir in rehearsal. Their voices and the strains of their hymns literally soared upward (and without the aid of a man-made audio system!) to the heights of the nave and the drifted down again, filling the 522 foot length of the cathedral with an inescapable sweetness. The women, singing without accompaniment as they practiced for the Evensong service to be held later that day, were nowhere in sight. In fact, we had to go searching for them. Peering through an iron gate, we caught a mere glimpse of them, all dressed alike in black skirts and white blouses, standing behind the aged wooden railings that marked out the choir loft, singing in unison to the Lord, quite oblivious to the many who sought to get a peek at them."

What a majestic picture of godliness, godly behavior. Mrs. George goes on to say that the visit to the Canterbury Cathedral was very spiritually uplifting. This was so not (only) because of the amazing architecture, but what contributed most to this experience for them were the people who served and worshiped in the cathedral. The reverence displayed in those who served also inspired the same attitude within them. She goes on to explain:

"Suddenly we found ourselves whispering. Why? They were quiet... therefore we were quiet. Without our noticing, our breakneck tourist pace slowed to a stroll. Why? Because they were moving silently, reverently, worshipfully (if there is such a word)... therefore we did, too. One couldn't help but pray in such a place. Again, why? Because the church attendants and choir seemed to be absorbed in worship and in the God they served... therefore we were, too. ... Somehow, the reverential behavior of others brought us to a fresh new awareness of God's presence."

Now, what does this experience have to do with US? Looking at the Scripture reference in Titus 2:3, we see the first of such 'pink passages' in the Bible, which states that women (aged women, likewise, but it is applicable to ALL women of God) should "be in behaviour as becometh holiness..." or should exhibit godly behavior. The high calling to godliness is the first and foremost calling in a woman of God's life.

In this, as the beginning, Elizabeth George issues a gentle warning:

"I must warn you - there's no tiptoeing into our calling. There's no warming up to the godly qualities that we'll be looking at in [these studies]. And there is no apprenticeship. No, God doesn't ease us into His summons on our ife. He instead commences His call right at the core, at the deepest (and highest!) level of our calling - and that is this first calling, a calling to Himself. Because what's inside our hearts affects our behavior, God asks that our relationship with Him be the catalyst that creates in us behavior befitting one who has a relationship with the living God. He wants our actions to be reverent, godly, worshipful, and holy."

Although Scripture addresses this verse directly to the older women in the Body of Christ, it is a high calling laid before each and every one of us, young and old. Why? Because it "points first to our spirit of worship and calls us to be reverent in all of our behavior."

And yes, it is a high calling indeed.

Next we will be learning about godliness, what it means, the Greek root words from whence it comes, and how it can be applied to daily life.

Blessings!

Grace and Mercy Undeserved

Lord, Lord, I'm trusting You

In everything I do,

With every step I take,

As every choice I make.

Your promises echo loud and clear

Assuring that you hold me dear,

Timeless as generations pass

That one day I'll be home at last.

You can see the days yet come,

You can hear the song yet sung.

In Your hand I'll always be;

Your faithfulness soon to see.

I have your Word I'll never beg

As I pray for daily bread.

When the future is unclear

I know in You I shall not fear.

This world it seeks to stifle me,

For what I have they can never be.

But from my lips praise still sings

With hope they too can know You're King.

Guide my hand, still my heart.

To my children, Your Word impart.

Fill me, stay me, as You have made me,

And as You would bless it, let all my days be.

Your glory, Your grace;

From all lips: praise.

All is perfect through Your blood

For in myself, I am no good.

Grace and mercy undeserved

Brought me peace I had never heard.

In You alone I put my trust,

For You alone are good and just.

Gracious to redeem my sins;

In your presence, every knee bends.

That love that made a way for me

Cost You everything on Calvary.

Then on that third day You rose again

Declaring victory over death and sin.

Into your hands I place my soul,

For You alone have made me whole.

Help me, Lord, as I pilgrim through,

Til that day I may come home to You.

"What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus."

Photo Credit 

 

A Woman's High Calling Study ~ Coming Soon

I am embarking on a study of what it means to be a woman of God, and how to live it out. I will be using the book A Woman's High Calling: 10 Essentials for Godly Living by Elizabeth George as my study guide, and I invite you all to follow along. I have read this book time and time again and each time found great inspiration and encouragement to follow my high calling as God would have me do, so I am now putting my study in print for future reference, as well as perhaps inspiration and encouragement to any ladies like me who are seeking the same in their life. Namely, the will of God.

A quick note: the topics that will be covered in this study include our high calling to

1: Godliness
2: Godly Speech
3: Personal Discipline
4: Encouraging Others
5: Marriage + Loving our husband
6: Family + Loving our family
7: Wisdom
8: Purity
9: Home
10: Goodness

Postings will be on Mondays and Thursdays of each week beginning Monday, June 27th. Mondays will be the initial posting, and Thursdays will be the follow-up of each essential and how it can be applied to daily life.

I am sure that we have all prayed a prayer for god to help us be a godly woman. I know I have for sure, many times over. Author Elizabeth George states that while a worthy prayer, there is one problem: it is vague. She says "therefore over the years I have begun not only to pray to be a godly woman but also to ask, 'What does a godly woman do? How does she act? What is it about her that marks her out as a godly woman?' "

With those questions to direct us, we will be setting out to discover our high calling in Christ and find out what it means to be a godly woman. This study is about what the author calls the 'pink passages' of the Bible, or those that apply directly to us as women of God.

As Mrs. George states in her forward, I will echo it to myself and to my readers who are up for the task of coming along on this journey:

"So, do you want to grow in knowledge and grace? Do you want to learn more about being 'a godly woman'? Do you want to develop a good set of worthwhile lifetime goals? Do you want to move toward fulfilling a life-long dream of becoming God's kind of woman?"

Then let us do so in all eagerness, honesty, humility, and with all that we have. This is my heart's prayer.

The storms of life

God never promised to take away the storms, only to see us through them. 

 "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm 37:25

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Philippians 1:6

No matter what you are facing, no matter what you are going through, God is bigger, and greater, and still a loving God. If you are in the center of His Will, and doing the best you can with what you have, and with a joyful heart, God will provide the rest, but on His terms. He never promised to provide in accordance to the world's standards, but to His. According to the Bible, if we have food and raiment, we are blessed, and how true that is. Sow contentment, reap joy in the Lord, for He is above our circumstances, and we are not of this world. 

ALL of this, every BIT of it is temporary. It will ALL pass away one day. Make sure your value and hope is in the eternal, not the temporal of this world. Fix your eyes on God and follow His Word, and you will be blessed beyond all measure. And never stop believing that God can and that God will. 

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24

Never lose hope, for we have been given a Hope that has overcome the world. Be blessed, and bless the Lord. ♥

 "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name." Psalm 103:1

The True Meaning of Memorial Day

While some may not agree with the necessity of a military, and while we all know that true liberty comes only from God, without these men we would not be able to enjoy God's liberty the way we can here in America. Without their sacrifice, we would not be able to hold strong against evil forces that threaten us daily. These men sacrifice their time, family, and sometimes their lives to defend our God given right to freedom so that people like you and I CAN choose to differ on opinion, and CAN choose to go to church and worship our God without fear of being killed, tortured, stoned, or burned. We CAN choose to have as many children as God would choose to bless us with without being forced into a hospital, held down, and sedated while a living child is ripped from our wombs in the name of "population control". We CAN petition our local and federal governments to decide one way or another on certain things, and we CAN make our voices heard without oppression and death like is seen in other countries. Say a prayer daily for our military and thank God for all that He provides for them, including the wisdom and strength to make the right decisions in order to continue to uphold that freedom that we so cherish and value. God bless our troops, and may God bless America once again. ♥