God's Country

I don't know why I never thought of this before but for some reason I started signing an old patriotic song the other day.

The first half of the first line struck me as being significant. Like I had never heard it before.

You're already singing it, aren't you?

"My country, tis of Thee...."

Question: Who it the "thee?" Well, it's God, of course. Our country is of God. Our money says, "In God we trust." Our Declaration of Independence says this: 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. "

I would submit to you this morning that our government, and this country, has strayed far beyond its original intent.

As one example of this over reach, the first right mentioned in our Declaration (above), is the right to life. 

930,160 young lives were snuffed out in 2022, against their will I'm sure. Yet the current government of this once great country is trying to make abortion the law of the land.

But that's just one example. For offenses similar to this, and others, our forefathers determined that they would declare their independence and go to war against their oppressors - the British government. 

Who is our oppressor now though? Is it us? Are we ourselves causing our nation to stumble? Or is there someone behind the scenes causing all this hatred and division.

If we are truly living in the last days then the raputure of the church and the beginning of the seven-year tribulation are imminent. And Satan knows his time is short.

This nation was created by a people whose minds were set on things above. We have lost track of our Shepherd. We must return our focus to our Creator.

"So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered;" - Ezekiel 34:5

We have become like sheep without a shepherd, wandering all over the place. We need guidance, direction and protection from the evil one.

Let us return to God as a nation and embrace the truths our forefathers instilled in our founding documents. Our country 'tis of thee. And so are we.

A Nation Gone Under?

I am reading through the Book of Jeremiah right now. What a perfect example he is for us as Christians living in today's world.

Jeremiah was called "the weeping prophet," and for good reason. He was beaten, put in stocks, threatened, tried for his life, and thrown into a pit. No one listened to him about the coming judgement of God.

You and I can become quite frustrated, sometimes even to tears, by watching our society deteriorating right before our eyes. As Ronald Reagan once said, "Without God, a nation cannot endure. If we ever forget we're 'one nation under God,' then we will be one nation gone under."

It is extremely hard to watch our country falling apart. Increasingly, more and more people are turning their backs on God. Pew Research recently found that over the decade from 2009-2019 Americans who called themselves 'Christians' dropped 12% - the largest decline in our nation's history.

We as a nation are doomed if we do not repent. We face the same fate as Judah did when they were carried off to Babylon. Judah did not repent. Will we? I doubt it.

The entire world will be facing God's wrath soon because of our disobedience and our sinful behavior. Same-sex marriage and abortion are even embraced by some churches these days. Can our judgement and punishment be far off?

Thankfully, not everyone will be condemned. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus, the Son of the Living God, will be saved. 

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:9

If you really want something to be thankful for, be thankful for this: that you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He is "the only name by which we are saved."

P.S. - The American flag, flown up-side-down, is "a sign of distress or extreme danger." A perfect image for today's story.

One Nation Under God - Ronald Reagan 

Divided Against Itself

I wasn't sure what to write about this morning, until I saw this picture. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This picture speaks volumes.

This picture was taken last night when a line of thunderstorms ripped through our state. The flag flies at the Acuity Insurance headquarters in Sheboygan, WI.

The flag is 70'x140' and is the world's largest free-flying American flag. The storm ripped the flag in two. Spilt the flag right down the middle. Why am I even typing words? The story is already written.

Jesus said these words that seem applicable to our nation today. All the civil unrest has split our great country right down the middle.

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house." - Mark 3:24-27

We are divided against ourselves. What will be the outcome from all this unrest? Only God knows for sure. I think God sent America a message last night. The image of this flag, OUR flag, split in two, is a powerful visual - a warning perhaps - for what awaits a country that has turned its back on God.

What is needed is a revival of sorts. We, the American people, need to repent and turn to God. We need to stop "ripping" each other down and start lifting each other up. And we need to pray! Oh, dear Lord, we need to pray desperately.

This great flag can be repaired. So can this great nation. But We The People are the ones who have to do it. We have to WANT to do it. If we don't, we WILL fall. The choice is ours.

What then shall we do? Continue to fight and war against each other? Or will we stop and humble ourselves before God? It is our choice. It is YOUR choice. What will we do?

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" - James 4:1

Time For Another Revolution?

Today we celebrate Independence Day.

"Independence? Independence from what? I thought we were a free nation."

We are . . . but it has not always been that way. We were once governed by the oppressive British Government and, in fact, we were at war with them already when we finally declared ourselves independent.

There is something really interesting about our declaration. It gives us the right to . . . rebel against our own government. I'm serious. Read it for yourself!

"when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government."

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution also gives us the right to take up arms against our own government if they too become oppressive like the British were.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Our forefathers did NOT like being oppressed. We're not much different than they were.

When I look at our two remaining candidates for president, the first thought that comes to mind is, "You've GOT to be kidding?" We can't do better than this? Hillary is being investigated by the FBI and Trump . . . well, he's just somebody who isn't from Washington.

There are many people who believe that our federal government is out of control. I am one of them. Is it time for a revolution? Yes, it is!! But not a political one. We need a spiritual revolution.

No government takes control without God allowing it. He has allowed the mess we are currently experiencing in Washington to exist. Why? Well, honestly I think it's because we deserve it. We are no longer a God-honoring nation and now we are paying the price for our disobedience. And if you think things are bad in Washington now, they're going to get worse.

What we need is another revolution in this country - a spiritual revolution. We need a revival! And the only way we can get that is for "we the people" to take up arms . . . not with guns but with Bibles in our hands. But our biggest weapon isn't muzzle-loaders or cannons set high upon the hills. It's isn't BOOTS on the ground. It is KNEES on the ground. In prayer.

We need to pray and we need to take action, not with 2nd amendment weaponry, but with Spirit-led determination. If we are in God's will, this country will return to the greatness we once had, but that will only happen is God blesses us.

The Bible tell us what to do. We need to humble ourselves before the Lord. We must pray and we must turn from our wicked ways (repent). Only then will God bless America.

"14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:15

God Bless America - Celine Dion




Hi-Res Image of The Declaration of Independence