We The People

We the People – The three greatest and most profound words ever spoken or printed to form a government for the citizens of any country. They are the foundation for freedom, the structure for law and order, and the frame work for honest, honorable and humble relationships.

From “We The People” come presidents, congress, supreme court Justices, state government leaders, corporations, educational systems and other institutions. All were created to represent the people and are accountable to the people for their varied responsibilities. These and more were designed for free people in order to protect them by limited regulations intended to guard and keep safe this most sacred gift of freedom.

The introduction to the Declaration of Independence July 4. 1776, quoted in part: “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.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -“

Heavenly Father you ordained this freedom for the human race from the beginning. “¹⁵ The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. ¹⁶ But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—¹⁷ except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” Genesis 2:15-17 (NLT)

This original command is confirmed throughout Scripture and the Apostle Peter reminds us: “ ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.       1 Peter 2:16-17 (ESV)

Heavenly Father it is your will that people be free. Satan, the great adversary, and all those who join him in rebellion against You want to dominate and destroy people. But Your plan and purpose is for a free people.  That is why on our Liberty Bell is imprinted: “…. proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof….” Leviticus 25:10 (KJV)

Thank you Father that this weekend We the People celebrate this priceless gift and joyous privilege of freedom!

In Jesus name, Amen.

God Bless America

God Bless America

The Flag stands among the ruins and rubble of lives lost, dreams destroyed, families broken, friends gone, a way of life under sever attack. All gone in the fire, smoke and ashes of the collapsed Twin Towers. Islamic Terrorists had done their worst, yet there standing in the midst of smoldering ashes and debris is the FLAG of the United States of America.

The FLAG stands for governmental liberty, for the dignity of humanity, for equal opportunity, for religious freedom, for freedom of speech, for the best hopes and dreams of a better life and more glorious future. She stands for what is right, noble and just for all who follower her and seek to embrace the values she represents.

And where do these values come from Father, but You. They come through your grace, mercy, truth, and love. You have established the foundation on which if any people will build their lives in faith and obedience will reap Your overflowing benefits. That is why Father your Word tells us:

1 Corinthians 3:11 (GW)
     After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that foundation is Jesus Christ.

Therefore Father the following verses are true:

Psalm 33:12 (GW)
     Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. Blessed are the people he has chosen as his own.

Psalm 144:15 (GW)
     Blessed are the people who have these blessings! Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!

So Father when we give our pledge to the Flag of the United States of America it is with the acknowledgement that we are “One Nation Under God.” Without You Father, we are nothing. So on this weekend of 911 when we remember how much was lost in the assault on our nation, we also remember all we have as “One Nation Under God” and it is Your blessings that have sustained us throughout our history.

Thank You Father that we can still sing and pray “God Bless America!”

In the Name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen!

Thinking of my family and friends, as we enter a new year.

A Thought worth considering…….

A Promise worth sharing…….

     Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

A  Prayer worth hearing …...

      ²⁴‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. ²⁵ May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. ²⁶ May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)

Have a blessed new year all year!!!

JOY

May You Have the Joy Of the Shepherd’s Christmas

Luke 2:10 & 20 (ESV)
     ¹⁰  …. great joy that will be for all the people.  ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God….”  

     Even though we have not seen him personally we still have the joy of the Shepherds as spoken of in 1 Peter 1:8:  ^“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”

God bless you abundantly with overflowing JOY this Christmas season.

Mercy Christmas

One of the words that reveal the necessity of Christmas is mercy. Within the meaning of this wonderful word is the revelation God gave of himself to Moses: “The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. ⁷ I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin…..” Exodus 34:6-7 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul shared this glorious truth with his friend Titus: “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, ⁵ he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy…..”. Titus 3:4-5 (NLT)

We rejoice in the reality of God's mercy and join the Psalmist in saying: “The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love…. ¹⁰ He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.” Psalm 103:8 & 10 (NLT)

As we investigate the necessity of Christmas we come to a clear and compelling understanding that without mercy there can be no Christmas and without Christmas there can be no forgiveness.

Thanks to our Father for the joys of Christmas experienced in the gift of his mercy.

Yes, thank you Father, that in your grace you gave us want we don’t deserve and in your mercy you don’t give us what we do deserve. Indeed we can proclaim Merry Christmas because it was a Mercy Christmas.