A STRONG COUNTRY

When I see the red, white and blue, I see people coming to the shores of a new land. Coming with grateful hearts, willing spirits and dreams. Coming they united cultures and languages. They stepped into the melting pot and came out AMERICANS.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see factories being built and ground being cleared. I see utility lines being raised, one pole at a time. I see highways joining homes into communities. I see children going to school and parents going to work. I see family picnics and county fairs. I see churches.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see fields of corn, tomatoes, beans, wheat and pumpkins. I see cars coming off the assembly line. I see truckers, doctors, teachers, mail carriers and trash collectors. I see people selling cars, hardware and antiques. I see people walking toward their dreams.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see what has made this country strong. Individuals united and proud to say, “I am an American. I am one nation. One nation under God.”

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When I see the red, white and blue, I see a nation that is no longer united as one. I see a nation where another country’s name I placed in front of the word American.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see a nation resting on a crumbling foundation. A nation that has lost its pride. A nation that flies its flag out of tradition instead of with respect and honor. I see a nation that is taking away the dignity of its citizens as job after job is sent overseas.

When I see the red, white and blue, I see:

A nation -- no longer strong.

A nation -- no longer respected by other countries.

A nation -- no longer standing true to the principles it was founded on.

A nation -- afraid to say:

WE ARE AMERICANS!

WE ARE ONE NATION!

When I see the red, white and blue, I see:

A nation -- forgetting that we are:

UNDER GOD!

SCRIPTURES

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and man of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? Psalm 113:4-6

QUESTION OF THE DAY

What do you see when you look at the flag of the United States of America?

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR THE UNITED STATED OF AMERICA. PRAY THAT WE BECOME UNITED IN OUR LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY. PRAY THAT WE RETURN TO OUR BELIEF OF ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

DECLARING MY DEPENDENCE

DECLARING MY DEPENDENCE

Nope, that is not a typo.

Each July 4th the United States of America celebrates Independence Day. This celebration is to remind us of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which declared our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. With that declaration, we became a country that governs ourselves and has sovereignty over our own land. As an American, I celebrate living independent of the laws or control of another country.

Dependent is when a person relies on or trusts another to take care of them. So, I am declaring my dependence.

I am declaring my dependence on the Kingdom of God.

This is a short list of things I am dependent upon the Kingdom of God for:

• Grace which I do not deserve
• Salvation which I can never earn
• Forgiveness of my sins
• A strong Holy Spirit
• Peace for my soul
• Every breath I take
• Eternal Life

On this July 4th and every day, I DECLARE MY DEPENDENCE ON GOD.

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: PSALM 62:7

My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Are you dependent upon God?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. My soul finds rest in You alone. You are my salvation, my rock, my fortress. When I am dependent upon You, I can never be shaken. I find my rest in You. My hope. I trust You at all times. I pour out my heart to You and know You will give me refuge. Hear my cry, O God. Listen to my Declaration of Dependency. Listen as I declare my dependency on You. Amen

OPEN HANDS

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: PSALM 145:14-16

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

OPEN HANDS

Happy 4th of July!!! What a day for the USA. A day to celebrate our freedoms. And they are many. Freedom to Worship. Work. Rest. Drive. Determine the size of your family. Select your spouse. Receive an education. Vote. Freedom to -- the list could go on and on.

The sad thing is that we do not take advantage of our freedoms. Too many do not vote. Too many expect our government to take complete care of them. Too many work and never rest. Too many do not realize how easily and quickly our freedoms can be taken away.

Our freedoms come with a price and that price is work and blood. Those that came before us worked to establish a country for all people. No other country in the world welcomes strangers and makes them citizens like the USA. BUT the work must continue as our citizens, new and old, work to make the USA strong. We need to be proud of our heritage, no matter what country we came from, but we need to be united in our desire to be Americans. We must continue the work of past generations. We must protect our freedoms.

Work and blood. Every time I look at the red stripes, on our flag, I am humbled that someone, someone I have never met or even knows I exist, would give their life so I can - Go to church. Vote. Have children, sons and daughters. Marry the man I love. Read books. Watch the news. Work. Blood has been, is being and will be given so I can live in the United States of America.

I bet you are wondering why I called this Open Hands. Put your hands out. Open them, palm up. The open hand can - take another hand in friendship and welcome. A grateful open hand can shake the hand of a soldier. An open hand can salute the flag of the United States of America.

God intended us to use open hands. The open hand can gently touch the cheek of a loved one or give a reassuring pat to a frightened child. The open hand can offer up prayers and praises to God. The open hand (and open heart) can receive the blessings God offers. An open hand - not a closed fist or hand held down to your side - tells people you have just met, your friends, neighbors, family and God that you are reaching out to them.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

For what freedoms are you thankful? What can you do with open hands?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

To the one that can satisfy all my desires, To you I reach open hands towards heaven. Open hands, which offer gratitude for the blessings that you have given me. For the freedom you offer. Freedom to be forgiven. Freedom to be filled with your love. Freedom to share that love with others. Freedom to extend open hands to each of your children I meet. Freedom to …… Amen