Posts Tagged "nation"

The Value of Remembrance

Posted by on Nov 12, 2012 in American Government, American History, Encouragement, Faith | 2 comments

Dear Friends,

I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. Someone close to our family was not doing well, and I have spent a lot of my time praying for her and trying to help her. Unfortunately, she passed away the other day.

She lived to be very old. In fact, she had a relationship with some of my older relatives who died before I was born. To them, and to my little family and me, she was a beacon of strength.

I first met her as an infant and, after having spent my entire life getting to know and understand her; it made it all the harder to see her struggle toward her end. You could say our lives were fully and completely entwined.

I loved her so much, as did my husband. Together, we made sure that our two children got to know her; not on a superficial level, but intimately, for her purity of ideals, her sense of justice, her providential foundation. She was all about honor, integrity, ethics, self-reliance, and godly values.

There was something about her that attracted a dichotomy of people. There were those, like my family, who appreciated her attributes and respected her for them. But, sadly, there were many people who found ways to take advantage of her. The truth is, they saw her success and felt that they deserved part of it, even though they never contributed to it. Recently, as her vitality declined, it was nearly unbearable for my family and me to watch others disrespect her, mock her, and call her out-of-touch.

When some of her trusted advisors retired, the younger ones who took their place found ways to personally profit from her holdings. As a result, at her death, she no longer possessed the affluence she had known. It happens to so many of our elderly.

I am told that while she was carried in the womb, many waited excitedly and expectantly for her birth. Because her parents were prominent people who were willing to take a strong, unbending stand for self-reliance and freedom, there were those who wanted to make sure she was never born. However, individuals who supported her parents’ beliefs vowed to protect her at all costs. I’m told things escalated to a fight, and many were the families with empty chairs around their tables.

At her death, there were others besides my family who still treasured her values and her qualities, and, together, we gathered round her, hoping, until the last breath, that God would give her more time. But, that was not His will for her. There was a reverent hush in the room as her breathing slowed.

Using the last of her strength, she spoke her final words. “My children, the blood of patriots fills your veins.  What would our Founding Fathers do now?  Look to them in order to understand what they expect of you.  The word “quit” was never in their vocabulary.  Until your last breath, never stop trying to revive liberty.”

She rested her head on the pillow, and we listened to her breathing stop.  Sounds of grief made their way through the gathering as each person who loved her deeply was forced to acknowledge her passing.  I heard someone whisper, “I can’t believe it!  Our country’s gone!”

“It’s hopeless, isn’t it?” another person asked in a voice that cracked with emotion.

Placing my hands on their shoulders, I turned my children, now adults, toward me and looked into their eyes. “God has always provided courage and strength to those who follow Him.”

Lifting the banner from the floor where it had fallen, my daughter looked around the room and asked, “Who is with me?”

As he helped his sister unfurl the precious fabric, my son answered, “I am.”  Together, they struggled to lift the heavy flag of Liberty above their heads, but the weight was too much for two people.

“The men boiled their leather shoes for food at Valley Forge,” someone cried.  “They would rather have starved than give up!”  People in the room murmured their agreement.

A young mother holding a sleeping infant spoke next.  “The officers, the signers of the Declaration, every one of them knew they faced a traitor’s death if they lost the war.  They put their lives on the line for us!”

“How much is Liberty worth to you?  What are you willing to give for it?” a middle-aged man called out.

My husband took my hand firmly in his.  There were tears in his eyes as he looked into mine.  “Our last breath.”

“Our last breath,” I answered.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3:6.

 

IN GOD, THERE ARE STILL SOME, WHO TRUST

 

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Guest Post: Fear Not by Kimberly Sowell

Posted by on Nov 6, 2012 in Devotional Tuesday, Encouragement, Faith | 2 comments

It’s amazing what can happen to a nation in the span of about a week, and the span of that week isn’t quite over. We are in the aftermath of a natural disaster that has affected thousands of Americans’ lives and simultaneously in the face of a critical national election. All around us are people who are mourning the tragedy that has befallen us and at the same time fearing what may be to come.

What can we say, dear sisters? The tragedy of Hurricane Sandy is widespread and runs deep, and the physical, spiritual, and moral needs of our nation seem on many days to be a bottomless pit. We would sink in despair if we thought we had to climb our way out of this pit, but as followers of Christ, we have a different understanding on the situation, both in our nation and around the world. We participate in our government and we pray for our leaders, but we don’t count on them to meet our needs; we have a God in heaven who has adopted us, and He is able to provide for His children. We get involved in the relief efforts and we reach out to those who have lost much to the hurricane, but we also don’t take on the burden to rebuild people’s lives; we point them to the Savior, who is mighty to save and able to put all of the pieces of their lives back together.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God (Psalm 20:7). Lift up His name. Call upon His name. He is Bread for the hungry, Living Water for the thirsty, Wisdom for the confused, the Alpha and Omega for those who need a new start in life, the Shepherd for those who need direction, the King of Kings for all who long for the security of bowing the need to a trustworthy leader. He is Lord. He is God.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken (Psalm 62:2).

Will you take time now to pray for the people of our nation and to ask God to give Christians a great measure of courage today?

Thank you, Kimberly Sowell, for your sage words today.  Please visit Kimberly’s website, “His Heart” at:  http://kimberlysowell.wordpress.com

IN GOD WE TRUST

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Wisdom Wednesday

Posted by on Aug 1, 2012 in Wisdom Wednesday | 4 comments

“Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.”  - Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Cynthia Howerter © 2012

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Wisdom Wednesday

Posted by on May 30, 2012 in Wisdom Wednesday | 0 comments

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.  We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” - Ronald Reagan, 40th President of The United States.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Cynthia Howerter © 2012

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Wisdom Wednesday

Posted by on May 23, 2012 in Wisdom Wednesday | 0 comments

“God who gave us life gave us liberty.  And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure if we have removed their only firm basis:  a conviction in the minds of men that these liberties are the gift of God?” – Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States.

 

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

Cynthia Howerter © 2012

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