The Pledge of Allegiance

My heart cries for our Country and the things that have been lost. This Memorial Day let us remember not only the people who have fought for our freedom but also for the freedom we stand to lose if we aren't careful.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag, of the United States of America,and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible,With Liberty and Justice for all.

I Pledge Allegiance I Promise to be faithful and true (Promise my loyalty)
to the flag to the emblem that stands for and represents
of the United States all 50 states, each of them individual, and individually represented on
the flag
of America yet formed into a UNION of one Nation.
and to the Republic And I also pledge my loyalty to the Government that is itself a Republic, a form of government where the PEOPLE are sovereign,
for which it stands, this government also being represented by the Flag to which I promise
loyalty.
one Nation under God, These 50 individual states are united as a single Republic under the
Divine providence of God, "our most powerful resource"
(according to the words of President Eisenhower)
Indivisible, and can not be separated. (This part of the original version of the pledge was written just 50 years after the beginning of the Civil War and demonstrates the unity sought in the years after that divisive period in our history)
with Liberty The people of this Nation being afforded the freedom to pursue "life, liberty, and happiness",
and Justice And each person entitled to be treated justly, fairly, and according to proper law and principle,
for All. And these principles afforded to EVERY AMERICAN, regardless of race, religion, color, creed, or any other criteria. Just as the flag represents 50 individual states that can not be divided or separated, this Nation represents millions of people who can not be separated or divided.

Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Have a wonderful week and a safe Memorial Day : o )

Is Jesus In The Shadows Of Your Life?

Sometimes in our busyness we get so preoccupied that we move Jesus from the forefront into the shadows. And once we do that things seem to fall apart. I came across something the other day that brought all of this into prospective, it’s written by Don Lessin from The Abba Cry.

Jesus is the way. He is not only the Way to God, but he is the way into all that God has for us. He is the way into our devotions, to our Bible reading, to our prayer life, to our ministry, and to all that we do for Him. In reality we do not do our work for him, but He does His work through us. With Jesus in the center of our being, we are no longer victims of our expectations, circumstances, and things we can’t control. We discover that it’s okay if people don’t meet our expectations, because Jesus is our expectation. Schedules may be good, but they don’t produce life within us because Jesus is our life.

Amen!


Have a wonderful week in the Lord!

The Rescue

22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Matthew 14:22-32 (NIV)

When we read the above scripture we often focus on the fact that Jesus walked on water and calmed the sea but forget that He sent them into the storm to start with. He knew what they were about to face and He knew He would rescue them. Sometimes we are so focused on the storm around us that we forget Jesus is with us. He is saying, “Come” as He reaches out His hand to us. He’s there to rescue us and to calm the storm.

For Moms

I came across the following poem and thought how true is this! I know there have been times in my life that I have put housework ahead of my children and I now look back and ask myself why. If you are reading this and you are a mom-Happy Mother's Day! And may God guide you in all your ways.

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place, but have not love,
I am a housekeeper--not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love,
my children learn cleanliness--not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh. Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints
on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk. Love picks up the
child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials. Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside
to let the youth walk into adulthood.
Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.
Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in
God's perfection of my child. As a mother, there is much I must teach my child,
but the greatest of all is love.—Author Unknown

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)

SOARING

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Isaiah 40:28-31. Every time I read it I can hear Isaiah’s passionate cry to God’s people. I start to feel the meaning of the words and I find myself filled with strength and love for God and I am lifted as if on eagles wings and before you know it I have forgotten everything that was bothering me.

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Have a wonderful week in the Lord!