American Pride


Sitting here in my little study, I was just thinking how quiet it is in here; in my own home; in my own town; in my own state.  Very quiet-here.  But I look all around the world and see caus.  Killings; terrorism, bombs; cities going bankrupt.  I read about Rome today.  It is going down hill.  The city is in disarray.  It's not just overseas; it is here, the good ole USA.  Killings, beheadings-where is it safe anymore.  Out children aren't safe, our military aren't safe, no one is safe anymore.  This is not the America I know.  The America I knew was strong, proud, powerful; a world power.  I felt safe.  No more.  Our politicians promise this, that and everything else just to get elected.  Then after, they get amnesia.  Where is the America I knew, where children were respectful, teachers were held in high esteem, hard work and integrity were virtues held by many.  What happened?  Well we all know that answer.  Most people have turned their back on God.  The God that was in our homes, our schools, our workplace.  That God was taken out.  No need to be moral; do whatever feels good.  No need to work; the gov't has many programs just so you can sit back and collect.  Why work? You get paid less.  Where did our sense of pride go; our work ethic?

Yes, it is quiet here; very quiet.  But I don't know how long that is going to last.

WORDS AND PICTURES

I saw a movie called "Words and Pictures" on Netflix.  It was about 2 teachers; one teaching honors English; the other, honors Art.  It was a battle between the 2.  Which was more important; words or pictures?  Can words stand by themselves?  How about art?  There are some very powerful quotes from famous writers.  Aha, but art; how beautiful pictures are that can take your breath away.  I can write so much more on this subject and give many examples of each; but I won't.  I want you to think.  Think of all the great writers through the ages of time; what they had to say; what impact each made, the poetry lose ourselves in. Then close your eyes and visualize the great artwork, the poignant pictures.  Think of those pictures of war and that photo of the naked girl running down the street during the Vietnam war.  My question is which is more important?  Can they stand alone or does one need the other?  You decide and let me know.

PERSPECTIVE

I am reading a book by Lysa TerKeurst; Unglued Devotional.  It is her own sort of blog for 60 days.

 On one  of the days she wrote how hard something is often depends on your vantage point.  "For example, consider the shell of an egg.  Looking at it from from the outside, we know an eggshell is easily broken.  But if you are looking at that same shell from the inside, it seems an impenetrable fortress.  It's impossible for the raw white and tender yolk to penetrate the hardness of the eggshell.  But given time and the proper incubation, the white and yolk develop into a new life that breaks through the shell and shakes itself free.  And in the end, we can see that the hard work of cracking the shell was good for the new baby chick. "

That got me thinking how true that is.  It is all in the perspective.  In our struggles of life, it is all how we look at things.  If we just realize life is always going to be tough at times and just say that, yes, this is hard, very hard, but how can I learn and grow from it.  Maybe make it into a game.  OK Life, it's you against me.  Who is going to win?  My outside is easily broken, but my inside; I am going to claw my way out!  I know this is easier said than done, but we just have to play these mind games, or the mind will destroy us.  It is so incredible how the mind overtakes everything.  We can't stop those thoughts circling around and around until we are inundated with destructive words directed on ourselves.  So, we need to change the vantage point and decide we are not broken, but little by little getting stronger and braver each time.  

God's Word, How Peaceful it is!

A few days ago, God spoke to me to turn off the news of the world, sit in my chair and read His Word.  He said my pain would be lessened and would have a peace come up on me.  I was obedient and did as I was instructed.  How right He was!  DUH!  There is something about spending time in His Word to turn anxiety into peace.  Pain does diminish.  He wanted me to read in the Book of Job.  I started that today and it was wonderful to get to know that book again.  It has been a while since I read it.  Job overcame so much, but never blamed God.  That is something I have never done as well.  Whatever has happened to me or how I feel physically, I have never put the blame on God.  He has been right beside me the whole way.  I put the blame on myself.  My choices, my lifestyle, my pride; and especially not turning things over to God.

So I have discovered I need to keep on reading and keep on learning.  I love discovering new things and finding the answers to all my questions.  I will be posting some in the days to come.   As I learn, I love to share.  Happy 4th of July to the greatest country on earth and I thank all the people in the military who defend our great nation.