Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus…”
Philippians 3: 13-14 (TLB)“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”
Genesis 12: 1-3 (ESV)“Dear, dear children, how brief are these moments before I must go away and leave you!…And so I am giving a new commandment to you now—love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13: 33-35 (TLB)
God bless America.
Looking around at times, you have to wonder, though. Why would He? Why should He? And what will we do with His blessing, anyway.
Personal problems overwhelm our day-to-day lives.
National problems, needing respect, collaboration and integrity, instead get vitriol, anger and continue day after day without resolution.
While the world, needing common sense and courage, burns out of control.
But the United States of America still stands.
God bless America.
After the attack on the United States of American on September 11, 2001, Celine Dion sang “God Bless America” for the troops on the USS Harry Truman, sharing powerful words, like these—
“God bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her.
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home.
God bless America, land that I love.
Stand beside her and guide her.
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home.
God bless America, my home sweet home…”
Words which we need to embrace again today, so that as individuals and a Nation, we turn back to the God who is the solid rock of our foundation.
Remembering that we were created—as individuals, and a Nation—by the God who loves us. The God who blesses us, so we can be a blessing to others all around us—both near and far. (Genisis 12: 2)
So, that we don’t get to the end of our journey and realize too late that the legacy and impact we were leaving behind, through all our years here, was worldly and not God-ordained or centered. And that as a result, we never reached our full God-given potential and purpose to others who needed a lift up to try to reach all who God created them to.
God bless America by blessing and honoring those who have stood, and stand today, in the gap for us. Some who gave it all so we can stand here today in freedom.
God bless America so we can bless others, by reaching out to those whom society has abandoned, abused, beaten down, trafficked, and neglected, and those made to feel less than the “incredible person” God sees, who He created.
God bless America as we bless others with the blessings God has given us,
And God bless America as we, together, continue to point the “children of all ages,” wherever we find them—to the One who is above all.
The One who created us and can count every hair on our head and knows every breath we take. The One who is with us today, was yesterday, will be tomorrow.
That One!
Thank you, God. For our lives. For our families. For our friends.
Thank you for the opportunities which lay before us.
And thank you for your Son.
God bless America.
In His Name–Scott
Be blessed as you listen to Celine Dion sing “God Bless America.”
