Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always. When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out.”
Romans 12: 9-13a (TLB)

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
II Chronicles 7: 14 (ESV)

“He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6: 8 (RSV)

Today, as Americans, we stand together with pride for the Inauguration Ceremony of the 47th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump.

And today, as Americans, we stand proudly to honor the memory, ministry and peaceful means of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the impact for good he accomplished in lifting our Nation to be even greater than it was.   

And today, as Americans we have the opportunity to stand to enjoy by clicking a link at the conclusion of these “thoughts,” the very best presentation of the National Anthem of the United States of America, sung by the late Whitney Houston before Super Bowl XXV in 1991 in Tampa, Florida, played at the onset of the Persian Gulf War. 

As my nephew shared with me recently, the accomplishments of the lives of those three Americans (with one still ongoing,) in lifting others and our Nation, was not because they were perfect. 

As we all are, my nephew shared, they were and are flawed, just like we are. 

But with God’s love, caring and redemptive guidance, they learned, turned, and moved on. And became better, not perfect, but moving forward with God, they became better with each step.  

And they continued to care, fight, and use their God-given passions, gifts and potential, and platforms to fulfill the God-given purposes before them.

They refused to let their mistakes, shortcomings, and failures define who they are, but instead with God’s grace they continued to stand for what was right and move on for good. 

Together with others who joined them along the way.

We are at our best as individuals, families, communities, and as a Nation, when, as God shared with us through His prophet Micah, together we “do justice…love kindness, and…walk humbly with your God.”

We are at our best, as God shared in Romans through the Apostle Paul, when together we “Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other.”

And as God shared in II Chronicles 7:14, God reminded us, that his children are at their best when together they “humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways…” 

Together, moving past our differences. Always embracing the best in each other.

Not seeking individual credit but moving forward together under God’s guidance, to leave an imprint on the world around us for good.

Martin Luther King, Jr. shared this for us to remember for each day of our journey which we have before us— “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” 

And when we continue to stand—together—for things that matter, for people needing a lift up in life, and against evil in the world around us—God will be at the forefront of our journey with a smile on His face.

Standing together with Him. 

For our best.

For one another.

For God.

In His Name–Scott

Be blessed as you watch the video and listen to Whitney Houston sing the very best rendition of our “National Anthem.”