Our Nation

 





My heart is truly broken for our nation. At perhaps the most critical election in our history, the true beliefs of the citizens of America have shown clearly. We no longer value life, but self. We would rather murder one of the greatest blessings of God...children. We no longer fear God, as we elected by a large majority a party which would prefer to have God removed from its platform. The supreme god in this nation is now government. We don't value the Constitution, given to us by a much wiser generation of godly men. They were wise enough to understand that if we forsake absolute truth, God, and morality, our nation will fall:

 

---- "The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible."    ~Noah Webster



---- "If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by Him....those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants."    ~William Penn



---- "Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure, than they have it now, they may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty."    ~John Adams

---- "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."    ~John Adams



My first question was, "Why would God allow this?" In answer, He reminded me of this Scripture:



 



---- "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into and image made like corruptible man - and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgement of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."    ~Romans 1:18-32


Despite the fact that our nation is under judgement, and no longer has the hand of God upon it in favor, God has promised that in terrible circumstances He is in control.

---- "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, those who are the called according to His purpose."    ~Romans 8:28


As Christians, we even have hope!

---- "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance."    ~Romans 8:18-25

The Lord has made it clear that Barack Obama is not the problem, he is the symptom of a dying nation. This does not mean that there is no hope for our nation....we must pray fervently that because of the struggles soon to come many people will repent and turn to the Lord. He has done many great things, and He can change the heart of this nation if He chooses. However, I believe this will require difficult times, whether economic or otherwise, where the true remnant of the Church begins once again to lead the culture, instead of allowing the culture to lead it.

Stand firm in the gospel, and you will not be shaken!

Witty Wednesday [7]

Today I am going to do something slightly different. I received a fantastic email yesterday about Thomas Jefferson, and I would like to post the contents for Witty Wednesday.

Thomas Jefferson

"Thomas Jefferson was a very remarkable man who started learning very early in life and never stopped.

At 5, began studying under his cousin's tutor.

At 9, studied Latin, Greek and French.

At 14, studied Classical Literature and additional languages.

At 16, entered the college of William and Mary.

At 19, studied law for 5 years starting under George Wythe.

At 23, started his own law practice.

At 25, was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

At 31, wrote the widely circulated 'Summary View of the Rights of British America' and retired from his law practice.

At 32, was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress.

At 33, wrote the Declaration of Independence.

At 33, took three years to revise Virginia's legal code and wrote a public education bill and a statute for religious freedom.

At 36, was elected the second Governor of Virginia succeeding Patrick Henry.

At 40, served in Congress for two years.

At 41, was the American minister to France and negotiated commercial treaties with European nations along with Ben Franklin and John Adams.

At 46, served as the first Secretary of State under George Washington.

At 53, served as Vice President and was elected President of the American Philosophical Society.

At 55, drafted the Kentucky Resolutions and became the active head of Republican Party.

At 57, was elected the third President of the United States.

At 60, obtained the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size.

At 61, was elected to a second term as President.

At 65, retired to Monticello.

At 80, helped President Monroe shape the Monroe Doctrine.

At 81, almost single-handedly created the University of Virginia and served as its first president.

At 83, died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence [July 4] along with John Adams.

Thomas Jefferson knew because he himself studied the previous failed attempts at government. He understood actual history, the nature of God, His laws, and the nature of man. That happens to be way more than what most understand today. Jefferson really knew his stuff. A voice from the past to lead us in the future.

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the White House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement: 'This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.'


[Some quotes from Thomas Jefferson:]

'When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.'

'The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.'

'It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes.  A principle which is acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.'

'I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.'

'My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.'

'No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.'

'The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves from tyranny in government.'

'The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.'

'To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.'

Thomas Jefferson said in 1802:
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.
   If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless in the continent their fathers conquered.'"

When I read this email I got goose-bumps! To perceive how far we have come is mind-boggling. Our understanding is weak compared to that of our founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson talked about things that weren't even occurring in his times, but which he had the insight to see could occur under certain circumstances. Thus we have the warnings of these great men, passed down through the ages, about our very times and situations.

 As my Christian Worldview teacher said, "We are so advanced that we are stupid." It is my goal to not only cultivate my mind, but the minds of future generations, to be as acute as these men's minds were. I hope one day to be the strong wife of a man who is seeking to restore our heritage in godliness, just as these men sought to create a godly nation.

As always, I love to hear the thoughts of my readers. Please leave a comment below!

North Carolina Marriage Amendment

Please pray for the North Carolina Marriage Amendment to pass on May 8. This amendment would define marriage between one man and one woman. We are extremely excited to have this come up for vote in the primary elections this year!

 If you live in North Carolina, please get educated about this and tell others about it as well. For more information, go to http://www.voteformarriagenc.com/. One useful way to get the word out in our state is to order signs like the one below on the website given.

I will post pictures from Easter soon!

Father Daughter Retreat and Witty Wednesday [4]

Last weekend my dad and I went to the Father Daughter Retreat hosted by Vision Forum Ministries in Pine Mountain, Georgia. It was our third year attending, and once again it was a huge blessing. Excepting some wet weather when we arrived, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. On Saturday, during our free time, we drove into the mountains to the F.D.R. Little White House.

The view from our room was so peaceful

The scenery from this overlook was so breathtaking (pictures just cannot do it justice), we had to stop and take some quick snapshots!

Another view with a lake

As I was struggling with the timer on my camera, a kind gentleman offered to take our photo

Driving to the Little White House

I really like the natural quality of this sign

Isn't this carriage lovely?

F.D.R's car

The Little White house. Although we do not agree with all of the decisions F.D.R. made, he sure did have a wonderful taste for beautiful simplicity.

I just couldn't resist the old stove!

We went to the country restaurant and store for supper

The menu

I love a country atmosphere, which they certainly accomplished. The biscuits and cornbread were delicious

I love how the sweet tea (for a southern gal) was served

Out the window of the restaurant

The speakers were Doug Phillips, Scott Brown, Joe Morecraft, Geoff Botkin, and Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin, who are always such an inspiration to me. All of the sermons were wonderful, and I learned so much from each of the speakers.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Now, on to Witty Wednesday's featured founding father:

Patrick Henry

 

---Reminiscing about The Stamp Act Resolves, Henry wrote, "This brought on the war which finally separated the two countries and gave independence to ours. Whether this will prove a blessing or a curse, will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings, which a gracious God hath bestowed on us.

   If they are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable.

   Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others."

---"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."

---"The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed."

---In his Last Will and Testament, Patrick Henry wrote, "This is all the inheritance I give to my dear family. The religion of Christ will give them one which will make them rich indeed."

---While dying, Henry said, "Doctor, I wish you to observe how real and beneficial the religion of Christ is to a man about to die....I am, however, much consoled by reflecting that the religion of Christ has, from its first appearance in the world, been attacked in vain by all the wits, philosophers, and wise ones, aided by every power of man, and its triumphs have been complete."

---In perhaps his most well known speech, Henry stated, "For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery....It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country...

   Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt....An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!

   ....Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the Holy cause of Liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us.

   Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battle for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave....

   Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

---Patrick Henry's grandson's said these two things about him:

• That he, "Looked to the restraining and elevating principles on Christianity as the hope of his country's institutions."
•  He had committed himself to the, "Earnest efforts to establish true Christianity in our country."

Witty Wednesdays [3]

Please be sure to view the post below this to see more pictures of our new house. I know I just posted yesterday, but I want to be consistent with "Witty Wednesdays" as well.

Today (or tonight, rather) features John Adams.

All quotes are taken from "America's God and Country".


John Adams

--- "Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which Freedom can securely stand.

      The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our people in a greater Measure, than they have it now, they may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty."

---"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

---"As no truth is more clearly taught in the Volume Of Inspiration, nor any more fully demonstrated by the experience of all ages, than that a deep sense and a due acknowledgment of the growing providence of a Supreme Being and of the accountableness of men to Him as the searcher of hearts and righteous distributor of rewards and punishments are conducive equally to the happiness of individuals and to the well-being of communities....

      I have thought proper to recommend, and I hereby recommend accordingly, that Thursday, the twenty-fifth day of April next, be observed throughout the United States of America as a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer;

      that the citizens on that day abstain, as far as may be, from their secular occupation, and devote the time to the sacred duties of religion, in public and in private;

      that they call to mind out numerous offenses against the most high God, confess them before Him with the sincerest penitence, implore his pardoning mercy, through the Great Mediator and Redeemer, for our past transgressions, and that through the grace of His Holy Spirit, we may be disposed and enabled to yield a more suitable obedience to his righteous requisitions in time to come; that He would interpose to arrest the progress of that impiety and licentiousness in principle and practice so offensive to Himself and so ruinous to mankind;

      that He would make us deeply sensible that 'righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people' (Proverbs 14:34)."

---"Have you ever found in history, one single example of a Nation thoroughly corrupted that was afterwards restored to virtue?....And without virtue, there can be no political liberty....Will you tell me how to prevent riches from becoming the effects of temperance and industry?

     Will you tell me how to prevent luxury from producing effeminacy, intoxication, extravagance, vice and folly?....I believe no effort in favour of virtue is lost..."

Once again, please leave your favorite quotes (from anyone, not just a U.S. founding father) in the comments section. And don't forget to view the new post below.



Witty Wednesdays [2]

Once again, all quotes are taken from "America's God and Country". Although not all of the quotes are specifically Christian, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in our nation's religious history.

















George Washington

--- In reference to the French and Indian War, Washington wrote, "But by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!"

---"I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them."

---"May the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivering the Hebrews from their Egyptian Oppressors planted them in the promised land - whose providential agency has lately been conspicuous in establishing these United States as an independent Nation - still continue to water them with the dews of Heaven and to make the inhabitants of every denomination participate in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people whose God is Jehovah."

---George Washington's Monday morning prayer, "O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before Thy Divine Majesty, beseeching Thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks....Direct my thoughts, words and work, wash away my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit....Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, that living in Thy fear, and dying in Thy favor, I may in Thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life. Bless my family, friends and kindred, and unite us all in praising and glorifying Thee in all our works."

---"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

Please leave your favorite founding fathers sayings in the comments section below. If you live in a different country, please submit quotes from your favorite man in history, national leader, or missionary. Once I get enough quotes from my readers, I will have a Wednesday especially dedicated to submitted quotes! If you would like your name under the quote ("submitted by ________"), then please sign your submissions. I can't wait to hear from y'all!

Introducing: Witty Wednesdays!

Notice: Henceforth on Wednesdays I will be choosing one founding father of our wonderful nation to quote. These quotes are so very insightful and inspiring, that these Wednesdays shall be called "Witty Wednesdays".


All quotes are from "America's God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations" by William J. Federer.



To inaugurate this special day, I will start with Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790).

Benjamin Franklin

Many people who desire to forget our Christian past argue that Benjamin Franklin was a deist. Nothing could be farther from the truth. These are some of my favorite sayings from Franklin.

----"I can only show my gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readiness to help His other children and my brethren. For I do not think that thanks and compliments, though repeated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to our Creator. You will see in this my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit heaven by them. By heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree, and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such rewards....Even the mixed, imperfect pleasures we enjoy in this world, are rather from God's goodness than our merit; how much more such happiness of heaven. For my part I have not the vanity to think I deserve it...but content myself in submitting to the will and disposal of that God who made me, who has hitherto preserved and blessed me, and in whose fatherly goodness I may well confide, that he will never make me miserable; and that even the afflictions I may at any time suffer shall tend to my benefit."

----"I never doubted the existence of the Deity, that he made the world, and governed it by His Providence."

----"Let no pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee, no ambition corrupt thee, no example sway thee, no persuasion move thee to do anything which thou knowest to be evil; so thou shalt live jollily, for a good conscience is a continual Christmas.

----My very favorite: During the Constitutional Convention, Franklin stood and made this speech, "In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understanding?

    In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection. -Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor.

    To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have now we forgotten that powerful Friend? or do we imagine we no longer need his assistance?

    I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

   We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a bye word down to future ages.

   And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

   I therefore beg leave to move - that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."

All I can say when I read these profound speeches is "Wow"!

Please leave your favorite founding fathers sayings in the comments section below. Once I get enough quotes from my readers, I will have a Wednesday especially dedicated to submitted quotes! If you would like your name under the quote ("submitted by ________"), then please sign your submissions. I can't wait to hear from y'all!

Come back next week to hear from George Washington!