Daily and Weekly Christian Inspiration
We caught the attention of a couple on our way into the mall who went out of their way to stop and chat with us and wanted to take our photo. Meeting new people is always exciting as it gives us the opportunity to share the hope within us.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Reflecting this anniversary weekend on the vows we made before God and signed before the clergy back in 1964.
A time where we were asked if we will live together in the covenant of marriage? Will we love each other, comfort each other, honor and keep each other, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, be faithful to each other as long as we both shall live?
Vows to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy law, and this is my solemn vow.
It is easy to keep these vows when it is the better, richer or in health but when the worst, the poorer or sickness come, so often we are tempted and many actually do walk away breaking our covenant to each other and God.
We are all aware that we are living in the midst of spiritual warfare and our marriages are on the frontline of that battle today. For if the enemy can defeat our marriages he has got an influence over our children, the strength of the local church (for churches are only as strong as the families in that church), the moral fiber of our society and last but not least, weakening the witness that our marriages should be to the mystical union twixt Christ and His Bride, the church.
CHALLENGE: In those adverse times His grace is available to help us keep those vows for the sake of our word to God, our relationship to each other and our children.
John admiring his latest toy at a motor cycle rally and it isn’t me! LOL!
The Difference Between Men and Boys Is The Price Of Their Toys!
Today in Belfast, Northern Ireland one of the world’s largest parades is taking place to commemorate the victory of Protestant Prince William of Orange over Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, who had wanted to return England back to Roman Catholicism. Grand Lodges and parades are celebrated in Scotland, England, the United States of America, West Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the largest parade being held in Belfast today with hundred of thousands marching.
What has this to do with the USA?
William and his wife Mary signed the English Bill of Rights of 1689. This action both signaled the end of several centuries of tension and conflict between the crown and parliament, and the end of the idea that England would be restored to Roman Catholicism after the many years of blood being shed of so many martyrs to usher in the reformation. So Protestants herald King William as a champion of their faith and freedom.
What has this to do with the USA?
Well, this Bill of Rights was an Act of the Parliament of England requiring the monarch to rule based on “the laws and customs … of Rights, which in turn influenced the American Declaration of Independence almost verbatim.
The Declaration of Independence which was penned by the Scotch Irish hand of Thomas Jefferson who was influenced and modeled that important historical document after that Bill of Rights of Prince William of Orange with reference to the Treaty of Arbroath signed in 1320 in Scotland. At least 27 of the signatures on the Declaration of Independence were Ulster Scottish Presbyterians.
King William’s supporters refer to him as King Billy. Since many Ulster Scots settled in Virginia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, they became known as “Hill Billies” since they lived in the hills and sang songs about their hero King Billy.
Did you know that Williamsburg Virginia is named after King William?
Did you know that on February 8, 1693, King William III and Queen Mary II signed the royal charter for a “perpetual College of Divinity, Philosophy, Languages, and other good Arts and Sciences” to be founded in the Virginia Colony? And William & Mary College was born. Their names are lent to the second institution of higher learning in the United States,namely, the College of William and Mary.
Princeton New Jersey was originally named Prince Town after King William.
Ulster Scottish Presbyterians founded the College of New Jersey in 1746 in order to train ministers. The college was the educational and religious capital of Scots-Irish America. In 1756, the college moved to Princeton, New Jersey. Its home in Princeton was Nassau Hall, named for the royal House of Orange-Nassau of King William III.
Many highways, towns and at least 9 States have “Orange counties” named in honor of King William and the freedom he won for the followers of the reformation faith in 1690.
So now you know the rest of the story!
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” ~ C.S. Lewis
Just as darkness has to flee at the rising of the sun even so darkness has to flee when the light of the gospel rises in our hearts.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
John 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.