In God We Trust?

Our Schools are failing — We forbade Him in the classroom

Our Courts — Many of our courts have removed the Ten Commandments

Our Homes — We often complain our children can’t pray in schools yet fail to pray with them  in our homes.

Our Law and Order — When we have no respect or fear of God we will have no respect for any authority of police, schools or parents.

Our Sexuality — Even the very core of our creation by God as male and female is being challenged.

Our Gift of Life — We loose respect for life when we murder the unborn. As you read this there will be 3,700 babies murdered today. Since 1973 there have been 58 million babies legally killed in the U.S.A.

In all aspects of our lives we have tried to delete God’s law of sowing and reaping, leaving us with an immature  society void of personal responsible.

Political correctness is strangling our laws and the very breathe of our nation as we abuse the words “Separation of Church and State which are not even in the constitution.

So where did the words “Separation of Church and State.” come from? They can be traced back to only a letter that Thomas Jefferson wrote back in 1802. In October 1801, the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut wrote to President Jefferson, and in their letter they voiced some concerns about Religious Freedom. On January 1, 1802 Jefferson wrote a letter to them in which he added the phrase “Separation of Church and State.” When you read the full letter, you will understand that Jefferson was simply underscoring the First Amendment as a guardian of the peoples religious freedom from government interference.

When Thomas Jefferson wrote his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association he never intended the words “Separation of Church and State” to be taken out of context and used as a substitute for the First Amendment, but for all practical purposes that is exactly what the courts have done.

“I tremble for my country,” said Thomas Jefferson, “when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.” –

A sobering warning from George Washington on April 30, 1789, when he delivered his famous Inaugural Address to both Houses of Congress. “We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” He had just taken the oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, with his hand upon a Bible opened to Deuteronomy, Chapter 28:And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

George Washington also wrote this about what he felt made America great:

“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

To make America great again we need God back in our government, society, homes, schools, and our lives.

One People under One God saluting One Flag

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Matthew 10: 29,31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

Three weeks ago after much prayer we decided to release our precious puppies, our Westie, Iona and our Scottie, Mr. Knightley, to a kennel to put them up for adoption. We struggled as we didn’t really want to let them go but felt it was the right thing to do so we would have the freedom to travel for ministry when called. Last year alone we were away from home overseas for twelve weeks. Although we had a dear neighbor who faithfully cared for them it was a big sacrifice on her part.

Well, three weeks ago almost to the day the dogs were adopted on the day I fell in New York City and broke my hip leading to a hip replacement which has disabled me from traveling for the next  few months. We even tried to get them back to no avail. Had we missed God we questioned our decision?

One of our biggest concern was that they would be separated. Was it too much to hope for that they would be adopted together?Would God move and cause  them to be adopted to the same family? While I was in hospital we got a message from the kennel that a family had adopted them both. We received the news in tears that God would be so gracious!

Several days ago I received the following letter from a “sister” in our church.

“Hi Maggie, I haven’t seen you and your husband for awhile at LCN.  I just wanted to let you know my super sweet neighbors adopted Iona and Mr. Knightley and I recognized them as they walked by my house from your post on facebook!  They look so happy!  A really great family has them.  I also gave Kim your book to read as well! She was sooo excited.  Just thought you’d appreciate knowing where your pups are!  Take care.”

What amazing and incredible news that they were together in such a wonderful family! How awesome that God would use this dear “sister” in church to let us know that they are happy. What were the chances of something like this happening? Needless to say we wept with joy, not just for our dear puppies but that God was able to do abundantly above all we can ask or think as according to Ephesians. If He is willing and able to care for two little puppies how much more will He care for me during this time of my recovery.

As the old gospel song says:

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,

When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

CHALLENGE: Be encouraged for no matter your need today, be it small or overwhelming Our Loving Heavenly Papa is interested in every detail of your life!

Do You Only Turn To God When All Else Fails?

THE DIFFERENCE by Alan Grant
I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task.
Why doesn’t God help me? I wondered
He answered, “You didn’t ask.
I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak,
I wondered why God didn’t show me
He said, “But you didn’t seek.”
I tried to come into God’s presence, I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided “My child you didn’t knock.”
I woke up early this morning, and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.
Page 88 “Developing a Secret History with God”

Book available on Amazon/ Barnes&Noble/ Lulu/ itunes/ Kindle/ Nook/http wwwclfrance.com or a bookstore near you.
Languages: English/ French

A Change Of Heart

Gen.1:31 And God saw everything that He had made and behold it was very good.

Although the environment and provision in the Garden of Eden was the very best yet sin still entered.Therefore we know by this that improving man’s environment will NOT change man’s heart. Only a personal encounter with God can change the heart.

 

Ezk 11:19-20 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them:

Take Us Back to The Foot of The Cross

This coming week between Palm Sunday and Easter morning is known as Holy Week.

The most somber and reflective week on the church calendar. Perhaps the only time, during the year, that as believers we actually reflect on the awesome cost of our redemption.

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Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1: 18-19 18

Surely we should all ask God, especially during this holy week, to take us back to the place where we first believed, to the foot of the cross. To the place where we can identify with His sufferings that we might be partakers of His resurrection.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1Peter 4:12-13

He was betrayed by a kiss, humiliated, spat upon, mocked, abandoned, not believed, wept in the Garden in prayer until he sweat blood, denied, lashed until He was almost dead, nailed to a cross which He had to carry, forsaken by His Father because He became sin for us, yet while hanging in excruciating pain between heaven and earth, He could cry out “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”

Are we willing to count and pay the cost to be His disciple? As we are admonished in Luke 14:27 “Whoever doth not bear his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple” We must be willing to take up our cross daily and die to self if resurrection power is to flow through our lives.

The level of our meditative reflection during this holy week, will determine and intensify the fullness of our joy come Sunday morning when the stone is rolled away to reveal an empty tomb. Joy unspeakable and full of glory!

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He is risen! He is risen indeed!