Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day!  Today we celebrate our independence from Great Britain, to begin a new country that would stand as one nation under God.  Our forefathers left Europe so they could have religious freedom.

John Adams, one of the signers of the declaration, wrote a letter to his wife telling her about the significance of this day.  In it he wrote:

"It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”

I believe it should be a day that we count our blessings.  We have been a great nation, the land of the free, where countless people from other countries have fled to so they could share in that freedom. 

This nation was built “under God”, and I believe our current problems are a result of turning away from Him.  Money and material things have become the gods of this country.

We are in an economic predicament in this great country that came about by greed.  Along with the financial problems, we have been inundated with devastating storms that have destroyed many lives and many homes and businesses.  We all know people who have lost everything to a natural disaster or to finances.  Material things and luxuries no longer thrive in our country.  Most people have had to cut back drastically on spending.

We’ve been so “fat, dumb and happy” in America that we’ve had no need for God.  Unfortunately, it usually takes a crisis for people to make a change.  Most people have to hit rock bottom before they turn their face to the God who made them and who wants to save them. Now that the crisis is here, maybe we will turn back to “one nation under God”. 

That’s where we as Christians come in.  Now is the time to reach out to our friends and neighbors in need, to be an example of Godly love, to lead them to Him.  Now is the time to diligently pray for our country.

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

I encourage you, on this Independence Day, to include God in all you do today, to give gratitude to Him for all the blessings in our country and in your own lives.  I believe He will heal our land, but we need to become vigilant in our prayers and in our humility.  We need to bring God back into our country.