What is Independence
Without Freedom?
This Friday we in the United States of America celebrate the 238th anniversary of our declaration of freedom from England. Independence Day, celebrated with much pomp and circumstance, reminds each of us how blessed we are to be living free in this country. From the colonists on in our history men and women have sacrificed much including life to keep this freedom alive for each of us as Americans.
What Happens in Washington Does Not Stay in Washington
Our independence and freedoms have been defended by our military who serve with integrity, honor and loyalty to the United States of America. Sadly we now have seen an erosion of our freedoms at breakneck speed. The very real scandals involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Veterans Administration (VA) present an alphabet soup of unbridled corruption that affects us all. Benghazi still looms as one of the most unconscionable government failures to protect our own.
The prisoner exchange of Bowe Bergdahl, whose loyalty to the United States of America is at question, for five key Taliban leaders, defies logic in today’s terrorism environment. This exchange was done by the President without notifying lawmakers. Yet, jailed Marine Corps Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi remains in a Mexican prison. This decorated war veteran is facing six to 21 years. Is he being left behind?
The flood of those crossing our southern borders is taxing every system imaginable and it has only just begun. Gang members are entering our country unchecked, border patrol officers are relegated to changing diapers and caring for unaccompanied minors. Diseases that have been virtually eradicated in this country are coming across the borders. Immigrants are being bused and flown to US cities and dropped off. Not only does this open the door to criminal pursuits here but such irresponsible dispersion of these people poses a potential pandemic which will tax if not break an already fragile health care system.
Steps You Can Take to Keep Us Free
Just listening to the news has become head spinning on a daily basis. Christian rights are diminishing daily. Is this the free and independent United States of America the colonists envisioned? I think not. What can one person do? I have been asked this many times this past week.
As a Christian, the first thing you can do is pray. 2 Chronicles 7:14 clearly tells you that if we will humble ourselves, pray and turn back to the Lord He will hear from heaven and heal our land. Humility, prayer and repentance as a Nation first and foremost are required. Never for a moment think your prayers are not important. They are singly and even more so when combined with those of other believers.
Next, contact your Senators and Congressmen frequently. They serve to represent you. They speak for you. You have a duty to speak loudly to them so they know where you stand on critical issues. They will represent you only as far as you take responsibility to let your voice be heard.
If they are not representing you as you believe they should your power to vote is crucial. Unfortunately for many Christians church is their primary conduit for teaching. Many church leaders will not address national issues for fear of losing their tax exempt status. God’s truth rises above political party.
If we sit seemingly safe inside our church walls we have no impact on the direction this country is headed. If you value your freedom as a Christian get active in the political process. Do not sit idly by and watch as freedom is eroded and dissipates. Tax free status will mean little if we are not free.
Exercise Your Right and Privilege to Vote
The right to vote is an honor and a privilege that should be taken very seriously while we still have that right. So many Christians have told me they did not vote in the last Presidential election because they did not like the choices. The voter statistics bear out that too many Christians stayed home.
I am blessed to know a young man who faces many daily challenges most of us could not even imagine. Yet he firmly takes his place as an American who loves his country. He avidly keeps up with all the political issues, reads voraciously about our history and current events. Most admirably, he votes. In fact this past primary day he was up early and put on his new ‘voting shirt.’ He is ever asking if you are registered to vote. We can all learn from this patriotic young man!
Mid-term elections are around the corner. Learn the issues. Vet the candidates. The division in this country right now is palpable. A house divided will fall. If you did not vote before, vote now. We are here ‘for such a time as this.’ On this Independence Day think about what you are doing to ensure we remain free.
Jesus paid the ultimate price to set us free through His death on the cross for eternal salvation. This freedom comes at a great cost. We are blessed to be Americans and to be free. This freedom also comes at a great cost. What are you willing to pay for freedom? I wish you a most blessed Independence Day. May it be one anointed with the power of God to raise each of us up and to heal our land!
Quotes to Ponder This Week
“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” ~Jesus, Matthew 12:25
“…If My people, who are called by My name, will 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.” ~2Chronicles 7:14
“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise…from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” ~Esther 4:14
“I am deeply concerned about this troubling policy and the adverse impact on the illegal aliens, as well as to Arizona…This unwarranted operation is another disturbing example of a deliberate failure to enforce border security policies and repair a broken immigration system…I remind you that the daytime temperatures in Arizona during this time of year are regularly more than 100 degrees…Consequently, this federal operation seems to place expedience over basic humanitarian concerns.” ~AZ Central, Letter from Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to President Barack Obama re the Administration’s decision to transport illegal immigrants from Texas to Arizona, june 2, 2014
“It is textbook Cloward-Piven strategy to overwhelm and collapse the economic and social systems, in order to replace them with a “new socialist order” under federal control. Carried by this tsunami of illegals are the invisible “travelers” our politicians don’t like to mention; diseases the U.S. had controlled or virtually eradicated: tuberculosis (TB), Chagas disease, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, measles, plus more. I have been working on medical projects in Central and South America since 2009, so I am aware of problems these countries face from such diseases…Delays to see doctors at the phoenix VA hospital cost the lives of 58 veterans while waiting for care. This is just a portent of far more deaths to come from delays for American’s medical care as thousands of sick illegals swamp already overcrowded emergency rooms…A bigger concern is American endangerment from life-threatening diseases added to social and economic collapse from costs of treating hundreds of thousands of illegals.” ~Elizabeth lee Vliet, M.D., June 17, 2014
A Prayer Request
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep all who serve our country, our diplomatic corps, our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our front-line on the battlefield, let us be their front-line in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives. May the Lord bless them and keep them safe.
Pray for all throughout the world for hedges of protection against radical Muslim extremists and all forms of terrorism. We have long prayed for spiritual victory over radical Islam in Esther’s Warriors Ministry. We now see the reality of this threat come to the forefront in this time in world history. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Please pray for all in authority over us, for the full truth to come forth concerning Benghazi as new hearings will be held. We as Americans and the families of those murdered in Benghazi deserve to be told the truth. Hearings to seek the whole truth have nothing to do with politics as some in current leadership like to posit. Our people were left to be brutally killed. As new information comes to light the only political implication many of us see is a possible cover-up before a Presidential election. Scandals are rife in this administration. We the people are not that naive. Pray that God will open doors to let the truth flow for all of us in this United States of America! The truth shall keep us free.
May God richly bless the United States of America, bring to light every single crooked place and keep her safe. May we arise united once again as One Nation Under God in this auspicious season in our country’s history. We continue to pray for truth to prevail as we saturate this country in prayer and stand for all that is right in America and for all of us who call ourselves American. These are treacherous times and now more than ever we must maintain our walk. Fail not in this hour.
Please Join Me in Prayer
Father God, We thank You that Your word says You will hear from heaven and heal our land. Grace us to humble ourselves, pray and turn back to You as a Nation. Instill deep in our hearts a love for Your ways and for the country You have placed us in ‘for such a time as this.’ Equip us to arise in this season and stand for Your truth unafraid of losing man’s ‘tax free’ status. Anoint us to walk in Your ways undeterred by the political winds of change. We thank You that You keep Your hand on this United States of America and that we will remain One Nation Under God. Raise us up in fullness ‘for such a time as this.’ We pray this in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen.