I’m proud to be an American, as the song says. Thank the Lord for the freedoms we enjoy. As we celebrate The Semiquincentennial of our nation, let’s remember that this freedom we enjoy was not free. It came at the expense of many men and women who bravely fought in the American Revolutionary war from 1775 until 1783. More than 90,000 people paid the ultimate price between the United States, Great Britain and the countries that helped both sides–France and Spain for the USA and Germany and the Loyalists for the British side. There were an unknown number of Native Americans who died as well. We honor all these brave people. It was a hard-fought battle.
May God bless our country for 250 more years! Have a Happy 4th of July!
The Semiquincentenniel of our nation is a BIG deal. We plan to celebrate by attending a fireworks celebration in a nearby town. We’ll bring our lawn chairs and snacks and grab a spot early. While we wait for sunset, we’ll people watch or read. I am excited. It’s been too long since we have cried “Oooo” and “Ahhh” as the fireworks boomed and sizzled.
Thank the Lord for the United States of America. There’s nothing Steve and I like better than watching The Capitol 4th live on PBS. It’s an excellent musical and theatrical presentation. Steve is not a fan of the live July 4th fireworks displays in town, so we usually stay home and watch it on TV while also listening to and watching people blow off fireworks around us. The view from our sixth-floor apartment is such that while we watch The Capitol 4th we keep one eye on local fireworks by people around the lake out our living room window.
I prayed with a group of friends on Zoom this morning, and many of our petitions were for our country. One of the women sent us via email prayers from founders of our nation.
Here is a portion of the First Prayer of Congress by Reverend Jacob Duché, Rector of Christ Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. September 7, 1774, 9 o’clock a.m.
Be Thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable assembly; enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation. That the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that order, harmony and peace may be effectively restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety prevail and flourish amongst the people. Preserve the health of their bodies and vigor of their minds; shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, The Son and our Savior.
You may have heard it said of somebody, “He (or she) is so heavenly minded he’s no earthly good.” The implication is that person may focus too much on God and not enough on his or her responsibilities. Usually, such a person makes me want to live more for God! There is another extreme, though—too earthly-minded to be any heavenly good.
The Bible says, What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away… 1 Corinthians chapter 7, verse 29.
I remember once I was impatient with my husband, Steve. Let’s just say I wanted my way and wasn’t getting it. I didn’t say much to him, but there were lots of complaints going on internally. This verse jumped off the pages of God’s word and hit their intended target. “Hey, Lynn, your focus is selfish. You aren’t taking the future into account.” As I often do when I get distracted about what’s important, I tried it on. I thought, “What would it be like to live as if I had no husband? Am I so engrossed in the things of this world that I am forgetting I’m half of the equation with Steve as my other (and believe me, better) half?”
Life is too short to be stuck on having my own way. I’ve heard our time on earth referred to as a dot on a long line reaching into eternity. Too short to be engrossed in the things of this world. Too short to be impatient when circumstances are not just right. (That’s hard for a Goldilocks-type—we want things just right.) Too short to forget that my relationship with Steve and my thought life are more important than having my own way.
The Bible makes it clear that God’s children should be heavenly minded. Colossians chapter 3, verse 2 tells us to Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. What is His plan for my day, my life? God calls me to live as if time is short and the world in its present form is passing away – because it’s true!
A Goldilocks Life 