A Lesson from the House of Burgesses in Virginia

"Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." John 2:12

When I have my devotions every morning I read a collaboration of books that help me start my day out well and further my relationship with my Heavenly Father.  One of the books that I am currently going through is called "In God We Still Trust:  A 365 Day Devotional"  by Dr. Richard G. Lee. 

Sometimes what is written for a particular day has nothing to do with that days date and other times, the devotional written is a reminder for what happend in history on that specific day.

Today I read the following:

"After the Boston Tea Party, the British navy retaliated by blockading the port of Boston.  The colonies surrounding Massachusetts responded with sympathy and action.  On May 24, 1773, the House of Burgesses in Virginia proposed and approved a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer:

'This House, being deeply impressed with the apprehension of the great dangers to be derived to British America from the hostile invastion of the city of Boston in our Sister Colony of Massachusetts Bay, whose commerce and harbor are, on the first day of June next, to be stopped by an armed force, deem it highly necessary that the said first day of June be set apart, by the members of this House, as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer, devoutly to implore the Divine interposition, for averting the heavy calamity which threatens destruction to our civil rights and the evils of civil war; to give us one heart and mind firmly opposed, by all just and proper means, [to] every injury to American rights; that the minds of his Majesty and his parliament, may be inspired from above with wisdom, moderation, and justice, to remove from the loyal people of America all cause of danger from a continued  pursuit of measures pregnant with their ruin.'

***Patriot's Prayer***

Teach me to fast, Lord, so that the discipline is all about You and only for Your glory."

First of all, if you are wondering who or what the "House of Burgesses in Virginia" was, you can click here.

However, the point of the devotional this morning was that these men set aside the first day in June to fast and pray for the following:

* Divine intervention from God.  That He would save them from the "heavy calamity" that was going threatening to destroy their civil rights and start a civil war.

* That God would give them one heart and one mind.  In other words, that they would be unified.

* That they would use this strong unity to oppose any injury to American rights and would act in a just and proper way when the time came.

*That the minds of his Majesty King George and the members of his Parliament would be "inspired from above with wisdom, moderation and justice."  That God would give them the wisdom to see that what they were doing was wrong and to act in an honorable and just way.

* That when the above mentioned, was given the wisdom they needed from God, they would act to remove any danger to the Americans.  That they would stop their current course of destruction which was headed for ruin.

These men knew that the future of America was going to be determined in the next few years. They saw the response of the Bostonians to the "Tea Tax" and then the response of the British after the "Tea Party."  And yet, despite their aversion to the British rule, they prayed for the King and those in Parliament.

They also made a point to say "Humiliation" in this proposition.  Humiliation in the Webster dictionary reads, "to reduce to a lower position in one's own eyes or others' eyes."  They were going before God in prayer with a humble spirit. They knew that they were sinners and did not deserve the relationship that God has given each and every one of us that has accepted His gift.  They were coming before God in complete humility because they knew they were entering the presence of God, the Creator of the universe, the Savior of our world, the King of king's and Lord of lords.

For me, this was a picture of what we are to be doing.  We see where our country is headed.  We know how different people are responding to the different situations.  We know that the next few years will define where our country will be for future generations.  What are we doing?

I decided as soon as I read this in my devotions that I was going to set aside June 1, 2011 as a day that I would encourage my family, friends, and you my fellow blogging friends to use as a day to fast and pray for our great Country and the following:

* Our Leaders, especially those who oppose God and His laws, that they would see their need for Christ. And that God would foil the plans they have for our nation that will injure its citizens and further reduce our amount of freedoms and liberties. 

*Those who already know Jesus as their personal Savior would have the courage to do what is right, come what may, because their faith is planted in God and His promises that "He wil never leave us nor forsake us" and that "we can do all things through Christ".

* That our nation would be united under God and would act in honorable and just ways that glorify God.

This prayer, just like those made on June 1, 1773 must be made with "humiliation."  Our hearts need to be ready.  We need to make sure that when we enter the presence of our loving Savior, we remember that we are also entering the presence of God, who will not tolerate any sin.  If our hearts are not clean He will not hear us.

Please share this with others and get the word out.  These men made the decision because they saw the critical condition their country was in. 

Who will join me in this endeavor to pray for our nation and its future?

Matthew 18:20 ~ "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

If you would like to join me on June 1, or would like to share this on your own blog.  Please let me  know in the comments. 

"When God is going to do something wonderful, He begins with a difficulty.  If it is going to be something very wonderful He begins with an impossibility." ~ Charles Inwood

God Bless!

Feminine Beauty.....And Much More

I just finished watching a video that was posted on "Radiant Purity and True Beauty", a blog that I follow and highly recommend.  The video was of Eric Ludy speaking on "Feminine Beauty". The title suggests that the message is for women alone,  but it is for both men and women. 

I was blown away by the power in his message.   I know God was working in my heart this evening. 

This was the first time I have listened to Eric Ludy speak and I was set on fire by his message.  I highly recommend going and watching/listening to the video here or here .

As I said above, the title of his messge suggests that it is specifically for women, but it is for the body of Christ; the whole church.

Here is the synopsis found on the vimeo website where the video is posted:

"This message brushes against some of the most controversial ideas of the Bible, but surprisingly, as it approaches the socially insensitive and forbidden topic of the "role of women," instead of creating spiritual indigestion, it paints a picture of ravishing beauty. Listen to this message at your own risk, for you may be converted to being a believer that the Bible, the whole Bible, and every word in the Bible, is good, right, and perfect. And what it produces in the lives of those that have ears to hear it and obey it, is also good, right, and perfect. "

It is well worth the time.


God Bless!

Peace Symbol

I read a well written article on the peace symbol this evening and I wanted to share it with the rest of you. 

 My mom told be about this several years ago, so we've never used anything with the symbol on it. However I know that it has become a regular part of our culture.  It is seen on clothing, toys, jewlery, bumper stickers, and many other things.   It is something that we need to be aware of.  You can read the article here  

Satan wants to trip us up in any way he can.  We need to pray that God will give those He has chosen and loves, the strength we need to resist the devil.   I pray almost everyday that He would open my eyes to new truths and show me if there is anything in my life that I am unaware of, that is sinful. 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" ~ Psalm 139:23-24

So High The Price

If any of you listen to the Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team, then you have most likely heard this song on one of their newest CD's, So High The Price.  You can listen to parts of the different songs from the CD HERE .  I love most of the Steve Pettit Music and this is one of my favorite CD's.  The first song on the disc is, "So High the Price".   A song that even without the music speaks for itself.

Here are the lyrics.

So High The Price

By

Deborah Bailey & Marty Funderburck

Lord of glory, reigning in His majesty,

Ruling long before the worlds were formed

Yet when darkness claimed His own

He stepped form heaven's throne

To bear a cross and wear a crown of thorns

(Chorus)

So high the price He paid, the nails, the cross, the grave

Such pardon He bestowed, such grace He showed

No greater sacrifice, He gave His very life

So deep the love, so high the price

Son of God so willingly He took our place

Clothed in robes frail humanity

Fragile flesh and blood, priceless crimson flood

Offered up for sin at Calvary

So high the price He paid, the nails, the cross, the grave

Such pardon He bestowed, such grace He showed

No greater sacrifice, He gave His very life

So deep the love, so high the price

Buried like a beggar in a borrowed tomb

Everything for nothing so it seemed

But death could never stand, agains the nail-scarred hands

And power of heaven's resurrected King

So high the price He paid, the nails, the cross, the grave 

Such pardon He bestowed, such grace He showed

No greater sacrifice, He gave His very life

So deep the love, so high the price

Happy Mother's Day

As Mother's Day is tomorrow, I wanted to have a post commemorating the day.  I was thinking about what I wanted to write and came across this example of Jesus' love for Mary in my "Life of Christ" class.

The following is a quote from the book "Experiencing the Passion of Christ" by John MacArthur. 
"The pain of watching Jesus die must have been agonizing for Jesus' loved ones.  But for no one was it more difficult than Mary, His earthly mother.......Jesus saw her standing and grieving there, and His third saying from the cross reflects the tender love of a Son for His mother."  
John 19:26, 27 ~ "When Jesus therfore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, 'Womand, behold thy son!'  Then saith he to the disciple, 'Behold thy mother!'  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
"He was making a gracious provision for Mary in the years to come.  He was delegating to John the responsibility to care for Mary in her old age.
This was a beautiful gesture, and it says a lot about the personal nature of Jesus' love.  Although He was dying under the most excruciating kind of anguish, Jesus, the King of love, selflessly turned aside to care for the earthly needs of those who stood by His side.  Although He was occupied with the most important event in the history of redemption, He remembered to make provision for the needs of one woman, His mother."

Even amidst the physical, unbearable pain, and the spiritually hearwrenching knowledge that His Father had turned His face from Him, Jesus took His eyes off Himself and set the example of looking to others needs above oneself.  He truly fulfilled the fifth commandment as perfectly as he fulfilled all the others, to love and honor His mother.

As I reflected on what I had read, I realized how Christ's life once again set the ultimate standard of how we are to live.  Jesus fulfilled His duty to the fifth commandment when He made sure that His mother would be taken care of in her old age once He was gone.

I had to ask myself.  "When I am in the middle of a stressful situation, do I put my concerns aside in order to see to the needs of others? ~ Especially the woman who has loved and cared for me my whole life?"  "Do I remember how much she has done for me and how much I owe her or do I take her for granted and not show her the love and care she deserves?" 

Mom and I are best friends.  It happens all the time, where she and I will say the exact same thing at the exact same time in a conversation.  Often times we know what the other is going to say before they even say it, because our minds are so similar.  And yet, sometimes we think differently.  When that happens do I make sure that my actions, thoughts, and words honor and show respect to her? 

What about those times that I am fustrated and nervous and am starting to snap with emotions.... while my mom is feeling the same way.  Do I put my self aside and help her?  I have to ask myself, "How many times has she comforted, encouraged, hugged and calmed me?  The answer?  More times that I can count.

The word Christian means "little Christ".   We are to be a "little Christ", a reflection of our Heavenly Father.  Do we fulfill the fifth commandment when it comes down to the emotionally or physically strained times?
Jesus was the perfect loving example.  We have His example to look at and imitate. Do we?

Mother's Day is a day that our country has set aside as a day to show apprecitation for our mothers.  We should show them our appreciation every day by the way we honor, obey, respect and love her.  However, since we have this extra special day, we should take the opportunity and make sure she knows how much she is loved.

Psalm 104

Psalm 104 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  It is known as the "creation psalm" as it speaks of just a few of the many beautiful things God has created.  It is truly poetic and is written in such a way that I can build a mental picture in my mind as I read through the chapter.

Yesterday, as I looked around our place in the hills, I realized that even though the rain for the past few weeks has had a negative affect on my personal outlook, it left a transformation of beautiful new buds and blooms in God's creation.  As the saying goes...."April showers bring May flowers."  This Psalm reflected my inner joy of seeing God's creation come to life again.




Sunrise in Space



1 Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
2 covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;
he makes the clouds his chariot;
he rides on the wings of the wind;
4 he makes his messengers winds,his ministers a flaming fire.

5 He set the earth on its foundations,
so that it should never be moved.
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled;
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight.
8 The mountains rose, the valleys sank down
to the place that you appointed for them.
9 You set a boundary that they may not pass,so that they might not again cover the earth.

10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
they flow between the hills;
11 they give drink to every beast of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
they sing among the branches.
13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
and plants for man to cultivate,
that he may bring forth food from the earth
15 and wine to gladden the heart of man,
oil to make his face shineand bread to strengthen man’s heart. 

16 The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 In them the birds build their nests;
the stork has her home in the fir trees.
18 The high mountains are for the wild goats;the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.



California Redwoods



19 He made the moon to mark the seasons;
the sun knows its time for setting.
20 You make darkness, and it is night,
when all the beasts of the forest creep about.
21 The young lions roar for their prey,
seeking their food from God.
22 When the sun rises, they steal away
and lie down in their dens.
23 Man goes out to his work
and to his labor until the evening. 

24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom have you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the sea, great and wide,
which teems with creatures innumerable,
living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships,and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.



Dolphins



27 These all look to you,
to give them their food in due season.
28 When you give it to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.

 

Pink Ranunculus



31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works,
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke!
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more!
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!