4th of July

As I celebrate our Nations birthday from the other side of the world today, I have a few thoughts to share..The 4th of July is always a very special time of the year for me.  I have the privilege of being a part of family who really loves America.  My mom was born in Holland and it was not until I was older that she became an American citizen.  This meant that I was able to really understand what it meant  when she received her citizenship.  My dad's side of the family was from Romania.  So I am first generation, born in America on my mom's side and second generation on my dad's side.

The men on my dad's side of the family have all served our great country in some branch of the military.  My dad was a Marine in Vietnam and my older brother was with the Navy and served alongside of the Marines in Desert Storm.

I was raised with much pride in my country, with much to be thankful for.  My grandparents all worked very hard to get their families to America.  It was a dream for them.  They taught their children to be proud to be American, to speak English, to say the Pledge of Allegiance, to stand up for what is right and to understand the value of a good hard work ethic.

When the 4th rolls around each year, I get a little emotional.  I love my country.  I am proud to be an American.  This year, I am also a little sad honestly, because of the state of my country and the hearts of my fellow citizens.

So many have turned their backs on what makes us a great nation....being ONE nation under GOD. We don't want to be ONE, we want to be divided it seems, and so many certainly do not want God anywhere in the US.  This breaks my heart.  We act as though it was man who made us great, but it was not man who made us great, it was God.  And as we push Him away, our greatness fades, our unity fades, our love and sense of right, justice and even freedom fades.

I pray for my country today, that hearts would be changed, lives would be changed, our nation and faith would be restored.  That Christians would take some time today to get on their knees and intercede for our country.  For the complaining and condemning to stop and for prayers to rise.  That Christians would repent of their sins, turn from their ways, and live lives that are worthy to be called "Christian".  May we shine as lights on hill in our country, may God's love shine through us in the darkness.  My prayer is that we step it up, that we stand for TRUTH, and that we will never be afraid or ashamed to be Under God.

I always love to post the words to this song...We all know the first verse, but do you know the rest of the song?

May you all be blessed this 4th of July...and may God bless America.

America the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!