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I liked us better when we were us \u2013 the US. Not perfect by any means, but holding fast to our forefathers\u2019 wishes, and their sentiment that we were all created equal, all endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights \u2013 among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We\u2019ve lost much, and in many ways, we are strangers in our own land. But I still love us, the US. I see the remnants. The leftovers of what we were, and I find hope. Not in humanity, but in God, who gave us ultimate freedom, and is willing to show us the way back to true freedom of country, if we are wise enough to submit to His truth.\u00a0<\/div>\n
He is sovereign, and I trust Him with whatever leader He appoints (yes, His vote trumps all others). But I often sit bewildered and aching for another way. I simply fail to understand. His thoughts aren\u2019t mine. His ways aren\u2019t mine. I\u2019m hurting at my lack of options. The lack of direction. The void of solid, noble, human leadership. And yet, I am keenly aware that rough, confusing times are often what brings His people closest to Him. And that\u2019s the ultimate blessing we are all wittingly or unwittingly longing for.\u00a0<\/div>\n
So this 4th, I\u2019m hanging my flag with a bit of a droopy bicep. My strength sags and my heart hurts, but I DO raise it. Not because I have faith in painted stars and stripes. But because I am grateful for the freedom I have known at the expense of others. And because I have faith in the One who can make Old Glory great again. Not supreme. Not sovereign. Just great. Great, in that it might once again become a reflection of the One who IS great and supreme and sovereign.\u00a0<\/div>\n
Happy Independence Day, friends. With trusting hearts, may we sing the words of Melchoir Teschner, penned in 1613, throughout this day, this election, this century:<\/div>\n
<\/span><\/div>\nO Father, you are sovereign in all affairs of man;<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\nNo pow\u2019rs of death or darkness can thwart your perfect plan.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\nAll chance and change transcending supreme in time and space,\u00a0<\/div>\n
You hold your trusting children secure in your embrace.\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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We live in a curious country. Like pimpled teenagers, we are in an awkward phase, trying to figure out who we are and what we believe. Or more accurately, we are trying to be someone we aren\u2019t, just to fit in. I liked us better when we didn\u2019t fit in. When we went against the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2920,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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