The thought of this brings me to tears. It brings me to tears for many reasons.
1. I know what it's like to have a dream. I dream because He dreams. I was a dream of His heart, and now I exist. I know what it's like to dream and to long for that dream to come to pass. I also know the ache of that dream and how discouraging it can be to wait for it to be fulfilled. The Lord found faithful men on the earth to fulfill the dream of His heart that was and is America.
2. God still has a dream for America. And you can sit idly by and act like the only thing that matters is voting for the next President, IF that, or you can be one of those He finds faithful to fulfill His dream. You're either being tactfully used by the Lord, or, you're a pawn.
I feel like people cared way more right after 9/11. Especially Christians. Now, I feel like other than posting a status in memory of all those who lost their lives that day, the patriotism once received from it has dwindled. Why? We don't understand GOD HAD A DREAM. I'm not saying I am holier than everyone OR ANYTHING. But I still cry about 9/11. The day it happened I got home and found out about the Pentagon and about Pennsylvania. (I only knew about the trade centers before I got home from school). I ran into my room and cried in a corner behind my door. I was extremely scared and I was so emotional and cranky to my family. I just remember feeling like my arm had just been cut off. My America had been violated with the deepest hatred. See, America isn't just a country to me. It's an idea. It's a concept. It's an abstract thing. It has a heart, it has veins. And it's alive. It wasn't that someone came onto our soil and did what they did. I felt almost a childlike offense of the cruelty of stealing a child's toy or taunting on the playground. Like a girl getting her heart broken for the first time. I know that sounds like belittling the event, but it's really not. America has a heart and soul. America WAS and IS a DREAM. And if we caught that, maybe we'd care all the time instead of only when blatantly outright visibly heinous things happen.
Now, I know that people might see my postings every day and get fed up. I know that Christians will get upset like I'm inciting some sort of political agitation and un-focusing people from Jesus.
I know every excuse in the book for not educating yourself with anything other than, like I said, presidential elections, if that. But the biggest ones are "it doesn't matter" (using your faith to justify that one) or "I don't care". I doubt any Christian would admit they don't care, but that's the attitude in many we meet. Praying, yes, that's good; interceding and travailing, that's required of us. But what about educating yourself to what is happening? To the real facts?
I encourage everyone to not take any one person's word for it on ANY issue. Do the research. I guarantee you, every single lie this administration has told can easily be googled in .30 seconds and the truth can be found out (well, if its not from state-run media.)
Get information about the laws that are being passed in this country, and what it means for you and your children and our generation. That is one of the most important things you can do. Sure, healthcare for all sounds great. But this bill that's passed and currently in the SCOTUS is chock full of stuff you don't want and would never agree to if you knew.
Do your research. It's amazing how once a lie is told, the damage has been done no matter what is done by anyone to prove it false. Because those who want to believe it blindly will never hear the truth. Those who want to hear the truth will. What is the desire of your heart? Truth?
I know for some people, it's hard to tolerate a lot of highly stressful politically charged information. I get it. Have someone you trust research for you and let them tell you the facts only. This does not include going to whitehouse.gov (....lol...)
I recommend:
The ACLJ. Twitter, radio program, and news site. Jay Sekulow and Jordan Sekulow know what they're talking about! Chances are you've heard of them.
The Blaze. Not only do they write about stuff that is important to Christians, but they also have a lot of facts that people won't tell you. I truly trust this team.
The Heritage Foundation
Townhall
Life Site News. "Life, Family, and Culture News."
Live Action News. "Covering Human Rights, Abortion, and Right to Life".
Glenn Beck. "The truth has no agenda." The link I posted is to 540wfla where you can listen online (or in your car at AM 540) from 9am-12noon every weekday. I trust Glenn Beck. He has the passion for this country that is of the heart of God. He edifies and encourages the church, and he has dedicated his life, time, and money to charity, and to informing people with the truth.
Rush Limbaugh. Despite what anyone says about Rush, or Glenn for that matter, do your own research. I have never heard anyone speak with such an understanding of the left's politics of abortion as I have heard Rush speak. He is not afraid and that's what I like most about him. "Well, he's been divorced." Well, chances are, so have you. (over 50% of all marriages in the church end in divorce.) "Well, he was addicted to prescription drugs." Well, he got help, and I'm sure you extend your Christian love to people who are struggling with drugs or alcohol and you are able to love them. (maybe). Oh, and by the way, aren't you addicted to caffeine?
If either one of these people bother you, or you have a case against them in your heart, go pick up the Bible, pick out a dozen people God used and who were counted as righteous who were 343830983984309 times worse than these two men (that you probably have a painting of in your house or have named your kid after).
Case closed. You don't have an argument.
I've listened to Rush since I was a kid and I can tell you, he's right. Totally right. There was even an independant study done on how correct his statements are and its something like 97% of the time. They went back and researched things he's said and stuff. Pretty awesome.
And Glenn, well, there's just so many different situations he's been totally right about. You see it happen in months. Not because he proclaims to be some sort of a prophet, but because of common sense, and because he has the left's motives figured out pretty well. How? Folks, its all been done before. And well, there are playbooks, such as written by Saul Alinski.
I totally understand it if you've tried to listen to either of these and just couldn't. It's a lot to take on. It's a huge burden. I recommend searching the transcripts by topic, then, and getting your info that way.
I like listening to Glenn, truly the Lord is with him. But if I'm not careful, I can get a little fearful or discouraged when listening to him. Don't get me wrong, most of the time I am highly encouraged. But Rush brings balance (insert Star Wars reference here). He's that wake up call that reminds me, "I'm not the only one." That it's not as bad as it seems. That just because the lies are there doesn't mean we're going to go down the crapper.
If you need a little help caring at least a little, ask the Lord for His heart. Ask Him to remind you of His dream. He dreams through us. If you have a relationship with Jesus and walk with the Holy Spirit, He will speak to you just like any other situation you hear Him about.
I myself am about to do some research of my own to stir my own heart again with God's dream of America. I'm going to go through our founding years with the thought constantly in my mind of "God's dream".
I'm also getting ready to take a free course online from Hillsdale College, "Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution."
You can take it too, at http://constitution.hillsdale.edu/ . If that doesn't work for you for the free version, let me know.
America DOES matter to God. It was a dream of His heart. If we really grasp that and think it through, we'll see how blessed we are and the true birth of patriotism.
Updated Saturday, April 14, 2012, 2:11pm
Love it! Will be re-posting! :)
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