Verse of the Day - weekend 7/4

Through the Bible - Job 31-36, Acts 14

 

Good morning and happy 4th of July,

The 4th of July has traditionally meant spending time with family and doing family things.  I can look back on visit's to my grandparent's with fishing, cook outs, and fireworks.   But looking back, more importantly,  precious time spent with grandparents.  There are things we learned without even realizing it.  Things about the family and things like why you shouldn't let a firecracker go off in your fingers, but that's another story.

 

As we grew older and had our own kids it was family barbecue's, birthday celebrations, slip and slides, fireworks and time with grandparents and great grandparents.

 

There is a lot that we can learn from grandparents and great grandparents if we take the time to listen.  When their wisdom is passed on to following generatons "they still produce fruit".

 

The fourth of July should involve, honoring God , those who have served our country, as well as honoring our family heritage.

 

For today's verse we'll go to the book of Psalms.  The NLT Study Bible  had this to say about the following verses.

"Honoring  God is not limited to young people who are still blessed with physical strength and vitality.  Even in old age, devoted believers can produce spiritual fruit.  There are many faithful older peoplle who have much to share and teach a lifetime of living with God.  Seek out an elderly friend or relative to tell you about life experiences with the Lord and challenge you to new heights of spiritual living."

 

Ps 92:14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.
15 They will declare, "The Lord is just!
He is my rock!
There is no evil in him!"    NLT

 

On this day we also think of and thank God for our country and it's heritage.  There is some debate going on these days about whether we are a Christian nation.  I remember a vacation with our kids to Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.  When you read the quotions in both of these places. of our forefathers; it is quite evident that faith in the God of the Bible was prominent in their lives, including their public lives.

 

Instead of less of that I think more of it would be a healthy thing.  We should remember the faith of our father's, in our own lives and the life of the country.

 

Faith Of Our Fathers

 

Faith of our fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whenever we hear that glorious Word!

 

Refrain
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.

 

Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
We all shall then be truly free.

 

Refrain

 

Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach Thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.

 

NOTE: Reflecting Faber's Catholic roots, the original third stanza was:
Faith of our fathers, Mary's prayers
Shall win our country back to Thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
England shall then indeed be free.   (From Biblesoft Hymnal)

Say a prayer to the Father for our nation in thanksgiving and that our country would turn towards Him.  May the faith of our fathers still live on through us and in our country.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net

Ps 92:1-93:1

 

92 1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening,
3 accompanied by the ten-stringed harp
and the melody of the lyre.

 

4 You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!
I sing for joy because of what you have done.
5 O Lord, what great works you do!
And how deep are your thoughts.
6 Only a simpleton would not know,
and only a fool would not understand this:
7 Though the wicked sprout like weeds
and evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.

 

8 But you, O Lord, will be exalted forever.
9 Your enemies, Lord, will surely perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 But you have made me as strong as a wild ox.
You have anointed me with the finest oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents.
12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees
and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
13 For they are transplanted to the Lord's own house.
They flourish in the courts of our God.
14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.
15 They will declare, "The Lord is just!
He is my rock!
There is no evil in him!"   NLT