Sunday Words of Encouragement July 4, 2010

HAPPY INDEPENDCE DAY AMERICA

 Our Pastor's message reminded us that America was settled by people seeking religious freedom.  The Mayflower Compact included: "...for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith..."

If you look at the Declaration of Independence it contains the phrases:
"...to the laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them..."  "...endowed by their Creator..." "...appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world...." and "...with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence..."
The full text can be found online, including many versions with original spelling and capitalization.

I had a hard time selecting among some wonderful videos of America the Beautiful, God Bless America and other songs. Some were with Kate Smith who was famous for singing God Bless America in the 1930s.  Others had various historical foundations that I liked. Here is a link to one with Willie Nelson singing ALL the verses to God Bless America. Here is another version by Jimmy Joe Lee with new verses that are quite wonderful.

I selected this video for the beauty of the song and pictures 

and the message displayed at the end which is the Verse for today.

A Verse for Today

2 Chronicles 7:14 (New International Version)

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

We prayed this morning for our Country, its leaders and its citizens, and that God might heal our land and continue to bless us.