“Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and with all thy getting, get understanding.” “The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.”

I immediately recognized the quotes engraved on the walls of the Library of Congress — one from the Old Testament, the other one referring to Christ in the New Testament. These verses are well known to me. I stood in the Reading Room, astounded by the beauty and majesty of the architecture, while my heart raced with the thought that my book would one day be placed on the shelves of the largest library in the world.

We had been walking all day through the National Mall, and I was amazed at how many references to God I found in buildings and monuments. I found them in the Supreme Court, where a marble relief of Moses holding tablets containing the Ten Commandments can be found outside the East Pediment. I found them in paintings in the Capitol Building and behind the Speaker’s rostrum in the House Chamber, where one reads “In God We Trust,” our nation’s motto.

I have never seen such sights during my trips to different capitals around the world. Regardless of whether you walk the streets of Rome, Paris, or Brasilia, you will find monuments recording victories in battle and the people conquered by their mighty armies. A country’s monuments and national symbols reflect what their founding leaders believed to be the source of their nation’s power and achievements, and nations have always erected memorials to honor their gods, whether they were military heroes or deities. In this respect, America stands out, at least among the nations I’ve visited, as the only place where monuments and symbols contain the declaration that the source of our greatness is the God of the bible.

America stands out as the only place where monuments and symbols contain the declaration that the source of our greatness is the God of the bible. #InGodweTrust #GodblessAmerica #GodProtectAmerica
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And then… God blessed America

He blessed her with beauty, abundance, and genius.

A new Promised Land of sorts, the American people received a “land flowing with milk and honey,” a place where freedom and providence have reigned.

Alexis de Tocqueville, a famous 19th-century French statesman, historian and social philosopher who traveled to America in the 1830s published his observations about the reason for the greatness of America in his two-volume work, “Democracy in America.” One of his famous quotes has been repeated by statesmen and clergymen alike throughout the decades:

“America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law, as well as the surest pledge of freedom.”

America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. ~ Alexis de Tocqueville #InGodweTrust #GodblessAmerica #GodProtectAmerica #RechargeWednesday
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As a foreigner myself, I echo Tocqueville’s conclusions. And my heart grieves for this beloved nation today.

We are not a nation that lives by that truth anymore. We have radically changed the core values of our society, dismissing the fact that America’s ingenuity and greatness were a gift… a consequence of its initial dependence and trust in God.

And I shudder to think about the judgment to come.

This sobering quote by Thomas Jefferson, found in his Memorial in D.C., says it best: “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.”

God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? ~ Thomas Jefferson
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It’s Time for the Church to Rise Up

It’s decision time. Are we all in or are we all out?

Will we continue to keep one foot in the church and the other firmly planted on ungodly, worldly, evil agendas, or will we dare to swim against the tide and pass our decisions through the unchanging, eternal grid of God’s Word? (1 Corinthians 10:31)

I have a strong conviction that does not leave my heart as the waters become ever more tumultuous these days. Rather than engaging in political arguments, or filling our minds with the polarized and endless arguments between talking heads, I believe that God is challenging us to focus our hearts and minds on the Kingdom:

• It’s time to share Jesus like the trumpet is about to sound and those we love will be left behind.
• It’s time to lay aside everything that weighs us down and fix our eyes on Jesus. Firmly. Only. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
• It’s time to forgive, just as the Lord forgave us. (Colossians 3:13)
• It’s time to stand TOGETHER. Not as republicans or democrats. We are to stand together as Children of God, brought together by grace by the blood of the Lamb. (2 Corinthians 13:11)
• It’s time to seek FIRST God’s Kingdom and righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)

It’s time to pray.

• Pray like there is no tomorrow… (1Thessalonians 5:16-18) pray for mercy from the God who blessed us so.
• Pray that His loving-suffering and grace will spare our beautiful country from His justice.
• Pray as Moses prayed for mercy for the rebellious, idolatrous people of Israel playing the harlot at the foot of Mount Sinai. And we make sure God does not find us in the throng. (Exodus 32)

And then, by His wonderful grace, we wait and trust that as we “humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, our God will hear from heaven, will forgive our sin and will heal.our.land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

So, brother, sister – Are you ready to Rise Up?

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LINKUP is open! This week's post is a reflection on the founding principles of our country... and a challenge for the Christians in 2021 America. Join us? #RechargeWednesday #RiseUpChristians
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In addition to composing favorites such as “God Bless America” and “Easter Parade,” he also wrote “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas,” which ranks as a best-selling musical score to this day.

In an interview for the San Diego Union, cartoonist and illustrator Don Freeman asked Berlin: “Is there any question you’ve never been asked that you would like someone to ask you?”

“Yes, there is one,” the composer quickly replied. “And the question is this: ‘What do you think of the many songs you’ve written that didn’t become hits?’”

His unexpected answer is memorable: “My reply would be that I still think they are wonderful.”

The story made me think of a conversation I had with my teenage daughter last week. We talked about how so many teenagers struggle with feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and lack of confidence, to the extent that many kids are on medication for depression these days.

I remember fighting similar feelings as a teen, and I know that they are common during the teenage years, when so many kids struggle with their self-image and self-worth.

As a teenager, I remember thinking I was fat, ugly, loud, my nose was too big, my hair too awkward … and the list went on and on. Today I look at pictures of my youth and realize how mean I was to myself.

I was my own worse bully and didn’t know it.

As hard as things might have been for teens in the mid-’80s, when top-models started strutting their curves in international catwalks, bringing beauty standards to unprecedented heights, they don’t compare to what kids face today.

Instagram, Snapchat, Photoshop and special filters have created an aura of plastic beauty that makes our girls and boys feel less than, every second they scroll down their smartphone’s screen.

And then there are the “likes.” Oh, brother! I recently read an article about young teens purchasing “likes” and followers on Instagram. That just takes the cake.

Indeed, it seems as if constant positive affirmation has become the measure of love for this generation. And I am afraid many adults from my generation and beyond are falling into the same trap.

As wonderful as social media can be — a place where I can find friends I haven’t seen in decades and a place where I can keep up with my family and friends who live 6,000 miles away — it can also be a place of downright pretense. On our social media walls, we make sure our houses are always clean, husbands and wives are always in their best behavior, and the camera angle always gets our good side (after 24 attempts and 3 filters, of course.)

That is why, to many teenagers, reality is becoming ever more distorted and they are increasingly harder on themselves. Therefore, it’s time we, parents, put down our own phones and come to their rescue. Quickly. Even if that means pulling them away from social media for a while.

As I discussed these issues with my daughter, I could not help but think about how Irving Berlin’s words reflect how God sees his children:

You and I may not always feel worthy, or beautiful. Our houses may not always look perfect, and we may have relationships that need serious work. We may not receive many likes from this world, and our life songs may not always become best-sellers, even among those who love us the most.

But God loves the entire album, from our best hits, to the off-key chords. He has an unshakable love for whom He made. He loves our brokenness, forgives and restores when we fail. That’s the message we must repeat to ourselves, and convey to our children.

This article was published on Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal Constitution on Saturday – August 19, 2017.

Constant positive social media affirmation has become the measure of love. Teens & parents. Read this!
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