An old hymn, more of a prayer, really, popped into my mind this morning as I was making coffee. I have not heard or sung this tune in nearly sixty years – maybe longer. I sang it this morning over and over before a weekly prayer call I have with a friend.
Then I paged through some of my old hymnals, failing to find it. I looked in another location and found it, but only the last line since the first had been torn out; no doubt to facilitate a quick transition for some long-ago church service. On a whim, with little hope and much doubt, I perused my latest hymnal. There it was!
It’s simple request is one we need to make to God in heaven right now. Join me?
Image: Hear Our Prayer, O Lord taken from Psalm 143:1 by George Whelpton, The Celebration Hymnal, copyright 1997 by Word/Integrity
There is so much information churning around in our brains, that we ought to be able to recite everything from birthdates to engagement stories and fairytales to speeches. And yet, we forget.
But there are things, very important things, that we MUST recall because failing to do so could mean the loss of, well, for instance, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
On this Independence Day, I invite you to pull out your old history book and remember. And if, like many of us, you’re unable to recall important things having to do with our nation’s foundation, I implore you to relearn them. Truth will set us free.
The change from what was common, you see, is that power resides with the people of the United States, not the king or anyone else. The Constitution, itself, speaks of unalienable rights – rights that cannot be taken away nor given up. The Preamble gives us the reminder that governmental representatives are the peoples’ servants, not their masters. Its very first words tell us as much:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Just to review: establish justice means nothing more and nothing less than just decisions based on facts rather than personal preferences; domestic tranquility is, in a phrase, peace in your home and neighborhood and streets of our nation; a common defense is providing protection on and outside our nation’s borders; general welfare doesn’t mean a blank check or socialism, but rather giving room for its citizens’ well-being; the blessings of liberty is freedom, and freedom not only for ourselves, but for our posterity – for future generations.
This 4th of July, let’s remember that we are independent and that we have a Constitution to back that up.
When I was – oh, I don’t know – maybe in 5th or 6th grade, I decided the words of a particular song were so meaningful that I would memorize them. I can still see myself upstairs in the hallway of the parsonage we lived in, going over each verse until it was in my mind to stay. One verse comes especially to mind this year:
Oh beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife; Who, more than self, their country loved, and mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine ’til all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.
Sing it with me now: America! America! God shed His grace on thee; and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!
Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx5d3haRG7M ; constitutioncenter.org; Khan Academy; America the Beautiful words by Katharine Lee Bates in 1895 and music by Samuel A. Ward in 1910.
The house had been cleaned from top to bottom. Candy canes hung in ribbon above the windows and the tree was resplendent with ornaments of sentimental value. The scent of gingerbread filled the kitchen as she began rolling out sugar cookies while she thought about it all. If only everything could be washed clean and made new. If only . . .
For, you see, something new crossed her path every day. Normally that would be a good thing. Something new meant something fresh and exciting! But now the something new was stomach-churning. Every day. And the season which had before brought beauty and sweetness, sparkle and peace had been tarnished with unrelenting tales of deception, perversion, and anger. It was as though a spider of darkness was determinedly spreading its sticky web over the season of light.
But people’s hearts seemed impossibly hard and the enormous amount of disgusting behavior seemed darker than a black hole. How could such contempt for what was right be turned around? How could those who allowed themselves to wallow in a gutter mindlessly covered by glamour and status or blame and suspicion be redeemed? How could both accused and accuser find peace? It was hopeless! What was needed was a miracle. An unconscious sigh escaped her lips.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Gory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
In evil times to desperate people comes One who makes everything new and redeems those willing to be saved. It is an astounding miracle that crosses time and space to every culture and generation. It is offered to a multitude and available for a single soul. And that is the best miracle of all.
Luke 2:7-14; Softly Now He Comes by Connie Miller Pease, https://www.jwpepper.com/Softly-Now-He-Comes/10686074.item#/submit, Image: pexels-photo-713494.jpeg; christmas-935456_960_720-CC0-Public-Domain.jpg
