4th Of July 2020

Long may our flag fly over "the home of the brave and land of the free". In this year of 2020, I think this description of our beloved United States of America, could become untrue if we who love our country don't speak out and stand up for our belief in "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all". We are going to lose these rights if don't wake up and look around and see what is happening to our country and do our part in making sure it does not. 'This is not a political speech for any person, party or group but my thoughts on our country's future during these turbulent times.   

I am an older women who loves my country, waves the flag, sings the National Anthem with right hand over my heart, and recites the pledge of allegiance with tears in my eyes.  There are members of my family who have fought in every war in the history of the  USA and are serving in active duty at this time.  Freedom of speech, religion, right to bear arms and the blessing of being allowed to vote my convictions are vital to me and I will do all I can to keep these intact. 

 I will NOT kneel when the Star Spangled Banner is being played or sung for I only kneel to God, my Heavenly Father.  Shame on those millionaire athletes who use this time in the public eye to put on the sham of caring for others.  Some may care but instead of kneeling in a stadium, use their money to help those in need, serve in a food pantry, get out of their mansions and live with the "real" people,  Allowing athletes who make way to much money to mold our youth's patriotism is a shame and disgrace.  Wow, got that off my chest.  Agree or not, I have freedom speech too.

Marching in protest is our right but not rioting, looting, stealing, and causing bodily harm to those who disagree with your beliefs is just WRONG. Get off the streets, work in a soup kitchen, grow a garden and give the food to those who need it, tutor someone who can't read, give some of your expensive clothes I see some of you wearing, to those who need them.  Be unselfish, not self-centered, and respect and serve others.  Marching and shouting is easy but  working to solve the problems is difficult.  Get out of the streets and into the real world and work for a solution. 

The year 2020 will go down in history as the year of the Corona virus pandemic, racial unrest, economic uncertainty, being separated from each other for fear of spreading the Covid 19 virus, long awaited events being cancelled and the list goes on and on.  It's also a presidential election year and our politicians seem bound and determined to divide us into two warring camps who cannot work together for the good of our country.  I become more discouraged and saddened each time I read or watch the news for you cannot trust much of anything you read or hear.  

Despite all the doom and gloom, disrespect for our flag and country, rebellion, burning, looting, and marching, I remain hopeful that our country can weather these storms and become a better country who respects all lives and allows each other to have differing opinions.  

God has assured us in 2 Chronicles 7:14

(King James Version)

14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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."

In Psalm 23 if find great comfort in these verses:

"4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

My prayer for all of us on this day is that we will stop, take a deep breath, fall on our knees, look upward to our Heavenly Father, tell Him how much we love and adore Him, confess our sins, and pray with awe and reverence that He will come and heal our nation.  Let us always remember to pray that His will be done and not ours but He said come to me when you tired and discouraged and I will give your rest.  Thank you Lord, bless our nation.

This is not my usual blog posting but I thank you for letting me express my thoughts and maybe it will make you think a little bit.

Happy Independence Day and may it remain the home of the brave. 

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach 

Reflections on the 4th of July

Today is a special day in the life of our country - The United States of America as we celebrate our independence. As I reflect on this day and its significance in my life, random thoughts began to form which I would like to share with you.

I have dual citizenship - Heaven and The United States -Heaven is eternal and The United States is temporal. Both citizenships are precious to me and I am proud to be a citizen of both and acknowledge that with the privileges and blessings of living in both come with responsibilities on my part.

Heaven is my eternal home with God my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus. There I will live forever and ever with all the saints who have gone before and will come today and after today until the Lord returns. It is indescribable in its beauty and glory with our limited earthly languages but will be plain to see when we arrive there to live for eternity. Citizenship there was a gift to me through my acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and my acknowledgement of His death on the cross for the redemption from my sins. Now my responsibility is to live as a citizen of God's kingdom and reflect His glory to the world so that all can see that I belong to Him.

The United States of America is my temporal home where I live for awhile and I cherish the blessings of living here for this fleeting time period. It is almost indescribable with our limited language but with pictures we can convey some of its beauty and majesty. I have seen the Niagara Falls in the north, the Outer Banks of the East Coast, the white sands of the Southern Coast, the lakes of middle Georgia, and the woods and farms of Alabama. These are a few of the places I have been privileged to see and I anticipate seeing many others and most of it was beautiful. The natural beauty and the loveliness of its people are wonderful and should be enjoyed by all of us.

The freedom to live here was bought at a great price by many men and women giving their lives and there are many still guarding this freedom for us to enjoy. My family has a proud heritage of men and women who fought in wars from the War of 1812 to Iraq and Afghanistan to obtain our freedoms and to guard them today. I am proud of them and thank them for giving their lives or being willing to give all for us to live in this wonderful country. Our military should be respected, prayed for and supported for what they have done for us and what they are still doing - protecting us.

I have great pride in living in the United States. This pride leads me to saying the Pledge of Allegiance with my head uncovered, my hand over my heart, facing our flag and reciting it with acknowledgement of its significance. Singing the Star Spangled Banner means I stand with my hand over my heart, facing our flag, and shedding tears as I think about the price that was paid for this blessing. Voting in all elections I can is a responsibility and a privilege and supporting the elected with prayer and loyalty even if I don't agree with their politics is a duty and responsibility. Being a good steward of the land by taking care of the natural resources we are blessed to have in abundance and encouraging others to do the same is a joy and a privilege.

I could continue for pages with the responsibilities of being a citizen of this great country but will end with these few thoughts.

I am not a member of a political party but vote for the person who is running for the office after researching their lives and beliefs. I respect people's beliefs and their right to voice them, even if I don't agree with them. I will fight for freedom of speech, even if it is speech I can't understand anyone believing or voicing. I would that the peoples of our nation would respect the rights of others to think as their beliefs lead them and not criticize them for these thoughts or pass laws to stifle these thoughts. Freedom of thought and our rights to express them is vital to remaining a country of free-thinking and independent people which is what we were founded on.

Taking pride in my country, its symbols, its freedoms, its diversity and its grandeur is what I am thinking about today and I hope you will join me. I hope you will also pray with me that these symbols and freedoms will continue to be ours and our diversity celebrated but united in preserving this great country.

Have a blessed, joyful and peaceful Independence Day.

Nuff Said,

The Georgia Peach