Founding Fathers Quotes

In honor of our Independence weekend - the celebration of the 4th of July, I wanted to share with you some quotes made by our country's founding fathers. May they renew your determination to put God at the forefront of you life and your politics.

George Washington
Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ."
"Of all dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens."
"Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me Thy servant, who humbly prostrate myself before Thee."
"To the distinguished character of a Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of a Christian."

Benjamin Franklin
"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."
"The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: 'that God governs in the affairs of men.' And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"

James Madison "Religion [is] the basis and Foundation of Government."
"Cursed be all that learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ."
"It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage....Before any man can be considered as a member of Civil Society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe."
"We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

Scripture Memorization Verse:
2Ch 30:9For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and yourchildren will find compassion with their captors andreturn to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and mercifuland will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him."

Jacob wrestled with God

These were Jacob's hands, gripped tightly here during a moment that was his most desperate yet perhaps most glorious.

These were the hands that grabbed the heel of Esau, the ones that supplanted his twin brother. These were the hands that prepared the red stew to barter for his brother's birthright. These were the hands that had worn the kids' skins to fool his elderly father into giving him his brother's blessing. These also were the hands that had built the altar at Bethel, the hands that had lifted the heavy rock off of the water well for his beloved Rachel's flock. These were the hands that had folded in prayer, in diligent and heart-felt petition to the God who had chosen him.

These were the hands that struck agreements with Laban for his daughters. These were the hands that toiled 20 years for another man primarily because of his love for one woman. These were the hands that worked unto prosperity, and that pointed the way for his family to move into the land God had promised him.

And now these were the hands that were gripped tightly–wrestling with God.

The story of Jacob is detailed in Genesis, and it alternately comforts and confounds. For while it is easy to look upon many of Jacob's decisions and actions with contempt, and even to wonder why God would so favor such a man, it is equally a reassurance to realize that the same God who extended grace to Jacob is the same God who extends us ours.

Just as with Jacob, our hands have performed both sin and sacrifice.

Yet what are we to learn from the famous episode of Genesis 32, in which Jacob wrestles with God and testifies afterward that it indeed was God he had seen? There are many interpretations of the encounter. Some scholars believe that the Man contending with Jacob was the pre-incarnate Christ. Others ascribe Jacob's "opponent" simply angel status. Others still suggest the passage is figurative and that Jacob wrangled with God only in prayer.

Respected scholar F.B. Meyer asserts that there is no reason to deny that this was a literal contest. It would have been just as possible for the Son of God to physically wrestle with Jacob as it was for Him to offer Thomas His hands after His resurrection, Meyer writes. Remember the physical fact that Jacob limped afterward, touched on his hip because he refused to quit striving. Mustn't there be a real fight to occasion a real injury?

"But, in any case, the outward wrestling was only a poor symbol of the spiritual struggle that convulsed the patriarch's soul," Meyer writes. "Has not 'this man' who wrestled with Jacob found you out? Have you not felt a holy discontent with yourself? Have you not felt that certain things, long cherished and loved, should be given up, though it should cost you blood? These convulsive throes, these heaven-born strivings, these mysterious workings—are not of man, or of the will of the flesh, but of God. It is God who works in you, and wrestles with you. Glory be to Him for His tender patience, interest, and love!"

Jacob is listed in the Hall of Faith of Hebrews 11. He was a prayerful man who, despite his many failings, weaknesses, and subsequent sorrows, was elected and loved of God. (Malachi 1:2; Romans 9:10-13) And he was the father of the Jewish race, through whom all the nations of the earth have been blessed in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In fact, the nation of Israel received its name from Jacob, whom God renamed "Israel," meaning "he struggles with God," after their encounter. Today, writes Bible teacher Oswald Chambers, God invites us not to wrestle with Him but before Him.

"Don't become a cripple by wrestling with the ways of God, but be someone who wrestles before God with the things of this world, because 'we are more than conquerors through Him,'" Chambers writes. "We don’t have to fight or wrestle with God, but we must wrestle before God with things. Beware of lazily giving up. Instead, put up a glorious fight and you will find yourself empowered with His strength."

~by In Touch Ministries

Scripture Memorization Verse:
1 Chronicles 16:11Seek the LORD and his strength;seek his presence continually! ESV

God's Law... My Mouth

God's Law...My Mouth

I have the giftedness of a Teacher mixed with that of an Exhorter. Wonderful gifts, I agree.
For me, it means that when it comes to the Word of God (Bible) I am black and white. When it comes to the Law of the Lord, I am black and white.

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; Psa 19:8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; Psa 19:9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

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Psa 19:7-9 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

So what's the problem, simple, my mouth. His Law and ways are perfect. But sometimes my mouth gets in the way of His heart. I so want to encourage others to live by the Law and Word and have the blessed life God promises, that sometimes I am quick to speak and slow to listen. (Jam 1:19 ...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger...) In my efforts I don't sprinkle in enough mercy.

I can push away rather than pull one towards the path of righteousness. For this I am very sorrowful. It is my focus this week to begin taking a step back and do a bit of observing before I jump in--mouth first. I believe that this new revealtion is a blessing that the Lord has revealed so it can be corrected. I am grateful for His reproof. As the Proverb says:

My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.Prov 3:11-12
May I continue to learn by the hand of my Lord, Jesus Christ so I can be a light that shines rather than burns.

Scripture Memorization Verse:
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,O LORD, my rock and my redeemer