Tag: King

July 4th!

Jennifred Jones

Today is July 4th. I am an American. I celebrate July 4th. I am privileged to live here and partake of the many good things that have come about because of freedom in this country.

Centuries ago, in other lands our ancestors were persecuted for their faith in God – Jesus to be more specific. After lots of suffering, pain and loss, they came up with a plan, an idea to have their own land where they could worship God, live before Him, do their own work. own their own property and raise a family as they saw best – not as others tried to force them to. 

As a result, America was formed. The governance was well thought out by intelligent men who disagreed with each other, but their goal was the same. Provide a country ruled by the laws of the people, not by a king. This unique form of government is a republic – just (fair, honest) laws drafted by good men for the good of all. This was not a democracy where majority ruled, this was a set of principles where if you were the only one right, you could maintain your freedom and be safe. No majority rule could overpower that right. (Might help here to reread your Bill of Rights).

There will always be people clamoring for their truth, trying to force you into theirs, but not so in America. Each here has the freedom to live and express himself as a valuable person provided it is done within the confines of the law which takes into account the freedom of others and good of all.

The God and His laws which our country’s laws are patterned after is for our good. We need to continually keep our focus on how good God is, how He gave us this good land, kept us safe from others who’d try to do us harm. He is the true light who will overcome the darkness so we can live in freedom, light and truth with each other. 

“Our father’s God, to thee, Author of liberty, to thee we sing; Long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light, protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.” 4th verse of ‘My Country Tis of Thee’ by Samuel Francis Smith (1832)

The Power of Your Story

Jennifred Jones

People say there’s power in your story.

“But I’m just one person, how can that make a difference?” “I haven’t lived any special kind of life. Nothing significant about me that I can think of…I haven’t won any medals, or rescued anybody from drowning. I haven’t even got a college diploma. I’m just a mom, or I’m just a cashier, or I’m just a mechanic, or I’m just a factory worker, a skilled laborer going to work on third shift for the last 30 years. What kind of story is that?”

God has done something in your life that is worth sharing and that is the foundation of your story.

A little boy shared his loaves and fishes with Jesus, and Jesus used it to feed 5,000 people. We’re still remembering that important story. Hungry people need to be fed; feed their bodies first and then their souls will want to hear from God.

The woman at the well met Jesus and was amazed how He knew all about her past and her many, many husbands, yet he cared enough to talk to her, a woman no respectable person would spend time with. He sought her out. That became her story and she ran back to town and said to the men to come see the man who told her everything she’d ever done, and they went out of the town and came to see Him…all by the power of her story. (John 4:27-30)

The man born blind, in John 9 was healed. He went and told everyone his story. His neighbors asked him what had happened. They had seen him as a beggar all his life and now he was washed, clean and walking around seeing everything. He told them the story. They wouldn’t believe it. The religious leaders didn’t believe either, but that didn’t cancel out his story. God did it to show He is a loving, caring God. Although many wouldn’t believe, some did. His story mattered. It mattered to him. It mattered to God. He believed and was healed. Others could have been healed too- if they chose to believe.

The little Israelite girl, who had been captured by the Arameans in Elisha’s time was made servant to Naaman’s wife. Naaman was a leper. This brave, caring little girl said to his wife, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:3 (NASB) She took her story of Elisha being able to pray for lepers and shared it, so Naaman could be healed. If she hadn’t shared her story he might never have recovered.

I have nothing that important to share, you say, and nobody will listen to me. If God has touched your life in any way, that’s part of your story, and it matters to God. He said, “Go tell.”

People don’t want a religion to believe, they want a reason to believe. God is that reason. We need to show people the good reasons to believe in God.

People have seen enough religion and what that has done to civilization. They need to hear your story of a powerful working God; the God who cares about His creation and came to save them from evil and help them in their daily lives. Down here. On earth. Right now. In the thick of trials, and hard family situations…not thinking they have to wait until they get to heaven before they can see God do something good for them.

They need to see a ‘today God’!

I have seen and know the ‘today God’, have you?

Talk to Him! He has time to listen.