Blessings and Bummers

There's a blog carnival going on over at Fort Thompson. The idea is to post an oldie, but goodie. Or I should say re-post and oldie, but goodie. I chose this post because I think it's good to be reminded of our country's need for prayer, and to remain thankful for the freedom's that we do still have.

So without further adiue ... my oldie, but goodie ...






Happy 4th of July to all my Lovely Lurkers!!!

I hope your day is filled with thankfulness for your country, your freedom, for those who have sacrificed and are sacrificing so much so that you can have that freedom, and most of all, for the freedom to worship as you so choose.

I have to confess that I write this post with mixed feelings about my country. While we are so incredibly blessed, I believe we are also experiencing some major bummers where the good ol' U. S. of A. is concerned.

We are blessed to have so many freedoms. But I am bummed that some of those freedoms seem to be slipping away from us.

Government is becoming more and more of an influence in our lives, sticking its nose in where it shouldn't, and controlling things it has no business controlling. I wish more people understood that the government is here for us. Not to control every aspect of our lives, our children's lives, our parents lives.

And I am bummed about that.

I am bummed that Mr. Obama is in office.

There. I said it.

And I'm not even sorry for it.

I was bummed when he was elected. I'm not shy about saying that I had high hopes for Sarah Palin. And if I had to commit a necessary evil by voting for John McCain to get Sarah in, then so be it.

However, I still have high hopes for Sarah Palin.

Maybe you heard she resigned as Governor of Alaska today? There's lots of speculation as to why she made that decision, but my hopes are that a 2012 presidential run win is to blame. I can't say I agree with everything Mrs. Palin says and does. But when it comes to major convictions, her and I are nearly two peas in a pod.

And that is not a bummer. That's a blessing.

It's a blessing that people like her can still run for office - and do quite well. Remember, Obama won electorally, but it was a close race where the popular vote was concerned (69,456,897 to 59,934,814, to be exact).

Whether you know and agree with it or not ... our country needs a Sarah Palin. Someone who can stand up and not be afraid to say that murdering unborn children is unacceptable. Even when they're diagnosed with Down's Syndrome, or any other ailment (who lives and who does not is not our decision - it's God's). Someone who is not afraid to say and live the belief that less government is a good thing. Someone who is not afraid to lower taxes. And someone who is not afraid to keep God at the forefront of her life, family, and country.

More than needing a Sarah Palin, our country needs God. God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit.

The blessings we are experiencing in America today are a direct result of two things:

1. Our forefathers building the foundation of this country upon Biblical principles and values.

2. A God who is slow to wrath. Gracious. And forgiving.

It is a blessing that I am able to experience the incredible freedom that I do, over 200 years after those incredibly wise forefathers penned our Constitution.

It is a bummer to see that slowly, but surely, slipping away. But I have high hopes that the people of this country will heed these wise words found in 2 Chronicles 7:14:


If my people, who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

A precious promise, a simple solution, and an incredible challenge.

But what a blessing it would be if it came to pass.

~Brenda

**Photo courtesy of Luiz Castro on Flickr