God can bring down the strongest

This is a devotional I wrote several years ago. With the current state of affairs in this country, it is worth reprinting. I hope you like it.


The only existing empire on this earth is the United States of America. There is no nation as powerful, as rich, or as beautiful. In a relatively short time, the USA has risen to the top, thanks to the blessings of the Lord God and the faith of our forefathers. Regardless of what some may say, we are a Christian nation.

As of late we have had to endure an onslaught of unbelieving zealots who want all mention of God out of America. He was pushed out of public schools in the early 60s and Satan quickly entered to fill the void. The Pledge of Allegiance, our national motto, and even the Constitution are being taken to court because they make references to God. The Bible has been reduced to a collection of stories, and the Book itself is no longer used in most courtrooms to swear in witnesses.

We are descending down a slippery slope leading to the day when we give ourselves all the credit for our greatness. We are treading on dangerous ground.

“The pride of your heart has deceived you, you live in the clefts of the rocks and make you home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar like the eagle and make you nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down?” says the Lord. Obadiah 3-4

Prayer: I pray for my country, today, Lord. I pray that our leaders will return to Your graces and boldly proclaim their belief in You, for without You, this nation would be nothing. Please, Lord, help us to return to the greatness of old with You as our God.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If
which indicates a choice

My people,
those who are chosen by God

who are called
but so often are not listening

by My name,
and no other name

will
again, there is a choice

humble themselves
realize they are in need of His help

and pray
which they should have been doing all along

and seek My face
actually look for God with open eyes and hearts

and turn from
not a 360 or 270 or 90, but a 180

their
not anyone else’s

wicked ways,
which are any ways not approved by God

then
not later, not before, but right then

will I hear
because, unlike us, God is always listening

from heaven
because that is where He listens from

and will
God’s promise

forgive their sins
hallelujah, praise His name

and will
another promise

heal their land
because we, as His people, need our land healed

In My Grandfather's Day

When I was quite young, my parents got divorced and my father moved 20 miles up the road. To me, that was a very long ways away, and I rarely got to see him. On top of that, my mother decided, with my help, that it would be best if my grandparents raised me, so, at the tender age of six, I was legally adopted, along with my older brother, and moved even further from my father. The visits became even rarer.

Some men just aren’t cut out for the role of dad. Some try, but never reach the level of sacrifice and unselfishness that is required to be a dad. Many don’t even try. I think that was the path my dad took. He just didn’t want to be a father, nor did he want to accept the responsibilities of being one.

But God knew my father’s heart and my need for an honest and loving father figure. So, He tapped my grandfather on the shoulder and put him in my life. And he stepped up to the plate and accepted the assignment of raising both me and my brother. In the voluntary absence of my biological father, my grandfather did a bang-up job. Thank You, Lord, for the best grandfather that ever walked this earth.

Thanks to my grandfather, I feel that I am a much better father and grandfather than I would have been if my biological father had tried to raise me. Why? It would be because my grandfather was cut from the cloth of responsibility and sacrifice. He knew that things had to be done, and he was more than willing to do them, especially when it came to flesh and blood. He was a great man who died far too young.

But before he died, he instilled in me the desire to be the best father and grandfather that I could be. He showed me how to love, how to work, and how to put the needs of others before mine. He was, by far, the greatest man in my life.

When I think about him, I often wonder just where men like him have gone. Once upon a time, our great nation was nearly overrun by men who were willing to accept responsibilities and do what was best for their wives and children. Upstanding Christian fathers were all over the place, and they were willing to not only uphold the standards, set by God, they were willing to live the standards.

In my grandfather’s day, the vast majority of men chose to do whatever was necessary to make their families the best they could be. Today, far too many men run as soon as the going gets tough.

In my grandfather’s day, a man was head of the household, responsible for their protection, their provisions, and their happiness. Today, the man’s role has been reduced to no more than a bumbling buffoon, ruled by his wife, and insignificant in the raising of his children.

In my grandfather’s day, a man was the spiritual leader of his family. He was the first to go to church; the first to teach the Bible to his family, and the first to pray for their needs. Today, most men have a hard time finding the Ten Commandments in the Bible, let alone knowing what they mean or how to use them to set a Christian example.

In my grandfather’s day, a father showed unconditional love for his family. In fact, many men worked themselves to death to take care of their loved ones, and many others gave their lives so that their loved ones could continue to live. In other words, fathers were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for those they loved. Today, very few men seem to be willing to give up a day on the golf course to attend an event their children are involved in.

So, what’s the difference between my grandfather’s day and today? Why have fathers in America changed so much? Have our expectations changed? Has society effectively removed fathers from their position as leader of the family? And what about the fathers who still want to be like the fathers were in my grandfather’s day?

We could blame society, women’s liberation, the liberal movement, or any number of reasons for the decline of the role of American fathers. After all, society no longer recognizes men as men. The women’s lib movement does everything it can to demoralize the male species. And the liberal agenda is so focused on moral relativity that their misguided sense of right and wrong has no room for those they feel have dominated the world for so long. With all of these forces working against fathers, it no wonder we’re no longer the backbone of our families, let alone the backbone of America.

In my grandfather’s day, fathers were fathers. Of course, Christianity was accepted, men and women were different, and children looked up to their parents and to God for guidance. We need to return to the way things were in my grandfather’s day. All fathers need to step up to the plate and be the fathers they were meant to be. Amen.

Age-Earned Respect

Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:32

Now that I am nearing the silver status of my existence, I feel that I have earned some respect from those younger than me. Of course, respect based simply on the grayness of my hair or the wrinkles under my eyes is really no respect at all in this day and age. You see, in America, the aged are more often left on their own than revered. Age no longer means what it once meant.

But, it should. As a matter of fact, it should mean more now than at any other time in the history of our great nation. It is now, when our country is in turmoil that we should turn to the aged and wise for guidance. We should lift them up and seek their wisdom before it’s too late. Instead, we treat them like fools and hide them away in old folk’s homes or retirement villages. And there we leave them, to be ignored and forgotten.

In doing this injustice, we deny God’s command to respect the elderly. We forget from whence we gained our abilities to survive, at the same time eliminating the link to the past the next generation so desperately needs. This trend will mean the undoing of our future.

We need the aged and wise to help us remember our roots and our mistakes, lest we make the same mistakes again. We need the aged and wise to remind us of how we got here, and Who is ultimately responsible for our prosperity. We need the aged and wise to stimulate the voice of the Spirit that calls to us to do God’s will. Without the aged and wise, that voice is waning. Before long, it will be silent.

The aged and wise have earned respect. And so has God. It is up to us to renew that spark of respect and reverence in this generation before the fire goes out, and the elderly are forgotten altogether.

I know that I don’t want to be shoved into an old folk’s home or retirement village and forgotten. I have a lot to pass on to the younger generation, and I do not want to be disrespected or silenced.

Help me Lord, to instill in the younger generation a desire to respect the elderly not only for their age, but for their wisdom and what they can pass on to help the youth of this country survive. Dear God, we need their wisdom and their example, lest we stray by our own disrespect.

Yes, Jesus Loves You

Drowning in convictions, he waits patiently

For his time in the spotlight; his Bible at his side

The music is erupting; thousands on their feet

Lifting praises to Jesus, their souls open wide

All but preparation for the Word yet to come

The music, the lights; they soften every heart

Soon, they all are willing to hear the Lord speak

Through His servant’s lips will come spiritual sparks

The words of the music sooth his nervousness

The love of the Father sewn throughout each line

In silent prayer he waits, his moment at hand

The music fades, he prays, “Your will, not mine.”

He comes into the spotlight; all eyes are now on him

All ears are awaiting his message of truth

Then God takes control; the message is clear

He wants them to know simply, Jesus loves you

“Yes, Jesus loves you!” he boldly confesses

“He loves you, and you, and He even loves me.

His love goes beyond anything you can imagine.

His love didn’t end on the cross at Calvary.”

“Yes, Jesus loves you!” again he repeats

“I know this to be true, yes, indeed I do.

And His love will go on forever and forever

He’s got more than enough love for all of you.”

“Yes, Jesus loves you! Will you love Him back?

Will you give your life to Him without reservation?

He’s waiting for your answer, don’t waver too long.

He’s coming back soon; no time for hesitation.”

Then His servant grows silent, a hush fills the church

Then His Spirit takes hold and hearts start to break

As prayers rise, the tears fall, and Jesus is praised

As more realize that it’s their eternity at stake

Revival takes place through one broken soul at a time

As the cries for salvation come from pew after pew

And the angels in Heaven rejoice with each tear

For ‘tis here they now know, “Yes, Jesus loves you!”