Week Twenty-Seven, 2025
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Yesterday, we celebrated the Fourth of July, the 249th time in our history. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, officially declaring the 13 American colonies independent from Great Britain. While the vote for independence was actually taken two days earlier, on July 2nd, the 4th became the day celebrated as the birth of American independence.
More than just traditional celebrations, the Fourth of July commemorates the signing of a document that declares a relationship with an almighty God. By the time of the Declaration, America was almost two hundred years old, dating back to the immigration of the Pilgrims in 1620, when the Mayflower reached shore with 102 passengers. Only 57 of them made it to the first Thanksgiving in 1621. By the signing, that small band had increased to 2.5 million in population. God had provided, as He still does today.
By all odds, they were all doomed, but there was another passenger in their flock, an almighty God, who guided and protected them every step of the way to and after the declaration.
In his book The American Miracle, Michael Medved speaks of the divine providence in the rise of the republic. He notes that crucial moments in American history have turned on providential events that defy rational explanation. The history of the United States displays an uncanny pattern. At moments of crisis, when the odds against success seem overwhelming and disaster looks overwhelming, fate intervenes to provide deliverance and progress.
Most certainly, we are one nation under God. Through war and peace, He has been evident. In the words of Ronald Reagan, “When America ceases to be one nation under God, we will be one nation gone under.”
Not only on the fourth of July, but on every day may we always feel our national closeness to Almighty God and continue to worship and thank Him for all He has done to make this nation great.
Sometimes True Stories
Ideas have consequences. When we lose sight of who we are, the effects ripple through every part of life. We see it in the headlines. We see it in our communities. And for many, we see it in our own families. A culture that tells us identity is something we create, rather than something we receive, will always leave people searching. But when we understand that we are made in the image of God, everything changes. Identity is no longer uncertain. It’s not something we have to earn, define, or reinvent. It’s a gift—one that brings peace, security, and purpose.
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Differeing Perspectives:
- Grandpa: “Church is essential”.
- Dad: “Church is optional”.
- Son: “Church is unnecessary”.
- Grandson: “Jesus who”.
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The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
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More than 40% of people around the world have little or no access to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That means entire communities, literally billioons of people, are living without the hope, healing, and redemption that only He can bring.
Quotes You Can Use
God’s will is tomorrow’s unknown factor. Dan Shock
The art of music, above all the other arts, is the expression of the soul of a nation. Ralph Vaughan Williams
Energy and persistence conquer all things. Benjamin Franklin
We are called to sow seed in unlikely places—and leave the results to God. We’re not called to judge the condition of the soil. Dan Shock
Only the life lived in Jesus has eternal, lasting benefit. Dan Shock
Wealth is not evil and can even be a good thing when managed with godly intent. The hold point is honesty, integrity, and godly behavior. Tony Ferguson
I have no desire to be God, but I do want to be like God. Dan Shock
Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn’t know it, so it goes on flying anyway. Mary Kay Ash
The best time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. Mark Twain
We put our faith in God above, we put our faith in the grace of God and we try our best to do His will. J. D. Vance
To say that we are sorry for our sins is mere hypocrisy, unless we show that we are really sorry for them by giving them up. J. C. Ryle
The biggest joke on mankind is that computers have started asking humans to prove that they aren’t robots.
It is better to have cheap under budget items than to have luxury and be in debt.
Man’s laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral. Even if a sin is legalized it’s still a sin in the eyes of God.
I don’t care who mocks me. I’ll say it boldly: I’d rather stand with God and be rejected by the world than to stand with the world and be rejected by God.
The name of Jesus Christ is hell’s terror, heaven’s delight, and earth’s hope. Charles Spurgeon
You don’t know who you are until you know God and you don’t know how to live until you have settled the question of how to die. Alistair Begg
Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything.
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