Happy Fourth of July, Everyone!

Today in church we said the pledge of allegiance to the Flag::

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands.  One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I love our pledge because it reminds me that eventhough we are an imperfect nation, our sovereign is still God. He's in charge. We also learned today from His Word in the Bible that God says: 
 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

None of us are perfect and neither is our country. God loves us and wants to be close to us, but He can't be if we do bad things. So this verse gives me such great hope for the possibility of healing in our country of what as a country we do wrong and what as individuals we do wrong, as long as we humble ourselves by saying to God what we do wrong (sin) and really seek to know God and His heart which He revealed by sending Himself as Jesus as the perfect man to take the punishment we deserve. (Check out John 3:16 -17)

It 's so wonderful to live in a country where I can write this freely. It's wonderful to live in a country where I can praise my God and Savior for His forgiveness of my bad things and show my joy in knowing that He loves me forever.


We also sang a great song today:

"If My people's hearts are humbled, if they pray and seek My face;
If they turn away from evil, I will not withhold My grace.
I will hear their prayers from heaven; I will pardon every sin.
If My people's hearts are humbled, I will surely heal their land.

Then My eyes will see their sorrow, then My ears will hear their plea;
If My people's hearts are humbled, I will set their nation free.
If My people's hearts are humbled, if they pray and seek my face;
If they turn away from evil, I will not withhold My grace."

Have you ever cried outloud because you were so sorry you did something wrong? Well, God says He listens and completely heals our humble, broken hearts. Hooray!

(Please note this posting has absolutely nothing to do with politics, Republicans or Democrats, only hearts).  Hugs, Sylvia