God's Fireworks Display

To a Scotsman, finding a thistle blooming in my backyard on July 4 is just as lucky as an Irishman finding a four leaved clover on St. Pat's.

Enjoy the fireworks tonight! Happy Independence Day!

Independence Day Devotional

Of all the special days on the American calendar, I love Independence Day the most. I guess that as a free born Scotsman, whose leaders like William Wallace and Robert the Bruce fought and died for liberty, I appreciate the Great American Struggle to win independence for themselves. It was not an easy choice to make, nor was it an easy cause to fulfill. Without commitment and dedication, patience and perseverance, unity and determination, liberty would never have been won.

Psalm 18:49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;I will sing praises to your name.

We forget that they took on the strongest army in the world. We don’t appreciate the magnitude of the struggle. It was like David versus Goliath on an international scale and the rocks inside the slingshot, which fortified the Revolution, were called Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

I sometimes wonder if the revolutionaries really understood what they were accomplishing. Most of them fought for their families and colonies. It was a question of survival against the mightiest power on earth. When the War was over and their new Nation was recognized, I wonder if they really knew what the consequences would be. Their gutsy decisions, haphazard victories, and loyalty to the cause engendered a new beginning for the whole world. They showed every nation on earth that the God given right to be free is the greatest force and noblest quality that humanity can ever experience.

The writer of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, once wrote “The God who gave us life…also gave us liberty.” In my opinion, that is one of the most truthful statements ever written in the annals of human history.

So today, I will celebrate this precious day by thanking God for the United States, its people, and its freedoms. I will remind myself of the costs and causes of the past, as well as the responsibilities that our liberties lay upon us today as free citizens. All of these blessings are God given rights which we need to cherish and continue to spread throughout the world. After all, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness should be blessings that every child, woman, and man should know and experience all over this planet.

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for the courage and wisdom of those who established this nation. We are humbled by their achievements and blessed by their accomplishments. Help us to cherish this day with our families and friends, our neighbors and people. Let freedom ring throughout this nation and across the entire world. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

If you enjoyed this devotion, you can read more in John's devotional e-books like "The Light of Love" which has forty-two devotions inspired by the Gospel of John. You can find the book at this link: 

"The Light of Love."

Erin Church daily devotional : Finding Real Joy

Audio version here

John 16:22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. (NIV)

One of the very first Sunday school lessons that I can remember was all about Joy. My teacher asked our class what joy was and we all answered with the usual “being happy,” “smiling,” and “laughing out loud.” She then asked us if we knew what real joy was, which puzzled the class. Hadn’t we just explained it to her?

Our teacher put up the letters J-O-Y on her flannel graph board. “Real joy,” she continued, “happens when you put Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last.” It was a simple lesson, a beautiful truth, and a life-long message. I’ve never forgotten what she said, and I’ve tried to put it into practice throughout my life. And when I do, I rediscover that simple truth again and again.

When Jesus was talking to his disciples about joy, He was referring to the joy of the Resurrection. They didn’t know it yet, but they were going to be a part of a glorious event that would change their lives and the whole world forever. They would have a short time of grief when Jesus died, but through the miracle of Resurrection, their lives would be joyously transformed. They would know of a new joy that would be with them throughout their entire lives – a joy that would last for all of eternity.

These days, some so-called biblical scholars and progressive theologians are trying to take away that joy. They explain the Resurrection in terms of symbolism and refute it as an actual reality. They make Jesus out to be a great teacher, but not the Savior and Lord that you and I know. Because of their own academic disillusionment, they have become joy suckers of the Faith that once inspired them. The sad thing is this: the more they try to rationalize the Gospels, they less joy they feel in their hearts. They sour the sacred scriptures and end up academically alone. Instead of putting Jesus first, they have given their own research the priority. In the process, they lose their joy in Christ and let go of their faith in God.

So what’s the lesson for today? The same as it was for me almost 45 years ago. If you want real joy in your life, put Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. Try it. You’ll find it really works!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in the midst of all our busy-ness, help us to put You first in our lives. Teach us to take care of others second, and give us the will to put ourselves last. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.