Carol Purcell

With the media so busy with politics, and my mind so full of the nominated candidates, I was surprised to receive the follow thoughts that I believe came from the Holy Spirit. A little off topic and yet  is so clearly appropriate.

“The distortion of this country to the truth it represents and holds could destroy it.  It is not great because of industry or commerce but because of the shed  blood and the sacrifice of the people, who founded it.  The blood shed to free the Indians from witch craft and superstition; the blood shed to free the slaves cries out to keep the freedom they died for.  The gates were not opened to welcome all religions, to oppose the things of God, to worship anything they chose, but the freedom to worship Christ Jesus and God regardless of the circumstances.  No matter who they are or where they come from, opportunity is available.  This nation is a nation under God so that God is wworshipped.”

I began to think on this….Hundreds of Christians fled here for freedom of persecution. The Indians were lied to, and treated terribly–which is not God’s fault.  His will would have been and is to bring them all to relationship with Jesus and  the abundant life Jesus died to give all mankind.  Slavery was abolished by the shed blood in the civil war, sometimes brother against brother.  Yet, we still have prejudice and ugly politics between races.  Is there some way that will be solved by taking God out of school, pledge of allegiance, court houses, Christmas plays and displays, and so on? 

There are thousands more who have shed their blood for this country–in all the wars in which we have been involved.  Those men and women were and are willing to lay down their lives for us, for the freedom we enjoy, and the freedom they believe others should have.  I believe a poll of those serving would be interesting to find out if they (and their families) are not praying to the Christian God of American for protection and comfort. 

I have thought for years Buddhists or a Muslims or whatever, should want Christians in office to keep the freedom they have to do as they please.  We are so liberal with our freedom we could lose it.  Their freedom should not come at the price of our Christian way of life.  Because of our ancestors and the battles they fought for us, for God, He has made this Nation great with men and women with Biblical morals–blood, sweat, tears and prayer laid the foundation and is still the backbone of this country. 

I am not as interested in who they were or what they said….but the independence they fought for to worship and establish ONE NATION UNDER GOD!  It has been stamped, posted, sung about, on our stamps, our cars, our courts, our money…..what does it take to get the point across.

I have prayed for the Indians and apologized to them for what they have suffered, and I am part Indian.  I have apologized to my black brothers and sisters for the terrible sins against them.  My heart aches when I see news reports of the abuse.  But, I had never thought of the other side.  That the blood of our ancestors paid for our freedom–who is going to apologize to us?  We don’t need apologies we need restoration to good morals, loving care for those who need it and appreciation for the true facts–life isn’t fair and boy do we need

God!

I received a letter this week and on the back was stamped ONE NATION UNDER GOD. I was impressed and touched.  We all need to do that and stand and demand that this country remain in the hands of God while we can,  ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

Move it on…….

Last night I had d desire to just ‘veg out’ with something pleasant on TV.  As I surfed the channels I found the following:

• Paradise Hotel or Sex In The City!  (WOW as a single woman, I don’t need that.)
• News reports of fires, floods, accidents, rape & murder. (Taxing my heart with sorrow for all the victims)
• A movie about a man who kills his friend because he thinks he murdered his daughter only to find out he was wrong.  (That was inspiring, Ugh! Thank God I only saw the stupid end; my critics would tell me I just don’t appreciate the great acting job they did–no, I do not, if their message stinks.)
• Then those pitiful but necessary commercials for the suffering children in the world.  (That just tear my heart out.)
• Well, I could just watch a simple mystery on Law and Order–wrong again–this one was about someone stealing eggs and sperm out of a lab, where they actually store live embryos as well, and the controversy about freezing or storing them.  (Boy, I was already tired, fighting a little depression, I didn’t need that.)
• Oh, good, I found a TV magazine program about troubled children (that should have been a tip, but I continued to watch).  It was about children with Tourette’s Syndrome.  (I didn’t last too long with this one either; I have such strong spiritual conviction about these ’syndromes,’ especially that one.
• I tried a 60 Minute program I had pre-recorded, only to watch three handsome young men talk about being gay in the military.  And the controversy over “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”  (The same ole’ question, how do we love people the way they are and trust God to change them?)

Finally, I turned off the TV and thanked God for my day and all that I have, food, home, clothes, loving dog, precious family, and lots of friends.  And, actually went to sleep. 

The devil’s agenda is to have people watch all this junk often enough so they become desensitized to the evil that is so evident everywhere.  Or there is so much, we just mentally turn it off out of an overwhelming sense of despair. Which I did last night and turned to my Heavenly Father to bring a calm to my soul. 

My Bible says where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Rom 5:20); When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)  I believe that ‘standard’ is our prayers, as the Spirit of the Lord in us, moves us to action.

I hear all over the place that this is the end times.  Maybe it is, however, Paul said it was the end times 2000 years ago….I sure am not going to rely or worry about that.   Jesus asked  if there would be faith on the earth when He returned….and somehow I don’t see that every where even though it is growing.  Isn’t that a greater concern for us than spending time, energy or thought on whether we are in the ‘end times’?

One argument is that evil is everywhere, earth quakes, floods, etc. so it must be the end.  Well, it was just as bad in Paul’s day.  Christians were crucified and fed to lions.  Israel was in bondage to other countries, and believers had to flee for the lives.  Children were sacrificed to Molech, slavery abounded.  Through the centuries we have had the same evils that we face now.

• Could any of us solve the problems I listed above? 
• Can we solve even one of those problems totally? 
• Can God solve those problems?
•  What does He need to do that?…He is sovereign! 
•  Jesus is looking for prayer and faith so that He and the Holy Spirit can direct the warfare–you know–the standard that will overcome.

None of us can pray over all that is wrong; nor can any of us take action against everything.  So we can choose to pray what touches our heart the most.  That is the Holy Spirit  in us and take action as He directs.

Or are we like ‘Chicken Little’ crying ”The sky is falling, the sky is falling.”  Yep, we can pray as Jesus told us to do….”Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”  Rest (knowing God is all sufficient) in God to use our prayers and direct our actions, and just let Jesus take care of ‘end times’ and His return.  None, absolutely none of the problems listed above and those that are not listed are too big for God. 

Prayer moves mountains and God loves all His children, so we move and He moves.  Sounds like a good solution to me!  We are privileged to be part of that Standard.

This is a great time to live as long as we abide in HIM!

As so many in the country today I spent time praying for our Nation. Such a good idea to have a National Day Of Prayer!  According to news reports some used the time to protest the war!  Sadly the One who can really help with that situation is God and He is more into requests than protests!

After a time I asked the Lord what He would like for me to pray and the answer was:

“Cry out for restoration for the Nation!”

In my mind it was very clear, God would like our Nation restored to Godly principles and standards.  So that was my prayer and will be until it is done.  I hope many will join with me.  Long prayers are wonderful, but short prayers can be very powerful as well.  A simple “Restoration For The Nation” daily with heartfelt agreement with the loving mercy and grace that God gives, will avail much!

That’s my hope and my own heartfelt belief America is far from gone….quite the contrary, check out the movement of the youth in our Christian Churches and I don’t think the world has seen anything yet, like the explosion of faith coming, like a huge tital wave!

We are up, not down, we are blessed not cursed!  Thank you, Lord!  And God bless America! 

COMFORMITY BRINGS ACCEPTANCE NOT CONFIDENCE!

Because of the up-roar-ousley interesting political dialog going on in America we hear a lot about unity.  That bears a variety of meanings depending on where you come from–your grid or mind-set.

A great example of this is in the Christian Church.  As people disagreed in the past centuries,  denominations sprung up and now we have several thousand.  Differences in doctrine create a new agenda and most of us follow a leader, admiringly, agreeing with what is taught.  Each church or group has their own agenda and if we conform to that form or plan we are accepted.

I laughingly like to say we have also developed a Ken and Barbie Doll stereo type of what a Christian Believer should be.  Instead of Scripture being a blueprint for self-preservation by renewing our mind with ’sound wisdom’,  it can become a dogma we strive to live up to, attempting to become the Ken or Barbie  that is expected. 

I was complaining to the Lord one day about the divisions in the church, the disagreement, and how it upset me, because there are bigger fish to fry that issues on doctrine.  That sweet small voice I am privileged to hear responded, “You are complaining about the very freedom I died to give you!”   I quickly apologized, immediately getting the picture–with Jesus, Holy Spirit, God given free will we have the right to think for ourselves and make our own decisions.  

THE UNITY WE ALL NEED IS IN AGREEMENT OF THE SPIRIT NOT CONFORMITY OF THE SOUL!

In other words, it matters not whether I believe in dunking or sprinkling for baptism, we can all agree baptism is very important.  It is the Spirit behind what we do, not what we do.  Especially when it is a ‘ritual’ born out of tradition.  Tradition is important to build on or learn from, but not to mindlessly conform.

We cannot be Ken and Barbieand still believe we are created uniquely different–because we are.  We must find the gifts and talents we have, the desires of our heart and most of all learn to know God in our spirit, experientially, not just a text book relationship. 

The God-kind of confidence we need in this world (not self-confidence) is found in personal relationship of talking and learning about Jesus, the Man, the Holy Spirit and how much we are loved by our Heavenly Father.  The agreement we have with His ways will bring great confidence into our hearts of who we are as His children, not out of conformity to be accepted, but out of desire to follow Him because we are accepted.

Do we allow our children to express their differences or demand they conform to our desires?  Do we encourage those around us to be all they can be in any given direction or condemn them for not being what we would like them to be or what we think they should be?  How do we pray?  That our loved ones conform to a Christian Standard, our Political Leaders do what we want? Or can our prayer and desires  for our loved ones, our neighbors and our leaders–church or government–be to carry out the (Will) desires of God, being all they can be for the good of family, church and country? 

Well, I certainly have a constant battle to get judgment out of my heart and mind (I am really good at it–judgment that is), to listen to the Holy Spirit and focus on His desires for us, not my desires for me, or the world.  It is a battle but one worth fighting and only won with the help of the Holy Spirit.

May our unity come from agreement on ethical, moral issues; not from peer pressure, or polarization of political rhetoric. Rather may we led from spirit informed wisdom that brings love (wanting the best for everyone) and life ( the essence and persistence that creates only good).  Unity of Spirit,  agreement not conformity can change the world!

P S If you were kind enough to read this Blog and wonder how one has an experience with God, how one can be led by the Holy Spirit–it is simply done by asking Jesus into your heart, asking Him to become real to you, and asking the Holy Spirit to dwell within your spirit and lead and teach you all things!  Greatest decision you will ever make!

I have been wanting to know, or I should say understand, for years why black people born in America want to be called African American?  And, often it seems it is used in context with anger and an adamant view that we should sit up and take notice of who they are.

Whether it is Oprah or Obama or Rev. Wright, Jr. using the term, what is the point?

If this is truly a mark of pride for their heritage would they not want to use it with gladness and joy so that we could take notice and appreciate that with them.  But it seems it is to remind us of what they have suffered and how badly they were treated and are being treated (Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Jr.).

As a Christian I use the ‘label’ of Christian only to share some good news.  Maybe some use it to to declare that they are right and others are not, but that is not smart or wise, or Christian. 

I come from a wild and woolly background of Irish (who had their pain and struggles when they came to America), English, Quaker Dutch, and oh, yes, 1/8 American Indian (who were treated badly, lied to, and oppressed).   Still I have yet to understand how I can undo the wrongs by claiming my heritage in a strong sit up and take notice  attitude of either superiority or to declare to the world over and over, my ancestors were victims!

People come to American for the ‘American Dream’ and it has and always will require personal effort, determination and a winning attitude–then sometimes life is just mediocre.  As far as I can see, it is still better than 2/3 of the world.  The dream certainly won’t become reality from from anger, resentment and hostility.

Labels lock people into a stereo-type no one needs.  I heard about dysfunctional families until I wanted to throw up.  Thank God, that has quieted down.  We are all dysfunctional in some area, and hopefully working to correct what we can.

Should we ever forget the atrocities of the past, whether they are African slaves, or Jewish persecution and slaughter, or American Indian betrayal?  Of course not, we need to be aware of history and absolutely determined not to allow history to repeat itself.

At this very second people are being crucified in some form, and persecuted as Christians all over the world.  Men, women and children are being slaughtered and used as slaves in Africa, and brutal wars fought over the labels of  being in one tribe or another.

Could we not just be Americans?  Forgiving and repenting of judgment and striving for a better world.  Not just America, but a better world?  How about making efforts to rebuild families and instill confidence in our children, black, white or any other color,  of respect for each other and a love for our country?  I know we can, it is a decision each of us must make.

However I am left with the same question:

Why African American?