Silent no more

​Speechless... but not... 

Ever since the attack on the World Trade Center, the first time, the attack on the USS Cole, and  September Eleventh, I have been so enraged, I  become speechless. There is a group of people for centuries have wanted those who do not believe what they do--dead. 

Dead. Murdered. Eliminated. 

They want to murder people because of belief. 

They. Terrorists. Extreme or radical Islam. 

Belief.

That's it.

Belief means some should die and some should live. 

Recent events have added to my righteous indignation.

The silence has appalled me. Shamed me. Enraged me. 

My silence has made me feel worse. My silence has supported this. I am either for it or against it. Silence shows support, for it means lack of speaking against. 

It's time for me to take a stand. 

How about you? 

USA JOURNALING #10: QUESTIONS ABOUT FREEDOM

What is freedom?

What does "freedom" truly mean?

Am I really free?

Does everyone deserve freedom?

What have I done to defend freedom?

Answer each question as an American and then again as a Christian American.

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USA JOURNALING #9: HOW CAN I LIVE THE BEST CHRISTIAN AMERICAN LIFE POSSIBLE?

USA JOURNALING #9: HOW CAN I LIVE THE BEST CHRISTIAN AMERICAN LIFE POSSIBLE?

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HOW CAN I LIVE THE BEST CHRISTIAN AMERICAN LIFE POSSIBLE?

Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 234 p.m.

How can I live the best Christian American life possible? How can I live the best Christian life possible here in the USA? The answer to each is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

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2 Chronicles 7:14 GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,
    will humble themselves,
    pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,
        then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
    and heal their country.

GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

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There are five things 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells me to do as a Christian American:

1 Believe in God

2 Humble myself

3 Pray

4 Search for God

5 Turn from my wicked, sinful ways

That's it. It's that simple. 

I just re-read those five items and two stood out to me: Pray and search for God. I think if I did just those two items, the rest would be lived naturally and without effort. 

For me to be the best Christian American I can be, I will draw as close to God as possible--and 2 Chronicles 7:14 points out how praying and searching for Him is how I will accomplish this. 

And, I want to also point out that if I am praying, I am searching for God. Therefore, I think that 2 Chronicles 7:14 can be summarized as this: Pray--for the USA. 

Pray for the U.S.

That's it. It's that simple. Pray every day, all day long for the United States of America. 

Need I remind us of the USA Journaling Prayer Challenge to pray for the USA at least for half an hour every single day? 

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USA JOURNALING #8

USA JOURNALING PRAYER CHALLENGE

Would you care to join me in living 2 Chronicles 7:14? 

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2 Chronicles 7:14 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,
    will humble themselves,
    pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,
        then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
    and heal their country.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

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THE USA JOURNALING: A PRAYER AND PRAYER JOURNALING CHALLENGE

Would you care to join me in a challenge to commit to praying this verse over self and the USA for at least half an hour per day?

If so, please tell me when you will pray (the time) each day. Let me know through attaching a comment at the end of any blog post or sending me an email? I would love to be able to get all 24 hours covered with several people praying in each time slot for the USA. 

My goal is to pray 8:00-8:30 a.m. each day.

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HOUSEKEEPING AND NEWS: MOVING AND SHORTER BLOG POSTS

I just wanted to give you some heads up about my intent for this blog as I am in the process of preparing to move across the country in the next few weeks, go on vacation, and then unpack the new house. I'm trying to write several blog posts ahead of time so you will at least have a blog post every other day while that is going on in my life. 

Also, I will have a lot of time to think since I will not have a lot of time to journal, so I will periodically include a new thought. 

Therefore, you may end up reading in March a blog post I wrote in February. Once I get unpacked and settled, and am able to sit down and give my full-time attention to this blog, it will be different. I'm just trying to come up with a way to keep this blog going until then. 

I imagine in late march, early April, I will be back on this blog full-time. I hope to answer all of the questions I've listed in this blog at that time and hope to list even more. 

Thanks, again, for your patience during this time of transition.

COMMENTS: I will try to make sure to comment on any comments or emails you send during this time. I will not be that much of a stranger. I would love to hear about your struggles being an American and/or a Christian American. 

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USA Journaling #7

USA Journaling #7

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USA JOURNALING BLOG TO BOOK: PRAYER AND CONTEMPLATION 

Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 1057 a.m.

I have the feeling that these blog posts will be turned into a book about prayer, contemplation, prayer journaling (and prayer journaling prompts), and application about what it means to be a Christian American today. Furthermore, I could also easily turn this into a memoir about me doing those things (prayer, contemplation, prayer journaling, and application). We shall see.

This is the purpose of this blog, though, everything I mentioned in the previous paragraph. Therefore, it only makes sense for me to do those things. 

I want to be the best Christian American I can be--and I want to make sure I am living it in the spirit and intent of our founders. (What is that, by the way? This provides more things to learn, pray about, contemplate, prayer journal, and apply.)

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2 Chronicles 7:14 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,
    will humble themselves,
    pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,
        then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
    and heal their country.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

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HUMBLE MYSELF

Am I humble?

Do I focus more on or about self than on others? More on or about self than on country? 

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ALL OF THE QUESTIONS I ASK MYSELF ON THIS BLOG (HOUSEKEEPING AND NEWS)

By the way, it is my goal to go through and USA prayer journal my answers to each and every question of this blog. But, first, I want to think on it and pray on it for a while before I do. I want to ruminate, ponder, think, focus on, and let it roll around in my mind and heart for a while before I commit it to the page. 

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PRAYER FOR THE USA (AND PRAYER JOURNALING FOR THE USA): HOW HAVE I BEEN DOING WITH THIS ENDEAVOR?

Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 1104 a.m.

How has my prayer and prayer journaling life been like for the USA? How have I been doing with this endeavor?

How about you?

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USA Journaling #6

USA Journaling #6

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MY PEOPLE

2 Chronicles 7:14 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,
    will humble themselves,
    pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,
        then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
    and heal their country.

GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group

Am I one of God's people? This is the next question.

I am. I know the answer. I am one of His people because I believe in Him. 

Now, here is the next question: How do I live my belief in God?

How do I believe my belief in God as a Christian American? 

How should I--and how do I--regarding the previous two questions?

Does my life reflect I am a believer of God? And... Does my life reflect I am a believer in God as an American? And, how? And, how does it not?

The answer to all of these questions shows if I am one of His people and if I am called by His name.

Now... What about you?

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USA Journaling #5

USA Journaling #5
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I AM A CHRISTIAN AMERICAN: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 915 a.m.

I am Christian.

I am American.

I am a Christian American. In that order.

What does it mean to be a Christian American? And, what does it mean to be a Christian American in today's world?

The answer to the questions in the previous paragraph are complicated, but are also simple. There are several ways to answer those questions--and that's the purpose of this blog. However, they all stem from this: God first, then country. This is the answer and is the definition. God first, then country, in 2015.

So, how do you put God first in the USA today? Or, should I say... How should I put God first in my life and in my life in the USA today?

Stop. Look at the last part of  the previous question. It makes a very important distinction. I am living for more than for myself. As I live, I am living for more than for myself and my family. I am living for more anything or anyone else. This includes for the USA. When was the last time I thought about this?

Long pause. Long pause as I try to come up with the answer.

Huh. The truth of the matter is I cannot think of the last time I thought of that before this blog.

How self-serving, self-focused, egotistical, narcissistic can I be? There is far more to my life than myself, my husband, and the everyday stuff of life. I am an American and it is my duty to make sure I am contributing to the embetterment of the country, not making it worse. The embetterment is on the and for the whole, and is not just for self, family, or job.

Pause. I am stuck now. Not sure where to go with that. It made me think. How am I making the USA the best country in the world?

Answer: I have no idea.

There is the rub. I should have several answers to that question.
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GOD AND COUNTRY
Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 930 a.m.

I know this for certain. I cannot be the best American I can be if I am not right with my Maker. I also know that the USA will fall if she is not right with God. Period. End of story.

So, how can I, and how can every American citizen be right with God? And, how can every Christian American be right with God, myself included? The answer lies in the following verse:
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2 Chronicles 7:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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2 CHRONICLES 7:14
Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 941 a.m.

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2 Chronicles 7:14 GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

14 However, if my people, who are called by my name,
    will humble themselves,
    pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways,
        then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins,
    and heal their country.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group
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"However" marks a change. It's a change from current behavior or thought.

What is my current behavior and thought?

I cringed as I USA Journaled and typed that last question. My shoulders sag and I feel a tug in my heart as I think how much I have missed the mark as a Christian American in general--and as I read this verse of 2 Chronicles 7:14. I have blown it. Big time. There is no other answer. I refuse to excuse it or justify my behavior, or lack thereof.

If I read the rest of the verse of 2 Chronicles 7:14, after I read the word, "However," then I see how I have not been thinking on, praying on, applying, reviewing, or contemplating the verse in my life. No wonder why the USA is falling, failing, sliding,  in every way. I've blown it.

How about you?

HOWEVER!

That word gives me great hope. HOWEVER, if I start reading, re-reading, memorizing, praying, thinking on, contemplating, applying, reviewing, re-applying, re-contemplating this verse, THEN God will heal our land, the USA.

But, I just got ahead of myself. There is a great deal to be done before God will heal the USA and each of us has a part to play, according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. The first being, to meditate on, contemplate, ponder, and pray this verse repeatedly every single day and make sure we are living it.

I'm going to write this verse out on a few note cards to carry with me everywhere I go--and am going to keep it on my tablet and cell phone so I can look at it and allow each and every word to sink in as I try to live that verse every moment of every day.

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USA Journaling #4

USA Journaling #4

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HOUSEKEEPING (NEWS): WHAT TO EXPECT BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH 

Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 838 a.m.

Over the next few months (from now to March or so), I am moving across country. In the process, my husband ("B") and I will take a vacation and then will get unpacked in the new house. Therefore, I will be a little quiet on this blog at points. I just wanted to warn you so you knew I wasn't stopping this blog. But, rather am doing the moving thing. Thank you for bearing with me during the transition.

This past weekend, and several weekends coming up, will consist of cleaning our house to its bones so that we can vacate the premises. I am sore in muscles I didn't know I had, and in the muscles I forgot I had, but it feels great. Then, B and I were a little crazy and decided to do a 5k as well for our exercise last night, which only added to our insanity and my tired and achy muscles. It was well worth it, though. 

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TIME TO THINK

Written January 26, 2015, Monday, 843 a.m.

I have not been journaling or keeping up closely with the news, thanks to the cleaning thing, therefore I think it's time for me to change that. However, I did have time to think about things and came up with more questions and things to journal in the meanwhile. What else are you supposed to do when you're cleaning mirrors, cleaning turtle tanks, and scrubbing the kitchen sink, stove top, and counters--never mind the toilets?

The truth of the matter, one of the reasons I am writing this blog is so that I force myself to have time to stop and think. The reality is, I do not think nearly enough. If I did, I would not be such a bonehead at times and make the mistakes I do. Never mind, how I would not be as tired as I am (tired in the spirit). 

I sit here, thinking, trying to figure out where to begin--breathing--trying to slow my breath and take some time to breathe, relax, and focus. I look around and see that Kara Oreo (our black and white cat), Shelly Turtle, and Zack Beagle are all sleeping. It's one of those days. I drink another sip of Yorkshire Tea and try not to succumb to the sleepies myself as I want to take time and think. 

How am I personally helping with the USA? 

How am I hindering the USA?

Am I a productive citizen? Overall? Today? 

Am I increasing morality in the USA or decreasing it? And, what about ethics? 

Am I increasing in knowledge of the history, historical documents, in the words of the founders, and in the civics of the USA? Or, is my knowledge stagnate? I know I do not know nearly enough. 

What is the state of the USA? What can I based off of fact and not emotion?

What is my part in the USA?

Thinking brings up questions--more questions as well as the questions I still need to find the answers to in time. This is a good thing. Questions prove I am at least thinking. 

The truth of the matter is I think the USA is in the state she is in because we have stopped thinking or are not thinking nearly enough. 

So, what are you thinking today about the USA? How are you helping the USA? How are you hurting the United States of America?

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