Thursday, February 11, 2021

Propitious Smiles of Heaven

 


If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ~2 Chronicles 7:14

Since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained:  And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.  ~George Washington - First Inaugural Address.

The year is 1963.  Our nation is grieving the tragic loss of President John F. Kennedy.  I am eight-years-old.

My parents decide to take us on the train to be with family in Massachusetts for the Christmas holidays.  But the trip is planned with a strategic stop in Washington, D.C.  Though time has faded some memories, I do recall a few vividly.  We stayed at the historic Mayflower Hotel.  We also trekked to the grave of JFK to observe the eternal flame glowing, the one of hope for the perseverance of this nation.  My poor Mary-Jane clad feet practically freeze off!

Yet another memory, shrouded in the past, resurfaces this week as I witness members of the Senate shredding the precepts of our Constitution.  During our D.C. stay, our parents take my brother and I to the National Archives Museum.  The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are displayed there, under protective glass, but still accessible to viewing.  I recall my father's words as if it were yesterday.

"Martha Jane, Billy, you are looking at America's Bible.  These are the documents that define our nation.  Don't ever forget that."

At that very moment, I feel an awe I can't put into words.  Yes, I believe what my dad has said, but it goes beyond that.  It points to our eternal God, because without Him and His precepts, this country would never have been founded in the way it was.  His blessings, His Word, gave birth to a nation of hope and promise.

A Judeo-Christian vision whose light cannot be quenched.

Or, so we thought.

What I witness the United States Senate do this week, voting to impeach a former president, who is now a private citizen, chills my blood.  This goes against every law and precept upon which our nation is founded.  They are not calling upon the "propitious smiles of Heaven," but forging ahead with their own selfish, self-serving interests, calling down the anger of God in the process.

The Lord of all knew what He was about when He created us "One Nation, Under God," and He is not pleased.  The divisiveness and rancor are not His doing, and in His mercy, He longs for us to repent of our many sins and return to Him with humble hearts.

This week, "America's Bible" is being desecrated.  What are we going to do about it?  How are we to proceed going forward?

Let us pray, long and hard, that God will prevail upon the wicked, causing them to see His light, and cleanse them from their evil ways.

May the Lord show mercy to us all.

Amen!

31 comments:

  1. It is time for prayers - for peace all over the world.

    God bless.

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    1. Amen, Victor, it is truly a time for prayer for healing and peace.
      Love and blessings!

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  2. Truthfully there are two things we can do. Pray, pray and pray some more. Then vote wisely in the next election (2022) then in 2024. If they haven't shredded that apart by then.

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    1. I heartily agree with you, Bill. Praying is absolutely key. I've already drafted a letter to my state representative about cleaning up the way voting is done in GA. We have those horrid Dominion machines! If we can straighten out the election process, with God's help, we'll get back on track.
      Love and blessings!

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  3. Those of us of a certain age remember exactly where we were when we heard the news of the assassination. I was 12, in my 7th grade American history class. In 1964, we traveled to Washington DC for vacation and saw JFK's original burial site at Arlington Cemetery, a small grassy mounds with the eternal flame. I liked it better than the monumental site that took its place.

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    1. I'm so glad you have memories of seeing that eternal flame, too, Glynn. To this day, I didn't realize that another monument had replaced it. There was something so moving about that gentle flame, I'm sad that it's no longer there.
      Love and blessings!

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  4. You've reawakened many of my memories, Martha. Tho' my father was no fan of the Kennedy administration, he made it a point that we visited JFK's gravesite. (That, and I think his infant son, Patrick.) I'm absolutely heartsick at what the liberal left are doing. PRAYING!

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    1. I'm heartsick, too, Mevely, and yes, we need to never stop praying that God's will prevails. We know He abhors the wicked, and it's His place alone to judge.
      Love and blessings!

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  5. I pray for our country daily. It makes me so sad to see what is being done to her. Wonderful memories, Martha. Thanks for sharing them.

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    1. I'm right with you in the prayer department, Terri. Let's keep it up and never give up that this country can be healed and restored.
      Love and blessings!

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  6. As we pray, we can trust that God is seeing all that is happening, and He knows the BIGGER picture that we cannot see...and He knows exactly how He will be able to turn the tables and bring our nation back to its knees. Praying for our nation and our people to open their eyes and wake up before it is too late. I don't believe that God is pleased by what He is seeing in our country these days...and I'm not just talking about this farce of an impeachment trial. That is just the tip of the iceberg. We definitely need to keep praying fervently every day.

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    1. Oh, yes, Pamela, let us all continue to pray! Like you, I don't believe God approves of any of the evil acts perpetuated on this country. I do believe He will turn the tables in His impeccable time.
      Love and blessings!

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  7. Dearest Martha Jane,
    Even though I was not in this country yet, like Glynn, being 12 years of age and having all been glued to our TV and SHOCKED by the event, it never leaves your retina, nor your thoughts.
    A hero of a President, at a time when the Democrates still upheld those sacred values of the Constitution! A hero in so many ways, for making a literal fist against Communism or Socialism.
    Since then, the party has been on a slippery road; downhill! Stripping morals and values from daily life and promoting the opposite.
    It indeed is a cowardly and low act for trying to impeach a private citizen!
    They think that the majority of this Great Nation Under God has 'inhaled' enough of their hate infused brainwashing by the MSM and their party? NO, the majority is NOT in agreement and indeed, may we pray hard to God for saving us all...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Yes, Mariette, that one event shocked the entire world, and like 9/11, it cannot be shrouded from our memories. I agree, the Democrat party was much different 60 years ago. Sadly, the progressive and aggressive left has hijacked to party to the detriment of this nation. They have literally become the source of true evil in our country. I'm sure God doesn't like their shenanigans any more than we do. May He save us from their madness.
      Love and blessings!

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  8. Oh, forget to mention how much it meant for us for finally visiting the grave of JFK in person and praying for this nation at the eternal flame...

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    1. Oh, I'm so glad you had that chance! Yes, even at the age of eight, I was so moved and will always remember that day.
      Love and blessings!

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  9. Similar thoughts this day my friend. Lots of tears and lots of prayers and self-reflection. God's blessings Ms. Martha. And, OMGoodness. I haven't heard "Mary Janes" in many years. :-)

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    1. J. D., I'll never forget how much my feet felt the cold through those thin shoes! My mom and dad were great admires of JFK as they were from Massachusetts, and Mom always tried to dress my brother and me like Caroline and John-John whenever she could. Didn't work very well this time around!
      Yes, let's all stay in fervent prayer for the future of this country. No one can convince me that President Trump didn't win this past election, but now we see the array of evil arraigned against him. May God be the judge!
      Love and blessings!

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    2. Amen! I could not watch most of those proceedings. When I visited DC, I thought it the most remarkable place. I was so proud to be an American. What a shame we have slid so far from that Country that made me feel so proud. Blessings

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    3. I hear you, Nells. The last time I visited DC was in 2010. I did feel so proud of my American heritage looking at all the monuments that spoke to our history as a nation. Now, I can't help but feel sad.
      Love and blessings!

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  10. Martha, thanks for quoting George Washington - First Inaugural Address. Oh how it pairs so nicely with 2 Chronicles 7:14. If we, God's people grasp these truths, what others might see in us.

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    1. Amen, Karen! Our first president understood that our nation would never survive if ever we turned away from God. He was prophetic!
      Love and blessings!

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  11. Replies
    1. Glad you found it to be interesting, Sakuranko.
      Love and blessings!

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  12. A visit to Washington, D.C. can be so inspirational! It certainly made quite an impression on you. I remember the day JFK was assassinated too. What a terrible day for our country!

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    1. It was a devastating day for this country, Laurie, no doubt about it, and it will live in our memory forever.
      Love and blessings!

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  13. Oh, Martha! I could not agree more wholeheartedly with all you said. And, that comment from your Dad! Wow, it nearly gave me chills. I canNOT believe what is happening to our country right now. It is nearly unbelievable. Some say it is pantomime and we are watchng a movie unfold, but it is hard to put any stock or belief in that. Our only hope is GOD, and if He doesn't come on the scene, our nation is doomed.

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    1. Praying every day that God appears on the scene in a big and mighty way, Cheryl. He truly is our only hope!
      Love and blessings!

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