If a Nation So Blessed by God Should Turn Away from Him, What Then?

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“Genesis 12:3 3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you

I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
New International Version

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“And America has done much good. And there’s no shortage of nations far exceeding any of its faults or sins. But no nation in the modern world has ever been given so much. None has been so blessed. To whom much is given, much is required. If a nation so blessed by God should turn away from Him, what then? It’s blessing will be replaced with curses? Yes. And has America turned away from God? I asked. It has turned and is turning. How? In the same way Israel turned. It started with a spiritual complacency, then spiritual confusion, then the merging of God with idols and then, ultimately, the rejection of his ways. Just as with ancient Israel, America began ruling God out of its life, turning, step by step, against His ways, at first subtly and then more and more brazenly.
As God was expunged from American life, idols came in to fill the void; idols of sensuality, idols of greed, of money, of success, comfort, materialism, pleasure, sexual immorality, self-worship, self-obsession. The sacred increasingly disappeared, and the profane took its place.”

~  Jonathan Cahn, The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America’s Future

Messianic Jewish Minister, Author, Novelist, Founder & Leader – Beth Israel Worship Center & Host – Jonathan Cahn: The Book of Mysteries

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In Love with the Package of the Person?

“We do not fall in love with the package of the person, we fall in love with the inside of a person.”

~ Anne Heche,
Actress, Director, Screenwriter & Author

He Has Several Blessings In Store for You!

“God’s favor, provision, healing, breakthrough and increase are available for you today. Believe and receive every blessing He has in store for you!”

~ Victoria Osteen,
Co-Pastor, Author, Philanthropist &
Founder, Lakewood Church Women’s Ministry

A Tolerance for Everything Opposed to God

“Some would call it tolerance, I said. “Yes.”, he replied, “the same tolerance that overtook ancient Israel … a tolerance for everything opposed to God, a growing tolerance for immorality and a growing intolerance for the pure – a tolerance that mocked, marginalized and condemned those who remained faithful to the values now being discarded. Innocence was ridiculed and virtue was vilified. Children were taught of sexual immorality in public schools while the Word of God was banned. It was a tolerance that put the profane on public display and removed Nativity scenes from public sight … contraband, as if somehow they had become a threat-a strangely intolerant tolerance.” “But still”, I countered, “how does all that compare to what happened in ancient Israel? America doesn’t offer its children on altars of sacrifice?” “Does it not?”, he said. “Ten years after removing prayer and Scripture from its public schools, the nation legalized the killing of its unborn.””

~ Jonathan Cahn,
The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America’s Future
Messianic Jewish Minister, Author, Novelist, Founder & Leader – Beth Israel Worship Center & TV Host – Jonathan Cahn: The Book of Mysteries

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The Fruit of the Messiah’s Grace

“What was the fruit of the Messiah’s grace? Rest—a rest pertaining to my existence, most assuredly superior to passing minutes of stillness or peace I may have experienced in meditation. I have come to appreciate that this new life is something Jesus wants for everyone, irrespective of race or religion. It is a unique and eternal boon available to everyone who turns to Him with confidence. So, today I walk on in gratitude.”

~ Sid Roth,
Founder – Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural! (ISN), Author, Talk Show Host & Telly Award (2010)  & ISN App

Being Honest About our Journey

“I have in the past understood that in being honest about certain things in my life, I’ve helped other people be honest, because they think that it’s OK when somebody else admits what they’ve been doing. You know, it helps other people. It certainly helps me when other people are honest about the journey in their life. It inspires me.”

~ Anne Heche,
Actress, Director, Screenwriter & Author

Fellars with Character

“When a fellars got character … he ain’t never gonna be nuttin but a whole heap of pure o-l-d joy to his momma and daddy.”

Gunsmoke’s
~ Festus Haggen,
Deputy Marshall – Dodge City

portrayed by

~ Ken Curtis,
Actor, Dancer, Singer & Western Performers Hall of Fame – National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (1981)

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There’s a Reality to Achieving Our Dreams

““We’re all dreamers, but there’s a reality to achieve our dreams. And I think that’s what separates the successful dreamers from the people that lay in bed and dream, that when we open up our eyes, we see clearly what we have to do to achieve our dreams.””

~ Sean Combs,
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Record Executive, Actor, Entrepreneur,
Grammy Awards (3X), MTV Video Music Awards (2X), Philanthropist,
Founder – Sean John, Founder – Daddy’s House Social Programs,
Council of Fashion Designers of America Award (2004) & NAACP Image Awards (2009),

As Much As I Can Bless, I Will

“What drives me is really just being able to be a blessing to someone, you know. I really enjoy that, and as much as I can do, I will.”

~ Sheila Escovedo
Percussionist, Musician, Producer, Writer & Humanitarian

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Having Feelings Isn’t an Absence of Strength

“Feelings aren’t an absence of strength. I know this for sure. So why should I pretend to have a sense of humor just to allow someone else to take a shot at me?”

~ Gabourey Sidibe
Author, Actress, Satellite Special Achievement Award for Outstanding New Talent (2009), NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (2010) & Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead (2010)

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The Beauty of Being a Grandparent

“I loved my own Grandparents with all my heart. I learned important lessons from them about how to treat people, how to cook and how to work…..they showered us kids with love and left the parenting to Momma and Daddy. That’s the beauty of being a grandparent – the hard work belongs to someone else. I guess I never really understood the depth of their love for me until I became a grandmother myself… it is unlike any other relationship.”

~ Paula Deen,
Celebrity Chef & Cooking Show Host, Restaurateur, Author & Daytime Emmy Award (2007)

Letting Little Things Crush You

“If you live in an oppressive society, you’ve got to be resilient. You can’t let each little thing crush you. You have take every encounter and make yourself larger, rather than allow yourself to be diminished by it.”

~ James Earl Jones,
Emmy Award (3X), Tony Award (2X), Golden Globe (1970), Grammy Award (1970),
Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (2008), Academy Honorary Award (2011),
Voice Arts Icon Award (2015) & Harvard University Honorary Doctor of Arts (2017)

America Will Always Remember

Header image (top of blog) is of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Harriet Ida Pickens (left) and Ensign Frances Wills (right) closing a suitcase after graduating from the Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School (WR) at Northampton, Massachusetts, circa December 1944. They were the Navy’s first African American WAVES officers and graduated with the Northampton school’s final class.
Description courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command.  Image courtesy of Official U.S. Navy photograph now in the collections of the National Archives. Catalog#: 80-G-297441 . Post image (below) courtesy of Pixabay.com

“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude.  America will never forget their sacrifices.”

~ Harry S. Truman,
Politician, 33rd President of the United States (1945–53),
United States Senator (1935–45) & Vice President (1945)

Our Fallen Heroes, America

“Our fallen heroes have not only written our history, they have shaped our destiny. They inspired their communities and uplifted their country and provided the best example of courage, virtue and valor the world will ever know. They fought and bled and died so that America would forever remain safe and strong and free.

They came from every generation — from towering cities and windswept prairies, from privilege and from poverty,” he said. “They were generals and privates, captains and corporals of every race, color and of every creed. But they were all brothers and sisters in arms. And they were all united then, as they are united now, forever, by their undying love of our great country.” (2018)

~ Donald John Trump,
Businessman, Television Personality, Author,
Real Estate Developer, Founder – Trump Entertainment Resorts &
45th President of the United States (2017-2021)

America’s Enjoyed Privileges The Heroes Sacrificed For

“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.”

~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
Statesman & 32nd President of the United States (3.4.1933 – 4.12.1945)

Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

“We remember the fallen heroes who took their last breaths in defense of our Nation, our families, our citizens, and our sacred freedoms. The depth of their devotion, the steel of their resolve, and the purity of their patriotism has no equal in human history. On distant battlefields, in far-off oceans, and high in the skies above, they faced down our enemies and gave their lives so that America would prevail.

They made the supreme sacrifice so that our people can live in safety and our Nation can thrive in peace. It is because of their gallantry that we can together, as one people, continue our pursuit of America’s glorious destiny​,”

~ Donald John Trump,
Businessman, Television Personality, Author,
Real Estate Developer, Founder – Trump Entertainment Resorts &
45th President of the United States (2017-2021)

Our Fallen Heroes, America

Americans “owe all that we are, and everything we ever hope to be, to these unrivaled heroes. Their memory and their legacy is immortal. Our loyalty to them and to their families is eternal and everlasting.​”The country’s “warriors are the single greatest force for justice, peace, liberty, and security among all the nations ever to exist on Earth.  We honor them today, forever, and always.” (2021)

~ Donald John Trump,
Businessman, Television Personality, Author,
Real Estate Developer, Founder – Trump Entertainment Resorts &
45th President of the United States (2017-2021)

Ordinary People with Extraordinary Determination

Image courtesy of smsglitz.com

“The definition of successful people is simply ordinary people with extraordinary determination. You cannot keep determined people from success.”

~ Mary Kay Ash,
Entrepreneur & Founder – Mary Kay Cosmetics

Life is Such a Beautiful House of Mirrors

“There’s a beauty to life. The mess of it, and the sweetness of it, and the pain of it. And so, it’s not to say that there aren’t challenges and that there isn’t pain in moments like right now with what’s happening on the world stage.

But we can contribute to the schism, or we can be a balm. We can be a balm of kindness, and goodness, and look to bring love, light, illumination, presence, connectedness, to be an ear to listen. It’s amazing how that can shift another’s world. I know what it feels like for me to receive that. I know what it feels like to offer that.And I think that’s a beautiful reality that sometimes in the busyness of life, we can forget how impactful in a moment we can touch another, we can reach another, we can move another, we can remind each other because we’re mirroring each other and as we’re offering that we’re experiencing that ourselves. Everything that I’m saying to you in this moment, it’s really all selfishly for myself. Life is such a beautiful house of mirrors. We’re all reflecting each other.”

~ Sage Robbins
Actress, Podcast Host & Philanthropist

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When No One Else is Looking

“Always do your very best. Even when no one else is looking, you always are. Don’t disappoint yourself.”

~ Colin Powell
Politician, Statesman, Diplomat, United States Army 4-Star General (1989) & 65th United States Secretary of State (2001-2005)

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Overwhelmed by His Mercy

“Some people see God, especially in the Old Testament, as angry and arbitrary and vengeful, but when I saw the whole story laid out in the Bible, I was overwhelmed by God’s mercy. And it hit me like lightning: I am part of that story. That He is pursuing ME; that He has been wooing me for my whole life.”

~ Sarah Christmyer
Author, Bible Teacher, Speaker, Co-Developer & Founding Editor – The Great Adventure Catholic

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An Instrument in His Hands

“I hope to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring the Gospel to many of my people. I hope I can be worthy to do this, and right now it seems that part of the answer lies with the media. That is one way I can reach many of them.” April 1977

~ Ray Tracey
Actor, Producer, Designer, Manufacturer, Entrepreneur & Founder – Tracey Designs Inc..

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The Innocent One: Crossed & Restored

“A man who was completely innocent, offered Himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including His enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.””

Mahatma Gandhi,
Lawyer, Anti-Colonial Nationalist & Political Ethicist

Holy Saturday: It Has a Message for All

“On this Holy Saturday, the final day of Lent, let our faith be made stronger; let us be more assured that sin and death are conquered; let us know a little more of the Light through the, sometimes, impenetrable shadows. … it has a message for all of us today: the highest response to evil is to free people from it. Let us rejoice that our Redeemer lives!”

~ Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
1st Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury (1533–56) & Advisor – King Henry VIII and Advisor – King Edward VI

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“Every Holy Saturday, the Church waits as it were beside the tomb, meditating on Christ’s death while awaiting the announcement of his resurrection. Like John, we can take Mary into our homes and ponder with her the last words of Christ. Like her, we can rest in a place between anguish and joy, waiting in quiet hope. We can pray …, which parts the veil to show us Christ defeating death and releasing sinners from captivity. The King is not dead; He rests from His work. A new day will come. His Cross is not defeat; it is victory!”

~ Sarah Christmyer
Author, Bible Teacher, Speaker, Co-Developer & Founding Editor – The Great Adventure Catholic

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Getting Ahead of Yourself

“Winning isn’t getting ahead of others. It’s getting ahead of yourself.” 

~ Roger Staubach
a.k.a. “Roger the Dodger”, “Captain America” & “Captain Comeback”
Heisman Trophy (1963), Naval Academy Graduate (1965), Hall of Fame Quarterback – Dallas Cowboys (1969-1979), NFL Players Association Most Valuable Player (1971), Super Bowls VI (MVP) & XII Victories, Founder – Staubach Company (1977), Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor (1983), Pro Football Hall of Fame (1985), Office & Industrial Properties Executive of the Year (1998), Commercial Property News Corporate Services Executive of the Year (1999 & 2000) & NCAA “Teddy” Roosevelt Award – United States Naval Academy Football (2000)

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