from an email I received . . . I do not know the author, but I totally agree with the message:   M.   

I remember reading about the children of Israel in the Old Testament who turned from God time and time again, only to realize their mistake and pray for forgiveness. Each time, God would forgive them and they would walk with him for a time. So, I am going to ask you to join me in praying for our nation every day. Please read the email below. God is in control.

May God Have Mercy On America; Protect Our Troops

When we were in Texarkana last week, there were signs in people’s yards that said, “America, prayer is our only hope” – with 2 Chron. 7:14 underneath.   We certainly need God’s help!

I have no idea who started this, but I certainly agree with this e-mail. I heard a preacher on TV tonight who said if we pray for our nation that things will turn around.

After a day of contemplation and soul searching, I have decided to reach out to my friends and relatives and ask you to do something that has been troubling me for a long time.

Our nation is/has been on the slippery slope for a long time. If you look around you will find corruption, greed, moral decay, and a steady move away from the things that made us great. The principles upon which this nation was founded are no longer our backbone.

However, we can reverse this trend.

2 Chron. 7:14 in God’s Word, He states,

“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 will forgive their sin and heal their land”

I am convinced that we must pray for our nation and its leaders and ask for forgiveness. So I ask you to join me in this plea to our Lord.

Would you please send this to people in your address book?  Ask them to pray EVERY DAY.  (25 to the 5th power is 9,765,625 people.) IMAGINE if each person reaches TEN others… Or all TWENTY FIVE!

If you do and they comply, we will lift up millions and millions of prayers today to our Creator. He will hear us, and in faith will answer.

Here’s a quote from Ronald Reagan: 

“If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

I truly believe this is why the United States of America is in the shape it’s in today. Most people have forgotten that we are ONE NATION UNDER GOD!   Let us, as Christians, Jews, Muslims,  and all of us who have the freedom to worship in any religion in our great land, stand up and remind people that we were founded on the ideal ONE NATION UNDER GOD.

 

I just must share this vignette which beautifully demonstrates the loyalty and love our precious animals, whether horses, dogs, or others, share withy us because they wish to do so not because they must.  As usual when I read something that touches me, I cried. I do hope it touches you also. M

Subject: Horses – a true story because of love

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly
parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they  had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the  tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a  landmark in the countryside.

The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life. The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had           taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty
mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day’s end.

Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the  old folks. “Why do you not at least dispose of  The Old One.” She is no longer of use to you. It’s been years since you’ve had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?”

The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes,
scuffed at the barn floor and replied, ” Yes, I could use a pair of new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One’s neck as he drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears.  He replied softly, “We keep her  because of love. Nothing else, just love.”

Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of the love that filled their hearts?

So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn.  None saw the first spark fall. None but the “Old One.”   In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire’s fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, “We have lost much, but God has
spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks  to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most precious gifts that have been taken from us.

And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy  hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand.

The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them.

Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.   

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy.  

Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night light.  Bedded down about the “Old One” close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe.

At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new year’s crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the “Old One” as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his
wife. Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was
brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift—     

Because of love . . .Only Because of love . . .      

Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy. And again the peace of love filled their hearts. . .

Now, it may not be very unkind of me, but I hope to hell the old man and his wife disinherit their rotten kids!