Having the Same Mind...

Today is a special day in the history and life of our republic...it is the FOURTH of JULY. In fact, today we celebrate the 243rd birthday of this great nation...a nation founded on those immortal words of Thomas Jefferson who said we all have the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." It was to that one mindset that 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, basically signing their own death warrant as with colonists across the land, all would rally to fight for one ideal...that they should be FREE!

After winning our independence, those same brave men gathered again with one mindset...to establish a government that drew its authoritative power from the will of a free people...and that same mindset should be ours today. Unfortunately, we are becoming a country divided as many of us hold disparaging views as to how we move forward with the issues that face us.

I believe the great apostle Paul gave us some clear cut instruction as to how we as Christians should proceed as we seek to live in a world filled with turmoil. He wrote in Philippians 3:12-16, the following, "I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven. All of us who have grown to be spiritually mature should think this way too. And if there is any of this that you don’t agree with, God will make it clear to you. But we should continue following the truth we already have."  NKJV Maxwell Leadership Bible

You can see in the highlighted portion of our Biblical instruction that Paul believes that we as mature believers should ALL think the way he does regarding the way and the reason for which we live...to obtain that which God as called each of us to be....ONE MINDSET WITH MANY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES...EACH OF US USING OUR INDEPENDENCE TO BE WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO BE AS WE STRAIN FOR THE PRIZE OF HIS HIGH CALLING.

So on this day, as we celebrate our nation's independence, let us also celebrate our spiritual independence from the life of sin and degradation from which God has redeemed us and give thanks for the high calling He has placed within the heart of every believer who seeks His face and has the mindset to walk in His way! And if you do not agree, then it is up to the Almighty to change your mind...only He can do that through the inner workings of the Holy Spirit.

Yes; today is a day of celebration, but also concern as we look across the great landscape of our nation. So many good things to embrace; so many horrible things from which we should hide our heads in shame. But as believers, living out our faith with one mindset, we can be the change that this country needs as we live our holy and fearless lives intending to be what God has called each of us to be....SALT & LIGHT....will each of you join me as we reach out to our neighbors, our homeless, our downtrodden, our rebellious and our broken-hearted and offer them the only thing that can truly make a difference in their lives...a personal relationship with their Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus Christ...the author and perfecter of our faith. If we will do as Paul has instructed and come together with this same mindset, we will see our nation once again return to the  roots that were so firmly planted in our Christian heritage. It is only when we once again acknowledge that God is our Provider and Sustainer that we will see His hand of blessing stretch out over us all to see Him heal this land....and that will truly be a cause for CELEBRATION!

One mindset....reaching for the prize of His high calling,

WPQ

Poem for the day....

Today's  the day we celebrate

It comes round once each year;

It's a birthday celebration

Where crowds go wild and cheer.

We celebrate the amazing birth

Of our nation called the USA.

This wondrous miracle of republic

That is still alive today.

But there are those foes that come against

The things that have made us great;

So we must seek to firmly stand

Before it is too late...

To save this great Republic

Our motto strong to stand....

"IN GOD WE TRUST" should echo

Across this great and prosperous land!

So let us all with one mindset

Pray to our God above;

To shower us with His blessings ....

HIS PEACE..HIS JOY...HIS LOVE!!!

WPQ© July 2019