What is the American Dream? For years this has been a question that has had no definitive answer. I do not presume to say I know all that the American Dream entails. I only wish to share the story of my great-grandparents and how it fulfills the American Dream.
My family has lived in the United States of America for a rather long time. Looking back it has been hard to find anything about who came when, or even why they came. My Grandpappy was born near Lebanon, Pennsylvania and my Grammy in Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Both have very different stories, but God in his providence led them, preserved them and enabled them to achieve the American Dream.
Born September, 20 1919 on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Raymond William Zweitzig was a lad of blue eyes and blond hair. My Grandpappy was taken from his parents at age six and put into foster care along with his brother Jim. When he would see his Aunt Edith, she would always tell him that she was praying for him and Jim. Within a two year time period Grandpappy and “Uncle” Jim were moved around a total of six times. Eventually they ended up in Ivyland, but the grandmother of the family didn’t like them. They were moved around to other numerous homes in Philadelphia until they were both moved to a farm in Bulltown. Soon after they were both again moved to live with a family in Edgehill. The lady at their new home would not allow them to play or participate in any sports. Grandpappy took his brother and ran away back to the Jones farm near Richboro, Pa. He has said the whole of his childhood he never felt that anyone truly loved him.
Born August, 11 1920 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, Betty Irene Flyscher, my Grammy was bought up in a loving God honoring family. She moved back and forth between Shamokin and Philadelphia during her childhood until her parents finally bought a home in Philadelphia on Oak Lane. Her mother always taught her to take everything, no matter how small to the Lord in prayer.
Ray and Betty, Grandpappy and Grammy met through a mutual friend and began to spend time with each other along with “the gang”, a group of their friends. For the first time in his life, my Grandpappy heard that someone truly loved him, and that it was the Lord, who never leaves us nor forsakes us. They married and although they were never rich, they were never truly wanting. Together they established a stable loving environment where Christ is first. Numerous times I have talked with them and they have told me that they are the richest people alive not because of money or status quo. More important than any of those things they have the Lord as their Savior, as well as children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that love them, and love and honor the Lord.
God led, preserved, and provided the American Dream for my Great-Grandparents. Our country was founded on Christ; we are “one nation under God”. It is a life where we are free to honor and worship God. As Christians this is the most important dream we could ever have.
Thursday
Tuesday
How Can I Please and Honor God in my Life
Hebrews 11:6 states “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” This passage tells us that without faith we cannot please God. If one breaks it down simply, to please God we must show faith. But pleasing God is more than just faith.
James 2:14 says “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” To please God we must have not only faith but works as well. Faith and works are explicitly intertwined. This is evidenced in
James 2:18 where it says, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” What might some examples of faith and works combined be though? How exactly do they please God? Our ultimate purpose on earth is to further God’s kingdom, and we can do this by living a life where faith and works are evident. When we witness to people whether through word or deed we please God.
Beyond solely pleasing God it is imperative that we honor him. This leads to the question what exactly is honor? A definition of honor is: to regard or treat with respect; glorify and raise up. When we think of all that Christ had done for us, can we do anything but honor him? In 1 Corinthians 6:20 we read, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
Christ died for our body and our spirit which were his to begin with. They where his creation and his alone, yet he sent his son to die for everyone. Another important reason to honor God is this “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17.
Finally in 1 Timothy 1:17 it says “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Let us remember that God is our creator, our savior, the only God and we owe him all honor.
James 2:14 says “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” To please God we must have not only faith but works as well. Faith and works are explicitly intertwined. This is evidenced in
James 2:18 where it says, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” What might some examples of faith and works combined be though? How exactly do they please God? Our ultimate purpose on earth is to further God’s kingdom, and we can do this by living a life where faith and works are evident. When we witness to people whether through word or deed we please God.
Beyond solely pleasing God it is imperative that we honor him. This leads to the question what exactly is honor? A definition of honor is: to regard or treat with respect; glorify and raise up. When we think of all that Christ had done for us, can we do anything but honor him? In 1 Corinthians 6:20 we read, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
Christ died for our body and our spirit which were his to begin with. They where his creation and his alone, yet he sent his son to die for everyone. Another important reason to honor God is this “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17.
Finally in 1 Timothy 1:17 it says “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Let us remember that God is our creator, our savior, the only God and we owe him all honor.
Thursday
Knowledge
Colossians 1:9-17
9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
When we are a follower of Christ it is important that we have knowledge of God's word. We should immerse ourselves in the word of God. A knowledge of God and his ways can keep a Christian from sin. It is important that we keep a witness. Its impossible to be perfect, there was only one man who was ever perfect and that was my Lord and Saviour, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, but it is important that as Christians we demonstrate Gods grace and love through our actions.
Other than being a witness, its important to have knowledge of God. Israel, God's covenant nation was was destroyed because, "the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." (Excerpt from Hosea 4:1)
It is true that God is a merciful God, but we must also realize that he is a just and jealous God. Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Wow. He gives us the opportunity to seek the knowledge of God, do we take advantage of that. When we get to Heaven will we hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant"? Or will we hear, "Why didn't you seek, and spread the knowledge of me?"
God's Word is the knowledge for all of life and provides direction that is clear and useful for each day. By consulting your Bible and and praying for direction your are gaining knowledge about God that the Holy Spirit can use in your life.
A verse worthy of noting is Proverbs 20:15 "There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel." Let us make sure we seek and spread the knowledge of God everyday.
9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
When we are a follower of Christ it is important that we have knowledge of God's word. We should immerse ourselves in the word of God. A knowledge of God and his ways can keep a Christian from sin. It is important that we keep a witness. Its impossible to be perfect, there was only one man who was ever perfect and that was my Lord and Saviour, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, but it is important that as Christians we demonstrate Gods grace and love through our actions.
Other than being a witness, its important to have knowledge of God. Israel, God's covenant nation was was destroyed because, "the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." (Excerpt from Hosea 4:1)
It is true that God is a merciful God, but we must also realize that he is a just and jealous God. Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Wow. He gives us the opportunity to seek the knowledge of God, do we take advantage of that. When we get to Heaven will we hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant"? Or will we hear, "Why didn't you seek, and spread the knowledge of me?"
God's Word is the knowledge for all of life and provides direction that is clear and useful for each day. By consulting your Bible and and praying for direction your are gaining knowledge about God that the Holy Spirit can use in your life.
A verse worthy of noting is Proverbs 20:15 "There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel." Let us make sure we seek and spread the knowledge of God everyday.
I Did To Update the About Me :-)
Ok, so some of you have been on my case for not posting constantly. HAHA. Sorry. I will try to get on a bit more, but with baseball starting up, well we will see. And I know Mr. J has been bugging me to update the about me, so I did. Maybe now I dont have to explain all the various styles of martial arts I take to him :-) Well I better hit the hay. I leave for Florida tommorow for baseball spring training!!!
The Day of the Lord
Joel 2:1-11 (King James Version)
1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
The prophet Joel talks about the day of the Lord in a pretty powerful way in this passage. Who can abide it? There is a time coming when the Lord is going to judge the world. Many things have happened throughout the world and people talk about how bad these "disasters" are. The worst disaster you can think of cant even come close to the horror that will be unleashed. This does not mean that God is a the "Big Bad Wolf" sitting up in heaven ready to vaporize everyone to a pile of ashes. God loves us so much that he sent his son to die for us. It is after the fall of man into sin that any destruction came into the world. There is coming a time when God is going to come back and finally destroy and remake the world the way it was origanly intended.
1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
The prophet Joel talks about the day of the Lord in a pretty powerful way in this passage. Who can abide it? There is a time coming when the Lord is going to judge the world. Many things have happened throughout the world and people talk about how bad these "disasters" are. The worst disaster you can think of cant even come close to the horror that will be unleashed. This does not mean that God is a the "Big Bad Wolf" sitting up in heaven ready to vaporize everyone to a pile of ashes. God loves us so much that he sent his son to die for us. It is after the fall of man into sin that any destruction came into the world. There is coming a time when God is going to come back and finally destroy and remake the world the way it was origanly intended.
Tuesday
Blessed is the Man That Walketh Not In the Counsel of the Ungodly
Psalm 1 (KJV)
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
I have been meaning to write about Psalm 1 for a while, and then just over this weekend was on a youth group retreat and we had a lesson on it. I figured what better time to write about it then when its fresh on your mind?
So lets break it down verse by verse over the next 6 days, Lord Willing.
Verse 1 talks about walking, standing, and sitting. My uncle, who happens to be my youth leader, challenged us to look at this passage more in depth rather than just reading it and going, Wow what a good passage. Due to some of my hunting "experiences" and analogy came to mind. When you are out in the woods hunting, and you see a deer what is it that you do? Well, first of all your walking to begin with, but then once you see it you stop. You stand, and then slowly you lower yourself into either a sitting or crouching position so that you can keep your gun steady when you aim.
Somehow (must have been through the Holy Spirit working in my heart and mind) I related this analogy to what we were studying. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. In our "walk" of life we need to make sure that we do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Are we surrounding ourselves with good influences? When we are around people for a while they tend to rub off on us.
Next, comes, "nor standeth in the way of sinners." After walking around the ungodly, can come compromise. Do we stand in the way of sinners? Are we just letting things happen and not making any attempt to witness? To be a good influence to those around us? Or do we just stand to the side and watch things happen?
And Finally for today, comes, "nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." First we walk around the outside, then we stand around and do nothing. Then comes the point where we just sit down and are a part of the wrong actions around us. Rather than keeping oursleves away from the actions we find ourselves right in the midst doing things that we before we may have thought are not good.
So Blessed is the man that 1) Doesnt walk around looking at the sin and let it influence him. 2) Doesnt stand around with the sinners watching what they are doing, but taking no action against it. 3) Doesnt sit down and be a part of the sinful things that the people around them are doing.
I hope to break down verse 2 tommorow. Until then, remember Philipians 4:6-7 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
I have been meaning to write about Psalm 1 for a while, and then just over this weekend was on a youth group retreat and we had a lesson on it. I figured what better time to write about it then when its fresh on your mind?
So lets break it down verse by verse over the next 6 days, Lord Willing.
Verse 1 talks about walking, standing, and sitting. My uncle, who happens to be my youth leader, challenged us to look at this passage more in depth rather than just reading it and going, Wow what a good passage. Due to some of my hunting "experiences" and analogy came to mind. When you are out in the woods hunting, and you see a deer what is it that you do? Well, first of all your walking to begin with, but then once you see it you stop. You stand, and then slowly you lower yourself into either a sitting or crouching position so that you can keep your gun steady when you aim.
Somehow (must have been through the Holy Spirit working in my heart and mind) I related this analogy to what we were studying. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. In our "walk" of life we need to make sure that we do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Are we surrounding ourselves with good influences? When we are around people for a while they tend to rub off on us.
Next, comes, "nor standeth in the way of sinners." After walking around the ungodly, can come compromise. Do we stand in the way of sinners? Are we just letting things happen and not making any attempt to witness? To be a good influence to those around us? Or do we just stand to the side and watch things happen?
And Finally for today, comes, "nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." First we walk around the outside, then we stand around and do nothing. Then comes the point where we just sit down and are a part of the wrong actions around us. Rather than keeping oursleves away from the actions we find ourselves right in the midst doing things that we before we may have thought are not good.
So Blessed is the man that 1) Doesnt walk around looking at the sin and let it influence him. 2) Doesnt stand around with the sinners watching what they are doing, but taking no action against it. 3) Doesnt sit down and be a part of the sinful things that the people around them are doing.
I hope to break down verse 2 tommorow. Until then, remember Philipians 4:6-7 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Compromise
The Webster’s definition of “compromise” is; a concession to something derogatory. As we look at the world surrounding us, compromise permeates all aspects of our lives. It affects our choices and our relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. It also affects our relationships and interaction with those around us. Many times we make important decisions that will affect us the rest of our lives. Do we compromise in these situations choosing what might be easier for us rather than what the Lord would have for our lives?
One thing that comes to mind is compromise in a relationship between a man and a woman. The Bible in 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (KJV) Do we engage in a relationship with someone that does not know Christ as their personal savior? According to this passage it tells us not to be “unequally yoked together with the unbelievers”.
Do we make a compromise like so many others do just because we feel someone may be our “soul mate”? Do we compromise in this because someone may be that perfect someone? The Lord is all we need in our lives. In his wisdom and love and his understanding of us, he created the special bond between to people of the opposite sex. Through this bond we may act in ways we never thought we would have any other time. The Lord warns us to seek a God-fearing man or woman to be free from compromise that may ensue through a relationship with an unbeliever.
Solomon was considered the wisest man to ever live, yet he made this mistake. He accepted compromise. Solomon married many women, many of whom were pagans (unbelievers). In order to please them he turned his heart from God and made a compromise with them. He allowed them to keep their practices and their gods. In the end this hardened his heart towards God.
We also compromise through our actions in life around friends. Our human nature is driven by pride and the want to be accepted by those around us. In all honesty no one can say that they have never done something that was probably pretty stupid to be accepted by someone else. We seek acceptance from the world rather than wholly from God.
John 17:14 states, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” God has given us his word but the world does not like to here about it. Do we choose to just go along with everything rather than tell others what Christ has done? Do we continue acting like the world just to be accepted by those around us? Do we compromise to make things more comfortable for ourselves? Or do take a stand for Christ? How do you live your life?
One thing that comes to mind is compromise in a relationship between a man and a woman. The Bible in 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (KJV) Do we engage in a relationship with someone that does not know Christ as their personal savior? According to this passage it tells us not to be “unequally yoked together with the unbelievers”.
Do we make a compromise like so many others do just because we feel someone may be our “soul mate”? Do we compromise in this because someone may be that perfect someone? The Lord is all we need in our lives. In his wisdom and love and his understanding of us, he created the special bond between to people of the opposite sex. Through this bond we may act in ways we never thought we would have any other time. The Lord warns us to seek a God-fearing man or woman to be free from compromise that may ensue through a relationship with an unbeliever.
Solomon was considered the wisest man to ever live, yet he made this mistake. He accepted compromise. Solomon married many women, many of whom were pagans (unbelievers). In order to please them he turned his heart from God and made a compromise with them. He allowed them to keep their practices and their gods. In the end this hardened his heart towards God.
We also compromise through our actions in life around friends. Our human nature is driven by pride and the want to be accepted by those around us. In all honesty no one can say that they have never done something that was probably pretty stupid to be accepted by someone else. We seek acceptance from the world rather than wholly from God.
John 17:14 states, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” God has given us his word but the world does not like to here about it. Do we choose to just go along with everything rather than tell others what Christ has done? Do we continue acting like the world just to be accepted by those around us? Do we compromise to make things more comfortable for ourselves? Or do take a stand for Christ? How do you live your life?
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