The Fight Continues

Today we reflect on the many brave men and women who fought to keep America free from destruction by others beyond our borders. We honor those who cared more about their country than they cared about their own lives. We salute their bravery and sacrifice as we display the very emblem of their sacrifice and freedom: The American flag.

We also reflect, with grief, on the current deplorable condition of the soul of our beloved country. As we look back into the pages of our history, we see the hand of God through two spiritual awakenings in our land: one before the Revolution, and one after it. Anywhere people live without a godly moral compass, spirituality is low, restraint is cast off, and lawlessness ensues. Everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Some ask, “Is the great American dream turning into a nightmare?”

But we must avoid the Slough of Despond. I am encouraged by the fact that God raised up Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield in 1734 (yes, things were bad back then, too!) who ushered in the Great Awakening in the New England states, and changed the spiritual landscape much for the better before the Revolution. They likely helped set in motion some of the very forces that eventually brought America its political freedoms.

By the close of the 1700’s, America again seemed headed for disaster. As people moved West, they left their churches behind, and morals declined. Drunkenness, murder, sexual sin and thievery were rampant, and gun slingers and vigilantes replaced law and order. It was called the “Wild West” with good reason. “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” Proverbs 29:18 (NLT)

The Second Great Awakening occurred as Methodist and Presbyterian ministers joined forces in Kentucky in 1830, and God blessed our nation with other great ministers of revival such as Charles Finney, Dwight L. Moody, and Billy Sunday. God singled out a handful of individuals in each century to bring revival that changed the hearts of men and women. Otherwise, America would not have become a great nation of influence. I quote from Rebirth of America, by the Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation: “The revival of 1905 in the U.S. was linked to the famous Welsh revival of 1904, which swept like a tidal wave over Wales—where 100,000 people were converted in a five-month period. . .  The social impact of the Welsh revival was astounding. Judges were presented with white gloves: they had no cases to try. No rapes, no robberies, no murders, no burglaries, no embezzlements, nothing. The District Consuls held emergency meetings to discuss what to do with the police, now that they were unemployed. Drunkenness was cut in half. The illegitimate birth rate dropped forty-four percent in two counties within a year of the beginning of the revival.” Astounding power of God!

According to the DeMoss Foundation, the Welsh revival impacted the United States so much in 1905, that in Denver, Colorado, all businesses closed down between noon and two o’clock every day! People gave themselves to prayer and meditation of spiritual things and radiated the Spirit of God. That’s almost like heaven on earth!

Can such a phenomenon happen again? Here in the United States of America? Yes, I believe it can! We need a Third Great Awakening! Indeed, we are hearing reports of a revival of repentance and physical healing breaking out in West Virginia (which started in a high school when a student told others in a hallway how God healed him of cancer), and I’ve also heard there’s revival happening in Kentucky. People are getting serious with God.

Which brings me to my last point. We need to salute and honor those who fight on their knees for the survival of America’s soul! We need to stand with those who, in the secret place of prayer and fasting, cry out for God to fill our pastors with the Holy Spirit and fire, that they would speak His message with boldness.

God is raising up special forces of godly women warriors, typified by Deborah of the Old Testament, who judged Israel and led her armies to victory. I am blessed to be part of a group of such women called Deborah Company in our church. We fight and contend for the souls of our children, fathers and families, for the church, for the broken in body, the lost, and the outcast. And we contend for the very soul of America.

I stand and salute the secret warriors who have no flag, who are given no public honor. I salute and bless each one who fasts and prays, who cries out to God for restoration in their families, in the church, and in our nation. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. With an ear tuned to heaven to hear our Commander in Chief, and our eyes fixed on the goal before us, we press on. Press on, my warriors; press on! We fight for the very soul of America!

Copyright © 2016 Elaine Beachy

Laughter, The Best Medicine

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Recently in a writer’s group, we did a fun exercise called, “Pass the Story.” Each person was given a sheet of paper, and had one minute to write a full sentence. When the timer sounded, the sheet got passed to the person on the right. She had to read that sentence, add one of her own, and so on, until the papers went full circle. The sentences could be funny or serious, fiction or non-fiction. We each took our turn to read what was on our paper, and the mini stories were hilarious! Let me tell you, I don’t know when I’ve laughed so hard.

Even before the meeting started, our funny bones got tickled. I commented that I need to feed my blog because I was so far behind in posting anything this month. One of the girls said, “I thought you said you had to feed your bra!” I quipped, “No, I’m good in that department!” Hilarity ensued. To my surprise, one lady announced, “Wow, I feel better! When I came, I felt so tired, but now I have more energy; I actually feel good!”

Which brings me to my first point: laughter is the best medicine! God says so. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Studies have shown that strong belly laughter reduces physical pain, reduces blood pressure, protects the heart, and helps digestion. It triggers the release of endorphin's (feel-good hormones), relaxes the muscles for up to forty-five minutes, and boosts the immune system. You can’t feel angry, anxious, or sad when you’re laughing.

Besides that, laughter bonds friendships and helps ease tension when there are disagreements or arguments. You may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, or have never won a beauty pageant; but when you laugh, others find you attractive. I mean, who wants to hang around Gloomy Gus? Faultfinding Freddie? Angry Alice? Suspicious Sam? Not I. 

I think an exercise like "Pass the Story" would be fun to do at family gatherings. My granddaughter, Alissa, told me she does something similar with a friend, in that she draws part of a face, or whatever, then folds that part under, and has another person finish the picture without seeing what she drew. I'm sure the results would about peg the Laugh-O-Meter. 

Like a yawn, laughter is contagious! I’m sure you have all experienced it—someone starts laughing, and even though you don’t know what he finds so funny, you soon join in the gaiety. We’d do ourselves (and others) a big favor if we laughed more. Look for humor in a bad situation. Choose to have a good attitude. Learn to laugh at yourself—don’t take yourself too seriously. Nobody’s perfect!

Copyright © 2016 Elaine Beachy