WP’s

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This cut is famous. Jonny is backing up Muddy. Wow . . .

A Ray of hope for our beautiful Independence celebration.

God bless all.

 Oh, beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

 Oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

 Oh, beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!

America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine.

Oh, beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

I won’t often wax over poetry but today is special. Katherine Lee Bates wrote these lines after a arduous, for the mule, trip to the summit of Pikes Peak in 1893; it was first published in 1895 and in 1910 Samuel A. Ward repurposed an earlier composition to give us the Hymn which I hope all Americans hear and ponder upon today. In 1931, President Hubert Hover chose The Star Spangled Banner as our National Anthem.

I want to meditate on the line, “God shed His light on thee.” Did she mean that at some time in the past God touched those purple mountains with majesty? Or does she mean, “May God, in some future time, shed his light on America”? Ms. Bates, some suggest she was a lesbian, was a Wellesley graduate and English Professor. I suspect she intended the future perfect tense.

But poets don’t own their poems; we do. I prefer to see “God shed His Light on thee” to mean past, present, and future, like a prayer.

Ray Charles maybe did it the best but check out Willy Nelson’s all star version and try not to cry when you see Mohammad Ali. I cry because they don’t make liberals like they used to.

‎7/‎4/‎2023 – Until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no healing

I have heard many times over the years, the question of whether the United States is in the Bible. And really, if anyone has even just a fundamental knowledge of the word, and has the Holy Spirit; it isn’t any great mystery. Don’t you, when you read the Bible, examine and judge yourself first? If something then applies to one; then it applies to the whole society in which it grows. So the question, of whether or not the US is particularly mentioned; is ridiculous ignorance of the Spirit and word of God. YES! There is reference particularly of this country; and it is not the faithful bride that it pretends, and tells others it is. In these texts which are cited here today, we should see striking and frighteningly similar things, as are the case in this country. May everyone read it with a heart tender to the convictions of the Spirit, and take the appropriate steps in his life to make the things right that need it.

Jeremiah 29:15-19 “Because you have said, The LORD has raised us up prophets in Babylon; know that thus says the LORD concerning the king that sits upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwells in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity; thus says the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil. And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, for a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations to what places I have driven them: because they have not hearkened to (to hear with the intent to obey) My words, says the LORD, which I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but you would not hear, says the LORD.”

2 Chronicles 36:11-16 “Zedekiah was twenty one years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel. Adding to this all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed (covered [up], acted covertly, treacherously) very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which He had hallowed in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up continually and carefully, and sending; because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling place: but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no healing.”

Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, left us an example to follow, sincerely, from the heart, by faith; to be subject to the higher powers, subordinate to authorities of superiority; as unto God, who has ordained them and put them in place for His own will. (Romans 13:1-8). Jesus came to bear witness of the truth; so that all who are of the truth should hear His Voice, and obey Him. The evil and wrongs which he was compelled to endure patiently by faith, He did so full well knowing and understanding the purposes of His Father in heaven. For though it be a mystery and a stumbling-block to the men of this age; it was no mystery to Jesus, and should not be a stumbling-block to us; who are likewise called from out of the world to walk with Him in the same Spirit of obedience of faith.

For just as the Father bore witness to His approval of Christ, and having accepted His sacrifice on our behalf, and thereby making Him the Judge and Savior of all men; so it is also appointed to us, as His witnesses, to exercise the same meekness of faith, and love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience; so that the Holy Spirit may through us convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and use us as signs for instruction unto Christ for all men. Our kingdom is not of this world, which for the time belongs to others; but we are ambassadors and heralds sent to announce the glad tidings of the kingdom, and faithfully represent our King, whose we are. We do not have rights to fight for in this world; our Father in heaven has our rights, and our righteousness.

Those who in old time wholly followed the LORD, and looked for His Anointed to come; all saw these things, and ordered their lives according to His Spirit. The prophets and saints in every generation, have inquired and searched diligently of this salvation; who prophesied of the grace that should come unto us: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. But not all had a heart for the things of God; just like today. The narrow gate and the straitened way which the Lord Jesus spoke of; was always the case in the world; ever since God pronounced it to be so, that the children of the devil would persecute Christ and His elect; that by which God would break the serpent’s head, and save His people from their sins in His Son. As the greater part refuse all conviction and instruction, and don’t want to know about Jesus and their need of salvation; so they are held in darkness and ignorance, and given over to become what kind they are. 

Romans 1:28-32 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in (consent to) them that do them.”

Now while these things are also for the purpose of awakening the wicked to his terrible condition; and are the manifestation of the hidden things of God in eternity; they are also the plague already begun, which shall be perfected in utter destruction and damnation. For the ax is already laid to the root of the tree; and every tree not producing good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.

When God pronounced sentence, and sent the king of Babylon with his armies to lay waste cities and countries, culminating in Jerusalem; the whole population of Jerusalem and Judah, (except for a very small remnant of His saints), were all completely committed to fight against the foreign invaders, and never surrender. Every prophet and seer, every righteous voice that called on them to repent and turn to the LORD; and who warned them not to resist the judgment of God; but to accept His punishment of their sins; was counted for a traitor and subverter of the people, whose words only weakened the will of the people, to fall to the enemy.

When the Chaldeans eventually proved too powerful, and they were afraid for their lives, did they surrender and throw down their arms. Meanwhile, the wicked king Jehoiakim, who had led the rebellion, and so hardened his heart against Jeremiah and the word of God; was carried to Babylon in fetters, like an incorrigible wild beast. even then, the LORD was willing to show gentleness and compassion; and so He moved Nebuchadnezzar to leave the poorest people of the land, and let them care for the fields. Nebuchadnezzar also followed the custom of the kings of the nations, who had conquered a people; in that he chose for them a king of their own royal family, of their brethren, to rule over the province: with the only condition of swearing an oath to God, to subjection to the king of Babylon, and render to him the fruits of the land, and render to him his due honor.

But Zedekiah lied to the king, and swore falsely to God. Impenitence towards God, and refusal of His Spirit and authority, was their own choice to hold Satan in their heart against all authority. Because of this, that which was sincerely intended as a kindness, and to soften their hearts, for their good; turned out to be that by which they would be most cruelly destroyed; and the city they thought they were saving, in their stubbornness and pride; became their cauldron and doom.

😵

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Curious as to why every photo I see of Hunter Biden he has that “backpack” slung over the shoulder. 🤔

Thinking of the children in school these days who are missing out on what my generation had . . . my Mom told me that she thinks they don’t teach “phonics” any more . . . like learning to write cursive, is actual reading going to become a bygone thing? It seemed like in each grade growing up in our elementary schools, we moved right along, hitting certain milestones. So great, that moment when it “clicked” when one could read, then reading everything one saw, voraciously.

One of my grandmothers was born in 1899 . . . she went to college and graduated with a degree in mathematics, summa cum laude . . . my other grandmother who was born in 1903, finished high school when she was 15 and went to work at a big insurance company in Lincoln, Nebraska, typing “fast, like a fire engine” and also maintaining/ordering the stock of literature/pamphlets that the insurance agents needed . . . it was that grandmother, not the other one, who gave me a really good pointer about learning the nines time tables, did I notice a funny thing about the nines tables, where I could check myself if I got stymied? The correct answer would always equal nine if I added both digits in the answer, for example: 3 x 9 = 27 (2 + 7 = 9)

1 x 9 = 9
2 x 9 = 18 (1 + 8 = 9)
3 x 9 = 27 (2 + 7 = 9)
4 x 9 = 36 (3 + 6 = 9)
5 x 9 = 45 (4 = 5 = 9)
6 x 9 = 54 (5 + 4 = 9)

and so forth and so on – “just a good thing to help you remember, to check yourself” – that Grandma also loved to read and sometimes memorize poems, such as “Trees” – “The Wreck of the Hesperus” and so many others – so I would memorize poems to recite back to her. People used to sit on the front porch in the summer, waiting for the kitchen to cool down – reciting all kinds of great old poems – in the cool semi-darkness. That was a pleasant way to pass a summer evening!

I Am America – Krista Branch


Krista Branch “Remember Who We Are”

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Happy Birthday!

Good morning all. Happy Independence day! My own founding ancestor is George Clymer. George was an orphan adopted by an uncle that was a merchant in Philadelphia. He inherited the business and was very successful. He was one of the first to advocate breaking from Britain. He was selected to be 2nd in charge of financing the war effort as Co- Treasurer of the Continental Congress.

George was against slavery. He lost half of his fortune during the revolution but recovered after the war. He was one of only 8 men (That is my own research. Wikipeida says there were only 6 and they are wrong) to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. His signature on the bottom of the document is very small because he was away on business for the congress on July 4th and did not get back to sign it until the 8th. He supported Washington and the new government during the Whisky Rebellion.

Finally got the deadfall in my yard picked up so that is ready to mow. My 8 ft. diameter fire ring is full and I am only waiting for the winds to calm enough to allow me to burn it off. Before that big blow came through it was empty. Lots of pine boughs in that ring since Phillis’s 7 pines that border my property were heavy with green cones when the blow came and so a number of them came down.

Tonight I have one of my brothers and his wife and my son and his wife over for dinner and fireworks. Have to take down my 5 x 8 flag and put up my 6 x 10. Got a deck to clean up. Get out the 2 x 10 with the mortar tubes nailed to it and replace what ever tubes need replacing. Cooler for ice to be cleaned and filled. I have had the fireworks since last year.

Sherry is making BBQ chicken wings in the crock pot. Has the macaroni salad made. I will make the traditional family dip for chips. Philly cream cheese and horseradish, with just enough milk to make it the right consistency. My brother is bringing baked beans. We have Black Forrest Cake for desert. Margaritas will be available for those that want it and of course what ever else they may want out my liquor cabinet.

🎂🍉🥧🌭🍇🍔🌽🍒🍋🍦🍺
Happy Birthday , America !

Happiest 4th of July
to
Sundance and Stellar Crew
and
All You Wonderful
Treepers 🎆

I Appreciate You 💐

This may be an abbreviated version than what I usually do, been a long day, this is what I have from last years posting…

4 July 2021 Sanford Clark, American country-rockabilly singer and guitarist (“The Fool”; “Son Of A Gun”), dies of Covid-19 while undegoing cancer treatment at 85.

It’s Nothing To Me

4 July 2003 Barry White, American singer (Love’s Theme), dies at 58.
Can’t Get Enough

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.   – Psalm 127:1

The Assyrian armies were battle-hardened soldiers and were said to make the bravest men tremble. They had ravaged cities in Israel and had now come to Jerusalem and were ready to sack the city. King Hezekiah, who had begun his reign over Judah around 715 B.C., did what was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 18:3). After much prayer, he told the people: “Be strong and courageous… With [Assyria] is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8). 

Centuries later, it is said that Oliver Cromwell, a British commander in the 1600s, once instructed his men, “Trust in God, and keep your powder dry.” In essence, he was saying that they should do all that they could do to fight the enemy, and not fix their trust in what they were doing but in the power of God. That is what will make all efforts effective. 

On this Independence Day, it is good to pause and reflect on this nation and its founding.

President George Washington said, in 1789, “It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors.” And so it should be in 2023. No endeavor of yours will have any impact unless you stand with the Lord and obey His will.  

Acknowledge His goodness, thank Him for the grace that has been yours, and pray for protection against the evil forces that seek to unravel the fabric of America’s heritage. Your prayers are not in vain when your trust is in the Lord. 

https://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/daily-prayer-briefing/?utm_source=daily_briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_briefing&utm_content=daily_briefing

July 4

Morning

Leaning on Jesus’ bosom. John 13:23

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you. Isa. 66:13

They brought young children to him, that he should touch them. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. Mark 10:13, 16

Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and I will not send them away fasting, test they faint in the way. Matt. 15:32

A high Priest … touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Heb. 4:15

In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. Isa. 63:9

I will not leave you comfortless (marg. orphans): I will come to you. John 14:18

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Isa. 49:15

The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Rev. 7:17

Evening

Jesus Christ the righteous: the propitiation for our sins. I John 2:1, 2

Toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat. Exo. 5:20-22

Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Psa. 85:9, 10

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Psa. 130:4, 7, 8

All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins. Rom. 3:23-25

 Bagster
https://dailylightdevotional.org/07/0704.html

HAPPY FORTH TO ALL TREEPERS…🇺🇸😀👍👏

🇺🇸💪😀👍

The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 by Edward Hicks

The Lords Prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven, 
Hallowed be Thy Name. 
Thy Kingdom come. 
Thy Will be done, 
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our trespasses, 
as we forgive those who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Writing the Declaration of Independence, 1776 by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris

Matthew 18:20

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze
Prayer for the 4th of July

• On this Independence Day I am reminded of all those who have sacrificed for my freedom, following the example of your Son, Jesus Christ. Let me not take my freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May I always remember that my freedom was purchases with a very high price. My freedom cost others their very lives.
• Lord, today, bless those who have served and continue to give their lives for my freedom. With favor and bounty meet their needs and watch over their families.
• Help me to live my life in a way that glorifies you, Lord. Give me the strength to be a blessing in someone else’s life today, and grant me the opportunity to lead others into the freedom that can be found in knowing Christ.
• Amen

Fireworks Stand by Clarence Holbrook Carter
Good morning and
Happy Forth of July Treepers
☘ 🍀 ☘

Howdy Treepers may you all have a blessed Independence Day 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Natural law is the Creator’s law.

Thoughts from Virginia:

Thomas Jefferson:

“[C]an the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties (i.e. rights) are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever.

Thoughts of Alexander Hamilton:

“Good and wise men, in all ages, … have supposed that the deity, from the relations we stand in to himself and to each other, has constituted an eternal and immutable law, which is indispensably obligatory upon all mankind, prior to any human institution whatever. This is what is called the law of nature … Upon this law depend the natural rights of mankind: the Supreme Being gave existence to man, together with the means of preserving and beatifying that existence. He endowed him with rational faculties, by the help of which, to discern and pursue such things, as were consistent with his duty and interest, and invested him with an inviolable right to personal liberty, and personal safety … The Sacred Rights of Mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the Hand of the Divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.”

Blackstone:
“[D]ivine providence… in compassion to the frailty, the imperfection, and the blindness of human reason, hath been pleased, at sundry times and in diverse manners, to discover and enforce its laws by an immediate and direct revelation. The doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law, and they are to be found only in the holy scriptures.”

When God inscribed: “Thou shalt not murder” on a block of stone it became “revealed or divine law,” in Blackstone’s view, and this particular commandment enshrined a right to the preservation of one’s life. “Thou shalt not steal” affirmed a right to retain property, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” affirmed a right to receive honest testimony.

Thank you Lord for another chance to do the right thing. Have a Blessed 4th, Treehouse Family.

Let Freedom Ring – Abby Anderson

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❣️

*sound on* 🎶