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Heaven’s Announcement Over America Yesterday I shared a post from Larry and Mercedes Sparks’ new book, The Fire that Forged America. This powerful book will help us prepare and pray for the emerging revival. Today, I am sharing from their book again. In Ezekiel 37, God both asks the prophet a question and gives him clear instructions: “…Can these bones live? …Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:3-4 ESV) There is a lie that has lingered too long in the imagination of American Christianity — and I want to confront it head-on today. The lie goes something like this: America is too far gone. The culture has drifted past the point of no return. The moral foundations are too crumbled, the institutions too corrupted, the next generation too lost. And so, if we believe America as a nation is too lost and too broken, we narrow the lie down to our zip code: this city is too secular, this campus is too hostile, this region is too dark. Either way — national or local — the verdict is the same. Written off. Can these bones live? Yes… If there are voices that agree with and announce what Heaven says about them. When the Word is preached with clarity and the Spirit is welcomed with hunger, we see Book of Acts results such as those in Ephesus: “the Word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily” (Acts 19:20 ESV). It was true in Ephesus, it was true in colonial America, and it is true right now. God Places His People in the Valley There are territories throughout the earth that are written off as too hard and dark. And tragically, this can influence believers in those very regions, causing them to live under the deception that the forces of darkness are somehow stronger than the Spirit of the risen Christ living inside them. Notice that God placed Ezekiel right in the middle of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1). I am convinced that if God has sovereignly placed you in a spiritually challenging territory—whether that be a neighborhood, a city, or a nation bearing the weight of cultural collapse—He has an assignment for you there. And it is not simply to announce how dry or dead the bones are. Like Ezekiel, your assignment is to prophesy life, breath, and wind over exceedingly dry bones. God often positions His people in dark, “written-off” places so He can move through their voices, prayers, lives, and influence. Let’s walk through what Ezekiel’s encounter reveals about our assignment in America. Three Things Dry Valleys Teach Us First: dark places do not take God by surprise. Whether you live in a spiritually resistant city, serve in a post-modernized institution, or simply feel the weight of a nation that seems to be losing its way—your location is not random. He placed Ezekiel in the valley, and He has placed you where you are. Second: God is not intimidated by dry places. I remember when a pastor told my friend and revivalist Miriam Evans that a certain city was a “graveyard for churches.” Instead of agreeing with that pronouncement, she went to prayer. The Lord gave Miriam a dream of an Angel of Awakening so massive she couldn't see beyond his feet into the Heavens. This mighty angel stepped onto the Southeast coast of the US, into the very city marked as a cemetery for churches. What had been spiritually dead was now pregnant with awakening. I believe the same angel of awakening is advancing across America right now. Third: our responsibility is not to agree with the bleakness of the valley, nor to abandon it for greener pastures, nor to retreat into silence. We are called to release God’s Word into what seems irreversibly dead. Joel 2 and Acts 2 make it clear: in the last days, God’s sons and daughters will prophesy. That is not limited to preachers behind pulpits — it is the assignment of every Spirit-filled believer. When God places you in a hard place, He is not punishing you. He is trusting you to be His voice to dry bones. The Gospel and the Glory Always Prevail Surprisingly, I am more hopeful about America than most headlines would justify. Not because I'm naive about the darkness, but because I’ve studied what God has done in America before, and I know that America's history is not a story of spiritual decline without recovery. It is a decline followed by divine interruption. Every time America has drifted toward moral collapse, God has answered—not with abandonment, but with awakening. Jesus never told us to avoid the gates of hell—He told us those gates would not prevail against His Church. The enemy doesn’t get to write the final headline of cities, states, or nations. God does. He is not intimidated by graveyards; He simply deposits prophetic voices into these places to declare His life and awakening over them. The key is prioritizing the Book of Acts strategy to spiritually transform territories: the gospel, demonstrated by God’s power and glory. A clear proclamation of Christ crucified and risen, then confirmed by the manifest power of the Holy Spirit: supernatural gifts in operation, demons cast out, bodies healed, atmospheres transformed. Unchurched people are not offended by the raw demonstration of God's power—if anything, those curiously visiting our Sunday morning sanctuaries are crying out for the authentic display of the supernatural. Hard Places That Became Harvest Fields Consider two “hard places” that became harvest fields throughout Scripture. Samaria (Acts 8) was defined by centuries of paganism and idolatry, yet when Philip preached Christ, demons shrieked, the sick were healed, and there was great joy in that city. God wants to fill broken cities with joy. Ephesus (Acts 19) was a headquarters of idolatry, immorality, and occult power—home of the temple of Artemis, which set the spiritual atmosphere for the entire territory. One could rightly call it a hard and dark place. Yet, the word of the Lord prevailed mightily, and revival came to the city. If Ephesus can experience this, any modern city can—and so can America. These examples don’t just confirm that revival is possible in hard and dark places—they should provoke us to agree with Heaven’s announcement and objective. According to Joel 2 and Acts 2, God wants all flesh to experience the outpouring of the Spirit. Is America part of “all flesh?” Yes. So we boldly announce: “America, it’s time for another great outpouring!” Pray with me: Father, forgive us for believing lies concerning “hard and dark” territories. Our standard is not to be how sinful a nation appears; our standard is Your Scripture. And Your Word invites us to believe that violent and oppressed cities will be filled with joy, entire territories will be transformed by the Gospel, and nations will be born again in a day. We commit to come into agreement with Your Word regarding America. Not the news. Not the naysayers. Not the negativity. We pray as the church in Acts prayed: “And now, O Lord, give us great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30). Your Word says dry, dead bones can live, and so we declare: America, come alive in the name of Jesus! All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. You can find out more about Larry and Mercedes Sparks at LarrySparksMinistries.com. Their book, The Fire that Forged America, is available on Amazon. Click on the link below to watch the video.

The Fire that Forged America I love sharing posts that prepare and help us pray for the emerging revival. Today is one such post. It is adapted from Larry and Mercedes Sparks’ new book, The Fire that Forged America. Larry and Mercedes tell us: History has a way of humbling our cynicism. Every generation that has declared a city or a nation too far gone for God to rescue it has eventually been proven wrong by the transformational move of the Holy Spirit. America is no exception. From the colonial era to the present, the places most often written off as spiritual graveyards have become the very epicenters of revival. Let me take you on a brief journey through American history—not as a nostalgia trip, but as a prophetic provocation. These are blueprints, not footnotes. They tell the truth about God and expose the lie about those so-called “hard places.” When Hard Ground Became Holy Ground The First Great Awakening (1730s–1740s). By this point in America’s history, strict religious devotion had given way to the compromise of the half-way covenant, producing generations who attended church as a cultural obligation rather than a heart encounter with God. Religious form remained, but spiritual fire had waned. Into that dryness, God thundered. Through the preaching of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield, the Holy Spirit pierced complacent hearts, producing weeping, repentance, and radical conversions. God can rewrite the story of a people, even in an age of compromise. The Second Great Awakening (early 1800s). Following the Revolutionary War, moral decline, drunkenness, and lawlessness swept the new nation. Many predicted Christianity’s influence would fade entirely. Instead, God raised up revivalists like Charles Finney and Barton Stone. Camp meetings like Cane Ridge drew tens of thousands. What began as rural stirrings spread into cities, producing mass conversions, societal reforms, and the seeds of abolition. A nation once thought adrift was redirected by the Spirit. The Noonday Prayer Revival (1857–1858). On the edge of Civil War, Jeremiah Lanphier’s noonday prayer meeting in Manhattan seemed almost insignificant. But within months, prayer meetings multiplied across America, and thousands were being converted weekly. What started as a small group praying in New York became a nationwide prayer movement. Even commercial and cultural capitals can become houses of intercession. Azusa Street, Los Angeles (1906). In a segregated, suspicious, and spiritually parched environment, under the humble leadership of William J. Seymour, the Holy Spirit birthed a multi-ethnic, missions-sending revival whose fire has circled the globe, ultimately producing over half a billion on-fire believers celebrating the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit. If Los Angeles could become an altar, which city today would be beyond the Spirit’s reach? The Jesus People Movement (late 1960s–1970s). In the countercultural hotbeds of Southern California hippies, addicts, and spiritual seekers were baptized by the thousands. The generation many assumed was too far gone became burning ones for Jesus. The Brownsville Revival, Pensacola (1995–2000). On Father’s Day 1995, what began as an ordinary Sunday service ignited into one of the most significant outpourings of the last 30 years. Under Pastor John Kilpatrick and evangelist Steve Hill, the Holy Spirit fell with convicting power. Millions visited over five years, with altars filled night after night as people wept, repented, and encountered the fire of God. In an age of growing cynicism, Pensacola became proof that revival was not a relic of the past but a living reality. The River Is Breaking Banks Right Now These snapshots from history bring us to the present moment — because the pattern has not stopped. In February 2023, the Asbury Outpouring reminded us that revival is not exclusive to the history books. Students filled a chapel in Wilmore, Kentucky, and what began as a simple time of prayer and worship stretched into days, then weeks. Thousands came from around the globe—not because there were big-name preachers or cutting-edge production, but because God's presence was tangible, the worship was pure, and the altar was open for people to have holy encounters. What Asbury signaled was not an isolated visitation. It was a signpost of what God is doing across America in our day. Since 2020, the ground has shifted. In the aftermath of crisis, confusion, and cultural upheaval, hunger has begun to rise again. Secularism has not delivered the utopia it promised. Atheism has not satisfied the ache for meaning. Postmodernism has only deepened the swirl of confusion. And in the middle of this disillusionment, a remnant is rising. Across university campuses, thousands are gathering—some in arenas, some in open fields, others in lecture halls. They are not satisfied with watered-down religion. They are desperate for bold answers, unapologetic truth, and encounters with the real Jesus. Multitudes of students are filling spaces to worship, repent, and be baptized—not because of slick campaigns, but because they have tasted the emptiness of the world and are desperate for the River of Life, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit Is Stirring in Unlikely Places But this stirring is not limited to campuses. It is showing up in the places that once seemed least likely—among Hollywood creatives and cultural influencers. Top podcasters are asking questions about God, Scripture, and the meaning of life. Some of the most listened-to voices in the digital public square are giving airtime to conversations about Christianity—not as an irrelevant icon of the past, but as an urgent question for the present. Could it be that God is seeding the next great awakening not only in church buildings but also in podcast studios, university stadiums, and on cultural stages? The places we are tempted to write off as too dark or too hostile are being invaded by light. Revival is erupting in a podcast. It is breaking out in a dorm room. It is whispering in the conscience of top influencers. It is stirring in the places most people thought were sealed to the Gospel. The River is not trickling quietly just within the four walls of the church. It is breaking banks—flooding campuses, flooding culture, flooding influencers with questions and convictions they cannot shake. You Carry the River Into Dry Lands Here is what I want you to carry with you: you are not a spectator to this story. You are part of it. Jesus' invitation still rings: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. …out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38 NKJV). People are thirsty—and the Spirit-filled Church carries the solution. You are filled with the River of Life that dry and thirsty people are desperate for. The River of God’s Spirit flows from within you into the world around you. The dryness of your environment does not threaten your fire. It is fuel for it. The very headlines that trouble your city, state, or nation may point to the specifics of your calling. You may be assigned to bring the River of God into those places. Don't curse the ground God called you to water. Speak life. The River of God is rising. Spiritual graveyards are turning into gardens. History prophesies to us about the future: what God did in times past through historic revival and awakening, He can and will do it again. And you—right where you are—are part of how revival history is written. Pray with me: Father, let Your river continue to rise. Renew the face of America by pouring out Your Spirit in a mighty way. No sphere or sector of society is beyond Your reach. And Lord, we say with the prophet Isaiah, Here I am, send me. Pour out Your Spirit through me. Use me wherever You have called and assigned me to be a voice and vessel of awakening. And we pray that Your fire would burn once again in believers across our nation. Continue building the glorious church You spoke of until it isn’t only a remnant that is on fire, but millions of believers are ablaze with Holy Spirit’s burning passion. Return leaders to their first love; baptize them afresh and anew with the power and passion of Holy Spirit. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name, amen. Our decree: We decree that the present outpouring of the Holy Spirit is turning spiritual graveyards into gardens of life! Click on the link below to watch the video. You can find out more about Larry and Mercedes Sparks at LarrySparksMinistries.com. Their book, The Fire that Forged America, is available on Amazon.

Continuing the 250 Year Celebration I just can’t resist taking one more day to share a report regarding America’s great 250th birthday celebration. Like hundreds of thousands of patriotic Americans, Ceci and I braved the triple-digit temperatures for a few hours Saturday to visit the Washington, D.C., National Mall. Patriot Ceci is still on the mend from some physical issues, including a hip replacement and an injured foot, but still walked over 3 miles in the intense heat to do so. Patriots will be patriots. At one point, I stood next to a perspiring, obviously exhausted, elderly lady who sat down in one of the state booths’ rocking chairs for a few minutes of shade and rest. Ceci was doing the same on my other side. Then I noticed the cane in the other lady’s lap. I’m standing between a couple of warriors! I thought. “It’s pretty impressive to be out here today in this heat when walking with a cane,” I said to my fellow unknown patriot. She downplayed it, of course. Some proud Americans were being pushed in wheelchairs, and still others were PUSHING wheelchairs!!! (And strollers, by the way.) Watching thousands of them carrying their small flags, wearing their patriotic outfits, taking pictures, and celebrating the founding of our great nation was, indeed, inspiring. Several hundred thousand people stood in long, unshaded lines just to get onto the Mall. After having to leave around 7 PM because of the storms, 150,000-plus came back, many in their soaked outfits, to hear the President’s speech - at 11 PM! - and watch the fireworks live. And for those who may have missed it, in his speech, President Trump honored 100-plus-year-old veterans and displayed several U.S. flags that were present at significant events in America’s history. These included one that covered President Abraham Lincoln’s casket, and one from the USS Arizona that sank in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, at the start of World War II. What an inspiring night. The President concluded his speech by saying: “That show tonight, you heard it was over. [referencing the rumor that his speech and the remainder of the festivities had been canceled due to the weather] And what happened? You came back. And this American flag still waves. Proud and free and beautiful. We have thrived and flourished because our Founders were great. Our cause was just. Our people are brave. Our culture is exceptional. And our destiny is written by God. And as we can see here tonight, after 250 years, the spirit of 1776 still lives within us all. It still roars in the hearts of our nation’s capital. It still burns in the heart of every patriot and thunders through every city and town. It still lights the entire world with the glow of American liberty. And there is nothing like that at 250 years old. We may be the oldest constitutional republic on earth, but our country is just getting started, because the best is yet to come. This is only the dawn of the Golden Age of America. “On this 250th 4th of July, we declare, just as they did two and a half centuries ago, that for our country and for our children and for the cause of liberty, we are going to take our country to new levels, to levels not reached. We’re going to make it bigger, better, stronger, and we’re going to love it even more… And I want to thank everybody, and we love you all. And it’s an honor to be your President. Thank you. God bless you all. God bless you all.”(1) And the fireworks display that began just before midnight, well, it was a fitting end to our 250th birthday, and an ushering in of the next 250 years. Thank you to Intercessors For America for inviting Ceci and me to join you and many of your conference attendees on the riverboat, where we dined, hung out, and watched the fireworks from the Potomac! (The IFA conference was amazing, by the way, and a true honor to be part of.) We enjoyed meeting so many IFA “faithfuls,” along with many faithful Give Him 15 followers–thanks for your kind remarks and encouragement. What a great night! Now, the work of restoring America to her God-given destiny continues. We will finish the mission we have begun: doing our part to produce a Third Great Awakening here in America, and watching it blaze elsewhere in the world where, for many, it will be their first awakening. Can you imagine–hundreds of millions of people born again, receiving new life through Christ, and finding their eternal purpose in the heart of their Creator. Jesus said heaven throws a party when just one of them comes to Him (Luke 15:7)! We will continue to pray for our government’s turnaround and recovery, asking heaven for honest, humble, noble, and God-honoring leaders. We believe that since Jesus told us to disciple nations (Matthew 28:18-20), nations can be discipled! We will not stop, we will not waver, and by His anointing and empowerment, we will not fail. Pray with me: Father, as Americans, we are eternally grateful and very humbled by the privilege, along with the fellow believers in other nations, of partnering with You to save the world. We are also humbled by the incredible prosperity You have bestowed on us in order to do so. Like Abraham of old, You have blessed us greatly, in order to bless nations of the Earth through us. We are in the process of adding Your dream back into “the American Dream.” As we move forward in this process, we ask for another season of great grace. Grace us with wise and righteous leaders, who lead with honor and humility. Grace us with fire in our pulpits and burning ones in our pews. Grace us with revival on our campuses, peace on our streets, and unity in our nation. Remove from our land the influence of race-baiting dividers and hate-filled antagonists. And throughout the nations, lift the veil of deception that blinds the spiritual eyes of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Cause the glory of Christ to be seen, Your amazing love to be recognized, and the power of the gospel to be experienced. Release wave after wave of glory and power, producing wave after wave of spiritual harvest. We pray all of this in Christ’s glorious name, amen. Our decree: “We declare, just as they did two and a half centuries ago, that for our country and for our children and for the cause of liberty, we are going to take our country to new levels, to levels not reached.” (President Donald J. Trump) Click on the link below to watch the video. https://www.c-span.org/clip/america-250/president-trump-gives-250th-anniversary-speech-at-salute-to-america/5202246

Bucket List Item Fulfilled: July 4th Fireworks in DC I fulfilled one of the goals on my bucket list this past weekend: Ceci and I watched the Fourth of July celebration live in Washington, D.C. The goal hadn’t been to do so on America’s 250th birthday, but Providence determined that we would. And what a year to choose. More than 850,000 fireworks were used in Washington, D.C., during the Independence Day celebrations!(1) Organizers launched the explosives from 10 different locations, including barges in the Potomac River. The 40-minute display was ten times larger than typical D.C. Independence Day shows and was designed to break the Guinness World Record for the largest single fireworks display. I’m thinking even the cloud of witnesses in heaven enjoyed this one! We were in DC to speak at Intercessors For America’s gathering at the Museum of the Bible. How fitting that this amazing organization, which for 50 years has led the way in intercession for America, would host this conference. What an honor to join them. After the gathering ended, we joined about 160 attendees on a riverboat cruise and watched the fireworks while perched on the Potomac. Bucket list: check. While there in DC for the weekend, I couldn’t help but have a time of reflection. I went back in my mind to some of the encounters I’ve had with the Lord, during which He gave me His heart for America and mantled me for what I now do. Regarding this great but prodigal nation, I have dreamed with Him, wept with Him, and rejoiced with Him. I have traveled millions of miles with Him, praying in every state–most of them multiple times. There are plenty of memories. I also reflected much further back: my journey has been but one of millions and reflects only a short span of the timeline. I thought about Robert Hunt and company planting the cross at Cape Henry after leaving family and friends behind to face difficult weeks at sea and a new world. Then, about half of the original group died within the first few months, due to a combination of disease and malnutrition. Hunt himself died in the spring of 1608 at roughly 39 years of age. But their legacy lives. I thanked them. I thought of Jefferson pondering, carefully weighing his words while asking for Divine Providence, as he penned the Declaration. I pictured Hancock signing his name in extra-large letters so old King George could read it without his glasses, and I signed my name next to his. I listened in my heart as Patriot Sam Adams said, “We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and… from the rising to the setting sun, may His kingdom come.”(2) And I worshipped with him. I thought of George Washington and his troops at Valley Forge, freezing and starving, yet somehow persevering. I pictured this great American Founder kneeling in the snow, appealing to heaven for help and miraculous intervention. I thanked him, and the soldiers as well, then appealed to heaven for America’s full recovery. I pictured Whitefield, the Wesleys, and Edwards preaching. I envisioned Circuit Riders spending lonely hours riding through rain, snow, freezing cold, and scorching sun to take the gospel to new frontiers. I thought of thousands gathered on the hills of Cane Ridge, KY, listening to powerful messages and being visited by the glory of God. And I imagined William Seymour as he led a history-shaping revival at Azusa Street. And then I dreamed a little. I imagined a future where the fruit of all these labors experienced another wave of multiplication. Cape Henry’s dedication of this land to the gospel received new life, and the First and Second Great Awakenings multiplied into a Third. The fire of earth-changing evangelists was relit, and a fresh wave of torch-bearers was unleashed throughout America and the world. I dreamed of a new generation of righteous, God-honoring patriots in our government, seeking His wisdom and direction, just as our Founders did when writing our Constitution. I rang the bell of liberty in my mind and dreamed of another generation of Americans proclaiming Liberty throughout the land, to all the inhabitants thereof. Then I rededicated myself to the cause, and returned home to continue my journey. Pray with me: Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to redeem us wayward humans. What an incredible plan. Thank You for involving us in this plan; You save us, then use us to save others! We go from being the problem to becoming part of the solution. You’re amazing. And thank You for America, a nation raised up to partner with You in this plan. What an honor! And of course, why wouldn’t that nation become the greatest nation in the world?! You blessed us overwhelmingly, and in every way. NO nation has ever been so blessed. All because we honored and partnered with You. And yet, shockingly, like the prodigal in Scripture, we abandoned You and squandered our inheritance. It’s hard to fathom this rebellion and fall. Yet, in Your great love and mercy, You have said You would restore us, and are doing so! Thank You! Now, take it all to the next level. Next-level revival, next-level restoration, next-level partnership with You. We ask this in Yeshua’s wonderful name, amen. Our decree: America’s rededication has occurred; the fruit now begins. Click on the link below to watch the video. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2026/06/30/trumps-july-4-fireworks-start-much-later-last-much-longer/ https://nationalcenter.org/ncppr/2001/11/03/samuel-adams-advocates-american-independence-1776/

“The Highest Glory of the American Revolution” One can only imagine the range of emotions present in Independence Hall when the Declaration of Independence was signed. In the classic book, The Light and the Glory, Peter Marshall and David Manuel offer the following account: “The magnitude of what they had done began to weigh upon them, and they realized that they and their countrymen were no longer Englishmen, but citizens of a fledgling nation barely a few minutes old. Many stared out the window. Some wept openly. Some, like Witherspoon, bowed their heads and closed their eyes in prayer. John Hancock broke the silence: ‘Gentlemen, the price on my head has just been doubled!’ “A wry chuckle followed, and then Samuel Adams rose: ‘We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and … from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come.’”(1) It is ridiculous to suggest that these Founders did not believe God was involved in this endeavor. John Quincy Adams, son of John and Abigail Adams and sixth president of the United States, made the profound statement on the 45th anniversary of the signing, “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity” (July 4, 1821).(2) Adams’ belief in this indissoluble bond never waned. On America’s 61st birthday, July 4, 1837, he made the following staggering declaration, connecting the birth of our nation to the birth of Jesus Christ: “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? [July 4th]. Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth?” (7/4/1837).(3) Adams wasn’t equating America’s birth with Christ’s birth; he was saying that America’s birth was linked to His Birth. Our destiny involved announcing Christ’s birth as the Redeemer of humankind. This patriot knew why God raised up America! The Price of Freedom The signers of the Declaration of Independence understood the potential cost of their actions. This is why they ended the document with the words: “For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”(4) John Quincy’s dad, John Adams, one of the signers and our second President, spoke of the probable cost to his wife, Abigail: “I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means.”(5) Signer Lewis Morris’ half-brother tried to dissuade him from signing the Declaration, warning him of the potential cost. Morris’s eloquent response? “Damn the consequences. Give me the pen!”(6) I’ve often wondered if General George Patton was one of his descendants! Signer Sam Adams, mentioned above, was a second cousin of John Adams, a distant uncle of John Quincy, and a key voice for liberty. Thomas Jefferson referred to him as “the patriarch of liberty.” Boston newspapers eulogized him as “the Father of the American Revolution.” (The Adams clan was certainly a bunch of freedom-loving warriors!) Speaking of the possible cost of freedom and declaring where he had placed his trust, Sam Adams said: “We have proclaimed to the world our determination ‘to die freemen, rather than to live slaves.’ We have appealed to heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven, we have placed our trust.”(7) Cousin John was such a passionate pioneer of liberty that Jefferson referred to him as a “colossus of independence.” On July 1, 1776, just before the signing of the Declaration, he spoke to the delegates at the Continental Congress: “Before God, I believe the hour has come. My judgment approves this measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it. And I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God, it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and Independence forever!”(8) Though John Adams and Jefferson didn’t always see eye-to-eye, their passion for America enabled them to set aside their differences, and they died as close friends—on the same day!(9) Most people are unaware that Adams and Jefferson, in an incredible phenomenon that could have only been caused by Providence, both died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1826. Incredibly, God honored their love for America by allowing them to live until that landmark day. Their passion to see the survival of this “holy experiment,” as many described America at that time, and God’s divine favor kept them alive until this milestone was reached. Adams, too weak to attend the national Fourth of July celebration, asked to be seated in a chair by his window in order to watch the festivities. While watching the celebration, he drifted into unconsciousness and died later that night. Two of his last words before he graduated to Heaven were “Independence forever,”(10) restating his words from 50 years earlier. This was, indeed, his dying sentiment. Passionate in life; passionate in death. When the Declaration of Independence was signed, Adams said it “will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever.”(11) And so it is. As we celebrate this monumental day, the 250th birthday of America, I leave you with the words of Founding Father Joseph Warren, quoted by Ronald Reagan in his First Inaugural Address. Reagan shared: “On the eve of our struggle for independence, a man who might have been one of the greatest among the Founding Fathers, Dr. Joseph Warren, President of the Massachusetts Congress, said to his fellow Americans, ‘Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of.... On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important questions upon which rest the happiness and the liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves.’”(12) Reagan continued, “Well, I believe we, the Americans of today, are ready to act worthy of ourselves, ready to do what must be done to ensure happiness and liberty for ourselves, our children, and our children’s children.”(13) Happy Independence Day! Pray with me: Father, we give thanks for our freedom. Americans are an immeasurably blessed people. We make our heavenward appeals today, asking for the courage to “act worthy of” this blessing and of our holy calling (Ephesians 4:1). Give us hearts of iron, nerves of steel, holy zeal, and supernatural endurance. Fill us with fresh resolve to answer destiny’s call. Give us hearts that bow low, but dream high. Make us the Joshuas and Calebs, the Adams, Warrens, and Reagans of our time, fearless in the face of spiritual giants and of those who war against Your planned harvest. May this be Your Ekklesia’s finest hour, Your Kingdom’s greatest advance on planet earth. We will represent our great Redeemer until we can say with our brother, Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7 NASB). And in our great Redeemer’s name, Jesus, we pray, amen. Our decree: We WILL “act worthy” of our calling, and the purposes of God for America WILL be accomplished! Click on the link below to watch the video. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and the Glory (Tarrytown, NY: Fleming H. Revell Company), p. 309. William Federer, America’s God and Country, FAME Publishing Inc., 1994, p. 18. Ibid. https://docs.house.gov/meetings/GO/GO00/20220929/115171/HHRG-117-GO00-20220929-SD010.pdf Bennett, William J. Our sacred honor: Words of advice from the Founders in stories, letters, poems, and speeches. (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1997), p. 40. https://yalealumnimagazine.org/blog_posts/1831-damn-the-consequences-give-me-the-pen http://www.samuel-adams-heritage.com/documents/speech-about-declaration-of-independence.html July 1, 1776. Dan Amoot. America's Promise (Dallas, TX: The Dan Smoot Report, 1960), p. 6. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and the Glory (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1997), pp. 307-308. William Federer, America’s God and Country, p. 14. Ibid., pp. 8-9. Ibid., p. 9. https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/reagan1.asp Ibid.

One of my friends, retired Major William Ostan, gives us today’s post, adapted from his incredible book, The Patriot’s Field Manual: A Citizen’s Guide to Saving America at the Local Level. The title of today’s post is: Getting Back on Course Will shares: I’ll never forget being lost in the middle of the night in the Fort Benning, Georgia, swamps with only a military-issued lensatic hand-held compass (no GPS!) and a paper 8-digit grid map to guide me. I was a middle-aged soldier attempting to pass the legendary land navigation test in the Army’s Pre-Ranger course so I could prove worthy of my Commander approving orders to Ranger School, despite my advanced age. Getting a shot at the elite Ranger school had been a distant dream of mine for years. That dream was in danger of being dashed as the heavens opened, pouring out an unwelcome deluge of hard rain that completely soaked me, my map, and the ground. I was knee-deep in the muck that was trying to suck my boots off with every step, surrounded by thick darkness, accompanied by strange animal sounds and suddenly starting to worry that I wouldn’t find all the navigation points in the required time before sunrise. Discouragement was beginning to cloud my mind. I could feel my heart racing, induced by the creeping, encroaching thoughts of possible failure. Then I remembered a sound piece of advice I received from a land navigation instructor shortly after I joined the Army, “First Lieutenant Ostan, when you get lost, don’t panic. Just find the biggest fixed landmark and shoot an azimuth from there. Too easy.”(1) So that’s what I did. I clicked on my red-lens flashlight, trudged out of the swamp to the most obvious fixed landmark on the map, and re-shot a new azimuth to the next closest point. Over the ensuing exhausting hours, I found enough points to pass the land nav course and successfully completed Pre-Ranger school. You might be asking yourself - What in the world is an azimuth, and why is it so important? Honestly, explaining how to do land navigation might be harder than actually doing it. So, in the simplest terms possible - shooting an azimuth essentially means climbing to a height where the horizon is visible, sighting an object on that horizon in the direction you are traveling, and adjusting your compass heading to make sure you are still moving in the right direction. You must have an accurate azimuth to reach your desired destination. If you are off in your measurements, even the tiniest variance can result in missing your targeted location by miles. In the military, being in the right place at the prescribed time is vital to mission success. So yes, azimuths are pretty important! Believe it or not–this is similar to what the Founding generation did for us in 1776. They realized that the King and Parliament in Great Britain had become lost and were no longer honoring the principles of freedom enumerated in the azimuth known as the Magna Carta.(2) So, they dedicated their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to re-shoot an azimuth for humanity that has resounded through the ages and changed the course of history. It can be found in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Federalist Papers, etc. Benjamin Franklin stated the international reach of America’s quest: “It is a common observation here (Paris) that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.”(3) Sadly, this cause has been set back. Today, our generation has reached a critical mass point where we need to, once again, re-shoot an azimuth. For several decades now, America has slowly but steadily abandoned her unique founding principles. Founder Thomas Jefferson warned of this: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. …If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”(4) Trusted historian Stephen McDowell stated the results of our ignorance and lack of diligence: “America’s founding principles made her unique, free, and powerful, but there are many today who would have her abandon those principles. Many leaders in education and the media have promoted a different ideology, and many government leaders have implemented policies contrary to our founding principles, which have diminished our greatness.”(5) It’s obvious that we have veered off course and desperately need to find a fixed landmark. The indifference and complacency born of these lies are leading to the collapse of our country. In combat parlance, we would say that the enemy is “danger- close.” Dr. Os Guinness’s most recent book title succinctly sums up our current situation by stating we have entered “Zero Hour America.”(6) The azimuth America currently needs is a combination of America’s God-given founding purpose - a light to the nations powered by the gospel of Jesus Christ - and the principles elaborated in her founding documents. America is not perfect and never will be, but she is still the greatest country in the history of mankind. And she has the unique God-given position of being a “City on a Hill” to the nations of the world. When America is free, she remains one of the most powerful conduits for the gospel to spread across the globe. Lincoln had it right when he described our nation as the world’s “last, best hope.”(7) Let us be reminded, as we celebrate our 250th Independence Day, that we, the Ekklesia, have been given a mission. We must re-shoot an azimuth for humanity. We are in the right place at the right time to see this nation turn back to God, and the gospel flow to the ends of the earth. Pray with me: Father, You inspired our ancestors to re-shoot an azimuth for humanity hundreds of years ago, and we ask You to guide us to do so again in this strategic hour. Please continue to strengthen the hearts of Your Ekklesia with the same “never-give-up” commitment we saw in America’s Founders. We are partnering with You to bring this nation to the right place at the right time according to Your purposes in heaven, in order to once again be a City on Hill - a light and a glory for the nations of the earth to know Jesus and live in true freedom. Benjamin Franklin was more correct than he knew: “Our cause is the cause of all mankind.”(8) This week, as we celebrate what You have done for this nation, remind us of Jefferson’s poignant words: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”(9)This same vigilance is required in our prayers. “Be on the alert,” You told us in Scripture (1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 1 Peter 5:8). Let every celebration of every believer this week be accompanied by an “appeal to heaven” for revival and reformation. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that the Ekklesia is bringing a course correction to America–our nation will be in the right place at the right time to fulfill her God-given purposes! Today’s post was adapted from Major (Retired) William Ostan’s book, The Patriot’s Field Manual: A Citizen’s Guide to Saving America at the Local Level. It is available at WillOstan.com, along with more of his story. I encourage you to get this book; it’s excellent. Click on the link below to watch the video. John, Vickery P. “The Lost Art of Dismounted Land Navigation.” Fort Benning, https://www.moore.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2015/OCT-DEC/pdf/4)%20Vickery%20-%20Land%20Nav_txt.pdf. Accessed 22 March 2023. “The Avalon Project: Magna Carta.” Avalon Project, https://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/magframe.asp. Accessed 22 March 2023. Benjamin Franklin in a letter to Samuel Cooper, 1777. Major William T. Coffey, Jr., Patriot Hearts (Colorado Springs, CO: Purple Mountain Publishing), p. 290. Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Colonel Charles Yancy, January 6, 1816. Ibid Patriot Hearts, p. 289. Stephen, McDowell. “American Exceptionalism.” Providence Foundation, 14 October 2022, https://providencefoundation.com/american-exceptionalism/. Accessed 22 March 2023. Guinness, Os. Zero Hour America: History’s Ultimatum Over Freedom and the Answer We Must Give. InterVarsity Press, 2022. Lincoln, Abraham. “President Abraham Lincoln’s Second Annual Message to Congress, December 1, 1862.” National Archives, 25 July 2019, https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/sotu/lincoln.html. Accessed 22 March 2023. https://quotefancy.com/quote/772035/Benjamin-Franklin-Tis-a-common-observation-here-that-our-cause-is-the-cause-of-all https://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2026/01/eternal-vigilance-is-the-price-of-liberty/

Church in the Rotunda? As we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday this week, it is good to be reminded that God created America for His purposes. It is clear that the motivation of the early settlers, long before we became a nation, included furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ. John Winthrop, an English lawyer and leading figure in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, led the first large wave of colonists from England in 1630 and served as governor for twelve of the colony’s first 20 years. On the voyage to America aboard the Arbella, Winthrop composed a lay sermon, “A Model of Christian Charity,” in which he pictured the Massachusetts colonists in covenant with God and each other, divinely ordained to build “a city upon a hill” in New England. He took this phrase from Christ’s message in Matthew 5:14.(1) “On May 19, 1643, Winthrop organized the New England Confederation among the Colonists of New Plymouth, New Haven, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. They covenanted together under the Constitution of the New England Confederation. Here is a portion of the covenant: “‘Whereas we all came to these parts of America with the same end and aim, namely to advance the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the gospel thereof with purities and peace, and for preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the gospel.’”(2) Just over 130 years later, following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a committee was appointed to design a seal for the newly formed United States to express the spirit of the nation. Thomas Jefferson, who penned the Declaration, suggested that it be “the children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.”(3) Wouldn’t that have given today’s Marxists, leftists, and secularists indigestion?! Facts such as these infuriate the progressives and revisionists on the left, who want to distort America’s heritage and destiny. But the facts clearly reveal that our Founders knew the birth of America was orchestrated by God – not just for their benefit, but for His as well. No, they did not want to establish a national religion or favor one religious group over another. But did they know God was involved in our founding, and did they want His involvement to continue? Absolutely. Satan certainly doesn’t want this, which is why he motivates individuals to try to transform us into a godless, secularist nation. One of his most successful campaigns to remove God’s influence from our government and our education system is the oft-repeated doctrine concerning “the separation of church and state.” This phrase is not in the Constitution, of course, but instead, in a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to assure one concerned religious group that there would never be a national religion, as there was in Britain.(4) The First Amendment prevents the government from establishing an official religion or interfering with the free exercise of religion. It was NOT about keeping God’s–or the Bible’s–influence out of government. Just two days after writing this letter, Jefferson actually attended a church service in the rotunda of the Capitol! In fact, there was a church service in the Capitol rotunda every Sunday for the first 100 years of our nation!!!(5) Can you imagine?! We have certainly defiled God’s plan for America at times throughout our history, polluting the nation with unrighteousness, selfish ambition, and greed. That, however, has not changed His plan. It simply means we must be revived in heart and mind, reconstituted in purpose, and restored to this destiny. This is occurring and is why the Rededication of our nation to God on May 17 of this year was so strategic and powerful. (You may have noticed that no liberals or leftists showed up at the Rededication events. They DO NOT want God’s influence in our nation.) Thankfully, the praying church and God-honoring patriots are rising to the occasion in this season, just as Esther, Deborah, David, Joshua, Caleb, Nehemiah, Haggai, and many others did in Israel’s history. These people served God’s purpose in their generation (Acts 13:36). Now, it is our turn…and we WILL serve His purposes, as did our Founders, the spiritual warriors of the First and Second Great Awakenings, Lincoln and his generation, and the selfless heroes of two World Wars! We are appealing to heaven for our help, just as the early patriots did, and we will persevere in doing so. Yes, these are trying times, but we are not “summer soldiers” or “sunshine patriots,” as Thomas Paine wrote in his book Common Sense in 1776, those who shrink from duty in times of crisis.(6) We are sons and daughters of the Most High God, constrained by His heart and committed to His cause here and around the world. We have knelt with Hunt at Cape Henry’s cross, embracing the covenant he declared and committing our lives to its fulfillment. In our hearts, we have signed the Declaration and pledged our allegiance. Because we are partnering with the Supreme Owner and Ruler of the earth, who is the strength of this operation, we will not fail. America shall be saved. The harvest of the ages will be reaped because the Father promised it to His Son, and His Son has raised up a church over which the gates of hell cannot prevail. This is all guaranteed through the victory of the Cross, the covenant established through the shedding of Christ’s blood, and His overseeing of it (Hebrews 7:22). We, the church, are now spiritual enforcers of this victory, and we will continue to do so. We will not be intimidated by any shaking, nor any uprising of demonic forces here and around the world. We can endure course corrections because we, like Christ, are looking at the joy set before us (Hebrews 12:2). We will not be intimidated by unprincipled and corrupt politicians, judges, dictators, or armies. We are more than conquerors and know that we cannot be separated from the love of Christ (Romans 8:37-39). We do not fear any evil, including death (Psalm 23:4). Fly the flag this week. Keep your patriotism aligned with the cause of Christ, and make no apologies for it. Grab the baton from our Founders and press on. Continue daily in passionate prayer for America’s restoration, and align with others who do so. Pray with me: Father, we are so thankful for this great nation You raised up. We are jealous for Your Kingdom purposes here and around the world–we’re all in. Make this nation once again the trumpet You intended her to be, blasting the Jubilee message of the gospel to all the world. Change all that is needed to fully restore this destiny, then take it to the next level. Awaken and reform. We pray for President Trump–keep him strong. Encourage him–do not let evil wear him down. We pray for our leaders in Congress as they legislate and as they investigate and uncover corruption. Lead them, give them wisdom, and protect them, their families, and staff. Give them boldness and tenacity, meekness and humility. May they have the anointing of Jeremiah to “root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build and plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). And we continue to pray for a spiritual harvest of millions in the Middle East. We ask You to continue the process of dethroning “the prince of Persia” (Daniel 10) and all of his allies, ending violence, destruction, and spiritual blindness. Turn the tables on them and end their terror. End the plans of other evil leaders around the world to steal, kill, destroy, rule unrighteously, and hinder Your great harvest. Show Yourself strong against them! We commit to standing for these things, asking for and believing for them in the name of Jesus. Amen. Our decree: Just as the patriots of old, we appeal to heaven for God’s help and wisdom. He will give us victory. Click on the link below to watch the the video. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Winthrop Leo Godzich, Faith of Our Fathers (Phoenix, AZ: NAME Publishers), p. 33. William J. Federer, America’s God and Country (Coppell, TX: FAME Publishing, Inc.) p. 322. https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel06-2.html https://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/c-01.htm

Poignant Words from Ronald Reagan In yesterday’s post, we saluted Old Glory. Heavy doses of patriotism will continue throughout this week. Two hundred fifty years ago, on July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed the Resolution for Independence, declaring the freedom of America’s 13 colonies from Great Britain. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, which officially announced and explained the case for independence, was approved. Throughout the week, we will celebrate this monumental day. George Washington, when addressing his troops regarding the War of Independence, stated with sobriety: “The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die.”(1) Washington, it seems, was prophetic when he said, “The fate of unborn millions…will depend on the courage of this army.” Fast-forward 168 years to Normandy, France, and the decisive battle of WWII, known as D-Day. This bloody and horrific battle turned the tide against Hitler’s evil plans. Pvt. Charles Neighbor said of that day, “As our boat touched sand and the ramp went down, I became a visitor to Hell.”(2) Pointe Du Hoc Pointe du Hoc is a prominent cliff on the coast of Normandy. It was a strategic point heavily fortified by the Germans. The United States Army Ranger Assault Group scaled the cliffs under intense enemy fire to capture and secure the location. At the 40th Anniversary of the D-Day Ceremony Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, France, on June 6, 1984, President Ronald Reagan gave a powerful speech entitled “The Boys of Pointe du Hoc.” Here is a portion: “We’re here to mark that day in history when the Allied peoples joined in battle to reclaim this continent for liberty. For four long years, much of Europe had been under a terrible shadow. Free nations had fallen, Jews cried out in the camps, and millions cried out for liberation. Europe was enslaved, and the world prayed for its rescue. Here in Normandy, the rescue began. Here, the Allies stood and fought against tyranny in a giant undertaking unparalleled in human history. “We stand on a lonely, windswept point on the northern shore of France. The air is soft, but forty years ago at this moment, the air was dense with smoke, and the cries of men, and the air was filled with the crack of rifle fire and the roar of cannon. At dawn, on the morning of the 6th of June 1944, 225 Rangers jumped off the British landing craft and ran to the bottom of these cliffs. “Their mission was one of the most difficult and daring of the invasion: to climb these sheer and desolate cliffs and take out the enemy guns. The Allies had been told that some of the mightiest of these guns were here, and they would be trained on the beaches to stop the Allied advance. “The Rangers looked up and saw the enemy soldiers - at the edge of the cliffs, shooting down at them with machine guns and throwing grenades. And the American Rangers began to climb. They shot rope ladders over the face of these cliffs and began to pull themselves up. When one Ranger fell, another would take his place. When one rope was cut, a Ranger would grab another and begin his climb again. They climbed, shot back, and held their footing. Soon, one by one, the Rangers pulled themselves over the top, and in seizing the firm land at the top of these cliffs, they began to seize back the continent of Europe. Two hundred and twenty-five came here. After two days of fighting only ninety could still bear arms. “Behind me is a memorial that symbolizes the Ranger daggers that were thrust into the top of these cliffs. And before me are the men who put them there. “These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc. These are the men who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war. “Gentlemen, I look at you, and I think of the words of Stephen Spender's poem. You are men who in your ‘lives fought for life...and left the vivid air signed with your honor…’ “Forty summers have passed since the battle that you fought here. You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet you risked everything here; why? Why did you do it? What compelled you to put aside the instinct for self-preservation and risk your lives to take these cliffs? What inspired all the men of the armies that met here? We look at you, and somehow, we know the answer. It was faith and belief; it was loyalty and love… “You all knew that some things are worth dying for. One’s country is worth dying for, and democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man. All of you loved liberty. All of you were willing to fight tyranny, and you knew the people of your countries were behind you. “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us that we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done.”(3) On her 250th birthday, America faces another war for her freedom. This war is ideological, but no less consequential. Liberty and the salvation of millions depend on the courage of the spiritual army called the church, the Ekklesia. With God as our help, as surely as we celebrate liberty on July 4 and victory over tyranny on June 6, we will one day celebrate victory over this attempt to destroy America and delay God’s great harvest. Pray with me: Father, You had great plans for America, and still do. We have sown much toward the spreading of the gospel and given much to humanitarian causes around the world. Yet, we lost our way and, like the prodigal, squandered our inheritance and forsook our destiny. Thank You for the fresh start You have promised. Continue to orchestrate this turnaround and a new beginning. We know that the fate of untold millions still hangs in the balance. We will not relent in our prayers and efforts until we see complete victory. Refresh and refire Your intercessors. And Father, You told us to pray for those in authority; we do so again today. We ask that divine wisdom be given to President Trump, leaders in Congress, and Supreme Court Justices. Our President is so hated. We ask that You protect him, his family members, and staff. Expose EVERY plan to harm them and bring the plan/s to nothing. Keep the watchmen engaged. Please guide and direct our leaders in the conflict with Iran, and end the influence of the evil regime that has ruled there. Bring forth Your solution. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen. Our decree: We decree that the ideological war for the soul of America will be won by Yahweh through the prayers of the body of Christ. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Major William T. Coffey, Patriot Hearts, (Purple Mountain Publishing: Colorado Springs, CO), p. 118. Ibid, p. 16. https://voicesofdemocracy.umd.edu/ronald-reagan-normandy-speech-point-du-hoc/

Old Glory Ceci and I will be flying our American flag proudly this week, as usual, augmented by several USA pleated fan flags hanging on our fence, with a 250 Year Celebration fan flag hanging on the gate. No one will question our patriotism. Many on the Left no longer love our nation. Referring to this lack of patriotism, Speaker Mike Johnson said a few days back, “Sadly, many of these Democrat candidates and their voters just don’t have the same zeal and affection for America. They don’t appreciate the freedom that we have in this country. They’re not even going to celebrate on July 4. There’s a new NBC poll that came out. Did you see that only 29% of Democrat voters that they polled said they’re proud to be an American? What happened to the Democrat Party?”(1) A leading New York Democratic congressional candidate, Darializa Avila Chevalier, once spoke of her dishonor for the flag, posting, “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me.”(2) Yea, you know, the flag they drape over the caskets of deceased American soldiers, then carefully fold and present to their next-of-kin. That flag. Seven states said they would not be participating in the Great American State Fair: Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington. They feel it is too political. Obviously, not everyone in those states would feel this way, but those in charge do. Their hatred of Trump is greater thank their love of America. Today, for those of you who still revere this emblem of freedom and liberty, I thought I would share how our flag received the nickname, Old Glory. It began with Captain William Driver, a 19th-century American sea captain. Driver went to sea when he was just 13 years old, and in 1824, at 21 years of age, became a master mariner. Shortly thereafter, he took command of his own ship, the Charles Doggett. To celebrate, his mother and a circle of local women sewed him a massive, 17-by-10-foot American flag. Driver was very moved by the gift, and as it unfurled in the ocean breeze, he named the flag, Old Glory. The flag became his constant companion, flying from his mast for years, traveling around the world with him. Driver viewed it as a symbol of freedom, unity, and his homeland. In 1837, Driver retired from his sailing career and moved his family to Nashville, Tennessee, bringing his beloved, weathered flag with him. He was known for stringing a rope from his attic window to a tree across the street to proudly fly Old Glory on every civic holiday. However, trouble came when the Civil War broke out in 1861, and Tennessee seceded from the Union. Though Driver was a staunch Unionist, he found himself surrounded by Confederates. He refused to back down, in spite of the risks, and continued displaying Old Glory! His defiant display of the flag quickly made him a target, and local Confederate soldiers came to his house demanding he hand it over. Driver, then nearly 60 years old, stood on his porch and allegedly told them they would have to walk over his dead body to take it. Knowing the Confederates would return with a search warrant, Driver realized he had to hide his prized possession. He took Old Glory to a neighboring family of Union sympathizers. Together, they folded the massive flag, placed it between layers of fabric, and sewed it inside a heavy quilt. For several months, Confederate soldiers repeatedly searched Driver’s home, turning it upside down looking for the famous flag, never suspecting that the old blanket sitting on his bed held Old Glory. In February of 1862, Nashville became the first Confederate capital to fall to Union forces. When the 6th Ohio Regiment marched into the city and raised a small Union flag over the state capitol, Driver knew it was time. He walked up to the Union commanders carrying the old calico quilt over his arm. After confirming he was speaking to Union officers, he pulled out his pocket knife and began ripping open the seams of the quilt. To the absolute amazement of the soldiers, he pulled out the giant, 24-star “Old Glory.” Despite his age, Captain Driver personally climbed to the roof of the Tennessee State Capitol, took down the small flag, and hoisted his huge flag over the city. The soldiers broke into cheers, and the 6th Ohio Regiment even adopted “Old Glory” as their official motto. Captain Driver took his flag down shortly - it was too worn and tattered at this point to survive long in the strong winds - and preserved it for the rest of his life. In 1922, his descendants presented the original Old Glory to the Smithsonian Institution, where it is still preserved today at the National Museum of American History. There, it stands as a testimony to one man’s fierce and defiant patriotism.(3) Fly “Old Glory” this week, and proudly demonstrate your patriotism. Salute it, say the pledge, and pray for God’s blessing on our nation. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for Your great love for the entire world. Red, yellow, black and white - You love us all. This week, as we celebrate our homeland, we are mindful that You love all people equally the same. And we pray for all people throughout the world today, that they would experience Your blessing and a powerful outpouring of Your Spirit. Your Word tells us, however, that there is significance to where we were born and placed by You. Acts 17:26 says You chose our time in which to live and the place of our habitation. We accept the responsibility that comes with this. We pray for America, as others now pray for their nation, asking for healing and the recovery of purpose and strength. And we here in America do not take for granted the incredible prosperity we partake of and the freedoms we enjoy. We are humbled by the abundance we experience. May we ever be mindful of the price others have paid to win this freedom - the blood, sweat and tears. May we also ever remember and be grateful for the favor that came from You, because of our allegiance to You. We have enjoyed Your providential care and blessing. We thank You, and pledge, by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, to turn our nation back to You. Amen. Our decree: We decree that America is one nation under God, and that she will remain under His authority and care. Click on the link below to watch the video. https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2902 https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/chevalier-american-flag-tweet/ Adapted from https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/william-driver/, https://salempl.org/wiki/index.php?title=Driver,_Capt._William, and Google, Gemini.

The River is Flowing As I considered what to release in today’s post, Holy Spirit reminded me of 2 dreams He gave Gina Gholston a few years back. I have shared the dreams before on Give Him 15, but felt strongly impressed to do so again. Dreams of this nature are not to be read and forgotten. They are to become a seed of promise we nurture and call forth until they are fulfilled. In the dreams, the Lord was merging the fruits of several historical revivals, including the Welsh revival. The setting of the first dream (in 2020) was the Red River Meeting House near Russellville, Kentucky, which Gina mentioned once again in a recent post. A mighty revival occurred there in 1800. In the dream, she saw a geyser burst forth, releasing waters of revival, and the Lord said, “It’s time!” God was revealing that past wells of revival would be reopened in our day. She then saw 100 bald eagles being sent out from the Red River Meeting House, drenched in the waters of that reopened well; each eagle was carrying three arrows and a rolled-up piece of paper in their talons. In the same dream, Gina also saw lines being drawn on a map of the United States. Those lines connected the Red River Meeting House, Cane Ridge (the 1801 revival), and Azusa Street (the 1906 revival), forming what appeared to be a spearhead. Then another line came from the nation of Wales (the revival of 1903-1904), forming what looked like the shaft of the spear. Each of these is a location that experienced major moves of God in past years, bringing spiritual transformation. As she saw this formation in the dream, the Lord said to Gina, “I am going to spearhead another greater move of My Spirit in your time, and it’s time.” The Second Dream Then, in 2021, Gina had another dream in which she was standing with someone on a deck-like structure in the heavens. From this place, they were looking down, observing the United States of America. Gina did not know who the man standing next to her was, but she could feel a strong anointing emanating from him, and his presence was giving her an indescribable hope for America! As they looked down, they saw what first appeared to be warplanes flying over the U.S. The man next to her nonchalantly said, “Oh my, I wonder what is happening in America? And what do all of these warplanes mean?” He said this, not with concern, but almost as though he wanted Gina to see something that wasn’t obvious. He looked at her as if she should know the right answer to his questions. Gina said to him, “Those are not warplanes. Those are eagles! I have seen them before in a dream. There are one hundred of them, and they are carrying water from a well of revival that has been unlocked and is now gushing forth into the nation.” Though it had been a year since the first dream, she noticed that each eagle was still drenched with water from the opened revival well of Red River Meeting House, and in their talons were the 300 arrows and the rolled-up piece of paper. As the eagles flew across America, they suddenly began to dive simultaneously toward the land. It appeared that they would hit the ground, but they leveled off and began dropping their 300 arrows. [Many intercessors participated in a prophetic act regarding this in 2023, burying 300 arrowheads throughout the nation.] When each arrow hit the ground, it ignited as though it had hit a gas pocket. Up from that spot would come a spiraling column of fire. Then the water - yes, the water - the eagles were releasing began to be ignited by the fire until it seemed that all of America was ablaze. In the dream, Gina fell to her knees, becoming acutely aware of God’s power and presence! The gentleman next to her then began to speak under a heavy anointing. He said: “You have seen correctly! This is how America will be saved! Do not doubt it! A sweeping move of the Spirit of God is coming, igniting the land with the fire of His presence, bringing a swift and undeniable awakening. What appears to be one thing is about to be revealed as another thing. Some are in fear because of how things appear, but others SEE with holy awe and expectation! The eagles are on assignment. They carry ‘Fire Power.’ They carry glory, and at the precise moment, their arrows will be released, and they will hit their targets, and the move of God will ignite and spread very quickly!” He then said again, “DO NOT DOUBT IT!” Gina then instinctively knew in the dream, that this man was Duncan Campbell. That was the end of the dream. Duncan Campbell was a leader in another major move of God that took place in the Hebrides Islands from 1949 to 1952. The revival fires that burned in those islands were so powerful and transforming that multitudes were born again as the glory of God filled the land. It is of great significance that God put this man in the dream. It declares to us that the same transforming power of God that saved the Hebrides Islands will manifest in our time to save our nation! And I don’t believe it is a coincidence that President Trump has a strong connection to the Hebrides revival. His mother was from the Hebrides and was deeply impacted by the revival. She gave him a Bible that had been given to her during the revival, and President Trump was sworn into office on this Bible. Our President, who recently called for America’s rededication to God, has roots in the revival referenced in this dream! No way is this a coincidence! I believe we are entering another phase in this dream’s fulfillment. The dropping of the fiery arrows in the dream, and symbolized by the prophetic acts of planting 300 arrowheads in 2023, pictures what is beginning. The fires of awakening in America and around the world have been lit. Strategic pockets of revival in history are being opened, merging with prophetic promises for our day. This has begun. Though it may have seemed that America was destined for imminent destruction, God is saying, “Look again! See things from My perspective.” Our great God, who loves to redeem, has a plan! And He has declared His verdict: “America shall be saved!” That salvation will come by way of another great move of His Spirit! This is a prophetic promise that has been “set to the rhythm of heaven’s time clock,” and God is saying, “It’s time!” God has chosen the location of the fire pockets. Fires of revival will now spring up! Watch for this. Stay focused and filled with expectation. The fire may seem small at first, but a spark can quickly become a blazing fire, demonstrating the reality of our all-powerful, all-consuming God. As Duncan Campbell said in the dream, “Do not doubt it!” Pray with me: Father, saturate us with the waters of Your Word, and of the river of Your Spirit (John 7:37-39). You have said we will witness an undeniable move of Your Spirit, ignited by the release of the arrows of Your glory! Cause the church to change her perspective, Lord, no longer judging things by what we see through the lens of our natural understanding. Cause us to look with holy awe and expectation, as this dream shows us. You are at work, and we will now witness a supernatural awakening as You spearhead another “greater” move of Your Spirit. And Father, we refuse to grow weary in our faith and efforts. We have supernatural strength and endurance!! We have power from heaven coursing through us! We are well able to take the land! Spiritual giants will fall at the name of Jesus, releasing territories from their evil hold! Revival will blaze, governments will shift, nations will transform! The mighty river of Holy Spirit is flowing and will surge to flood levels. Your agenda will prevail, in the all-powerful name of Jesus. Our decree: We decree that the arrows of God’s glory are hitting their targets, and the fire of Holy Spirit is igniting our land with awakening. Today’s post was adapted from dreams given to our friend Gina Gholston. You can find out more about her at GinaGholston.com. Click on the link below to watch the video.

Back from the Brink Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned this week, which means the United Kingdom is now on its 7th prime minister in 10 years. During this span, England has been in a free fall of almost unprecedented proportions. The economy is in shambles, migrants are taking over cities, crime is rampant, and freedoms are eroding frighteningly fast. Globalism, woke-ism, and progressive leaders are destroying this once “Great” nation. “Before Brexit [Britain’s exit from the European Union, which occurred in 2020], 58% of migrants came from the European Union. In 2024, 90% came from outside the EU, while total immigration has nearly doubled in just five years. This is the opposite of what British people wanted. “In the year ending December, 2025, police in England and Wales recorded 74,174 rape offenses. That is approximately 200/day. “For decades, grooming gangs [a heinous practice of enticing vulnerable young children into “friendships” through food or money, then eventually forcing them into sexual exploitation, even slavery] operated freely across 149 towns and cities in the UK. Police knew. Local councils knew. The government knew. They let thousands of little girls be abused because they were afraid of being called racist. “The UK now arrests more people for what they say online than any other country in Europe. Police made 12,183 arrests in 2023 under offensive communications laws. That is around 33 people arrested every day for what they said or posted. “The health system collapsed. In September, 2024, over 7 million people were waiting for treatment. A hundred thousand of them waited for more than a year. In the emergency room, 4 out of 10 won’t be seen within 4 hours. “The UK now spends more on welfare than it raises from income tax. (£333 billion paid out, £329 billion collected from workers.) “In May alone, the UK borrowed £23.3 billion. The second highest figure ever recorded for a single month. Government debt is now at 95% of GDP. Debt interest payments cost £11.7 billion in May alone, £4 billion more than a year ago. The country is ungovernable and bankrupt. “It is widely reported that in 2025, the UK lost more millionaires than any other country on earth. They took around £66 billion in liquid wealth with them. “It is not just the rich leaving. In 2025, 246,000 British nationals left the UK. A quarter of a million Brits decided life was better somewhere else.”(1) Unfortunately, this isn’t likely to change anytime soon. The next Prime Minister will probably be Andy Burnham, who many say is further left than Starmer. A similar downfall to Britain’s–and other European nations, by the way–had also been occurring in America for several years. And it is what God is using President Trump and others to stop. We were on the edge of the cliff and teetering. Thank God, this is changing. The weakening and deterioration of Western nations has been by design. There are different philosophies/groups that want to control the world: an elite group of globalists want control; Marxists/communists want control; and radical Islamists want to rule the world. Although their motives differ, their goals are the same: world domination. The free, Western world stands in their way. Thus, the great, prolonged attack on Western values, ideals, and strengths. Trump is not our savior, but God uses people, and He is using this man. The President wants a strong, free, prosperous, and great America. Whatever human motives or ambitions may influence him, I am confident he is also motivated by God and a true love for America. As I have stated before, something changed in Trump after Butler, PA. The saving of his life was too extraordinary not to have been miraculous, and he knows it. He walked away from the experience knowing God spared his life for a reason, a purpose, a divine destiny. And he is determined to accomplish that purpose, regardless of the opposition, the challenges, and even the grueling pace. President Trump is certainly not a perfect man; he has his weaknesses, as does everyone. We are all fallible humans, needing God’s grace, strength, wisdom, and guidance. But like Queen Esther, he was “born for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Pray for our President and his entire team. Especially pray that they walk in humility before God. The beatitude in Matthew 5:3 says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The New Living Translation states, “God blesses those who…realize their need for him.” Pray that Trump and all those in his administration realize just how much they need God’s guidance and help. And pray for Britain. The world is better with a strong Great Britain, and, of course, a strong Europe. Pray that the entire continent experiences a great revival and reformation. Europe gave us Martin Luther, John and Charles Wesley, Rees Howells, Evan Roberts, Count Zinzendorf and the Moravians, George Whitefield, and much of our spiritual heritage. Pray that they recover and experience a sweeping revival. And never stop praying for America. We are inextricably connected with God’s plans on earth. He needs a strong, free, and righteous America. This is not arrogance or pride–HE raised up this nation for HIS purposes. We exist for Him and His glory. Stay focused in Your prayers for the emerging revival and reformation–He is saving us. His Kingdom is coming, His will is being done in America. Ignore the naysayers and critics. Never back up, never back down, and never quit. Pray with me: Father, blessed are those who know their desperate need of You. You said this dependency opens the door of access to Your Kingdom benefits. We are quick to say we need Your assistance; we’re totally incapable of accomplishing eternal good in our own human strength. It is through You, the Greater One within us (1 John 4:4), that we can overcome and accomplish great things. We pray that Your Spirit in President Trump would keep him reminded of his great need for You. You gave him great gifts and talents. But sometimes we humans forget where our abilities come from, especially after experiencing success. This leads us to rely on ourselves rather than on You. At times, pride enters, causing us to fall. Remind President Trump daily of how much he and his team need Your grace, wisdom, and guidance. We pray for America. Save, revive, restore, renew, and reform her. We pray also for our friends in Great Britain. Make them great again. Cause revival to sweep throughout that land and all of Europe. Save many millions and use them once again as beacons of light. All of this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We declare that God is able to make all grace abound toward us; that we, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8). Click on the link below to watch the video. Data taken from these sources: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ4mqWojrNI/?img_index=7 https://cy.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingdecember2025 https://www.instagram.com/p/DZFS9PvkxQN/ https://www.facebook.com/1garethwynjones/posts/for-info-the-most-widely-cited-figure-is-12183-arrests-in-2023-by-police-forces-/1565291191879912/ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/04/labour-welfare-bill-income-tax-revenue/ https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/uk-government-borrowing-jumps-interest-071131399.html https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/uk-lose-millionaires-wealth-tax-nom-doms-050044002.html https://x.com/ONS/status/2057385697460322732

Introduction Today’s post is from Gina Gholston, and is an important word on adjusting our vision or perspective in order to see what God is doing NOW. Today’s title is: Seeing from a New Perspective Dutch recently shared that he feels the Lord is transitioning us from the forerunning stage into the fruit-bearing and harvesting stage. When I heard him say this, I was immediately reminded of the time I was on a prayer assignment at the Red River Meeting House with a fellow intercessor. At one point during that assignment, as we walked those wooden floors praying in the Spirit, I felt the Lord direct me to sit on a bench and face the back doors. As I sat there, my attention was instantly drawn to a field visible through one of the open doors. There I saw a farmer on his tractor, plowing. It was a hot, dry day, and the dust billowed behind him as he prepared the soil. Watching the tractor circle the field, my thoughts began to gravitate toward the intense labor, dedication, cost, and faith that goes into farming. Then, suddenly, the Lord interrupted my thoughts as He instructed me to turn my head to the right and look out the window. As I looked out the window, I got a glimpse of another field, which had tall corn stalks that were almost ready for harvest. There was still work to be done in this field, but it required a different approach. I stood to my feet and moved closer to the window. The closer I got to the window, the broader the view of the field became. I realized that what I saw was determined by where I stood, and I heard the Lord say, “I’m repositioning My people to see things from a different perspective.” Though no wind had been stirring at all that day, suddenly a huge, intense gust came, and the door that I had previously been looking through was instantly slammed shut. The other door beside it and all of the window shutters remained open. Only that one door closed. The timing of the gust and the fact that no other wind gusts came led me to realize this wasn’t just something happening in the natural; it was a spiritual lesson! I immediately heard the Lord say, “Don’t look that way again! The door is closed, and the window is open, revealing opportunities and purpose that lie ahead. I am changing your focus!” This was a powerful illustration giving me instruction for transitional moments, such as the ones we find ourselves in now. I remember another word the Lord once said to me concerning times of transition. He said, “This is the moment to go beyond. The glory on the path ahead is ready to be reaped. Past obedience has cast seeds ahead that have now blossomed into a harvest of supply, enabling you to advance with My purposes.” As forerunning intercessors, we have faithfully partnered with the Lord as He leads us in intercession, prophetic prayer assignments, and decreeing His prophetic promises. Laboring in the previous seasons was not a waste of time; it was an investment of time, in which we sowed seeds that have now yielded a harvest that must be reaped. This moment launches us into the next part of God’s plan; we must accurately discern this new season to make necessary adjustments, rather than simply continuing to operate in what has become familiar. As we worked together with Him, the Lord worked through us to prepare the way for His glory and plan to be released. Now, He is declaring, “The glory is here.” This is the transition, and we must recognize it and continue to follow Holy Spirit as He guides us forward. The fruit of our past obedience is now being revealed, and we rejoice for this! It’s what we’ve longed for. But though much has been done, there is still more to do. The journey continues. The wind is blowing, and the Lord is calling His church to attention. He has opened the window, and is repositioning many of us. We must re-adjust our gaze to see and respond to Him based on what He is showing us now. If we try to advance with an old perspective, our old season will become our new season. We will find ourselves expending resources, energy, time, and attention doing things out of habit, rather than obedience to the current leading of Holy Spirit. The season has shifted, and though our overall mission remains the same—to make Christ known and to see the knowledge of the glory of the Lord cover the earth (Habakkuk 2:14)—the harvest season requires new perspective and right alignment with Yahweh’s current strategies and guidance. Holy Spirit searches the deep thoughts of God and reveals His wisdom to us (1 Corinthians 2). If we receive and align with that wisdom, we will know how to cooperate with the Lord, which will enable us to discover that which He has prepared for us now. We’ve been in a season of sowing prophetic seeds of purpose. The sowing of seeds in one season yields fruit for the next. God transitions us into times of reaping a harvest this has prepared. We are in such a time, and the Ekklesia must recognize the shift. God is repositioning us to see things from a different perspective so we can work effectively with Him. The window of opportunity is open; it is a time to go beyond where we’ve been. It is a time to reap the harvest Yahweh has purposed. Pray with me: Father, thank You for guiding and working through us in the past season, and thank You for bringing us into this season to reap that which has been prepared. We know that our labor in You has not been in vain. Our past obedience of sowing seeds is now bearing the fruit of Your purposes. Help us discern this moment so that we can align effectively with You. We ask for a fresh “now” perspective—Your perspective. Give us grace and wisdom as we make this transition from preparation to harvest. Wind of God, we ask that You shut the doors that keep us preoccupied with focusing on the past seasons. We turn to You and submit to Your leading; help us to see and go beyond. We ask that You fulfill Your purpose and leave nothing undone. We ask that Your Spirit continue to move in the earth. Lord, we ask that You guide our governmental leaders with wisdom from on high. Strengthen their fortitude and encourage them to do what is right before You. Protect them with divine protection–send Your angel armies to protect what is Your will and plan for America. We continue to agree with You for Your will to be accomplished for our great nation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen! Our decree: We will rise with renewed focus to accomplish God’s desires and purpose. You can find out more about Gina and her ministry at GinaGholston.com. Click on the link below to watch the the video.