There’s something special about a sea of red, white, and blue flags waving on a spirit-filled street. 

I didn’t realize until I got older how special it is to have holidays noted on the calendar. I must admit I don’t celebrate every holiday, and as an American, that’s my choice. But July 4th is special to me. First, July 4^th is the first part of the last half of the year. It plunges most of the country into the dog days of summer, cold watermelon, and fireflies. What’s not to like?

The 4^th begs the patriotic to watch a parade. I love watching a sea of red, white, and blue flags filling a spirited street – Ole Glory at her best. Even choosing whether to stand, park myself on a sunny street curb or find a coveted place in the shade to wave my flag becomes an event. I particularly like to find a choice spot where I can watch candy being thrown from floats to young and old alike. While I sip sweet tea from an insulated 16-oz., it gives me a sweet time to reflect on life and liberty. 

Some citizens go to parks to spread checkered tablecloths over picnic tables. Others will celebrate with backyard barbecues, bicycle rides, hitting balls of all types, swimming in Auntie’s pool, watching grandchildren play, or hanging out waiting for the homemade ice cream to finish churning. Whether its sinking teeth into a cold slice of watermelon or grabbing a napkin to catch the drips from a juicy hamburger, ribs, hot-dog or saUSAage, most of us will find no matter how we celebrate this 4^th, life is pretty good in America.

It is sad to think of a Nation having to suffer to bring about its freedom. For those that protect now and for those that courageously rescued us from dark periods in history, may we honor them by living our best lives in a land that mostly honors life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

As a Nation watches the last fireworks tear across the sky honoring our nation’s freedom, I hope some of its people take a moment to honor the One who came to give us spiritual freedom. I can only hope as our hands clap at the bursts of light in the sky on the evening of the 4th, we clasp our hands flat together for the God-man that rode into a city on a donkey, shared supper with his friends and relatives, and soon after bore stripes of red and blue for us across His back.

As we celebrate on the 4^th, I picture in my mind a Nation standing shoulder to shoulder, united in our founding fathers beliefs, and looking forward to a future day of ultimate celebration. That day is the day Jesus comes back wearing white, the color of heavenly victory.

God bless you and yours. Have a great 4th and be safe.

2 Corinthians 4:6 AMP

“For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).”

•    "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig!"

I like pigs, but I prefer my pigs in the form of bacon with two eggs on the side. Better yet, slow-smoked in my son’s Big Green Egg bathed in bar-be-cue sauce. Over time, my husband and I have found our home wears a lot of lipstick—not in attractive colors either.

The latest pig in a poke was our home’s side entrance. Better known down south as the friend’s porch. The concrete around the flagstone was crumbling. Repairs were overdue. When the contractor tore it out, we were told there wasn’t an adequate foundation underneath. Surprise! Surprise!­—my interpretation of Mayberry’s Gomer Pyle.

There were concrete blocks, you know, the heavy ones with the holes in them, and a sundry of construction junk. How did the porch withstand weight, rain, and passage of time? One can only speculate. The repairs included removing the weak foundation. Then, and only then, could the porch be rebuilt.

Isn’t that the same with our hearts? We can apply all the cosmetics we want, but it probably needs a rework if we feel it crumbling. The heart needs the right contractor, too.

We are fortunate. We can call on Jesus to assess our heart condition and get rid of the junk. (Jesus will gladly do the cleaning). Only then can we be rebuilt and benefit from a foundation laid with suitable materials (God’s Word). Upon that foundation, we apply our stone (Spiritual fruit). We will find when He rebuilds and we maintain His work correctly, we will last a lifetime.

Some day, I’ll ask my husband if he is ready to tackle another home improvement project. I could expect to hear, “When pigs fly!” But really, that sounds more like something I might say. Until that time, where’s that lipstick.

Verse of the Month:

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor uselessly...”