Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, Fourth of July celebration is coming right up, may we pause a moment to consider what it means to be an American. America was not founded on the idea of being "free lunch" - we're given the opportunity to work, to feel good about ourselves and to help others and to pray for our leaders. Psalm 33:12: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people He has chosen as His own."

Just sharing: "I BELIEVE IN AMERICA!' by William Arthur Ward

"I believe in America. I believe it became great because of its faith in God, its hope for independence and its love for freedom.

"I am grateful for America's glorious past;

"I am awed by its unbelievable present;

"I am confident of its limitless future.

"I am not ashamed to take my hat off and to stand at attention when Old Glory passes by.

"I do not apologize for the lump in my throat when I repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.

"I am not embarrassed by the tears in my eyes when I hear 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'

"Like millions of Americans, I want a free choice, NOT a free handout.

"I prefer an opportunity to prove my abilities on the job rather than a licenses to demonstrate my frustrations in the street.

"I am an old-fashioned American with a new-found determination to do my part to make Democracy work!"

There's a prayer for everything, absolutely everything should be bathed in prayer! Give us Thy secret, Lord, and the power to share it with our fellow beings, that we may make duties stronger, simpler, sweeter; become worthy messengers of Him who saw His Father's goodness in the sparrow's flight, and His love in the beauty of the lilies of the field[1] - we ask this in His dear name. Amen!

Love, Mara

(1) Mat. 6:28-30 "And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't He more surely care for you, O men of little faith?"