1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're so glad 2 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: to have you listening. I'm Lynette Kittle, and today's topic 3 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: is why honoring our Flag pleases God. We'll be right 4 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: back after a brief message from our sponsor. Why Honoring 5 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 1: our Flag Pleases God? Written and read by Lynette Kittle. 6 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: A thousand will flee at the thread of one, at 7 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: the thread of five, you will all flee, you away 8 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, 9 00:00:54,520 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 1: like a banner on a hill Isaiah thirty seventeen. Individuals 10 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: and groups have stomped on it, carried it upside down, 11 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: cut it up, and burned it. Yet our nation's flag 12 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: keeps on flying and representing to many around the world, 13 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 1: even if not to summon the United States, a sign 14 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 1: of hope and true freedom. On this two hundred and 15 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: fiftieth anniversary of the birth of our nation, our American 16 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: flag is a worldwide symbol of freedom on the Earth. 17 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: Hands down, it is considered the most recognizable flag in 18 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: the world as a symbol of freedom. When we honor 19 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 1: our flag, remembering its history of how God led Christians 20 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: to establish it, we honor God because he is accredited 21 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: with the birth of our nation. Of course, it's just 22 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: a symbol, notes doctor Jerry Newcomb, executive director of Providence Forum. 23 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: But it's a powerful one. To me. It represents the 24 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: American story self rule under God. Many who disrespect and 25 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: spit on our flag do so because they hate the 26 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,239 Speaker 1: history ascribed to it and our nation's long held slogan 27 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 1: of being one nation under God. Newcome believes we should 28 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,119 Speaker 1: honor our flag because it honors God and our country. 29 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: A lot of blood was shed defending that flag, he explains, 30 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 1: and it represents the freedom we enjoy. Flag Day, celebrated 31 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,440 Speaker 1: each June fourteenth in our nation, commemorates the day our 32 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 1: Continental Congress adopted the original American flag in seventeen seventy seven, 33 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: made official in nineteen sixteen by President Woodrow Wilson. Growing up, 34 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: many of us in the United States memorized and recited 35 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 1: the Pledge of Allegiance to it, a pledge written by 36 00:02:56,680 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: a Baptist minister in the eighteen nineties, with the under 37 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: God phrase added in the nineteen fifties. Notes Newcom used 38 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: primarily in past history in warfare to announce battles and 39 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: identify troops national flags still play a part in announcing 40 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: who is friend or foe. Culturally, the flag symbolizes power 41 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: and leadership. Carried during military processions and announcing dignitaries, they 42 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:31,120 Speaker 1: represent the people and beliefs behind them, of the hands 43 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: who hold and carry them, and the buildings where they 44 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: are flown. Flags also serve to draw together and rally 45 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: people for unified causes. Flown to signal, decorate, and display 46 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: in parades and at events as well. Flags declare ownership, borders, 47 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: and jurisdiction in homelands and foreign lands. Nations around the 48 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: globe use them to communicate to the masses the laws 49 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: of leaders and the mourning of national tragedies and disasters. 50 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: The United States flag drapes the caskets of our fallen 51 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: military heroes and veterans when they are being transported from 52 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 1: the combat zones to home and at their funerals. America's 53 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: flag has thirteen red and white stripes, each representing the 54 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: original thirteen colonies that began our nation, along with fifty 55 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 1: white stars set on a blue background representing our current 56 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: fifty states. There is significant meaning within the American flag's design. 57 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 1: As the founder of Providence Forum, doctor Peter Lowback notes 58 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: each color displayed on the American flag has a definite meaning, 59 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 1: with red standing for hardiness and valor, white for purity 60 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: and innocence, and blue for perseverance, justice and villigence. Unlike 61 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: some believes, even though Betsy Rosseau the first America flag, 62 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: the design is accredited to one of the original signers 63 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:13,799 Speaker 1: of the Declaration of Independence, Francis Hopkinson. Our American flag 64 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: is a vital piece of America's history, representing freedom for all, 65 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 1: known to stir the hearts of its patriotic citizens. It's 66 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: a symbol that has inspired our nation through many troubles 67 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: and conflicts, standing for life, liberty, justice, and freedom for all. 68 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:36,599 Speaker 1: In honoring it, we please God by recognizing the godly 69 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: heritage it represents throughout the history of our nation and 70 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: the world, intersecting faith in life. Did you grow up 71 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before school each morning? If so, 72 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: has it impacted your life in what ways? If not, 73 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: what are your thoughts on the American Flag? Reading a 74 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: prayer to honor what our nation's flag represents. Thanks for 75 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: listening to today's devotional. If you liked what you heard today, 76 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: we want to make sure you know about our sister podcast, 77 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: your Daily Prayer. When you follow your Daily Prayer in 78 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 1: your favorite podcast app, you'll get a brand new prayer 79 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: and devotional each day, so your days begin in conversation 80 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: with God. If you're looking to grow in prayer or 81 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: start your day with your heart focused on the right things, 82 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: search for your daily prayer in your favorite podcast app 83 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: and be sure to follow the show so you get 84 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: a new prayer delivered straight to you each morning.