Why Nations Fall by Frances M. McCrory-Meservy 6 Jan 2014

Listen to the song "My Way" and think about what is wrong with the words.

Songwriter's): Robert Williams, Jerry N. Capehart, Jacques Revaud, Jacques Revaux, Lucien Thibaut, Gilles Thibaut, Eddie Cochran, Paul Anka, Claude Francois, Jeremiah Sage Ackah
Copyright: Chrysalis Standards Inc., S U I S A Cooperative Soc. Of Music Authors & Publishers, Cross Music Ltd., Artist 10
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net ]

It sounds like such a good song and it's what out secular selves really want to believe.  In our pride we claim to have done things "my way."  We don't acknowledge anything or anyone has helped us.  We brag about what we said just to make ourselves look good.  Even though we are not entirely truthful.  We don't want to acknowledge that God set it up and had his Spirit move things to work out in our favor.  No we make it sound like we did it on our own.

Think about that for a while and then think about the attitude our fellow citizens have come to have.  We can whip the world.  We have the best technology and best military there is.  We don't need anyone to help us.  We have a very prideful attitude.

Now read what happened to Nebuchadnezzar.  He had a prideful attitude and God made him think he was a wild beast.  He had a mental problem until he understood that God is the one who set his whole life up and gave him all he had.  When Nebuchadnezzar realized that, he was humble before God and God restored his sanity and kingdom to him.

We live in a wonderful country and be are about to lose it; but it's not because of who is president or in congress or any other reason that we have forgotten who gave us this clump of dirt in the first place.  If we do not repent and give God the Glory for all we have and for his protecting us, we will go the way of Babylon. 

The year of 1816 is known as the year of no summer.  We have already been experiencing draught, water shortages, vast amounts of property burning, more tornadoes than normal, more severe hurricanes, more frequent volcano eruptions and earth quakes that have caused horrible simonies.  The one that hit Japan moved the whole nation 2 miles closer to Asia.  All of this is a wake up call from God.  He does not share his glory with anyone.

It's not our military or weapons that keep us safe - it's God's protection that keeps us safe.  He could raise up an army greater than ours or just have the ground crumble under us.  In fact that is happening all over the USA.  Between the disasters at home and the wars and rumors of wars, we are becoming war weary.  All because we do not acknowledge from whom our help comes. 

What is an idol?  Is it not whatever we trust in? 

Do we trust in riches?  Do we think we have to depend on the wealthy to supply us jobs?  Have riches become our idols? 

Do we trust armies to keep us safe? 

We need to search out our own salvation with fear and trembling.  We have to wake up and give God the credit for all we have, all we are and all we can become (as an individual and as a Nation). 

When is the last time we thanked God for keeping us safe, providing our food, shelter, clothing and faith in him.  He loves us and wants to meet our every need.  We need to seek him and his kingdom.  We need to repent of our prideful nature and give God the glory.

2 Chr 7:13-15 "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
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Psa 4:2 How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.

Isa 48:9-11 "For My name's sake I will defer My anger, And for My praise I will restrain it from you, So that I do not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another.

Prov 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

Prov 13:10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.
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Dan 4:4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.

Dan 4:5-9 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.  Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

Dan 4:10-18 "These were the visions of my head while on my bed: "I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great. The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it.

"I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.  He cried aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches.  Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth.  Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him.

'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'

"This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you."

Dan 4:19-23 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you."

Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies! The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home; it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.   And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him';

Dan 4:24-27 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.  And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity."

Dan 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

Dan 4:29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.

The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?"

Dan 4:31-32 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."

Dan 4:33-35 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

Dan 4:36-37 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
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Ezek 16:46-50 Your older sister was Samaria, who lived to the north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you with her daughters, was Sodom. You not only walked in their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they. As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done. Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

Psa 10:2-6 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised. For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD. The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity."

Psa 59:12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for the cursing and lying which they speak.

Jer 50:38 A drought is against her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is the land of carved images, And they are insane with their idols.

Rev 3:14-15 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'; and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."' "

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Background picture is of Yellowstone National Park (the worlds largest volcano) If it explodes, it will cause global damage. The world as we know it would cease to exist.

"My Way" sung by Elvis Presley