A Nation Bringing Forth Fruit
Posted July 2, 2008
This last week Doyle asked my daughter if she would be willing to travel on the Fourth of July to Indiana with Candace and play the drums during worship. Doyle then asked me if anyone in my family was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I shared with him how my grandmother had been a charter member. Since that time God has been ministering to me about my family’s history and I believe it is right to share that with you.
People from my family have been in this country
since the 1600’s. I have been taught as a young child about my background,
how they were some of the first to settle Pennsylvania and how some lost
everything in war and yet would start over. My ancestors have fought in
every war since the King Philip’s war in 1675, several of them in the
American Revolution. These were ordinary, hardworking people. They were
soldiers and farmers and factory workers. But what I saw in those stories
and those family members I had the pleasure to meet were that these people
had strength of character.
One of these people in my background, Edward
Doty, came over on the Mayflower and was a signer of the Mayflower Compact.
He was in his early 20’s when he arrived here and an indentured servant. If
you grew up in our education system you were taught about the pilgrims
almost every Thanksgiving holiday and how they came to the new land and
before leaving their ship wrote up a document that would govern them while
they began their new settlement. This document was one of the forefronts to
our Constitution. God led me this morning to read an excerpt from one of
their own, Edward Winslow, who in answering some accusations, wrote down how
the pilgrims left England and Holland and come to America. It ministered to
me.
From “Hypocrisy Unmasked” by Edward Winslow
(London, 1646):
"Now these their private thoughts (Reverend
Mr. John Robinson of late memory, and our grave Elder Mr. William Brewster)
now upon mature deliberation they imparted to the brethren of the
congregation, which after much private discussion came to public agitation,
till at the length the Lord was solemnly sought in the congregation by
fasting and prayer to direct us, who moving our hearts more and more to the
work, we sent some of good abilities over into England to see what favor or
acceptance such a thing might find with the King. These also found God going
along with them, and got Sir Edwin Sandys a religious Gentleman then living,
to stir in it, who procured Sir Robert Naunton then principal Secretary of
State to King James of famous memory, to move his majesty by a private
motion to give way to such a people (who could not so comfortably live under
the government of another State) to enjoy their liberty of conscience under
his gracious protection in America, where they would endeavor the
advancement of His Majesty’s Dominions, and the enlargement of the Gospel by
all due means. This His Majesty said was a good and honest motion, and
asking what profit might arise in the part we intended (for our eye was upon
the most northern parts of Virginia); ‘twas answered, “Fishing.” To which he
replied with his ordinary asseveration, “So God have my soul, ‘tis an honest
trade, ‘twas the Apostles own calling,” etc. "
Another ancestor of my family was General Baron
Johann de Kalb. He was a German soldier and volunteer who served as a major
general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He
first came to the colonies as a spy for France to determine the level of
discontent among the colonists toward Brittan. During the trip he gained a
respect for the colonists and their "spirit of independence." In 1777 he
returned again with his protégé, Marquis de Lafayette, and joined the
Continental Army. He was at Valley Forge for most of the 1777-78 winter. He
became second in command of the Maryland and Delaware troops under General
Gates. He fell at the battle of Camden, South Carolina after leading several
charges and being wounded 11 times. He died three days later as a prisoner
of war. It was reported as the surgeons were dressing his wounds that he
replied "I thank you sir for your generous sympathy, but I die the death I
always prayed for, the death of a soldier fighting for the rights of man.*
On Saturday, all while we were worshiping, God
talked to me about the history of our nation. He ministered how it was He
that instilled strength and fortitude in our forefathers and how he
sustained them against insurmountable odds to create and preserve this
country. He walked me through some of the events that I had read or heard
about and showed me how his Spirit kept them alive and obtained His will for
this land. He then ministered how this strength was in my family and how he
had put it in my children.
Am I proud of my heritage? No, I am humbled. I
am humbled that the Spirit of God saw fit to preserve a people and nation.
My family and other’s like them were used to create and uphold this country
so that many others like them could minister the Power of God. I know my
heritage will mean nothing to me or give no honor to them if I and my
children don’t preach this Gospel.
Sunday between services I was reading and
praying at home and asked God, Why? What was your purpose in my family and
family’s like us enduring all the hardship? The Spirit of God led me to
Matthew and powerfully ministered to me these words that Jesus spoke while
he was on earth:
“Therefore say I unto you, The
kingdom of God shall be taken from you, (Israel) and given to a nation
bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matthew 21:43)”
This country, our country, is the nation Jesus is speaking about. What an
honor! That He would create a nation that is made up of every people on our
earth and grant them the grace and opportunity to preach His Gospel. Whether
or not our forefathers knew of God’s intent, it is not important. What is
important is that His will was done. And now we are a part of a generation
that will show forth His praises and bring forth fruit.
Kathie Davidson
Source: Wikipedia
Originally posted on Kathie's webpage.
