Dual Citizenship Has Its Privileges

I had an “aha” moment when I handed over my passport at the Mexico customs entry. I was handing over my Rite of Passage.

Having a passport goes way back to my teenage years but taking the time to read the first page of it goes back to last Sunday. This is what I read: "The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection." I read those words and felt privileged.

I’ve used my passport to take me through many border crossings and I like to think that if I had ever had any kind of difficulty, anywhere in the world, I could have shown them this little blue book embossed in gold and people would have helped me because of what our country stands for in the world -- "land of the free and the home of the brave". Too many have shed precious blood for our liberties and our privileges. I’m more proud than ever to carry an American passport. Also, I love seeing the customs agent flipping my passport pages to find a blank space to stamp that country's seal to prove I was there. Every stamp represented the privilege of entering that country with the backing of my country behind me.

Because my husband was a natural born citizen of Canada, our children are dual citizens -- of the U.S. where they were born and are also Canadian citizens. As his wife, I was welcomed in. We were graciously given the same privileges of other Canadian citizens.

But the grandest news is to have dual citizenship of this world and the citizenship of the Kingdom of God. Ephesians 2:19-20 says, "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone." Being a child of God comes with the privileges of being loved by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I love, honor and respect my dual citizenship: in the U.S. AND in the Kingdom of God. As citizens and representatives of both, there are responsibilities to love, honor, protect and respect our privileges, to represent both kingdoms well. If I didn’t live in the U.S. and hadn’t become a part of the Kingdom of God, I suspect I’d be clamoring to get in. In the Kingdom of God, the borders are wide open -- no walls, fences, and no “Do Not Enter” signs. WHOEVER you are, you can get in, too! Just look at the WHOEVERS-MAY-COME into this privileged Kingdom:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

“I am come a light into the world, that WHOEVER believes on me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)

“And it shall come to pass, that WHOEVER shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21)

Because of the cross, Christians know where we’re headed, and because of the cross, we are guaranteed citizenship. It is the country we belong in, the home and land we’ve been looking for all our lives. The color of our passport is blood red and our eternal visa has already been irrevocably stamped. We can’t always know what our house will look like or what country we will call home for any given season, but all believers can have full confidence and deep comfort that, because of Christ, God has prepared a place for us. Indeed, we are privileged dual citizens!

God's Recovery Team -- Welcome to Oklahoma -- Birthplace of the BlizzaFloodQuakeNado

It warmed up to melt ALL that big snow (about an inch) in Tulsa and tomorrow, the weather guy is forecasting 70 degrees. Since Oklahoma was our home for 38 years, I can vouch for the authenticity of this sign in the photo, as well as the distinct four seasons that could happen in a week, accompany all those weather conditions. Sounds humorous, but we’ve seen some devastating results from those conditions. During those times, we witnessed the incredible humanity and rescue efforts of Oklahoma’s citizens.

I posted about the sprinkling of snow in Tulsa on Friday. I was so amused when this Facebook Group popped up in my newsfeed. "Oklahoma Winter Recovery" -- not because of the great idea of people helping people, but having lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada for seven years, with its 40+ below temperatures, over 30 inches of snow, and remembering that Winter Recovery there included plugging our cars’ heaters in at night, being always prepared to shovel snow off of cars and driveways, and dressing in many layers. The City of Winnipeg was resilient in handling the abundance of snow. Their snow remover vehicles had the streets cleared long before we needed to drive to work. I was also amused that the Tulsa schools were closed on Friday. If they did that in Winnipeg, school would be out for the entire winter.

It warmed up to melt ALL that big snow (about an inch) in Tulsa and tomorrow, the weather guy is forecasting 70 degrees. Since Oklahoma was our home for 38 years, I can vouch for the authenticity of this sign in the photo, as well as the distinct four seasons that could happen in a week, accompany all those weather conditions. Sounds humorous, but we’ve seen some devastating results from those conditions. During those times, we witnessed the incredible humanity and rescue efforts of Oklahoma’s citizens.

I posted about the sprinkling of snow in Tulsa on Friday. I was so amused when this Facebook Group popped up in my newsfeed. "Oklahoma Winter Recovery" -- not because of the great idea of people helping people, but having lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada for seven years, with its 40+ below temperatures, over 30 inches of snow, and remembering that Winter Recovery there included plugging our cars’ heaters in at night, being always prepared to shovel snow off of cars and driveways, and dressing in many layers. The City of Winnipeg was resilient in handling the abundance of snow. Their snow remover vehicles had the streets cleared long before we needed to drive to work. I was also amused that the Tulsa schools were closed on Friday. If they did that in Winnipeg, school would be out for the entire winter.

This was a post I saw under the Oklahoma Winter Recovery Facebook Group -- **At this time, please only post a new thread if you or someone else is stuck. This will help to keep the page easier to get assistance to the motorist** When posting about a vehicle that is stuck, please make sure to list the location, make and model of vehicle and at least one good phone number (either yours or the stranded motorist if you personally know them). This will help in getting assistance more easily and quickly, and this way it will be known whether or not they have been rescued already, so that someone else does not head that way. If you have Google Maps on your phone, drop a pin. This will also help determine the exact location. Be excellent. Make good choices.”

Impressive, right? Technology provides for people helping people -- and caring enough about their fellow man that they set up a place for support and help during winter storms. Isn't that the mentality and heart for having an attitude to serve and help others.

Helping others is such a great diversion from so much negavity in social media, the news and even those who are bound and determined to look at the "glass half empty". Doesn't it makesense for us to rewind, reload, and shoot some straight arrows toward targets that sincerely make a difference. Instead of being relentless to look for something else to complain about, wouldn't it be great to refocus on matters that matter? Matters like doing what we can to serve and support each other; doing what we can to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves” (Matthew 22:39); and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Luke 6:31).

Just maybe our little caring "stone" could cause a ripple effect to a world that needs role models and examples of TRUE Christianity. TRUE Christianity is when our love for Christ is at the core of our life and He becomes so bright in us that we radiate that love and light to others in how we live, how we talk AND walk. So much so, that we can’t help ourselves….we see a need, we desire to meet it. We see someone hurting, we endeavor to ease the pain. We act like Him….He Who was willing to model “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13).

Maybe it's time when we ALL could enlist for being a recruit on God’s Recovery Team!