History is HIStory
Krista Bryant
Copyright 2019 by Krista Bryant
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.
Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
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Meadville, PA 16335
www.christianfaithpublishing.com
Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Introduction
History has long been regarded as the study of the past, with events such as world wars, peace treaties, monarchies, explorers, politicians, and empires, taking center stage. When you ask anyone, describe a historical event or person, they most likely will say George Washington or Abraham Lincoln or the Civil War and World War II. To most, history is something you read about in a book and not necessarily always something that is relatable. Whenever I ask somebody, do you like history, they always reply with one of two answers. Either, yes they really enjoy history and have grown up studying it with their family and friends or no, they do not because they are bad with dates. That is what the majority of people think about history. It is about people long since passed away and events and situations that are only read about in books or newspapers. It is about dates on a test or a scrupulous exam that only the historically educated, can be expected to answer. Unless it is transformed into a book or film or TV series, people cannot seem to become interested in historical narratives. However, that is not what history is about. It does not just encompass wars and politicians, but every day decisions in our everyday lives. Everything is history and everything has meaning and purpose in Gods master plan.
I have always particularly enjoyed history which talks about God and His miraculous interventions. When I was little and blessed to be homeschooled, history always fell into three categories: amazing things that God has done throughout history, archaeology and medieval fantasy type adventures, and then everything else or academic history. Whenever I would read out of our Christian history books, I was amazed at how so many of the events were clearly seen as being handled and directed by The Lord God Almighty. I wanted to see that same Truth and emphasis in all of the history books I was reading. Secular historians always referred to God-given and orchestrated events as lucky or coincidence. Their lack of faith in God and appreciation for everything that He has done, made for a less than inspiring read. I particularly struggled when it came to the subject of wars and war-like instances and tactics. Not that I in any way disrespected the blessed sacrifices that were given through these men and women, but it was just a topic that was too sad to study in-depth or too confusing tactics-wise, to try and figure out. I myself am not well versed on military strategy and found it difficult to engage in such a lengthy study, over anything involving that subject matter. War strategies and detailed events, were not usually something I purposely chose to read about, unless it related to something I was already interested in. I was much more interested in social history or how people interacted with those around them. I even considered majoring in medieval studies, until I began researching more about the corruption that took place between the Catholic Church and the monarchs. That too was something I just could no longer hold the same interest in.
When I was blessed to attend college, I felt like God was leading me towards a degree in history. I had of course always enjoyed biblical history and reading about what God has done through His miraculous events. I also enjoyed learning about the social lives of other people around the world and in different times. God stirred in my heart particularly to become a teacher and have the desire to share Gods Truth through political and social subjects, such as the founding of America or the so-called and completely wrong context of the separation of Church and state. Documentaries and action/adventure films were always one of my favorite ways to learn about historical events and people. One day, I recall watching a documentary about Christopher Columbus and how his true destination and agenda, may not have been to discover a trade route after all. Another one was about how God had kept Japanese midget subs from causing even more destruction at Pearl Harbor. A movie I saw with my family, discussed how the two key planners of the Pearl Harbor attack, Mitsuo Fuchida and Minoru Genda, had both become sick on the exact same day, as the fleet was moving out for the Midway invasion. This especially caught my attention, because it was not a coincidence that both men, who had played such an integral role in the first battle, would have become sick on the exact same day, unless it was by The Hand of God alone. It was stories such as these, that made me think even more so, about how much God orchestrated events all throughout history.
God changed everything for me, one afternoon when He put the thought into my head to just start researching more and more about miraculous events. The more He showed me, the more excited I became, until He showed me a complete and totally new perspective on History. The history books that I found so mundane to read, unless they were coming from a Christian perspective, were filled with the glory and Goodness of The Lord God Almighty. His Handiwork and fingerprints were on everything, including every single word that has ever been said, every single thought, every single action, and every single event throughout all of History. He gave me a greater perspective on what it means to really appreciate Gods leading and guiding all events and undertakings throughout History. God helped me to see that every single book and every single conversation and every single documentary, was filled with the Glory of God in Christ Jesus. It was in that moment, that God through His Holy Spirit, put in my heart to write a book, stating just that. No longer could I look at a history book or person who has passed on, without feeling a connection to what God was trying to do or say through that person or event. I started looking at them as opportunities that God takes each and every moment, to show us all, just how Good He is and how much He cares and looks after us. History is about Gods workings in and all around us and Gods story of what He has been doing since the foundation and creation of the world. Every breath we have been given to breathe and every word that comes out of our mouths, is by the grace and ability that God gives to us each and every day. Every decision made, is because God has so graciously allowed us to live and carry out His will and blessings for our very lives. Some people choose to believe and take advantage of that God-given grace and masterful plan, while others so sadly, choose to ignore itprayerfully, temporarily.
One of my absolute favorite miraculous accounts, was when God basically wiped out the entire agenda of the Spanish armada in the 1588, by sending a massive storm. The Spanish wanted to spread the influence of Catholicism throughout the British Empire and attempted to establish a fleet large enough, to do just that. The British were sadly overwhelmed and did not have near the strength of the entire Spanish fleet. They were prepared to fight until the end and attempt to save the British monarchy and way of life. However, most importantly, was the protection of Protestantism in the English government and territories. As the Spanish were making their way towards the British Empire, God sent a massive storm, unlike any that had been recorded on either side. He literally wiped out what was supposedly deemed, the strongest naval power in Europe. It was in that moment, that God allowed for the influence and spread of Catholicism, to be diminished in incredible ways. If the Spanish navy had been allowed to succeed, only The Good Lord knows what could have happened and what would have come as a result of it. The British Empire, mostly likely, would have been ruled by a Catholic monarch and the spread of Catholicism most likely, would have been mandated. Out of the blessing that God gave through the Protestant Reformation, more and more people took a stand against the evil atrocities of the Catholic Church and government in general. However, there may not have been such a blessed expansion of Protestantism under these conditions and therefore, an entirely different outcome for the rest of world. America may very well have been tied to the Catholic monarchies and placed under such jurisdiction. The colonists may not have been the pilgrims, but members of the Spanish inquisition, seeking to root out anyone who disagreed with them and establish a sort of new empire. America in general, could have become very much a sad addition to the Catholic stronghold. Praise The Lord God, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit that He saw fit to save us and every single person who ever lived during or after those events. He granted us a life full of freedoms to praise, worship, and know our God truly and wonderfully, through a Christian nation, established by God and through His Son Jesus Christ.
