It has been a very interesting year.  Challenges abound, the nation seems more divided than ever and people are fearful of what lies ahead.  Yet a constant feeling of optimism remains as we look towards the new year and unrealized possibilities. 

Many of our troops are coming home after serving their nation.  Those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the freedom of others will be remembered for their bravery and honor.  It is more than we can say for our leadership in Washington!

No matter your political views, our government seems to be the greatest threat to our liberty today.  Our debt has exceeded fifteen trillion dollars. Our rights are being inhibited through legislation defined and passed in context of the global terror threat.  We are ever more becoming a people who expect everything but are unwilling to recognize limits.  With unemployment, long term hopelessness and moral decay of society, it appears that we have no way back.

Nonetheless, our nation and our people have been there before.  To be sure, the challenges are more numerous and complicated.  Yet as we approach Christmas, the focus of God's love through the birth of Jesus Christ is immutable.

When we recognize that this nation was born out of the understanding that our Creator granted us the rights enumerated in our founding documents, these challenges seem less formidable.  As a people, we must harken back to those moments when our founders turned to God for direction and inspiration.  

I am reminded of the request Benjamin Franklin made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787.  While his motion was not passed, his words resonated with a great deal of truth:

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.  

During this Christmas season, we should remember that the affairs of man are guided by the hand of God.  And no matter your faith, we should engage in careful and deliberate supplication, whether through prayer or contemplation.  In the end, 2012 will be upon us soon enough.  It should now be our time to recognize the gifts we have been given.  The gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Let us be prepared to defend our God given rights in the coming year, all the while maintaining a reasoned dialogue while pursuing those very rights.

Merry Christmas and may God bless us all!

Mark Skoda is a syndicated conservative talk show host, blogger and founder of the Memphis TEA Party.  He is also president of MPS Broadcasting. He can be contacted at mark@markskoda.com.