Good morning all-
Today we celebrate Memorial Day in the US. It is a time to remember those that sacrificed their lives for our country and also to remember those that have gone before us. I am proud to be part of a country that has a rich heritage and that believes in honoring those that died for me.
Almost every country today has it's ban of soldiers. They are either enlisted because they're men or they volunteer. War is messy, expensive and innocent people lose their lives. It's not something easy to watch or partake in I'm sure. I work in downtown Wichita, Ks where there is a population of homeless people. I am told many of them are old vets and it makes me very sad. At one time, they were strapping young men, with their whole lives before them and now they are fighting mental illness far beyond my compression.
The military and what it stands for is important. There are evil people in this world that want to destroy and build fear within the hearts of people. The military should be there to protect you and take care of their country and for the most part, they do. However, there are always men and women that don't care about protection, they care about power. It's my opinion that power leads to evil. If we feel like we are more powerful than God, what then? Well you know what, dictators rise, mass chaos ensues and people lose their lives for someone else's need to destroy.
As it stands, millions are people are deployed all over the world. Most countries have their own soldiers and they are the watchers of the world. The problems still remains that men make war and as long as man exists; we will be in war.
I think about the soldiers and their families, not just in the US but all over the world. Some men love to be soldiers. I have a friend in Germany that has made it his career. He has sacrificed a lot for his country. He has lost relationships, moved all over the world and carries demons he can't even discuss. He is my hero. Not just because he's been my friend for over 30 years but because he continues to do what he loves and I feel protected because he's out there. Peter wherever you are be safe!
Sacrifice, war, peace and prosperity simply go hand in hand. Power is evil unless it is in God's hands and man has continued to be fallible in the face of challenge and war. We are imperfect and therefore, we create our own chaos. I guess I could be scared and often, I was. Lately though, I look for Jesus. He made man and He decides the hour of birth and the hour of death. We were made for His purpose. There are no coincidences. We live today because that's what Jesus wanted. He knew us in the womb. His Father made Him One with Him. He lives in us now, all because it was ordained that way. We have free choice so that we aren't someones robot, we are His and we can have a relationship with Him because of our ability to choose. How great though are!
Yesterday, our pastor spoke of Malachi. It happens to be one of my favorite chapters of the Bible because it is the last prophet to speak on the coming of Jesus. He also talks about money and why we are not to test God in anything but our finances. We are to trust, have faith and walk daily in knowing God. My husband often has lots of questions, like are there angels and could there be aliens? I really don't have the answer to aliens; I do have answers about angels. They are spoken of in the Bible. He questions everything but yesterday he told me that he does believe in God and he does believe in Jesus but he still isn't sure about the resurrection and if all the details are accurate. Interesting right? We were alone when this came up and I'm so glad to know it because now I know what to pray for my man. He doesn't trust. We have all been there. I remember when I was a new Christian and I didn't believe everything in the Bible because that was then and now was now. I'm sure you have heard teenagers say that to you too. The problem is once again our humanness. What was then still stands to be true. Tell me if murdering someone doesn't hurt your soul? Is war still happening? Does evil exist? And more importantly, is there any joy without Jesus?
Life for our forefathers held many different challenges. Today's challenges are really about being selfish, having too much and not loving people. They call the US a christian nation. If you come here, you will see it's not. There are people here that are and that try to serve the Lord to the best of their ability but our television, our government, our radio and all media are more towards liberal thoughts than in traditional values. I'm surprised I can even write this blog but God has protected some things, like freedom of speech because we pray for its sanctity.
There are lessons we can learn from the past. We can hear the words of David who hid in caves praying for safety. We can hear the cries of the Israelites that died trying to find the promise land. We can see the disciples sitting on a shore with Jesus and we can close our eyes and watch Jesus die on a cross. We have the past in book form waiting for someone to hear the cries and know that all our needs are contained in one book, the Bible. If you have lots of questions, begin to read the stories of old and you will find, not only answers, but the power of Jesus. His word is our shield. We must sustain ourselves on it and be ready for the questions ahead. Many are blinded by the powers on earth but there is only one power that matters and that's God's glory and honor. Everything else is meaningless.
Be vigilant my sisters. Pray for the next generation and minister to this one. God is calling us to be mighty and faithful servants. If we love Him, we must honor Him. May today bring you blessings and if you are thinking about those you have lost, go to Jesus, that's what I'm doing. The past is only sad if love wasn't part of it. Christ changed that when He died for you and me. For like all things, time will pass but one thing remains the same and that's the power of the Cross! Be well and know I love you all!
Romans 8:18 NIV:
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Malachi 3:1 NIV:
"I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty.
We are one with a God that knew exactly what He was doing. From the beginning of time, through the desert, during the cross and now. Yes, people have gone before us but many have made us who we are today. Nations have risen and fallen at the hand of man but God has seen to His glory. The coming of Jesus was foretold and it came to pass. His death was written in History and so not to sway the facts, He appeared to hundreds so they could write down for all mankind the splendor of His resurrection. His return is imminent. Don't grow cold because of the past, grow bold and know He is One with us. Be strong my sisters and carry the cross, not because we have to but because we want too.
My prayer today:
O, Lord, My God, How mighty are You! I hear your voice in the commands of the past. I know that what was said thousands of years ago is true and valid. My questions are not of why but of when. When will you come again? Will I be a faithful servant? Will You find me in Your favor or will I be destined to be in shame? I want to be Your servant and although I know I'm human; I come before you with repentance in my heart. I know that I am not perfect and that sometimes life gets in my way but over and over, I just want to be near to You. My desire is to hear Your voice, to be close to You and to fulfill Your purpose in my life. I want to love like You do and I want to see what You see. I want to have a heart that spills out to the nations and carries the past toward the future. I want women all over the world to hear my cries unto You and to know that my heart yearns for Your love. You have made me and now, You continue to mold me like a piece of clay. As I draw nearer to You, I do see Your heart and the love You have for Your people. I don't have all the answers but You do. So as I come before You today, fill my heart with what matters to You. Minister to Your children Lord and help us carry Your cross, not just in the US but all over the world. I yearn to know the names that matter to You and as I write I know You bring them to hear Your words. You are my King, full of majesty, honor and glory. Without You I am nothing, but with You, I can give of myself unto people I don't even know. You are the image I carry in my mind. You are every beat of my heart and You are my strength. I pray today that the world will come to know Your name and that we will once again bow to Your authority. Straighten our paths and give us the knowledge to sway the doubters. Help me with those that don't know You and give me wisdom to fight for righteousness. I am Yours and You are mine and together I will fulfill my purpose on this earth. Take care of my sisters, Lord. Make them strong and courageous. We need You in order to fight against evil and to raise the next generation. Help us be likeminded with You and not of the world. Be by our side as we fight for souls, Your souls. Protect soldiers all over the world and help them see You in every circumstance. Wars will not stop but Your mighty hand on the world can bring peace. We pray for that today and ask that You would soothe nations and bring about unity throughout the world. We sing Your praises today and thank You for sacrificing Your life so that we can be one with You. In Jesus name, AMEN
Until tomorrow...
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