Every day should be Memorial Day for a Christian. Remembering daily the Life given to save us. Remembering the God-Man that laid down His life that we might live.
I am thankful for the millions of American servicemen and women throughout our history that have given of themselves for what we today enjoy. I am sorrowful for those mourning the tragic loss of loved ones.
I pause in respectful prayer and give thanks, I make a petition for their families, and request safe return for those currently serving.
More than anything, I am ever-grateful to God for His abounding grace upon the people of these American states and upon our land. That He has granted us such prosperity is preposterous. Reflecting back through our history upon what He has done for us brings to mind blessings far too numerous to mention. The victories He has won, the undeserved favor He has shown us, the advances and progress are all attributed to Him.
In Him we live and move and have our being. In Christ we have life - abundant and everlasting. Remembering what He has done and is doing to accomplish that for us as part of our daily devotion to Him makes everyday Memorial Day.
God of the Universe; Bless those serving in the Armed Forces with assurance of Your presence and salvation won for them. Grant them wisdom, courage, and strength. Grant their families peace, comfort, and encouragement. Bless those grieving today as only You can. You are our Strength, our Shield, our Defender; the God in Whom we trust. And to Jesus Christ, the Beloved Son of God, I give honor to The One who laid down His life for all, in Whom I am saved for Your service. Forgive this country for turning from You and being disobedient to Your Word. Thank You for Your grace and patience with us, a sinful nation. Thank You for the freedom and the bountiful riches You have allowed. Draw us back that we might be an instrument of Yours in this world. Amen.
I have resolved to pray this verse. Memorize this verse. Use this verse. It makes for great weaponry. Offensive and defensive. When we face those things that come against us it's good to have an arsenal at the ready. When courage is lacking and dread has mounted its steed, when fear stalks faith we must raise our Shield and Sword.
These are words for worship, words for praise, words to remember. Words when calling upon the One with might and control when my own words won't come. Words to stir the Spirit's power.
In the midst of difficulties, seek His face, raise His Name as a banner over the situation, and use His Word in prayer. His Words of love that soothe, encourage, and protect a weak heart.
All the great kings did. David did. Jehoshaphat did. Asa did. Hezekiah did. Jesus did. He cried out to His Father, using words from the Psalms in the Garden and on the Cross.
I've chosen a special color highlighter for these prayer-words (and others) to use likewise.
Mighty God; I rejoice in Your salvation and sing praise with a glad and courageous heart. For in tense times in Your Name I come, armed with Your Words of power, and I receive encouragement and strength.
Trekking through my day, suddenly my mind took a detour. I found myself treading in the Valley of Shifting Shadows and self-imposed torture. I found myself making comparisons. Peering into another's life to find mine lacking.
I started comparing my afford-ability for the things of this world. Everything from my limited hairstyle, cosmetic, and clothing budget to housing and transportation. I began to dwell upon my restricted purchasing freedoms. My eyes wandered to the options other families have for life's extras. Entertainment, leisure, vacations, cultural community experiences. I recognized the on-setting ill feelings as all attributable to my sin of envy.
I entered a combat zone. I opted to pull out my ace weapon. Thanksgiving. I began to give thanks. I break loose -- break free. Repentance brought release from the imprisonment of the wants of a temporal, unquenchable master. I chose One of grace and truth that satisfies and brings peaceful rest.
It was a short-lived, temporary state but one that chokes the heart, distorts the mind, denies God's glory, nonetheless. The Spirit is victorious in "taking captive every thought." Captured thoughts the Spirit's POW.
I add blessings to my garland of hosannas, heavens grace showered in the ordinary things of my life that remind me of God's personal care and unconditional love for me. My foot takes hold, back on solid ground. Praise on my lips, combat weapons at the ready.
God of All Grace; Let not my eyes wander, my mind drift off course, my heart be hijacked. I give thanks for the beauty of life seen through grateful eyes. For the countless gifts of grace You lovingly place before me worthy of highest praise. Amen.
I sit in the southern cool of late spring. I'm lulled by the pigeon's suttle evening coo with the added insect drone emanating from dusk setting among the trees. Distant voices of kids happily at play the eve before their last day of school, music to my heart. (Key word being "distant.") I'm content to busy my hands with a project. Creating a token for the ladies of gifted grace in my Wednesday Bible class. A giveaway for an icebreaker object lesson. I'm prepping to paint. Sanding rough edges smooth. The visual a prompter for much needed prayer.
"Smooth away the edges, Father. Fix the flaws and nicks. Finish, in Your gentle hands, the work You began."
I handle each one; carefully examine their condition; determine need for repair.
They differ in state and require varying degrees of effort for improvement. Some chipped. Some flawed. Some lightly scratched. One barely needs any attention. Others uneven with excess.
I sand. Round edges. Sharpen points. Remove dings.
My mind continues on in prayer. A verse memorized long ago bears fruit and makes its appearance:
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."[Php 1:6]
and again:
"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand."[Is 64:8]
Doesn't that parallel lives? Each requires varying degrees of God's handling? Some need less healing, less reshaping, less effort for correction. Many have been banged up, mishandled. Yet all need molding. All need care to polish. Refine.
I sand, inspect, sand, inspect. Repeat the process until the desired outcome is reached...however long it takes. The finished job, a work of love. The finished job, my "Amen."
It echoed through my brain the other night at the last soccer practice of the season. Coach was training the team for the upcoming weekend tournament and had the girls run sprints. He told them he wanted to see who was fastest. A clever strategy to challenge them to push it to another level. As I watched my daughter fly across the line, teammates behind, the thought sparked memories, "Pursuit."
There were years of my life God relentlessly pursued me. Of course, I didn't know it at the time. Now, I'm the "pursuer." (Not that He can't be found -- or even "had" -- but that I can never have enough.)
Does that speak unkindly of me -- or Him? No! He is quite satisfying. And I'm not near that demanding. But, once tasted, always hungry. There's no such thing as too much God-goodness!
If' you're running from God, I pray you quickly change course to be the chaser. Allow Him to capture you. Enrapture you. Have His trusting way with you. There is nothing to fear. He is not a stern, scolding Father. Yes, He is a Father to fear but not to be fearful of.
I am especially thankful to have switched roles. What a waste it was to run and hide all those years.
As I saw her carefree, joyful stride, I cheered inwardly, "Run for joy, free in Him." A perfect opportunity to utter a prayer, "May He never have to chase you down."
Marvelous God; This pursued one thanks You for keeping up the chase, for the pursuit of a lifetime, that freed me to run. To run this race with You. Amen.
Forty days counted out past Easter. A day marked for remembrance. Remembrance of the day, ages ago, when the Son of God ascended to heaven. And what better to remember, that we not grieve the departure of our Lord, than the promises He made?
I turn today to John 14, to last words spoken.
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"
Not much better to remember than Jesus' assuring words of the promise of heaven. Our preaching minister, Scott Franks, recently concluded an excellent sermon series on heaven. If I were to select just one of his noteworthy comments it would be; "Heaven is not just what happens when you die, it is a truth to be lived right now." (I've included a sermon video player below for your edification.)
Jesus spoke truths we need most in order to live a God-glorifying life now. Truths that include heaven. We must maintain heaven as our new reality for it is more than a place - a destination - it is the state of our hearts.
Matthew Henry summed it up best when he stated; "It is certain that all that will go to heaven hereafter begin their heaven now, and have their hearts there." As we set our hearts and minds above the view changes our frame of reference for all the decisions we make here and now.
The Master Carpenter made it a priority for His believers to understand -- to believe -- that He is preparing a place for us. His dying paved the way for our arrival and His leaving opened the door. That hope hastens our hearts homeward.
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live."
Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
Jesus did not abandon us. He lives and has offered us that same life. Those obedient to His Word have the Father's love and the Trinity residing, ever-present, with us. I once heard the statement that Jesus was forsaken on the cross so that we would never have to experience that. Again, Jesus' words reassure us of the fact of eternal life and fellowship with the Trinity.
"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
Jesus went so the Father would send the much needed Paraclete. This Helper would bring remembrance of His words to the apostles so they could teach. To write it down, preach it in the world, pass on the Message. The Holy Spirit was the Confidence of His disciples then -- and now. He is the powerful, guiding, growing force of the Church.
And shalom. Let us not forget He left shalom. A heavenly, divine peace. The unworldly in this disturbed world.
These are life-giving words recorded from His last night before He gave His life. Passages worthy of remembering today in our continuation of the Easter drama in which we still live. From them three points stand out that encourage hope, strength, and comfort that our "hearts not be troubled."
Heaven is a reality for the living -- now.
Our Father dwells with those that love, trust, and obey Him.
Jesus has provided a Helper for our mission here with God.
Ascended Lord; They looked to the skies, astounded at Your ascension -- Your return to the Father. They were told not to remain but, "Go!" He came - the Helper - to keep us moving. With Your blessed peace, heaven in our hearts, promises to propel our faith, and the indescribable indwelling Spirit we have a remembrance of You, our Eternal Hope, to carry us home. Give us courage not to just stand looking to the skies for Your return, though imminent. Keep us sharing Your Good News with urgency and expectancy -- always remembering. Amen.
When I read the stories of the lives recorded within the sacred pages of the Holy Bible, I tune ears and eyes and prime my heart to learn. I want to learn from the right things they've done, and pitfalls best avoided. When a favorite takes a turn, I take heed. Especially of the devout, God-fearing. I long to know more. I'm desperate to understand. And I fear replication.
So, that's what I asked myself in my read of King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-20 also mentioned in 2 Chronicles, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Micah, and referenced in Proverbs 25).
Hezekiah "held fast to the Lord" and "did what was right in the eyes of God." This reformer ranks right up there in the same league as David. Somewhere near the end he wavered. And I wonder. I reach some assumed conclusions in my homemade classroom of one.
Recorded in the very same chapter we see peaks and valleys. (And I'm not referring to the landscape.) Follow along with me in this loose summary of the sequence of events:
He trusted in the gold of the temple to keep the enemy at bay verses the God of the temple.
Humbly he cried out to God in a shining example of faith and prayer. He rallied with answered prayer and a good word delivered by Isaiah regarding his life-threatening illness.
Then he carelessly showed off all "his" treasure to impress a Babylonian king.
At the close of his life, when he is told about the future captivity of Judah, we see a very selfish response. He cared only about peace for him in "his" days. As if to say; "So what! It's not my problem!"
I close the Book on his life and make note of a few points:
Don't let God's blessings blind us and harden our hearts
Once-obedient is not always-obedient
In forming my opinion of possible deterrents, I ask myself: did he become overly confident and comfortable at the hand of God's blessings? Warning: prospered at the hand of God can elevate one's esteem to that of pridefulness. God granted him an additional 15 years; I wonder how much more he could have accomplished maintaining the faithfulness he had at the first? Take heed: Life is for living faithfully to the very end.
When all is said and done, the record reflects kindly on King Hezekiah. He did accomplish much good with his life for the glory of God. And he continues to teach us to this day. Let the record speak to our hearts... and lives.
Dear God; May the life I choose to live today continue to improve to the very end. May Your Word ever be my guide. In Jesus Name, Amen.
There are several desirable qualities displayed by notable mothers in the Bible that I genuinely admire and seek to possess. I pray, again, for these works of the Spirit that would bless my children and leave a legacy for future generations.
Madonna La Zingarellaby
Roberto Ferruzzi
My petition this day, Father God, is that you would develop within me:
The hope of Eve
The love of Jochebed
The faith of Mary, mother of John Mark
The courage of Ruth
The trust of Hannah
The influence of Lois
The energy of the Proverbs 31 mom
The gift of friendly support of Elizabeth
The perseverance of the Gentile woman from Phoenicia
The hospitality of the widow of Zarapheth
The joy of the Samaritan woman
The worship of Miriam
The servant heart and endurance of Mary, mother of Jesus
May these qualities be attractive and desired by all mothers, that our children will reap the benefits of Your imprint on our lives. Thank You for Your indwelling Spirit that produces such fruit. May I always remember and believe that all things are possible with God. In the Power of Jesus Name, Amen
A rainy Monday morning; she slumped to the breakfast table with a head cold. He straggled behind, dog-tired, after a 5 day band trip. I tell them; “Let God wow you! Lean on Him to get you through this day. When it’s over, be amazed by what He’s done.”
I know -- it’s laughable to think God is the One doing the assisting! (It’s even more absurd to think that He needs any help from us!) But don’t we need Him? I mean, REALLY need Him. Good days and bad?
I chew on the thought during my morning commute. For 19 months now, five days a week, I pull into the drive marked “Assisted Living.” It finally dawns on me; “Isn’t each day an assisted living day?” Don’t we need His help? Don’t we depend on Him to get us through each day?
We are in need of His fresh mercy each new day. We need His help to rise with hope and joy and thankfulness. If we mourn, only His comfort will suffice. When we’re downcast, we need His strength to lift our heavy heads. When we screw up, we need His patience and forgiveness. And grace – we’re ever and always in need of His grace!
Even in the good days – when we feel fueled and rested and strong -- we have no less need of Him. How often we fool ourselves into thinking we “live and move and have our being” all on our own. How easy is it then to think “I got this.”
But it’s far more dangerous not to recognize the days when we are weak and vulnerable. To see our real need and humble ourselves for some assistance.
I’ll share another personal testimony with you. When the season of lent started I was weary. I seriously contemplated foregoing the whole post thing this year. I didn’t feel like I had it in me. 40 days loomed large. I leaned on Him hard and heavy. I awoke early to meet with the Word in my Dwelling Place feeling as empty as the tablet on my lap. Day after day He faithfully filled each page. In what seemed like a blink I awoke to Easter morning. With my first conscious thought I literally wept tears of amazement. “You did it. Again!” was all I could sputter. Not in amazement that He could but that He would. That He did. I was in great need of assistance. I knew I needed to completely depend upon Him and Him alone. He not only filled blog space, He filled me.
Ultimately, our ideal is for us to assist Him. To obediently carry out His will for me for that day. To give my life to God for the living. Make each days’ waking thought one of absolute surrender to God as Commander, Jesus as Lord and Master, and Holy Spirit as Navigator.
There is another aspect to living assistedly (spellchecker sure doesn’t like that “word”). It pertains to others. We must give assistance to others. We need them. And they need us. We assist one another in our walk with the Lord in loving service, ministry, and encouragement. We are called to share our communion with the Lord, partaking and passing the very Bread of Life.
Let me share a few examples. God deeply loves and cares for my children. He provides for their every need. I love them and teach them. And I assist them. They depend upon me for certain things and I give them assistance with managing the affairs and responsibilities of their daily living.
Same goes with the Residents where I am employed. The staff lovingly and skillfully assists the elderly in their daily living. We provide care to meet their needs in the ways they are no longer able to do so for themselves.
It’s the ol’ trickle-down effect. God gives us life and graciously meets our needs to live that life. He assists so far as lifeboat bail-outs. We assist in choosing to follow the path He has set before us and being an ambassador for Christ. And we assist one another along the way. It’s an assisted-way-of-living.
Let God wow you. Make every day an assisted-living day.
Every day should be Memorial Day for a Christian. Remembering daily the Life given to save us. Remembering the God-Man that laid down His life that we might live.
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