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“Are You Serving?”

Honor!

I want to honor those that have given their lives for this country called America.  There have been many that have sacrificed their lives for the freedom of others.  This is the weekend to think of those men and women who have served to protect their loved ones.  This is also a time to remember those people that are left behind.

I think of those who have served and made it back home.  Some have made it back because a comrade gave his life for them.  Many when coming back are treated with disrespect because maybe the war they fought in was considered wrong.  Or maybe they have had to do some unthinkable things to save the life of their comrades.

I think that these men and women deserve something different.  I may not agree with the war but not all people have chosen but were drafted.  And those who have gone in on their own thought they were doing the right thing for their country.  They deserve our honor and our help.  Those who do not honor have never experienced what they have.  We cannot judge someone unless we have walked with him or her and know every circumstance.

What if…

Before I was born my father was drafted for Vietnam.  Fortunately for my dad, he had just received back surgery and was unable to go.  Dad would have received disrespect.  It makes my heart ache to think about it.  He had a cousin that went and was never the same.  And partly because of the treatment that he received when returning.

War is never something we love but we live in a sinful world.  And maybe the wars have not all been what we think they should have been but that doesn’t mean we should not honor those who suffered for it.

The leaders of any country may be making the wrong choices, which bring wars.  And I don’t want to hear all the gossip or conspiracy theories about it.  But I do know that most of our men and women that go and fight are doing it for the right reason.  They believe they are protecting those they love and we should honor them.  I would be honoring my dad right now if he had fought in Vietnam.

When parents fight and have issues who suffer?  It is the children.  They are innocent and they did not choose any of it.  That is exactly how I look at our country.  There are guilty parties.  Do I know who they are?  No, I don’t need to.  I can still honor those who have fought.  God knows the guilty and He is the only one that needs to know.  Jesus showed love and honor to all.  Those He rebuked were the religious leaders who spoke one way and lived another.  But He even loved them.  As Christians, we need to rethink how we treat those who have fought no matter what our political view is.

He gave His life…

I think of Jesus, who came and gave His life so that all can be saved if they so choose.  The same is true of many men and women who have gone in to fight without hesitation.  And their reason is to protect their families from the evil around them.  Jesus came to fight.  He came to fight against sin without hesitation.   So we can be protected and live if we so choose.

You might be thinking that Jesus coming was not a fight.  Yes, it was a different kind of fight.  It was a fight with self.  If He would have done anything for self we would have been lost.  He came to do for others no matter how He was treated to protect His family from the clutches of the enemy, Satan.  He came to lay down His life so that we would have the opportunity to live a life of freedom.  And I am not necessarily talking about physical freedom but spiritual freedom.

There is still a battle raging.  And until Jesus comes in the clouds to take us home there will continue to be a battle raging.  This battle is mostly unseen but we do feel it coming to us through trials.  And the question is how are we going to respond?  I want to respond but continuing to fight the battle with sin with the help of God.  And in the end, we will come off as the victors.  What a day that will be.

Dear Father,

When we look at what is going on around us it seems easy to point fingers and condemn.  Help us to realize that You love all people.  We need Your help in being more honoring to those who have fought for our freedoms.  And honoring You for fighting for us so that we can go home to be with You.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Go out and honor those that have fought for the freedoms of this Country. Quit analyzing and realize these are souls that Christ loves and we should love them with His love.

Love you all!

Many people who have served for our freedoms have come back with mental health issues.  They have suffered much and sometimes they do not have a good support team.  My son has seen the issues of our nation with depression and suicide issues.  Because of this, he is doing something to help.  He wants to raise money to help support a local organization that helps those that suffer from depression or suicide issues.  For more information about how you can help click on this link.

If you have been in the military thank you for your service.  Have the people you know received honor?  What has been your experience in this area?  Share below.

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“I’m Afraid!! What’s Next?”

Fear?

There is a lot of fear in our world today?  There is this fear of what is going to happen next?  And there is also the question; do I really need to be afraid?

When I was in the grocery store the other day I was talking with the cashier, which we have known for years.  I was telling her that I have a son in Africa right now and he will be coming back soon.  But then in January, he is going to India for 2 months.  She had a question for me and I can’t remember it exactly.  But she wanted to know how I could handle him being gone to those other countries.  She felt that I must be full of fear.  I have to say here that I am human and there are times the fear can start to grip me.   But what I told her is that I have to trust the Lord otherwise I couldn’t make it.

The reality is God loves my son way more than I ever could.  His goal is to bring about the Salvation of each soul and He allows only those things into each life that can bring them to the point of realizing their need of Him.  And once a person’s life is fully surrendered to Him it doesn’t matter what happens.  It doesn’t change the pain of losing a loved one if that were to happen but it can take away the sting.  So my prayer for my family is always the same.  “Bring into their life whatever it takes for their Salvation.”  And then I have to trust Him.

What’s Next?

There are so many things going on in our world today that can bring fear.  And it is not just in the political world it is also within the religious world as well.  Everyone has their own opinion of how things should be and how things should go and they are out trying to force their agenda.  And on top of that, they are angry with anyone that does not agree with their opinion.

So there is all this unrest and people fear what is going to happen next.  And is what happens next going to affect my family and me.  It seems so unsafe!

Now we are in this season of celebrating the best gift that was ever given to man but the focus is on fear for the future and self.  The focus is on what “my” agenda is about and I don’t care what I have to do or say to get what I want.  And amongst all this what is the truth.  Which news or social media post are you going to believe?  Is there a political party that you can trust?  Or how about a “religious” party?  Where do you put your trust?  And do you have have to fear about what is next?

What should we fear?

I don’t think we have anything to fear unless we forget how the Lord has led us in our past history.  There is something for us to fear but not what is going on politically or religiously.  “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” Matthew 10:28.  We need to fear anything or anyone that can destroy our spiritual connection with God.

We don’t need to fear what is happening we need to fear are we ready.  Are we ready for what?  Are we ready for what all this unrest is going to bring?  I believe what is taking place is signs that the time of the end is near and we are soon going to see Jesus coming in the clouds of Glory.  Do I know when? No, but we can know when it is near and I believe it is near.

The devil knows he has such a short time.  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8.  The devil doesn’t care how he devours us as long as he can keep our focus on everything except what our focus should be on.

I believe our biggest fear should be where and what our focus is on.  We can get so caught up in the religious and political problems that we let slide our own personal connection with God. Being right with God so we are ready when He comes is not based on whether someone else is doing the right things and having the right agenda.  We are only saved by our own choices.

What can we do?

So the question may arise, then what can or should we be doing?  We need to make sure that we are in God’s Word and being fully surrendered to His will for our lives.  Prayer needs to be a major part of our lives.  Praying not only for us but also for others.  We need to take our focus off of others and what they are doing right or wrong, in our opinion.  And keep our eyes focused on the One that came to save all men.

The church and the world are being shaken and who is going to be able to stand?  Only those that keep their eyes on Jesus and pray will be able to stand.  We need to “…weep between the porch and the altar, and…say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them:” Joel 2:17.

We need to be as Daniel as we pray.  He prayed for the sins of his people and he included himself (Read Daniel 9).  Often times we look at ourselves more righteous than someone else but the reality is we are all sinners saved by grace.  So when it comes to the church we need to be crying and sighing for the abominations, praying God to forgive us all and ask for His leading.

We need to be lifting up in prayer our spiritual and political leaders and then leave them to God to do His work.  When leaving them with God then we shall speak no evil thing of them or anyone else.

“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” Ephesians 4:21-32.

Dear Father,

Your ways are beyond our human thinking and ways.  We need You!  Without You, we cannot do Your will.  Please forgive us where we have fallen short.  Give us the strength to do Your will.  Help us to not get caught up in the things of this world whether it be religious or political. And help us to keep our focus on what matters most, our connection with You.  The devil doesn’t care how he trips us up.  He just wants to get our focus off of You and onto something else so that we don’t see our own deficiencies.  Help us, Lord; we cannot do this without You.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Keep God #1 in your life.  Surrender all your plans, thoughts, and ideas to Him today.

Love you all.

What keeps you from being afraid of what is coming next?  Please share below.