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Grateful for the King

Grateful for the King

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How are you feeling about the upcoming presidential election? 

As I write this, we’re a little over a week away from the big day.  Undoubtedly you are as weary of seeing and hearing the campaign ads as I am.  It gets to the point where one just wants the whole thing to be over already.

But perhaps that’s where the churning of the innards and the tightening of the chest kick in.  Who will be the next president of the United States, and what will that mean for our great nation? 

We wonder, “What if my person isn’t the one … then what will happen?”  And maybe there’s a fair amount of concern even if our choice IS the one standing in the end?

And it’s not only fear over who wins (or doesn’t)!  Couple the anxiety over the final result of the election with the concern over the reaction to that result.  What might follow on the heels of the formalities?  Rioting might not be out of the question.

There’s plenty of opportunity for anxiety.  Our country is divided, and drastically so.  Not only in regard to parties, politics, policies and social positioning, but on spirituality and basic morality. The sad truth is that most of our nation does not know the true God or care about his word or will. 

This, of course, impacts the election.  But perhaps the greater concern is how it is impacting our nation on an ongoing basis. 

All of which fuels the angst as November 5th approaches.  Who will win?  And will that person be a “win” for our country?

None of us knows.  None of us can.  There are simply too many variables in the equation.

But this is what we as Christians DO know.  The true ruler and leader … not only of our country, but of our world … is already in place. 

He was never elected; he doesn’t need to be.  He holds his position by virtue of his very essence.  The “I Am Who I Am” is unequaled in status and authority.  His power is unmatched; his wisdom unparalleled.  His reign stretches from eternity to eternity, and his position is unassailable.  He will never be dethroned though throngs of rebels reject and resist him.

Hallelujah to King Jesus!

From his throne in heaven, surrounded by countless angels, the glory-bedazzled King reminds us, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. … I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Thankfully, his purposes are always, purely and totally driven by his mercy, his love and his compassion.  (Psalm 51:1-2).  If you doubt this even a little, consider his suffering and death on a bloody cross to save us.

Consequently, our Lord leads perfectly, provides completely, protects abundantly, battles invincibly, guides and directs impeccably, and controls wonderfully.  Not just for us, his children, but for our nation and even our world.  His loving plans will persist; they (and he!) will not be undone.

What a King!

Frankly, I have some grave concerns about both presidential candidates.  I’m not sure I trust either one of them as my country’s leader. 

But thankfully, I have a higher Leader, and I DO trust the King!  He is in complete control.  He always has been, he is now, and he always will be. 

Which means I can relax regarding even this highly contested and incredibly significant presidential election.  No matter who is elected, my King still reigns above all! 

Thanks be to God!  Praise be to the uncontested, unequaled, unconquerable King – the Lord Jesus Christ!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Deuteronomy 10:14&17
To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. … For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 

Philippians 2:6-11
Christ Jesus … being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Timothy 6:14-16
… until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time —God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever.  Amen.

Revelation 1:4-8
John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father — to him be glory and power for ever and ever!  Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”  So shall it be!  Amen.  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 17:14
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.

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Origin: Hell — Destination: Paradise

Origin: Hell — Destination: Paradise

A few weeks ago, my wife and I were able to unexpectedly break away for a mini-vacation.  We only had a few days, so our options were limited.  We decided to head north and visit/revisit some popular locations in Northern Michigan.

While attempting to pull out of a convenience store north of the five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge, we were forced to wait significantly longer than anticipated.  We had the unfortunate timing of attempting to resume our journey while a convoy of over 400 motorcycles rolled past us.  (Over 400!) 

Consider that number for a moment, and the amount of time it would take for them all to pass by on a two-lane highway.  And that didn’t include their multiple support vehicles which chugged along behind them with four-way flashers on.  I was told by a gas station clerk further up the way that the actual number was about 440 bikes.

She also filled me in on why they were there.  It was a ride organized by the “American Legion Riders” to promote veteran PTSD awareness among the general public.

The primary organizer was Scott Igo, who is the Director of the American Legion Riders at Post 3 in Sault Ste. Marie.  Scott is a navy veteran himself, having served for five years on board the Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln from 1993 to 1998.  He also deals with post-traumatic stress himself.

A number of other organizations, companies and individuals recognized it as a worthy cause to support and added their resources to facilitate the event.

The riders’ route?  From Hell to Paradise.

And yes, there is indeed an official community in Michigan named “Hell.”  There is also a Paradise, Michigan.  (In case you’re curious, neither place quite lives up to its name.) 

The reasoning for the origin and terminus?  Scott Igo explains: “When a person is battling PTSD you feel as if you are in your own personal hell.  Each individual that is fighting is looking for that place they feel safe.  A paradise of sort.”

The unincorporated community of Hell is located about 15 miles northwest of Ann Arbor in the “Lower Peninsula” of the state.  There are multiple suggestions on how the place came by its startling name in 1841, but no one knows for certain.  Paradise is also an unincorporated community on the northeastern portion of Michigan’s “Upper Peninsula,” situated on the western side of Lake Superior’s Whitefish Bay.

342 miles separate the two communities.  Well over 400 bikers made the trip, beginning in Hell and arriving eventually at Paradise.

If only it were that easy!  Jump on a bike, point it north, rev it up and ride out of hell and into salvation.

And yet, because of the sacrifice of Jesus and through the work of the Holy Spirit, it is!

What does the Lord tell us in the Scriptures?  “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned …” (John 3:16-18a).

Jesus himself said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24). 

That’s the route from damnation to salvation; from hell to heaven; from doom to a reservation in a room in God’s home – hear God’s truth and believe God’s truth that Jesus, the Son of God, has saved you.  When the Lord brings this about, a person’s spiritual itinerary has been rerouted!  Hell is in the rear-view mirror and Paradise fills the view!

Both Hells are real places.  The eternal hell is indescribably worse than the earthly one.  Both Paradises are real too.  The forever one is unimaginably better than Upper Peninsula one. 

Thanks to the 400-plus bikers who made that journey for PTSD awareness a few weeks ago.  But greater thanks to the gracious God who put us on the spiritual route from hell to paradise.  The spiritual ride is often temporarily rough, but the destination is forever wonderful and worth it! 

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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To Be Free

To Be Free

For me, it was just another quiet evening on my dock, relaxing after a long day of work and watching for activity on my bobber.  But for the bluegill who tried to steal the bait off one of my hooks, it turned into a rather traumatic evening. 

One moment he was pulling on a juicy waxworm in anticipation of a tasty snack, the next he felt a sharp pain in his mouth and was being dragged in a direction he didn’t desire to go.  Though he fought with all his might, he couldn’t break free. 

Even more terrifying, he was pulled from the watery world he knew into one where it was difficult for him to breath.  And worst of all, one of those “land giants” was now looking down on him.  There was nothing the fish wanted more at that moment than to be released back into his familiar and comfortable environment.

The “bluey” was indeed dropped back into the water, but not until he was firmly locked into a metal stringer.  And though back in the water, the stringer pinned him to the lake bottom.  No amount of straining could change his dilemma.  He was hopelessly trapped.

I don’t pretend to understand how a fish thinks, but on some level he must have been longing to fin freely through the water … swimming where he wanted to swim without restrictions – like he always had before.  But suddenly he couldn’t. 

Do fish feel frustration?  Anxiety?  Despair?  If so, he must have experienced them.

But it was a fortuitous night for this particular fellow.  I happened to receive a rather lengthy phone call shortly after catching him.  As a result, no other fish were added to the stringer.  I decided I didn’t feel like going through the hassle of cleaning just one.  Since he was cleanly hooked and clearly still healthy, I let him go.

His longing was fulfilled; he was again finning freely through the green waters of Shamrock Lake.  Does he do so with a new appreciation for his freedom?  I don’t know.  But I do know that if he makes the mistake of getting hooked by me again, his freedom will undoubtedly come to an end.

I’m not trying to humanize fish, or foster sympathy for them.  I will still catch them, keep them and clean them.  I enjoy eating breaded panfish fillets far too much to become a fish vegan. 

However, we can certainly relate to that bluegill in this regard: we love our freedom too! 

To be so profoundly blessed to live in a country where we have absolute freedom is no small thing.  Yet, it’s a thing often taken totally for granted by all of us.

When was the last time we actually considered the freedoms we enjoy, and thanked our God for them?  Generally speaking, we can live where we want, wake up when we want, and wear what we want.  We can go where we want and stay there as long as we want.  We can do what we want, eat what we want, buy what we want, read or watch what we want, hang out with whomever we want, and finally go to sleep when we want.

And these are the smaller freedoms!  The value rises exponentially when we consider that we are free to say whatever we want however we want to whomever we want, and that we can freely vote for whomever we desire.  Best of all, we are free to believe what we want, acknowledge the deity we want, and worship that god (our God!) however we see fit.

The places in the world where these freedoms exist are becoming fewer and fewer.

Of course, there is also the freedom from the condemnation of sin that our Savior, Jesus, has provided for us, as well as all the connected spiritual freedoms connected with knowing and trusting in our gracious God.  Profound blessings that we can appreciate and celebrate openly because of the freedom we enjoy in our country!

God grant that we never reach the point when these freedoms are recognized only because we no longer have them … like a fish on a stringer beside the dock.  Rather, may we constantly appreciate the blessings of being free … as a nation, and as a Christian.

Oh, what a treasure it is to be free.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Passages on the Blessings of Freedom in a Nation

Psalm 33
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. 13 From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. …

18 … The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Deuteronomy 28
1 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. … 6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. 7 The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. 8 … The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

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Passages on the Blessings of Freedom in Christ

John 8
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. … 34 Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 8
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. …

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ …

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We Can’t Be Grateful Enough

We Can’t Be Grateful Enough

I wrote this three years ago for Memorial Day.  It was well-received, so I thought I’d share it again.  Grateful thanks to all our veterans … but especially to those who “gave all.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What does a soldier think about the night before a battle?

Maybe he (or she) is “fortunate” to be so exhausted from transitioning to the position of attack that they are predisposed toward sleep.  But even so, with conflict looming the mind must race.

Being a soldier, he is aware of the goal, and the importance of their mission.  The unit is trained to attain its objective, so a soldier must review in his mind their personal assignment and make every effort to be mentally prepared for it.  But undoubtedly, a warrior wonders, “Will we accomplish it?  If so, how high a toll will we pay?”   And he understands that if they don’t succeed, the toll will be even higher.

Yet I can’t help but believe that for most soldiers on the night before a battle, their thoughts are primarily circulating around deeply personal things.

How could one not reflect upon the loved ones back home?  A wife or girlfriend: “Will I ever smell her perfume, feel her touch or kiss her again?”  The children: “Will I ever see their smiles or hear their laughter?  Will I ever hug them close again?”  The parents, siblings, and dear relatives: “Will I ever engage in another conversation on the porch or in the living room with them or sit down to a holiday feast together?”  The close friends: “Will I enjoy their company one fine day?”

Even one’s dog probably shambles through the thoughts with tail wagging.  “Will I pet him post-battle or post-war?”

“Will I walk into my home once more?  Travel to my favorite vacation destination once more?  Spend a day on my favorite hobby?  Watch a ballgame?  Attend a concert?  Take a leisurely nap in a recliner?  Enjoy a hot shower or a cold chocolate shake?  Feel the sun warm my skin on a sunny beach, or huddle comfortably under the blankets in my bed on a rainy night?  Sit in church, sing some hymns and soak up a sermon?”

“Will I see the sunset tomorrow?  Will my buddies?  How many of us and who?  What does it feel like to die violently?  What happens to me if I’m wounded?  What does tomorrow hold for me?”

And how could one just hours from deadly conflict not reflect upon past mistakes and ruminate on future possibilities.  Regrets must be abundant; heartaches achingly painful; melancholy predominant; fear ever-present; prayers unceasing.

With the offensive beginning at o-dark-early, and the thoughts roiling, how does a soldier sleep at all?

But eventually the battle is joined, and warriors are thrust into the hell-on-earth that is warfare.  And just as they feared, many of them fall.

We can’t be grateful enough for their sacrifices … for leaving behind family and often country, for their hard training and dedication, for the sleepless nights before attacks are launched, and for dying so young so we can typically live to be so old.

Memorial Day encompasses so much more than an extra day off from work, sleeping in and sales at the stores, a baseball game, a barbecue on the deck or a camping trip.  It’s a day dedicated to men and women who literally gave it all so we could have it all.  We dare not forget them.

There was another warrior who didn’t sleep at all the night before battle.  There was no uncertainty for him; he knew that if he entered the conflict, he would suffer and die horribly.  He begged God the Father to find another solution, but there was no other solution.  So Jesus resolutely entered the fray.  And he did suffer horribly, and he did die. 

But in giving his life he gave life to us.  By his sacrifice we are saved.  Through his death (and resurrection!), he brought us victory over Satan, sin, death and hell.  The war was won by our Warrior Savior!

The Apostle Paul writes about Jesus’ battle assignment in Romans: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. … God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:6, 8-9).

Or as Jesus himself said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

This is certainly true of our Savior, who knew and loved us all.  It’s also true of many a soldier who gave their life … not just for their family and friends, but for strangers like you and me.

As for us, we can’t be grateful enough.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

A Post Dedicated to the Courageous

A Post Dedicated to the Courageous

This article will be posted on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.  I don’t even have to refer to the event or the year; everyone is well aware of what occurred on “9/11.” 

The attacks hold the unfortunate position as the worst terrorist act in our nation’s history, and perhaps in all of history.  The plane crashes in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania resulted in almost 3,000 people killed, and another 6,000 people injured in the immediate catastrophes. 

Of those who died, 412 (14%) were first responders … men and women who deliberately ran into the turmoil while others were desperately (and understandably!) fleeing away from it.  Those emergency personnel killed in Manhattan broke down into 342 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 10 paramedics.  (en.wikipedia.org)

Unfortunately, the grim toll didn’t end on the day of the attacks; difficulties and deaths continued to accumulate in the years that followed.  Newsday lists a stunning number of 18,000 who have developed cancer from the toxins circulated by Ground Zero.  Yet the hardest hit group of all in the succeeding years were those rescue workers who responded to the crisis at the Twin Towers in the days and weeks after September 11.  According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), nearly 4,000 first responders and survivors on-site during and after the 9/11 attacks, have died.  (www.newsweek.com)

The events of the day were unprecedented, and so was the response by emergency personnel.

“On September 11, the battalion chief of Battalion 1 witnessed American Airlines Flight 11 crash into the North Tower of the World Trade Center and immediately radioed a multiple alarm incident.  Over the course of the next three hours, 121 engine companies, 62 ladder companies and 27 fire officers were deployed to the scene.  All off-duty firefighters were recalled—the first time the FDNY had issued a total recall in over 30 years.” (en.wikipedia.org)

Many of those responding firefighters never returned home that night.  75 New York city firehouses had at least one of their firefighters killed that fateful day.  In addition, the FDNY lost its department chief, it’s first deputy commissioner, a marshal, and a chaplain, plus other specialized personnel.

The Twin Towers, unfortunately, proved to be an extreme situation.  However, the risk embraced that day by the first responders was typical of the risk these courageous men and women face each and every day they clock in for work.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, “a total of 1,627 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty during the past 10 years, an average of one death every 54 hours or 163 per year.  There were 135 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in 2019.  There have been 58,866 assaults against law enforcement officers in 2018, resulting in 18,005 injuries.” (nleomf.org)

As for firefighters perishing in the line of duty, in a typical year, we lose 80-100 nationwide.  The number of injuries incurred are also significant.

Then there are the men and women of our armed forces, who travel around the world to safeguard our freedom and our nation.  They pay a significant price as well.  Frequently they face fierce enemies and great danger as well, but still they show up, knowing full well they might not survive the day. 

Courageous!

Imagine holding a job where every day you worked, you stood a higher risk than most other jobs of not living through the shift.  Of course, this is ultimately true for every single one of us, regardless of our occupation or our activities for the day.  None of us knows when the Lord will call us out of this world.

But there are some jobs where the likelihood of encountering injury or even death is significantly greater.  Soldiers.  Police.  Firemen and women.  First responders.  They courageously show up for work, fully recognizing they don’t know what awaits them that day and fully recognizing they may be facing some extremely dangerous situations, but fully determined to do whatever needs to be done nevertheless.

Courageous!

And behind the scenes are the families; the parents, spouses, children, and siblings of these men and women who put their lives on the line for the rest of us.  They are equally courageous for they also recognize the risks of their loved one’s occupation.

All of us who are not emergency responders owe a debt of gratitude to those who are.  Having been personally tended to by paramedics after my fall, I know firsthand their professionalism and excellent care.  They didn’t know they would be responding to a pastor’s fall that morning, (neither did I, of course!), but they arrived in moments and helped someone who was hurting.  They were a true blessing.

Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for [another]” (John 15:12-13).

Thanks be to God that our Savior was willing to lay down his life for us.  And thanks be to God that there are other people willing to do the same, if necessary.

Courageous, indeed!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.

We Can’t Be Grateful Enough

We Can’t Be Grateful Enough

What does a soldier think about the night before a battle?

Maybe he (or she) is “fortunate” to be so exhausted from transitioning to the position of attack that they are predisposed toward sleep.  But even so, with conflict looming the mind must race.

Being a soldier, he is aware of the goal, and the importance of their mission.  The unit is trained to attain its objective, so a soldier must review in his mind their personal assignment and make every effort to be mentally prepared for it.  But undoubtedly, a warrior wonders, “Will we accomplish it?  If so, how high a toll will we pay?”   And he understands that if they don’t succeed, the toll will be even higher.

Yet I can’t help but believe that for most soldiers on the night before a battle, their thoughts are primarily circulating around deeply personal things.

How could one not reflect upon the loved ones back home?  A wife or girlfriend: “Will I ever smell her perfume, feel her touch or kiss her again?”  The children: “Will I ever see their smiles or hear their laughter?  Will I ever hug them close again?”  The parents, siblings, and dear relatives: “Will I ever engage in another conversation on the porch or in the living room with them or sit down to a holiday feast together?”  The close friends: “Will I enjoy their company one fine day?” Even one’s dog probably shambles through the thoughts with tail wagging.  “Will I pet him post-battle or post-war?”

“Will I walk into my home once more?  Travel to my favorite vacation destination once more?  Spend a day on my favorite hobby?  Watch a ballgame?  Attend a concert?  Take a leisurely nap in a recliner?  Enjoy a hot shower or a cold chocolate shake?  Feel the sun warm my skin on a sunny beach, or huddle comfortably under the blankets in my bed on a rainy night?  Sit in church, sing some hymns and soak up a sermon?”

“Will I see the sunset tomorrow?  Will my buddies?  How many of us and who?  What does it feel like to die violently?  What happens to me if I’m wounded?  What does tomorrow hold for me?”

And how could one just hours from deadly conflict not reflect upon past mistakes and ruminate on future possibilities.  Regrets must be abundant; heartaches achingly painful; melancholy predominant; fear ever-present; prayers unceasing.

With the offensive beginning at o-dark-early, and the thoughts roiling, how does a soldier sleep at all?

But eventually the battle is joined, and warriors are thrust into the hell-on-earth that is warfare.  And just as they feared, many of them fall.

We can’t be grateful enough for their sacrifices … for leaving behind family and often country, for their hard training and dedication, for the sleepless nights before attacks are launched, and for dying so young so we can typically live to be so old.

Memorial Day encompasses so much more than an extra day off from work, sleeping in and sales at the stores, a baseball game, a barbecue on the deck or a camping trip.  It’s a day dedicated to men and women who literally gave it all so we could have it all.  We dare not forget them.

There was another warrior who didn’t sleep at all the night before battle.  There was no uncertainty for him; he knew that if he entered the conflict, he would suffer and die horribly.  He begged God the Father to find another solution, but there was no other solution.  So Jesus resolutely entered the fray.  And he did suffer horribly, and he did die.  But in giving his life he gave life to us.  By his sacrifice we are saved.  Through his death (and resurrection!), he brought us victory over Satan, sin, death and hell.  The war was won by our Warrior Savior!

The Apostle Paul writes about Jesus’ battle assignment in Romans: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. … God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”  (Romans 5:6, 8-9).

Or as Jesus himself said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).  This is certainly true of our Savior.  It’s also true of many a soldier.

As for us, we can’t be grateful enough.

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A Prayer for Our Nation

A Prayer for Our Nation

I have been very troubled by recent events, and was moved to write a special prayer for our nation and our people.  I prayed this prayer in our worship services.  Afterwards I shared it on our church Facebook page.  It was well received, so I share it here as well.  Feel free to pray it yourself.  May it be a blessing!

Dear Lord, our nation is splintered and our people divided.  Unrest abounds … not just in our streets, but in our government and in the minds of our citizens.  Fingers of blame are being pointed every which way.  Politicians and people alike are turning on one another.  Power plays abound across society.  There are different supposed truths being shared by different media sources.  No one knows whom they can trust or what they can believe. 

Almighty Lord, we come to you at this time because you are our only hope.  You are our only hope personally and our only hope as a nation.  You urge us in your Word not to place our trust in human leaders, but rather in you.  You promise us that you are overseeing all situations, controlling everything, and working all for the good of your people.  So we bring these requests to you in faith:

Where there is deceit, let the truth be revealed.

Where there are sinful, selfish plots, let them be overturned.

Where there is unrest, let peace reside.

Where there is distrust, let true trust replace.

Where there is fear, let calm confidence preside.

Where there is bitterness and caustic words, let the balm of encouragement be applied

Where there is anger, let kindness be born.

Where there is hatred, let love overcome.

Where there is violence, let gentleness prevail.

Where there is unbelief, let faith in you germinate.

Where Satan currently controls, let you, Lord Jesus, reign supreme.

Where priority is given to the empty words of people, let there be instead a longing for your meaningful, powerful, saving words.

You, Lord, are our only hope.  We bring these requests to you and confidently place our trust in you.  Heal our nation.  Heal our people.  Amen.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.