Freedom

Memorial Day is a Federal Holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. Military personnel who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868.  We mourn those Soldiers identified, and those who could not be identified.  Their sacrifice paid for our freedom.

My husband and my son both retired from serving in the Air Force.  My father-in-law retired from the Marines, serving in Vietnam for three years, one brother-in-law retired from the Army, and the other, served in the Marines.  

About four years ago, I decided to speak with my oldest living relatives about other members in our family who have served our Country.  I was honored to trace back at least 25 families who have served our Nation.  Men and Women who served in each one of our Armed Forces.  They served in the Civil War, WW2, they stormed Omaha Beach at Normandy, Vietnam, Desert Fox, the Gulf War and Iraq.  Some were drafted, recruited, and some volunteered.  My roots trace back to John Adams, John Quincy Adams and General George R. Crook. 

My Military Family Tree has many Branches, and I am proud of my Military Heritage.

Jesus Christ made a sacrifice too. 

He broke the shackles of sin and paid a debt we could not pay ourselves.

And He volunteered.

"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."  Jesus speaking in John 10:18

Jesus Christ gave His life for me, so that my Soul would be free and one day, I will live with Him throughout eternity.

Freedom is costly.

And with freedom comes responsibility.

God help us remember that cost.

I am proud of my Christian Heritage.

    But that's just me!

Funny story:

Jesse Wright Adams was my Maternal Grandmother's Grandfather.  He fought in the Civil war.

He was a Rebel, always wore a full beard and a mustache and he hated the color blue.  He was forced to shave while he served.  Upon his death, he was originally dressed in his uniform, but his wife demanded that it was to be removed and had him redressed in a gray suit.  😄

Can I?

"We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living.  This attitude finds it's way into the church.  We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury.  As a result, discipline practically has disappeared.  What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the musician's instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not 'disciplined'?

    A.W. Tozer

"False notions of liberty are strangely common.  People talk of it as if it meant the liberty of doing whatever one likes-whereas the only liberty that a man, worth of the name of man, ought to ask for, is, to have all restrictions, inward and outward, removed that prevent his doing what he ought."

    Frederick W. Robertson

"Liberty may be an instrument for giving glory to the Most High, or it may be a curtain used to shield base indulgence of the flesh (1 Peter 2:16).  You may discover by self-examination of your heart which function liberty serves in your life."

    Walter J. Chantry

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."  The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 11:1

There has been a lot of talk lately about what a Christian can do and can't do.  What I would like to know is, why does a Christian want to walk so close to the line between Sanctification and Christian Liberty?  Why does a Christian want to walk so close to the world instead of Christ?

We can learn a lot from the Apostle Paul.  He knew all about Christian Liberty, but he chose to walk so close to Christ, that there would be no mistaking who he was.  Who he identified with; a Christian, seeking to serve Christ and bring Glory to God.  And, not only did he walk so close to Christ himself, but he invited those around him to follow after his example, because he was walking after Christ's example.

What a testimony!

Can I say that about my Christian walk?

As a child of God, we are given much liberty in Christ.  But instead of constantly asking the question, "Can I?" maybe we should be asking the question, "Should I?"

Before stepping out in our Christian Liberty, we should ask ourselves:

1-What is my motive or reason behind wanting to do this particular thing?  Is there a touch of pride or rebellion behind this?

2-Will it cause my brother or sister in Christ to stumble in their Christian walk?

3-Will it confuse my unsaved neighbor?

4-Will it glorify God?

As God in the flesh, Jesus could have done anything He wanted to do.  He had perfect, sinless liberty, and yet, He always went about His Father's business, and always chose to do the Will of His Heavenly Father.

Instead of playing my 'Liberty Card,' I will choose rather, to imitate my Father.

After all, I want to be more like Him!

    But that's just me!

"Wherefore, though the Christian, as a Christian, is the only man at liberty, as called thereunto of God; yet his liberty is limited to things that are good:  he is not licensed thereby to indulge the flesh."

    John Bunyan

"Nothing harms or destroys us but the wrong use of that liberty of choice which God has entrusted to us."

    William Law

Monkeys

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.  1 Corinthians 15:33

Sometimes as parents, we quote this verse to our children a lot during their teenage years.  But for me every time it's preached, it brings a smile to my face, not because of how many times I quoted it to my own children but because of something my mother told me when I was a child myself.  Often times, my mom would allow me to have a friend over for dinner.  It was her way of getting to know the type of friends I chose to hang around with.  Dinner would be fun, entertaining and full of laughter, and then the moment we closed the door behind my friend's departure, my mom would turn to me and say, "I don't want you hanging around with her anymore."  I would drop my jaw, fold my arms across my chest and say, 'Why not?'  She would smile and say, 'Because monkey see monkey do, and I don't want my monkey doing that!'

My mother observed during a casual dinner, the type of character or mannerisms my friend would display, and either she liked them, or she didn't; and then I was warned.

Wouldn't you think that you could instill your good habits to those who have bad habits?

Hmm, sometimes, but often that is not the case.  Rather, we develop the bad habits and lose our good ones.

And so, we are told, don't fool yourselves!

I like to flip the coin and look at things on the other side.  

We are warned by this verse to be careful about who we hang out with, because we will pick up their bad habits, traits and character, but I had to ask myself, "Would I corrupt someone if they spent time with me?"

Was I ever invited over to a childhood friend's house for dinner, and the moment I left, did their mother tell them, 'You can't play with her anymore!?'

I hope not.  I hope when people are around me, they can see that I want to please God even though I will fail.  I hope they can see the desire I have to help them in their Christian walk and not cause them to stumble.

    But that's just me!

"If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never ever dream of.  There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person."  Fred Rogers

Soldiers who Pray Part 6

The Armour of God:

   The Mandate-To Stand

   The Method- To Arm

   The Manner-To Care

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplications for all saints;" Ephesians 6:18

I chose to specifically look up the words in this verse today.  I learn so much more when I take the time to do that.  Sometimes we get too familiar with a verse, and we just assume what it means.  

Praying- entreat or ask.

Always- in all times.  In order to be able to do that, we must have our sins confessed, or our prayer line can get disconnected!

Prayer-addressing God with your requests

Supplication-to make a humble, earnest plea

The Key to the Verse:  IN THE SPIRIT.  When I make a request in the flesh my prayers may not be answered.

Watching-vigil, attentive

Perseverance-continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition.

DON'T GIVE UP!  Keep praying, even if we pray the same prayer over and over again!  (Luke 18:5)

All saints-God's chosen people.

Praying is an action!  We are to be alert and persistent! 

Sometimes in my weakest most vulnerable moments, someone will let me know that they thought of me today, or they told me that they were praying for me.  It helps me pick up my sword and get back into the fight!

A soldier who dropped his sword, takes cover under the soldier next to him who is still holding his!

Stay close to your Comrade!

God help me to see the needs of others, and not only see them, but plead to You on their behalf!  Remind me Lord, that the battle has already been won!

    But that's just me!

"The moment you bow your head to pray is the moment God lifts His Hand to help."

    Max Lucado

Soldiers/Shield, Helmet & Sword Part 5

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Faith is above ALL the equipment!  Your shield protects the other pieces of armour!  We can do nothing without faith, and it is impossible to please God without faith. (Hebrews 11:6) Faith is the only guarantee to quench the fiery darts of the wicked.  I like the phrase, 'ye SHALL BE ABLE.'  With faith there is no question and no doubt about obtaining the victory!

And do you know what?  It only takes a small amount of faith to have the victory.  God will move the mountain with a tiny mustard seed.  (Matthew 17:20) Why?  Because it's God's battle.

The helmet of salvation.  It's so very important to protect our minds and our thoughts.  We need to stay focused!  If Satan has our minds, he has all of us.  The helmet and the sword are the two last pieces of armour a soldier will pick up.  With the helmet protecting the head, it assures safety from the devil's present attacks and assures future deliverance.

And now the Sword.  The only 'offensive' piece of armour.  Jesus Himself used the sword of the Spirit when confronting Satan in the desert.  (Matthew 4:1-11) The Sword, The Word of God.

We would do right to follow Jesus' example while in combat, and in order to use the Word of God, we must KNOW the Word of God!

Every day I must don my Armour.  If I neglect one piece, I'm at the mercy of my enemy.  My Enemy shows no mercy.

I'm in the Lord's Army, and I want to be prepared.  No turning back!

    But that's just me!

God doesn't give the hardest battles to his toughest soldiers.  He creates the toughest soldiers through life's hardest battles. Anonymous

"Too many times we lose today's battles because we're still engaged in fighting yesterdays."

    Richard Paul Evans

Soldiers/Gospel of Peace Part 4

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:15

First thing I thought of when thinking about putting on the correct footwear, is how I love to go barefoot!  But sometimes going barefoot gets me in to some sticky situations.  I pick up sap from our spruce trees in our back yard, and then dirt, sticks, pebbles and splinters coat the bottoms of my feet.  Painful too.

When my feet aren't properly attired, I find myself walking in the wrong direction, into places I shouldn't enter, or maybe I have stood beside someone who is a bad influence on my life.  Instead of picking up dirt, sticks and pebbles, I'm picking up bad habits, bad attitudes.  My feet are in the world, instead of standing firm in the gospel of peace, walking the gospel to my lost friends or family members.

But when I put on the right footwear, I'm ready and prepared to make use of the gospel of peace to all those I encounter throughout my day, and then guess what happens?

According to Romans 10:15 I will have beautiful feet!

    And I want to have beautiful feet...

        But that's just me!

Soldiers /Truth Part 3

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness:

Ephesians 6:14

STAND!  With truth fastened to my inner most parts, and armour placed over my heart that is constructed of moral right that is in accord with divine and moral law, I am protected where it counts!

My heart and loins must be protected...my life depends on it!

Without truth, I cannot stand.

So, what is truth?

Websters dictionary defines truth as: actuality, fact.

Where can you find truth?

God's Word!

Psalm 25:5a-Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:

Psalm 119:142- Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is truth.

John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: they word is truth."

You've heard it said, 'Stand for something, lest you fall for anything!'

I believe it!

    But that's just me!

"Be sure to put your feet in the right place, then stand firm."  Abraham Lincoln

Soldiers Part 2

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Ephesians 6:12-13

Wrestle- to contend, striving to throw your opponent down or off balance

Principalities-the state, office or authority of a Prince (perhaps the prince of darkness?)

Withstand- to stand against, to oppose with firm determination, to stop or obstruct the course of..

In order to fight a good fight, we need to recognize our enemy.  Sometimes our enemy looks like our friend, neighbor, a family member, but don't look upon the physical.  Search behind the physical to the Spiritual.  That is where our battle lies.

Did you notice two very interesting words in Verse 11 compared to Verse 13?

Verse 11 says, 'Put on' the whole armour of God.  Verse 13 says, 'take' unto you the whole armour of God.

We must put on our armour daily to protect ourselves from the enemy, and then take our armour of weapons to fight the battle.

Not just part of our armour, but the whole armour!  We need the entire armour of God at all times!  If we neglect to arm ourselves properly, you can be sure your enemy will attack the area not protected.

Armour that is worn is forward-facing.  If we retreat, then there is no armour to protect us from behind.

Christian, we were never meant to run from the battle, but to face it head on.

After all, we have all the necessary equipment to win.

Jesus Christ has already won the battle, we just need to claim the victory!

'Having done all, to stand.'  

Not only for ourselves, but we are equipped to help those in the battle around us.  We've all seen the war movies.  When a comrade loses his sword, where does he go?  He stands next to someone who still has their sword!

God help us not only to stand firm in our battle, but to be equipped to help those around us who have been wounded in the battle!

But that's just me!

The Army of the Lord

by Harvest

1985

Are we walking into the enemies camp,

laying our weapons down?

Shedding our armour as we go,

leaving it on the ground?

We've got to be strong in the Power of His Might

prove to the enemy,

We are the army of the Lord and 

we've won the victory!

All around us the war is going on,

between the wrong and the right,

We've got to choose which side we're on,

the darkness or the light,

Cause some of the soldiers of the Lord,

just don't realize,

that the captain of the army of darkness

Has come to blind their eyes!

Can't you see we're in a battle,

there's no place to hide,

Our shields of faith are full of darts,

They're shooting from every side,

Shake out the darts and run right at them,

remember Who you're fighting for!

And don't fall asleep, because if they catch ya,

they'll tag you prisoners of war!

Soldiers Part 1

Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.  2 Timothy 2:3,4

Every day is a new day of battle.  Are you ready?  Have you armed yourself?  Have you put your armour on?  Fighting the enemy requires the proper weapons and proper protection.

How do I know what I will need to fight this battle?

Ephesians 6 tells us what we need to have Victory!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Ephesians 6:10,11

Finally-after all that has been said in the previous verses, I like to think that Paul was saving the best for last!

Strong-Having power, mentally and physically!

In-Inclusion!  (I like that!)  When I'm in the place I need to be, in the Lord, I will have the mental and physical power to fight the enemy!

Whole-entire.  If I am missing a piece of my armour, Satan will know exactly where to attack!

Stand-To maintain my position.  (I love that too!)  I will have SURE FOOTING!  For some reason I picture boxing in my mind.  When a fighter goes down, he usually stays down.  Defeat is certain.  But in Christ, we have sure footing!

Wiles-A trick or strategy intended to ensnare or deceive.  I guarantee you, my friend.  Satan knows your weakest area!

The Christian Soldier is armed for battle:  daily.  So, as we go through the pieces of our armour, make sure you are properly attired!

We are Comrades with Christ.  A comrade is an intimate friend, or fellow soldier.

We are not alone in the battle!

The Lord supplies us with everything we need to live a victorious life, but only when we follow His directions.  He has purchased and supplied every specific part of our armour to wear in battle against specific attacks the devil can throw our way.

God's Word deflects ALL arrows if we LET it.

    But that's just me!

Soldiers Again

by Dallas Holm, Tim Sheppard, Phil Johnson

1989

Backyard soldiers, little boys,

we fought the enemy with little toys,

sticks for swords, hands for guns,

every battle always won.

But as we grew and went our way,

we forgot about our soldier days,

no more swords, no more guns, 

no more battles to be won.

But we were wrong,

we did not see, we still had an enemy,

so now we stand Friend with friend,

we are soldiers once again.

We are soldiers again,

in the army of the Lord,

we are soldiers again,

and His Word is our sword,

we will not be denied with Him by our side,

we know the victory we'll win,

we will fight till the end.

Soldiers again.

And we still can't even see the one we are fighting,

but we stand with One who can, 

the Lord God Almight!