Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Memorial Day


Remembering Memorial Day

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war
 break out against me, even then will I be confident.  Ps. 27:3


                There have been wars since almost the beginning of time and shall be until the end (Dan. 9:26).  However, most of you have never experienced a World War.  Some fought bravely and many died in Korea, or in Vietnam, but as bad as it was, the whole world was not at war since World War II.  Many people today do not even know what Patriotism is.  They do not understand why eyes fill with tears when saluting the American flag, or why tears flow while listening to the song, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty.”
            The word, ‘Patriotism’, means “devotion to one’s country”.  Yet, how little respect many Americans have for the United States and how little for the ‘red, white and blue’.  Those without respect for country and flag are trampling on the graves of the hundreds of thousands who fought and died for love of country.  If we could see what America would have been like if it weren’t for those brave men who fought for their country.
            Let me tell you of one such man.  He was young – just turned eighteen when war with Japan broke loose.  He lied his age to get in the military and joined the army to see the world, but not in the way he experienced it.  After basic training, he was stationed at Hawaii, a paradise for a small town boy.  He left home with the fear of God in his heart, but the world quickly drew him into its snare.  He partied in paradise completely oblivious to the fact that paradise was about to be turned into Hell.  He had a 3-day pass and headed away from Scoffield Barracks early in the morning, on his motorcycle, along with some of his buddies.
            Suddenly the sky was filled with planes, bombs dropping everywhere and fighter planes riddling everything that moved with the staccato of thousands of rounds of ammunition.  The boys turned around their motorcycles and headed back to camp.  The young man grabbed an anti-aircraft gun of a soldier who had fallen and he began shooting, not knowing or caring who the enemy was.
            That day, the news read like this:
“Early in the morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese submarines and carrier-based planes attacked the U.S. Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. Nearby military airfields were also attacked by the Japanese planes. Eight American battleships and 13 other naval vessels were sunk or badly damaged, almost 200 American aircraft were destroyed, and approximately 3000 naval and military personnel were killed or wounded. The attack marked the entrance of Japan into World War II on the side of Germany and Italy, and the entrance of the United States on the Allied side.”   On December 11, 1941, Germany also declared war on the United States.  The entire world was then at war.           
         When the young man went back to his barracks, it had almost been destroyed.  The water pipes were broken and many soldiers were killed as they slept in their bunks, which left the floor awash with bloody water.  His bunk, an upper one, was riddled with bullet holes, which went through killing the soldier beneath.  Truly, it was by the grace of God, he was spared.
From there he was shipped out to the island of New Guinea where he fought the Japanese for the next four years.  He was gone from his home five years to the day, when he finally returned home. It wasn’t until he was in his sixties that the U.S. government honored him for his heroism at Pearl Harbor.  He received medals and a flag from the state capitol.  He was extremely proud of his service to his country.  He belonged to an elite group called, “Pearl Harbor Survivors”.
The horrors of the things he experienced were to remain with him the rest of his life. Over the years, he tried to drown the memories out with alcohol.  He spoke often of being a loner, who would take his camper out to isolated spots where he would just sit by a camp fire and think.  In his later years, he dried out and became a pleasanter person, but his life style of alcohol and cigarettes dissipated his body and at seventy-two, he passed from this world.  How do I know all this about the young man?  He was my brother.
War does horrible things to people.  Some are affected more than others, but no one is ever the same.  My brother was twelve years older than I was, but as a child, I too was touched by the war.  I grieved for the brother that carried me on his shoulders, or played horsy so I could ride on his back.  I lost him when he left for the service and that loving, caring brother never returned.  He would forever be a stranger to me.
As we remember the brave on Memorial Day, let us take a spiritual look at fighting in the service – the service of the King. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”           Eph. 5:10-13
                     The same spiritual enemy, who worked through the World Wars, is still warring against us.  He wants to defeat us and drive us into a hopeless lifestyle.  He won’t give up, but the good news is, God has provided for us, so we can stand against him.  We don’t have to turn to the things of the world.  We don’t have to be blind, wretched and naked.  Not when we can put on the whole armor of God.  Verse 18 says, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”
            Today let us remember those who gave their lives for our country.  Also, there are multitudes of unsung Christian heroes and martyrs who have paved the way for us.  Let us hold their service dear to our hearts and be proud to be a part of the Kingdom of God, which is the true “land of the free, and the home of the brave”. 



Tuesday, May 22, 2018

For the Love of God


For the Love of God

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”  Jude 1:21

How do you recognize the ‘Love of God’?  What does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Deuteronomy 10:12 (NKJV) When we follow the direction of God, we experience the Love of God.  When we go our own way and disobey God, we lose confidence in the love of God.
Did you ever wonder if God really loves you?  Maybe you think God hates you because he didn’t answer your prayer.  People who think this way generally have little understanding of God and so they pick and choose how they feel according to what he does for them.  When someone tells me they no longer believe in God, because he didn’t answer their prayer, I want to take them by their shoulders and shake them, because if they really looked back on what happened since, they are far better off now than they were.
I always go back to this scripture in Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  I know without a shadow of doubt that God has a plan for your life and in His infinite way he causes the things in your life to work together.  You don’t know the future, but God does and he knows what you need even if it’s painful at the time.
I will never understand how God loves you and me so much that he sent Jesus to live amidst people like you and me in order to be put to death on the cross.  Then, Jesus, when was about die such a painful death said in Luke 23:34, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” What a great truth he spoke and it was meant for every person.  To put it into words we all understand, He was saying, “I love you so much, if you believe in me, I’m going to die in your place so you don’t have to pay the price for the sins in your own life.  Believe in me and you will be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven.
You do have another choice and that is to spend eternity in Hell.  God loves you so much he would never send you to Hell; you get to make that decision. The only thing you have to do to live in Hell for eternity is to deny the love of God; deny that Jesus Christ is the Savior and the son of God, and never repent for anything you ever did.  
When you were born your name was written in the “Book of Life” and God made a plan for your life if you follow him.  Revelation 3:5 confirms that your name was written there when you were born, because your name can be taken out, and here is what it says. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”   
Now let’s talk about the God’s Plan for your life.  In Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  See how much God loves you?  These are His wonderful plans for you and your future.  If you don’t believe in him, I don’t know how you will live with no hope ahead of you. 
Now, it’s up to you, my friend.  The Love of God is an amazing thing; without it, you face a future of disaster and no hope.  However, it’s not too late to give him your life and your heart.  He still loves you until you take your last breath!



Monday, May 14, 2018

Mothers Aren't Perfect


Mothers Aren’t Perfect

“She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed.”  Proverbs 31:27-28

When Mother’s Day comes around every year, we see reminders of flowers, gifts or greeting cards.  Many have loving thoughts for their mother, but there are a great number who think of their mother with anger, bitterness and un-forgiveness.  I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a perfect mother, but there are uncounted loving mothers who devote their lives to their children.  I am one of those who had an amazing loving mother.
I was reading Proverbs 31:10-30, which most people speak of as the pattern for a ‘perfect wife’.  Yet, as I meditated over this, I could see it also covered what a ‘perfect mother’ would be like.  In verse 17-22, She is energetic and strong, a hard worker; she watches for bargains; her lights burn late into the night. And her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber; she extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.  She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes.  She quilts her own bedspreads. She dresses like royalty in gowns of finest cloth. This sounds so much like the things my mother did.  She was always busy taking care of her family; cooking, cleaning, preparing for each season.  She sewed most of our clothes and always shopped for bargains.  She visited the poor and the lonely by taking food to them and finding ways to help the needy.  We were always dressed very well and our hair was washed and cut or styled.
Verses 25-27 also fit her; “Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.”   Also in verse 28, “but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”  These scriptures also continue to show my mother; she was strong and was honored by many people.  She was very kind and wise and she loved God and honored him in all she did.  She was certainly praised by many and honored by her children.
In spite of all these wonderful qualities, she was not perfect.  She had her problems, but turned to God in prayer about everything.  We all knew, no matter what happened in our life, our mother always loved us.  I was truly blessed with a wonderful mother who is now in heaven, and I miss her every day.
I have heard so many sad stories of those whose mothers were not kind or loving.  I have such compassion for them; for the one whose mother never loved him/her, or one whose mother was very abusive and for those who have never even known their mothers.  The Bible tells us to honor our mothers but how can one do that after a terrible childhood? Forgive her; this is a part of honoring.  Perhaps you have no contact with her, or maybe you don’t even know who she is, it is still important to your soul to have forgiveness.
Don’t treat your children like you were treated. Set a new example by showing them love, kindness, and respect; always be there for them, listening to them express their feelings.
Are you wondering how you can forgive her when you feel like she is the cause of all your un-happiness? God’s Word has all the answers.  Matthew 6:15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  That isn’t a suggestion; it’s a statement and a command, no question about it.  If you follow the Word of God, then you know what Romans 3:23 says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Perhaps this will help you to understand why it is so important to forgive. 
If your mother has repented for earlier actions in your life and she is now a Christian, then God has forgiven her, so how can you not forgive? There are people who don’t want to forgive and they go over and over the past. If you always live in the past, you will never enjoy the future.  Anyone who lives in the past will never be able to get rid of their anger and bitterness and enjoy happiness.
How about your relationship with your children?  Do you quickly lose you temper with them, or are you overindulgent?  Do you treat your children with love and kindness?  You are only kidding yourself if you think your children don’t pick up on that anger.  It doesn’t affect every child, but some children pick up on it and exhibit anger and temper tantrums.   If you are overindulgent with your children to overcompensate because of your own childhood, then you will have a spoiled child who will soon run the household.  
I haven’t been a perfect mother, but I have always tried to be there for them. They all know how much I love them.  I was married very young and when I began having children, I really didn’t know what to do with them.  I thank God my mother was there to advise me. 
Just remember this:  When you were born – you didn’t come with a manual!  Most mothers do the best they know how to do, and they are certainly not perfect, but neither are you.  The only perfect one is Jesus Christ who gave his life for you.  Give your heart to him and he will direct your footsteps to love and to forgive.
For you mothers who have tried to do the best they could; God bless you and keep you in God’s care.  You can depend on His love; that’s why he told us to honor our mothers. 



Monday, May 7, 2018


When in Doubt

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”             Mark 11:23

It just so happened that I needed this teaching on doubt today.  We have been going through a time of testing and doubt keeps creeping through me.  My husband is a man of great faith and he tells me, “Don’t worry about it, God didn’t bring us this far to drop it now.”  We had our house sold and the people buying it were approved, but they did something and now the bank unapproved them.  Even worse is that we made a down payment on the house we want to buy.  I don’t know how this will work out, but I do know that in the end, God will work it out for our good.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)  I have stood on this scripture many times in the past and now I lean on it again.  Faith is trusting God for all things.  Trusting God when you are raising children and grandchildren takes strong faith.  When you start out on a new adventure, especially when you are older, takes faith.  I could list thousands of things in a person’s life that would be difficult, if not impossible to accomplish if it were not for faith in our heavenly Father.

Either we have faith or we have doubt.  Faith and doubt do not work together.  When we have needed something, over the years, we have prayed in faith that it would happen.  Then time moved on and when it didn’t happen we began to doubt God and our faith went down and down until it disappeared.  Then we found out later that the thing we thought we needed so badly, wasn’t the right thing for us, or something better happened.

In Matthew 21:21 we read a great lesson about doubt.  “So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.”   What a lesson! When we say we have faith that a certain thing will happen, but we also have just a little doubt creep in, faith jumps out. Then it is easy to blame God for it
. 
Let’s be honest about this situation; it isn’t God’s fault you didn’t get what you wanted, it’s your own fault that you didn’t have faith or belief.  Stop and think about this for a minute; Luke 11:11, “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?”  Of course not; that’s not God’s way.  He wants to give you whatever is good for you, but He doesn’t want you to doubt him.  Doubt is a negative word while ‘faith is positive’.

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Luke 8:49-50, “While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” but when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”   Only believe!  What simple but powerful words they are.  Only believe and the sick will be made well.  Only believe and your need will be met.  Only believe and you can move mountains.

These are the words of Jesus our Savior and they are as true today as when he spoke them.  I titled this blog, “When in Doubt” and I end it with these words, “Only Believe”.