Honor the Heroes

Romans 12:9-11

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

A young wife in Joplin, Missouri sheds tears for her husband who loved her so much that he gave his life to save and protect her. A family in Russellville, Ohio mourns the death of their son, brother and friend who gave his life protecting our country. Everyday heroes all over the world die for the people they love. And everyday heroes all over the world live to make a difference. With all of the tornados, earthquakes and flooding, many heroes stepped up to help those who survived. Our friend Rick loaded his truck and headed south to help the flood victims along the Mississippi. 

Memorial Day is a day to remember. I think about my dad and the many men and women who served in World War II and those serving today. I think of loved ones who no longer reside on this earth, the heroes who went before me to preserve my freedom, and the folks who made a difference in my life. I think of Jesus who gave his life so that I can look forward to heaven. All of these heroes honored others above themselves. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving with me as we honor the men and women who gave so much. 

The Judgement?

Colossians 4:2-6

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

According to the billboard I saw on route 125, the Lord is returning today(May 21). He may or may not; no one knows the day that Jesus will return but God.  I’ve heard many comments on the prediction of Judgment Day, mostly jokes and negative comments. Even if I don’t agree with the person predicting the day, since only God knows the day, I take the reality of it happening as serious as I do my next breath.

Whether Jesus returns today or next year or in a hundred years, I want to be prepared to be with him. Each day that I wake up on this earth is one more day that I can help someone else, talk to them about Jesus, encourage another Christian, read my Bible and talk to God. Paul tells the Colossians to “make the most of every opportunity”, I should too.  Many wonderful opportunities find their way into my life, but not one of them holds a candle to being with Jesus in eternity. 

Storms of Hope

 Psalm 107:28-30

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, 
   and he brought them out of their distress. 
He stilled the storm to a whisper; 
   the waves of the sea were hushed. 
They were glad when it grew calm, 
   and he guided them to their desired haven.

I glanced in my rearview mirror yesterday as I was driving to work. A black cloud filled with moisture hung over the land. The meteorologist predicted more rain and storms. This spring has been excessively wet. I think I heard that April 2011 had more rain than any other April on record.

Sometimes in life I experience more storms and rain than usual. I wonder if I can find my way through the lightning and the rain. But, I know that if I take God’s hand and seek his guidance, I can stand against life’s storms. One thing I love about rain and storms is the rainbow at the end. God reminds us of his promise,”Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life”. The storms will not destroy me; instead they remind me of my God who is faithful to calm the storms to a whisper of hope. 

Women of a Certain Influence

2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

As a child, I saw my mom and my grammy reading. They often sat with their Bibles and drenched themselves in God’s words. My mom loved to learn, and she instilled in me a love of reading and learning. She also taught me respect and adoration for God. My grammy prayed for me and often reminded me that God loved me and he watched over me. I am blessed to have two great women who mentored me as I searched for God’s truth and grew in him.

The apostle Paul reminded the young minister, Timothy, that his mother and grandmother set a great example of faith. He also assured this young man that the same faith lived in him. Timothy and I were blessed with women in our lives who shared their faith in God. I praise God for their influence. As a follower of Christ, I pray that I lead by example as I share my faith with my children and grandchildren.

Thank you to all of the mothers who pray and study God’s word. I pray God pours his blessings on you this Mother’s Day.