Lord Bless (A Reminder)

LORD BLESS

       

                                   Lord Bless

Lord Bless the memories

of those who have given their lives in service to our country

Lord Bless the soldier

at their post, where ever that may be

Lord Bless the families

who are left behind to continue on with their  lives

Lord bless the ones

who carry the scars as a reminder of their sacrifice

Lord Bless those

who have been and are prisoners to an enemy

Lord Bless the children

who hold a picture of the man they call their Daddy

Lord bless the wives

who sleep alone,

Lord Bless the parents

who wait at home

Lord Bless them,

the men and women

who have dedicated their lives

to protecting what we know as our country,

our freedom, our home;

the United States of America

Tracey J. Thompson

©5/27/06

Photos by RachelRamsdellPhotography

"Lord Bless those who have given their lives"......I wanted something a bit more concrete to pray for...so I looked up some statistics starting with the Civil War... (Decoration Day was instituted in 1868 by the Grand Army of the Republic to decorate the graves of Union soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War. Eventually the two competing decoration holidays, Union and Confederate, merged into one and included the honoring of all Americans who had died while in military service.  The term Memorial Day was first used in 1882, but was not declared the official name until 1967. At this point Memorial Day was May 30th...until the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968 was passed and Memorial Day was moved to the last Monday of May, which took effect at the federal level in 1971)

NOW that the history lesson is over!  On with my thoughts

American military lives lost;

Civil War: 750,000

World War I: 116,516

World War II: 405,399

Korean War: 54,246

Vietnam: 58,204

Afghanistan War: 2,356

Iraq War: 4,497

The list of conflicts and wars is much larger, but I looked at the ones we are most familiar with.

That is a HUGE amount of casualties....add in the families and people that are also affected by this...not to mention those wounded.

LORD BLESS.....

We, as those who live in the country that these people fought for and defended, must remember in prayer all those affected, and for those who continue to serve knowing what the out come could be.

Whether we agree with any of these wars and conflicts....we can still commit to pray.

 Pray for Peace.  I thought it fitting for Memorial Day...we pray for peace....because with peace  comes the end of conflict and with that the end of war.  We pray for the peace that Christ brings.  I also pray for peace for those amid the conflict, that Christ can give them inner peace as they live and battle in not so peaceful nations.

On Memorial Day we remember. There are pictures posted on social media of men and women in uniform who have served our country, cemeteries are decorated with wreaths and flowers and flags, parades with those in service now, and those who have been, wind the streets of many towns across the country.  Remembering names and stories and even statistics is our way of preserving the past, of making sure generations do not forget the sacrifice and loss that was done, in essence for them, and for those generations to come.

There are many instances in the bible  (more than 300 times in the Old Testament) where God commanded a memorial be built so they would not forget what He had done for them. Or people built and altar to honor and memorialize what God had done.   Noah built an altar in gratitude and honor that God saved him and his family and the animals from destruction.
Abraham
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:7
Isaac
Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.  Genesis 26:25
Jacob
Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, andbuild an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau. Genesis 35:1
Moses
Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.   Exodus 17:15
...and this list goes on.

Every day, as a Christian, should be a memorial day, should it not? We come before the Lord humbly, on our knees, grateful for what He has done for us...the sacrifice and the loss suffered for us.  Our lives should be that memorial....how we live and the choices we make should honor the One who allows us to live with His presence here and the assurance of eternity when we leave this earth. 

LORD BLESS......

I am ending today's with a short video that my daughter Marah put together for the National Day of prayer in 2016,  but I believe it is fitting for today as well.

 Pray for Peace

(Adapted from Coffee Time With A Dear Friend; Lord Bless May 29,2017)

Mirror Mirror

I decided to expand a bit on a section in part of my blog "Lessons in the Beastly and the Beautiful" that I posted weeks ago.
The part about the magic mirror.....As we would ALL love a magic mirror, that could show us things or tell us what we wanted to hear.
I stated that our "Mirror" can show us who we are, show us who we can be.
I have one you know! (And so do you!)
A mirror that can be honest with me, IF I allow it to be.
That mirror is scripture ...
When we read it we see the reflection of God's  character.  We see Christ's reflection ...and as we look...how does our reflection match up to His?
📖  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25
We have to look closely, and then do something about what we have "seen".  As the verse says...we must do what the word requires us to do and we will be blessed for it.
We will see in His reflection the things we may need to change, remove or work on.
We may look into that mirror and see mud and yuck that needs to be washed away. We might see wounds that need tending...so they don't fester, and iritate and leave a huge scar.

📖 That, however, is not the way of life you learned  when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,  and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:20-32

It is ALL right there in this verse.
Look into that "Mirror" and line your reflection up as closely with that of Christ;
Follow His instruction,
Put away old bad habits
Live righteously as a new being
Be truthful
Don't let anger fester and cause you to sin
Be productive...serve others around you
Be mindful of what comes out of your mouth
Wash away any "grubby" attitudes
Love and forgive...as the "Reflection" looking back at you has done!
Christ is the perfect reflection of God the Father....so we too should be that same reflection of Christ.

And I know sometimes it is hard to see what His plan is...what He has in-store when things in life are difficult and dark.
Just like the mirror when you get out of the hot shower...it is all foggy...can't see a thing.  If you try to use the mirror as is...you are trusting that your reflection is back there.

📖   For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12
God is still there working....and we may not understand some things this side of heaven, but when we get there...it will be as if a huge hand has wiped the fog away!  It will all be crystal clear when we see Him face to face!
We will know ALL we need to know! We will be complete!
Amen and Amen!
I pray today I look into that good and perfect "Mirror" and my reflection is His!
And I pray that for you as well!

Rule Maker

"I am the OLDEST....I MAKE the rules!"
A coffee mug that I received at Christmas....(my siblings got the corresponding ones)
But looking at it one day....it got me thinking!
We like to think we make the rules.  And sometimes we even try.

In the movie Miss Congeniality, during one part of the pagent they ask that one question "If you could have one thing (make one rule) 

And everyone's answer was …."world peace".  

And we might say the same thing, think WE have the answer to fix all the wrongs of this world....

BUT I do not see the whole picture..do you?....so making the rules might not turn out right in the end.

As mom's we say..."I make the rules!"  or any of us....don't we want to say we make the rules!

But again...even though we believe we are doing what is best for our children because we love them most...we are also flawed people....who were raised by (even the best parents) flawed people.

Now don't get me wrong...I am not saying we should throw out the rules...we would have chaos.

BUT GOD is the oldest……..so He makes the rules!
And if you have ever read the Old Testament....He had A LOT of them!
The 10 Commandments Click here to read the account
The books of Exodus and Leviticus are FULL of laws and rules.

THEN Jesus came...He followed those rules...was the only one who could...BUT He "upped the anty" so to speak.
For exaample
In the Old Testament it was common for tithes and  sacrifices be the top, the best, the first for offerings.

 📖  Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear  so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God  and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Genesis 28:20-22

📖 “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30

📖 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops; Proverbs 3:9


But in the New Testament Christ became the one and only sacrifice.

📖  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26

📖 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

Yes we do have to have rules here on earth...

But our rules should line up with those of God's

📖 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

 “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’  and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 19:17-19

In the Old Testament it says an eye for any eye.

Jesus said; love your enemies

📖 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:43-44

Love God with all your being...

📖 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 27:37-39

 Do not do things out of selfishness
 📖 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

Go and tell others
📖 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20


God is the OLDEST!  I will stick with His rules!
I have a limited view of eternity. My heart may be in the right place....but my view of the whole picture is narrow...I can't see how things affect ALL.

So moms that should give us some relief...rules have already been made... We can just sit back and.....oh wait....we still are THE mom, aren't we!!!

Praying that you follow the best Rule Maker today!

Lessons in the Beastly and the Beautiful

We had a movie night at church this past weekend.  The adults watched Risen...a great movie that I would recommend. The telling of the Easter Story from the point of view of one of the Roman guards.

If you would like to watch the trailer click on this link:

Risen Official Trailer

The children and I watched Beauty and the Beast.  

The reason for the showing of both of these movies was an introduction to the new Sunday School material that our adults will be doing....He Chose Nails by Max Lucado.  Here is the clip we proceeded the movie with.

I loved Max Lucado's tie in with the Beauty and the Beast story...the Beauty saves the Beast....Christ takes on our beastly to save us!
But as I watched the movie...more things came to me...you know...how my brain works!

How about...
Belle gives her life in place of her father.
📖 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
even after she saw the hideous beast as he stepped into the light...she still traded her life for her father's.
Christ gave His life in place of us! Even though He knew the hideousness of our sins He was to take on himself.

Another thought was....
The beastly looking character was not the worst one....not the one who was actually evil.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Matthew 17:15-16a 
The beast was showing his kindness as he was trying and changing.
While Gaston was selfish, conceited and cared only about what he wanted... and didn't care who he hurt in the process.  Gaston's heart never changes.

I thought about how we view others, we see their outer appearance and make our judgements on who they are inside.  I am thankful that God sees the heart.
God sees us not as a beast but as royalty
📖  But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Also our view of ourselves...we can be told by the world we are one thing....God sees us as another.
📖 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—John 1:12

There is the "magic" mirror ….Belle used it to see how her father was, and they saw the beast in pain.
But we have a mirror as well....to see what we are...to see what we can be....we can use scripture to see these things

📖  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

📖 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Ephesians 5:1-2

📖 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”  1 Peter 2:21-22

Our choices can define us...until we accept and allow ourselves to be loved with that sacrificial love..then those behaviors that defined us fall away...we are dramatically transformed...just like the  dramatic transformation of the beast at the end, into his former self, but with a changed heart!

We are transformed into who God intended us to be!

📖 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  2 Corinthians 5:17

📖 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Praying for your transformation from the

beastly to the beautiful today!