Reminder - A Different Twist - Veterans

 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

I did not write this, my sister - our youngest sibling - wrote it.  It's a little dark, as memories of war usually are, but it in no way tells it all. However, there's a light at the end of the darkness... the Light of the world.
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I’ve been thinking a lot about Veterans Day today, seeing many posts on social media to thank veterans for their service, lots of flags, pics of them together. It’s wonderful that so many people care enough about the men and women who serve and who have served our great country for our freedom.

Let’s talk about the forgotten veterans, the ones who were spat on in the 70’s, drafted into a war they did not ask to fight, who saw their buddies killed, the ones who had to make a choice to be killed or kill the one younger than they who was holding a machine gun pointed back at them. The ones who came back… but were never the same. I didn’t see any posts about them. I didn’t see any posts about the ones suffering from PTSD or the ones living on the street. They served, too, but I didn’t see anyone mention them today. How I wish they would have cared enough to think about them, too. They served. They left their families, too. Please, God, let them not stay forgotten.

Let’s talk about the ones like my dad, the POWs tortured in enemy camps. My father was a POW for 19 months during WWII in a Japanese prison camp on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. He never came back the same, either. As the child of a former POW, I will tell you that you live their nightmares with them… He can’t sleep and you can’t sleep through his screams because of the memories that haunt him when he closes his eyes. Then there would be those times he couldn’t sleep at all and would stay up for 3 or 4 nights in a row and no one could rest. There could be much more said about his torment but that would not be the point of this story.

You might think that as a child I would have felt proud of my dad, for his service, for making it home, and for being a hero, but I didn’t. I wanted him to be like everyone else’s dad, but he wasn’t. He never would be, but as a child, you don’t understand that. You just keep hoping he’ll change. He would get himself in trouble with law enforcement, and get into physical fights because he had to prove that no one would ever get the best of him again. He couldn’t hold down a job. I only knew my dad to work 2 jobs when I was growing up, 2 weeks at a tile store and 1 night at a 7-11 and it was robbed that same night.

Between the summer of my 6th & 7th year of school, my dad decided he couldn’t deal with the responsibilities of married life and children, so he left. I didn’t even cry when he left. So much of our lives were in turmoil caused by him that I was actually glad to see him go. He came back into our lives about 3 years later - a different man - but still not one I could trust to be a “daddy”.

As he aged, his moods were much more erratic and there came a time when my brother and I had to commit him to a VA psychiatric hospital because he had hit his wife and knocked her down. There seemed to be nothing worse to me at that time than to have to visit my father there and hear him make threats to kill me for making that decision. Thankfully, after 4 months of treatment, they found a regimen of meds that kept him at an even keel, and he lived out his life without any more violent episodes. I grew to accept him for who he was until he passed away at the age of 80.

I didn’t cry when I got the call that he had passed; I just felt a huge emptiness, the kind that makes you sick to your stomach. I knew he was no longer being tormented in his mind, and I was very thankful for that. I thanked God for it as I was sitting in the VA chapel for his service. I was fine until they played Taps, and then I felt the hot tears flowing down my face because of “that war” that stripped me of a father, stripped my mother of a good husband who should have loved her unconditionally, who should have provided for her and made her feel safe. He just wasn’t able to do that because of all he had been through…

In this past year, God has done a healing in me about my father. I don’t know if it’s because I’m older and wiser or that God finally broke down the walls that have surrounded me regarding all my hidden feelings about my dad... all those things we’re not supposed to talk about. God has shown me that my father did the best he could with all that he had going on in his mind. Honestly, when you stop and think about it, the fact that he could function for as long as he did is absolutely miraculous. I look forward to seeing him in Heaven, complete and whole, and I can’t wait to hug him and thank him for being my dad and to tell him I love him and that I am proud of his service to our country. He is safe now; his mind is at peace.

God made a way for this miraculous, healing change in me. My prayer is that you will reach out to Him and let God help you through your life struggles, as only He can.

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Prayer:

Father,

           Only You can take everything satan has meant for evil and turn it around for our good. Strengthen us, O God, using the fodder and ashes of our pasts and making us new. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

KNOWING AND TRUSTING - Pr. Alan Neel

Hebrews 3: 19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest.

God’s plans are always good! But there are times when they may not look or feel good! It’s in those times that we have to trust and believe. 

Unbelief is a natural by-product of our selfish and sinful nature. So, our initial response is rejection! Let’s remember, that only by a relationship with Jesus do we begin to overcome our sinful instincts and trust God in every circumstance. 

NO MATTER WHAT - GOD HAS A PLACE FILLED WITH PEACE, LOVE, AND JOY WAITING FOR US TO INHABIT! KNOWING GOD ENABLES TRUST IN GOD!

Lay Up Your Treasure...

But generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.
Isaiah 32:8 NLT

I was reminded of this tonight and wanted to share it again. It's a great story of God's blessings and rewards for a generous heart. 

I had lunch with an old friend who I hadn't seen in awhile. We tried to catch up on everything we could, talking non-stop in an extended lunch visit. It was good. My friend told me an amazing story of how their extended family had been lost from them for more than 40 years, and over the years, they had tried to find them without success - but how they were finally able to search out the cousins, the offspring of an aunt who had always been very kind and very generous. I could see love's glow remembered in my friend's eyes and I could tell just how loving the woman had been. It was a wonderful story to hear and I was very excited at all the good news of it.

The cousin who was first found later went to her sibling and said, "You will never guess who called me." To her shock, her brother said my friend's name without hesitation... keeping in mind, it had been 40 years. When asked how he knew, he replied that his cousin had been on his mind for a couple weeks... the same amount of time my friend had been searching this last time around! God has such a sweet way of answering the desires of our hearts.

We talked the rest of the time about all their plans to reunite face to face and as we were standing in the parking lot saying goodbye, my friend said, "Before we go, I want to tell you one more thing about my aunt..."  

It turns out that the aunt and cousins were very poor when they were all growing up, but it never stopped them from giving to others. The woman's life personified generous hospitality, with the emphasis on generous. The daughter of the amazing woman told this story. Her mother used to go to the grocery store and pick up the wooden fruit crates from the trash bin in back. She would then take them home, break them down, and tie them in bundles to sell for firewood to have money to buy coal to heat their home. One Christmas, the woman worked twice as hard to get enough money - not for toys for her children - but to get enough to buy an extra load of coal.

When the coal cart driver came, she pressed that money into his hand and said, "I want you to use this to buy coal for the poorest family on your route. I can't bear to think of anyone being cold on Christmas."

The driver was overcome by emotion and tried to hand back the money, but she insisted. Finally, when he could speak through his tears, he replied, "Missus, you are my poorest family..."

Poorest by the world's standards, but richest in the eyes of God.

Today, all three of her children are very successful in their careers of choice (which involve helping others in one form or another) and all are able to travel to different parts of the world. God's Word has much to say about those who are generous in spirit. Don't you just love it?

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for orchestrating such a wonderful reunion for my friend! Such a loving and generous thing for You to do!! Lord, change our hearts and cause us to be more like You! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

All the Days

When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2b NKJV

I know that God's Grace is sufficient and I know that goodness and mercy shall follow me ALL the days of my life. And according to His Word, He knew this day would be one of them...

Today has been a tough one. However, what I can tell you at the end of it is this: I don't have to understand the whys and the wherefores, I just have to trust Him. God is good and He knows what is best for our lives. He has the Master Plan, and if we trust Him, He will execute it perfectly.

I haven't trusted Him all the days of my life. But I do trust Him now and I will continue to trust Him for all the rest of my days.

Prayer:

Father,
           I pray healing for all those who need a touch from You. I pray peace for the troubled soul. I pray comfort as only You can give to those who have lost what they have loved. I pray Your provision as Way Maker for those who are lost and without. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Burden-Bearing

Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].
Galatians 6:2 The Amplified Bible

It can be so hard to find a balance between the trials and tragedies of life while trying to keep hope and faith in God - especially if we're going through a season like an extended Indian summer of it. Harder still if we're doing the balancing act and trying to bolster family members or friends who are going through tough times, too.

How do we effectively, lovingly, carry each other's burdens? Listen. We must listen to what they're saying and even to what they're not saying. Tears are uncomfortable for lots of people, yet tears are a gift from God, Why won't we just follow Romans 12:1 and weep with those who weep?

Too often, I am guilty of trying to "fix it". Too often, people offer misguided Christian clichés and platitudes, however well-intentioned they may be. Too often, we turn to things other than God to find or offer comfort. How about holding a hand, an arm around the shoulder, a hug, a cup of tea even, and God's promises, His written Word to restore the hope that is lost?

In Romans 15:13 NIV, Paul prays over those without hope, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Father,
            So let it be written. So let it be done! Please give us the discernment to see and the wisdom to know how to carry each other's burdens. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

It is Written - What He Does

Just to remind you

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble; 

the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you! 

The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, 

BOTH NOW and FOREVER. [emphasis mine]

Psalm 121:2-8 NLT

Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for keeping watch over us. Thank You for preserving Your Word for us. Help us to not say or do anything that has not been filtered through the Holy Spirit working in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Difficult, Despite the Promise

When Esau was 40 years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. They made life very difficult for Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 26:34-35 CEB

In verses 2-5 of this same chapter, God visits Isaac, the son of promise, and reiterates His blessing of Abraham, promising to keep His word with Isaac in regard to all the lands and the number of descendants too many to count and that all the nations of the earth will be blessed because of them. 

Can you imagine if the Lord came down and declared all that to you? Wouldn't you think you were set for life - and all the generations after you? "This is going to be a piece of cake - I got the Promise!" But that's not at all what transpired. By the end of the chapter, the in-laws were already outlaws. Verse 35 - They made life very difficult for Isaac and Rebekah. Their lives were "very difficult"  despite the promise!

How often do we get a word from God and think, "Oh, this is it! Everything's coming up roses now!" but then we find we're dealing with more thorns of life than roses? More fertilizer...  Do we turn against God? Do we get angry with Him? Do we doubt His Word? Do we become UNbelievers?

Let's do a heart check. What was the last thing you heard God speak to your spirit? Do you believe it? Has it happened? If not, do you still believe it? Has your life been difficult despite the promise? Don't give up. Don't stop believing. God is still on the throne and He's working His plan for your life. Trust Him.

Prayer:

Father,

          Bring back to our hearts all that You have spoken to us. Help us to do an honest check of our faith and trust in You. Grow us up in You, Lord. Help us to remain steadfast and immovable, always excelling in the work You've laid before us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Based on the Evidence

 As Paul gathered an armful of sticks and was laying them on the fire, a poisonous snake, driven out by the heat, bit him on the hand. The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.” But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and was unharmed. The people waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn’t harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.
Acts 28:3-6 NLT

How quickly the people of the island judged Paul to be a murderer, then almost as quickly decided he was a god, based on the 'evidence' in front of them. In both instances, with the so-called proof right before their eyes, they were wrong. 

God had a plan for Paul's life, and it didn't include dying on that island. The circumstances and their opinions didn't determine the outcome because Paul knew - and believed - what God told him was going to happen.

In Psalm 139, David tells us that God formed us in our mother's womb, and every day was planned out before we ever drew our first breath. Does that mean that every sin, every mistake, every mess up we make was already planned for us? No, it doesn't mean that. I believe God has a perfect plan for our lives, but sometimes we don't follow His plan. What happens then? 

I believe God pulls out His potter's wheel and remodels the clay, because of what is written in Jeremiah 18:1-6, The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Then the Lord gave me this message: “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand."

Oftentimes, people are quick to judge and hand out predictions about our lives, too, based on the evidence of what they see. Even worse, WE are quick to judge ourselves unworthy or incapable of fulfilling God's plan based on what we've done and what we know about ourselves. However, even with what we know, we can be just as wrong about that as the island people were about Paul.

God already knows what's in us. He put it there along with a measure of faith. You remember faith, right? Hebrews 11:1, Faith shows the REALITY of what we hope for; it is the EVIDENCE of things we cannot see. [emphasis mine] 

It is THAT evidence on which our lives should be based. 

Prayer:

Father,
           Open our eyes to see Your Truth as written in Ephesians that we are Your masterpiece. And You created us anew in Christ, so we can do the good things You planned for us long ago. We want to fulfill Your plan. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Make Us Ready

Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.
Acts 12:7

A friend shared her SOAP with me today on this Scripture. (SOAP is an acronym for Scripture Observation Application and Prayer.) Linda always has a different take and this one is no exception. It is really good!

She writes:

OBSERVATION: God is sending an angel to break Peter out of prison. Peter was asleep and the angel had to wake him and tell him to hurry up! That's when the chains fell off his wrists. I see this as those times God sends an answer that we might not be ready for, and He actually makes us ready (struck Peter's side, chains fell off). But in order to receive it, Peter had to act quickly and follow the angel out to freedom (read vvs. 8-11).

Am I refusing to follow God to freedom?!?

APPLICATION: Lord, I don't know how often You'll need to wake me or even ask me to act quickly. But let me understand and learn that trust is the key - because without trust, it does not matter what You ask or how fast I need to act. However, if I trust You, then it all works out.

PRAYER: Father, Let us recognize when we've been unchained and set free, and let us not remain seated in our prison. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen