A Memorial

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”  And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God."
Acts 10:1-4 NKJV

Memorials are a great tribute to those who have given their lives in service for others, whether in the armed forces during conflict or through humanitarian effort. A time to remember and honor what they have done. However, it's a different kind of memorial I'm thinking about this evening - the one in our text for today. Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.   

When I read this, I had to ask myself. Have I prayed enough or given enough that my prayers and alms would come up for a memorial before God?  And if I haven't, why haven't I? Do I take my freedom to worship so casually that I forget the price that was paid for it? Do I take for granted the rights afforded me as set forth by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Because I was born into a Christian nation, do I turn an unfazed eye and ear to the plight of our Christian brothers and sisters who do NOT live in the land of the free and the home of the brave?  Those for whom Christianity today is as much persecuted with beatings and torture and death, as it was in the first century?

For those who have given their lives to offer freedom in Christ to a lost and dying world - a memorial. For those who have given their lives so that I might live in the land of the free - a memorial. For the One who gave His life to redeem every soul - let my life be a living memorial...

Prayer:

Father,
         Change our hearts! Renew a right spirit within us! Let our prayers and alms be such that they come up for a memorial before You...and You alone, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - A Memorial

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”  And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God."
Acts 10:1-4 NKJV

Memorials are a great tribute to those who have given their lives in service for others, whether in the armed forces during conflict or through humanitarian effort. A time to remember and honor what they have done. However, it's a different kind of memorial I'm thinking about this evening - the one in our Promise for today. Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.   

When I read this, I had to ask myself. Have I prayed enough or given enough that my prayers and alms would come up for a memorial before God?  And if I haven't, why haven't I? 

Do I take my freedom to worship so casually that I forget the price that was paid for it? Because I was born into a Christian nation, do I turn an unfazed eye and ear to the plight of our Christian brothers and sisters who do NOT live in the land of the free and the home of the brave?  Those for whom Christianity today is as much persecuted with beatings and torture and death, as it was in the first century?

For those who have given their lives to offer freedom in Christ to a lost and dying world - a memorial. For those who have given their lives so that I might live in the land of the free - a memorial. For the One who gave His life to redeem every soul - let my life be a living memorial...

Prayer:

Father,
         Change our hearts! Renew a right spirit within us! Let our prayers and alms be such that they come up for a memorial before You...and You alone, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Memorial - reprinted by request

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”  And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God."
Acts 10:1-4 NKJV

Memorials are a great tribute to those who have given their lives in service for others, whether in the armed forces during conflict or through humanitarian effort. A time to remember and honor what they have done. However, it's a different kind of memorial I'm thinking about this evening - the one in our text for today. Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.   

When I read this, I had to ask myself. Have I prayed enough or given enough that my prayers and alms would come up for a memorial before God?  And if I haven't, why haven't I? Do I take my freedom to worship so casually that I forget the price that was paid for it? Do I take for granted the rights afforded me as set forth by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Because I was born into a Christian nation, do I turn an unfazed eye and ear to the plight of our Christian brothers and sisters who do NOT live in the land of the free and the home of the brave?  Those for whom Christianity today is as much persecuted with beatings and torture and death, as it was in the first century?

For those who have given their lives to offer freedom in Christ to a lost and dying world - a memorial. For those who have given their lives so that I might live in the land of the free - a memorial. For the One who gave His life to redeem every soul - let my life be a living memorial...

Prayer:

Father,
         Change our hearts! Renew a right spirit within us! Let our prayers and alms be such that they come up for a memorial before You...and You alone, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Love In Any Language

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7 KJV

Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a best-selling book titled, The 5 Love Languages. The description from the website* about his book reads,  Of the countless ways we can show love to one another, five key categories, or five love languages, proved to be universal and comprehensive—everyone has a love language, and we all identify primarily with one of the five love languages:
Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch.

I'm not here to sell you the book, but to borrow from its premise that if we don't know the language, it's hard to make ourselves understood. If your love language is Receiving Gifts and all you're receiving is the language of Quality Time sans gifts, you're probably not very happy. Friends of mine (who are married to each other) experienced this in their marriage. He speaks Acts of Service - he would clean the house, cook dinner, washed laundry, etc, thinking all the while that he was being incredibly loving and romantic. However, she only hears Words of Affirmation. Her question while she sat in a spotless house was, "If he loves me, why doesn't he just say so?"

The Great News is that God speaks all languages. He created them AND you. And because God IS love, He can and will communicate with you in ANY love language and can receive your love back to Himself accordingly. No more excuses for not speaking with Him.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for always providing exactly what we need, when we need it and where we need it. Help us to be fluent in our conversations with You and with others about You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen


*www.5lovelanguages.com/learn-the-languages/the-five-love-languages/

---

Unquestionably Free +

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:13 NKJV

Memorial Day. People are planning picnics and barbecues and family gatherings. Those are all good things. We should acknowledge the true cost of them. We should remember that the reason we are able to enjoy these simple pleasures is because of those who fought to attain and maintain our freedom and gave their lives for it.

In reviewing the background for Memorial Day, I found a website with a statement that said it best -

Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation;

it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all. http://www.usmemorialday.org/

You've probably seen the quote that's been making its way around the Internet. "Only 2 defining forces have ever laid down their lives for you: Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul; the other for your freedom."  A rather powerful statement, to be sure, but I would have to assert a Truth about the first Defining Force.  John 8:36 in the Amplified Bible reads, So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.

I thank God for every person who has served our country. When I was in high school, while the majority of kids were marching in "peace" moratoriums, I was holding flag rallies with the slogan, "We're for U.S." I am grateful to be living in a country that so far has remained free. Memorial Day is about reconciliation for the lives given for my freedom, but I have been reconciled to God through the Life given to free me from sin. I am eternally grateful for a Savior who has liberated me so that I am unquestionably free.

Prayer:

Father,

           I pray for the comfort of those families who have lost loved ones in the battle for freedom. I pray peace for the souls of those service men and women who survived and came home and for their families - peace that only You can offer. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son so that we can be unquestionably free. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen