Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Remembering … In Gratitude
Freedom Preserved, Service and Sacrifices Remembered
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Remembering the men and women who sacrificed their lives, limbs, health, families, or sanity to preserve America’s freedom.
Thank you to all the men and women, past, present, and future who have served in the military and a special thank you to their families for their very real sacrifices.
We are honored by all that you sacrificed. You have personified the values and priorities of true Americans.
Thank YOU for YOUR service. Because of you, we live in freedom.
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Memorial Day … A reminder of America’s values
“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”
– James A. Garfield
May 30, 1868 Arlington National Cemetery
Continue reading Memorial Day … A reminder of America’s values
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Memorial Day, a Time for Remembering the Price of Freedom
Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. Matthew 26:7-8
If you were a guest in the home of an Israelite, it was customary for the host to dab a pinch of ointment on you to welcome you. Mary broke her alabaster flask to pour all of the pure spikenard on Jesus’ head. As the sweet, spicy, musky fragrance of the spikenard filled the home, one disciple objected to the apparent waste of nearly a year’s wages.
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Matthew 26:13
Jesus established His memorial in the Upper Room. Just as Mary gave her best and most costly possession, Jesus poured out His life for us. His blood was shed for our eternal life with Him.
And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of Me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:19-20
America’s Memorial Day is a day of remembering the cost of freedom. Men and women poured out their lives. Their blood was shed for our freedom in America.
And the sacrifices continue today. Men, women, and families in our military are giving their lives, their limbs, their mental health, and much more – all for the cause of freedom.
Please take a moment and reflect on the meaning of our fought for freedom … it is costly.
Today and throughout this week, thank a military member, the families supporting the military, and a veteran. Let them know that they have made a difference in your life and in the lives of Americans.
God bless America, and God bless you!
My prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for giving us examples of memorials in the Bible. You have taught us that it is important to remember sacrifices and blessings. Thank You for Your great grace in sending Your only begotten Son to make the ultimate sacrifice, paying with His life for our sin. Thank You for the men and women who paid for freedom with all that they had – their lives. Thank You for the families who supported these men and women. I pray, Father, for today’s veterans and military members and their families. Bless them with the knowledge of You and the comfort and peace that only You can give. May this day be a catalyst to return America to You, Father. Ignite our spirits with a fire and a zeal for You. Bless America, Father, with an awakening and a return to You.
Please thank a veteran or active duty military member this week.
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Freedom cost everything
From Valley Forge to Gettysburg, from Berlin to Versailles, from Pearl Harbor to Normandy, from Viet Nam to Iraq and Afghanistan, American soldiers and their families sacrificed their lives, limbs, physicial and mental health, and relationships for the freedom of others.
Today, we remember their sacrifices and celebrate the freedom that they fought so valiantly for.
Freedom cost everything, and they were willing to sacrifice it for us. Some died, so that we could live freely in America.
When Keith and I returned from three years at Clark AB in the Philippines, we were struck by how different America had become. We stopped at a gas station to fill up my Mom and Dad’s car, and we didn’t know how to put gas in the car. In that short three years, gas stations had gone digital!
In that short three years, we had changed and my family had remained the same, except Softsoap was now in their bathroom. We tried to tell them about the monsoons, typhoons, fear of Keith being deployed to Iran, and fear for safety. They could not understand.
Our service men and women have sacrificed much, and we can only see glimpses of how much those sacrifices cost them.
I can only imagine the sacrifices that Jesus made for me. I can recite those sacrifices, but how can I understand them fully? God died for me. God died for you. For freedom!
For in Him (Jesus) all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:19-20
That freedom cost Jesus everything. More than death. Jesus suffered the humiliation of being beaten and scourged so horribly that He was too weak to carry His cross to Golgotha. Then, He was nailed to the cross and died. A Roman soldier pierced Him with a sword. The Divine Son of God, God Himself, took the sin of the past, the present, and the future upon Him. He became sin, and because of that sin, He agonized as God turned away from Him for a time.
Our freedom from sin cost Jesus everything. But He was the Victor. He rose and took His place at the right hand of God to speak on our behalf!
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galations 5:1
For freedom, our soldiers and their families sacrificed everything.
For freedom, our Savior sacrificed everything.
My Prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for our military service men and women, our veterans, and their families. Bless them, we pray, with the knowledge of You and with the satisfaction that they have made a difference in America. We are privileged to live in freedom in America. Thank You for placing us here. We are privileged to know Jesus as our Savior. Thank You for giving us the gift of freedom in Jesus. May we bring glory to America and to You. God, bless America richly and turn her back to You!
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Memorial Day, a day to remember the sacrifices of freedom
The Vietnam Women’s War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Thank You, friends for serving America and preserving freedom for generations to come.
