Month: May 2020

In his Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln used the phrase the last full measure of devotion to honor the soldiers who gave their lives in this bloody battle. The phrase has become one that is used to honor American soldiers, firefighters, first responders, and others who sacrificially give or have given their lives for their country, their community or their home.

As we celebrate this Memorial Day in this COVID-19 era, it’s especially fitting that we pause to remember those who laid down their lives for family, friends, country, and freedom. The virus itself is a war and there are many on the front lines in the medical fields just as on the battlefields of war. This has awakened a sense of patriotism in many Americans and the fight against a common enemy has hopefully brought many of us together.

Although this battle and others are ongoing, the biggest battle we, as Americans, fight today is for the soul of our nation. In so many ways, we have fallen away from the America which honored God unashamedly and openly. We’ve seen federal courts restricting religious symbols and removing the ten commandments from the walls. A nation which honored God unashamedly and openly seems to have lost that freedom or right.

There was a time when we credited God for our blessings and our successes, and we turned to Him during times of trials and losses, but today, we seem to have lost that sense of remembrance. Woodrow Wilson said, “A nation that does not remember what it was yesterday does not know what it is today or what it is trying to do.’

There are very few nations with a history like America. For over two hundred years we have been a shining light to the world around us. We have been a launching pad that has taken the gospel to literally the very ends of the earth. People from other countries risk their lives to come here and enjoy the freedoms we enjoy each day.

On this Memorial Day, as we remember those who gave so much for the freedoms we enjoy, may we humble ourselves before God and offer him thanks and may God Bless America.

But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate-we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it will never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government, of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth. Abraham Lincoln

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

Recently, I had the chance to watch the movie, Good Morning, Miss Dove, a classic movie about a spinster teacher in a small community. She sacrificed her life’s dreams in order to stay in this community to repay her father’s debt upon his death. The movie is a study of a life well lived helping to raise the students in this community. Miss Dove knows each and every student, their weaknesses, their strengths, and has prepared each one for their life. She has helped them all. Suddenly, she is in need of help, but she has a hard time asking anyone for it. Why is asking for help so hard for us?

For months, we had been in the midst of a quandary. Randy’s only remaining original joint, his left hip, was causing him excruciating pain. Elective surgery had been suspended, and the doctor had told him that surgery would happen as soon as the hospital opened again. We tried dealing with this situation on our own not wanting to bother God for help – He has a lot going on! Finally, we found ourselves saying, “Oh, God, can you help us? We need relief!”

Explaining the sequence of events after that plea is nothing short of a miracle! Randy called the doctor to request pain meds, the doctor petitioned the hospital for surgery, the next day Randy was in the operating room! The surgery was at 9, and he was home by 2!! God was telling us that indeed He can help!

We are so like Miss Dove. We try to do everything all on our own. Finally, we get to that point where we realize we can’t do it on our own! We’ve tried everything except asking for His help. What does it take to get us to ask for help?

First, it takes humility. We have to get over the idea that we can do it on our own, and humble ourselves before God to ask Him for help.

Next, it takes the ability to trust Him. We know we aren’t in control and that Jesus can get us through this, but sometimes it takes just saying “I need Your help, and I trust You to give it” and say it out loud. Jesus can get us through it. Can you help me?

Finally, it takes the power given to us when we ask God for help. We can have the power to make a change in our situation and allow God to lead us in doing this. It’s not enough to think these things in our head and heart, we need the power to say the words, Jesus, can you help me?

The question is not, Can you help me, Jesus – that’s a given. The questions are, “Are we willing to humble ourselves to ask for that help? Are we willing to trust Him to give the help? Are we willing to use the power he gives to change the situation.?”

We can keep trying to do it all on our own in trying times, or we can just say out loud, Jesus, help me.

So, what do we say to those of us who have said out loud, Can you help me, Jesus, and not received the answer we expected? No human can answer, that, but Psalm 27:14 has the answer, “Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.”

Jesus can get us through.

At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from Him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” Luke 8:45

There is a river that runs through time and the universe, vast and inexplicable, a flow of spirit that is at the heart of all existence and every molecule of our being is a part of it. And what is God but the whole of that river? William Kent Krueger

In the pre-COVID-19 era, we pretty much all had our daily routines. We knew what we were doing each day of the week, kept a calendar of activities, and we probably had a list of all the things that needed to be done. In our daily routine, many times we are faced with disruptions that interfere with that routine, but nothing like this virus. Since COVID-19, every day is a disruption, but if we are smart enough to learn from them, those disruptions can provide opportunities.

Jesus had disruptions daily in his ministry, and He was so sensitive to the people and events, that He stopped what He was doing to care and take care of them. We’ve got a choice during this disruptive time, we can keep doing what we are doing, grumble and groan, or we can take the disruption and turn it into something positive.

We can take courage from these disruptions and know that every disruption can offer opportunities if our attitude is positive. C. S. Lewis says. It comes the moment you wake up every morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day come rushing at you like wild animals. Your first job each morning consists of simply shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind. Don’t let disruptions ruin the day.

During these disruptions, we can take faith, make it our core of confidence and trust Jesus. Remember the hymn, What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear; what a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer. We must remember that on the cross, he took away all that would crush us – all fear, all shame, all doubt. He used the disruptions for good.

It’s also a time to begin to take action and follow Christ through these disruptions. We can take this time to realize that the living Christ is alive and working now! All you need to do is take action just as you would if your car was headed for a ditch. You wouldn’t sit there and do nothing, you’d take action and steer away from trouble. That’s what’s needed now to turn these disruptions into positive experiences.

I think this hymn by Civillia D. Martin says it best. Be not dismayed whate’er betide; God will take care of you. Beneath his wings of love abide, God will take care of you. God will take care of you; through every day, o’er all the way. He will take care of you…God will take care of you.

This signet from God is the first installment of what’s coming, a reminder that we will get all our inheritance God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life. Ephesians 1:14

It’s not what you leave for your children, it’s what you leave in your children. copied

On this Mother’s Day, it’s hard to believe that our Mama has been gone for almost four years. We still miss her everyday, but time has given us a chance to think back on the inheritance she left for us. Although she did leave us material possessions, it is the inheritance she left in our hearts, minds, and memories that are important to us.

The poem is true, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall; I am my Mother after all.” I find myself doing things the way Mama did them, using expressions she used, and following her rules and idiosyncrasies without even realizing that I do it. For example, when I make a pound cake, I always pound the pan three times on the cabinet before I put it in the oven. Why? I never knew until lately that pounding the pan gets all the air bubbles out and helps the cake to rise. I do it because Mama always did it. One of the things I inherited from her.

It doesn’t matter if a Mother is biological, foster, or adopted, they teach us so many life lessons, bestow so much love, and teach us such an appreciation for life and faith. The sad thing is that most of us don’t take time to appreciate all they do and have done for us while we have them! During this COVID-19 era, my prayer is that Mothers and children can take this chance to make some sweet memories.

I’ve had a chance to clean out a lot of junk during this pandemic, but among the junk, I found almost every letter my Mama and I had written to each other during my first year of college. She always saved everything! It was such a sweet treat to go back in time and remember all the ways she was there for me then and always.

Our Mama and Daddy lived through World War II, the depression, and scary times. Mama’s family was poor, but they always worked hard. Mama could have said, “Well, my family never amounted to much, so I won’t either,” but she was always looking for bigger and better things for her parents, her husband, and her children. She claimed God’s promises and always trusted Him to provide. I can see her inheritance in my sisters, all our children, and all our grandchildren.

God said, I will pour my spirit into your descendants and my blessing on your children. It’s a mother’s job to instill a foundation into their children so that those children don’t merely follow her path, but rather build something greater upon that foundation. The decisions mothers make today not only affect them, but also their children.

Mama left an inheritance of generosity, faith, hope, joy, love, talent, kindness, ethics, responsibility, understanding, compassion, and countless other qualities. She prayed that she had raised three girls who could take up where she left off . She gave us roots and wings. I see that inheritance in each of her family’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Thank heavens for Mothers not only just on Mother’s Day but rather every day. My prayer is that God will help all mothers to make the right decisions and leave a powerful inheritance for those who follow them.

Happy Mother’s Day!