Freedom Isn't Free!

July 4th is certainly a reminder that we are so very blessed to live in a "Free Country."  However, every day we should be reminded of the sacrifices that were made on our behalf.  Just yesterday in church during a beautiful and emotional service, we acknowledged the men and women who so bravely sacrificed their lives for millions of Americans they will never even meet.  One sweet couple stood up as we acknowledged the fact that their only son was recently killed while fighting overseas.  I simply cannot imagine the pain and the pride experienced at the same time, and yet it happens every day.  This poem seemed very appropriate to share on this Independence Day!
 

It is the Soldier

by Charles M. Province
It is the Soldier, not the minister

Who has given us freedom of religion.

It is The Soldier, not the reporter,

Who has given us Freedom of the press.

It is The Soldier, not the poet,

Who has given us Freedom of speech.

It is The Soldier, not the campus organizer,

Who has given us Freedom to demonstrate.

It is The Soldier, not the lawyer,

Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician

Who has given us the right to vote.

It is The Soldier who salutes the flag,

Who serves beneath the flag and
Whose coffin is draped by the flag
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

The Choice is Yours

Am I the only one who occasionally finds it easier to press that little "snooze" button on the top of my alarm clock in the morning instead of getting up early and starting the day in God's word?  It is always easier to press the button with one finger instead of facing the chore of pulling my entire body out of the bed even though I know I should start my day with a brisk walk and prayer.  Have you ever wondered WHO created the word for that little electronic device we all need yet many of us despise??  The word ALARM seems very appropriate when my little clock begins it's piercing buzz designed to either knock me out of the bed or at the very least cause my heart to skip a beat!  Who wants to be ALARMED first thing in the morning?  Of course now there are newer, gentler devices that slowly stir you out of a restful sleep, but either way each of us has a choice to make at the start of each day.  That ONE choice can impact our entire day for better or for worse. 


Isn't that the case with ALL aspects of our life??  You see, like it or not, we are ALL where we are today for the most part because of the choices we have made along the way.  Now, before you block my blog from your computer or post a not so pleasant comment, give this some thought.  I realize that God allows things to happen in our lives to grow our faith, to build character and to remind us that we need Him always.  Many of the unpleasant experiences in our lives would have happened regardless of our choices.  However, when we consider our marital status, our financial situation, our relationships including our relationship with Jesus, our choices along the way, both good and not so good, have contributed to where we are today.  Now, that can be rather depressing for some of us, but the good news is.....our past decisions do not have to determine our future success.  So often I hear my friends say that they are tired of their circumstances whatever that may be; marital problems, finances, trouble with children, too much weight and too little energy or a job they loathe.  You see I have found that it is easier to make excuses, than it is to make changes. 


We want a deeper relationship with our spouse (or our Lord,) but we are not always willing to invest in the relationship.  We want to lose 10 more pounds, but we do not want to invest the time to excercise or we are not willing to sacrifice that chocolate treat before bedtime.  We are "comfortable" pressing the snooze button every morning, and then we make excuses throughout the day.  What would happen if for one week, we CHOSE not to make excuses?  We would have stronger, deeper relationships, we would have more energy if we are taking the time to exercise, we would be better prepared to handle whatever stress might come our way if we are spending time in God's word, and maybe we could even stop riding the roller coaster of guilt every day with whatever your weakness or battle might be.

Are you up for the challenge?  For JUST one week, don't press that snooze button, and get up maybe even 15-30 minutes earlier to spend some quiet time in the Bible, a devotion or maybe start that excercise program you have been wanting to begin.  You can do anything for JUST one week!  Maybe you can even walk while you are listening to praise and worship music...my favorite!  :)

God has an amazing plan for your life...won't you let Him show you? 

Jeremiah 29:11 
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

For JUST one week, don't hit the snooze button.  Get up and face the day excited to see what God has in store for you, and He will reveal it to you when spend quality time with Him.

No Two Snowflakes are Alike

"Yippee Mommy!  God made it snow A-G-A-I-N!"  my three year old son woke me up only recently to share this newly discovered truth with me as he ran with pajamas on to press his face against our sun room window.  This was a reasonable comment considering he just saw his third snow in less than a year in Myrtle Beach, SC!  Trust me, we are not used to snow here along the Grand Strand where the schools close down at the mere threat of the white flakes.  Speaking of flakes, I thought I would show my "mommy smarts" to my son as I went on to explain to him that NO TWO snowflakes are alike.  "How do you know that Mommy?" he proceeded to ask me.  Well after much thought I really did not know the answer to his question.  I only knew it was the same comment my grandmother had once shared with my mother who then shared it with me, and well...it did seem appropriate for me to pass along to my son at this particular moment.  I went on to explain how we are unique, special like the snowflakes and that no two of us are alike. 

This time when he asked me "How do you know Mommy?" I could answer based on God's Truth, not "just because" as many a mom has been tempted to answer, but instead knowing that a God who not only loves us but also created us in His image ensures that we are unique.  Psalm 139:13 (NIV) tells us..."For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."  The King James version says "...thou hast covered me in my mother's womb."  In this version,  "cover" means properly to interweave; to weave; to knit together, and the literal translation would be, "Thou hast "woven" me in my mother's womb, meaning that God had put his parts together, as one who weaves cloth, or who makes a basket....each being unique by the Creator Himself.  Isn't it great to know that when you mess up as we will in this lifetime, and when you feel inadequate, you can be reminded that God created you as His unique creation "covered" by Grace and that is not only sufficient, it is miraculous.  Verse 14 goes on to say "I will Praise him because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  Yes, God reminds us that we ARE wonderfully made by Him....each unique like the snowflakes falling from the sky.  However, unlike the snowflake that ultimately melts as quickly as it was formed, we have an opportunity to accept the free gift of eternal life by simply believing in Jesus Christ and choosing to follow Him.  "Yes little one," I said to my 3 year old as he continued to watch the snow fall, "no two snowflakes are alike....just like God created YOU special, and I am so grateful He loaned you to me." 

The Battle Is His

Have you ever felt like you were fighting an "uphill battle" as my grandma would say?  For several months we experienced one trial, one challenge, one battle after another in the Bailey household.   These trials involved everything from health related concerns, to my children and their well-being, to financial challenges, to the 3 inches of septic "goo" I had growing in my back yard!!  You do NOT want me to start on that one....  :) 

 

Each day I try to make it a priority to read God's word before I start my day.  If this is a goal of yours, you could begin with something as simple as a daily devotion that references Bible verses.  You see we do NOT know what challenges will face us before the day begins, BUT God does.  It is always amazing for me to see the verses of scripture that He encourages me to read that end up being JUST what I needed to hear for the day!

 

ONE of the BIG trials we faced during this "battle season" involved my 13 year old daughter.  You see she has had Type I or juvenile diabetes since she was just 9 months old, and she has worn an insulin pump for ten years now.  Before softball practice one day she disconnected her insulin pump at the ball field and left it on the bleachers and FORGOT it.  I assumed it was on her when I picked her up from the field to go home.  We searched and searched, but NO luck.  We even printed flyers and posted around the rec center fields.  You see this ONE piece of medical equipment is between $4,000 and $6,000!!  So as a mom I began to try to "fix" things myself thinking a checklist would be appropriate for this...so I began my quest...first, let's go back to shots even though we feel like we are starting ALL over (check,) second, I will call the pump supplier to see if our warranty will cover this (check)....warranty EXPIRED, third I will contact our insurance company to see if they will pay for another (check.)....the answer NO!   Well I had checked off these items from my list in a futile attempt to "fix" the situation on my own.

I felt like I had a new baby again.....up 3 times a night checking her blood sugars and measuring insulin in syringes as we adjusted to this "new" schedule again with shots....6-8 a day in fact!

Each day as I read God's word, He kept sending me the same message in different verses...these first three were just SOME of the verses I read in my devotion time....

1 Samuel 17:47

"...for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."

2 Chronicles 20:15

"Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's."

2 Chronicles 32:8

"With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles."

 

THEN the following Sunday morning in Sunday School class the lesson included the verse below!!

 

Exodus 14:14

"The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace"  (or be still and let HIM fight your battles!)

 

WOW!!  God continued to speak to me reminding me that He had this too under control.  Well all of the battles I shared with you earlier WERE resolved without me having to do a THING.  Even the septic science experiment in our back yard was resolved after many months of the neighbors referring to us as the "stinky house" under their breath (no pun intended.)  God DID fight my battles for me!!  However, the MOST amazing story is this....

 

That same evening my parents were at their small country church filled with a group of people known for their love and faith, and that night my parents asked for prayer for Crystal, their granddaughter, who

lost her insulin pump.  A man came up to them after church and said that his wife had lost her battle to diabetes over a year ago, and he felt like he was supposed to hold on to her insulin pump, and NOW he knew why...he wanted to give it to my parents for Crystal!!!

 

Well when my mother walked in and handed it to me, I felt the tears streaming down my face!!  There are at least 3 different manufacturers of an insulin pump, and THIS ONE was not ONLY the SAME manufacturer of the one that we used....but also THIS ONE was the SAME brand!!!  In fact, for months now Crystal has really needed the larger pump that holds more insulin, but we simply could not afford an upgrade, and THIS WAS the upgraded pump that we NEEDED!!!  Lastly as if this were not enough to blow you away with God's provision, when Crystal recently had her room painted her favorite shade of blue.....she also asked that when we COULD afford the newer, upgraded version of her pump, could we PLEASE get her that "fun, blue color one day?"  You guessed it.....it was the BLUE PUMP she had been wanting!!!! 

 

You see Friends, the SAME God who placed every star in the sky and knows them by name, and who knows the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7,) and who even knew you before you were born (Jeremiah 1:5,) DOES care about your battles, your trials, your tears, and your daily life!!  In fact, he EVEN cares about ALL the details....right down to the color!!!  Oh and THAT same night, my husband and I had some quiet time together, and we read in our devotion for couples, guess what verse we read??  It was Exodus 14:14.....the SAME verse God sent our way that morning!!  ONCE again, He reminded me to "be still" and let Him fight my battles for me!!

 

I do not know what you are facing in your life, but God does!! Maybe you are facing some serious financial circumstances right now with this economy, and yet others have relationship and health challenges or conflict with children.  Won't you allow God to fight your battles FOR you??  It sure takes a LOT of stress off of your shoulders this way, and the "peace surpasses all understanding..." (Phil 4:7)

 

I would love to hear how God has fought a battle for you as well.  Maybe it was an answer to prayer about a wayward child, or a financial situation that was greater than you??   Feel free to share below so that others can be encouraged as well!

 

Praising Him in the Storm...

My Jesus Makes House Calls

Girlfriend to Girlfriend, I have something I must confess.  I blew it.  Just as I thought this would be an extraordinary, God-filled kind of day, as my senses were filled with the wonderful aroma of Caramel Starbucks coffee brewing in my kitchen, I totally blew it.  You see, I had not yet taken the time to get into God's word this morning, (mistake # 1) and I thought I would just quickly send an important email before I sat down with Bible in hand to "officially" begin my day once the kids were off to school when IT happened.  My husband made a sarcastic comment to me about what I was doing on the computer when I probably should have been taking the time to visit with him before he had to leave for work (mistake # 2.)   


Now normally I can hold my tongue pretty well when faced with a potential confrontation by the Grace of God alone, BUT this morning was different.  I was still recovering from spending an entire weekend with 15 teenagers from our youth group as we traveled 8 hours in a bus to TN for a conference AND BACK.  I ate way too much and slept way too little while on this trip, and I was behind in my work this morning and tired at that.  Well let's just say I lost my "cool" as my two older kids would say.  I said some things that I should not have said...I said some things that hurt.  BUT JESUS...If I did not show him the error of his ways, then who would? BUT JESUS...didn't he need to know how he had been making me feel lately with his cynical remarks and his criticisms?  "Maybe if you were getting in God's Word more, we would not be having this argument!"  (Did I say THAT to him?)  Well, I immediately knew I had said too much as I looked at the hurt in his eyes before he turned and walked away to finish getting ready for work.


Ok Jesus I blew it, BUT JESUS didn't he need to hear some constructive criticism for the sake of love?  Jesus immediately reminded me that He came to die for us WHILE we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8) simply because of His love for us!  THAT is unconditional love, and that is the last thing I showed my husband today!


So I did what any respectable woman would do...I retreated to my favorite brown chair faded by years of praying and Bible reading as I cried my eyes out like a toddler who skinned his knee only I had skinned the heart of someone I love dearly.  I cried out to my Jesus to forgive me, and he whispered into the ear of my soul "My child I have already forgiven you when I hung on the cross for you."  I knew I also had to ask for forgiveness.  Only then would I be set free from the guilt of my lack of self-control.  "But Jesus, he was ugly to me, and he does not appreciate me"....I do not know if I CAN ask for forgiveness now anyway. 


"God," I prayed out loud yet in a whisper, "I need to hear from you now."  Just then the phone rang, and I decided to answer (this might be my way out of asking my husband to forgive me and embarrassing myself even more I thought) and my sweet Christian friend was on the other line.  She told me she hated to call so early, but she had something important that she had to share with me that God had so clearly revealed to her.  She continued to explain how God's Word shared by Beth Moore so perfectly related to a painful, personal experience she was facing right now.  I tried my best to focus on her words knowing my thoughts and mind were selfishly on my own circumstance.  She continued to explain to me that God reminded her that we must ALL forgive one another even if we are wronged, or bitterness will set in and we shall never be free otherwise!  Yikes, did I hear her correctly?  Forgiveness...free...bitterness?  These were the exact words I heard Jesus speak to my heart only moments earlier.  My Jesus makes house calls when needed.  I began to cry as I knew what I had to do.


Yes, I did ask my dear hubby to forgive me and my harsh words because I knew only then would I be set free from this guilt.  This morning could have ended much differently.  I tend to keep things inside when I am hurt and especially if I am wrong at that.  So if Jesus had not decided to use my precious Sister-in-Christ to make a "house call" to me to confirm the words He whispered in my soul just moments earlier I likely would not have asked for forgiveness.  I may have harbored those feelings all day and the outcome would have been much different!


Thank you Lord for hearing my every prayer no matter how small.  Thank you for nudging me to make a wrong a right, and for reminding me that as a child of God we are called to be different...we are called to FORGIVE just as you forgive us.  Thank you also for the undeserved blessings as a result of  being obedient to you, and thank you for making house calls even to unworthy me!


Lord, help me to be quick to forgive a wrong and slow to remember the same. 


Is there someone you need to forgive today?  Do you need to ask for forgiveness yourself?  In order to be truly free in Christ and free to do what He calls us to do we must not only learn to forgive, but also to be eager to ask for forgiveness.


Mark 11:25 (NKJ) reminds us "and whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive  him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses."

Mat 6:12 (TEB) "Forgive us the wrongs that we have done, as we forgive the wrongs others have done us.