Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran's Day ~ ~ it is with a truly grateful heart of thanks that I wish this to all those who have gone before and given their lives for my freedom, who have left their families, risked ~ and given ~ their lives, and made countless sacrifices for me to live in this country with the freedoms that we often take for granted.  ♥Thank You♥


I also found this devotion/word of encouragement  at The Heart of the Cross and wanted to share because I couldn't say it better myself: 

"Although many of the contemporary Christian songs motivate and encourage me to love God more, I also need the traditional songs that remind me there is a spiritual battle going on and that, as a Christian, I have a responsibility to fight for whom and what I believe.

A great example of such a song is "Onward Christian Soldiers", and the first few lines make three important points summarizing the victorious Christian life. The song starts out with the words "Onward Christian Soldiers: This reminds us that we are not just individuals but part of a team, the Army of the Lord. The Christian life was never intended to be lived alone but for each soldier to function within the body with other believers. And just as a military soldier has certain responsibilities and expectations set on him by his commanding officer, so does a Christian soldier.

One of the most important responsibilities is to make a total commitment to the Lord. In Romans 12: 1 Paul specifically urges us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Lord, wholly and pleasing to him. This reminds me of the military oath of enlistment I took when I pledged to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same." Just like a gung- ho Marine who is totally committed to his Corps and his country, even to the point of being willing to die ("Death before Dishonor"), we are expected to replace our worldly idols and addictions with habits and disciplines that will please our commander, Jesus Christ. We are to be wholly committed to Him; this is our spiritual act of service.

The next words are "Marching as to War": If there is a need for God's army, and we are Christian soldiers,then these lines indicate that there is a war to fight. We know from Scripture (l Peter 2: 11) and certainly from our daily experience that this is true. Scripture further tells us that Satan and his underlings are continually seeking ways to destroy us personally ( 1 Peter 5:8). But as "Soldiers of the Cross" we have been given our marching orders to be men of courage (lCor 16: 13), to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6: 12) and even be ready to shed blood and die for the cause of Christ (Luke14:27). To do this we always need to be in battle uniform (Eph 6: 10-18) and constantly training. (lTim 4:7) in order to be ready to engage the enemy.

Finally, " With the Cross of Jesus Going on Before", reminds us that Jesus Christ is our Commanding Officer and He will never leave us or forsake us (Deut 31:6). Our role is simply to obey, to take up the cross daily, to follow Him (Matt 10: 38) and to keep the faith. Jesus is our role model and we need to be continually living life His way, even though His way is often not our way!! Although the leader (Satan) of the enemy forces is powerful, smart and a world traveler, he is no match for our leader who is Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all knowing)  of everything going on in the world at the same time!!

 Onward Christian Soldiers and keep your eyes right on Jesus!"