Memorial Day will be observed in less than two weeks. For those who may not know, it was formerly known as Decoration Day. It is a holiday which honors the memory of fallen soldiers of the United States who died while serving their country and was first enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers after the American Civil War and extended after World War One to honor Americans who have died in all previous wars.

For many years and for far too many it has lost its importance and now merely represents the beginning of summer vacation. It has also been set apart as a time to remember loved ones who have passed even if they never served in the military.

I certainly don’t want to appear as unpatriotic, and I’ll say now that I’m not; still I have to wonder why we at times seem more hyped up by holidays and observances instituted by man and less hyped up about remembering God.

From the Psalms David wrote…When I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Ps 63:6-8

When we remember God we remember what He has said and done it the past and we can apply it to our present situation. David said “My soul clings to you”. Too often instead of us clinging to God, in our rush to get on with our work or our activities we try to race ahead of God.

Remember…
He is our Creator
His grace, mercy and love
His wonders, miracles and judgments
How fleeting life is
That He so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead

As Memorial Day approaches may we all give honor and remembrance to those who have fought and died for our freedom and to preserve this nation, and first and foremost may we always remember to praise God, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thess 2:16-17

I remember my when my youngest daughter was barley three. She had such a hunger for learning and conquering new tasks. One day she was struggling with tying her shoes and I leaned over to help her. She immediately stiffened her chubby little hands and shook them up and down as she gripped her shoestrings. She looked up at me and with a big scowl on her determined little face and said “I do it my way”.  I chuckled to myself and watched as she finally got her shoes tied. She was so pleased with herself.

Independence, self- reliance or doing it our way is good and has its own place and time for all of us; still we need to guard against being too independent when it comes to our spiritual walk.  Have you ever thought that independence can bring about sin? When we do what God forbids or when we don’t do what he commands, we have exercised our own will. Sin separates us from God!

I’ve heard people say that God seems to be different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament. Wrath in the Old verses love in the New. I disagree. I believe he reveals his anger, love, grace, mercy, compassion and faithfulness in both testaments. I still have difficulty wrapping my head around the fact that he gave his only son to die for our sins, that we could be forgiven, reconciled, and have the hope of eternal life with God. It’s so huge that it’s extremely hard for me to comprehend. Do I believe it? You bet I do!! Do I live like I believe it? No, not nearly as well as I know I could because my self-ish-will prevents me. Still, I press on, praying I lay aside my independence, more and more and fill myself with His will.

I change daily, sometimes for the better, other times for the worse. God, by His very nature is unchanging.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Ps 143:10

She carried me under her heart…Loved me before I was born;…Took God’s hand in hers and walked through the valley of Shadows that I might live;…Bathed me when I was helpless…Clothed me when I was naked;…Gave me warm milk from her own body when I was hungry…Rocked me to sleep when I was weary…Pillowed me on pillows softer than down, and sang to me in the voice of an angel…Held my hand when I learned to walk…Nursed me when I was sick;…Suffered with my sorrow…Laughed with my joy…glowed with my triumph, and while I knelt at her side, she taught my lips to pray…Through all the days of my youth she gave strength for my weakness…courage for my despair, and hope to fill my hopeless heart;…Was loyal when others failed…Was true when tried by fire;…Was my friend when other friends were gone…Prayed for me through all the days, when flooded with sunshine or saddened by shadows;…Loved me when I was unlovely, and led me into man’s estate to walk triumphant on the King’s Highway and play a manly part…Though we lay down our lives for her we can never pay the debt we owe to our Precious Mother.

I have had this poem about 25 years. I don’t know who wrote it so I can’t give credit. It is a beautiful poem and I thought it quite appropriate to share it today in honor of our mom’s and Mother’s Day.