May We Never Forget --- The Unknown Soldiers Who Died for Freedom

"How do you explain something that you can't even understand yourself?" (Logan, The Lucky One)

There are many thoughts are rushing to my mind like a wave coming upon the beach. A cool breeze this morning from the south and an overcast sky sets the tone of the words I wish to convey. My prayers were said this morning in thankfulness for …

The Lucky One…..

My heritage is full of family members that have served this country and the freedom we have because of what they have done. From the time they served George Washington to the present day, it is a privilege and honor to serve this country. The United States Army from 1992-2000 has prepared me to be helpful to my fellow mankind, to be proud of the service to my country, and to provide freedom to those who need it.

The movie entitled, “The Lucky One”, struck a lot of thoughts. Several times my units were deployed and God spared our units from not going. We prepared our units, loaded our vehicles onto the trains at Fort Hood, Texas to be sent to California. We went through prepping stages and as soon as we were on lock down the message came through that Saddam Hussein stood down.

Many of my friends that had went survived and some came back leaving a part of them in the war. The movie portrays a Marine Soldier coming back from the Iraq war. A picture isolated from its owner lies on the ground. The Marine finds it, embraces it and he is determined to find who the woman is in the picture. He describes her picture to her as an angel sent to hell to save him. In one seen, as he is back home, portrays him being startled by boys and his reflexes reacted. He explains to his sister he cannot stay and sets out on foot in search of his angel.

The movie portrays him as the Lucky One. Today, as I reflect upon the movie, my comrades that lay in cold ground, and those who have served with me, bears a cross of remembrance in my mind. Those who did not die can be considered the Lucky One. However, I want to look from a different perspective.

You may have not served the country, but in some form you have supported the country through those who did. Soldiers have emotional wounds and often I cannot fathom the trauma they experienced and the thoughts that roll through their minds. Are they the lucky ones?

This weekend our great country remembers those who have fallen. The “unlucky ones” as we might classify them, are remembered. Families torn and hurt over the loss will grieve with mixed feelings. Soldiers who survived have emotional scars will reflect upon the war fought and the casualties that were harvested by the Reaper remembered.

Wars are not won through battles. Wars in reality do not have winners or losers. Wars end because they realize the overwhelming losses on both sides. There are no, “Lucky Ones” when wars are fought.

Soldiers who fought can be called heroes. Those who survive maybe called the Lucky One. However, I believe in some form we are all the Lucky Ones. Reflect this Memorial Day as you being the Lucky One. A price has been paid through your freedom through soldier’s blood. The flag stands for freedom as her stripes wave with blood stripes waves in the wind. The overcast sky reminds me of a passage in the bible as Christ hung upon the cross for the worlds sins. As Christians we are the lucky ones spiritually.

Memorial Day brings out the emotions that are buried and they are raised and surfaced through tears that shed our pain. Let not, it be a day of mourning, but instead let it be a day of feeling lucky or blessed by God we can live another day in freedom. The red, white and blue are symbols of pride and bought freedom in blood.

Thank a living veteran for his or her services to this country. Often times they are not the lucky ones because of the emotional scars and wounds they bear. You are the lucky one because of them. Let not it be a day of regrets, but embrace the chance to start life over because of the freedom they paid for you. The Tomb of the Unknown is a reminder of the sacrifice that was made. May we never forget we are the lucky ones as we sit in freedom to worship our creator, a choice to vote for the next elected officials and a chance to eat with family members in our observance of those who have fallen.

By Faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him)

The Assassin Called -- Reject

“There are no coincidences in life. What person that wandered in and out of your life was there for some purpose, even if they caused you harm. Sometimes, it doesn’t make sense the short periods of time we get with people or the outcomes from their choices. However, if you turn it over to God he promises that you will see the big picture in the hereafter. Nothing is too small to be a mistake.” –Shannon L. Alder

You work really hard and you carefully and methodically ensure every word, punctuation and spacing is pristine. You have an expectation; you got this one. There is a smile that forms and the submit button has been pressed; then the waiting with anticipation begins. A couple of days later the phone rings. Your heart races with excitement. The appointment and the day you been waiting for happens.

Hair stylist appointment is made. Shopping for new clothes is completed. Newly purchased personal items with cologne or perfume are bought. You are set. You arrive ten minutes early. The meeting is over and again you wait with anticipation. It finally arrives and a dark cloud surrounds you as you read: Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career with Eureka Company! We received many qualified candidates and the decision was difficult, but we have decided to proceed with another candidate whose experience and background meets our needs more closely at this time.

REJECT!

 

Rejection is an assassin to our identity. It creates a lie that we are not good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough. Conditional love develops feelings of rejection. Therefore, rejection will always hurt when you have entrusted your identity in the value of other’s opinions and their acceptance of you. Your Identity is not found from other’s “approval of you”. We feel rejected when we don’t have our identity built upon the right criteria. Rejection will hurt less when your identity is not founded on materialistic things, views of what others think of you, but rather spiritual. 

Rejection comes from Latin, meaning thrown back. Rejection will always hurt because we’ve all believed the lie we’re unworthy of someone else’s love and acceptance. Reject; just the word itself sends chills and negative vibes of prior pains and hurts. If we don’t wear the latest fad in jeans, then we are rejected from the “In” crowd. If you have a Christian faith then you are rejected because of your views. If you are not a Christian you are rejected because of your views. 

Rejection is in our mind because we have not learned to accept who we really are. In order to understand rejection, we have to look into our past. It started in childhood. Maybe our parents didn’t praise us enough; maybe you were the last one picked to play kickball on someone’s team. You didn't get asked out to go to the prom. You asked for a date and they said no.

Rejection can hurt because the lie is believed you are unworthy of someone else’s love and acceptance. The form wounds within our heart and spirit. I pray you are having a wonderful day. Yet, did you feel the emotion from the word rejection? It is a tough battle to fight. We all struggle with wanting to feel accepted. The wounds of rejection opens up into deep rooted issues like abandonment, worthlessness, or a feeling you are not good enough. 

Therefore, to heal you have to throw aside every argument and captivate every thought and make it obedient to the truth (2 Cor 10:5). How do you measure that you are worthy? You seek the spiritual where it begins. 

The first step is avoiding those messages that make you feel unworthy. You seek out the positive affirmations and situations, and you rise above where you have fallen. However, no matter how much external validation you receive, you will not be able to accept acknowledgement because you didn’t personally believe in your own value. 

The second step is accepting you are wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). Get rid of those thoughts and ask yourself: “Am I willing to let go of approval from others”, and Am I willing to push past through my fears when it seems like things are not going to change and see it through” by making your thoughts obedient through Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). 

Remember, you attract what you are. And when you believe who you are and what you are deserving of, you will get. The truth is spoken between you and God. You know the answer to your crises or dilemma. You know if you feel worthy. So I ask you, do you feel worthy?

The only measurement you should take is with the Truth. The truth is that you are worthy enough that Christ died for you (Romans 6:10, 2 Corinthians 5:15). If you seek Him and you believe it is Him who works in you (Phil 2:13) then, “God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

Your identity is found not in what others say or do that provides that reject feeling. Your identity is found through Him that supplies us with everything pertaining to life and godliness. Identify who you are, define those boundaries and put up a defense against the attacks of rejection. Rejection is the cattle prod that moves you along to something better. 

In my life, I didn’t like rejection. Now, I embrace it because it saved me from harm and potential damage that enabled me to be blessed beyond measure. Rejection tells me that I am trying to do things my way. It helps me to trust on Him and knowing that I am wonderfully made and accepted by Him. By His grace I am no longer a sinner, but being perfected into the identity of Christ, who enables me to do more than I could imagine. Working through my past hurts has enabled me to not feel so much the sting of rejection and has enabled me to find my identity in knowing the power that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Isn’t it time for you to find that strength? Work through the hurts of your past that block you from moving forward because you feel unworthy by the rejection you received. You are more precious than you realize. Embrace yourself into another world that seems to go the opposite of where you are. Realize the true blessings are not found in material things or others thoughts and viewpoints of you. 

Be healed in knowing rejection moves you along to something better. You have to be patient and not force the outcome that ultimately could result in the feeling of being rejected. When the feeling of rejection comes it is the river of emotions guiding you to wake up to something which is healthier. Your identity is not founded on words or acceptance, but rather something that is spiritual which blesses and moves you into a realm which is divine. 

Accept who you are, forgive those in your past, learn to embrace rejection as something better comes along and know you are never rejected from the love of Christ. 

  
“When you give yourself permission to communicate what matters to you in every situation you will have peace despite rejection or disapproval. Putting a voice to your soul helps you to let go of the negative energy of fear and regret.”  --Shannon L. Alder


By Faith I forge my Attitude In Trusting in Him to form my identity,