We are a Country that is changing and dealing with Covid19. Today we remember Solders who did not return home after wars This is why we have Memorial Day.
A look at World War II:
“September 3, 1939 – Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declare war on Germany. September 4, 1939 – British Royal Air Force attacks the German Navy. September 5, 1939 – United States proclaims its neutrality; German troops cross the Vistula River in Poland.”
“Although the war began with Nazi Germany’s attack on Poland in September 1939, the United States did not enter the war until after the Japanese bombed the American fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. … The war ended with the Axis powers’ unconditional surrender in 1945.
Since 1945, the United States has very rarely achieved meaningful victory. The United States has fought five major wars — Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan — and only the Gulf War in 1991 can really be classified as a clear success.”
Since 1945, the United States has very rarely achieved meaningful victory. We have joined forces with other countries and formed allied forces. The United States has fought five major wars — Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan — and only the Gulf War in 1991 can really be classified as a clear success.
Armistice Day /Veterans Day -WWI
Memorial Day / Decoration Day – WWII (Red Poppy)
The United States started with a revolution, separation and conflict with the original people of our continent. We took on confrontation and have, it seems, been there ever since. We grew, wanted more land. If you ever read the book Trail of Tears by John Ehle you will not sleep for a few nights and find yourself praying, “Oh God forgive our country for what we did to others.”
Following this introduction is a secular war song that even topped charts in the U.S.A. It came out of Britain and saturated the country. Listen to a song you heard on the radio so many years ago. Then come back to the text and continue.
Years ago I learned that you just do not give tribute to a “special” day! There must be scripture to back it up. I thought and thought then it came to me.
Today we have quite a long text. Take time to read this important scripture.
Revelation 4:4 -11
4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”i
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.
We MUST praise God every day of our lives. Then we will understand His majesty. Most of us do not take proper time to praise God! We have a thought or quick moment. Many other religions take more time to honor God. Take the Islamic religions.
“Salat is the obligatory Muslim prayers, performed five times each day by Muslims. It is the second Pillar of Islam.” – Google
Pre-time washing takes about five minutes before you pray then you kneel on a mat facing Mecca and put your face to the ground and your prayers last another five minutes. Prayer time is segregated women with women and men with men. The first prayers are before sunrise 5a.m. everyday and last prayers at 9:00.
Many Christians tend to fall away from a designated prayer plan, but we need to return to a systematic way of praising God. Purposefully and humbly coming to our Father. God is not Santa Clause, someone that is only there for receiving requests.
What does it mean to Glorify God?
Now out of this menagerie of verses and ideas what are we assuming? We must always remember that “Our God is an awesome God!” Our God yearns for fellowship with His creation. I believe that includes nature with the animals, fowl in the woodlands and fish dwelling in the seas. Have you ever taken time to watch the pandas eating many pounds of willow branches and leaves or whales springing high out of the water and into the sunlight for a few moments? Have you listened to the Sandhill Cranes in Gainesville, Florida as they chatter and honk in their lift off, especially as they make their historic flight north. The cranes circle and circle calling for stragglers to catch up …. then the sky grows silent as they clear head out. Did you know they change position in flight? The lead bird who breaks the headwinds of the V shaped flying pattern will drop back to rest and another bird takes over. It continues throughout all their days of flight.
Robins visit our city in the hundreds in early spring traveling north. Those rapid fluttering hummingbirds know exactly where to go. Year after year birds will return to the same nesting areas as where they hatched.
“How great is our God!”
On and on our God allows us to be involved in Creation! Do we praise our creator or take God’s splendor for granted?
God created so much for us and around us – everywhere.
In the midst of our sorrow God is there all the time.
Have you ever stood on a bright, freezing, clear night, with stars shining, outside by yourself and you burst into song, singing and lifting you arms toward God!
“I love you, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
Oh, my soul rejoice
Take joy, my King
In what You hear
Let it be a sweet
Sweet sound in Your ear!”
-Laurie Klein
Just praising God! Not for show but for God’s infilling love. Communicating with God until tears trickle down your cheeks.
Tomorrow, we remember the fallen who never came home. It seemed as though the ocean turned red with blood standing at Normandy, France or at Gettysburg, PA. filled with solders from the Civil War. Standing in the Ford Theater in Washington D.C. is was as though you heard the sound of a gun with the flash of the bullet as it tore into the flesh and skull of Abraham Lincoln.
Remember when you heard …. AND IT IS LIFT OFF “On Jan. 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after blasting off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, killing all seven astronauts on board!” We grieve and we pray and plead and part to God.” – Google
I could go on and on. How is your personal relationship with God? Do you praise God for His presence in your life? Do you thank Him for others who are a part of your “family?” Do you praise God because He is worthy of your praise and adoration. Do you thrill in the Lord for those who gave their life for your freedom, and for those who were burned at the stake for your religious choice and for His Son, Jesus Christ, who surrendered his life so YOU could live. Oh God you are so worthy of my praise… Lord have mercy on us sinners who come to you through repentance, joy and love….. Now listen to the closing song as we celebrate so much! After listening please click back for Dr. Ron Marks closing prayer:
Most Gracious Eternal Father:
We are so blessed to live in a country where so many have been so willing to give so much for their country and fellow countrymen. As You tell us in Your Word, “Greater love has no one than this, that one may lay down his life for his friends.” We thank you so much for our freedom, that our country has experienced for so many years, because of this sacrifice made by those who knew You and loved us.
I pray that we may continue to know Your Word and to live it every day of our lives, to be your faithful servants in every aspect of our lives, on the good easy days and also especially on the more challenging days. May you continue to guide us through this coronavirus time, and may we know Your peace and comfort as we navigate each day.
We thank You for all our blessings and may You continue to bless Covenant Church.
Amen