We were able to attend the community service this morning which was very touching and respectful. How grateful I am for the men and women who have served our country...and how humbled I am by those who have given their lives for our freedom. As the Gold Star parents laid the wreath for their child at the base of the memorial, I must admit my heart ached for them for they know the true price of freedom. The speaker for the program shared that our solders are ordinary men on an extraordinary mission to make a difference in our world because of freedom. During one part of the program, those from a particular area of the armed services were to stand..the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, etc... I watched as young and old proudly stood to their feet...men and women who have been willing to be used. It was a sobering time.
I often wonder about those men who signed the United States Declaration of Independence..under the words "We hold these truths to be self-evident."...the list of names of men who were willing to stake their fortunres, their honor, and their lives on a few convictions that changed the world.
Jesus changed the world with a few who were willing to die for what they believed. He began with only twelve men...men that He chose to be with Him. These twelve were indeed special for they walked and talked with Jesus for those three years of His ministry...they learned from Him in person! And at the end of Christ's earthly mission...He sent these apostles out with the good news of the Gospel. We recently studied the first part of the book of Acts...the beginning of the Church after the visitation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. I had goose bumps as Doug shared from that portion of Scripture. But don't stop with Acts! Continue on in the Word, and you will see as multitudes heard of Jesus and followed Him, some went on to change the world!
And the neat part is that this is still what God is doing today -- He still uses people -- people who are willing to be His instruments for change in the world...ordinary people on an extrodinary mission...willing to make a difference in their world because of the freedom from sin offered through Jesus Christ! He uses us when we are willing! It doesn't take great people to do great things...just ordinary people on an extraordinary mission in service to an Omnipotent God! Are you one of them???
I often wonder about those men who signed the United States Declaration of Independence..under the words "We hold these truths to be self-evident."...the list of names of men who were willing to stake their fortunres, their honor, and their lives on a few convictions that changed the world.
Jesus changed the world with a few who were willing to die for what they believed. He began with only twelve men...men that He chose to be with Him. These twelve were indeed special for they walked and talked with Jesus for those three years of His ministry...they learned from Him in person! And at the end of Christ's earthly mission...He sent these apostles out with the good news of the Gospel. We recently studied the first part of the book of Acts...the beginning of the Church after the visitation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. I had goose bumps as Doug shared from that portion of Scripture. But don't stop with Acts! Continue on in the Word, and you will see as multitudes heard of Jesus and followed Him, some went on to change the world!
And the neat part is that this is still what God is doing today -- He still uses people -- people who are willing to be His instruments for change in the world...ordinary people on an extrodinary mission...willing to make a difference in their world because of the freedom from sin offered through Jesus Christ! He uses us when we are willing! It doesn't take great people to do great things...just ordinary people on an extraordinary mission in service to an Omnipotent God! Are you one of them???
