Daily Thought for Monday, May 30th - Memorial Day

May 30, 2011

Honor to Whom Honor is Due 

“However horrible the incidents of war may be,

the soldier who is called upon to offer and to give his life

for his country is the noblest development of mankind.”

-  Douglas Mac Arthur

Today’s Thought:

“These are the times that try men’s souls.  The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” – Thomas Paine

Today’s Question

Did you ever consider this: “Freedom is not a gift received from a State or a leader but a possession to be won every day by the effort of each and the union of all?”  - Albert Camus

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“True freedom is to share

All the chains our brothers wear,

And, with heart and hand, to be

Earnest to make others free!”

- James Russell Lowell

“…Where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.”

- The Bible (2 Corinthians 3:17)

“Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women: when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it.”

 – Learned Hand

“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” – Thomas Jefferson (from the Declaration of Independence)

During the course of this nations history, many men and women have and are giving their all to defend and protect these liberties and freedoms we cherish and enjoy.  So, on this Memorial Day may we honor them for their service, say a prayer for their families and show them in any way we can our appreciation and thankfulness for the sacrifices they have made.

Likewise, may we also honor and give thanks to the one who gave His all so that we might have more than just freedoms here during our lifetime; but freedom for all eternity.

Seneca the Younger wrote in his Moral Essay, ‘On the Happy Life,’ that: “To obey God is freedom.”  And a Zulu Chief, Albert Luthuli wrote in his essay, ‘The Quiet Battle,’ “The Road to Freedom Is Via the Cross.”

Scripture says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” – The Bible (John 8:36)

So to God the Father who gave Jesus to be the sacrifice for sin – I say thanks.

To Jesus who died so that I might have life and liberty for eternity from sin, hell and death – I say thanks.

And to all the men and women who have or are serving so that I can have the freedoms and liberty to worship, and express my Christian faith – I say thanks.

Much honor is due; may we be diligent and faithful to give it.

“There's only two people who's every died for me
Laid down their lives just so I could be free
They both went through hell, beared crosses and shells
And both got back up again after they fell

They never picked the fight, but they're there
To pick up the pieces

God only knows who we'd be without soldiers and Jesus

To me, they're both heroes for the path that they chose
'Cause one fights for my life, one fights for my soul

God only knows who we'd be without soldiers and Jesus”

- James Otto and Chris Allen Williams (lyrics from ‘Soldiers and Jesus’)

Today’s Verses:

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

1 Peter 2:17

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:10

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him

                      John 5:19-23

Today’s Prayer:

Father, I give thanks for all my freedoms and for all those past, present and future who gave, are giving and will give to ensure that these freedoms and liberties go on.