Some Gave All



Our church has a tradition on Memorial Sunday of remembering those fallen soldiers who died fighting for our freedoms.  People in the congregation will announce the names of those that they know who died for our country.  It is a solemn tribute to these great heroes.

The man who led today's tribute is a Vietnam Veteran.  He mentioned that those who have fought in a war are not comfortable being called heroes.  They reserve that term only for those who died in the line of duty or as a result of the psychological ravages of war...

When I was a little girl, I remember veterans standing in storefronts on Memorial Day weekend handing out red silk flower boutonnieres and giving out small American flags in honor of those fallen in the various wars.  There was such a sense of honor and pride.

Remembrance is good.  It helps put into perspective the freedoms that we have here in this country, the price that was paid to receive them, and to ensure we don't fall into complacency and lose or worse yet, give up the very freedoms that we gained...

Too often, we as Believers can forget the freedoms that were gained for us through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Worries and the cares of this world take over, causing us to live in bondage rather than the freedom so lovingly bought for us through the blood of Jesus.

Jon Bloom, Desiring God Ministries, states that Christians are a "memorial people" because the whole of our faith depends upon remembering.  Those who persevere into the glorious future are those who remember the gracious past.  

That’s why God has surrounded us with memorials. The entire Bible itself is a memorial. We meditate on it daily to remember. The Sabbath was a memorial to Israel’s freedom from Egyptian slavery (Deuteronomy 5:15), and the church switched it to Sundays as a memorial to Christ’s resurrection and our freedom from sin. Israel’s great gathering feast days were memorials (Exodus 13:3). And now each time a local church gathers, each Lord’s Supper celebration (1 Corinthians 11:24–26), each baptism, each Christmas celebration, and each Easter celebration is a memorial.

Remembering God’s past grace is necessary to fuel our faith in God’s future grace for us.† This makes the memory one of God’s most profound, mysterious, and merciful gifts granted to us. God designed it to be a means of preserving (persevering) grace for his people. We neglect it at our own peril.

be careful that you do not forget the Lord
Deuteronomy 6:12

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, 
2 Timothy 2:8a

Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
His miracles and the judgments he uttered,
1 Chronicles 16:12
 
Remember his covenant forever,
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
1 Chronicles 16:15

On this Memorial Day, while we enjoy picnics and gatherings with our family and friends, may we take a moment to remember those who died for our American freedoms.

And may we start a tradition of becoming Memorial People unto the Lord daily remembering ALL that He did for us on the Cross at Calvary and ALL that He continues to do for us every minute of every day.

How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, 
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made; 
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, 
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Chorus:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 
How great Thou art, How great Thou art! 

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander, 
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 
How great Thou art, How great Thou art! 

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing; 
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; 
That on a Cross, my burdens gladly bearing, 
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 
How great Thou art, How great Thou art! 

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, 
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, 
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, 
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!


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Comments

  1. Such a beautiful tribute to those brave men and women who have laid down their lives and also to our dear Lord and Savior who gave His life for our freedom. I am SO thankful this Memorial Day and pray you are doing well, sweet friend. I got your precious email and will respond soon, Lord willing. Sending much love to you today!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cheryl! On Memorial Day my husband and I actually went down to Fort Adams in Newport where they had 7000 boots set up that were categorized by state with a tag representing each service person who died in the line of duty since 2000. It was EXTREMELY sobering to see. I also found two of my son-in-laws comrade in arms who died on the same mission he was on. In particular one of them stepped on an IED that my son-in-law would've stepped on. I am praising God that I wasn't looking at a boot representing him, but my heart goes out to the families of all those troops represented in the fort's courtyard.

      I've been praying for you sweet friend, trusting in the Lord to answer.

      Sending you much love back. :-)

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  2. I just love How Great Thou Art and His sacrifice made it possible for ust have eternal life and overcome as many have had to in wartime.

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  3. I heard Luis Palau, a great evangelist, once say that Christianity is always one generation away from extinction!
    That really spoke to me. Living our lives as living memorials for Jesus & what God has done & is doing is important.
    Great post!
    Bless you,
    Jennifer

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jennifer, Oh my! I had not heard that quote by him before, but it is very convicting!

      Thank you for your kind words.

      And thanks so much for stopping by!

      Blessings,

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  4. I love How Great Thou Art. Memorial day around my house is always very somber. My Husband is in the military and on Memorial day, all the memories of those he has lost come flooding back.

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    1. Hello Petersen Family, It truly is. My son-in-law served in the Marines and on Memorial Day we went to a place that had put out 7000 boots, each marked with the name, branch of service and where they served on a tag. These boots represented all those who died in the line of duty since the year 2000. We actually found the two young men that served with our son-in-law but died in the line of duty, one of which stepped on an IED that our son-in-law was just about to step on. It was extremely sobering to see, not only for those young men, but as you say, it brought back all those memories of how we almost lost our son-in-law and where he was and what they were doing. It was actually the deadliest month in Afghanistan when our son-in-law lost his two friends.

      Thank you so much for stopping by and I thank your husband and you and your family for the sacrifices you are making for our country.

      Delete
  5. As a Veteran myself, I know far too many who have paid the ultimate price for my freedom. Thank you for honoring them! I couldn't agree more that Christians are a memorial people! <3

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your service, and thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

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  6. Replies
    1. Hi Janine, Thanks so much.

      You are very welcome.

      So nice to have you visit.

      Delete
  7. Memories are such a part of us, and rush in even when we aren't even thinking about something or someone. We were all just getting out or just out of high school when the draft for Vietnam was announced. Had to sign up by 18 back in the day (not sure that is true any longer), but all did. Was exciting to get a driver's license at 16, but not to sign us for duty at 18 for some of the boys. My sister's boyfriend got drafted, sent to Vietnam and was only there a few months when killed on duty by a sniper while walking guard. He was only 19. I have a POW who has never been found to be returned to his parents who was shot down over Vietnam. So many stories, and your post is a great memorial to those who, without their sacrifices in all wars, all forms of service to our country, we could not celebrate the day in memory while we enjoy our freedoms. But so very sad. I also like your reminder of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Amen.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Peabea, Thank you so much for sharing about those whom you knew who served in Vietnam. Sobering stories, but ones that live on so that they can be remembered and honored for their great sacrifice.

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

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