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Uniquely American - A Memorial Day Tribute to Veterans

Memorial Day is unique to Americans of all ages. We pause and think about the sacrifices of men and women through the years to preserve our freedoms.

Soldiers young and old fought on a battlefield paying the ultimate price- laying down their lives.

In New York there is the Statue of Liberty which stands as a symbol for all who enter our nation, America, the land of the free and home of the brave. Freedom and liberty is why our military forces fought and died in many wars. 

There is another statue on a hillside in Israel, where Jesus laid down his life for the souls of men and women - the cross - the symbol of our spiritual freedom.

On this Memorial Day, 2011 let us be thankful for the American soldier, brave, strong and true - protecting our country and guarding our freedoms.

Let us also be thankful for a Savior who likewise protects us and guarantees our freedom from sin. 

Living Free, Living Full

Rousseau said,

“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.”

Genesis paints a picture of the absolute right of every human being to live in freedom everyday.

Until each of us experience the liberation which only comes in an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus, we have not lived free and lived full.

2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG - And so we are transfigured much like [Jesus], our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him.

Liberty is produced within us by the power of His Spirit.

Liberty in mind - Freedom from fear, ignorance, error, prejudice and jealously.

Liberty from sin - He helps us to conquer everything that is alien to His will.

Liberty in prayer - Unrestrained, prevailing intercession is ours to enjoy.

Liberty of worship - He frees us from all formality, superficiality, and restraint as we endeavor to approach God.

Liberty in service - Instead of forcing ourselves to labor for Him, we delight to do His will with the gifts He deposits into us.

Liberty in giving - First we surrender up our hearts and then He owns us - all of us.

Are you living in His glorious liberty?

Life Spending

Ever wonder what would happen if you became fully aware of God in your life? 

Full “God Awareness” in humanity was only experienced by Adam and Eve in the Garden.  Their whole life came from Him.

The degree to which we are “filled with God’s presence” is the degree to which we live free and live full.

This necessitates the emptying out of all we are capable of into the lives of others. 

When we “spend” our life on behalf of others, God pays us back with abundant life, life to the full.

If you could have your life like you want it, how would it be?  You are, actually, in charge of your own personal universe.  Whatever it consists of, you created.

We create a “God-Life Flow” through us when we spend our life making our world a better place. 

Either we “spend” our life on ourselves (selfishness) or we sacrificially spend our life for God’s purposes.

Life is only abundant, full and free when we totally surrender it up to Him.

Luke 9:24 MSG…self-sacrifice is the way, My way, to finding yourself, your true self.

What are you “spending” your life for?

Jesus Chose You

Robert Frost wrote a short poem with a powerful message about “choice”:

 “There is a choice you have to make, in everything you do.  And you must always keep in mind, the choice you make makes you.”

No one can ever make your choices for you.  The choices you make are yours alone.  Your choices are as much a part of you as your every breath.

Man’s greatest freedom is the freedom of choice.  How you manage your choices determines how you manage your life.

Big choices set our direction – small choices get us to the destination.

Far more than our abilities, talents, gifts, circumstances, and challenges, our choices reveal who we really are.

No one can choose for me unless I choose what they choose.

God only holds us accountable for our own choices.

Choosing is central to humanity.  Choices are all around us.  We are a choice – driven people, society, culture –– obsessed with and addicted to choices.

Life’s greatest gift is our free will or choice.

Choice is the ability to select one course of action from a set of alternatives to achieve a goal.  Choice is the chisel by which we sculpt our lives.  The price of choice is responsibility.

Choice is power.  Choice is at the heart, the center of our life.  Choice is the creative power of life.

The single greatest choice in the history of man’s destiny on earth occurred when Jesus said,

John 15:16 – You have not chosen me but I have chosen you…