“Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle. In other words, the purpose of Memorial Day is to memorialize the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  We spend time remembering those who lost their lives and could not come home, reflecting on their service and why we have the luxury and freedom that we enjoy today.”

Row upon row the poppies grow,
Each one a symbol to brave men we will never know.

They stood before us, they stood up straight,
For they were the men, the brave and the great.

The seasons come and the seasons go,
But unlike these men, the poppies will always grow.

We should always wear our poppies with pride
In tribute to those that fought and died.

For Christians, the day also serves as a vivid reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that was paid for our spiritual freedom- that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, willingly bore our sins on the cross so that all who believe in Him might be reconciled to Him and have eternal life. John 15:13 states, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” There have been many Christians who have given their very lives that the wonderful message of the gospel would “set men free” from their sins and its penalty. The pages of history are filled with their names.

Billy Graham preached a sermon in 1955 to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Boston. Here is a portion of that message.

“Yes the bells of liberty ring in America today because these men we honor today got through for us. The sacred memory of their sacrifice will always live in our hearts, and we have a sacred and holy trust—and we cannot fail them!

My mind goes back 2,000 years to another battle which was fought on a hill called Calvary. It was a battle of one young man against all the forces of evil. It seemed like a futile, hopeless struggle as Jesus Christ took on Satan’s task force single-handed. The jeers of the rabble, the spittle of the soldiers and the sneering of the people were incidental compared to the inner struggle which was taking place in His soul. But I watch Him, in fancy, as one hand is stretched out toward God and the other toward rebellious man, and He makes the connection and says: “It is finished.” He got through for us! If we are to be strong spiritually, it will be through Him. Thousands today are finding a fresh, new meaning of life through Him. They are learning to say with confidence, “I can do all things through Christ, which strengthened me.” We can best keep faith with those who have gone before by keeping faith with ourselves, with our highest ideals and with God.”

Let’s remember today the sacrifices of many and the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.

In the spiritual realm, when we speak of “blind eyes”, we are talking about not being able to comprehend with our eyes a spiritual truth. When we speak of “blinded minds”, we are talking about not being able to comprehend with our minds a spiritual truth. What a blessing it is to see, understand and receive the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel, as found in I Corinthians 15, is the death, burial and resurrection of our only Savior, Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 states, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Paul said in II Corinthians 4:3-4, “But if our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost:” “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” I Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” This is a heart problem. His heart is blinded to spiritual truth. Isaiah 44:18, “They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.” The mind is blinded because of the heart. Salvation is the forgiveness of sins, the promise of a home in Heaven for all eternity. This can only be received by a humble heart.

Notice the contrast! II Thessalonians 2:10, “…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” I Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know…” John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” Man doesn’t understand God in his mind because he doesn’t receive God in his heart. Pride of the heart blinds the mind to the truth of God. Romans 10:3, “…going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” Obadiah 1:3, “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee.” D.L.Moody said, “God send no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.” Henry Smith wrote, “Pride thrust proud Nebuchadnezzar out of men’s society, proud Saul out of his kingdom, proud Adam out of paradise, proud Haman out of court, proud Lucifer out of heaven.”

God so desires the best for you. He wants to reveal His Word and His Truth to you. 1 Timothy 2:4 states, “ Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” This truth is received by a humble heart. John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” James 1:21, “… receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Humility of heart is the first step to salvation.
– Zac Poonen

There are many examples of good and necessary prayers in the Bible. Let’s look today at Psalm 119:10, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.” To wander is to rove; to ramble here and there without any certain course of object in view; In a moral sense, to stray; to deviate; to depart from duty. There are all sorts of wandering. There are wanderings of the mind. There are wanderings of the heart. There are wanderings of the life. We are all prone to these. The song says, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, O take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above.”

There are two types of wandering: Internal and External. Proverbs 21:16 states, “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding…” This is an internal wandering. Proverbs 27:8 states, “As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.” This is an external wandering. Scripture identifies the problem and then gives us the solution to wandering, whether it be internal or external. Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.” Here is the solution: Isaiah 30:21, God says, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” Psalm 119:105, “Thy word (the Bible) is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Isaiah 55:7 shows us an external and internal wandering and the solution. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” There are those that are many miles away from God in their hearts, but God is only a prayer away!

I was a wandering sheep, I did not love the fold:
I did not love my Shepherd’s voice, I would not be controlled:
I was a wayward child, I did not love my home;
I did not love my Father’s voice, I loved afar to roam

I’ve wandered far away from God – Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod – Lord, I’m coming home.

A father was telling his young son the story of a young sheep that one day found a hole in the fence and wandered away from the fold. He told of the terrors and dangers faced by the sheep. He told of how the shepherd went out into the cold, stormy night seeking the sheep, and the joy when he found it and returned it to his home. The boy listened with rapt attention to this thrilling story. Then, as his father finished the tale, he asked, “Did he fix the hole in the fence?” YOU NEED TO FIX THE HOLE IN THE FENCE.

Psalm 17:4, “Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.”

“The difference between mercy and grace? Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast.” Max Lucado. Read Luke chapter 15.

“Honour thy father and mother.” This statement is made eight times in the Bible. It must be pretty important. One time would be important! This statement is one of the ten commandments. To honor means to revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to. Exodus 20:12, “Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” This is the fifth commandment in order, but the first commandment with promise. Deuteronomy 5:16, “Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee.” We give honor unto our wives … “that our prayers be not hindered.” We give honor to those in authority … “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life.” We give honor to our mothers … “that it may be well with us.” But what does honoring our mother do for her? 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” That is why we say, “HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!”

Proverbs 30:11, “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.” Proverbs 19:26, “He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.’ Proverbs 10:1, “A wise son maketh a glad father; but foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” How unnatural! Bless your mother today! She has no greater joy than to hear that you walk in truth!

Florence Pinkley writes, For years in the summer, our children and grandchildren enjoyed a week at a Christian camp. Now my husband and I were attending one for the first time, which prompted one college-age granddaughter to write: “Dear Grandma and Grandpa, How are you doing? What do you think of camp? Do you like the speakers? I hope all is well with you. Have fun! Thinking of you with love, Janine.” Enclosed we found five one-dollar bills for us to use as spending money.

James Hewett writes, A small boy went into the lingerie department of a store to purchase a gift for his mother. He bashfully told the clerk that he wanted to buy a slip for his mom, but he didn’t know her size. The lady explained that it would be helpful if he could describe her—was she fat, thin, short, tall? The youngster replied, “Well, she’s just about perfect.” So the clerk sent him home with a size 34. A few days later, the mother came in to exchange the gift, as it was too small. She needed a size 52! Just about perfect!

~M.S.Lowndes

May you know the love of God, More and more each day
And know how much He values you In every little way
Today, we want to let you know, We appreciate what you do
And we want you to know that we Are thinking now of you.
We just want to thank the Lord For a Mother such as you,
You were there throughout the years Whatever we went through
And we just want to say that we Love you so very much And we’re praying that the Lord Will shower you in love.

Philippians 2:14-15 states, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” “That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” The Bible admonishes Christians to be blameless. Without fault; innocent; guiltless; not meriting censure.” We are not talking about being sinless! Free from sin; pure; perfect. We are to be blameless in our conversation or conduct before men and blameless in our conscience before God. Before Paul’s conversion to Christianity he writes about being religious, “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” Philippians 3:6. After his conversion he writes, “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.” Acts 24:16. Before his salvation, Paul was blameless outwardly, but not inwardly. Blameless toward the law, but not blameless toward the Lord. To live without offense does not mean to be sinless for that would contradict I John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” God in His mercy has forgiven all those who receive His Son Jesus as Savior and has taken away the penalty.

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

To be blameless is indeed a high standard of conduct. We live for God and His glory, not to be saved, but because we are saved. Ephesians 2:8-10, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” II Corinthians 7:1, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Blame shifting is not how to be blameless. Blaming others is not how to be blameless. A father of four boys came home to find them all engaged in something of a free-for-all. Addressing his remarks to the most aggressive of the four, he asked, “Butch, who started this?” “Well, it all started when Harold hit me back,” exclaimed Butch.

Philippians 2:15, “That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” II Thessalonians 1:3, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith growth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.”

“Christianity is designed to refine and to soften; to polish off the rudeness and arrogances of our manners and tempers; to make us blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke.” John Jay