Tag: Memorials

June 11, 2025

June 11th, 2025

Wednesday – History

Reading – 1 Samuel 7-8

Highlight Verse:

“Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

My last two years of high school, I attended Ebenezer United Methodist Church way up in the back hills of Spring Valley, VA.

If I’m honest, there’s a lot that the UM denomination teaches now that I cannot fully agree with.

But that little church out in the country helped lay a firm foundation of faith for me.

• They helped me understand the power of worship.
• They helped me find the power of the Holy Spirit.
• They helped cultivate in me a thirst for God’s Word.
• My Sunday school teacher helped me know how to be a man after God’s own heart.

While we should not dwell on the past, it is good to have those monuments in our lives that continue to encourage us in our relationships with Jesus.

Ebenezer Church is one of those “stones of help” in my life.

What “stones of help” can you look back on?
How do they affect your life today?
May 25, 2025

May 25th, 2025

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 62-65

Highlight Verse:

“My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

David was a poet.

David was a King.

But here, in this Psalm, David was a warrior.

His battles were fought for the Lord alone.

He accepted honor from God alone.

Yet we do well to honor him still as he laid the groundwork for our Messiah to come and bring us spiritual freedom.

This weekend we honor those who gave their lives for us in the US military.

Many, if not most fought for God.

All fought to win and maintain our freedom.

We do well to honor them!

As you enjoy the weekend with your family, traveling or relaxing at home, take some time to honor those who gave everything that we may be a free nation under God.

If there is someone you know of that gave their life in military service for our country, feel free to name them here.

I’ll start with Staff Sargent Howell Thompson, USMC, my great uncle (Grandma Clarey’s brother). Lost over the Bermuda Triangle on December 5, 1945 along with 26 other Marines and Navy airmen.
May 25, 2024

May 25th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 2 Samuel 19:1-8

Highlight Verse:

“Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.””
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭19‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I had lunch yesterday with a man who had served in the Air Force in the early ‘80s.

It was a time not far enough removed from the Vietnam War and the social unrest of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

The political climate in our country at the time did not afford much respect to our military.

He was treated poorly both in the service and when he got out.

It was a demoralizing time to serve.

While today’s members of the armed services are treated with more respect, we can once again see that pendulum swinging toward discouragement.

We would do well to remember that this weekend is not about the start of Summer or an excuse for barbecue.

It is a time to remember those who sacrificed their lives to protect ours; to pay respects to those who won and protected our freedom; and to honor those who continue to do so.

Our flag graces the front of our home this weekend.

Our prayers go out to protect those who are protecting us.

Our respect goes to all who have served.

If that’s you, let me extend a sincere thank you!

What are your plans this weekend?
How will you honor those who gave all for your freedom this weekend?
September 24, 2023

September 24th, 2023

Sunday – Poetry

Reading – Psalms 116-118

Highlight Verse:

“The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This morning, I had the privilege of having breakfast with a group of guys that included a widower.

After six decades of marriage, he found the strength through the Lord to carry on.

Now, a year later, he lives a vibrant life that includes sharing his wealth of experience with us other guys.

This evening (I write these the evening before they get posted) I got word that the wife of a dear old friend from my Santa Cruz days passed away. I know that she is in the presence of Jesus now and all her pain has been washed away.

My friend’s pain right now is deep.

I know that he has a close relationship with God and will find strength drawn from that relationship.

Even so, he and his kids and grandkids could use all our prayers to get through this time.

From this passage we know that God cares for those who have passed from this world into His heavenly kingdom.

I believe without a doubt that he cares just as deeply for those left behind.

The psalmist speaks of moving on with an attitude of thankfulness. With that, God can get you through the hardest of times.

Have you had to deal with losing a close loved one?
How have you dwelt with that anguish? Please share that others may benefit from your experiences.
June 10, 2023

June 10th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Highlight Verse:

“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

For those of you who have downloaded the reading list, you will notice a departure from what I had previously chosen. That’s because, today, we are in Nebraska to say our last goodbyes to my mother-in-law.

We are all mortal.

I feel the weight of years in this body, though I believe I have many years to go. But there will come a day when the weight of this body will be lifted and I will have a new body in heaven – one that will not wear out.

Today’s verse and several like it bear witness to that fact.

My kids’ grandma will be getting her new body soon. We will miss her desperately, but we know that she looked to Jesus for her eternal life. We will meet her again someday and she’ll be that spry, kind, and fun lady she once was.

Do you believe that you have a heavenly body waiting for you?
Have you trusted God for it?

If not, message me. Let’s talk about it.
May 27, 2023

May 27th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Joshua 4:1-9

Highlight Verse:

“We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Several years ago on this weekend, I was visiting Washington, DC and found myself in Arlington Cemetery. There was a general flow toward the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I followed the crowd and ended up in the amphitheater listening to a Memorial Day speech from the President.

While he was not the person I voted for, I found myself agreeing with him as he expressed the country’s gratitude for all the people who gave their lives for our freedom. He made sure that they were remembered for their sacrifice.

Today’s passage shows how Joshua memorialized God’s participation in bringing Israel into the Promised Land. He wanted to be sure the people did not forget God after they settled in the land.

We would do well to remember God’s role throughout history, the role of those who gave their lives for our freedom, and especially the sacrifice that Jesus made for our spiritual freedom!

Has Memorial Day become just an excuse to barbecue and take a day off work?
How will you remember those who sacrificed for your freedom?
February 3, 2023

February 3rd, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 13-15

Highlight Verse:

“Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.”

Isaiah 13:19 NIV

Do you ever go into these readings and think, “Ugh, not more death and destruction.”

Kind of makes you wonder what these prophets were up to.

Their job was to inspire people to follow God more closely through God given words, often offering a bit of God’s higher view or plan.

Here, God wanted to encourage His people to keep following and not give up since their oppressors would fall.

While these prophecies may seen tedious to read, they are part of a bigger picture that set up the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus.

Can you read this while imagining you are part of a nation oppressed by the object of the prophecy?

Would it encourage you?

How would your encouragement of others differ today? (Hopefully you’re not prophesying the doom of nations today).
January 11, 2023

January 11th, 2023

Wednesday – History

Joshua 4-6

Highlight Verse –

“So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there.”

Joshua 4:8 NLT

A few weeks ago, we were in Nebraska and decided to visit my wife’s late husband’s grave. The stone bore testimony to the life he lived on Earth and the life he now lives in heaven. That’s the first thing I think of when I hear the word memorial.

I have been to Washington DC and seen the many memorials to the men and women who built this country. They bring our history alive.

The memorial Joshua had built went beyond that.

It was intended to teach future generations about the greatness of God and His faithfulness to His people.

What kind of memorials to God do we build today?

For me, the answer to that is in my writing? Even in my fictional writing aimed at general audiences, my ultimate aim is to get people thinking about God and Faith in Him.

What are your memorials?

How would you like to be able to teach future generations about God and His faithfulness?

Tag: Memorials

But that little church out in the country helped lay a firm foundation of faith for me.

While we should not dwell on the past, it is good to have those monuments in our lives that continue to encourage us in our relationships with Jesus.

But here, in this Psalm, David was a warrior.

We do well to honor them!

It was a demoralizing time to serve.

We would do well to remember that this weekend is not about the start of Summer or an excuse for barbecue.

If that’s you, let me extend a sincere thank you!

This morning, I had the privilege of having breakfast with a group of guys that included a widower.

I believe without a doubt that he cares just as deeply for those left behind.

We are all mortal.

If not, message me. Let’s talk about it.

We would do well to remember God’s role throughout history, the role of those who gave their lives for our freedom, and especially the sacrifice that Jesus made for our spiritual freedom!

Do you ever go into these readings and think, “Ugh, not more death and destruction.”