Remembering the Sacrifice | Fuel For The Weekend

The last Monday every May is a federal holiday in the United States of America. Each year, on Memorial Day many Americans gather with family and friends to have cook outs and events as they enjoy the day off from work. Flags flying and graves decorated with red, white, and blue flowers remind us of why we should honor this special federal holiday. We honor the brave men and women who courageously gave their lives for our freedom while actively serving in the United States Armed Forces. May we never take our freedom for granted, nor forget the great cost that was paid on our behalf.

Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." Today, let's say a prayer for the families left behind. Let's weep with those who weep and mourn the loss of their loved ones who died in battle. Matthew 5:4 says, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." Jesus promised us this when He walked on the earth, and the promise is still good for us today. His Word will never fade away.

When I think of the sacrifice these incredible heroes of war made for me, I get choked up. It moves me! I feel so much gratitude in my heart and I am so thankful for the freedom I have. I am thankful for what the flag stands for. I appreciate all the blood, sweat, and tears shed for me. And it reminds me of what Jesus did so long ago for all of us. It was the supreme sacrifice.

ROMANS 5:7-8 (7)For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8)But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 is a familiar verse to so many of us. I have heard some quote it so fast I hardly heard the words. But it is a wonderful verse that sums up who God is and what He has given to us. It says that God loved the world so much that He freely gave up His very own Son: His one and only Son. Jesus came to save us. He came to love us. He came to free us. He came to forgive us. And the offer still stands. The offer is to whosoever will. Let's read that verse again, slower this time, and ask Holy Spirit to show you what He has truly done for us through the redemption of the cross of Calvary.

JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It is a free gift. You cannot earn it. You will never be good enough to obtain it. You do not have the power to save yourself. You cannot free yourself from the bondage of sin. You need a Savior if You do not know Jesus. God loves you so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for your sins. You just have to believe in Him. He will save you when you call upon His name. This is the greatest decision you will ever make in your life and if you choose Jesus it will be the best decision you will ever make.

I hope you have a safe, happy, healthy, and blessed Memorial Day weekend. Let's honor the fallen men and women who bravely gave their lives for our freedom! Hold up the families left behind in prayer. Thank God for the sacrifice He made through Jesus, His Son, and love one another! Jesus is coming back very soon! We want to be ready!!!

I hope something I shared today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Veterans Day | Bible Study

Happy Veterans Day! I am so thankful for the men and women who sacrificed for my freedom! God bless you all. I know it is hard on military families to have their mom/dad, wife/husband, son/daughter in the military and miss holidays, special events, birthdays, and other celebrations but what a wonderful gift you have shared with me and my family and countless others across this great land!

I have a lot of relatives who are/were veterans, including my father-in-law Roy. We are so thankful for the gift of service they have shared. I am so blessed to be free and I do not take it lightly. I realize freedom is never free and many paid the cost with their very lives.

We, at Blue's Blessings would like to thank every veteran for their service! Kadesia designed these Veterans Day Activity Cards for this month's subscription boxes. I am excited to share them here on my blog.

I realize this month's Bible study posts have been different than other Bible studies I have shared but I wanted to emphasize the special honor it is to celebrate our heroes and read what God's Word says about the sacrifices these men and women made.

JOHN 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

There were many men and women who literally gave their life for their country. The folded flags and marked graves tell the story without words. As those they left behind tried to put one foot in front of another, numbly navigating this life without their loved one, their hero was gone but not forgotten. Jesus said there is no greater love than for someone to lay their life down for their friends. He should know because He did the same thing. He laid down His life for His friends and His enemies. He took the thorns and the nails for the very people who placed Him on that cross. I want to remind you of His last words as He died for the salvation of the entire world.

LUKE 23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children." 

LUKE 23:34 Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do." And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.

LUKE 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with Me in paradise." 

Jesus knew what was going to happen after He died. He comforted the daughters of Jerusalem and told them to cry for themselves and their children because of the wickedness all around them. He asked forgiveness for the very ones who were crucifying Him! He had mercy on the cross as a criminal cried out for salvation.

With the final breath in His body He was comforting, forgiving, and saving. He was loving to the very end of His life. I don't know about you but if I was tortured and beaten and crucified, forgiveness of those who were wounding me would not be the first thoughts in my mind. Yet, Jesus, the Son of God, could have called down the host of angel armies in heaven who were no doubt on the verge of heaven looking down in grief and pain at what we had done to the Master! They were ready and waiting for Him to call them to bring Him relief and take Him Home but Jesus never summoned them. They would have obeyed in an instant and spared Him of the heartache and the grief He experienced in the garden the night before. Jesus did not take the easy way out. No, He paid the extremely high price for a world that did not love Him first, and some did not love Him at all. Could you do that?

We might be willing to die for someone we love but none of us has enough love, compassion, grace, and mercy to be tortured and killed for someone who hates us. It's okay though, because we do not have the power Jesus has to forgive. Our death would not mean much. We could not redeem fallen humanity with our life. Jesus did that.

So on this Veterans Day as we remember and honor the brave men and women who laid it all on the line, and those who continue to do so, let's not neglect to thank God for the sacrifice of His Son Jesus who died for our sins.

God bless you and God bless America and America bless God!

~Bridgett Owens