Memorial Day, a time to remember, a day to give thanks, a day to reflect, a day to connect with your Creator as we remember Who gave His life that we may live. Remember the wait, the call, and the moment you were chosen for a team, a job, or as a mate? The Good News is that we were hand picked by God for such a time as this! There are several true stories recorded about ordinary people that were singled out for a mighty purpose which required a sacrifice. God hand picked Joseph, Abraham, Mary, and Ruth to name a few. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, it is because God chose you, He chased you down, and He adopted you because He loves you. Let us rejoice in our legal adoption by the King of kings! Every day we can choose to make a day to remember His sacrifice and how He has protected and provided for us. Let us remember well the moment we were chosen.

We are asked to humbly submit, to remember, to walk this way, and to count our blessings, and the many benefits of being a child of God. Pastor Gary Neighbor and the worship lyrics on Sunday gave me a double portioned blessing. Do you remember the moment when your loving Father redeemed you? Even though it was decades ago, tears still flow. My personal memory: My Savior forgave me and
He called me His own
He gave me His name
He gave me purpose
He gave me His Word
His promise kept to forsake me not, as He lavishes me with His grace. He continues to love me, heal me, equip me, provide for all my needs and use me. Iam His obedient child who can only love out of His most reliable and unmatched love and generosity.

Our ABBA FATHER SAID “I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembled at My word.” Isaiah 66:2 “He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of God’s glorious grace that He favored us within the Beloved. We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Eph 1:5-9 “As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our sins from us.” Psalm 103:12 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who has called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16 “so that we might receive adoption as sons” Gal 4:5-6

Consider that in the garden Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world with every need met. The warning was there do not eat from this tree, but both Adam and Eve did after tempted by the evil one who rules the earth. In our obedience our Father God supplies all our needs. Adam and Eve felt naked, exposed and guilty right after they disobeyed their Father. God sacrificed the first animal and provided them with a bloody skinned animal. Remember the times the Spirit of God asked you to do something that seemed foolish or impossible? When Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son, he did not waver. When God told Joshua to march around Jericho, Joshua obeyed. Sara laughed but at the age of 90 she got pregnant. Joshua dismissed his feelings and obeyed anyway. Read Joshua chapter 6 Trust and Obedience has rewards.

A widow named Ruth said “Your God shall be my God” to her grieving mother-in-law. Naomi sent Ruth into the field to gather leftover grain in the surrounding fields. She met Boaz, the owner of the field who said “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. Ruth replied ‘May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord.’ In the end she marries Boaz and they had a son that they named Obed. The generations that followed produced a king. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David, the king of Israel.

We were chosen and in this true tale, Jesus knew who He would find languishing by a pool. He asked an invalid who was sick for 38 years “Do you want to get well?” Defeated in spirit, the sick person blamed his condition on the fact that he could not get help. Jesus said “Get up” – pick up your mat and walk” Instantly the man believed and became whole. We can choose to wallow in our weakness or take a bold stand and BELIEVE. John 5:8 🕇 By His blood we are healed, restored and empowered to run the race before us. Oh Lord increase our FAITH in what You finished, in what Your unselfish sacrifice accomplished. Where does our help come from? Jesus waits for us to ask Him for help, to give our burdens to Him, and to trust in His sufficiency. AMEN

Read repeatedly Psalm 19 whenever you feel broken down or discouraged. “The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold—than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey, which comes from the honeycomb. In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them.

Who perceives unintentional sins? Cleanse me from my hidden faults, keep Your servant from willful sins; do not let them rule over me. Then I will be innocent and cleansed from blatant rebellion. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”