Smoked a roast again today.  This time I was more able to keep the temperature under control – not sure if it is because I am learning to use it better or it just decided to give in to me.

The air temperatures were the same as last time, but we had better control.

But today is to also for the remembrance of our military personnel that gave all that they had that we might live in freedom.

While I have never lost anyone from my immediate families, I have friends that have lost a brother, son or father these people, too, are in my prayers this day.

Psalm 56:4  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

We live in a world where violence can happen at any time, at any place on the globe. 

We see it in the news all the time where for no reason people attack others – it is natural for us to be apprehensive when we go places that appear unsafe or we are there at an hour where few people are on the street.

Most of us live here in America, where the danger, while always there, has not reached the level that it has in so many other parts of the world.

In America we can still worship as we please, we see that in many places worshiping God and specifically the Jewish God and His Son Jesus is not only looked down on, but grounds for torture, imprisonment and even death.

These are painful deaths, often times strung out to inflict the maximum pain.

God has never promised that we will be free from pain, in fact Jesus told us in Mathew 28:8-9  All these are the beginning of sorrows. ⁹ Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

We know that God’s people are being killed every single day because of their stand for Jesus.  We know that in living for Jesus we will make enemies, not because we attack them, or try to do them harm, but because they don’t want to admit they are living in sin – and it is far easier to bludgeon Christians than it is to admit they need God.

We think of our physical well-being - are we going to be beaten, will women Christians be raped, will we be incarcerated for our beliefs?

There are many things that can happen to us, or we worry will happen to us, as we dwell on the here and now.  Yes, it is the here and now that we might feel the pain, where many things could happen to us – yet, God says we can put our trust in Him.

But He also says we will have physical ‘discomforts’ in our obedience to Him, for some that is hard to accept.

Man measures time in seconds, minutes, hours – days, weeks, years.  We feel we have lived a long time when we reach the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and even older.  It is hard to see eternity – even though we began our eternal life with Him when we accept Christ as Savior.

What we endure, what we have on earth is temporary – are bodies are not made to last forever, however, our soul is and when we fully accept that fact we can better withstand the blows of satan and follow God.

Soldiers that are in battle where their lives are in danger, must accept that they may not live out the battle, they must move forward and fight.  If they dwell on what might happen they can be paralyzed with fear, unable to do what must be done to both defeat the enemy and to survive.

Most of the time that Christians falter is because they allow fear of someone or the consequences of doing something for God, even though it may be against the laws of a nation.

For some, the reality is easily accepted and they go forth into the fray, seemingly unafraid, with boldness – while others of us must overcome our fears and we find it very difficult to maintain our stand because of what others will say or do.

John 14:25-27   These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

God doesn’t send us into battle alone, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and will teach, lead and guide us. 

We but have to accept Him.

Later, Art :-)