Our children learn decorum at the WWII Monument in Washington, D.C.

Today is Memorial Day!  I love Memorial Day for many reasons.  Who doesn't love a good cookout, parade, promise of or the advent of Summer?  Of course, I am thankful for my freedom.   We all are!  Without freedom here in the United States, I would not be able to speak of God in the ways that I do.  I really have no frame of reference for accepting persecution.  Do you?  Have you ever been persecuted (and I mean truly "harassed or punished in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict") or abandoned for the sake of the Gospel?  I have not.  This does exist in today's world.  In fact, Voice of the Maryrs is an organization dedicated to the persecuted followers of Jesus Christ around the world.

The organization exists so to raise awareness of the plight of the persecuted Church.  I am so thankful for organizations like this because they help believers take the actions necessary to help in the ways that are possible.  They connect Priviledge with Reality.

This Memorial Day, be sure to say thank you to the service men and women that cross your paths.  Say thank you because they are not only sacrificing time with their family and friends to serve our country, but they are laying their lives on the line so that we can remain FREE to observe the Bill of Rights and say the things we want to say, behave the way we see fit and interact with other people however we want.  They live for you to have an opportunity to experience freedom.

If, by chance, there is someone in your life that you know who has been persecuted for their religious beliefs, take a moment to pray, thank God for their heart and the courage to stand up for the Purpose of the Gospel.   Give God the glory for their life because they stood and allowed themselves to be used to our Ultimate Purpose: To Give God Glory!  May it ever be so with us.

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." -- General George Patton 

Happy Memorial Day!