In Service to the King

This morning I got up thinking about Memorial Day. Many of us think of this holiday as an extra day off from work, so we sleep in, do laundry or throw some kind of get-together and enjoy our families.

But have you seriously thought about the millions of U.S. military men and women who have sacrificed their lives in service to this country? If your memory escapes you, just think about the thousands of soldiers who have died in the last five years while fighting in Iraq.

We should never forget those who pay the ultimate price for freedom, justice and democracy.

So as I commemorate the lives of these people with a prayer of gratitude, I can't help but think about the Man who gave His life so that we might have eternal life with Him.

Jesus is the poster child for a life sacrificed on behalf of others. He suffered for us, bled for us and gave His life for us. The Bible says He knew no sin, yet He bore our sins on the cross. Talk about a hero!

John 3:16 is a familiar passage of Scripture but so profound: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (NKJV, emphasis added).

What Jesus did for us is worthy of more than a special holiday, momentary gratitude or hallelujahs during Sunday worship service or private devotion. God gave His Son, the Son gave His life, and we must give Him unconditional service for the rest of our lives.

So as you go through the day spending time with your family, commemorating the lives of the millions of men and women who died for this country, think about the Man who paid the ultimate price.

It's Time to Pray

I don't know about you, but I am grieved at the moral state of our country. Every now and then I feel defenseless when I turn on the television or log on to the Internet and read headlines that say something like: "Middle-School Students Expelled for Sex on Trip" or "California Supreme Court Rules Ban on Gay Marriage Unconstitutional."

Our country has moved so far away from God and godly principles, I fear He will soon give us what we deserve. Rest assured, we are going to reap unwanted consequences for our disobedience.

I pray every day but when I get like this, I drop to my knees and call on Him out of desperation. I ask God to first forgive me. Then I pray for our country, our leaders and our enemies. I ask God to destroy the works of the enemy and to save "whosoever" will come to Him, repent and receive Jesus.

We believers are not defenseless against Satan and his attacks. As bad as things are, we are not hopeless. We can go to God in prayer and literally change the course of this nation.

But let's not wait. Let's pray together, corporately right here on Spiritledwoman.com. As a result of the Internet, we can reach heaven on behalf of the millions of people who don't know Jesus. Log on to the site every day this week and post your prayer.

Second Chronicles 7:14 says: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (NKJV).

If we join together in His name, we can make a world of difference.

Are You in Pain?

While many of you were being recognized by your families for all your hard, unselfish labor as a mom during Mother's Day this last weekend, I was in the hospital with my daughter, who had become ill earlier in the week.

She was being treated when she suddenly developed a severe headache. I felt helpless and did the only thing I knew to do: pray. I asked God over and over to heal my daughter and to especially stop her head from hurting. But nothing happened.

I quoted Scriptures to her, anointed her head with oil and called for the elders of my church to pray for her. Still, nothing.

The doctor said she thought the pain was an indication of a more severe problem and ordered a CAT scan of her brain.

Isn’t that what happens to us in our walk with the Lord? We experience pain in our lives related to spiritual, emotional and physical problems and we pray and ask God to remove it, but our requests seem to fall on deaf ears. He knows we are susceptible to all sorts of spiritual challenges and the pain could be an indication of a deeper issue, so He allows it.

I sometimes get this nagging discomfort in my heart when God is trying to get my attention. If I ignore His prodding, it becomes a burden. If I ignore the burden, it becomes conviction. But not many days go by before I realize God is trying to tell me something.

When I go before Him in prayer, He will correct me, encourage me or bring to my attention a particular area in my life that needs to be healed. No matter the circumstance, the Holy Spirit will weigh on my heart until I respond to Him.

Thank the Lord the doctor didn’t see anything abnormal in my daughter’s CAT scan, and she said the headaches were an uncomfortable side effect of the medication used to treat her.

I was grateful for the report and told God thank you, but I walked away from the hospital realizing there are times when we have to endure pain to get to the root of a problem.

If you’re in a painful season in your life take heart, the great physician is with you; He wants your attention. His powerful hands have the ability to heal you, deliver you and set you free.

A Thankless Job

Mother's Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love it. I celebrate the day by doting on my mother with nice gifts and heartfelt words, and my daughter does the same for me. I'm glad someone thought to set aside the second Sunday in May to recognize moms.

But I didn't always feel this way.

There was a time when I absolutely dreaded Mother's Day. I loved celebrating my own mother, but when I couldn't live up to the standards of being the super mom I'd conjured up in my mind, I got discouraged.

I was trying to raise my daughter, thrive in my career as a journalist, go to church twice a week, pray and read the Bible an hour every day, and it just got to be too much.

But one day while I was cleaning my bathroom and complaining to God in prayer about my situation, He spoke two words to me that changed my thinking forever.

I said to Him, "God, this is a thankless job" (I was talking about being a parent), and kept sweeping the floor. Moments later I heard His reassuring voice: "Thank you."

At that moment I knew God was pleased with me, but He didn't want me stressing out trying to be some sort of pseudo-wonder woman. In just two words, He transformed my thinking and helped me see His faithfulness to my child and me.

Proverbs 31: 28, 31 says "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates" (NKJV).

If you're trying to be some kind of super mom, don't waste your time. Motherhood is about selfless giving, unconditional love, commitment, perseverance and so much more, but not perfection.

It may seem like a thankless job, but it's not. Rest assured, God sees your labor of love.

Happy Mother's Day!