Honorable

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.Romans 12:13(ESV)

Do you ever think what it means to honor something? The Bible says for us to "honor our fathers and mothers" in Exodus Chapter 20. In the military when a service member is released from active duty they may be given an "honorable" discharge instead of a general or dishonorable discharge. The state park I frequent has an entrance fee. Often no one is at the gate house to collect this fee but there is an "Honor Box" for those entering to deposit their money.

Honor is defined as personal integrity: strong moral character or strength, and adherence to ethical principles.To respect: great respect and admiration dignity: personal dignity that sometimes leads to recognition and glory. I would say it is being kind and respectful and a good citizen. When you are honorable you set a good example for the kingdom of God. You should be honorable whether people see you or not because God sees. 

Do yourself a favor. Find someone to show honor to today and see how good it makes you feel. 

PRAYER: I want to be above reproach in the things I say and do. Satan may try to get me tempted to do wrong things but help me remember I am a child of the King and honor Him above all. In Jesus' name.Amen.

HONORABLE MENTION

 Do you consider yourself an honorable person? Honor is a pretty important personality charactistic to have in order to succeed in the world around us. Cheats, liars, and dishonorable people may get ahead for a while but it is those who have honor that will truly shine.

Think of the word honor. At place I like to hike in nearby Huntsville, Alabama, at the entrance to this state park, called Monte Sano, there is an "Honor Box" to place you entrance fee into. If the attendant is off duty they would expect you to do the right thing and place your money in the box and not try to sneak in. Think of another situation which involves honor. Let's say you go to see one movie and pay for only one movie but after it is over you casually sneak into another one. Is that honorable? Is it honorable to keep the change if a clerk gives you too much money back? You can probably add your own scenarios as well.

In the military there is what is called an "Honorable Discharge" where upon having served honorably with nothing bad on your military record you are awarded this certificate to proudly display at home or wherever you choose. The other two discharges will not help in getting you far in life and they are the "General Discharge" and the "Dishonorable Discharge". Honor is pretty important to those serving in the Armed Forces. Also the "Honor Guard" present at military funerals to pay tribute to one who served his or her country honorably.

How many of you have seen a road side stand with home grown produce on it and next to it is a box on the table with a sign that reads "Honor System" to place the money for the vegetables you are buying? Even if a person steals it is God who knows. It does not pay to be less than honorable.

The Bible speaks of honor in many places. One I like is in the Ten Commandments where it says to "Honor your father and your mother" and how important that is. Even into their aging years to hold them in high regard and in high esteem. In wedding vows the couple often repeat they will "love,honor, and cherish as long as they both shall live" but then how many just forget that and end up doing their own thing resulting many times in divorces. If you are married pray for God to give you the ability to do what your vows said.

1 Peter 2:17(NKJV) says to 'Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.' The Bing online dictionary defines honor as personal integrity: strong moral character or strength, and adherence to ethical principles. We see today that many in leadership in the United States do not have strong moral character and it is harder to honor and respect someone like that. We are to keep praying for them. Romans 12:10 says 'Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.'

Honor system, honor box, honorable discharge, honor code, no matter what, honor is very important in the life of a believer and of a respectable citizen. It shows integrity and courage.

Are you an honorable person? Proverbs 21:21(ESV) is a good scripture to end on and it says 'Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.'

PRAYER: Lord today I choose to show honor to those who it is due. I honor you above all Lord. I thank you Lord for parents that raised me to be honorable. Help me to walk with honor and integrity everywhere I go. In Jesus' name. Amen.

LAND OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE

 Memorial Day is here! This is a day we observe here in the United States to remember those who died while serving their country.

This is just not a day for sales at the mall,cookouts, and a day at the beach but it has a solemn meaning we should never forget. Anyone who has had the honor and privilege of visiting the most well known military cemetery on American soil, Arlington National Cemetery, outside Washington, DC can attest to the solemn atmosphere of this day. As a child back in Ohio I remember a parade being held where it ended in the local cemetery. Today's non stop 24/7 world leaves little time to do anything much less take time to honor the war dead who fought and died so you could go to the local pool, the mall, or out for a hike. There seemingly appears to be no respect for a day normally set aside just to observe this day,not to have it ignored.

Many today think this day is for honoring all people who have died. While thy is noble, the true reason for this special day is to pay tribute to those in service to this country have paid the ultimate sacrifice. It was first observed in 1868 and the actual day is May 30th but when our government went to three day holiday weekends back in 1971 they lumped this sacred holiday right in there with all others. I would like to see it return to the 30th and not be changed just for Americans to go out and shop or have the day off work or a long weekend to take a vacation. Then maybe it would have meaning again. If you are a parent or a grandparent who remembers what it used to be like try to instill this in your children or grandchildren.

Everyone reading this needs to stop for a moment, go see if you can locate your American flag or buy one if you do not own one, and go outside and put it on display. We enjoy the freedoms we have in The United States because of the brave me and women who gave their lives so we might live. I saw a bumper sticker recently that said "Marines Die So You Don't Have To". That is true. Army, Navy,Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard and National Guard are out there to serve and defend.

So today stop what you are doing and think about what we enjoy here in America because these brave heroes paid for it with their lives.

John 15:13(NIV) says 'Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.'

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord for not taking time to give this sacred holiday any thought. Today we remember those brave heroes who lie in graves across this land and overseas, often forgotten and we say thanks. We pray for the families left behind. We also pray for those currently serving in our Armed Forces that you will protect them. We pray for our government to show respect to them and not use them for political tools. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click on link for a patriotic song.

http://youtu.be/U_5aoptI5j0

WE SALUTE YOU

Today November 11th, is Veteran's Day, which is a time to pay tribute to all those who have served this nation in its' Armed Forces whether in peacetime or at war. We all owe a debt of gratitude to all service personnel for the sacrifices they made to help keep us free. Many today are serving in dangerous overseas locations. Even here stateside there is danger as we have seen in the past couple years with terrorism attacks on secure military installations.

What does it mean to sacrifice and what exactly is honor? Scripture in John 15:13 says that "Greater love hath no man than a man lay down his life for his friends." In 1 John 3:16 it says "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." This is sacrificial love. The greatest love ever was when Jesus died for us on the cross and took the blame for all of our sins past, present, and future.

Now to the subject of honor. We pay tribute and show honor today to those who serve us now and have served in the past. The definition of honor is personal integrity: strong moral character or strength, and adherence to ethical principles,respect: great respect and admiration and finally dignity: personal dignity that sometimes leads to recognition and glory. There is a movie based on a true story that was recently shown on TV about a Navy diver entitled of 'Men of Honor'. Duty, honor, and country is what is important to the military service member. If they do something dishonorable they can get put in military jail or discharged with a dishonorable or general discharge. Most service members end their tour of service with an honorable discharge.

Who do you show honor to? First it should be the Lord Jesus Christ as he is above all things. Next we show honor to our spouse if we are blessed to be married. The Bible speaks in Exodus Chapter 20 about honoring your father and your mother. At the state park near here at the entrance there is a box when an attendant is not on duty which says 'Honor Box' where a motorist, upon entrance to the park, if they are 'honorable' will put their park entrance fee in there. So you see what honor is. We show honor to the Lord by giving the first fruits of our labors in tithing. (Proverbs 3:9).

Today stop a moment and take the time to pray for the service men and women currently in harms' way and those stateside and those who served at any time. Learn what honor and sacrifice are and put it to practice in your own daily life. When you are out enjoying your 3 day weekend think of those who made it all possible.

PRAYER: Father we do humbly thank you for those men and women who signed up to serve this country to protect our freedoms. May you put your angels around them Lord. Show us what it means to honor and respect others as we honor and show respect to our military who serve and give their lives so that we might live. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Click on link and listen to a song that will make you be very grateful for the United States and its' military.

http://youtu.be/wFQUOxcYmLY

LOVE CAN LIFT YOU HIGHER

Do you really love with God's love? This means all people. What about the rude store clerk? Perhaps the inattentive waitress? Maybe the tailgater that has followed you for miles? What about someone who sues you? Maybe a boss who expects 6 days of work in 5 days? Is there a friend who has decided they no longer want to be a friend? Let's say it is a mean neighbor who keeps being ugly.Whatever the case guess what? God still wants you to love them.

All I  know is The Bible tells  us to love. It does not just say on Sunday and to our church friends. It means love those hard to love. As I call it 'loving with the love of Jesus'. Jesus loves all of us and some of us are pretty unlovable at times. Just try to do it.

Romans 12:9 and 10 says "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."  Matthew 5:44 reminds us to "Love your enemies and pray for one who persecute you."  Next time you are angry at a person doing ugly things to you try praying for them. Yes you heard me right.  It does not matter who it is. They may be a total stranger or a family member. Ask God for the strength to be kind no matter what. You can not truly be like Jesus till you learn to love like him.

PRAYER: Lord God I confess there are times when I have not been a loving person. Help me to remember to be like you in my dealings with all people. Help me be especially kind to those in my family who sometimes are easy to hurt the most. Help me not lash back when spoken harshly to and keep my mouth from uttering things that would not bring glory to you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Note: Once again I have included a wonderful praise and worship song to lift your spirits. Click on link below and be blessed.
http://youtu.be/SOVF634y6-Y

PRESIDENT OR KING OF KINGS??

Today in the USA we celebrate Presidents Day which is a combined holiday of both Washington and Lincoln's birthdays. These were first celebrated on their own separate days until several years ago. Initially it was celebrating our First Presidents Birthday, George Washington, then changed to make it for both Washington and Lincoln since they were both born in February. So the name does not necessarily imply every single president but was the initial intent to celebrate our nations 1st President George Washington only.

At this time, because of the name being in the plural form, we may think this day honors all of our presidents as well. We may have a president of the US in this currently independent and democratic country who is called the leader of the free world, but the ultimate leader in charge of even the President of the United States, is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. Ultimately  all power is given from God and he allows men or women to be in authority for his purposes. This  does not necessarily mean it will be godly leader or a fair leader, but God is the one who is in charge of promotion and allowing this person to be there for His purposes. God will take care of evil rulers in the end. He has the final say. Man may try to build up his own little powerful earthly kingdom and can leave God out of the equation for the time being, even misusing scriptures for his own gain, but look out! He may try to lord over people and put them in bondage. This arrogance and egotism will not stand in the end.

Businesses used to close on George Washington's birthday and other holidays like Veterans Day, Columbus Day and Memorial Day, but now stores use them as an opportunity to have sales. All  honor and respect due this holiday is largely lost and a new generation grows up unaware of the true meaning unless their parents choose to teach them. Respect and honor for this special day seemingly have gone by the wayside. Formerly it was a day of remembering, not shopping. This holidays' intent when it was celebrated as  Washington's Birthday was to honor the 'father of our country' and his accomplishments. Indeed we have lost the honor and respect due to these holidays and now they are nothing more than days with no mail, going to the lake, shopping, seeing the latest movie and noting the day on a calendar. Respect is long gone.

What does it mean to show honor and respect?  We can choose to bring honor and respect back and to teach the younger generation these valuable traits which used to be taught in our public schools in addition to the home.  Honor is showing reverence and holding someone in high esteem. Jesus is the one we are supposed to show ultimate honor to.  George Washington's prayer at Valley Forge was "I consider it an indispensable duty to close this last solemn act of my official life by commending the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into His holy keeping." George Washington was a true man of God regardless of what people do to rewrite history and deny that fact.

1 Timothy 1:17 says "now to the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever Amen." Romans 11:36 says "for from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever, Amen!"

Do you pay the ultimate honor to the king of kings? Let's start today to lift Jesus higher than mere man of the world. Jesus is the one on the throne who deserves our true allegiance, honor, and respect. No one should ever exalt man over God. Philippians 2:10 says "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth." Our hope is not in a mere man but hope is only in the Lord God Almighty!!

Psalm 103:19 says "The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything there is."

PRAYER: All hail the power of your name Lord Jesus. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is only through you power comes. We pray for our leaders to follow you and listen to your voice. We pray for good to overcome evil. Help us to show honor to you Lord and to remember to pray for our earthly leaders per your command in scripture. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Note: We are commanded to pray for those in authority over us in 1 Timothy 2:1-4. I urge you in order to try to do this daily to check out the following website which is independent and has nothing to do with the federal government. It is a valuable tool to help fulfill this command. http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/

Click on link for a praise song which will lift your spirits.
http://youtu.be/MslM2vkVXiU