1 Thessalonians 4:16New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Today we observe not only those who have passed away or died for our country, but we also observe those who have died and gone on to Heaven to be with the Lord. We decorate our streets, our cemeteries, our downtown squares with American Flags.

In the town in which I live, our street is decorated with American Flags for many blocks. It is exhilarating to drive down the streets and see the sight. It is an honor to be an American in which we live, the Land of the Free and the Brave.

I will also visit the graves of my mother, grandparents, uncles, and cousins. I will stand and look at their headstones and remember their lives they lived between the two dates. Scripture gives me comfort knowing it is not the end, but it is the beginning of the next life of being in the actual presence of Christ.

It is also in my mind that this will be the end of my life on earth if Jesus does not return in my lifetime. I am thankful to the Father to get a chance to live, to make a mark on the time I have been given.

Today is a true day to remember to give tribute to all who have left this earth. We only have one chance in life to be a good man. What will your life be remembered for? It is a sobering thought, but truth is remembered from the life you lived.

I am going to end today with this thought from General George S. Patton, “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”

Strength and Courage

Michael