Ahhh the aromas of food on the grill makes me hungry even when I am not hungry.

The grocery stores have had sales all weekend and my paper was full of coupons.  Everyone is talking about their plans for their 3 day weekend.

However the real reason this is a holiday on our calender has NOTHING to do with food or grills or days off.

The reason we celebrate is because we do not want to forget…

- the sacrifice of human life

- that freedom is not free

- spouses that are left behind

- children that are left behind

- parents and siblings who are left behind

- our friends who have served

- our family members who have served

- our veterans who served and no one honored them

- the memorial services with no body to bury

- the knock on the door that every military spouse never wants to hear

I will never forget the sacrifice of my grandfather that I never knew who was killed in the war.  I will never forget the impact on my grandmother who was left to raise four children by herself.  I will never forget my mother talking about her brother who was killed in the service.  I will never forget the influence that tragedy had on my grandmother and my mother.  I will never forget the impact the service has had on my father in law.  I will never forget the stories I have seen and heard from military friends who have lost spouses. I will never forget what I have seen and experienced through friends who are currently serving in the military.  The amazing FLOOD of emotions as they endure deployments, missed holidays, reunions, absence of births or deaths, and lack of constant communications.

We will not forget your sacrifice.  We will remember.  We will not take your service and sacrifice for granted.

The words “THANK YOU” are not adequate to our convey our gratitude…however it is with heartfelt sincerity  that we express it.

Have you ever noticed how many conversations involve complaining or whining or gossip or criticism?

What would happen if we said no to these everyday, energy suckers?  Would would happen if we decided to not participate in the activity of complaining, whining, gossip or criticism?

Complaining makes us focus more on the problem.

Complaining and gossiping are socially acceptable ways for us to stay stuck and distracted.

These activities allow you to throw a pity party and scream “I AM A VICTIM!”

I am signing a contract today to change the next few seconds, minutes, hours and days by making a commitment to be complaint free.  Want to join me?

The only permanent and constructive changes you can make in the world are the changes that you make in yourself.”

- Gary Zukav

We are all busy.  I am busy. You are busy. Everyone is in a hurry and going in many different directions. We are serving our families, buying gas, going to work, helping our friends, buying gas, attending church meetings/events, stopping to buy more gas, making appointments, and trying to fit in lunch with a friend.

Jesus was busy too. He traveled, He spoke, He healed,  He listened, He shared, He taught, He ate, He laughed, He played, He prayed; and then He went to bed to do it all over again the next day.

Where do we get our energy on the go?  How  do we sustain that pace?

When we go go go we eventually get tired. Its like standing at the start line of a race and the finish line keeps moving or is so far out it we cant see it. Our days like this are like a straight line that never ends. Serving with a straight line (giving and not receiving)  may result in burnout, bitterness, anger, resentment, and exhaustion.

The Bible tells us, Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16) He knew that this was his time of receiving. This was his time of refueling his emotional, spiritual, psychological fuel tank by spending time with God.  Jesus knew He needed to serve on the curve.  Serving the people  and then curving up to spend time with God.  He knew that if you give freely you have to curve around and receive freely as well.

Man do I want to receive freely of what God has for me, what about you?