Are your thoughts this week centered around Labor Day, Grandparent’s Day, and 9-11? My heart is filled with happiness, hope, and heartache in a message that makes us think of where we are in our lives and our walk with the Lord. Labor Day is a holiday for millions of Americans to enjoy a day away from work. What a wonderful day to rest or squeeze in one last beach trip before we salute a new season. Labor Day 2009 doesn’t deliver rest for many seasoned laborers who have lost jobs or young rookies earnestly seeking employment. The blessedness of work has new meaning in our lives. Ironically, plenty of people are praying for labor this Labor Day.The Bible speaks about how we should view work. “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Ephesians 4:28 At every turn, we find people in need. How humbling to hear stories of people helping others in these tough times. A dear friend told me how she stood behind a young girl in Walmart last week who counted her money and was short $2. She watched as the cashier deleted the transaction and the girl shyly turned to walk away empty handed. God stirred in her heart as she handed the girl three dollars… all she had in her wallet until payday. Her act of faith and amount given may seem small; yet, she gave what she had just as the widow in the Bible who gave such a small offering but God blessed it big. HE told those who gave lavishly for show or dreadfully in woe, that we should give with excitement in a spirit of love. Many of you have been on the receiving end of help while wearing shoes of a good Samaritan at other times in your life. Reading John 6:28 we find comfort, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” No matter how horrible things appear, we must keep working for Jesus and believing His Word. We are told our work is not in vain in Corinthians 15, “My beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” A commandment concerning work and rest, which is so abused, is shared in Genesis 2:3, “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

Grandparent’s Day is great. Any day with grandchildren is grand. Little compares to the sweetest words in the world whether they be, ‘I love you PaPa’ or the unique name your own little grandchild designed especially for you. It’s awesome! The greatest gift is sharing time with our children’s children, then sending them home with a hug and sigh of relief all in the same squeeze. You know what I mean, right? Recently, my two grandchildren and I enjoyed an overnight adventure at the beach. We make everything an adventure, what fun! While driving home, we endured the age old debate of where to eat. Connor usually wins; Corie graciously gives in, and we enter the land of golden arches. This trip, Nana intervened and stopped at Waffle House for breakfast at night. Don’t you just love it? Connor resisted, but was the first to finish a huge plate of pancakes, eggs, and sausage. The three of us stuffed our tummies and enjoyed spending time together just the way we wanted it. We buckled up with Connor still asking for chicken nuggets. The thought of how precious this moment was made me joyful and sad. I remembered a special saying given to me by a dear friend. “There are four things that you cannot recover in life: The Stone after it’s thrown…The Word after it’s said, The Occasion after it’s missed, and The Time after it’s gone.” The truth in those words stung my heart. Many people reading this have surely felt that same pain. Yet, we must embrace the time God has given us, each day being a gift, and live our lives in joy and jubilation while enjoying the journey. We giggled as I pulled into a parking place at McDonalds. Corie and Connor thought I’d lost my mind when I said, ‘let’s go get some Happy Meals and play.” And we did! They both still tell that story with disbelief and a twinkle in their eyes. You can’t induldge all the time, but once in a while folks, we need to let our hair down and get out of the box that keeps us prim and proper. Turn off the television or computer, forego that game of golf, cancel that appointment for your nails, delete some things from your agenda and spend time with your children and grandchildren, real time devoted to one another. All too soon they will be grown and gone…and you’ll wonder why you were such a fuddy dud! You may not find that word in Websters; yet, it fits many of us to a tee when we withdraw from fun and faith, becoming wimpy and whinny, while wondering why those who work, play, and pray together have heaps of happiness. Grandparents should give praise to the Father for long life to enjoy time with those we love. “The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.” Proverbs 20:29 “Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.”

September 11, 2001 is one of those dark days we would rather delete from our minds and history books; a day each of us remembers vividly, knowing exactly where we were and what we were doing when our nation was attacked. How could anyone penetrate our security, steal our safety, causing the havoc and heartache, death and destruction, pain and problems we watched before our eyes over and over on television. That evil plot tore the fibers that tightly wove us without ever having endured terrorism first hand. Can you remember how we handled our heartaches during those long healing weeks after 9-11? Patriotism to our nation and allegiance to our Father God became front and center in our minds. We watched rerun after dreadful rerun in disbelief that this could have happened anywhere in the world, especially in our America. God watched too. How heartbroken He must be when any of His children suffer and sadly sort out what to do in a world so warped by extremists while sinking in sin. What excitement surely filled heaven after 9-11, glimpses of gut and glory, praying and praising, singing and showing signs that our faith will stand, our love for God and His glory will not crumble, and that we really are a nation under God with liberty and justice for all. The clean up began as the list of those who lost their lives grew. Telethons and special shows with famous people showing their support slid into prime time spots. Church attendance increased. Donations and giving to God skyrocketed. Inspirational books were written; tearful testimonies touched our hearts. People who should have been in the Twin Towers shared what kept them away calling in sick, stopping for coffee, oversleeping, changing schedules, attending a child’s early morning program at school, even heavy traffic. God knew the plan that day!. It was no coincidence that kept some away and others met Him that day. Many survivors started living for Christ and sharing their stories across our land. For a long time, we remembered and reacted by living much closer to God and removing ourselves from prime target places or anyone remotely resembling terrorists. Time has eased our fears and dulled the desire to live our lives closely connected to our Lord and Savior. Our Christian witness has weakened; the enemy has targeted every place in our land for a direct hit of his desire to kill, steal, and destroy homes, hearts, schools, businesses, even churches. God watches and waits. What will His children do? Will we keep our hearts, our homes locked up and think the evil can’t get inside? Will we realize the enemy goes to any extreme, just like terrorists, to tear down and bring destruction and death to anyone, anywhere? Will we gird ourselves with the armor of God and stand strong in our Christian faith? Will we realize those who are standing and shouting out loud their demands for liberalism, removing prayer, ten commandments or any Christian symbols and sayings from public places, legalizing things that are Biblically wrong, and making our nation a Sodum and Gomorrah are getting what they want? They unite and fight for what they believe. We can continue to scratch our heads and ask why can’t something be done, or we can renew our faith in God and declare that our voice will be heard loud and clear. With Chirst we will never be outdone! Let us join together with passion and purpose in our walk with Him. He will protect and provide, good will win. May our hearts be strengthened by these words, “Give me the love that leads the way, the faith that nothing can dismay, the hope no disappointments tire, the passion that will burn like fire, let me not sink to be a clod: Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God! May each of us ignite our little spark and become the fuel…the Flame of God, that will extinguish evil in our lives and in our land. May we proudly proclaim our love for Jesus. We won’t worry about tomorrow…for we know who holds our hand. Amen.