A true Vietnam story told from my aunt ~ God Bless Our Independence day!

My great aunt (who does not allow me to post her name) tells me tales of old every Monday of our weekly visit.  This past Monday she shared with me a story about her nephew that really touched my heart. It was even more special when I was thinking of what an encouraging July the fourth blog this would be to share with others.  Her nephew, whom has since passed away, was named Carl...he left for Vienam at a very young age and fought in the heat of the battle, but back home he had an aunt that would write him every week and he would write her back too, she would pray daily for him and ask God to watch over him - God did! One day she was writing a letter and God told her to go get a bible, tear out the 91st Psalms and mail it to him. 

This was the very first scripture she had ever memorized.  When she was a little girl (born in 1927) there was usually just one family bible in the house, each person didnt have their own bible like we do today. She would get the big family bible, take it out to the field and memorize scripture since she didnt have it at her fingertips to look up.  Can you imagine how much more close we would hold scripture to our hearts if we actually learned it because we wasnt sure when we could punch it into our online bible or blow off the dust of the many bibles laying around the house? 
She said God would not allow her to write it down and although she was feeling very hesitant to tear a page from the bible, her heart felt real strong that God needed Carl to see these words from an actual bible. she managed to find a spare bible (at this time she was older and bibles were a little more easy to get) she mailed the page of the Bible chapter to him!

As he sit in Vietnam he opened the letter and this time he found more than words from an aunt that loved him so much. he found promises from Gods word to help him through the scariest times of his life. He took the bible page folded and placed it in his tshirt pocket under his uniform. every single day he would move that bible page from one shirt to the next until finally he came home.

As soon as he returned home he took that page back to her and told her of all the times that he would hold his hand over that scripture and ask God to protect him and give him the strength to keep fighting for his country and family.  She handed him the bible that the page came from and he returned the page.  God kept his word safe as well as his servant.  God word is such a power tool that we so often overlook or forget.  take his word and hide it in your heart as the 119th psalms instructs us to do. just like carl had to be a soldier prepared for battle, we too can use God to prepare us for everyday battles.

We celebrate and enjoy independance but without the individual stories of men/women fighting, families at home praying, and God protecting, we would never know what being free really meant! God bless you each this independance day! God Bless America!!

Pss.91

[1] He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
[2] I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
[3] Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
[4] He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
[5] Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
[6] Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
[7] A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
[8] Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
[9] Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
[10] There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
[11] For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
[12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
[13] Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
[14] Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
[15] He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
[16] With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

The Rose

I have thought of this poem many times since I first read it about 5 years ago.  It is such a beautiful illustration of how some things MUST be left in Gods hands.  I adore roses and previously had a large rose garden for several years, never one time was "I" able to speed up the process of one single bloom.  Each rose opened in its own time, and proved beautiful and perfect EVERY time.  When you start to grow and live spiritually, as a result of God in your heart, you will bloom into the perfect servant that HE would have you be ~ all in "HIS" time! As each petals opens a new experience or trial or mile is represented, God brought you through safely, Beautifully. Love, Shawnte

Eph. 2:10 ~For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

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THE ROSE

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

~ © Bryan T. Burgess ~