Love and Conflict

I am reminded, when I look out in our back yard, of a conflict that took place many years ago.  It was the civil war.  In my  mind, I cannot grasp Americans fighting against other Americans.  Several years ago someone came to us and asked permission if they could use a metal detector in our back yard.  They found a lot of bullets from the civil war and gave us two to keep.  Two years ago, our grandson got a metal detector for Christmas.  He too found bullets. 

I look out the window and I see grass and trees with a slight hill going downward.  It looks serene and brings me peace.  We’ve seen deer, woodpeckers, beavers, foxes and beautiful roses slightly to the left of our property.  We live in the country.  The people next door allowed the tree company to go in their far back property to cut lumber.  In doing so, they completely took out all the wild roses.  We had planted four of the bushes in our far back yard not knowing they were doing the cutting.  I am hoping they will do well and come up and flourish.  The point is - our backyard hosted part of the Civil War.

Did men die in our back yard?  Were they cold and frightened?  Were they hurting and in pain?  Did they know the Lord?  Had they made peace with God?  Were they in agony to have to fight fellow Americans? 

The Civil War should speak volumes to all of us.  It was a painful battle and many lives were lost.  Both sides fought for freedom.  The North was fighting for equality and the South was fighting for their way of life. 

Jesus did the same for us.  He fought a battle with the demons and the spiritual warfare.  We cannot comprehend fully all that Christ did for us.  I am so sad when I see individuals hurting and Jesus can heal them, but they reject Him.  Our media has infiltrated the lives of us as Americans.  We don’t see sin like God does.  We as Christians, do not allow the light of Jesus to be seen in our lives-we are trapped up in busy activities that will not matter in eternity.  Consider the price paid to give us freedom.

The beauty of God is He is there, immediately, to help those who seek Him.  I’m glad I came to God as a teenager and He has been the focus of my life.   Freedom comes with a price.  Jesus freely gave His life, so that we might have life and have it abundantly.  Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. 

No matter where we are in life, God is the answer.  Only God gives us peace and a new beginning.  One of the most precious and important gifts God gives is that the Holy Spirit does live within us.  He makes intersession for us.  We all need to press toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

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