D-day

Hey, everyone!

Hope you're having an awesome day! And I don't know what you have decided and planned for the day but whatever it is, it's super important!! More than you probably know!

"How could my plans and choices be important? It's just another day! In fact, today's the day we remember those who REALLY made super important choices to follow plans that would change the history of freedom in the world…"

Here's how one person described this day 70 years ago, one of the greatest days of unspeakable bravery in all of time…

"…The 5000-vessel armada stretched as far as the eye could see, transporting over 150,000 men and nearly 30,000 vehicles across the channel to the French beaches…"

800 planes took off from thirteen British airfields and 13,000 men jumped out of them beyond Omaha and Utah beaches into coastal Normandy. 

"By nightfall on June 6, more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were dead or wounded. 2,499 young Americans lost their lives that day. But more than 100,000 troops had made it ashore, securing French coastal villages…."

That so many, so young would offer so much-themselves and their very lives and futures- to fight unimaginable evil, is awesome, in the truest sense, to contemplate. 

One veteran of that day, "Pee Wee" Martin, 93 years old, of the 101st Airborne, who landed behind Utah Beach, jumped out of a plane yesterday and landed on nearly same spot! 

"It didn't compare with the first time!," he said, "because there wasn't anybody shooting at me today." Then he added, "To tell you the truth, riding around in the plane is boring. It's when you get OFF the plane... that's when it gets exciting!" 

I can imagine! 

No one back home knew these young men were deciding to offers themselves  this way, on this date, in that place and following through with the decision made. All was of necessity totally secret. Americans first heard of the assault after it had begun. One mom in Louisville said, after hearing of it on the radio at the bus station…

"I went into the lounge and got right down on my knees and prayed! Just last week I got a letter from my boy. He was in England, waiting, and he wrote me, 'Mother, when you hear the boys are on the way pray for us like you used to when I was a little boy and climbed up in your lap to go to sleep.' I prayed and I cried. I just couldn't help the crying and I didn't want to help the praying."

One voice that reassured our people was that of our President, praying. His sons said that their dad was a frustrated Episcopalian minister, and FDR offered a beautiful prayer over coast-to-coast radio that June 6, 1944. The President had sent his prayer to the papers early in the morning so that our people could read it and prayer it along with him as he addressed the nation on the radio that evening. He…and they…prayed these words…

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings….They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

… They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people….

And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas — whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them–help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

…And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be…

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country…And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

"And all God's people said…Amen!!!"

So, on a day to remember such brave young hearts, what does it matter what I do today? You started this thing out saying my plans and decisions are super important, 'more important than I know'. How's that?"

Well, you're in a battle as well. In different ways it's as fierce and intense as the beaches of France. Everyday, it's an ongoing battle for submission and love to the King of kings. It's gone on for centuries. It's fought on every continent. The enemy is invisible. The consequences are eternal. "It's not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms…" (Eph 6)

"But I hear no bombs or planes overhead!"

If the enemy can keep you from remembering or sensing the battle you're in, he wins victories today. 

Everyday is a battle to say "Yes!" to what you should choose and "No!" to what you should refuse…to thank instead of criticize...To praise instead of complain. But unlike that top secret morning on Normandy beaches, more people than you realize know you're fighting these battles. Your mate, your friends, your kids are watching you more closely than you think. They need you to fight your battles and win victories. So much depends on it!

I love this ol' country song! It's called "Heroes"…

"He drives into the city

And works extra hard all day

He finishes up early

So he can get away

'Cause there's a blue-eyed kid on second base

Wants Dad to watch him play

And Daddy knows he's waiting

So he hurries on his way...

Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size

Making special sacrifices for others in her lives.

No one gives them medals

The world don't know their names

But in someone's eyes, they're heroes just the same!

She rocks her crying baby 

In the hours before dawn... 

She whispers words of hope to help her 

husband to hold on. 

She takes time for the children 

Making sure they know she cares. 

She's more then just a Momma 

She's the answer to their prayers! 

Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size

Making special sacrifices for others in her lives.

No one gives them medals

The world don't know their names

But in someone's eyes, they're heroes just the same!"

And not only this, but God's Word says invisible angels are watching…and learning…from YOU! Your choices. Your sacrifices. Your devotion to their King. Angels kind of HAVE to obey, i guess. It isn't because God has won their hearts. They just do. And what they learn from us, Peter says, is this:

Is God so good and His grace so powerful that it would win the heart of someone who could choose? To bow or refuse to? 

And as they watch you say "Yes!" to Him, they glorify God! And an eternal victory is won! 

The Greek word for "glory!" in the Bible is "doxa". It's where we get "doxology", a song of glory to God. 

And angels may very well glorify God because of your courage and choices today when no one else is watching. 

No one really knows what the "D" in "D-day" stands for. Some say it meant "Decision Day". Some say it meant "Designated Day". But today is D-day as well…

Let us be brave and true! 

For today is Doxology Day!