VETERANS DAY, 2008

Ephesians 6:13; 16-18b
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. . . . [b]e alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (NIV)

This is the devotion for today – November 11, 2008 – from Sportsman’s Devotional.

I used to teach science to middle school kids. Every Veterans Day, there would be a couple of student who would ask if I was a veteran. These kids' idea of a veteran is colored by what they see today on television. I told them I was in the air force. Then the obvious question was, did I fly an airplane? I would explain to them that only a small percentage of the active military people in the air force are pilots, that most of the airmen are supporting our pilots/aircraft. I was in communications. (TB)

There are two ways to remember the men and women of our country who have given their time, their families, and some, their lives. First, ask someone today whether he or she is a veteran and what it was like when they fought for America. Visiting with a family member or a friend of a veteran and asking about their experiences helps to preserve our proud heritage and pass it along to others so these soldiers won't be forgotten. Too many times in today's world, with the media always looking for the sensational story, the stories of our young military men and women are flavored with what was done wrong; and not with the multitude of good actions that our people are doing to protect us at home and the people of the country for which we are fighting.

Second, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints,--the men and women now serving our country. We at home can't put on our body armor, pick up our weapons, or physically fight alongside our soldiers; but we can put on the body armor of God, our salvation, pick up the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and support our troops with our prayers.