Stars & Stripes

I know how patriotic people can get around this time of year. We all want to remember the sacrifices of our veterans and service members. And still others are just glad for a long weekend and the beginning of summer, and can easily neglect what the day was intended to represent. I have to admit  that my experience with the military is limited. 

Still, I want to extend my gratitude to those who have fought for freedom, past and present. Writing WWII stories has taught me a lot of history that I had not realized, while my characters are fictional a lot of their stories are based on true ones, and am thankful for the people who can serve. And pray for those in pain and for protection abroad and at home. Their families also sacrifice and deserve our thanks.

I am more familiar with the Lord’s army, sharing His truths and a gospel that will bring us peace. There is a lot to be said about stars and stripes, and old glory. So, I’d like to talk about just that and leave you a few verses. Maybe, you can think about them as you relax and enjoy your freedom this weekend.

The Bible talks a lot about stars, how and why they were created. Angels are even called stars. We know Jesus as the bright and morning star but the Word calls Him the Daystar. Jesus, by whose stripes we are healed, was made lower than the stars, referring to angels, for He was made flesh and dwelt among them. He had to endure as a human, so He could help us to overcome, in His glory which does not get old.

You know, I like the translation, wounds, much better. Stripes are just that, a kitten, a peppermint stick, scratches. A Roman cat of none tails embedded with glass and bone used by a barbaric soldier on a man who was a perceived threat to raise an army against them surely left wounds. All you have to do is read Isaiah 53 to know how a man who was a man and yet all God could have survived that.

I am seeing a lot of prayer requests, and people facing a lot of spiritual battles before His return. Let me encourage you to be strong in Him, because you can’t fight alone and the battle belongs to the Lord. Only the Prince of Peace will usher in an eternity of peace, and He will destroy His enemy with the brightness of His coming. Hold fast to faith, hope and love. Although, I love stars, the greatest of these love, are found in the ” stripes “.

He counts the stars and calls them all by name. Psalm 147:4

I have called you by your name. You are mine.  Isaiah 43:1

Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars! Job 22:12

The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. 1 Corinthians  15:41

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon,
praise Him, all you shining stars! Psalm 148:3

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Matthew 16:27 English Standard

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Matthew 25:31

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV

So have a safe Memorial Day weekend. And remember to thank someone who serves, as we serve in the Lord’s army. And when you see the flag, remember the stars, the angels that are at His command, the ones the wise will shine like, but most of all His stripes that do heal, and the glory that is our God.

Yganko / Canva Pro