A Hill to Die Upon

Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower

We are all in a battle. Of the worst kind. We cannot always see the action swirling around us. The hits come and the devastation is made worse because we never saw the danger coming. We rarely employ strategy but instead rely on a half-hearted attempt to defend ourselves with the worst of weaponry. Bombs are going off around us and our system becomes numb. Pain is no longer shocking--and we can't make out the horizon because the cloud of smoke is choking us. We hear Satan's mocking voice as he gloats in our seeming defeat. In a last gasp, we hear an odd sound. A war cry the likes of which sends shivers down a weathered general's back. Christ blazes in with a state-of-the-art tank called the Holy Spirit and the authority of God Almighty. No longer does the heart accept defeat, no longer does Satan have a hold. Christ saves the day with his bloody sacrifice and we are set free from any and all bondage.

The battle will rage tomorrow and the result will always be the same. Christ conquered death. He won.

But what really, are we fighting for?

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We are fighting for our lives. We are fighting for our children's lives. We are fighting for our friendships and our marriages. We are fighting for incomparable joy and our livelihoods. We are fighting for our futures.

And we have to decide, is there a hill upon which we must die? Is this battle worth our lives? Is it worth the time, the money, the energy, the loss of reputation, the painful stretching one endures during transformation?

Is the battle for our spiritual lives important enough that we'd risk everything for? Where you get your next breath from matters. Who have you given your allegiance to? What are you holding back? What is keeping you from rallying the spirit within, and charging hell or high water up the hill?

Because on top of the hill, is a cross, upon which Jesus decided you were worth dying for.

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I appreciate watching World War II documentaries. Do I love watching them? No. I do not love learning about war. But I appreciate the stories and truths that can be learned from those who have fought or are fighting. I have watched all of Band of Brothers, and now The Pacific (I realize I'm not HBO's usual demographic!). In a sort of weird way, I would much rather watch an episode of one of those miniseries than any current modern day television show. Where does a gracious heart grow from?

From realizing all that has been given to you. All that you have been entrusted with. All the sacrifices made on your behalf. So many members of my generation take our carefree lives for granted. I am one of those, for sure. That's one of the reasons why I'd rather watch one of those documentaries than anything on Bravo. I was watching an episode of The Pacific with a few guy friends this past weekend and reflected upon this upcoming Veterans Day. I have so much to be thankful for. So many good men who laid down there lives for mine.

So today, I thank any soldier who has ever died to save my physical life, and I thank Jesus Christ for dying to save my eternal soul. I owe all to soldiers and Jesus. Soldiers for charging up hills to meet the enemy in every earthly war, and Christ for signing up to die for my sins on Calvary's Hill.

For the glory of Him alone,

Kaley Dawn

The Tree Who Helped Save the World

This is a children's story I recently wrote on my way to class and finished up this past weekend.

Its sort of along the lines of the Giving Tree...but a little bit different ;)

Enjoy.

                 The Tree Who Helped Save the World.

This is the story of a tree who helped save the world. It wasn't the
tallest or strongest tree. It did not have the longest branches or the best leaves. But this tree knew it's purpose. This tree was going to someday help save the world. It was planted by a simple farmer for a simple purpose; to help save the world.

When this tree was just a seed, God told this tree it's purpose. This tree was going to help save the world.

From the very beginning of time God had a plan for this very special
tree. He whispered into the tree's heart; "You are my tree. I have
made you and I have created you. I have a plan for you. Plans to
prosper you and show you the deepest depths of my love. You are the
tree who will help save the world."

"Life will not be easy, life will not be safe. But this life I am
giving you will be good. Because you are my very special tree who will someday help save the world."

So this little tree grew and grew and grew. The days became longer and then the days became shorter. Autumn came, and so did a long cold winter. God kept whispering to the little tree, "You are my very special tree. I love you, don't you ever forget. Keep growing strong. I will be here for you Until the very day you help save the world. And every day after, I will be here for you."

Spring came and the sun came out. Summer followed. All the while the
tree grew and grew. Many autumns came and the tree endured many long,very cold winters. Spring always came and summer always followed. God explained to the little tree that he had designed seasons of life. Seasons to grow, seasons to rest. Seasons where the sun shines, and seasons where we only see clouds.

A few more autumns came and a few more winters passed. The tree
just kept growing and growing.

One day God whispered to the tree, "You are ready my very special
tree. I have prepared you for just a time as this. Now my little
special tree, it is time to help save the world."

The tree smiled big, the way we smile when we know we are doing
something right. Then the tree said to the Lord, "Much has been given to me, and much I must give back. Now, now I will help save the world."

So this very special tree laid down the only thing he had--his life,
for the whole world. The simple farmer cut down the tree and made the tree into the most beautiful cross.

And on this very special cross made from the very special tree, a man named Jesus laid down HIS life so that all the people ever made could be free from sin and know how much God loved them.

This was God's very special plan all along. He planted a seed which
grew into a very special tree that became the Cross. And on this Cross died Jesus, the man who saved the world.