2 Corinthians 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: 2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. 12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; 14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. 15 And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit; 16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea. 17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? 18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. 23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. If you ever listen to our Veterans and the story some tell, one might wake in the night screaming. Some of the stories Christian mayrters could tell are about going to the cross in figurative of speech. Some christians went by way of fire, stoning, beatings, and other cruel devices. Soldiers of our nation die in war as well as live to tell the nightmares of their day. Vietnam one of the worse battles we ever fought in modern times. Yet Gulf wars alone speak of the development of technology that change the fighting plane. It matters not whose side a battle on, their loss of life and days of victory. The winning side always gloats of their victory and the soldiers are burried beneath the dirt and some never buried. The soldier and the Christian all bearing the burden of their call. Soldier fighting for their beliefs in governmental law. Fighting for people maybe not always deserving. Yet none the less they fight to protect their people. The world we live in will always need soldiers to fight. World War II nations joined forces to defeat the enemy. How many global wars since those days have not been fought without the aid of other nations. Wars are no longer two nations at war. The global police come to see the war. There is a point this morning, as a soldier of the cross of Jesus, you learn what battle is quickly. It different then the war from political stand, yet it still a war. Evil will rise and soldiers are needed to fight the good fight of faith and freedom. Everyone called the war of faith but not all stand. Some coward behind closed doors and hope it just go away. 911 spurred our nation not to coward down but to stand up or in some case sit down in groups. The idea is to be seen as unafraid. The war on kids by manaics, only cause the need to stand in plain sight. Yet none of us want to hear the sound of war upon the crowd. Some say be prepared, learn to carry a gun. Others say be pacifist, take the bullet and be shield for the crowd. When did the wild west become city wars, or the nightmare in some rule towns. When did people begin to feel fear and yet soldiers are seen all around. Has it always been and yet because we live in a fairly safe environment we see not the terror but only by means of the latest accident. There a point the fear that in gulf our nation has a solution, it call Christ. God is the God of all comfort. This terror exist, but how we cope must come from higher power who has a name which is Jesus. Jesus came and suffered in our world, and never lifted a physical hand to harm a soul, yet on judgment day, the wrath of God will be shown. Are we blind to God's power, or only to the power of the enemy because we see not the danger always lurking in our world. Yes the virus of humanity, and mental war that effects the lives of many. Some manaic in power or thinks he should be with a gun. Can they be defeated with kinds words all day. No as believers we need to learn to fight with the power of God and persuasive speech, and sometimes technology of the modern world. Guns and knives are only the power of the modern world The power of prayer will take down the enemy. David a small boy fought with a sling shot. Technology of yesterday in his world, for they had armour and swords. Prayer seems like a weapon of yesterday, but it is not. It is a weapon that has stood against the test of time. The weapons God have stood against technology for years. Do we fully grasp intervention. Those that escaped being in New York on 911 know about God's intervention. Ever known you might of been in that pile up on the interstate if you been five minutes sooner. God's intervention it is not your time yet. The godly battle is not with weapons, the political is often with weapons. Man choose a king what do you expect. If you choose God who will win. God even allows destruction to have victory. God allowed His Son to die, so the enemy could rejoice for two days. When those two days were over they found they had lost for Christ arose. You are only defeat in a war of sin by those that can only harm the body and not the soul. If you are saved the victory for your life is won. There are plenty dying out their without a Savior. Can you live for Jesus, so those dying can see the light of Christ and be won. Can you face the battle in life knowing you have already won because of God's salvation plan. Can you stand and fight on the battle ground of faith. Knowing death has been conquered. Soldier of the political kind knows the fight will continue, even with peace. There is always a war somewhere. For the Christian the war faith never ended from the time Eve ate the fruit. We remember those who died in faith but we also remember the soldiers of our nation and around the world this week. Those in faith are still living just not in our world. Yet the soldiers most remembered are from the political war. The tears pour down think how young some are that never had time to even marry. Some never experience life beyond war. Let us remember to live each day for those that fought for our nations. Let us not forget as Christians we have a hope that is eternal. Ministers and ministers to be, remember that battle not yours but God's. After all he allows nation to rise and to fall. Yet that same God that allows all things, also brings comfort to the soul. If we share not our journey then those around us, that have no clue of the hope of that relation with Christ might see and desire it too. Dear Heavenly Father, be with the Veterans around world, but also with the Christians Ministers that will be and are to come to fight against evil of our time and theirs. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: 2 Timothy 3:11-17 KJV 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. http://www.turtle30cshell.com