Tag Archives: Independence

Vision Check – Jocelyn Green
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Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

When Rob and I married, we chose the hymn “Be Thou My Vision” to be played while we lit our unity candle. I had always loved the lyrics, but I had no idea how perfect they would prove to be, not just for a single moment during a wedding ceremony, but for the day-to-day military lifestyle I was entering into.

So much of how we think, feel and live depends upon our vision—what we choose to see in any given situation. In fact, I believe that the difference between being simply concerned or being consumed by worry rides on where we tend to focus our sight.

In her book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Joanna Weaver says, “Pastor and teacher Gary E. Gilley sums up the difference like this: ‘Worry is allowing problems and distress to come between us and the heart of God. A legitimate concern presses us closer to the heart of God and causes us to lean and trust on Him all the more.’ Concern draws us to God. Worry pulls us from Him” (page 38).

We will always have something to be concerned about. But if we have done everything we can to help solve the problem and still find ourselves obsessing over it, we’ve crossed that line from concern to worry and find ourselves in dangerous territory.

The best way to get rid of the negative thoughts is to crowd them out with something else bigger and more beautiful — worship of the One who holds everything in His powerful and capable hands. In other words, stop focusing on the root of your worries and shift your gaze to the Lord. It won’t make the troubles disappear, but it sure will help you to stop staring at them all day long!

King David was a master at this. In the beginning of Psalm 10, he cries out in anguish to God, but by the end of the chapter, he has turned his worry into worship and praises his Creator once again.

The next time your heart is troubled, check your vision. Focus on God and on His unchanging character. Trust in who He is and the promises He provides in scripture, rather than what is going on around you.

*Adapted by permission from Faith Deployed…Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2011).

Jocelyn Green, the wife of a former Coast Guard officer, is an award-winning author, freelance writer, and editor. Along with contributing writers, she is the author of Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2008), and Faith Deployed . . . Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody 2011). She is also co-author of Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq/Afghanistan (AMG Publishers 2009). She is the chief editor for www.WivesinBloom.com, the online magazine of Christian Military Wives (a branch of Christian Military Fellowship) and a contributor to the website www.StartMarriageRight.com. Jocelyn graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She is a frequent speaker at military wife events, women’s church groups, and writers conferences, and is an active member of the Evangelical Press Association, Christian Authors Network, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and the Military Writers Society of America.

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What’s Inside? – Elsi Dodge
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Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

“It’s a mile walk, round trip, 250 stairs,” the tour guide explained. “They found it when three pigs fell in a sinkhole on the farm. When some boys went after the pigs, they discovered the cave.”

My weight and arthritic hip had kept me from tourist caves for decades, but I was determined to try this one. I lagged far behind the rest of the group but doggedly kept going, learning about stalactites and stalagmites, bacon formations, flow stone … and that half the steps were, of course, back up.

Twenty minutes after the rest of the tour group, I mounted the last step into the gift shop, winded but proud.

Later, resting in my RV, I told the dog, “A mile. I just walked a mile. That cave was a mile long, all hidden underground.”

It wasn’t one of those caves filled with crystals and impressive rock formations, but there was certainly more opportunity for exploration and development than appeared on the surface. Niagara Cave in Harmony, Minnesota, I conquered you.

I realize God sees me that way, with far more possibility hidden within me than most people notice. That made me smile, realizing He knows who I really am and sees me as perfect in His Son.

It took a while, but eventually it crossed my mind that I, too, could look at people as caves. Each person I meet—the low-IQ boy, this homeless women, those chattering teens, and boring old man—they too have undiscovered paths, possibilities beyond comprehension, and unplumbed depth.

Don’t settle for the outside of those you meet. Conquer those caves and see others as our Lord does, filled with potential we can discover.
Elsi Dodge from Boulder, CO is a single, retired teacher of children with special needs, travels in a 30-foot RV with the dubious assistance of her beagle and a small saber-toothed tiger, cleverly disguised as a tabby cat. In her spare time she tutors, advocates for families caught in the special education system, co-leads a Bible study, works with a church youth group, facilitates a writing critique group, and writes. Her blog is www.RVTourist.com/blog.
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Moving Beyond the Pain – Candy Arrington
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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” II Corinthians 1: 3-4 NIV

Several months ago I uncovered an ancient cardboard box wedged in the back of my father’s closet. Inside were the remnants of his military service: a good conduct medal, his wings, war department ID, aircraft spotters’ guide, a 1943 Christmas menu from headquarters in Fortaleza, Brazil, and the letter notifying my grandparents that my father was a prisoner of war. In a daring endeavor, he eventually escaped through the Underground.

When my father returned to America, he didn’t talk much about his experiences. He packed the pain in a mental compartment similar to the cardboard box that housed the history of his military service.

Years later, my cousin was accepted at the US Air Force Academy. The summer before his freshman year, my father bought Wesley a pair of military dress shoes, took him out to our driveway, and taught him to march.

“I want him to be a step ahead of the other boys,” Daddy said.

Daddy also hauled out war stories, dusted them off, and told about his experiences. He identified with the challenges Wesley faced in the next four years.

Often, when we go through difficult life situations, we swallow the hurt and consign the pain to a private corner of our minds and hearts. Some stagnate in grief. But 2 Corinthians 1:4 reminds us that we are to minister to those around us with the same comfort we’ve received from God. My father didn’t share his experiences until my cousin embarked on a similar journey.

Perhaps someone in your sphere of influence is struggling. Although the situation might not be identical to yours, your wisdom and encouragement may be of great benefit. Dredging up memories may result in discomfort, but despite the emotional pain, be available to support someone learning to march down a difficult path.

Candy Arrington’s writing provides Biblical insights and practical advice, often on tough topics. Her publishing credits include hundreds of articles in periodicals such as Focus on the Family, Today’s Christian Woman, Marriage Partnership, Encounter, Pray, The Lookout, The Upper Room, Advanced Christian Writer, CBN.com, The Writer, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s stories have appeared in the Chicken Soup and Cup of Comfort series. Additionally, she is coauthor of When Your Aging Parent Needs Care: Practical Help for This Season of Life (Harvest House, 2009) and Aftershock: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B & H Publishing Group). Candy is on staff with The Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service and is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

The Revolution Today: Not Knowing – Jane Hampton Cook
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“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:6

“Not knowing. Not knowing how badly hurt he was, not knowing how he was doing, not knowing what the next step would be,” is how Bonnie Reid described the hardest part of learning her husband’s plane had been shot down in Vietnam in 1972.

“I wasn’t notified when Vic was taken to the MASH unit in Da Nang until Vic called his father who was at Webb Air Force Base in West Texas. His dad called my dad and my dad told me,” Bonnie recalled. She was told Vic had lost his leg. And although the greatest miracle was Vic’s survival, their ability to speak to each other while Vic was in the hospital at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines was also remarkable.

“Unable to get a call through to him, I called a general at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, who was the father of one of Vic’s classmates. His daughter and I were also good friends. I explained the situation to General McNabb and he sent a priority message to the Clark Air Force Base hospital that Lieutenant Reid was to have an immediate line to call me stateside,” Bonnie said. Vic and Bonnie were then able to talk, which brought her great relief. It turned out Vic had not lost a leg. Instead, shrapnel had severed ligaments in his left foot.

“Fortunately, I never received a phone bill for all of my calls to the Philippines. Unbeknownst to me, someone who worked at the phone company knew my dad and took care of it for me. As you can imagine, the bill would have been huge,” Bonnie said with relief. Vic spent a month in the hospital and then went to Thailand to finish his required days in country.

“Once I was able to talk with him, it was better. I actually had a calm about me. I had total faith that God would not let anything else happen to him. It was clear to me that God had saved Vic for a reason. After all, out of fifteen crewmembers on that plane, only three got out alive. God had to have had a reason He kept Vic alive,” she said.

“Over the years it has been made clear to me that that was correct. Vic has touched so many lives with his testimony. I remember vividly when we were stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Merced, California, and we had one of Vic’s students over for dinner. This young man told us he was an atheist. I asked him why and his reply was simply that he did not believe in a God. I told him about Vic’s experience and explained that there had to be a God and why I believed so. That young man became a Christian.”

Like Col. John Trumbull after the battle of Newport in 1778, Vic and Bonnie Reid turned their worst “not knowing” moment into opportunities to acknowledge God and the miracle he had worked in their lives.

PRAYER: I salute you today, Lord, and acknowledge your presence in my life and the lives of others.

Best selling author and columnist Jane Hampton Cook, http://www.janecook.com/, is known for making history both memorable and relevant to today’s news, political events, and issues of faith. A former webmaster for President George W. Bush (1999-03), Jane is the author of Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War, a 365-day devotional chronicling the story of the nation’s founding from the viewpoints of 20 key players.

Publisher: Living Ink Books
ISBN-10: 0-89957-042-9
$16.99

©Jane Hampton Cook, used with permission.

One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.

The Revolution Today: Survival – Jane Hampton Cook
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“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5

Col. John Trumbull was amazed that his white “headdress” did not make him more of a target that bullet-ridden day at Newport in 1778. He experienced what many soldiers, mariners, and pilots have encountered ever since: the mystery of survival. Trumbull did not understand how he made it after being so exposed to danger and seeing bullets and cannon blasts blow off men’s arms in his path. Like many before and after him, he turned to God for answers.

Trumbull’s story has been repeated throughout history. And during Vietnam, another young man encountered the same phenomenon of protection. “Vic left for Vietnam on March 22, 1972, for a year tour as a crew member aboard an AC-130 gunship,” his wife Bonnie Reid explained.

Their first child, Sherry, was only six and a half weeks old at the time. Less than three months later, on June 18th, Bonnie and Sherry went over to a friend’s house for dinner. Vic’s college roommate from Texas A&M; University and his wife had invited them.

“We had finished dinner and I was sitting on the couch with Sherry when I had a strange feeling sweep over me. I excused myself and went home with Sherry. (It was already Sunday, June 19th in Vietnam),” Bonnie described of the prompting. She didn’t know until later why she had suddenly become so disturbed.

“Unbeknownst to me, Vic had been on a mission and his plane was hit by a surface-to-air Missile, lost a wing, and was blown apart. There were fifteen crew members aboard the plane and only three got out alive—Vic being one of them.” The area, a remote spot at the time, was covered by the North Vietnamese army, who beat the trees to try to scare survivors out of their hiding places. The AC-130 flew its missions at night.

“Vic was not supposed to be on that flight since he had flown the night before. The guy that was supposed to fly took himself off flying status because a Buddhist Monk told him something was going to happen. The person they tried to get to replace him was downtown, so they went and got Vic out of bed to fly,” Bonnie explained. “Vic found a downed tree that had a hollow area beneath it. He crawled under it and covered himself with leaves, etc., to conceal himself. This was after he dug a hole and buried a picture of me and Sherry, and his Aggie ring, so if he was captured they would not find them on him.”

Although one of his two radio transmitters did not work, Vic was able to use the other one to call the aircrews searching for him. He helped them to pinpoint his location, which was unmapped at the time. Eighteen hours after his plane went down, Vic Reid was rescued. And like John Trumbull two centuries earlier, he experienced two miracles beyond his understanding that night: surviving a plane crash and being rescued.

PRAYER: Your ways are mysterious, Lord, and beyond my understanding. I seek to trust you with life’s mysteries.

Best selling author and columnist Jane Hampton Cook, http://www.janecook.com/, is known for making history both memorable and relevant to today’s news, political events, and issues of faith. A former webmaster for President George W. Bush (1999-03), Jane is the author of Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War, a 365-day devotional chronicling the story of the nation’s founding from the viewpoints of 20 key players.

Publisher: Living Ink Books
ISBN-10: 0-89957-042-9
$16.99

©Jane Hampton Cook, used with permission.

One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.

Headdress – Jane Hampton Cook
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“But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life.” Luke 21:18, 19

It soon became evident that the attempt was vain, so long as the enemy could receive supplies and reinforcements by water, unmolested,” Col. John Trumbull wrote of the army’s decision to retreat from Newport. The enemy, however, was not going to allow the Americans to leave without a fight.

“Soon after daybreak the next morning [August 29th], the rear-guard, commanded by that excellent officer, Colonel Wigglesworth, was attacked on . . . Windmill Hill; and General Sullivan, wishing to avoid a serious action on that ground, sent me with orders to the commanding officer to withdraw the guard,” Trumbull wrote. Trumbull’s mission proved to be one of the most dangerous moments in his life. The hill he faced was too steep for his horse to trot much less

He was forced to ride at a leisurely pace, increasing his risk of being hit by flying bullets. “Nothing can be more trying to the nerves, than to advance thus deliberately and alone into danger. At first, I saw a round shot or two drop near me and pass bounding on,” he recorded in his memoirs, noting that he also saw a man hit among the hailstorm of musket balls. Trumbull then relayed his conversation with Wigglesworth.

“I know your errand, but don’t speak; we will beat them in a moment,” Wigglesworth said when Trumbull arrived. “Colonel Wigglesworth, do you see those troops crossing obliquely from the west road towards your rear?” Trumbull said. “Yes, they are Americans, coming to our support,” Wigglesworth answered. “No, sir, those are Germans; mark, their dress is blue and yellow, not buff; they are moving to fall into your rear, and intercept your retreat. Retire instantly—don’t lose a moment, or you will be cut off.”

Wigglesworth retreated. But Trumbull’s mission was not over. He continued to deliver messages throughout the day, but with an inconvenience: a mark on his head.

“Soon after this, as I was carrying an important order, the wind, which had risen with the sun, blew off my hat. It was not a time to dismount for a hat. I therefore tied a white handkerchief round my head . . . I formed, the rest of the day, the most conspicuous mark that ever was seen on the field,” Trumbull wrote of the target that made him stand out like a lone cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky.

“For never was [an] aid-du-camp exposed to more danger than I was during that entire day, from daylight to dusk,” he concluded. Col. John Trumbull then praised God for his survival. “With this headdress, duty led me to every point where danger was to be found, and I escaped without the slightest injury. It becomes me to say with the Psalmist, ‘I thank thee, Oh thou Most High, for thou hast covered my head in the day of battle!’” (140:7 KJV).

PRAYER Thank you for caring so much for me that you know the number of hairs on my head at any given moment. I seek to stand firm for you under your head covering of protection.

Best selling author and columnist Jane Hampton Cook, http://www.janecook.com/, is known for making history both memorable and relevant to today’s news, political events, and issues of faith. A former webmaster for President George W. Bush (1999-03), Jane is the author of Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War, a 365-day devotional chronicling the story of the nation’s founding from the viewpoints of 20 key players.

Publisher: Living Ink Books
ISBN-10: 0-89957-042-9
$16.99

©Jane Hampton Cook, used with permission.
with help and hope for the future through God’s message of hope.

One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.

Rebuke’s Respect – Jane Hampton Cook
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“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” Proverbs 27:5

I am glad to hear General Greene is Quartermaster-General; it is very interesting to have there an honest man and a friend of yours,” the Marquis de Lafayette wrote to General Washington. Lafayette had no idea just how anguished Greene was over a rebuke he had recently received from Washington.

Because of the overwhelming demands of being quartermaster, Greene had reported the findings of a land survey in writing, not in person. Washington’s rebuke of Greene’s choice, however, forced Greene to explain his actions. Greene’s response showed his clear conscience while also revealing his respect for his commander- in-chief.

“Your Excellency well knows how I came into this department. It was by your special request, and you must be sensible there is no other man upon earth would have brought me into the business but you,” Greene wrote in his July 21, 1778, letter to Washington.

Greene explained why he accepted the quartermaster job. “The distress the department was in . . . and the difficulty of engaging a person capable of conducting the business, together with the hopes of meeting your approbation, and having your full aid and assistance, reconciled me to the undertaking.” Greene also reminded Washington of the department’s progress. The time to prepare for the summer campaign seemed shorter than a day.

Yet Greene had found enough supplies for the army’s journey from Valley Forge to New York, which resulted in the Battle of Monmouth. “And reflect with what ease and facility you began your march from Valley Forge . . . you will do me the justice to say I have not been negligent or inattentive to my duty,” Greene requested firmly. This quartermaster then reaffirmed his commitments.

“I have, in every respect, since I had my appointment, strove to accommodate the business of the department to the plan of your Excellency’s operations. And I can say, with great truth, that ever since I had the honor to serve under you, I have been more attentive to the public interest, and more engaged in the support of your Excellency’s character, than ever I was to my own ease, interest, or reputation,” he explained confidently.

Greene’s devotion to a job he didn’t want proved his loyalty. He had learned the art and science of management from his father’s Quaker work ethic and his family’s iron foundry. History reflected fondly on quartermaster Greene and this episode. “The system with which Greene performed all his duties was soon apparent; the army was regularly furnished with provisions and ammunition, so that it could be ready to march at a few minutes’ notice,” historian William Jackman wrote.

His response to George Washington’s rebuke for not reporting his river survey in person reinforced his loyalty. Nathanael Greene’s open rebuttal revealed his love for a cause and his respect for his commander.

Best selling author and columnist Jane Hampton Cook, http://www.janecook.com/, is known for making history both memorable and relevant to today’s news, political events, and issues of faith. A former webmaster for President George W. Bush (1999-03), Jane is the author of Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War, a 365-day devotional chronicling the story of the nation’s founding from the viewpoints of 20 key players.

Publisher: Living Ink Books
ISBN-10: 0-89957-042-9
$16.99

©Jane Hampton Cook, used with permission.

One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.

A Blue Greene – Jane Hampton Cook
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“O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.” Psalm 6:1, 2

When Nathanael Greene became the army’s chief food forager, he did not give up his major general responsibilities. For months he single- handedly carried the twin burden. And this double duty turned Greene blue in July, 1778. The rebuke he received from General Washington for not returning to headquarters after a special assignment likely troubled him more than any criticism he had ever received from his fellow Quakers for embracing a musket.

“Your Excellency has made me very unhappy. I can submit very patiently to deserved censure; but it wounds my feelings exceedingly to meet with a rebuke for doing what I conceived to be a proper part of my duty, and in the order of things,” Greene wrote to Washington of his anguish.

Greene refreshed Washington’s memory. Washington had asked him to survey New York’s Croton River. Because Greene, a Rhode Islander, was a stranger to the region, he believed the task required a thorough examination.

With the skill of a lawyer, the unschooled Greene defended his actions. Washington had rebuked him for not returning to headquarters to report his survey in person. Greene reminded him that he (Greene) had written Washington a report of his findings. He did not return to headquarters because of his quartermaster duties. He had more letters to return and matters to regulate than his clock had minutes. Greene also told Washington it was impossible to serve as quartermaster if he spent too much time at headquarters. Constant attendance there was harmful. He needed time to ask farmers for food by knocking door to door. Headquarters was also a half day’s ride from Greene’s camp.

The intense summer heat made the journey unbearable even to Greene, one of the most robust and athletic officers in the service. “And here I must observe, that neither my constitution nor strength is equal to constant exercise,” he wrote of the burden. Greene also noted he did not foresee Washington’s objection to the way he had handled his assignment.

Why? Greene knew he had served with propriety. He had not wasted hours fishing or stargazing. More than any other watchword, diligence had guided his double duties.

“If I had neglected my duty in pursuit of pleasure, or if I had been wanting in respect to your Excellency, I would have put my hand upon my mouth, and been silent upon the occasion; but, as I am not conscious of being chargeable with either the one or the other, I cannot help thinking I have been treated with a degree of severity that I am in no respect deserving,” pleaded Greene.

Because Nathanael Greene had cast himself into a mold of service and not selfishness, he confidently approached George Washington with a clear conscience. By doing so, he brought his request for justice to Washington.

PRAYER: I ask for your mercy today. May I end today with a clear conscience.

Best selling author and columnist Jane Hampton Cook, http://www.janecook.com/, is known for making history both memorable and relevant to today’s news, political events, and issues of faith. A former webmaster for President George W. Bush (1999-03), Jane is the author of Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War, a 365-day devotional chronicling the story of the nation’s founding from the viewpoints of 20 key players.

Publisher: Living Ink Books
ISBN-10: 0-89957-042-9
$16.99

©Jane Hampton Cook, used with permission.

One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.

The Warning – Jane Hampton Cook
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“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” Proverbs 11:22

Sleep completed eluded Lydia Darrah that night. She was completely shocked at the conversation she had overheard among the British officers, who demanded to use her home and ordered her to leave them alone while they met. But Darrah had daringly eavesdropped on their closeddoor meeting. What she learned terrified her. The British planned to march from Philadelphia and attack General Washington’s army at White Marsh. No matter what this Quaker’s religious beliefs about war, her country was in danger.

“Should she awaken her husband and inform him? That would be to place him in special jeopardy . . . No, come what might, she would encounter the risk alone. After a petition for heavenly guidance, her resolution was formed,” the American Quarterly Review wrote.

The next morning Lydia told her husband she needed to obtain flour from a nearby mill. She acquired a pass to cross British lines, dropped her sack at the flour mill, and walked in the snow “with all haste towards the outposts of the American army. Her determination was to apprise Washington of the danger.”

On her way she saw Lieutenant Colonel Craig, an acquaintance. “To him she disclosed the secret, after having obtained from him a solemn promise not to betray her individually, since the British might take vengeance on her and her family,” the article explained.

Lydia retrieved her sack, filled it with flour, and returned home. The next day a knocking on her door drained all color from her face. She mustered her composure and once again welcomed the British officer into her home. ‘‘With a pale cheek, but composed, for she placed her trust in a higher Power, Lydia obeyed the summons . . . ‘Were any of your family up, Lydia, on the night when I received company in this house?’

“‘No,’ was the unhesitating reply. ‘They all retired at eight o’clock.’

“‘It is very strange,’ the officer said, then mused a few minutes. ‘You, I know, Lydia, were asleep; for I knocked at your door three times before you heard me—yet it is certain that we were betrayed. I am altogether at a loss to conceive who could have given the information of our intended attack to General Washington! On arriving near his encampment we found his cannon mounted, his troops under arms, and so prepared at every point to receive us, that we have been compelled to march back without injuring our enemy, like a parcel of fools.’”

The man left and a relieved Lydia closed the door behind him.

“But the pious Quakeress blessed God for her preservation, and rejoiced that it was not necessary for her to utter an untruth in her own defence,” the article concluded. Lydia Darrah’s daring and discretion kept Washington’s army out of the vulture’s beak. Once again God preserved the army. This time it was through a quiet Quaker pacifist.

PRAYER: Thank you for using discretion in a mighty way during the Revolution. Show me when I need to hold my tongue and when I need to speak.

Best selling author and columnist Jane Hampton Cook, http://www.janecook.com/, is known for making history both memorable and relevant to today’s news, political events, and issues of faith. A former webmaster for President George W. Bush (1999-03), Jane is the author of Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War, a 365-day devotional chronicling the story of the nation’s founding from the viewpoints of 20 key players.

Publisher: Living Ink Books
ISBN-10: 0-89957-042-9
$16.99

©Jane Hampton Cook, used with permission.

One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.

The Revolution Today: Numbers – Jane Hampton Cook
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“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one” NUMBERS 1:2

Miami, 2007: Coaches score a Super Bowl touchdown in black history,” a headline could have read that year. Not only will Super Bowl XLI be remembered as the day the Colts beat the Bears, but it will also be remembered for its marker along history’s timeline. For the first time, the Super Bowl’s head coaches were African Americans. Appropriately, the game took place during February—Black History Month.

Unlike most of the Super Bowl’s oddball-humored commercials, Coca- Cola heralded this historic milestone with a simple, poignant ad. The commercial featured dates and short sentences in plain letters against a simple background. Next to each statement was the outline of green-glassed Coca-Cola bottles, whose changing shapes and sizes reflected the corresponding year.

“North Pole, 1909: A black man is on top of the world,” the first tribute flashed. The timeline began with a salute to Matthew Alexander Henson, the indispensable assistant to Robert Peary. Together, they reached the frozen wonder.

“Tuskegee, 1941: Pilots prove heroism has no color,” the commercial continued, referring to World War II’s first black fighter pilot unit.

“Brooklyn, 1947: Baseball shows us courage, it’s #42,” the ad flashed, applauding Jackie Robinson’s accomplishment as the first black player of the modern major leagues.

“Montgomery, 1955: Woman remains seated. And stands for justice.” The commercial praised Rosa Parks’s unwillingness to give up her seat on a passenger bus to a white man.

“DC, 1963: A man inspires a nation to dream together.” The ad reminded viewers of Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous speech that defined the American civil rights movement.

The ad then switched to the modern day, exchanging its nostalgic green-glass Coca-Cola bottles for a red one. “Coca-Cola celebrates black history: Especially today,” it concluded, saluting the Super Bowl’s coaches.

Dates are important to history, but the significance of a timeline is not its numbers but the people behind them. If Coca- Cola had existed during the Revolutionary War, its commercial could have started with this line:

“Monmouth, 1778: After freezing at the Forge, seven hundred black Continentals fired their heat in the heat.”

Gen. George Washington approved the request by the leaders of Rhode Island to create an all-black regiment that first fought at Monmouth. This force of freemen and former slaves would become one of the army’s finest. The Bible’s book of Numbers is a Super Bowl of statistics. The word number appears sixty-six times. Dates and numbers are sometimes boring, but they also give us a chance to take stock and count our blessings.

They can leave us with a “census” of our lives, of where we have been and where we need to go.

PRAYER: Father, allow me a moment today to take stock of my life and count the blessings you have given me.

Best selling author and columnist Jane Hampton Cook, http://www.janecook.com/, is known for making history both memorable and relevant to today’s news, political events, and issues of faith. A former webmaster for President George W. Bush (1999-03), Jane is the author of Stories of Faith and Courage from the Revolutionary War, a 365-day devotional chronicling the story of the nation’s founding from the viewpoints of 20 key players.

Publisher: Living Ink Books
ISBN-10: 0-89957-042-9
$16.99

©Jane Hampton Cook, used with permission.

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