Declaration.... Devotion's Call

"Soldiers, when committed to a task, can't compromise.  It's unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage, absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until it's been done."
- John Keegan

I want to start this off by honoring those who have served the United States of America, those who fought, declared, and kept her independent.  While she is far from perfect, she is the greatest nation in the world. I am proud to be an American.  This would have never happened without the original visionaries, who were devoted to putting vision into print as The Declaration of Independence.

dec-la-ra-tion

-  a formal or explicit statement or announcement.
-  a formal announcement of a beginning of a state or condition.

Declarations call us to be devoted to a cause outside of a personal desire.  They call us to, at times, act and think differently, but with purpose.

Who is wise and understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness.  But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't brag and lie in defiance of the truth.  Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.  For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  James 3:13-18

On February 1st of this year, Tracy and I celebrated 25 years of our original declaration of marriage.  God continues to bless our marriage as we continue to declare Him Lord.  As we devote ourselves to Him, our selfless pursuit of each other becomes second nature.

A cord of three strands is not easily broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:12

At our 25th anniversary, we rewrote and read vows in the presence of God and witnesses.  It was a declaration of deeper devotion to each other, with new spoken words.  It was our witness and the word of our testimony to those who were in attendance.  We want others to see that selfless devotion is beautiful and consistent.  Much like the flag that we fly today is a symbol of our independence, our marriage is a symbol of our pursuit of each other... and the continued love and devotion on display is our daily declaration.

"The time you spend alone with God will transform your character and increase your devotion.  Then your integrity and godly behavior in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord." - Charles Stanley



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