D-Day plus 75 years

On Thursday of this week the world celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. Veterans, world leaders, tourists and long-distance viewers tuned in to participate in the occasion. I was one of them. I was inspired as the President of our great country complimented the memory of our soldiers who gave their lives on those beaches for the cause of liberty. I was moved when the president of France told the world that the people of France would never forget. I was encouraged by the testimonies of aged veterans who gathered there. I watched those who searched through the rows of white crosses to find the graves of their friends who had perished. They challenged me to never forget what they did for this country and the world 75 years ago. Thursday was an awesome day of remembering and reflecting on the sacrifices that were made to rid the world of tyranny and oppression. Let me remind you of a few things that took place on that day 75 years ago:

• 5,333 ships involved
• 75,215 British and Canadian troops participating
• 57,500 American soldiers for a total of 132,715 land forces
• 20,000 allied airborne troops
• US VII Corp casualties: 22,119 including 2,811 killed, 13,564 wounded and 5,565 missing or captured
• Total KIA’s during the invasion 3,400

I want you to look at this picture:

I am preaching today about the words “BEAR WITH” one another. The word in the New Testament for “BEAR WITH” is “ANECHO.” This word means to Stand Up or to Hold Up. Notice that this landing craft from D-Day is empty except for the driver in the lower left corner. All the soldiers are in the water standing up for each other. They are going into battle together. Everyone is moving forward toward the fight. Now, look at this picture:

This is Normandy today. Crosses lined up standing together in a straight line one beside the other. These fallen heroes continue to do in perpetuity what they did during the fight. They stood together then and they are standing together now showing us what it really means to “BEAR WITH” one another. This is what God is calling us to do. He is calling us to “BEAR WITH” one another in our fight against evil and the devil. He wants us to stand up for each other as His people and in building His kingdom. Reaching Up and Bearing With go hand-in-hand.