Honoring Each Branch of Our Military Service This Veteran's Day

 by Barbara Latta

November 11, 2026, is the day we set aside to express gratitude to our armed forces for the work and sacrifices they make to keep us safe in this dangerous and corrupted world. 

The military of the United States is a superior fighting force. It has grown into six groups with specialties to defend our land, sea, air, and outer space.

Knowing the history of each branch can help us honor each one this Veteran's Day. 

Army - The United States Army is the oldest branch of our military. It was formed in1775 by the Continental Congress to protect the colonies. Since then it has evolved into a worldwide fighting force with different branches such as Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. 

Navy - George Washington started acquiring ships during the Revolutionary War. He went so far as to purchase the first ship on his own, the Hannah, which was commissioned September 5, 1775.

When the war was over the Navy and the Army were disbanded because citizens were tired of war and fighting, and the country was broke. But because the United States needed to collect tariffs on imported goods and needed to prevent smuggling, Congress establish the Revenue-Marine, which was the forerunner of the United States Coast Guard.

Without the British Navy protecting the colonies, the ships became fast bait for the North African Barbary pirates. The Navy was reinstated to protect our seas and stop paying ransoms to Muslim pirates that were invading the Atlantic. 

Air Force - On August 1, 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corp established a small aeronautical division to take charge of all matters of the air such as balloons and air machines. The first plane was tested on August 20, 1908. On September 9, the first air casualty occurred.

The 1^st Reconnaissance Squadron was the first unit of the Army devoted solely to aviation and has remained active to this day. On March 1, 1935, the General Quarters Air Force took command of all air units and evolved into our modern-day United States Air Force.  

Marines - Two months after the establishment of the U. S. Navy, President John Adams signed a bill establishing the U.S. Marines as the landing forces of the Navy. Marines have established over 300 landings on foreign soil.

One theory of the origin for the nickname “leathernecks” was to protect the Marines while fighting with the Barbary pirates. They wore this protective gear against the assault of the Muslims who beheaded their victims.  

Coast Guard - As stated in the description of the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard was formed as the Revenue Marine to enforce the payment of tariffs on imported goods and to guard against smuggling. In 1915 Congress merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life-Saving Service as a military agency dedicated to saving life at sea. 

Space Force protects our country from invasions that can take place in the higher atmosphere of the earth. With new innovations, technology, and military progress, our outer borders are patrolled and protected. Satellites are launched and monitored to provide the ability to detect enemy penetration and provide state of the art communication to our devices on earth.

Established on December 20, 2019, this sixth branch of military service was organized through the National Defense Authorization Act. Service members are referred to as Guardians.

My husband served 20 years in the Navy, our son, Kenny, served in the Army, and Jonathan in the Air Force. My dad, his dad, and all my uncles were in branches of the armed forces.

As we honor our veterans this November, may we take the time to pause and thank them for a job well done. 

Feel free to honor a veteran you know in the comments below.

 

 

 

 

Can Curses and Spells Affect a Christian?

 

Can a Christian be affected by curses and spells?

 by Barbara Latta

Witches and devils are prominent Halloween costumes. Thoughts about spells and curses are exhibited in decorations. Witch doctors still exist who practice their arts with voodoo dolls.

This brings up the question, can magic arts, spells, and curses affect a Christian? 

Can a Christian be Demon-Possessed?

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

The power of God lives inside us. There is no greater power.

If we are inhabited by the Holy Spirit, the devil can’t also live there. We can be influenced by temptation and commit sin, but we are forgiven and already washed clean by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:5-6).

But a Christian can open the door to satan and allow these evil spirits to come in by participating in the demonic practices God forbids in Scripture.

We shouldn’t participate in the devil’s activities, even when it is portrayed as harmless and fun.

Why Should We Care About Israel?

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

We just passed the third anniversary of the horrific, cowardly attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Some may ask, “Why should we care about Israel? Why does it matter to us what happens over there?”

As Christians, we are connected to Israel. Our Christian heritage began in Israel. We are all one in Christ (for those that believe). If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29 NKJV)

Jesus died to break down the dividing wall of Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 14:14-17), but that doesn’t mean the present-day church has replaced Israel. Jesus came to save the entire world (John 3:16).

Those who bless and love Israel will be blessed in return (Genesis 12:3). Not because God loves them more than He does anyone else, but because Israel is where Jesus came from. To curse Israel is to curse God’s Son.

But you know what? In the middle of this bad news, the Bible says Israel will prevail. They will not be pushed into the sea as their enemy so desires. No matter how bad it gets or looks, the land of the Bible will continue until Jesus comes back.

Here are 5 ways we can pray for Israel:

6 Benefits of Living a Holy Life

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

Holiness is viewed by the world around us as an undesirable trait.

The reason for this is because they don’t understand what holiness means. To unbelievers, holiness means being a boring, never-doing-anything-fun type of person.

According to Strong’s #H6944 holiness means, hallowed, consecrated, dedicated.[i]

Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due His name; worship Yahweh in the splendor of His holiness. (Psalm 29:2 HCSB)

One of the dictionary definitions of holy is having a spiritually pure quality.

The secular environment focuses on health, appearance, and pursuit of youth. Billions of dollars are spent year after year on cosmetics, exercise equipment, gym memberships, health food and vitamins.  Nature programs push taking care of the earth to the point of defying the planet.

Yet this same group of people think nothing of what goes into their minds. Movies, books, articles, conversations, and attitudes that permeate culture can poison souls.

Why does the world want to be pollution free in the physical, but ignore the pollution that enters minds and emotions?

Must I Forgive More Than Once?

 

Blog By Barbara Latta Guest Post by Debbie Wilson

This week we are honored to hear from Debbie Wilson as she launches her new book, Big Hurt, Bigger God. The link to order is at the end of the post as well as Debbie's website where you can enjoy more inspiring articles. 

Please welcome Debbie!

Must I Forgive More Than Once?

A cartoon in the New Yorker magazine showed an exasperated father saying to his prodigal son, “This is the fourth time we’ve killed the fatted calf.” God does that over and over in our lifetime.

—Bruce Larson, Setting Men Free

At the beginning of my senior year of high school, my parents let me drive our carpool to school. This was our first parent-free commute. My neighbor climbed in the passenger side, and I set off to pick up the others.

As I turned the corner, my schoolbooks slid across the bench seat of our Oldsmobile into my friend. When I reached for them, I inadvertently turned into a parked car. Besides the humiliation of smashing my parents’ and a stranger’s cars before I’d even left my neighborhood, I banged my lip on the steering wheel.

Daddy called our family doctor to stitch it. My wound continued to ooze clear fluid for at least twenty-four hours. That weekend a swollen red lip accessorized the white tulle gown I wore to our senior ring dance.

Deep emotional wounds, like physical wounds, must be cleaned to heal properly. Forgiveness is God’s tool to clean our wounds.

A deep wound stings more than a surface scratch when tended. And an oozing wound, like my lip, requires repeated cleanings.

How often do we clean our wounds? As often as they weep.

4 Remedies to Conquer Rejection

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

“Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me!” This often-taunted phrase is a lie. Words can hurt worse than a physical injury and last much longer. 

Bullying has always been around, but it seems more prevalent now than ever before. Children are exposed to torment from others and this can cause emotional scars that can take years to heal if not dealt with properly. Too many kids have even committed suicide because of what others have said or done to them.

We, as parents, grandparents, and friends can help our children and students by teaching them how valuable they are, and how much they are loved by God.

What is the Depth of Redemption?

 This week for Christmas in July, I am sharing an excerpt from my book, Redemption, the Heartbeat of Christmas, What the Birth of Christ Means to the World. The book is available on Amazon. I hope this reminder of what Jesus did for us will speak to your heart, as God did to mine. 

What is the Depth of Redemption? by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

In church, we hear a lot about redemption. Sometimes we hear the word so much we lose the depth of its meaning.

What is the depth of redemption? We can better understand how deep Jesus’ sacrifice was for us by thinking about a person in prison.

Those of us who have not experienced the despair of imprisonment can’t fully understand the feelings of this punishment. My husband and I were confined to two weeks of quarantine when a we arrived in a foreign country during the Covid pandemic.

We lived for two weeks in an Army barracks with only thirty minutes of fresh outside air per day.

Days dragged on minute by minute, hour by hour.

We walked ten feet from one wall to the other to stretch our legs.

We looked out the window at the scenic air conditioner unit below our floor.

Packaged food appeared at mealtime.

The next day repeated the same boredom, the same meals, the same hard mattresses. As bad as this felt, we were released after our required time ended. The day we left with our luggage blessed us with a small taste of freedom.

Our experience had no comparison to life in a penitentiary.