• Pray that God would supply godly chaplains to minister the word faithfully and boldly.
• Pray that God would enable him to attend services when possible.
• Pray that he would be faithfully reading and meditating on the Bible, seeking God first day by day.
• Pray that God would use the deployment to reveal a need for Christ, and that the service member would grow in his dependence on Him.
• Pray that God would keep him pure in mind and body, that he would be faithful to his wife and family.
• Pray for fellowship with other believers, and the opportunity to share the gospel

And don’t forget to pray for wives and children (and parents) at home.

• Pray that they would continue to love God’s church and use the deloplyment as an opportunity to serve God in a new way.
• Pray that they would trust God and draw near to him even in their loneliness.
• Pray that wives would remain pure in mind and body while their husbands are gone.
• Pray that they would use the opportunities they have gained to minister the gospel to others.
• Pray that God would strengthen the families through separation, that God would reveal weaknesses that need to be addressed, that God would conform each member of the family to the image of His dear son.

Then, do pray for their physical safety. Pray them home!

(Thinking of friends who will have husbands deploying soon. I’m praying for you!)Similar Posts:

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We can divide many of our troubles into problems we can do something about, and problems we can’t do anything about. Often our problems are a mix of the two. What I’m learning is that sometimes we conclude there’s nothing to be done when in fact, we haven’t thought creatively.

I can’t do anything about Lee’s busy schedule. He works long hours, and for awhile I shrugged my shoulders and said “I guess we’re stuck.” But then I realized that I could go to the hospital and spend time with him when he’s on call. I could make sure chores are done when he’s home so I am free to sit beside him at night and read. I can find a way to make sure I have a regular date time, and I have the freedom to wake up at 5:00 in the morning to make coffee and chat while he gets ready. Not all of those things are easy to do, and I don’t do them all at once, every day, even on the best of days. But I’m not stuck at all. I can’t change the work schedule, but I can change how I order my day so that I can maximize the time I do have. If I needed to, I could do bigger things. How I respond to a challenge shows me what is important: how important is it that the kids and I see their daddy and my husband? What am I willing to give up to make that happen?

Now for background fact #1: When we came to San Antonio, we looked for a house between the two hospitals where Lee would be spending his time. I mentioned that I’d like a house in the middle, so I wouldn’t have to move midway through the fellowship. We didn’t know why we couldn’t find a house that worked for us in this location, so we broadened our expectations and rented a house instead of buying. It has been a good place to be for a number of reasons. One of the fun things for our children was a culdesac just right for riding bikes with the many neighbor children on our street.

Background fact #2:Because we move frequently, I’ve learned that one of biggest priorities is helping my children develop good friendships in their new place. Here again, I am challenged: what am I willing to give up to make this happen? How far will I drive? How flexible will I keep my schedule? Am I willing to choose or change my friends so that my children have friends, too? Would I be willing to move midway through the fellowship to be closer to friends?

Background fact #3: We’ve been praying for wisdom about the need for our children to be saved. When asked about salvation one child offered as a reason the fear that getting saved would mean having to give up the neighbor friends. We’ve taught our children that being saved doesn’t mean you cut off all contact with unsaved people, but we have also taught them that a wise child will choose wise friends. We’ve defined this as friends who want to do right, and who help us do right. And even though the neighbor children are sweet and in general pretty well behaved, they don’t fit in this “wise” category. Several months ago, Lee and I talked about the possibility of moving closer to church friends as a means of removing an apparent stumbling block to salvation, as well as giving them a better choice for good friends. It seemed like God answered our prayer for wisdom, but moving is a big choice, so we were moving rather slowly.

Until the end of June, when our landlord decided he didn’t like the month-to-month lease and wanted to move to a year lease. When we explained (again) why we weren’t prepared to do that, we were told we needed to move by the end of July. Lee and I chuckle now, because that got us moving fast! As it turns out, we ended up purchasing a house near church friends and are in the middle of a very quick move. How good is God! How merciful! July is probably the last month for 9 months with an open schedule. Had God not moved us this month, we might never have moved.

What’s the point? All the movement in our family is the reason for not posting more frequently. When the dust settles, I’ll be writing more. The second point is that we must be prepared to make choices that are best for the spiritual development of our children. Sometimes those choices aren’t obvious. Sometimes we have to ask God for wisdom. Sometimes the answer is not what we were expecting. God really does direct our paths when we seek him first!Similar Posts:

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The last move wasn’t too difficult. David and Bethel were still little more than toddlers, and they hadn’t developed relationships with other children. Here, though, God has blessed them (and us) with other children they love and spend time with. Humanly speaking, deep relationships are not too conducive for military uprooting every four years, but God is good. My solution for goodbyes last time wasn’t Christlike. So the next morning, I asked myself, does God say anything to encourage my children about those painful goodbyes?

Yes, he does! For the last few weeks, I’ve been rereading Philippians every other day or so, in an attempt to learn it better. And as I sat at the breakfast table, Laurel said “Read Philippians to us.” So I began reading Philippians. Look!

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, ⁵ for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; ⁷ just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. ⁸ For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

See here? I told my children with delight. Paul longed for his friends in Philippi. I was encouraged to be able to explain to them that longing for our friends is not unexpected or ungodly. Saying goodbye is a part of life. I asked them what Paul did when he remembered his friends. They weren’t sure, so I read these verses again. Of course! When Paul remembered the Philippians, he THANKED GOD and PRAYED for them! He even told us what he prayed, and we can pray that, too.

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

So we took time for each of them to say thank you for our friends. Then mommy prayed verses 9-11 for our friends. Saying goodbye is hard, and we will all miss deeply our brothers and sisters in New Mexico. However, it is a satisfying and happy thought that when like Paul, we long for friends, we can direct our thoughts outward and upward in thankfulness and prayer. I suspect our friends are going to get a lot of prayer here!Similar Posts:

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Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:1-2

Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. Proverbs 14:1

Reminding myself that while I have responsibilities, the results are up to God. I’m getting butterflies in my tummy with Lee coming home. I’m reminding myself that my marriage is in God’s hands, and that’s a good place for it.

I am looking forward to Lee coming home. I’m reminded of how we should look forward to Jesus’ return. I’ve been getting the house ready, thinking and talking about Lee coming home, getting excited. It’s a good lesson for me to have the same attitude (more so, of course) towards Christ.Similar Posts:

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I’ve found that my children don’t express their feelings or disappointment much. If I ask whether they’re missing dad, the answer is always, “Yes.” I’ve had a few comments like “Is Daddy EVER coming home?” and such, but none of them have said anything about being disappointed or indicated that they’re having a harder time with the uncertainty. It is easy to ignore the need to teach them about disappointment simply because they can’t or don’t articulate it. I can easily assume that their outside reactions accurately represent their feelings, when it doesn’t. I’m learning that I should bring up conversations “just in case” in response to what might be going in inside. Sometimes my perception is wrong, but I think it’s wise to risk it. No harm done if my children look at me like a raving lunatic, right?

So at breakfast (or lunch, or dinner) we’ll probably talk about trusting God in diappointments. Now I have to think about what I will say!Similar Posts:

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Be not weary in well doing, for we shall reap in due season if we faint not.

I’ve been rather goal oriented, and have accomplished some good things, while Lee has been gone. Last week, as I was evaluating my goals, I had a blissful thought that when Lee came home, I could go back to being… less goal oriented. I had to chuckle at myself for this thought. Actually, it’s been good for me to keep my eye on a goal– Lee is coming home soon. I’ve been more productive this way.

Funny thing, this, because it’s when I have my eye on the goal of Jesus Christ, I become more productive for Him, too. When I get my eye on myself, or when I forget that this world is not all there is, I get lazy spiritually.

God has been good to give me an example of the longing that I should have to see Him.

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:1-3

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:12-14

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:12-14

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How good is God?  Providing a family whose Christian heritage in Iraq goes back many generations? God always seems to provide gentle reminders of his lovingkindness when we need it most.Similar Posts:

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First, our church body isn’t a military church, so they don’t have much experience with deployments. But they are believers, and they take seriously God’s commands to lift each other up practically and spiritually. I plan to visit my parents, but I also don’t want to take away the blessing of the church functioning as a body. Once again, God is showing me how important it is to be a part of a local body, not just attend services somewhere. This is important to me, but also to my children. There is no substitute.

Second, it’s great for people to minister to the kids and me, but I also need to find ways of ministering to others, too. I can sense that it will be easy to become too self-focused, when instead I should be thinking of how I can serve. With my evenings free, I can babysit for families in our church. There are single women I can spend some more time with. I’ll show my children how these things keep my eyes off myself and on the Lord. That’s the place of perfect peace, as a friend thoughtfully pointed out recently.

Third, many people have expressed great concern for our children. We appreciate the prayers immensely! But we are trying to remember that God is our refuge and strength. It is an opportunity to show them that because mommy and daddy know God, we are comforted and strengthened. It is an opportunity to share the gospel with them: they do not have the same kind of help. We are praying that God will use this deployment to draw our children to Himself in salvation. God’s grace is sufficient for our children as well as ourselves.

How can you pray for us? Pray that we will continue to seek the Lord in His word passionately, consistently. Pray that we do not become complacent and waste the time God has given us apart by spending it on idle and worthless amusements. Pray that God will use this time to strengthen our marriage and family. Does it seem strange that God can do this?  He can. Pray that we will use the situation God has given us as a tool of testimony. Many unsaved military members do not understand the resources available to believers. We have an opportunity if we do not squander it.

When I look at how I’d like to be prayed for. I realize that these are things I can pray for you. Every person has a unique situation that God is using specifically for his or her sanctification. Deployment is hard, but so are the many struggles that each person carries. Everyone is facing something difficult, not just me. Nobody has it all together. We all need prayer and encouragement.Similar Posts:

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I recently reread Psalm 78 and realized that I haven’t talked with my children about what God has done in our family’s lives. We talk about Bible stories, but God is the God of Today, not just Yesterday.

We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God. Psalm 78:3-8

So at breakfast (which is still my favorite time to talk about God at our house) this week several times, we’ve gone over our family history. We’ve talked about how God brought mommy and daddy together. We’ve talked about how God led us to California, where we were close to the Pryde cousins. We talked about how God led us to New Mexico, even though we had no idea why or what He had in mind. We talked about daddy’s deployment.

What has been interesting to me is how the military has been a major part of seeing God’s provision in our familiy. Realisticly, some miraculous provisions haven’t been a large part of our family’s story, like financial miracles. Lee has a good job from God, and good health from God, and good character to work from God (that should be a part of our narrative, I know). I’m interested to notice that in every family, there is something part of God’s care to talk about. I’ve felt a little cheated that my kids may not ever know the blessing of seeing God provide physical needs miraculously (like George Muller, et al). We’ve not seen miraculous physical healing in our family. Most of our family are believers and no miraculous conversions appear to be around the corner. But God is bigger than all that. There is plenty to show my children and point out God’s power and strength and mighty works in their lives.

What is God doing in your life?

Three cheers for Chiao Chyi, who already has her Wisdom Wednesday post up. Who’s next?Similar Posts:

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O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63)

I wanted to tell them that even in sad things, God is working. I wanted to show them the upcoming blessings of Daddy being gone. That mommy and daddy will both have more time to seek the Lord like King David talks about (they understand being thirsty in the desert!). That God is helping mommy to trust Him. I explained that this is a good time to visit their grandpa, who has a terminal illness (they still think doctors can solve everything). I told them that we’ll be able to see the Pryde cousins.

Bethel said, “I won’t be sad because we’re going to play in Grandma’s playroom.” Part of me cringes, because I know that even Grandma’s playroom won’t make the deployment a completely happy time. They’re going to miss their dad more than they now realize. But then I realized that on a kid level, God is helping them to see how He is blessing and working even in a sad time. They’ll understand the spiritual blessings as they mature (and I’m explaining some of those even before they understand them).

I think it’s helpful to tell them ahead of time that looking for God’s blessings doesn’t mean that we’re not sad, or that we won’t cry when Daddy leaves. That way they don’t get the idea that being a Christian is all sweetness and light. But there is tremendous joy in seeing God work, in seeing how He providentially works situations out for His glory in our lives (not just others’ lives).Similar Posts:

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