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Lessons from Deployment

  • Posted on June 22, 2009 at 10:16 pm

I’m just a few weeks away from seeing the blessed end of my husband’s deployment. Now it feels close (2 months ago, it felt as much as when he first left). But it also seems like the hardest part.

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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Mary’s Bitter Cup

  • Posted on January 19, 2009 at 9:36 am

Every day my children hear me talk about Lee’s deployment with someone. I suppose they’re getting a heaping dose of learning something about God. Here is what they’ve been hearing the last few days.

Mary was a teenager when Gabriel first came to her and told her that she was highly favored and chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Highly favored, keep in mind.

Could Mary possibly have missed in an instant that the gift she was given would include a great deal of pain? Her dreams of how life would go for her were suddenly altered. There was no guarantee people would believe that she was still godly and pure. If she wasn’t sure about pain in her life, Simeon would tell her, “A sword will pierce your side.” She made the choice to believe and trust in God.  “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

Yes, Mary’s life was highly favored, but it was a life of tremendous pain.What was it about Mary that allowed her to respond the way she did? Her response when she visited her cousin Elisabeth gives us insight. Her prayer, the magnificat, is not a spontaneous song about God’s greatness. Mary is quoting Scripture, the song of Hannah in particular. Even as a young teenager, she had a remarkable knowledge of Scripture. And her knowledge of God enabled her to rest in Him.

I need God’s Word this week to meet the needs of my family. We all have challenges we face, and the pain and difficulty is no less real because someone has a different challenge. My pain is small compared to others’ pain, but all of our pain is miniscule in light of eternity. I need the renewal of my mind to think God’s thoughts. When I get my eyes off the Lord and on myself, then I start to feel sorry for mysef. When God nudges me to look to him in the light of God’s Word, then feeling sorry for myself seems foolish.

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Waiting with Joyfulness

  • Posted on January 9, 2009 at 12:51 pm

This morning I was expecting a phone call. Lee is about fourteen hours ahead of me, so last I had heard he had a full day with nothing scheduled. Surely he would have sent an email or been able to call. As the morning passed, I sat by the computer in case he might call. I didn’t get the things done that I needed to. I did sit and read my Bible, so God was helping me even as I was impatiently waiting.

I asked a friend to pray with me. As she did, I was reminded that waiting is serving, too, and I remembered this poem by Milton, speaking of his blindness:

WHEN I consider how my light is spent
E’re half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide,
Lodg’d with me useless, though my Soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present 5
My true account, least he returning chide,
Doth God exact day-labour, light deny’d,
I fondly ask; But patience to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts, who best 10
Bear his milde yoak, they serve him best, his State
Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o’re Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and waite.

Then I remembered that I must serve the Lord with gladness, which means I must wait with gladness, too. And Lee called. He arrived safe at his duty station and is going to sleep, because he has a busy day ahead of him.Next time, perhaps I’ll do a better job trusting the Lord and cheerfully waiting.

And yes, we talked about cheerfully waiting at breakfast. It’s a good lesson for children, too.

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