Grace's Blog

This is a beautiful shot of Tyler the night before he left. I would call it "the last supper" but that's too morbid. I know, I look pretty rough but it's all about him not me. I couldn't disguise myself too well at this point. Every picture we took that day, Tyler looks deep in thought...except this one. He actually appears a little more relaxed here. I miss him so.

The letters are coming in now. Frequent mention of how hard it is, how much he misses us and how he prays each day will go by faster than the one before. If you are reading this and you pray for Tyler, pray over discouragement, something he mentions often although he's quick to come back with something like, "I'm trying to keep myself up though." Pray for his health, something he also mentions often. He says many are sick there and they have to keep up the pace or they're sent to the sick hall until the 13 weeks are over. Then they start back at day one. No one can graduate if they've missed even a day of boot camp. And pray that Tyler will see the Lord in everything he's learning. That's how Jesus taught you know. He took present day circumstances and said, this is what my kingdom is like...let me show you in a way that you can understand.

I want to share one part of Tyler's last letter. He said, "Every night we stand at attention and the drill instructor yells out PRAY! And we all scream out as loud as we can and say HONOR, COURAGE, COMMITMENT and get to the position of rest and pray. Every single night when we do that I pray.....that God would give me the courage and strength and the ability to push on through my circumstances." As you might imagine, I hang on every word of his letters. Asking the Lord to give me discernment to know how to pray for him through what he says and what he doesn't say. The Lord shared with me this morning from Psalm 44, verses 5 and 6, "through You we push back our enemies; through Your Name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but You give us victory over our enemies, You put our adversaries to shame." Would you pray that with us? That through the power of the name of Jesus, the enemy of discouragement, sickness, loneliness, pain, fear and all other foes would be trampled! Glory to the LORD for all He is doing! What a Mighty God we serve! His compassions fail not, great is His faithfulness! The prayers of the righteous ARE powerful and effective!!!! May we all be strong and very courageous.