A Milestone

One year ago today, Tyler stepped foot on Parris Island Marine base and began his 13 week boot camp. The night before, we said our goodbye's in Montgomery, Alabama, and I bawled my eyes out until there were no more tears. I picked up my journal this week for a time of remembrance and read on the page dated Sunday night, March 23, 2008, "This is the saddest day of my life by far." On Monday, one year ago today, March 24, 2008, I wrote:

"Tyler called at 8:45 PM tonight. He sounded forced, like he was being pushed or made to speak loud and monotone and without emotion. It was his 10 second call to let us know he made it to Parris Island. (I can't believe this is all really happening.) He was basically reading off a piece of paper what he was allowed to say. There was a lot of noise in the background, sort of like he was in an airport. He spoke firm just giving his name and that he arrived safely, not to send any large items or boxes and that we would hear from him in 7-9 days. That's it! I wrote him tonight. I don't know if he'll get it. I signed it, 'Be strong and courageous.' The rest of that verse I pray over him tonight; 'do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the LORD your God goes with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you.' Deuteronomy 31:6"

And you know what? He never has! I celebrate Him tonight and I celebrate Tyler. I am so proud of him and so thankful for all God has done over this past year in Tyler's life and mine. The strength, courage and endurance has been delivered and received and to God be the glory great things He has done!

May you be encouraged by these thoughts if you are presently walking through something difficult or have had in the past. Remember the goodness of the Lord. Deuteronomy, chapter 8 says over and over "remember...do not forget...remember...do not forget the Lord..." Because remembering is kind of like taking a hot shower, it washes the love of God over you again and invigorates you to go on another day!

"O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago." ~Isaiah 25:1

The Church

Amen! Praying for The Church tonight...

Update on Tyler

I wanted to share an update on Tyler for those of you praying for him while he is away. It’s hard to believe that in just a few days we’ll cross the one year mark since he first left home. Unbelievable!

Over the past several weeks, he has been in deployment training and will be until he leaves for Afghanistan sometime in July or August, he is being told. Official orders have not been issued. Before his last visit home, he took Humvee courses in the classroom. When he returned to the base mid-February he went back to the rifle range for continued marksman training just like he had on Parris Island. The days started early and lasted into the evening. We didn’t receive too many calls that week, but we rejoiced with him when we found out that even though Tyler received his expert marksman badge at boot camp he scored even higher when he qualified there at Camp Lejeune! All last week he was back at Humvee training…only this time he was behind the wheel. These are the things little boys dream about; if only real life could be as harmless.

The last week of March, Tyler will leave Jacksonville with a convoy headed to A. P. Hill, Virginia where his unit will engage in some form of assimilated deployment training for 3-4 weeks, 7 days-a-week.

We have seen the Hand of God at work throughout this past year surrounding Tyler’s military experience. I could share time after time when we've seen specific evidence of divine intervention and all I can say is...to God be the glory, great things He has done. But in spite of that profound knowledge, YES, there are still so many unknowns and daily opportunities for fear and worry to overcome me. How do I cope? By believing who I am in Christ rather than who I think I am or how I feel at times. Scripture says we who are in Christ are overcomers. Overcomers jump off the high dive and immerse themselves in the love of Jesus every day. We remember the victories won and choose not to focus on the what ifs! We take captive every thought and make it conform (or be obedient) to Christ Who says, “do not be afraid” more than He commands any other solitary thing in Scripture. We replace wayward thoughts (in that moment) with faith-filled prayer and Scripture. I don't always get it right, but I want to. And when I get tired and weak from the battle against the flesh, the Lord sends a close friend or relative to speak a word of encouragement over me...at just the right time. It’s so important to surround yourself with a community of believers. We were not made to do this thing called life alone. We were made for community; we were created in the likeness of God Who longs for relationship.

I love the house of God, the universal community of believers and the picture painted within the pages of the Word of God describing her. I pray this prayer from Colossians chapter one over her again tonight:

I pray for your church, O God, may we be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into Your ways and purposes] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things -

May we walk (live and conduct ourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing You and desiring to please You in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance, and recognition] of You.

I pray that we may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of Your glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,

Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light.

[You, Father] have delivered and drawn us to Yourself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and have transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of Your love,

In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

Amen.

My Dad

Life is precious and every day is a miracle. Thank you all for your prayers for Dad and our family during these days since his stroke. The Lord is walking with us through this...He Is our ever present Help!