Recently, at work, I was working a case that was near and dear to me. For those that don't know I work as a Summary Courts Officer, inventorying all personal effects of those that are KIA or WIA (wounded) overseas. Not the most chipper of jobs. But I was working on the case of a Air Force Officer who was KIA last month. This case was important because he was a friend of a friend and that friend asked me to see it was taken care of. Being that it was a fellow Airman as well, it touched me. Not to mention-a fellow officer. But what struck me while inventorying his stuff, was a letter from his wife. Short and sweet she told him not to worry about her. I thought as I sent off my own husband-how I could not muster up the strength to do the same. Now don't get me wrong-sending him off sucks. I just wish I had the strength in God that she had (as I saw from other notes) to see me through the tough times. I want that faith, to not think of myself, not just through deployments, but anything that life, and my family and friends go through.
Lord-First and foremost I pray that you will wrap your loving arms around those who grieve because their loved ones will not be coming home. I also pray that you continue to strengthen my faith in you. Strengthen it so that when trouble looms in the distance, I don't focus on it, but instead focus on you. Lord, let me be reminded that you are my target. In your Son's amazing name I pray, Amen!
BLADAOW!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
A funny, a truthful funny...
I almost forgot...service yesterday had me laughing so hard and one of my favorite lines went something like this: Jesus said come as you are. Of course you are a mess...this is why we have a Mess-iah! Ok not sure if I'm the only on on the floor, but I love that line!
It's Simple-Love God and Love others...or is it??!!
So another great day at church yesterday! I really love this church (the one in Md). The pastor spoke about reducing the complexity that we have put not only in our life but in our faith. I know I have fell victim to thinking “I have to go to this church function to be a good Christian” or “I have to donate to this specific charity to be a good Christian.” It was great to hear a Pastor say that wasn’t what was important. He explained how deadly this complexity can be because ultimately it will turn believers off from God, which is the opposite of what we are supposed to be doing! (Ah this felt like my childhood Catholicism finally being put in its place-sorry Catholics!). All in all, the pastor reduced the complexity to this passage in the bible:
Mark 12:28-31 28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
The pastor described these as L1& L2-Love God above all else, Love others. This is what you have to do; this is all you have to do. Now clearly this isn’t easy.
Last week I got very frustrated when a friend was complaining to me about things that seemed very trivial. How could she have the nerve to complain about things that she brought on herself and in my mind were so petty-when I had real problems? Only to have me try and explain my frustration to my husband at which point he downplayed the complexity of my problems, just as I’d done to my friend. So this past week I’ve learned the lesson if I want to be loved in my problems I need to love others in theirs. God loves me when I am wallowing, so I should do the same. I’m working really hard not to judge, and just listen with an open, prayerful heart.
God please open my heart to love others as you love me. You love me where I am, in spite of what I am; remind me to do the same for others. Lord thank you for the problems you have given me, thank you for those trials so that I may continue my journey and grow stronger each day. Lord, I pray for you to guide me in the issues that trouble me, as well as guide my friends and family in their times of trouble. In your son’s amazing name I pray, Amen!
Mark 12:28-31 28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
The pastor described these as L1& L2-Love God above all else, Love others. This is what you have to do; this is all you have to do. Now clearly this isn’t easy.
Last week I got very frustrated when a friend was complaining to me about things that seemed very trivial. How could she have the nerve to complain about things that she brought on herself and in my mind were so petty-when I had real problems? Only to have me try and explain my frustration to my husband at which point he downplayed the complexity of my problems, just as I’d done to my friend. So this past week I’ve learned the lesson if I want to be loved in my problems I need to love others in theirs. God loves me when I am wallowing, so I should do the same. I’m working really hard not to judge, and just listen with an open, prayerful heart.
God please open my heart to love others as you love me. You love me where I am, in spite of what I am; remind me to do the same for others. Lord thank you for the problems you have given me, thank you for those trials so that I may continue my journey and grow stronger each day. Lord, I pray for you to guide me in the issues that trouble me, as well as guide my friends and family in their times of trouble. In your son’s amazing name I pray, Amen!
Friday, July 2, 2010
One Nation Under God
As we move into the Fourth of July weekend and start our backyard festivities, I've heard some really great points this week on kLove (klove.com-check it out) about the Fourth of July and other things to celebrate other than...awesome burgers :) As we know our nation was created with faith as strong foundation for the country. It is everywhere in what the founding fathers wrote; everywhere that is currently, slowly being eradicated from the public, under the guise of separation of church and state. None the less we must remember, and remain that we are One Nation Under God. If we forget that piece of humility, what are we-as a nation and individuals?
In that same realm, as we celebrate our Independence and all the freedoms that we enjoy. We must remember a few things. We must remember that is Christ that allowed us those freedoms, not the for-fathers of our nation. It is through our Lord through those that penned the Constitution and Bill of Rights that we enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today. So be thankful for those that founded our nation, that fought for our rights, that continue to fight- but ultimately thank the good Lord for our freedom which he provided.
And lastly-as we celebrate our Independence, I am continually striving to celebrate my dependence on God. I'm amazingly good at thinking I trust God, but I continually play volleyball with my problems and take them back from God as if I think he can't solve them.
Holy Father-this weekend I thank you so much for all the freedoms I enjoy and take for granted. I thank you for giving us your Son, who gave us the ultimate freedom. I pray that our nation will continue to recognize that we are nothing if we are not a nation under God. I also pray for you to continually remind me to be dependent on you; that you will do what you say you will and to completely hand my troubles over to you. As always I pray for those who are separated from their loved ones; may they return home safely. Lord please also continually remind me to dance in your praise, as I still struggle to remember to do that. In your Son's glorious name I pray, Amen!
In that same realm, as we celebrate our Independence and all the freedoms that we enjoy. We must remember a few things. We must remember that is Christ that allowed us those freedoms, not the for-fathers of our nation. It is through our Lord through those that penned the Constitution and Bill of Rights that we enjoy the freedoms we enjoy today. So be thankful for those that founded our nation, that fought for our rights, that continue to fight- but ultimately thank the good Lord for our freedom which he provided.
And lastly-as we celebrate our Independence, I am continually striving to celebrate my dependence on God. I'm amazingly good at thinking I trust God, but I continually play volleyball with my problems and take them back from God as if I think he can't solve them.
Holy Father-this weekend I thank you so much for all the freedoms I enjoy and take for granted. I thank you for giving us your Son, who gave us the ultimate freedom. I pray that our nation will continue to recognize that we are nothing if we are not a nation under God. I also pray for you to continually remind me to be dependent on you; that you will do what you say you will and to completely hand my troubles over to you. As always I pray for those who are separated from their loved ones; may they return home safely. Lord please also continually remind me to dance in your praise, as I still struggle to remember to do that. In your Son's glorious name I pray, Amen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)