Soldiers

Endure hardship…like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

11 Timothy 2:3

            When we moved into our Kentucky home, I met a very pretty and pregnant woman next door named Lisa.  Our first outing out together was to Lowes where she helped me pick out bushes for my new front garden.

            I learned from this young girl that her husband Robert was in the Kentucky National Guard and had been sent to Iraq for a 6 month stint.  She said only one more month and he would be home.  I saw the excitement as she talked about him coming home and they having their first child, a son.

            It wasn’t more than a week or two later we learned he would not be coming home to his wife and baby.  He was killed in battle.  He died a hero for saving his buddies just before. (you can see him in the top left corner of the picture above)

            I never had met the man but my heart was full of sorrow.  I guess mostly for Lisa and the son who would never know his daddy this side of heaven except through pictures and stories.  In time, Lisa grew stronger and she and her son moved on with a new life and a new home.

            As I sit on my porch, I always have thoughts of my prodigal son.  A sweet boy he is, I miss him very much.  It’s hard to not see him, talk with him, to have the relationship with him I once had.  (This story is being written in my other book, Esau Traps)

            I reflect back to Robert, the soldier.  It must have been hard to leave his wife and unborn son to go thousands of miles away but he had a sense of duty to his country and being the good soldier that he was, followed through on his orders.

            As I read in 11 Timothy, I see that I am to be a soldier also, a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  When I am, I can endure hardships, suffering and keep going in spite of it because of the thought of victory at the end.

            All soldiers have weapons.  My weapons are to be the Word, prayer, obedience, praise, and a love that passes all understanding.  My goal is to glorify God with my life.  So I train daily with the reading of the Word, being in constant communion with my Heavenly Father, living a life of obedience, praising my Father in Heaven and loving even when it’s painful.

            I know there will be victory and my son will return.  One day I asked God for a promise and right then and there He lead me to this verse…

            “There is hope for your future’ declares the Lord, “And your children will return to their own territory.”  Jeremiah 31:17.  I also trained my son for 18 years just as Proverbs 22:6 states.

            I smiled and have made the choice to rest in the Lord’ to rest on His timetable; to rest in His love; to rest in His strength, and not my own.

            My husband and I felt regarding our prodigal son, a spiritual battle was going on  behind the scene, so we hit the floor together on our knees asking our general to fight this war and we were armed with our Christian weapons.  I believe one of those weapons is our rest in the Lord.  This is NOT what the enemy wants.  He will not win, when we are resting in the Almighty, we will!

            In Isaiah, chapter 2, we read about a wonderful future of peace where instruments of war will be turned into tools of farming.  It will be a place of no more sin, no more wars, no more heartache.  We will live in God’s light.

            But we can live in His light here also.  What battles are you fighting?  Are you fighting in your own strength or in God’s strength?  Are you fighting with your own worldly weapons, or the godly weapons of Jesus Christ?  Are you resting in Him?

            Whatever your battles are, pick up the cross, the Bible, raise your voice in praise and march on to victory.

            When Robert reached his final home, I’m sure he heard the words “Welcome home son.”  When Tim finally showed up again, he was also greeted with “Welcome home son.”  His short stay was the conclusion of one battle within the larger war.  Today, he is still very much the prodigal and my husband and I are still on our knees.  For now, instead of ending this one with a verse, I believe this old hymn is appropriate…

Onward, Christian Soldiers

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before!  Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle, see His banner go!

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee; 0n, then, Christina soldiers, on to victory!  Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise; brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise!

Like a mighty army moves the church of God’ brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod!  We are not divided; all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

Onward, then, ye people, join our happy throng, blend with ours your voices in the triumph song; glory, laud and honor, unto Christ the King; this thro’ countless ages men and angels sing.

Chorus:  Onward, Christian solders, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before!

In our waiting, I continue to count the gifts. . .

eating cereal at night with my teen-ager, talking over Captain Crunch

my brother calling me to tell me all about his new business

hearing my brother say "I love you" at the end of every conversation

beautiful, wise words from men given to one who is becoming a man

head rubs during headaches

excited, happy smiles - priceless

creamy, smooth icing on birthday cakes

answer to prayer at the last moment

white bagged lunches

humor and laughter in the church kitchen

picture drawn for me by little boy

surprise birthday lunch with 6 girls

velvet tuberose bubble bath

home-made chocolate covered mints given to me by friend

gift certificate to a movie and dinner by another friend

birthday wishes

cookies on heart plate and homemade card by precious neighbor kids

having the General of all Generals on my side

being on His team

internal rest