Driver's Ed

Learning how to drive a Hummer, lots of waiting around, hanging out with Soldiers. 

Recent pics

Driver training

Gas Mask Training

My Master Driver Trainer

Mend the Sails

This has been my hardest week yet.  My stress level the last two weeks has gone from near zero to pretty high last night at 2 a.m. when I couldn't sleep.  Ignorant bliss has finally turned into a much greater awareness of what I should be doing but am not, and a higher admin load, and more duties at chapel, and a request from my Battalion Commander, and a wedding request, and pre-marriage counseling...  It is all good, but I'm having to remind myself of the need to prioritize, say no, and be unable to please everyone.  I feel in a much better position to do that now than ever, though it is a challenge.

Seasons of refreshment must end, but that is not a bad thing.  It is an opportunity to exercise faith, grow in grace, and minister in his strength.  Rutherford says, "Expect storms.  And when it is calm, mend the sails.  God, strengthen us also during the calm for the fights ahead.

Today's Bible study was particularly encouraging.  For me personally--on the topic of stress, and to hear a Soldier walk out saying, "I can't believe I have been missing this."  God, thank you that it is only your Word that can elicit such a response.

Training and Counseling

These days it seems I'm only in classroom training, counseling, or at my desk doing admin.  I thank God for the chance to go to my denomination's chaplain training in Houston recently for encouragement, ideas, teaching, prayer, worship, and rest.  Then I went straight into training for Chaplains on how to conduct marriage and single Soldier retreats.  I spent a good deal of time dealing with, counseling, and sharing with an addict both in and out of the hospital. God, may this person's residential treatment be effective, most of all may her faith expressed take root by your Holy Spirit, and may you miraculously free her of her addictions.

Then I had the privilege of going to an amputee's home, listening to him, seeking to give him hope.  God, give him strength, courage and hope as he is fitted for a new prosthesis.  Give him friends, encouragement, and the drive to keep fighting.

My command team appreciates me, but if I were inspected administratively today, I would fail miserably.  God, help me to balance planning an administration with ministry of presence and counseling.  Make my office work effective and efficient; that I would work hard to the glory of God, even with files, computer and army documents.