Close Friends

"There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."  Many Sargeants like to get creative with PT, and one exercise involves doing a situp with a log on your chest.  Actually it is a long log, with many Soldiers lined up on either side.  One side goes down with the log and back up, transfers it to the Soldiers on the opposite side, and they go down. 

Yesterday I found myself on the end, which should be a strong, anchorman position.  The Soldiers opposite me quickly and intuitively realized I would need some help, and instead of waiting for me to rise from the situp, they reached down, grabbed the log, and lifted it onto their own chests.  Part of me was embarrassed, but part of me was glad to give them a chance to help me out, and I thanked them profusely afterwards. 

As an evangelical chaplain, I often find myself communicating broad, common-grace principles in groups, and looking for opportunities to communicate the specifics of the gospel to individuals.  One of those principles is the encouragement to be good friends to one another. Sometimes young Soldiers show up to the unit without a friend, and often without the support of a healthy extended family behind them. 

As Jesus is the one True Friend for us, we are called likewise to reach out to, sacrifice for, and carry the weight of, those around us.

God, that there would be healthy relationships within my Battalion, with less and less behavior problems, abuses, and unhealthy interaction.  That those who are believers would be bright lights, having an impact on the consciences and behavior of the group as a whole. 

And for several Soldiers I'm meeting with one-on-one, work by your Spirit to draw them to yourself, and grant me the words, time, patience, and love to help them along the way. 

Amen!

Responding in Fear or Faith

"If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there...the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die." - Jer 42:11-12.  I don't know how many times, and in how many generations Israel ran back to Egypt, or sought an alliance with them against common enemies, but this was the case at the beginning of the Babylonian captivity. 

It is still the tendency and temptation for ourselves as well.  Often--especially as it relates to our witness--the cowardly way seems safer, more attractive, more right.  But we will fail, we will not prosper, when we seek to protect ourselves in fear, rather than live by faith.  This is the way of the gospel--the way to life feels like death, because God would have our hearts and our trust rather than mere lip service. 

God, grant me the ability--and the continued desire on their part--to evangelize and disciple the three men you have brought into my life who are open to spiritual things.  Please open blind eyes to see!

Grant me strength and mental proficiency tomorrow, and for the next two weeks, in Air Assault School too finish the race, overcome fears, and pass the course.  For your sake.

Please bless and protect one of my Companies, preparing to go to Africa for Ebola related security. Grant safety, and also a deeper awareness of the frailty of man in order that more and more may turn to you in faith and repentance. 

God, haver mercy on the numerous broken marriages in my unit.  Grant me the wisdom and words for speaking into these situations, and may they turn to you in their desperation and hopelessness.

And in each of these situations, and many more, help me to step out in faith rather than fear, trusting you as I go!

Amen!