Matthew 18:20 NIV, For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
When we come together in Christ name, rather physically, virtually, or on the phone, (thank God for technology, especially during the pandemic) He promises to be in our midst. There is strength that comes from joining together in His name. We can pray together, share His Word together, and encourage one another as we persevere in our faith. The Christian lifestyle is not meant to be a solo journey, and it is a blessing to be part of a family of believers that we can walk side by side with. As Proverbs 27:17 tells us, iron sharpens iron.
Right relationships are a vital part of our walk with the Lord. The Lord will send the right people into our lives when we ask. We can trust Him to guide us to relationships that will propel us forward in our faith in Jesus.
I joined the U.S. Army during my senior year in high school, and left for basic training at Ft Jackson, South Carolina about a month and a half after graduating. I remember when my recruiter, Sergeant Gore, asked me why I wanted to join the Army, I said because I admired military people and wanted to serve the country too. He was surprised to hear that, especially coming from a high schooler. He said most people joined to travel, get money for college, or some other benefit. Of course I was thankful to find out about the benefits when he explained them, but for me, growing up in a military area in Virginia, I really did see military people as admirable, and I saw a chance to be part of something bigger. I was excited about the new adventure that was ahead. Although, I was only in for four years, I will always be thankful for the time I spent in the U.S. Army, the people I met, and for the unforgettable experiences I had.
Here are some of my memories from basic training…
One of my worst memories was when we had to go into the gas chamber and lift our gas mask. The gas was no joke. This gave me a deep appreciation for my gas mask.
One of my most enjoyable memories was basic rifle marksmanship (BRM). It was fun learning to fire the various U.S. weapons.
One of the saddest memories was when one of my fellow platoon mates, Private Blair, who was also from Virginia, had family drive eight hours from Virginia to South Carolina, to visit her during Sunday visitation. Her mom’s chocolate chip cookies were so good, and since her family was from Virginia, I felt like my family was visiting too. However, after a short time, one of the drill sergeants came out and announced visitation was over, her family left. Ten minutes later he came back out and said he was just kidding. She cried and cried and cried. Her family was gone, and no phones were allowed so she couldn’t call them to come back. Some Drill Sergeants could certainly be cruel. I always appreciate my platoons lead drill sergeant for saying, “His job was not to make our lives miserable, but to train us.”
One of the most tiring memories was getting up every morning at 4:15am for physical training (PT).
One of the scariest memories, is when we finished our 4 day in-processing and they bused us over to the area where we would officially start basic training. When we stepped off the buses the drill sergeants were in our faces screaming like they had lost their minds. After the first couple of weeks they did calm down, “a little.” Towards the end of basic, they did say they did that because otherwise we would not have respected them.
One of my most peaceful memories were the night time Bible studies that a set of twins in my platoon, the Johnson’s, had in their room. These two privates were inspiring us to put Jesus first.
One of my most victorious memories was graduation day! It was great to see my parents and get out of basic training. Although it was bittersweet parting ways with my fellow platoon mates, that I had spent the last eight weeks with.
And finally, one of my most heartwarming memories happened about two weeks before graduation. I located a letter in my wall locker that had been secretly hidden by the soldiers that were in the room before us. They were encouraging us to not give up. It was amazing that they would take the time to write such a letter. Me and my roommates were thankful to read it. I still have that letter today, along with all the other letters I received while in basic training.
Well I’m passing that same word on to you today, don’t give up no matter what you’re going through. Trust in Jesus because He never fails. Happy Veterans Day everyone, especially to my fellow veterans! ✌🏿
Galatians 6:9 NLT, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Me as a Private First Class getting my first Army Achievement Medal in 1995.
Ecclesiastes 8:14 NIV, “There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.”
This verse reminds me of the age-old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” When questions like these come to mind, keeping God’s perspective is what keeps us secure. We will not have all the answers to the misfortunes and tragedies that occur in this life, but we do know that God is just. We have to trust Him to deal with the evil we see. We do not need to carry the burden of trying to answer all of life’s difficult and confusing questions.
Photo by: Olya Kobruseva of Spain 🇪🇸
Although God’s timing often differs from ours, and we don’t always understand how He is working, we can rest knowing that He loves us, He will guide us, He will protect us, He will provide for us, and He will always do what is right.
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2,“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”
This verse is a reminder to show reverence to God when we enter the church building. Although church is a time of fellowship, even more importantly it is a time to worship the Lord, pray, and hear what He wants to say to us. When we are in God’s house, we should speak less and listen more. He speaks to us corporately through the sermons we hear, but He also speaks to us individually.
Photo by: Rene Asmussen of Denmark 🇩🇰
When we are in church, we should have a praying spirit and be ready to hear and receive whatever it is God wants to tell us. There is a lot going on in churches, and there are various forms of activities and entertainment. However, let us not forget our main purpose for being there. We serve a God who has a great work for us to do, and we need to hear His voice so we can be ready to execute.
I remember a couple of years ago walking into the church trying to get to the sanctuary, but first I had to make my way through the donut section, with the big screen T.V. This area of course, was filled with people who were talking, eating donuts, and watching the worship service on the big screen T.V, the same worship service that was going on live in the sanctuary. I clearly heard the Lord’s voice say, “These people need to pray.”
That is a moment I’ll never forget.
I don’t think the Lord is against donuts, but I do believe He was saying that day and now in the present, we need to be reverent of Him, aware of His presence, and keep His perspective at all times. When we lose sight of what He desires, it’s detrimental to our relationship with Him, and the purpose He has for the church of Jesus Christ.
Let us pray that “thy will be done” in our churches, and that we would follow God’s command to pray.
Proverbs 28:2 NLT, “When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.”
Moral rot is widespread. Morals have drifted far from the hearts of many and have been replaced with self gratification. Ungodly desires for control, money, possessions, and sexual perversion have saturated our world. God’s Word, the Holy Bible, provides us with the moral standards we need to live successful and balanced lives. May we hold tightly to the truth of His Word. Please continue to pray for leaders worldwide, that the Lord would give them knowledge and wisdom to make decisions that are rooted in love and justice that are in line with His Word. Thanks for praying. 🙏🙏🏽✝️🙏🏻🙏🏿
Drawing Closer to Christ 