“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3).
Peering through my living room window, I teared up as I watched two men working on my yard. I couldn’t help but be thankful. I didn’t know them very well. They were from our church, and when they found out that my husband was going to Iraq, leaving me behind to raise our four young children with no family around, they volunteered to help with the next seven months of yard work. They didn’t realize what this meant to my husband as this freed him up emotionally, knowing his wife and children were being looked after.
The Word of God calls us to share one another’s burdens and build each other up in love. Many people have shared my burdens and loved me during the difficult times when my husband was deployed overseas – four times during seven years of marriage.
A card, a phone call, and prayer from someone that cared enough meant so much. There were times I could feel the prayers that were being offered up to God for strength, patience, and just to feel His love around me.
I have very good memories of a time that should have been difficult, but ended up in blessing when a friend of mine joined me in the birth of my fourth child. My husband was gone for one year, which left me alone during this personal moment, but this woman drove me to the hospital and stayed with me. I was able to see the love of God at work in her as she, and others thereafter, helped in many ways, including bringing meals to my home from either from a restaurant or from their very own kitchen.
Recently, TruthMedia launched a web site called Military Lives.com. This site reaches out to those who are involved directly in the military and to their loved ones.
We would welcome your help in ministering to military personnel and their families:
* Share the web site with a friend: http://www.militarylives.com
* Consider becoming an email mentor, offering prayer and encouragement to people who write to MilitaryLives.com. Visit http://www.truthmedia.com/getinvolved/volunteer.html for more info.
* Write and submit articles (especially life stories) for MilitaryLives.com: http://www.truthmedia.com/submissions/
* Join an online prayer time on Wednesday nights (10:30 pm Eastern, 7:30 pm Pacific) for military personnel and their families: http://militarylives.com/contactus/landing.html
Finally, if you know someone in the military, I entreat you to pray for them, especially for those who are going through rough times apart from their loved ones, and for their families, spouses, children and parents. Offer your words of encouragement and practical service – like yard work. It will mean more than you’ll ever know. Let us continue to build each other up wherever we are, however God may lead us.
Related Article: Airforce pilot at a crossroad: http://militarylives.com/stories/wbowers.html
About the Author: This devotional was written by Brigitte Straub. Read more about her: http://tmdevotionals.com/women/authors/brigitte-straub/
“Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3).
by Brigitte Straub
Peering through my living room window, I teared up as I watched two men working on my yard. I couldn’t help but be thankful. I didn’t know them very well. They were from our church, and when they found out that my husband was going to Iraq, leaving me behind to raise our four young children with no family around, they volunteered to help with the next seven months of yard work. They didn’t realize what this meant to my husband as this freed him up emotionally, knowing his wife and children were being looked after.
The Word of God calls us to share one another’s burdens and build each other up in love. Many people have shared my burdens and loved me during the difficult times when my husband was deployed overseas – four times during seven years of marriage.
A card, a phone call, and prayer from someone that cared enough meant so much. There were times I could feel the prayers that were being offered up to God for strength, patience, and just to feel His love around me.
I have very good memories of a time that should have been difficult, but ended up in blessing when a friend of mine joined me in the birth of my fourth child. My husband was gone for one year, which left me alone during this personal moment, but this woman drove me to the hospital and stayed with me. I was able to see the love of God at work in her as she, and others thereafter, helped in many ways, including bringing meals to my home from either from a restaurant or from their very own kitchen.
Recently, TruthMedia launched a web site called Military Lives.com. This site reaches out to those who are involved directly in the military and to their loved ones.
We would welcome your help in ministering to military personnel and their families:
* Share the web site with a friend: http://www.militarylives.com
* Consider becoming an email mentor, offering prayer and encouragement to people who write to MilitaryLives.com. Visit http://www.truthmedia.com/getinvolved/volunteer.html for more info.
* Write and submit articles (especially life stories) for MilitaryLives.com: http://www.truthmedia.com/submissions/
* Join an online prayer time on Wednesday nights (10:30 pm Eastern, 7:30 pm Pacific) for military personnel and their families: http://militarylives.com/contactus/landing.html
Finally, if you know someone in the military, I entreat you to pray for them, especially for those who are going through rough times apart from their loved ones, and for their families, spouses, children and parents. Offer your words of encouragement and practical service – like yard work. It will mean more than you’ll ever know. Let us continue to build each other up wherever we are, however God may lead us.
Related Article: “An Unexpected Life: The adventures of a military wife” http://christianwomentoday.com/growth/unexpected_brigitte.html
Questions to Ponder and Discuss: 1. Tell about a time when the body of Christ has borne your burdens and built you up in love. 2. Let’s spend some time for those serving in the military around the world and for their families, as well as ministries like MilitaryLives.com that are reaching out to them.
Today’s Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat about this devotional at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat/
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/authors/brigitte-straub/
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From personal experience I know how wonderful is the sustaining prayer of Christ’s church during the kind of crisis these military families feel. During a very trying time recently the prayers that were lifted to the Lord held me, enfolded me in their love, and sustained me through four very hard days. With God’s help our prayers for this new military site will grow and flourish and sustain military families.
Annie
My dad served in the Koren war, which was before my time. I am always praying for all those in the service for their country no matter what country they are from.GOD didn’t want there to be war. Its a man made thing. I pray that all war comes to an end and that all mankind can live in PEACE AND HARMONY. GOD WILL BE DONE NOT OURS.
my dad was in the koren war, before i was born. i pray that all wars come to an end. GODS WILL NOT OURS BE DONE