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I was reading through the book of Ezra the other day and felt myself enter into a situation and place in time that I believe we are currently living in today as a people — a time and call again of separation.

Ezra was calling God’s people to become separate.  After having taken pagan wives unto themselves, Ezra wept before the Lord and called them, who had gone astray to once again, walk in the ways of the Lord and separate themselves from those things which were ungodly.

There is a separation that takes place where we no longer desire to keep one foot in the world and one foot with God.  There is a separation that takes place that releases the cries of our hearts to be consecrated unto God in such a way where we want nothing to do with darkness, but yearn daily to be clothed with heavenly habitation.

God is calling us to be separate.  His Spirit gives us the strength and the power to walk in His ways and by our obedience and complete surrender to Him — dying to our flesh and being led by the Spirit — we can walk in the ways He has commanded us to walk in.

Some of us have gone astray and are living lives and making decisions not based on God’s ways, yet still call our selves Christians (meaning, “little Christ’s or little anointed ones”). Some of us are not walking the walk or talking the talk and have become a “two faced” people, where we are one way in one moment, and another way in another moment.  But, in His great mercy and immeasurable grace, God says this:  “If my people, which are called by my name, shall, humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sins, and will heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).

Let us be people willing to walk the highway of holiness and be separate, not dabbling in darkness. God is calling a people unto Himself where there is no mixture.  I truly believe that we are coming to a place in these times, where the standard is being raised, and a trumpet is blowing a “Wake Up” call for The Church to walk in righteousness and live lives according to the ways of the Lord.  It’s time to live out of pure obedience.  The dark is getting darker, and it is time to rise up, and shine our lights before men, rooted in separation.

I challenge you today, as Ezra and the people did, to go before the Lord and confess your ways and seek His face, turning from the ways that have hindered you from being completely His alone.  Abandon yourself again to God and yield Your spirit to Him, allowing Him to take you into Himself and making you His very own.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for not walking according to Your ways and for fulfilling the lusts of my own flesh.  Today, I confess my sins to you and desire to walk again in Your ways and live according to your commands; to walk in holiness and in righteousness. Amen.

Questions: Are you walking in obedience and complete surrender to Him? What is priority in your life?

About the Author Brigitte Straub

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump” Galatians 5:9

We live in an age where we are surrounded by  many different belief systems, theologies and doctrines that can become very confusing for those who want to simply seek God with all their heart and walk in His ways.
The dictionary says this:  “Leaven is a pervasive influence that modifies something or transforms it”.  Leaven is a symbol of a penetrating influence.

Scripture warns us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod which was the spirit of unbelief that prevailed in their hearts and minds.

Yet there is another leaven we read about in the scriptures, and that is the leaven of the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is why Jesus came, “preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14).  He also sent out His disciples imploring them to preach, “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7).

The Kingdom of Heaven is ultimately God’s realities and ways.  God wants His people to rise up into walking in His Kingdom ways as Jesus, our perfect example, did. Penetrating the earth with this alive and active leaven within us will help cause a shift in the atmosphere while creating a place where heaven invades earth.

In spite of the unbelief and doubt in God and His ways these days there seems to also be a growing awareness and a desperate hunger to encounter God in a real way that will be life changing. We need the leaven of the Kingdom of God to be alive in us.   Father’s heart longs for us to spread His word and His ways throughout the earth so that nations would come to know Jesus as real.

Let us join together as those who follow Jesus with sincere faith to preach and demonstrate the Kingdom of God, in bringing His awesome reality into the earth allowing Him to invade this place with His Glory.  Let us be the leaven, that pervasive influence transforming the world around us.

~ Heavenly Father, thank You for Your ways that are so much higher than ours.  We love You and are committed to walking how You have called us to!  Remove all doubt and unbelief that is within me.  Fill me with faith and belief in who You are. Thank You for Your Spirit, empowering us to go forward in sharing Your Kingdom and walking in Your ways.  Become so alive and active in us that everyone that encounters us will see that Jesus is real.  Amen.

Question: What does it mean to “leaven” something? How can your life leaven the lives of others?

About this Author: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/brigitte-straub/

** Make a difference in other peoples’ lives, online, by volunteering with TruthMedia! There’s several different kinds of opportunities available!

Listen to this devotional read aloud

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump” Galatians 5:9

We live in an age where we are surrounded by many different belief systems, theologies and doctrines that can become very confusing for those who want to simply seek God with all their heart and walk in His ways.
The dictionary says this: “Leaven is a pervasive influence that modifies something or transforms it”. Leaven is a symbol of a penetrating influence.

Scripture warns us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod which was the spirit of unbelief that prevailed in their hearts and minds.

Yet there is another leaven we read about in the scriptures, and that is the leaven of the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is why Jesus came, “preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14). He also sent out His disciples imploring them to preach, “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7).

The Kingdom of Heaven is ultimately God’s realities and ways. God wants His people to rise up into walking in His Kingdom ways as Jesus, our perfect example, did. Penetrating the earth with this alive and active leaven within us will help cause a shift in the atmosphere while creating a place where heaven invades earth.

In spite of the unbelief and doubt in God and His ways these days there seems to also be a growing awareness and a desperate hunger to encounter God in a real way that will be life changing. We need the leaven of the Kingdom of God to be alive in us. Father’s heart longs for us to spread His word and His ways throughout the earth so that nations would come to know Jesus as real.

Let us join together as those who follow Jesus with sincere faith to preach and demonstrate the Kingdom of God, in bringing His awesome reality into the earth allowing Him to invade this place with His Glory. Let us be the leaven, that pervasive influence transforming the world around us.

~ Heavenly Father, thank You for Your ways that are so much higher than ours. We love You and are committed to walking how You have called us to! Remove all doubt and unbelief that is within me. Fill me with faith and belief in who You are. Thank You for Your Spirit, empowering us to go forward in sharing Your Kingdom and walking in Your ways. Become so alive and active in us that everyone that encounters us will see that Jesus is real. Amen.

Permanent devotional link

Question: What does it mean to “leaven” something? How can your life leaven the lives of others?

About this Author: Brigitte Straub

** Make a difference in other peoples’ lives, online, by volunteering with TruthMedia! There’s several different kinds of opportunities available!

Listen to this devotional read aloud

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump” Galatians 5:9

We live in an age where we are surrounded by many different belief systems, theologies and doctrines that can become very confusing for those who want to simply seek God with all their heart and walk in His ways.
The dictionary says this: “Leaven is a pervasive influence that modifies something or transforms it”. Leaven is a symbol of a penetrating influence.

Scripture warns us to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod which was the spirit of unbelief that prevailed in their hearts and minds.

Yet there is another leaven we read about in the scriptures, and that is the leaven of the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is why Jesus came, “preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14). He also sent out His disciples imploring them to preach, “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7).

The Kingdom of Heaven is ultimately God’s realities and ways. God wants His people to rise up into walking in His Kingdom ways as Jesus, our perfect example, did. Penetrating the earth with this alive and active leaven within us will help cause a shift in the atmosphere while creating a place where heaven invades earth.

In spite of the unbelief and doubt in God and His ways these days there seems to also be a growing awareness and a desperate hunger to encounter God in a real way that will be life changing. We need the leaven of the Kingdom of God to be alive in us. Father’s heart longs for us to spread His word and His ways throughout the earth so that nations would come to know Jesus as real.

Let us join together as those who follow Jesus with sincere faith to preach and demonstrate the Kingdom of God, in bringing His awesome reality into the earth allowing Him to invade this place with His Glory. Let us be the leaven, that pervasive influence transforming the world around us.

~ Heavenly Father, thank You for Your ways that are so much higher than ours. We love You and are committed to walking how You have called us to! Remove all doubt and unbelief that is within me. Fill me with faith and belief in who You are. Thank You for Your Spirit, empowering us to go forward in sharing Your Kingdom and walking in Your ways. Become so alive and active in us that everyone that encounters us will see that Jesus is real. Amen.

Permanent devotional link

Question: What does it mean to “leaven” something? How can your life leaven the lives of others?

About this Author: Brigitte Straub

Searching for meaning to existence? Let us pray for you.

We don’t know her name.

What we do know is that she was deathly sick. For 12 years, she had a blood problem. She suffered. She spent all she had on physicians “and could not be healed by any. (Luke 8:43)

She was considered unclean. She couldn’t pick her friends. They were picked for her.

When she heard that Jesus was in town, she came from behind Him, and touched the border of His garment, hoping, in waiting and expectation of a miracle!

Something…anything. She was broken. She was in pain.

She took a chance. A leap of faith. A risk. “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

An impossible situation. A persistent and perfect faith.

Friend, that is what God is looking for.

His eyes look to and fro for anyone with faith. Are His eyes stopped on you? Are you a woman of faith?

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God.

If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, God promises even mountains will move, and nothing will be impossible (Mathew 17:20).

Place your trust in the God of the universe. He is a God of the impossible. He wants to part the waters in your impossible situations. He wants to flow water from a rock in your desert places, and make your cup overflow with abundance of all He is.

And, remember…give glory to God. Jesus asked the crowd, having felt the power that left Him, who it was that touched Him. He already knew. But He wanted to perfect her in faith, for when she stepped out and confessed with her mouth that she had been healed, she was giving Him the glory that He deserves. “She declared Him in the presence of all people the reason she touched Him and how she was healed immediately (Luke 8:47).

That is why we are here! Wait in expectancy, knowing that God will perform the impossible in your life. Declare His name and share with those around you all He has done.

Questions: How does the Bible define faith? How do you interpret what the man said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief? (Mark 9:24)? How do you respond when God doesn’t answer with a miracle?

About the Author Brigitte Straub

Hurting from the pain of losing a child? We care and want to pray for you.

We live in a world where everything competes and vies for our affection and for the affection God has for us. Jesus said that if we abide in Him and His words abide in us, that we will ask what we desire and it shall be done for us. (John 15:7)Abiding in the love of God changes our prayer life and our way of living entirely.

Do you know that your Heavenly Father is glorified when your prayers are answered? (John 15:8) When we abide in His love, we are then able to come to Him, and ask anything of Him, knowing it will be done.  When we abide in His love, nothing can stop us from coming boldly to Him.  We can overcome any obstacle that hinders us from going to God with assurance of knowing He hears our prayers and desires to fulfill the things we delight in.

Abiding in Jesus comes out of a hunger for more than what we currently have in our lives.  It comes from a place of no longer being content with your present situation, but longing to go to deeper depths and higher heights in Him.  Abiding is an action; it’s not passive, and most of the time, takes a fight to remain there.  It requires a deep passion for intimacy with God.

It’s amazing what comes against us as we long to dwell in the place of the truth of God’s love. So many of God’s people are floundering around, still questioning His amazing love for them.  Even though we know that God sent His Son out of love for us, we walk in continual doubt.  We know that Jesus loves us so much that He came and made Himself vulnerable, knowing that the outcome of His actions, and yet he came, for us.

We ask ourselves this question:  “Am I worthy?” It torments our minds. The enemy steals that place of resting in the love of God and takes away any hope that God loved us while we were yet sinners.  It’s not about whether we are worthy, but about His nature and who God is.

We must remain in His love while keeping that place sacred and guarding it.  It’s so easy to step out of it and take on the affections of the world, allowing negative thoughts and emotions to prevail.

Before we know it, we are lost in a river of depression, when in the meantime, God is crying out to our souls only for us to recognize who He is.  He is firstly, LOVE, and that He has made it possible to live in that place and do what He has called us to do.

In this place, and only in this place, will we be able live as One with Him. Receive His invitation and dwell in Him, His love for you.  Go deeper still, and allow Him to draw you even closer into His love.

Questions: Do you ask the question “Am I worthy”? What is the result of dwelling on the negative? What is God’s desire for us?

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Two ways God answers prayer

About the Author Brigitte Straub

He told me with a pair of diamond earrings.

Then David said it: he was going to Iraq. He’d received orders that his squadron would be deployed in a few weeks, and he would be leaving for war… on my birthday.

He’d only been home from his last deployment for 10 months. Before that he’d been in Japan for over a year. Going to Iraq would be his fourth deployment in the seven years we’d been married. He’d been away for much of my pregnancy with our firstborn daughter and even for the birth of our fourth child. What did he think? That those diamond earrings were going to make me feel better? I wanted him.

If only I’d known…

Nineteen years old, naïve and madly in love, I stood at the altar seven years earlier and made a vow:

Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge.
Your God will be my God, and your people, my people.
May God bind us together until death do us part.

I didn’t know how real those words would become. I knew nothing about military life. Nothing about the unexpected moves, the unpredictable deployments, the months and months I’d spend as a single mom, the countless weekends and holidays we’d spend alone. All I knew was that God had brought this man, David Straub, into my life and I loved him.

Faint hope

When David told me that he was going to Iraq, I fainted. Fears for his safety, dread of him leaving me, once again, to carry the burden of raising our four children overwhelmed me. As my body hit the floor my thoughts hit the depths of despair. I can’t do this anymore. Why, Lord? You knew all I ever wanted was to be a family. Why are you taking this away from me? I’m finished. Yet in the midst of these thoughts, I felt a very gentle nudge from God. He spoke to my heart, saying I didn’t have to do this one alone. I didn’t have to be strong. He would be my strength. He would be all I needed and more. With a picture in my mind of Him cradling me in His arms, I realized I had a “Dad” who would look after me.

I determined to make this deployment different. I was tired of living in defeat. I was beginning to see that my circumstances and the military lifestyle had nothing to do with what I was truly yearning for.

Perhaps I realized this when I heard about the response some Sudanese men gave when they received basic needs “gifts” such as socks and toiletries that our church donated. “Their eyes sparkled with delight like children running free in a candy store,” my husband said. Or maybe it was the time I spoke to my friend who had recently lost her husband in a plane crash. But somehow I knew God and God alone was what I needed.

I’d believed in God since I was a little girl and now I was beginning to understand what Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” So I asked Him to join me when I went to the grocery store with my four children. I also invited him to celebrate the holidays with us. Several times I hid myself in the pantry, asking, “More, Lord. More of your strength. NOW!” My bedroom closet became my prayer closet, as I knelt there and wept before my God. There were weeks when I’d hear nothing from David. Our children needed continual comfort and reassurance that their dad would eventually come home. And all these times, He was drawing me closer to him. I worried less. I gained more control over my emotions. I stopped looking to “escape” through watching the TV, surfing the internet or waiting for someone to call.

Home for both of us

Seven months after David left for Iraq he returned! When he got out of his plane, we recognized him from afar by his familiar walk. I watched as our children ran towards him. He was home. During the months he’d been away, I felt, too, I had come home. God had brought me to a new place of stability, peace, joy, comfort and love.

After three months at home, David was assigned to another base and we moved again. Eight years, six moves, four children and four deployments later David continues to serve in the Marine Corps.

Hidden jewels

I’m beginning to see that it’s the unexpected pieces of our lives that bring us to new heights. These things can draw us closer to God and transform us to become the people God intended. Sometimes we cannot see the good things that are going to come out of unexpected circumstances, but if we hold on, there are special hidden jewels that will be found. One of those jewels for me was experiencing more of God’s help through His Holy Spirit in my life.

Whatever the pain, whatever the doubts, whatever hard questions, you’re facing, the Holy Spirit longs to lead you to a place where God can comfort you and speak to your heart. It’s true — we really can’t live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit’s help. And yet, all we have to do is ask Him to fill us – to lead and empower us — and He will do it.
Why not pray this simple prayer and by faith invite God to fill you with His Spirit:

Lord, I come before You now and surrender my all to You. Your Word says that Your Holy Spirit has come to be my helper, my sustainer, my guide and my comforter. In faith I claim that right now in the midst of all that I am going through. You know all, and knew my steps before the foundations of the earth were formed. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.Thank You that You are my help and my strength. I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

He told me with a pair of diamond earrings.

Then David said it: he was going to Iraq. He’d received orders that his squadron would be deployed in a few weeks, and he would be leaving for war… on my birthday.

He’d only been home from his last deployment for 10 months. Before that he’d been in  Japan for over a year. Going to Iraq would be his fourth deployment in the seven years we’d been married. He’d been away for much of my pregnancy with our firstborn daughter and even for the birth of our fourth child. What did he think? That those diamond earrings were going to make me feel better? I wanted him.

If only I’d known…

Nineteen years old, naïve and madly in love, I stood at the altar seven years earlier and made a vow:

Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge.
Your God will be my God, and your people, my people.
May God bind us together until death do us part.

I didn’t know how real those words would become. I knew nothing about military life. Nothing about the unexpected moves, the unpredictable deployments, the months and months I’d spend as a single mom, the countless weekends and holidays we’d spend alone. All I knew was that God had brought this man, David Straub, into my life and I loved him.

Faint hope

When David told me that he was going to Iraq, I fainted. Fears for his safety, dread of him leaving me, once again, to carry the burden of raising our four children overwhelmed me. As my body hit the floor my thoughts hit the depths of despair. I can’t do this anymore. Why, Lord? You knew all I ever wanted was to be a family. Why are you taking this away from me? I’m finished. Yet in the midst of these thoughts, I felt a very gentle nudge from God. He spoke to my heart saying I didn’t have to do this one alone. I didn’t have to be strong. He would be my strength. He would be all I needed and more. With a picture in my mind of him cradling me in his arms, I realized I had a “Dad” who would look after me.

I determined to make this deployment different. I was tired of living in defeat. I was beginning to see that my circumstances and military lifestyle had nothing to do with what I was truly yearning for.

Perhaps I realized this when I heard about the response some Sudanese men gave when they received  basic needs “gifts” such as socks and toiletries our church donated. “Their eyes sparkled with delight like children running free in a candy store,” my husband  said. Or maybe it was the time I spoke to my friend who had recently lost her husband in a plane crash. There were weeks when I’d hear nothing from David. Our children needed continual comfort and reassurance that their dad would eventually come home. Somehow I knew that amidst our circumstances, God and God alone was going to be all I needed.

I began to understand that what I had been yearning for was God.

I’d believed  in God since I was a little girl. I began to understand what Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” So I asked him to join me when I went to the grocery store with my four children. I also invited him to celebrate the holidays with us. There were several times I hid myself in the pantry, asking, “More, Lord. More of your strength. NOW!” My bedroom closet became my prayer closet, as I knelt there and wept before my God. And all these times, he was drawing me closer to him. I worried less. I gained more control over my emotions. I stopped looking to “escape” through watching the TV, surfing the internet or waiting for someone to call.

Home for both of us

Seven months after David left for Iraq he returned! When he got out of his plane, we recognized him from afar by his familiar walk. I watched as our children ran towards him. He was home. During the months he’d been away, I felt, too, I had come home. God had brought me to a new place of stability, peace, joy, comfort and love.

David was home for three months when he was assigned to another base and we moved again. Eight years, six moves, four children and four deployments later David continues to serve in the Marine Corps.

Hidden jewels

I’m beginning to see that it’s the unexpected pieces of our lives that bring us to new heights. It is these things that can draw us closer to God and transform us to become the people God intended. Sometimes we cannot see the good things that are going to come out of unexpected circumstances, but if we hold on, there are special hidden jewels that will be found. The greatest treasure is finding that God will walk beside us and share the journey with us.

What about you?

Whatever the pain, whatever the doubts, whatever hard questions, you’re facing,  God longs to lead you to a place where he can comfort you and speak to your heart. All  you have to do is ask him to come into your life. Tell him you’re sorry for going your own way and that you want him to walk with you and guide you.  He will do it.

Why not pray this simple prayer and by faith invite God to come into your life?

Lord, I come before you now and ask you to forgive me for living so independently of you.  Your word says that you came to be my helper, strength my guide and my comforter. I invite you into my life right now in the midst of all that I am going through. You know all, and knew my steps before the foundations of the earth were formed. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to grow in my understanding of how you work in my life.Thank you that you are my help and my strength. I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that he is in your life, that he will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much he loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

“Arise, shine” For your light has come!  And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1-2).

Throughout the book of Isaiah we see God pleading for His people to rise up from what they had previously known and the oppression they had been under and to put on their strength, because God wanted to make them a people known of His glory so that others would come to know Him through it.

There are times we allow ourselves to be ruled by life’s circumstances; wrongs done to us, anxieties of tomorrow and sometimes fear of what today might bring.  But God, through these wonderfully, redeeming words has a promise for us to hold onto.  I believe He eagerly wants us to know, that even though darkness surrounds us, He desires to arise over us in His glory!

Can you imagine living with a constant awareness that God’s glory was upon you every moment?

Throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, we read that the glory of God was not only an exhibition of His splendor and majesty, but also was a manifested glory that came in several forms, sometimes like a cloud or fire.  Always.  When the glory came to the people, they would be guided, protected, would receive revelation, instruction, and were able to walk according to the ways of God, because God was present with them and all the people knew it!

God longs to arise over us in His glory in order to cause others to look upon us and be drawn to Him, King of Glory, and when they see us, they will see His Glory and are beckoned through us to come and draw closer and deeper into His very being and likeness.

Now, we have the fulfillment of a promise not only experiencing with assurance the glory of God arise and come over us, but His glory dwelling deep within us; His very fullness.  We carry the incredible presence of God wherever we go, and it is in His presence, the presence of Almighty God where people are changed and transformed, just as they were when they were in the presence of our Lord Jesus.

May we glimpse always at the image of God deep within us, His wondrous glory and catch sight of the unexplainable but all wonderful mystery of being fashioned in His likeness amidst the darkness in our own lives and may we rise up in strength and beauty of His Glory!

Let the glory of God infiltrate you and fill you so that His very nature becomes your nature. Behold the glory of God!  Arise and shine!

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your wonderful glory and your presence here with me.  I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything without Your presence going with me.  May I always remember this incredible promise you have given me, and may I arise and shine and come more deeply into your likeness.  Amen.

Questions: How does God want to manifest His glory in us so others can be drawn to Him? How can we prevent our lives from being controlled by our circumstances?

About the Author Brigitte Straub

“It’s my party and I can cry if I want to.” This was my attitude when my husband, a Marine pilot, was deployed over the holidays.

The first few holidays David was deployed, I went back to Canada where my parents live so I wouldn’t have to be by myself. But that became costly and it was too much work dragging four kids on the airplane.

I remember the day I determined to finally spend Christmas at home without running away. I imagined waking up Christmas morning, with my four children tugging on my pajamas, excited to see what was under the tree. Then I felt anxious, knowing I would miss out on what I knew so many other couples were doing… drinking eggnog together, making pancakes, dancing to Christmas music.

And what about David? I knew he was having just as difficult a time. It was just different. What was he eating in Iraq during Thanksgiving? At least I was invited to a friend’s house, no matter how awkward it felt sitting at a formal dining room table with her and her husband. David was probably eating hot dogs and chips, perhaps the candy I sent him. And then he would take a baby wipe and wash his hands afterwards, seeing as there was lack of sinks and water. Of course, he would be imagining what I was doing with our kids, wanting to be home to fry a turkey and make a bon-fire, and just hang out.

As Christmas approached, he was probably looking in his mailbox wondering when a gift would come for him. What about a card? Was anybody back home thinking about him?

A new celebration

After languishing through the holidays during David’s first few deployments, it hit me: Why load the holidays with such expectations? Why not see every day as a holiday, a day of celebration?

I began to sit down with my children and make banners and gifts for their father on a daily basis. I would buy the kids gifts on non-calendar holiday days just to show them I celebrated them all the time. Sometimes, it was the simple things they longed to do… reading a book, or playing Frisbee, making crafts, even sitting down on the couch and watching a movie.

We found creative ways to celebrate, even without Daddy around. Every day became Christmas, in a way. Every day became a day of Thanks, and every day became a day of Love in our home. David would even find ways to celebrate with us by sending handmade cards to each of the kids on a regular basis. One year, I received around seven different Valentine cards in a week. I laughed. He knew.

“Choose life!”

In many ways…we can choose life…living to the fullest, seeing every day as a day of opportunity to celebrate. I have realized it is in all our perspective and how we choose to look at things. I choose life… every day! What about you?

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His deployment changed everything
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