In His Shadow

Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. 5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. 6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. 9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”

A few months ago, while I was at my cousin's church, a visiting pastor's wife approached me. She knew my family that attended there and had overheard that I was newly engaged, so she came over to congratulate me. Soon we were in conversation and talking about my soon-to-be-husband. When I told her that he was in the Army and serving in Iraq, her face immediately softened. She took my hand and said, I have a story to tell you... she proceeded to tell me a story of a small country town during World War II...and the strength of the women in that town. There was a book written about their legacy and the legacy of the soldiers they were waiting for at home. Their soldiers, gone to war, were blessed to have such faithful, godly women in their lives. Each morning, these ladies met at the townhall for prayer. They gathered in a circle and together prayed aloud Psalm 91 over each and every loved soldier... Jesus was faithful to intercede, and God was faithful to hear their cries. That town, was the only town in their state to leave a legacy like they did...when the war ended and the women tied their yellow ribbons around the "Old Oak Tree", EACH and EVERY soldier came home. There were NO casualties from that town. God Almighty, our Defender and Protector, heard every prayer from the lips of those faithful women and kept each soldier safely in His shadow. I pray that I would be reminded and convicted to remember this story and not only faithfully pray for our troops, but to claim the Lord's peace and TRUST that my soldier and all those I love will find shelter in His wings...

Red Flags at the Lake House

I am sitting in my livingroom with a cozy fire gently glowing, watching "The Lakehouse"....it occurs to me that though the plot impossible, it reflects so much of how life feels at the moment. Love letters through a mailbox. Two worlds entirely apart. A lake to separate them, yet bring them together. A hope of life to come. It seems so strange to be an entire world away, to wake up when he is eating dinner, to fall asleep at his alarm. An ocean, a continent, a desert. So many things that keep us so far apart. Still, my heart is eternally tied to his, our lives meant to intertwine. Love letters through a mailbox...a facebook account, a webcam conversation absent of a headset. Sometimes I think I can't remember what "us" felt like before the deployment. I can't remember a conversation that didn't entail wishful thinking or didn't end with the word "soon", but rather now, five minutes, tomorrow... Being an Army fiance is a wonderful blessing I wouldn't trade for anything. Not for an 8 to 5 job, a suit and tie, a saturday night date, a tuesday dinner, a cell phone number to call... loving a soldier takes a strong heart. Waiting for the next 20 minute phone call, going to sleep without a goodnight. Loving a soldier is feeling so proud your heart is going to explode. Seeing him in ACUs and falling inlove all over again. Waiting an entire year just to say hello to HIM. Loving a soldier is worth every red flag on the mailbox, every crossed off day, every second of the 8 hour time difference. Loving a soldier is everything. even if for a while, you live at the lakehouse....

Peppermint Tea

...5 months, 3 days.... time that has lapsed since I held my soldier in my arms. On one hand, 5 months isn't so significant. Two seasons come and gone in a flash, summer vacation complete, a fifth semester commencing. On the other..5 months equals one semester of college; nearly two, three major holidays, my birthday, our anniversary, a wedding half-way planned, and ten boxes of peppermint tea. Oh the moments those 5 months have held. Some joyous; a trip to Texas, presents from Iraq, treasured love letters, a best friend's wedding, the arrival of a friend's beautiful baby girl... others more trials than memories; a never-ending battle of faulty Iraq internet connection, broken webcams, sleepless nights, hooah moments marked by tears, a stressful job, a schedule with no freedom, a life without my other half...but yet amidst the joy and trials, one thing remains. Love. not just any simple love, but unconditional perfect love. The love of a Savior whose arms are always open, whose hands are always strong enough, whose heart is always gentle. My Savior, my Friend, My Dad. For every moment I've felt alone, He has held me close. Every fear, He has promised comfort and perfect peace. Every sleepless night, He was always by my side. For every hooah and every sip of peppermint tea.