WHAT? NO DETAILS?

Most women are detail oriented. We have to be to juggle the tangled webb of demands throughout our day. Work, kids, family, sports/hobbies, church, chores, cooking....the list is endless! If we aren't subject to watching details then things tend to go amuck.

There have been many times that my father in law will hang up the phone from a conversation only for my mother in law to call right back and ask for specifics. She's "detail oriented." He is not. Many of you in the female gender know what I'm talking about!

That being said, I can tell you right now I am uncomfortable in the military scenario of not knowing details about my son's duties! Or deployment. It's hard to not ask questions or want answers. Not out of being "nosy" but out of genuine care and concern and wanting to be involved in his life so I know how to pray for him and know how to support him. We are a close family. And because of that it's hard for all of us...

So. I sent my son off with very few details given. To me, he's going off into the great unknown and that's just plain hard. He's going to be thousands of miles away dealing with who knows what and all I can do whenever we can communicate is tell him how WE are doing? Ahhhhhh........I don't care how old he is, he's my beloved son and I want to know how he is! LOL "Fine" just doesn't quite fit the bill. It helps, but doesn't quite satisfy.

During his school years our son would come home and I would ask.."So, how was your day?" "Fine..." "What did you do?" "Nothing..." Oh good grief. Come on now! Tell me more than that! :) I want the five W's...who what when where why and how. I'm a journalist at heart. Writing is in my veins. Writers want and need details!!! Sigh...

I do a lot of family research. The need to know details is what drives me to dig deeper and harder and longer on any given line. I'm the family sleuth... 

But, here we are again. Back at a season where we'll get few answers. And it drives me nuts. All we can do is trust that GOD knows the details that we'll never get. He can do more for our son than we can any day. We've given him a solid foundation in life. Now we just have to give him to God in this, believing that our all knowing Lord of Lords and King of Kings will handle the details. "Fine" will be good news. And I long to hear that word on a regular basis. "Fine" may not mean "perfect" but that's the word we'll pray to get. And one little detail I forgot to mention? God knows all the meanings behind that one little word....this is one scenario where I cannot dig for answers. I have to let it go. And simply trust....and breathe.

LCain

THIS ABOUT SAYS IT ALL....

My words not needed. Only His....

To continue the text...

His peace will guard your hearts and your minds....

What every military family needs.

LCain 

(Photo from God Is Good site)

HE KNOWS MY NAME!

What would we do if a well known military official knocked on our door and called us by name when we answered it? We would be shocked, wouldn't we? The first thing out of our mouths would be "How do you know who I am?!" Some would be in awe, wanting to bow down in respect of this high ranking officer! This man who has made a career out of protecting... you and me. But some would be ashamed and try to hide and not let him in!

You can be assured that Jesus, our Lord, King, Commander and Chief knows our names. Each and every one.

Every time I fall into a pattern of worry over my soldier son or when I miss him terribly all I need to do is remember that Jesus knows my name. He knows my heart. He sees each tear that falls. And He hears my prayers.That's amazing! 

I am in awe of my Jesus and want to bow down in respect and amazement that He would take priority in focusing on...me. In knowing that He cared enough to die for me....and wants a personal relationship with...me. With ...you. But some will try to hide and not let Him come in when He knocks on the door of their hearts.

There is a song that keeps coming to mind from time to time. I first heard this on a Promise Keepers CD several years ago. Various friends of mine presented this song in church at different times through the years. It's one that I take to heart these days. And I can just hear my friends' beautiful voices from years past...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXsiWoyjw60   (You Tube link to copy/paste into your browser.)

(By Maranatha Singers)

Lyrics:

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and He hears me when I call
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He?ll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and He hears me when I call

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKuEwf9W1cQ   And here is another song by the same title that speaks to me and maybe it will to you as well. (Again, it's another You Tube link to copy/paste).

Whatever military journey you are on, remember...HE KNOWS YOUR NAME! No matter where you go.

LCain

 Below image from Proverbs 31 Ministries website...

FEAR FACTOR:

AN INSTINCTIVE DESIRE TO PROTECT OUR YOUNG -

AND WHAT TO DO WHEN WE CAN'T

Mothers of all kinds, be it in the animal kingdom or humankind, have this instinctive drive and desire to protect their children. 

My father raises cattle on the same farm that his father and grandfather raised cattle on.I cannot tell you how many times I have witnessed a mother cow bawling, stressing out and pacing back and forth when something wasn't right. Either she couldn't find her baby,  her baby got stuck in the fence, or was separated from her. Sometimes she could see her baby but couldn't get to it. In any case, mom was very anxious and making a lot of noise! There was one occasion recently that it seemed like mamma cow was beckoning us to come help her! She was looking back at us, bawling, then moving toward her baby and repeated this as if to say, "Come on! I need help! She's over here!" Jam, as we named her because she was stuck in a fence (in a jam so to speak), was all tangled up and mamma cow was highly upset! We eventually got Jam untangled and back safe and sound to her mother.As soon as we did the bawling stopped.

It's a God given instinct to protect one's young. The anxiety military mothers may experience (in my untrained opinion) could partially be related to this intense desire to protect that loved one from harm. It is a mother's job to nurture, care for, and protect the life of that child for 18 years. That's hard to just quit doing. In my own journey I have dealt with fear about two main outcomes of military service: 1. He could be injured or killed or 2. He could at some point suffer from PTSD.  And I can do nothing about preventing either! He is my son whom I love deeply. I don't want his mind or his body to experience trauma or injury! It hurts to even think about that. And it brings me to tears when I allow myself to go there. That's part of a mother's heart...I had family members who experienced PTSD symptoms after WWII..I pray for all of those experiencing this.

My son trained well... physically and mentally. But what about others? Are they fully prepared? What about the ones guarding the compound or driving the vehicles? Are they reliable with my son's life? Some mothers may not run these thoughts through their minds, but others will. Some new military mothers will weep just at the thought of their soldier being deployed! It's hard to adjust to.Being concerned for the safety of their child (no matter the age) over a long period of time is a huge monkey on a mom's back.And can get hard to carry. When we went to our son's graduation ceremony all of us as parents were escorted into a "holding room" for a while, waiting to get a glimpse of our soldiers. There was no joy. The air was thick with dread and uncertainty! Every mother had a wrinkle in her brow. You could have heard a pin drop in that room...because many of those graduating were heading to Iraq. Heavy stuff.

That's why Jesus tells us to CAST all our burdens on Him, for He cares for us! That word "cast" means hand over. Give up.The word "burdens" means those things that weigh us down. Heavy loads. Hard to handle. Too much for us to carry alone.The word "care" means loved. Cherished. One on one focus.

Honestly? I don't see how people get through situations like this without Jesus in their lives! He's my "go to" person. My Rock. My Shelter. My Refuge. My Hope. My Deliverer. My All...And God the Father knows our hearts! He loved HIS Son, in whom He was well pleased.  And God sent His Son into the world so that the world, through Him, might be saved. (Based on John 3:17) And if I may be bold in saying so, doesn't this relate in a sense to what our sons and daughters are doing? Being sent "into the world so the world through them might be saved (from tyranny, oppression, and terrorism)? God understands our hearts...

Moms, and I include myself in this directive, we need to lay our burdens down at the foot of the cross. Daily. Or maybe many times a day. Or it's going to be a long, bumpy ride. Physical symptoms may express internal anxieties if we don't get a handle on this fear factor. Do we TRUST Jesus enough to trust the lives of our (adult) children in His care? That's a huge question. Reality is, when we are His, our children are given to us to rear, but are His to use in adulthood. 

A statement made to me recently by a friend of mine (who is a pastor's wife) nailed it. "I'd rather my children die in the center of God's will than to live outside of it." Amen! I totally agree.

For me? I have that blessed assurance that my son is His.And that he is in the center of God's will. He and his wife pray for God's will in their lives.I have no doubt that a continued Army path is God's will for them. And that's where I need to stop the thought process! And trust the Lord. But at times, I continue with "But...this or that or the other." I'm still working on that part...maybe many of us are. And that's OK. Our Christian walk is something we have to work on every day for the rest of our lives until we see Him face to face. Then we'll know all the answers...

So for today, let's practice laying our burdens down at Jesus' feet and walking away from them. Let's work a little harder at letting Jesus carry this load. And let's trust Him a little more.Trust = Confidence in Him. Even when we may not know all the answers.Are you confident that Jesus can handle this journey?

Psalm 25: 4-5 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

(NIV)

LCain

(Image from Proverbs 31 Ministries)

MY PRAYER FOR YOU

(Male version)

Lord, give this soldier strength today

To see his duty through

Give him peace beyond all measure

Help him to fully rely on You

Bless him Lord with perfect health

As he serves his country well

Give him angels to guard every step

May Your praises he boldly tell

Surround him Lord with men of like mind

And protect his heart of gold

Give him courage for the journey Lord

Until his loved ones he will hold

LCain Aug 2013

MY PRAYER FOR YOU

(Female version)

Lord, give this soldier strength today

To see her duty through

Give her peace beyond all measure

Help her fully rely on You

Bless her Lord with perfect health

As she serves her country well

Give her angels to guard every step

May Your praises she boldly tell

Surround her Lord with those of like mind

And protect her heart of gold

Give her courage for the journey Lord

Until her loved ones she will hold

LCain Aug 2013

BEING STRONG IN THE LORD

It takes a lot of strength and courage to leave one's family for extended periods of time, whether at sea, overseas, or under the sea...and any other facet of the term "deployed." Not only do family members of the serviceman or woman need strength during an absence, but our troops do as well. We may be missing one or two individuals...they are missing many loved ones!

One doesn't have to be deployed to be missed or need strength! Mothers miss their sons and daughters as soon as they aboard the mode of transportation that will take them out of their arms and into the arms of the U.S. Government. I can guarantee you that our Christian military mothers and grandmothers have been face down on their knees before the Throne of Grace on multiple occasions from the onset of enlistment to the day those discharge papers are in hand! Proud, yes.But the soldier isn't the only one who needs strength and courage! Their families do too.

So how do we, as Christian military families, be strong "in the Lord?" Let's address three ways:
1. Scriptures written on our hearts, and minds
2. Prayer
3. Support networks

1. SCRIPTURES: Below are some Scriptures that may help in times of weakness

* Deuteronomy 31: 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave nor forsake you. Verse 8: The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.


*2 Chronicles 20:15-17 He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but GOD'S....you will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you."

*Psalm 27:14  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

*Psalm 27:1-3 The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

*Psalm 118:6-7 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look on triumph on my enemies. Verses 13-14 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

*Isaiah 40: 28-31 The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. he will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those whose hope is in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

*Ephesians 6: 10-17 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's (enemy's) schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

(All of the above scriptures were taken from the NIV version of the Bible.)

2. PRAYER 

God knows our hearts even before we utter the first word! But He wants that personal relationship and communication with us that comes in the form of prayer.If you read the Psalms you will hear David crying out to God in many distressing situations. But one thing he makes clear over and over again. God hears our prayers! Every single one.

*Psalm 3 O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." (Selah) But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. (Selah) I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. Arise, O Lord! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. (Selah) NIV


Below is a prayer poem I wrote in 2012 for our military men and women:

A Military Prayer

Lord, I answered a special call

To serve, protect and defend

Be with me, Lord, wherever I go

Be near me til this journey ends

Protect us all here on the ground

Out at sea and in the air

Guide our each and every step

Keep us safe within Your care

LCain 2012

3. SUPPORT NETWORKS

After my son's enlistment in 2005 I sought out women of like mind to share the journey with. I had a few friends who weren't as new to the "military mom" arena and they were also Christian women. I learned a lot from them! I found a Christian military mothers' group nearby that I participated in when possible given my health issues at the time (recent blood clots in both legs). I gleaned a lot of wisdom from these ladies and enjoyed my time with them! It was important to me to find a Christian support network b/c I needed Jesus at the center of this journey....I needed (and still do) His peace and strength to endure what my son may be asked to do for his country. But to my disappointment, there weren't many Christ-centered organizations for military support out there! The term "political correctness" ring a bell? 
Dig deep. Research. Call churches and ask around. There are Christian military moms and grandmothers out there. And I am sure they are looking too....

I'll end today's post with words to a song by Steven Curtis Chapman "His Strength Is Perfect"

His strength is perfect, so perfect
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me 
No great success to show, no glory of my own
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He'll carry us when we can't carry on
Raised in His power
The weak become the strong
His strength is perfect, is perfect
His strength is perfect

We can only know the power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes
His strength in us begins when ours comes to an end
He hears our humble cry and proves again

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He'll carry us when we can't carry on
Raised in His power
The weak become the strong
His strength is perfect, is perfect
His strength is perfect


May we all remember the strength that can be found IN HIM to meet our every day...no matter what the journey brings our way.
LCain

LOOKING FOR TESTIMONIES!!!!

I want to include stories from other military moms on this site so that we encompass all branches of the military and all seasons of service. And that includes...stories from our troops' Grandmoms! I am looking for stories of faith from our military moms and grandmothers. (See my first post from Sept 30 for suggestions on topics.)

I am hoping this blog becomes a way for others to share their stories that might otherwise go untold....getting experiences and "God things" written down makes them last. Many people have read the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books. Lets gather our thoughts and make this a place to share what God has done in the lives of our military families...from the perspectives of our moms and grandmothers. Let's pray these stories touch the hearts and lives of those who need to hear them!

If you have a story to share, please email it to me at LCain43@windstream.net and in that email include permission to print the story on this blog. *Please do not include names of servicemen/women or details about service that could jeopardize the safety of our troops. After reading your submission I reserve the right to edit anything I feel would be a safety concern or otherwise deemed inappropriate for this site. There will be no monetary compensation for your story and I do not earn any profits from your story. This is a voluntary site of believers sharing testimonies of God's faithfulness in their lives during military service. I am not a professional writer, but simply a plain old military mother who loves to write, and loves to hear and read stories of faith in the field! May God get the glory in all that is said on these pages!

LCain

 WELCOME TO PSALM 91 MOMS

Psalm 91 says:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the Lord, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." (NIV)

As a Christian military mother, I have prayed this prayer since 2005-the year of my son's enlistment in the United States Army Reserves. I have written Christian based patriotic pieces off and on since that year, mainly to save for my grandchildren, but God has used them in a variety of ways! These writings have given me an avenue of encouragement, expression, and focus. 
Between 2005 and now my son got married, and now has a four year old boy and identical twin girls who will soon turn three. He has progressed in his Army path, his Christian walk, and his role as a husband and father. This blog is established to offer Christ-centered support and encouragement to other military mothers wherever they may be...first timers, seasoned veterans, or those in-between.
I pray that these words be His, not mine! I pray you will be blessed and lifted up! Supported and encouraged! During their military service the soldiers and their families need Jesus' peace, strength and protection. For me, I know my son is His, and He is in control...I just  need that peace and blessed assurance each and every day.

(Photo from Proverbs 31 Ministries)

Some of you may have already experienced one or more deployments with your son or daughter's military service. If so, we welcome your prayerfully given comments and suggestions to others currently experiencing deployment. 

Topics we would like to see submitted include: 

1. As a mother of a deployed soldier, how did you best manage your worry and concern over safety? 
2. How did Jesus make His presence known to you or your soldier during deployment? 
3. What scriptures did you or your soldier cling to in this journey? 
4. Did you participate in any troop support programs and what were they? 
5. How did your community or church family show support to your family during deployment? 
6. Did your soldier experience any difficulties that still need prayer? 
7. How did your soldier's spouse/children best manage the absence?

  We will lift one another up, encourage one another, and learn what works best in this  new journey.We will pray for one another and offer loving, kind, supportive words. Holy Words...If your soldier needs prayer, please let us know! This blog is also for mothers of soldiers who are training on the home front, currently deployed, or who have returned from deployments. Bottom line, it's for ANY military mother...any branch, any avenue of service. They are all heroes in my book. :) And they all need our prayers.

Let's get started with a prayer I wrote in 2011:

Jesus, I thank You for this soldier who willingly works to free
Countries from great oppression or tragic tyranny
I thank You for their choice to protect the US of A
And to defend its freedoms and keep terrorists at bay
I ask You now to guard, keep, direct and stay
Close beside our troops in Your Holy name I pray
LCain