Congrats!

I just arrived back at my parents' home from an afternoon and night of celebrating the wedding of one of my childhood friends. It was a gorgeous, outdoor ceremony and fun night of food, friends, wine and dancing. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

One of the nice things about weddings is the chance to network. The bride has friends that I hadn't met before, and one of them is a milspouse. She and her marine husband are stationed in Hawaii for the next couple of years (rough assignment!). It was fun to visit with someone that understands the military lingo and 'gets' why a person would be so interested in helping with the military, even as a civilian.

When I talk about the fact that I'm a counselor and my focus is on military crisis counseling I get many different responses. Most people think it is a worthy choice, but don't seem to understand why I would want to spend my career focusing in that area. There are many reasons why it is my focus.

1. We (as a country) owe it to our military families to give them the best support system possible. We have a strong, amazing military, but it can be even stronger with the support of the country.
2. It is a pragmatic choice, as long as we have a military force in this country there will be a need for counseling. Learning to kill, and putting that knowledge into action carries a BIG toll on a person- we (mankind) is created FOR life, not to take it away.
3. I love my country and want to serve, defend and protect the freedoms I have, and ensure that my kids and grandkids will get to experience the amazing country that I call home.
4. I love the whole military family and see it as a mission field. Doing what I do now, and hope to do even more in the coming months, years, decades is how I think the Lord wants to use to increase the harvest. I understand the military and can use that for the Lord.
5. Those who serve us deserve more than the best, and while I'm NOT that, I want to do what the Lord will allow me to do to serve those that are risking their lives, giving up family time and freedoms, so that others can enjoy a smidgen of what America offers, as well as to protect American soil.

My top reasons why I chose to focus on working with the military. But, that is not everything I thought of today. As the maid of honor, best man, and father of the bride were giving their toasts this evening I thought of marriage and how valuable it is in this day and age.
More people are getting divorced these days than are staying married to their one and only. Divorce is big business in the 21st century. That is sad. It is no longer "till death do us part" but, "till I no longer FEEL in love." Love is a choice, it takes work, commitment and perseverance.
In Proverbs 31 we are told "a good wife, who can find? She is worth more than rubies." A good wife---this was spoken to a king. One would think that of all people a kind would NOT have a problem finding a wife. And he wouldn't. But a GOOD wife- an honorable, life long companion that is hard to find. And just as a good wife is hard for a man to find, so is it hard for women to find a good, life long husband.
I love my culture, but I will admit to getting sucked in many times. I am not the most moral, innocent Christians walking around America. I wish I could say that I'm sanctified, but the reality is that I'm a low down, Hell deserving sinner. I SCREW up all the time. I make decisions knowing that they are not the best way to reflect Christ, yet I make them anyway.
I am SO grateful that God loves me, and has more patience and forgiveness than I deserve, because I need it. I totally understand Paul and his wondering why he does the things he knows are wrong, and can't seem to do the right things. I am just like that, and I HATE it. I hate giving into my sin nature and the Devil.
Yet, even though I sometimes SUCK as a Christian, and model of Christ I still am striving for 2 things (right now).
1. To know, serve and love Christ more fully and live a more sanctified life each day.
2. To grow in my relationship with the Lord, and as a woman, so that I can be that GOOD wife that is described in Proverbs 31.

What are doing to serve the Lord and grow as a Christian? The first step is to accept Him as your Savior, to admit that HE is who the Bible claims He is, and that He is Lord of all. He is God whether you believe and accept it or not, so why not give your life to the One in Charge? The second step is to spend time in prayer, fellowship and the Bible.
Finally, I want to thank the bride for inviting me to her wedding, I'm blessed to have been there. Congrats you two, and my prayer is that you have a long, blessed and joy filled marriage, built on the strength of the Lord so that your relationship can blossom and grow, even in the midst of the storms of life.

-ME-