Sunshine no Rain
Tuesday the predictions were in. Sunshine for the rest of the day, Wednesday partly cloudy and then the storm that was dumping inches of snow in Colorado would make it to Texas and bring back the RAIN on Thursday. The thought dampened my spirits. In fact, it has rained so much recently- I might even say I am almost MOLDY! I knew there would be Warriors coming down to San Antonio from Dallas, and nearby suburbs. Rain might grow grass but is does not make for fun.
By late evening, all the volunteers had arrived, some with missed flights, lost luggage and even throw in missing clown costumes. It was clear the enemy was busy - but he could not steal our joy! At breakfast this morning, the leaders were huddled around discussing hospitals and "what had happened," just as we were making our way off for a good night's sleep. One of the staff members who flew in from Pennsylvania (a paraplegic) fell out of his chair and broke his leg in two places. His wife came into the dining room exhausted from a night at the hospital with no definitive answers from the doctors (surgery now or later, here or there, stay/go) with a profound disappointment at the prospect of ALL the details.
Chaplain Tony, in his Booming Major voice announced, "Listen up, we're gonna pray."
We walked out of the dining hall and looked up at the sky darkening around us. I turned to my friend and quoted one of my favorite sayings of Jesus when His disciples reported back to Him on their recent activities. "I saw satan fall like lightening!"
The Warriors had not even arrived, and one of "our own" was already "down." We ferried up to the hillside above the resort center to have our morning devotionals and pray in the shadow of the three crosses standing tall above our "holy ground."
When the van returned to take us back to the center - it got stuck in the mud (the San Antonio area has had 11 inches of rain this month). The enemy fought hard to mire our spirits in the muck of his activities. I am here reporting at the end of the day -
WE WON!
The doctors decided stabilizing the broken leg would be fine and the couple would be able to stay. And get this forecasters, the rain rain, went away, it didn't come another day - it never even arrived.
But the soldiers and their families did! They are here with a variety of woundedness. Some visible, some spiritual, some emotional but ALL "healable" by the touching hand of the Great Physician. After Jesus spoke of the fall of the enemy, He reminded His disciples not to glory in what they had accomplished, but thank God for their own salvation.
Fellow soldiers (in the army of the Lord) we are still fighting the good fight. We need to share the love of Christ that sets captives free, that binds up the broken hearted and says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest."
We NEED prayers that will tear the rooftop off and allow us to lower those in need to see the Master.
We NEED prayers that will send the enemy packing and enable the heavenly hosts to breakthrough and break down strongholds!
We NEED prayers, for when the disciples were unable to cast out the demonic spirit, Jesus told them the reason was because, "This can ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH PRAYER."
The soldiers and their families may be home from a foreign battlefield where much was lost, but the greater battle is fought in the soil of their soul.
Mine eyes have seen the glory...
I am singing "His truth is marching on"
And smiling
Serviceman Charlynn
